Taxonomia integrativa para a caracterização e diferenciação de espécies de veronicelídeos neotropicais (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Veronicellidae): recaracterização de Latipes erinaceus e descrição de uma nova espécie do gênero Phyllocaulis

Abstract

The family Veronicellidae Gray, 1840 includes species that are easily recognizable and widely distributes along the tropical and subtropical regions. This family is specially rich in the neotropics. This family currently includes around 80 neotropical species placed in 17 genera. Some species act as intermediate host of helminths or as horticultural plagues. However, despite the medical and economic importance of this family, there are significant gaps in the knowledge of their morphology, taxonomy and distribution. Within this context, this study aimed to study the morphological variability of Latipes erinaceus, Phyllocaulis boraceiencis e Phyllocaulis sp. nov. including a comparative approach with other congeneric species, and also analyse their geographical distribution. This study is divided in two chapters. Ther first chapter includes a recharacterization of Latipes erinaceus based in sampling from two populations to access the morphological variability. Based on literature, we compared all species included in the genera Angustipes and Latipes. Then we proposed the redefinition of these genera, electing as more taxonomy relevant characters: penis morphology, bursa copulatrix duct, and the relative position of the duct entrance in the Bursa. Based on those characters, we propose the transfer of L. erinaceus, L. rosilus, L. ribeirensis e L. absumptus to the genus Angustipes. Within the second chapter we described a new species of Phyllocaulis and perform a deteiled morphological study with P. boraceiensis. Both species have superficial morphological similaraties, however, an extensive morphological analysis showed their distinction. Their distinction are based on characters of penile complex and associated musculature, pedal and penile glands, radula, and also body pigmentation.