Culmenella jiraponi
| Culmenella jiraponi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Superorder: | Hygrophila |
| Family: | Planorbidae |
| Genus: | Culmenella |
| Species: | C. jiraponi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Culmenella jiraponi (Hubendick, 1967)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Culmenella jiraponi is a small freshwater species of gastropod in the family Planorbidae. It is endemic to Thailand, where it lives in highly vegetated slow-moving waters.
Taxonomy
Culmenella jiraponi was described by Bengt Hubendick in 1967 from specimens collected in Thonburi, Thailand.[2][3]
Description
Like other species of Culmenella, Culmenella jiraponi has an oval-shaped shell similar to those of Bulinus and Physella. The shell measures between 5 and 5.6 mm (0.20 and 0.22 in) in height and 2.7 to 3.1 mm (0.11 to 0.12 in) in diameter.[3] There are 2.5 whorls, or revolutions of the shell, which spiral to the left (a condition known as sinistry).[1][3] These whorls expand rapidly, making the final (body) whorl much larger than the others. The other whorls create a very short spire. The aperture (shell opening) is oval-shaped, with the posterior part being slightly narrower. The shell also has some 3-dimensional structure (also called sculpture) in the form of 15 small spiralling lines, as well as hairs (chaetae).[3]
This species is grey in overall coloration, though possesses black markings along the edge of the foot. It has flaps at the end of its tentacles, which are thought to be sensory in function. A flap of skin covers the opening to the mantle cavity. The radula, a toothy tongue-like appendage, possesses rows of teeth, each numbering 33 total. A central rachidian tooth displays 2 large and 2 small cusps. The rachidian tooth is bordered on each side by 13 lateral teeth and 3 marginal. Each lateral tooth has between 4–5 cusps, and each marginal tooth has 6 cusps.[3]
This species, like some other planorbids, possesses a structure called the accessory preputial organ.[3][4] This distinguishes it from Physella and Bulinus, which do not possess the structure.[3] It may be further distinguished from Physella due to its larger body whorl, deeper sutures, shorter spire, and the presence of the shell hair.[5] It may be distinguished from Culmenella prashadi by differences in the mantle, namely that the mantle flap in C. jiraponi is made of 2 separate tissues, whereas in C. prashadi it is made of 1.[6]
Distribution and habitat
Culmenella jiraponi is only known from Thailand, though it is likely widespread within the country.[1] It may be found at its type locality (where it was originally described) in Thonburi, as well as the provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Phang Nga.[1][3][7] Its range may extend to greater Bangkok as well as Vietnam.[3] There are also records of the species occurring in southern Laos, but this appears to be a misidentification.[5][8] Since at least 2001, the invasive Physella acuta has been commonly misidentified as Culmenella jiraponi, implying that their distribution should be revised.[5]
This species may be found in low abundances in freshwater, though may occur in brackish water as well. Habitats usually consist of stagnant water with aquatic plants, such as lotus ponds.[1] It may be found in shallow water on vegetation or burrowed into the substrate.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e Simonis, J. (2012). "Camptoceras jiraponi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012 e.T184934A1766876. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T184934A1766876.en. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
- ^ a b Vinarski, Maxim (2018). "Culmenella jiraponi (Hubendick, 1967)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Brandt, Rolf A. M. (1974). "The non-marine aquatic Mollusca of Thailand" (PDF). Archiv für Molluskenkunde. 105 (i–iv): 236–237. eISSN 2367-0622. ISSN 1869-0963. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2025.
- ^ Baker, Frank Collins; van Cleave, Harley Jones (1945). The molluscan family Planorbidae. The University of Illinois Press. pp. 6–7. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7026. LCCN a45002301. OCLC 843977 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ^ a b c Ng, Ting Hui; Limpanont, Yanin; Chusongsang, Yupa; Chusongsang, Phirapol; Panha, Somsak (2018). "Correcting misidentifications and first confirmation of the globally-invasive Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805 (Gastropoda: Physidae) in Thailand and Laos" (PDF). BioInvasions Records. 7 (1): 15–19. doi:10.3391/bir.2018.7.1.03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2024 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ Sawada, Naoto; Miyai, Takuto (2025). "Morphological and Genetic Features of Culmenella prashadi (Heterobranchia: Planorbidae) Newly Discovered in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan". Venus (Journal of the Malacological Society of Japan). 83 (1–4): 38. doi:10.18941/venus.83.1-4_27.
- ^ a b Tesana, Smarn (2002). "Diversity of mollusks in the Lam Ta Khong reservoir, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand" (PDF). The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 33 (4): 735–737. PMID 12757219.
- ^ Sri-aroon, Pusadee; Chusongsang, Phiraphol; Chusongsang, Yupa; Limpanont, Yanin; Surinthwong, Pornpimol; Vongphayloth, Khamsing; Brey, Paul T. (2015). "Malacological investigation of the fully operational Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric dam project in Khammouane Province, central Lao PDR" (PDF). The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 46 (5): 870. PMID 26863858. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2025.
External links
- Dechruksa, Wivitchuta (2006). "การติดเชื้อตัวออนพยาธิใบไมระยะเซอรคาเรียของหอยน้ําจืดวงศ Thiaridaeในภาคเหนือของประเทศไทย". [Cercarial infections of freshwater snails family Thiaridae in the northern part of Thailand] (in Thai). Silpakorn University. 26. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019.
- Hubendick, B. (1967). "On the genus Camptoceras". Arkiv för Zoologi Ser. 2, 7 (22): 169. ISSN: 0300-3256.