Post by brunni on Jul 23, 2013 18:25:05 GMT
Recently the name Achatina or Archachatina indotata has appeared on the internet in reference to specimens from the Cameroon, Togo and Ghana. The identification has not been questioned, rather mimicked and propagated. As the error is snowballing I am prompted to post this stub pointing out that this species does NOT originate from West Africa and to clarify its actual status.
Achatina indotata Reeve, 1849 has been well described in the famous Conchiglia Iconica series of molluscan monographs.
Subsequently the conchologist, G.W. Tryon, revised the status of A. indotata in the second series of the American sequel of monographs devoted to the Pulmonates, Manual of Conchology. In 1905 Vol. 17 part 2 of the Achatinidae was published ( the work was completed by H.A. Pilsbry, who became a coauthor ).
As stated the locality is now amended to South Africa. In further generic sequencing Tryon introduced the subgenus Cochlitoma, that he divided into two parts; the first “group of C. semidecussata”, and the second “group of zebra”. Achatina indotata is now determined to originate from South Africa and to be affiliated to Achatina zebra (Bruguière, 1792).
In the most recent revision of the Achatinidae, Bequaert 1950:15 wrote
In 2004 A. R. Mead clarified the situation with the 25 Achatina species placed into Cochlitoma by Tryon & Pilsbry, 1905 ( beyond scope present stub but including A. indotata ).
And that should be end of story : Achatina indotata Reeve, 1849 = Achatina zebra var. tigrina (Beck, 1837) from South Africa. Nothing to do with Archachatina, at best generic placement in Cochlitoma.
We can place it here : www.petsnails.co.uk/species/achatina-zebra.html#start
…....until you google Achatina and/or Archachatina indotata...........and see completely different shells identified as A. indotata..........e.g.
www.conchology.be/?t=68&u=477409&g=3c463f6b7f9481c2c1e9bea2b88654b9&q=177ed83178d40bbc9b42b04d42a42b3e
www.conchology.be/?t=68&u=477436&g=3c463f6b7f9481c2c1e9bea2b88654b9&q=08f081f8f32516147558a008841a3d27
www.conchology.be/?t=68&u=170772&g=3c463f6b7f9481c2c1e9bea2b88654b9&q=08f081f8f32516147558a008841a3d27
www.bagniliggia.it/WMSD/HtmSpecies/3980750476.htm
www.shellauction.net/auction_shell.php?id=1031845&pres=1
Their locality Ghana, Togo, Cameroon,...........now the BIG QUESTION : what is the real identity of these West African shells ?
Achatina indotata Reeve, 1849 has been well described in the famous Conchiglia Iconica series of molluscan monographs.
Subsequently the conchologist, G.W. Tryon, revised the status of A. indotata in the second series of the American sequel of monographs devoted to the Pulmonates, Manual of Conchology. In 1905 Vol. 17 part 2 of the Achatinidae was published ( the work was completed by H.A. Pilsbry, who became a coauthor ).
As stated the locality is now amended to South Africa. In further generic sequencing Tryon introduced the subgenus Cochlitoma, that he divided into two parts; the first “group of C. semidecussata”, and the second “group of zebra”. Achatina indotata is now determined to originate from South Africa and to be affiliated to Achatina zebra (Bruguière, 1792).
In the most recent revision of the Achatinidae, Bequaert 1950:15 wrote
In 2004 A. R. Mead clarified the situation with the 25 Achatina species placed into Cochlitoma by Tryon & Pilsbry, 1905 ( beyond scope present stub but including A. indotata ).
And that should be end of story : Achatina indotata Reeve, 1849 = Achatina zebra var. tigrina (Beck, 1837) from South Africa. Nothing to do with Archachatina, at best generic placement in Cochlitoma.
We can place it here : www.petsnails.co.uk/species/achatina-zebra.html#start
…....until you google Achatina and/or Archachatina indotata...........and see completely different shells identified as A. indotata..........e.g.
www.conchology.be/?t=68&u=477409&g=3c463f6b7f9481c2c1e9bea2b88654b9&q=177ed83178d40bbc9b42b04d42a42b3e
www.conchology.be/?t=68&u=477436&g=3c463f6b7f9481c2c1e9bea2b88654b9&q=08f081f8f32516147558a008841a3d27
www.conchology.be/?t=68&u=170772&g=3c463f6b7f9481c2c1e9bea2b88654b9&q=08f081f8f32516147558a008841a3d27
www.bagniliggia.it/WMSD/HtmSpecies/3980750476.htm
www.shellauction.net/auction_shell.php?id=1031845&pres=1
Their locality Ghana, Togo, Cameroon,...........now the BIG QUESTION : what is the real identity of these West African shells ?