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Allozyme homozygosity and phally polymorphism in the land snail Zonitoides nitidus (Gastropoda, Pulmonata)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1998

K. Jordaens
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Antwerp (RUCA), Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium. E-mail: jordaens@nets.ruca.ua.ac.be
T. Backeljau
Affiliation:
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussel, Belgium
P. Ondina
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
H. Reise
Affiliation:
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, PF 30 01 54, D-02806 Görlitz, Germany
R. Verhagen
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Antwerp (RUCA), Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium. E-mail: jordaens@nets.ruca.ua.ac.be
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Abstract

Genetic variation in the pulmonate land snail Zonitoides nitidus was examined by means of allozyme electrophoresis in 17 European populations. We observed no heterozygotes, indicating that Z. nitidus consists of several homozygous multilocus genotypes (strains) probably produced by self-fertilization. Nine strains were detected. Strains appeared not to be equally distributed over the regions considered. One strain was strongly differentiated from the others, which is suggestive of a taxonomic differentiation. Anatomically, two major phally types were distinguished: euphallics, with well-developed male reproductive organs, and hemiphallics, with weakly developed male reproductive organs. Both phally types were found together in natural populations, but euphally ratios were very low (0–19%; overall mean = 7.79%) and differed between geographical regions (Belgium, Germany, and Sweden). In some populations, hemiphallic individuals were smaller compared to euphallic individuals although the difference is small and its biological significance remains to be established. We found no clear relation between phally type and allozyme data.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1998 The Zoological Society of London

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