New taxonomical and biological observations on Jujubinus seguenzae (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda: Trochidae)

Abstract

The family Trochidae, commonly known as top-snails or top-shells, has recently received a lot of attention, especially the representatives of the genus Jujubinus. Eighteen extant taxa of this genus occur in the Mediterranean. It is however still unclear whether some of these should be classified as separate species or subspecies. Jujubinus seguenzae Ghisotti & Melone, 1975 is among the taxa of uncertain classification. This taxon is endemic to the Strait of Messina, where it is likely to inhabit shallow waters, although only one living specimen has been documented. This species is currently considered a nomen dubium due to the scant information available in the literature and its morphological resemblance to J. striatus (L., 1758). Photographs of the type material of this latter species, in the Linnean collection, were examined. Although it was clear that this taxon includes more than one single species, none was attributable to J. seguenzae.