Cerion (gastropod)
Genus of gastropods
Cerion genus of small to medium-sized tropical air-breathing land snails , terrestrial pulmonate gastropods in the family Cerionidae , noted for its extreme morphological diversity. The genus is endemic to the Caribbean region.[ 4] [ 5]
Cerion has been a model organism in evolutionary biology . The genus has significantly contributed to scientific understanding of evolutionary processes in insular environments , making it a key subject in biogeographical and ecological research .[ 6] [ 1] [ 7]
Distribution
These snails are endemic to islands of the tropical western Atlantic , including southern Florida , The Bahamas , Greater Antilles , Cayman Islands , western Virgin Islands , and Dutch Antilles . They are notable for their absence in Jamaica , the Lesser Antilles , and coastal Central and South America .[ 7] [ 8] [ 4] [ 5] [ 1]
Ecology
Cerionid species inhabit nearshore terrestrial vegetation, usually within a few hundred meters of the shore but occasionally further inland, up to a kilometer away in areas influenced by salt spray . These snails thrive in dense but patchy populations , often numbering over ten thousand individuals. They are more visible in open vegetation and less so in leaf litter . The populations are generally uniform in shell size and morphology, with greater uniformity observed in more isolated populations .[ 5] [ 9]
Morphological Diversity
Cerion snail shells collected on Andros Island, Bahamas. Note variation in morphology from ridged to smooth, color in degree of stripedness, and length to width ratio. Scale at bottom is in centimeters. Cerion is one of the most morphologically diverse genera among land snails . Members of this genus exhibit exceptional morphological diversity , contributing to nearly 500 species recognized. This diversity is primarily manifested in shell form, ranging from spherical to elongated shapes. [ 1]
Within populations , variation in shell form is typically low; however, distinct populations, can display significant morphological differences . The shells of Cerion species vary considerably even among closely situated populations, sometimes separated by less than 200 meters. Despite differences in various distinctive characters, many of these populations are capable of hybridization .[ 5] [ 7] [ 10]
Taxonomy
First described by Röding in 1798, Cerion includes the type species Turbo uva Linnaeus , 1758. The genus represents one of the most challenging groups in pulmonate mollusk classification, often described as a "taxonomic morass " due to its extreme morphological diversity and the frequent hybridization at geographic contact points . This complexity is compounded by the ability of different morphotypes to interbreed , blurring traditional species boundaries .[ 10] [ 1]
In a notable revision by Stephen Jay Gould and David S. Woodruff in 1986, the taxonomy of Cerion on New Providence Island was simplified from over 90 designated species to just two semispecies , Cerion glans and Cerion gubernatorium , based on morphometric and genetic analyses , highlighting the importance of combining multidisciplinary criteria in taxonomic revisions .[ 8] [ 10]
Cerion has been subject to reclassification , particularly concerning its relationship with the New World Urocoptidae based on genital characteristics and kidney morphology. Recent molecular studies using 28S rRNA sequence data have supported the classification of Cerionidae within the new superfamily Urocoptoidea , which also includes the North American and circum-Caribbean Urocoptidae .[ 7]
Evolution
Research has explored the relationships between morphological variations and genetic differences , the dynamics of hybrid zones , and the persistence of hybrids over time. Studies have shown that morphological variations are stable over time, suggesting a strong genetic component influenced by limited gene flow between populations. [ 4] [ 6]
Calcrete paleosol from San Salvador Island’s bedrock. This Late Pleistocene calcrete has three fossil Cerion land snail shells, along with a fossil Tectarius snail shell, in cemented lime sand. Calcretes are lithified soil horizons, and are composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The fossil range of Cerion is possibly from the Upper Cretaceous of Montana , or the early Miocene of Florida .[ 1] Cerion in Pleistocene are rare.[ 1] Fossil records , particularly from the Quaternary period , reveal patterns and trends that provide insights into these evolutionary processes.[ 6]
Paleontological studies suggest that the genus, possibly originating from the late Cretaceous of North America and subsequently diversifying in the Caribbean through a series of vicariance and dispersal events. The evolutionary trajectory of Cerion lineages is marked by significant morphological change, potentially driven by hybridization and geographical isolation events during glacial and interglacial periods . [ 6] [ 7]
Species
Species within the genus Cerion include:
Cerion acuticostatum [ 11] Cerion aguayoi [ 11] Cerion alberti [ 11] Cerion alleni [ 11] Cerion anodonta [citation needed Cerion arangoi [ 11] Cerion banesense [ 11] Cerion barroi [ 11] Cerion basistriatum [ 11] Cerion bioscai [ 11] Cerion blanesi [ 11] Cerion cabocruzense [ 11] Cerion capraia [citation needed Cerion caroli [ 11] Cerion casablancae Cerion catherwoodianum [ 11] Cerion ceiba [ 11] Cerion chaparra [ 11] Cerion chaplini [ 11] Cerion chrysalis Cerion chrysaloides [citation needed Cerion circumscriptum [ 11] Cerion cisneroi [ 11] Cerion cobarrubia [ 11] Cerion columbiana [citation needed Cerion columbinus [ 11] Cerion coutini [ 11] Cerion crassilabris [citation needed Cerion crassiusculum [ 11] Cerion cyclostomum [ 11] Cerion dimidiatum [ 11] Cerion disforme [ 11] Cerion dorotheae [ 11] Cerion ebriolum [ 11] Cerion evolva [citation needed Cerion fasciata [citation needed Cerion feltoni [ 11] Cerion floridanum [citation needed Cerion geophilum [ 11] Cerion glans Cerion grilloensis [ 11] Cerion grisea [citation needed Cerion gundlachi [ 11] Cerion herrerai [ 11] Cerion hessei [ 11] Cerion humberti [ 11] Cerion hyperlissum [ 11] Cerion incanum Cerion incrassatum [ 11] Cerion infandulum [ 11] Cerion infandum [ 11] Cerion iostomum [ 11] Cerion johnsoni [ 11] Cerion josephi [ 11] Cerion kusteri [ 11] Cerion laureani [ 11] Cerion longidens [ 11] Cerion macrodon [ 11] Cerion magister [ 11] Cerion manatiense [ 11] Cerion marielinum [ 11] Cerion maritimum [ 11] Cerion microdon [ 11] Cerion microstonum [ 11] Cerion miramarae [ 11] Cerion multicostum [ 11] Cerion mumia [ 11] Cerion mumiola [ 11] Cerion nanus [ 12] Cerion nipense [ 11] Cerion obesum [citation needed Cerion orientale [ 11] Cerion palmeri [ 11] Cerion pandionis [ 11] Cerion paredonis [ 11] Cerion pastelilloensis [ 11] Cerion paucicostatum [ 11] Cerion paucisculptum [ 11] Cerion peracutum [ 11] Cerion persuasa [citation needed Cerion pilsbryi [citation needed Cerion pinerium [ 11] Cerion politum [ 11] Cerion prestoni [ 11] Cerion pretiosus [ 11] Cerion pseudocyclostomum [ 11] Cerion pupilla [citation needed Cerion ramsdeni [ 11] Cerion regina [citation needed Cerion regula [citation needed Cerion restricta [citation needed Cerion ricardi [ 11] Cerion rodrigoi Cerion saccharimeta [citation needed Cerion saetiae [ 11] Cerion sagraianum [ 11] Cerion sainthilarius [ 11] Cerion sallei [citation needed Cerion salvatori [ 11] Cerion sanctacruzense [ 11] Cerion sanctamariae [ 11] Cerion sanzi [ 11] Cerion scalarinum [ 11] Cerion scopulorum [ 11] Cerion sculptum [ 11] Cerion sisal [ 11] Cerion striatellum [citation needed Cerion stupida [citation needed Cerion tanamensis [ 11] Cerion tenuilabre [ 11] Cerion torrei [ 11] Cerion tridentatun [ 11] Cerion uva [ 13] Cerion vaccinum [citation needed Cerion vanattai [ 11] Cerion venustum [ 11] Cerion viaregis Cerion victor [ 11] Cerion vulneratum [ 11] Cerion watlingense Cerion yumaensis [citation needed
References
^ a b c d e f g "Cerion : a web-based resource for Cerion research and identification" . accessed 5 April 2011.^ Röding P. F. (1798). Museum Boltenianum sive catalogus cimeliorum e tribus regnis naturæ quæ olim collegerat Joa. Fried Bolten, M. D. p. d. per XL. annos proto physicus Hamburgensis. Pars secunda continens conchylia sive testacea univalvia, bivalvia & multivalvia . pp. [1-3], [1-8], 1-199. Hamburg. page 90.^ a b "Cerion Röding, 1798" . WoRMS . World Register of Marine Species .^ a b c Shrestha, Yesha; Wirshing, Herman H.; Harasewych, M. G. (2015-09-17). "The Genus Cerion (Gastropoda: Cerionidae) in the Florida Keys" . PLOS ONE . 10 (9): e0137325. Bibcode :2015PLoSO..1037325S . doi :10.1371/journal.pone.0137325 ISSN 1932-6203 . PMC 4574968 PMID 26378443 . ^ a b c d Bartsch, Paul (1940-03-22). "Land Mollusca of North America: Land Mollusca of North America (North of Mexico) . Vol. 1, Part 1. By Henry A. Pilsbry" . Science . 91 (2360): 292–293. doi :10.1126/science.91.2360.292-c . ISSN 0036-8075 . ^ a b c d Hearty, Paul J.; Schellenberg, Stephen A. (September 2008). "Integrated Late Quaternary chronostratigraphy for San Salvador Island, Bahamas: Patterns and trends of morphological change in the land snail Cerion" . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology . 267 (1–2): 41–58. Bibcode :2008PPP...267...41H . doi :10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.06.003 . ISSN 0031-0182 . ^ a b c d e Uit De Weerd, D. R. (2008-07-28). "Delimitation and phylogenetics of the diverse land-snail family Urocoptidae (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) based on 28S rRNA sequence data: a reunion with Cerion" . Journal of Molluscan Studies . 74 (4): 317–329. doi :10.1093/mollus/eyn023 . ISSN 0260-1230 . ^ a b Suárez, Alexis (2018-07-27). "Especie nueva de Cerion (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Cerionidae) de Holguín, Cuba" . Novitates Caribaea (12): 43–48. doi :10.33800/nc.v0i12.83 ISSN 2079-0139 . ^ Baker F. C. (1903). Shells of land and water; a familiar introduction to the study of the mollusks . Chicago, A.W. Mumford, page 48.
^ a b c Gould, Stephen Jay; Woodruff, David S. (1986). "Evolution and systematics of Cerion (Mollusca, Pulmonata) on New Providence Island: A radical revision" . Bulletin of the AMNH . 182 : 390–490. hdl :2246/579 . ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl "Mollusca" Archived July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine . Diversidad Biológica Cubana, accessed 23 March 2011.^ "Cerion" . Smithsonian Institution, accessed 17 May 2016.
^ "Cerion uva (Linnaeus, 1758)" . WoRMS . World Register of Marine Species .
External links
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