Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 71. (Budapest 1979)
Varga, A.: On the genus Hygromia Risso, 1826 (Gastropoda, Helicidae)
On the Genus Hygromia Risso, 1826 (Gastropoda, Helicidae) by A. VARGA, Gyöngyös Abstract — On the basis of its genital apparatus H. deubeli (KIM.) described as a subspecies of H. transsylvanica (WEST.) proved to be a distinct species. Anatomical relations between H. transsylvanica (WEST.), H. deubeli (KIM.) and H. kovácsi VARGA et PINTÉR are discussed in datail. Shell surface was also studied resulting in the following main diagnoses. With 41 figures. Owing to SCHILEYKO'S studies the system of Helicidae has substantially changed since 1976. In 1970 the subfamily Hygromiinae was divided into three tribes: Hygromiini, Trichiini and Ciliellini. Four new taxa belonging to the genus Hygromia Risso were described in the same year. VARGA & PINTÉR (1972) stated: "Da die vier Taxa in der Gattungsgruppe {Lozekia HuDEC, Archaica SCHILEYKO, Euarchaica SCHILEYKO und Ganula GITTENBERGER) auf ganz ähnliche Merkmale gegründet sind, ohne eine scharfe Trennung zu ermöglichen, halten wir sie für synonym." Priority of the genus Lozekia was proved by GITTENBERGER (1971). Thus, the genus Hygromia comprises the following three subgenera: Hygromia s. str., Pyrenaearia HESSE, 1931 and Lozekia HUDEC, 1970. Comparing the western and eastern Palaearctic groups of the family Helicidae with the Nearctic ones, SCHILEYKO pointed out that the western Palaearctic groups are heterogenous in their morphophysiological aspects and dominated by monotypical genera. A critical review of SCHILEYKO'S results was given by PINTÉR in 1977. This kind of system seems somewhat artificial and useless making it difficult to find the right subgeneric place of a new taxon to be described. Perhaps this problem can be solved by introducing a new subgenus. "Auf die Gefahr der «Nouvelle École» des vorigen Jahrhunderts kann nie oft genug hingewiesen werden. Man spricht heute bereits von einem «anatomischen Bourguignatismus»" (PINTÉR 1977). A new variety of Fruticola (Zenobia) transsylvanica WEST. var. deubeli, was described by KIMAKOWICZ in 1890. Its anatomical structure, studied by us for the first time, shows that deubeli is in fact a distinct species. It can easily be placed in the subgenus Lozekia since bursa hasta proved to be closely related to Hygromia transsylvanica. To find out the appropriate systematic position of Hygromia kovácsi VARGA et PINTÉR, 1972, seems to be a crucial point in the Hygromia problem. Despite of some evident similarities in its shell morphology, it does not belong to the subgenus Lozekia for bursa hasta of Hygromia kovácsi is similar to that of the subgenus Pyrenaearia HESSE. The subgenus Lozekia, on the other hand, can be characterized by a large bursa hasta divided into two unequal parts. Hygromia transsylvanica ((WESTERLUND, 1876) (Fig. 1-3, 10-14, 27-30) Lozekia HUDEC, 1970, species typica: Helix transsylvanica WEST. Distribution: Carpathian region. Horn coloured shell is roundish having a moderately protruding apex (Figs. 1-3). Its wall is transparent with rows of significant triangular scales rounded or pointed at their edges. Between the Ann. Hist.-nat. Mus. Nat. Hung., 71, 1979 20*
