Diversity of non-marine mollusks in the southernmost Paranaense forest of the world.

The Natural Reserve of Punta Lara (RNPL) is a protected natural area that includes Paranaense forest southernmost in the world. This area is surrounded by a densely populated and touristic sector. The objective of this work was to estimate the richness, diversity and equity of the RNPL mollusks (aquatic and terrestrial) and to establish the relationship of their species in aquatic environments. One sampling per year was carried out between 2013 and 2019. There were 32 species recorded (six are non-native species): 23 gastropods (14 freshwater, nine terrestrial) and nine bivalves. Three species were recorded in all sampling years, while six only on one occasion. The land snail genus Drepanostomella is reported for the first time in that region, and five freshwater species are reported for the first time for the RNPL. The similarity analysis of the freshwater environment separated the coastal environments from the internal environments. The environments with the highest specific richness were in internal sites of the RNPL, while the least diverse was the coast of the Río de la Plata, where the invasive species Limnoperna fortunei predominates. It is recommended to increase the conservation efforts of the different environments of the RNPL continuously threatened by urbanization.

First records of the bean-slug Sarasinula plebeia (Gastropoda: Veronicellidae) in Argentina

Sarasinula plebeia is a common land slug in tropical and subtropical areas, including South America. This species is known as Bean-slug but considered a pest of great importance in numerous crops, horticultural facilities, plant nurseries, and garden. Also, it is a natural host for nematodes that cause parasitosis in different countries. We report for the first time the occurrence of Sarasinula plebeia in Argentina, based on material collected in the provinces of Chaco and Misiones, extending the distribution of the species in South America to 34 terrestrial ecoregions.(AU)

First records of the bean-slug Sarasinula plebeia (Gastropoda: Veronicellidae) in Argentina

Sarasinula plebeia is a common land slug in tropical and subtropical areas, including South America. This species is known as Bean-slug but considered a pest of great importance in numerous crops, horticultural facilities, plant nurseries, and garden. Also, it is a natural host for nematodes that cause parasitosis in different countries. We report for the first time the occurrence of Sarasinula plebeia in Argentina, based on material collected in the provinces of Chaco and Misiones, extending the distribution of the species in South America to 34 terrestrial ecoregions.

First records of the bean-slug Sarasinula plebeia (Gastropoda: Veronicellidae) in Argentina

Abstract Sarasinula plebeia is a common land slug in tropical and subtropical areas, including South America. This species is known as Bean-slug but considered a pest of great importance in numerous crops, horticultural facilities, plant nurseries, and garden. Also, it is a natural host for nematodes that cause parasitosis in different countries. We report for the first time the occurrence of Sarasinula plebeia in Argentina, based on material collected in the provinces of Chaco and Misiones, extending the distribution of the species in South America to 34 terrestrial ecoregions.

Ocular tentacle malformation in Deroceras reticulatum (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Agriolimacidae)

Malformations in animals have long been known. In gastropod, natural and induced malformations are mentioned in different systems and in ocular tentacles, mainly linked to cases of parasitism and exposure to pollutants (molluscicides and chemicals). In this study we present a new malformation not documented in the ocular tentacles of slug Deroceras reticulatum that could be due to the action of pesticides. This malformation in D. reticulatum is the first malformation to be mentioned for South America in nursery gardens.(AU)

Ocular tentacle malformation in Deroceras reticulatum (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Agriolimacidae)

Malformations in animals have long been known. In gastropod, natural and induced malformations are mentioned in different systems and in ocular tentacles, mainly linked to cases of parasitism and exposure to pollutants (molluscicides and chemicals). In this study we present a new malformation not documented in the ocular tentacles of slug Deroceras reticulatum that could be due to the action of pesticides. This malformation in D. reticulatum is the first malformation to be mentioned for South America in nursery gardens.

[Terrestrial gastropods from Misiones Province, Argentina]. / Gasterópodos terrestres de la provincia de Misiones, Argentina.

The Atlantic Forest represents one of the global priority eco-regions for biodiversity conservation. In Argentina, this is represented by the Paranense Forest, which occupies much of the Misiones Province. In this paper, an updated list of land mollusks from Misiones Province is presented, and its species richness was evaluated comparing protected and unprotected areas. For this, we reviewed La Plata Museum Mollusk Collection, updated the literature review, and developed some field work between 2009 and 2010. For the areographic work, a grid (50 x 50 km) was applied to a Misiones province map. In this region, large areas of native vegetation constituting the Paranaense Forest still persist, and include protected areas such as the Iguazú National Park and Puerto Peninsula Provincial Park. These areas have been the most explored at the malacological level (both terrestrial and aquatic environments), a fact that is consistent with the greater number of records found, which may also be the explanation for the highest number of species recorded in the region. A database containing 497 records was compiled. The number of species occurring in this Province was increased from 28 to 56; 11 of which were exotic species. A total of 38 of the species occurred in protected areas and 53 in unprotected areas; and 25 species were micro-mollusks. Orthalicidae was the family with the highest species number (10) and the widest distribution, occupying 16/20 sampling units. Megalobulimus was the genus found in a greater number of sampling units (14/20). The highest values of specific richness of land gastropods were found in Northern Misiones (R=32). This richness was similar to that previously reported for the Tucumán Province, although species occurring in both provinces were mostly different. The richness in Misiones Province border areas, as the Republic of Paraguay and the state of Santa Catarina (Brazil), was about twice that found in the province. The present study showed the existence of poorly explored areas at malacological level, especially in Central and Eastern Misiones. Data presented here will allow focus future sampling efforts on such areas, so patterns of species distribution can be better defined.