Three phyla-Two type specimens-One shell: History of a snail shell revealed by modern imaging technology

Schwaha, Thomas and Ruthensteiner, Bernhard and Melzer, Roland R. and Asami, Takahiro and Páll-Gergely, Barna (2020) Three phyla-Two type specimens-One shell: History of a snail shell revealed by modern imaging technology. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, 57 (3). pp. 527-533. ISSN 0947-5745

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Abstract

In a recent revision of the gastropod genus Bellardiella, it became evident that the neotype of B. crassilabris had numerous borings over its entire shell surface. Superficial and light microscopical observation of the shell showed that the borings were made by a bryozoan belonging to the genus Penetrantia. Conventional techniques such as endocasting with the dissolution of the shell are impossible for type material. The application of non-destructive micro-CT-scanning of the shell revealed the three-dimensional arrangement of the entire colony within the shell. Careful analysis of the structure of the autozooids of the colony revealed that the species could not be assigned to any known species; we accordingly describe it as Penetrantia bellardiellae Schwaha, n. sp. The application of micro-CT not only allowed the depiction of the new bryozoan species but also revealed the remains of a hermit crab located within the shell. The shell of Bellardiella crassilabris thus represents the type specimen of two species and contains a member of a third phylum inside. To our knowledge, this is a unique case, which also emphasizes the usefulness of micro-CT imaging for precious specimens as well as the importance of historical museum collections.

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