The Caucasus region is among the most important Eurasian biodiversity hotspots (Zazanashvili et al. 2004, Walther et al. 2014). Its mollusc fauna is far from being well-explored and, as indicated by a number of recent studies, one could reasonably expect further taxonomical discoveries in this region. The diversity and distribution of the mollusc fauna are especially little known, as only few precise locality records have been published for most of the species (Walther et al. 2014, see also http://www.caucasus-snails.uni-hamburg.de/CaucasianLandSnails-Dateien/Checklist.html). This paper has three objectives, namely (i) clarifying the question of possible genital polymorphism in Pontophaedusa funiculum (Mousson) (Fig. 1), (ii) presenting georeferenced distribution records (Appendix 1) and shell photographs (Figs 2–15) of clausiliid species collected during a field trip in Georgia in June, 2012 in order to contribute the better knowledge of the region's biodiversity, and (iii) providing a comprehensive list of Caucasian door-snail literature.
... By contrast, the tumultuous first half of the 20th century proved unfavourable for mollusc studies, yielding only few clausiliid-related papers (Rosen 1914;Kokochashvili 1940Kokochashvili , 1941Javelidze 1941). Thereafter a renewed interest in the region's land snails resulted in several further contributions (Likharev and Rammelmeier 1952;Likharev and Lezhava 1961;Likharev 1962;Lezhava 1962Lezhava , 1964Lezhava , 2004Nordsieck 1975Nordsieck , 1976Natsvlishvili 1967;Sysoev and Schileyko 2009;Pokryszko et al. 2011;Fehér et al 2014;Mumladze et al. 2017;Hausdorf et al. 2018;Mumlaze and Szekeres 2020;Neiber et al. 2021) that considerably increased our knowledge of the Georgian Clausiliidae fauna. As a result, the taxonomic positions and distribution areas of the species, as well as the fauna composition became quite well assessed. ...
... The occurrence data listed in the Results are based on georeferenced samples that were collected during the past two decades. For comparison, the maps showing the occurrence points also include well defined locality data that have been provided in the publications of Majoros and Németh (1997), Pokryszko et al. (2011), Fehér et al. (2014, Mumladze et al. (2017) and Neiber et al. (2021). ...
The Caucasus ecoregion is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in western Eurasia. Georgia is situated in the middle of this area, between the ranges of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, a position providing exceptionally balanced environmental conditions for its flora and fauna. Animal groups of low mobility, such as land snails, are important indicators of the past and present geographic and climatic events shaping these unique ecosystems. We give an overview of the land snail family Clausiliidae in Georgia that includes 30 species, among which eight are endemic to this country. Their distribution areas are reassessed in the light of novel georeferenced occurrence data resulting from recent field work. Aspects of the origin, diversity, habitat requirements and conservation status of the Georgian Clausiliidae fauna are discussed. Additionally, Mucronaria (Mucronaria) kartvelica sp. n. is described from the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region.
... Most of these taxa had been described by the end of the 19th century, but it took more than six decades to get the first comprehensive assessment of this fauna published by Likharev [1962]. Only in recent years was his fundamental work followed by other works that dealt with particular groups [Majoros et al., 1994;Suvorov, 2002;Kijashko, 2005;Pokryszko et al., 2011;Fehér et al., 2014;Koch et al., 2016] or gave updated overviews [Egorov 2001[Egorov , 2002Sysoev, Schileyko, 2009] of these snails. This renewed interest resulted in the discovery of new endemic species, as well as valuable taxonomic and zoogeographical contributions, in which further progress is foreseen. ...
Acrotoma (Castelliana) likharevi sp. nov., Acrotoma (Castelliana) reshaviensis sp. nov., and Micropontica (Baleopsina) olgae sp. nov. are described from the Bzyb Mountains of Abkhazia. The taxonomic position, relation to congeneric taxa, and zoogeographical significance of the new taxa are discussed.
... Most of these taxa had been described by the end of the 19th century, but it took more than six decades to get the first comprehensive assessment of this fauna published by Likharev [1962]. Only in recent years was his fundamental work followed by other works that dealt with particular groups [Majoros et al., 1994;Suvorov, 2002;Kijashko, 2005;Pokryszko et al., 2011;Fehér et al., 2014;Koch et al., 2016] or gave updated overviews [Egorov 2001[Egorov , 2002Sysoev, Schileyko, 2009] of these snails. This renewed interest resulted in the discovery of new endemic species, as well as valuable taxonomic and zoogeographical contributions, in which further progress is foreseen. ...
Acrotoma (Castelliana) likharevi sp. nov., Acrotoma (Castelliana) reshaviensis sp. nov., and Micropontica (Baleopsina) olgae sp. nov. are described from the Bzyb Mountains of Abkhazia. The taxonomic position, relation to congeneric taxa, and zoogeographical significance of the new taxa are discussed .
We evaluated progress towards animal biodiversity research in Georgia, a key area in the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot. By reviewing recently (1990–2018) published articles in all areas of animal diversity research, we unmasked the trends in biodiversity inventory, ecological and biogeographical studies, and conservation issues in Georgia. We concluded that species inventory and biodiversity research in Georgia has significantly increased during the last ten years, however the rate and extent of investigation is far from satisfactory. Major gaps remain in all branches of animal diversity research in Georgia, and consequently existing knowledge is inadequate to address modern challenges related to species and ecosystem conservation. We urge local governmental authorities and international scientific societies to support development of stronger research facilities and cultivate interest in biodiversity inventory and research in Georgia as an important step towards maintaining globally important biodiversity in the Caucasus.
A new species Merdigera invisa Kijashko sp. nov. from the high-mountainous part of Northwest
Caucasus is described. Taking into account the characters of this species, the diagnosis of the subfamily
Merdigerinae Schileyko, 1984 is defined more exactly.
The genus Helix Linnaeus, 1758 includes the largest snails of the family Helicidae. It is distributed in northern Africa and Eurasia. Our specimens differ from all other large members of the genus found in the Caucasus and Asia Minor and represent a new species - Helix goderdziana.
Helix goderdziana sp. nov. (Figs 2-4)
Helix goderdziana sp. nov. is described from the Lesser Caucasus, south-western Georgia. Its habitat is a humid
montane forest. This is the largest species of Helix known so far
This paper presents a comprehensive revision of Circassina (Gastropoda: Hygromiidae). Circassina is divided into two subgenera. The nominotypical subgenus is characterized by an inflation forming a brim at the base of the dart apparatus, whereas Circassina (Abchasohela) is characterized by a granular shell sculpture. Circassina (Circassina) includes C. frutis (with the subspecies C. f. frutis, C. frutis circassica and C. frutis veselyi), which ranges from the northwestern slope of the Caucasus Mountains throughout most of Georgia to northernmost Armenia and the Eastern Pontic Mountains in Turkey, and C. lasistana new species, which is only known from the Vileyet Artvin in Turkey. Circassina (Abchasohela) includes C. christophori, C. pachnodes, C. pergranulata new species, C. septentrionalis new species and C. stephaniae. All species of Circassina (Abchasohela) are restricted to Abkhasia and the adjacent Russian regions in westernmost Caucasia. The shell and the genitalia of each taxon are described and illustrated. All synonyms and all locality records are listed. The distribution of the species is illustrated on a UTM-grid map.
Clausiliidae is one of the most speciose and best-studied families of land snails. The family contributes to land snail diversity on a global scale, with three main centres of diversity: 1) western Eurasia (6 subfamilies recognized), 2) East Asia (2 subfamilies recognized) and 3) the neotropics (1 subfamily recognized i.e. Neniinae). Despite a wealth of shell-morphological and anatomical studies, a well-supported phylogeny is lacking for the family. To provide a phylogenetic framework and reevaluate morphological and biogeographic observations on the family, we compiled a dataset consisting of partial 28S rRNA, histone H3 and histone H4 nucleotide sequences covering all clausiliid subfamilies, and 23 out of 25 tribes. Our analyses (MrBayes, BEAST, PhyML) divide the family into seven highly supported clades, which were retrieved by at least two of the three markers used, and which are more or less geographically confined. Three of these clades coincide with subfamilies recognized in the current classification (Alopiinae, Garnieriinae, Laminiferinae). The monophyly of four of the remaining six hitherto accepted subfamilies is not supported, with the New World subfamily Neniinae divided across two clades. All shell-morphological characters used in classical clausiliid classification were homoplasious at the subfamily level, with the exception of the type of shell aperture formation. In contrast to previous interpretations, our results suggest that the so-called 'apostrophic' aperture found in the neotropical clausiliids, and in a European (Laminiferinae) and a SE Asian (Garnieriinae) subfamily, is in fact the plesiomorphic condition among extant Clausiliidae. The widespread and fragmented geographic distribution of this type of aperture may therefore be considered relictual. Based on an inferred Late Cretaceous or Early Cenozoic European origin of the clade of extant Clausiliidae, the ancestor(s) of the neotropical Clausiliidae must have colonized the New World after the Atlantic Ocean had opened. A taxonomic revision is proposed.
The genus Caucasocressa is revised. Ten Caucasocressa species are known from north-east Turkey and south-west Georgia. Five new species are described. For every taxon the shell is described and illustrated and the variability of the genitalia (as far as known) is shown. All synonyms are listed. The distribution is summarized and all locality records are listed. The distribution of the species is illustrated on a UTM grid-map.
Seven Monacha species have been found in the Western Caucasus region. Six of these species are endemic there. They all belong to the subgenera Paratheba and Metatheba. Three species are new to science. M. (Paratheba) claussi, sp. n. and M. (Metatheba) subcarthusiana (Lindholm) are the only Monacha species, in which the right ommatophoral retractor sometimes crosses with the penis. This might be due to an ancestral polymorphism, atavism or a basal position of the two species within Monacha, which would mean that Paratheba is paraphyletic and Metatheba is polyphyletic. Monacha (Monacha) cartusiana (O. F. Muller), the only Monacha sensu stricto species in the Caucasus region, has probably been introduced by man. The shell and the genitalia of every species are described and illustrated. The synonyms and all Caucasian locality records are listed. The distributions of the species are illustrated on UTM-grid maps.