Description of a new subterranean nerite: Theodoxus gloeri n. sp. with some data on the freshwater gastropod fauna of Balikdami Wetland (Sakarya River, Turkey)

Abstract

In the present study, conducted between 2001 and 2003, four taxa of aquatic gastropoda were identified from the Balikdami Wetland. All the species determined are new records for the study area, while one species Theodoxus gloeri sp. nov. is new to science. Neritidae is a representative family of an ancient group Archaeogastropoda, among Gastropoda. Theodoxus is a freshwater genus in the Neritidae, known for a dextral, rapidly grown shell ended with a large last whorl and a lunate calcareous operculum. Distribution of this genus includes Europe, also extending from North Africa to South Iran. In Turkey, 14 modern and fossil species and subspecies were mentioned so far. In this study, we aimed to uncover the gastropoda fauna of an important Wetland and describe a subterranean Theodoxus species, new to science.