RESEARCH PAPER
New findings of the endangered slug Turcomilax turkestanus (Simroth, 1898) (Heterobranchia: Eupulmonata: Limacidae) in the Northern Tien-Shan
More details
Hide details
1
Laboratory of Arachnology and Other Invertebrates, Intsitute of Zoology, Kazakhstan
2
Department of Applied Ecology, Saint Petersburg State University, Russia
Submission date: 2024-12-31
Final revision date: 2025-04-30
Acceptance date: 2025-05-04
Online publication date: 2025-07-09
Corresponding author
Anel Ishayeva
Laboratory of Arachnology and Other Invertebrates, Intsitute of Zoology, Al-Farabi Ave. 93, 050060, Almaty, Kazakhstan
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The genus Turcomilax (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Stylommatophora: Limacidae) includes six species of slugs, which are endemic to the mountain systems of the Tien Shan and Himalayas. Two species, Turcomilax tzvetkovi Likharev et Wiktor, 1980 and Turcomilax turkestanus (Simroth, 1898), are listed in the Red List of Kazakhstan. The most recent published observation of Turcomilax turkestanus dates back to the end of the 1990s. Since then, the area encompassing its range has experienced significant recreational pressure, raising concerns about the potential extinction or drastic population decline of these species. The article reports new findings of Turcomilax turkestanus from the Ile Alatau region. Specimens were collected between April and July 2023 and identified based on the anatomical features. New records of Turcomilax turkestanus were made in the valley of Prokhodnaya River at altitudes between 1,824 and 1,863 m, in the Butakovsky Pass at 2,762 m and in the Talgar Pass at 3,300 m. These findings represent the first documented records of the species in these gorges and also, they expand the known information about the distribution heights and biotope of this species.
REFERENCES (20)
1.
Aitzhanova A. A. 2023. Extrapolated data-based analysis of terrestrial gastropod distribution in the Northern Tien Shan region. Experimental Biology 96(3): 106–112. https://doi.org/10.26577/eb.2023.v96.i3.08
2.
Amanzholov R., Imankulova S., Shalabaev K., Amanbekova D., Altynbek T. 2018. Analysis of the ecological state of the vegetative cover in the Ile (Zailiyskiy) Alatau mountains. International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference: SGEM, 18(5.2): 65–72. https://doi.org/10.5593/sgem2018/5.2/S20.009
3.
Batsch A. J. G. C. 1789. Versuch einer Anleitung, zur Kenntniss und Geschichte der Thiere und Mineralien, für Akademische Vorlesungen Entworfen, und mit den Nöthigsten Abbildungen versehen. Vol. 2. Besondre Geschichte der Insekten, Gewürme und Mineralien. Akademische Buchhandlung, Jena. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.79854
4.
Bössneck U., Hartmann M., Weipert J. 2006. Ökologie und Verbreitung der Nacktschnecken im Nepal-Himalaya (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Pulmonata). Biodiversität und Naturausstattung im Himalaya 2: 39–48.
5.
Li J., McCarthy T. M., Wang H., Weckworth B. V., Schaller G. B., Mishra C., Lu Z., Beissinger S. R. 2016. Climate refugia of snow leopards in High Asia. Biological Conservation 203: 188–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.09.026
6.
Likharev I. M., Wiktor A. Y. 1980. Slugs of the fauna of the USSR and adjacent countries (Gastropoda terrestria nuda). Fauna of the USSR. Mollusks 3(5), pp. 1–437. [in Russian].
7.
Meng L. H., Yang R., Abbott R. J., Miehe G., Hu T., Liu J. 2007. Mitochondrial and chloroplast phylogeography of Picea crassifolia Kom. (Pinaceae) in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent highlands. Molecular Ecology 16: 4128–4137. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03459.x
8.
Nesterova S., Kokoreva I., Inelova Z., Yerubayeva G., Lyssenko V. 2017. Effect of recreational activities on the main plant communities of the Trans-Ili Alatau. International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference: SGEM, 17: 289–296. https://doi.org/10.5593/sgem2017/52/S20.038
9.
Mityaev I. D. (ed.) 2003. Red Data Book of Kazahstan. Vol. 1. Animals. Part 2. 3rd Eidtion. Tethys, Almaty.
10.
Schileyko A. A., Rymzhanov T. S. 2013. Fauna of land mollusks (Gastropoda, Pulmonata terrestria) of Kazakhstan and adjacent territories. KMK Scientific Press, Moscow – Almaty. [in Russian]
11.
Shan W. J., Liu J., Yu L., Robert W. M., Mahmut H., Zhang Y. P. 2011. Genetic consequences of postglacial colonization by the endemic Yarkand hare (Lepus yarkandensis) of the arid Tarim Basin. Chinese Science Bulletin 56: 1370–1382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-011-4460-9
12.
Simroth H. 1898. Über die Gattung Limax in Russland. Annuaire du Musée Zoologique de l’Académie Impériale des Sciences de St.-Pétersbourg 3: 52–57. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39522120
13.
Simroth H. 1901. Die Nacktschneckenfauna des Russischen Reiches. XII + 321 pp., plates 1–8, 9a–b, 10–26, maps 1–10. Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, St.-Petersburg. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32173528
14.
Simroth H. 1910. Kaukasische und asiatische Limaciden und Raublungenschnecken. Annuaire du Musée Zoologique de Saint-Pétersbourg 15: 499–560.
15.
Tzvetkov B. N. 1940. Contribution to the knowledge of the fauna of the molluscs inhabiting the pastures of the Alma-Ata region. Proceedings of the Kazakh Research Veterinary Institute 3: 379–419. [in Russian]
16.
Uvalyeva K. K. 1990. Terrestrial mollusks of Kazakhstan and adjacent territories. Nauka, Alma-Ata. [in Russian].
17.
Uvalyeva K. K. 1999. Systematic composition of slugs (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) in the mollusk fauna of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Selevinia, Tethys, Almaty. pp. 22–39. [in Russian].
18.
Wang Q., Zhang M. L., Yin L. K. 2016. Phylogeographic structure of a Tethyan relict Capparis spinosa (Capparaceae) traces Pleistocene geologic and climatic changes in the Western Himalayas, Tianshan mountains, and adjacent desert regions. BioMed Research International 2016(3): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5792708
19.
Wiktor A., Naggs F., Gupta P. K. 1999. Turcomilax (Taulimax) oli sp. n. of the Kumaun Himalaya, India (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Limacidae). Malakologische Abhandlungen 19: 225–231.
20.
Zhang Y. J., Stöck M., Zhang P., Wang X. L., Zhou H., Qu L. H. 2008. Phylogeography of a widespread terrestrial vertebrate in a barely-studied Palearctic region: green toads (Bufo viridis subgroup) indicate glacial refugia in Eastern Central Asia. Genetica 134: 353–365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-008-9243-0