NEW DATA ON POND SNAILS (MOLLUSCA: GASTROPODA: LYMNAEIDAE) INHABITING THE UKRAINIAN TRANSCARPATHIAN: DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY

Abstract

Fourteen species of the family Lymnaeidae were revealed in the samples taken from lowland and mountainous parts of the Ukrainian Transcarpathian. Five species are regionally new: Stagnicola corvus, Radix parapsilia, R. balthica, R. ampla and R. tumida; two regionally rare species (Ladislavella terebra and Lymnaea fragilis) are discovered. The most widespread pond snails appear to be Lymnaea stagnalis and Radix intermedia, the rarest one – L. terebra and R. parapsilia found in single locality each. The lowland part of the Ukrainian Transcarpathian maintains more than 4/5 regional fauna of the Lymnaeidae, though a few species occurred in the mountainous locations collected above the 400 m a.s.l. The check-list of species, with appropriate comments on taxonomy, distribution and some ecological characteristics of the lymnaeids found within the studied area is provided. A list of species of aquatic snails and bivalves co-occurring with the Lymnaeidae in the studied area is provided. Relatively high species diversity of malacofauna in the region combined with rarity of some species allow to consider the Transcarpathian as a specific region apparently representing a separate biogeographic unit. There is a need for a further estimate of the regionally rare species in order to clarify their potential conservation status.