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Enzymatic variation in the land snail Euglandina texasiana (Gastropods: Pulmonata) from south Texas and northeastern Mexico.

Article Excerpt
Kathryn E. Perez (*)

Abstract.-Enzymatic variation in four specimens of the land snail Euglandina texasiana (pfeiffer) from south Texas and northeastern Mexico (150 km distant) was examined using cellulose acetate gel electrophoresis. Ten of the 15 loci examined were found to be monomorphic for all specimens. Considerable variation was observed to occur in the remaining five loci. A computer analysis of the resulting enzymatic variation revealed that specimens from these two locations were 94/5% genetically similar. A single specimen of Euglandina singleyana (Binney)from New Braunfels in central Texas was found to be 47.6% similar to specimens of Euglandina Texasiana.

Resumen.-La variacion enzimatic en cuatro especimenes del caracol terrestre Euglandina Texasiana (Pfeiffer) del sur de Texas y del nordeste de Mexico (a 150 km distance) fue examinada usando electroforesis de gel de acetato celuloso. Se encontro que diez de los 15 lugares examinados son monomorficos para todos los especimenes. Un analisis de computadora de la variacion enzimatica resultante revelo que los especimenes de estas do dos localidades fueron el 94.5% geneticamente similares. Se encontro que un solo especimen de Euglandina singleyana (Binney) de New Braunfels en Texas central es el 47.6% parecido a especimenes de Euglandina texasiana.

Two naturally occurring widespread species of the predaceous land anail Euglandina are currently recognized from Texas. Euglandinsingleyana is reported from a large area of central Texas. It ranges from Terrell County in the west of Fayette County in the east, and south to Refugio County (Strecker 1935; Pilsbry & Ferriss 1906; Pilsbry 1946; Fullington & Pratt 1974; Neck 1980; Hubricht 1985: Map 342). Euglandina texasiana inhabits areas of Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas Pilsbry 1946; Fullington & Pratt 1974; Harry 1983; Neck 1984; Hubricht 1985: Map 341). These two species of Euglandina are allopatric and separated by a zone or over 200 km.

Euglandina texasiana also inhabits a region of coastal lowlands in Mexico which extends from the Rio Grande Valley south through Tamaulipas to eastern San Luis Potosi and...