VARIABILITY OF THE GENITAL SYSTEM OF HELIX POMATIA L., 1758 AND H. LUCORUM L., 1758 (GASTROPODA: STYLOMMATOPHORA)

This paper examines the variability of the genital charactersofHelix pomatia and H. lucorum. Some of thesecharacters are commonlyused to distinguish the two closely relatedspecies. Variationswithin and between populations are alsoinvestigated. The highvariability of these characters can frequentlylead to identificationerrors, especially in eastern Europe. Correctidentificationof these edible snails is also of commercialimportance, differentspecies having a different price. The reciprocalnature of themale parts of the genitalia and the bursa stalk anddiverticulumcomplex is pointed out. A possible function of thediverticulumis suggested on the basis of size relations betweengenitalsystem features. (Received 12 August 1999; accepted 11 April 2000)