Anatomy of Solaropsis brasiliana: a contribution to the phylogeny of Pleurodontidae

Abstract

A morphological detailed study on Solaropsis brasiliana (Deshayes, 1832) has been carried out. New shell, anatomy and a review of its distributional localities of occurrences are provided in the present study. S. brasiliana is diagnosed by its globose, solid and hirsute shell, with periphery obsoletely angular. Its bursa copulatrix with a thick, long diverticulum, a thick but long flagellum and a penis retractor muscle bifurcated with the vas deferens passing through it. This information was included in a matrix for a cladistics analysis that allowed testing the phylogenetic position of S. brasiliana within South American Pleurodontidae. The phylogenetic hypothesis support the monophyly of Solaropsis Beck and in the cladogram obtained S. brasiliana is sister group of S. undata (Lightfoot, 1786). S. brasiliana is currently recorded in Brazil, in the States of Rio de Janeiro, Espiritu Santo and Minas Gerais.