A small slug from a tropical greenhouse reveals a new rathouisiid lineage with triaulic tritrematic genitalia (Gastropoda: Systellommatophora)

Abstract A small slug found in the tropical greenhouse of Science Museum (MUSE) Trento (Italy) turned out to be a species little-known systellommatophoran family Rathouisiidae. We undertook detailed comparative anatomical and molecular studies using specimens MUSE slug, Rathouisia sinensis, sequences other deposited GenBank conduct systematic phylogenetic assessment. Analysis genitalia R. sinensis revealed an unusual triaulic tritrematic structure: two separate female ducts – one for egg release (oviduct), intake allosperm (vagina) male duct autosperm release. nucleotide several mitochondrial (COI, 16S rDNA) nuclear (18S rDNA, ITS2 flanked by 5.8S 28S rDNA fragments, H3) gene fragments supported assignation Rathouisiidae, but also its distinction from rathouisiid genera Atopos, Granulilimax, undescribed genus Ryukyu Islands (Japan). Therefore, we decided describe as new genus: Barkeriella museensis gen. et sp. nov. The is certainly alien introduced into MUSE, origin unknown calls further investigation.