Univariate and multivariate analyses of shell variables within the genus Cochlicopa (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Cochlicopidae)

The following four shell variables were measured on Cochlicopa nitens (n = 150), C. lubricella (n = 205) and ‘C. lubricella’ (n = 545): shell height (‘SH’), shell diameter (‘SD’), diameter of the last whorl (‘DIW’), and diameter of the second last whorl (‘DslW’). As reported in the literature, C. lubrica and C. repentina were assumed to be concho-logically indistinguishable. Therefore, the data pool of ‘C. lubrica’ includes two nominal species. Univariate evaluations allow good separation of ‘C lubrica’ vs. C. nitens (with the variables ‘DslW’ and ‘DIW’), and of ‘C. lubrica’ vs. C. lubricella (with the variables‘SD’ and ‘DIW’). Variable ‘SH’ shows the highest overlap between the threetaxa. For each shell variable thresholds are given for a classification. A very effective tool to separate the groupsis canonical discriminant analysis of the shell variables. Large-shelled forms of C. lubricella should be given more attention. In some cases preliminary notes about important isozymic characters are also given.