THE REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY OF PAROPEAS-ACHATINACEUM AND A NEW CONCEPT OF PAROPEAS (PULMONATA, ACHATINOIDEA, SUBULINIDAE)

The majority of subulinid land snails are known only as shells and gen eric groupings need to be revised on the basis of their internal anato my. Paropeas achatinaceum ((new combination) is a synanthropic subulin id that is widely distributed around the Indo-Pacific region. Features of the genital anatomy and radula demonstrate that Paropeas should be rejected as a subgenus of Prosopeas and be recognised as a distinct g enus. The radula of Paropeas is More typical of a subulinid than is th at of Prosopeas which proves to be highly modified for a carnivorous d iet. The spermatophore of Paropeas is inserted directly into the ovidu ct where it releases sperm through its porous tail before being digest ed in the bursa copulatrix.