Page 7 Number 63 (August 2014 The Malacologist INTRODUCTION Lake Tanganyika, East Africa, is renowned for its high species diversity and numerous endemic radiations. One of these, a ‘superflock’ of benthic gastropods is the most diverse (>100 spp.) and disparate (18 genera) extant radiation of its kind [1] . Despite this it remains poorly systematised. One component, the iconic genus Paramelania, has been known for 130 years and historically thought to comprise 2-5 morphologically variable species (and occasionally ‘forms’; Figure 1) [2,3] ; however, it has long been recog- nised that the genus likely contains greater diversity and is in need of revision [3] . Previous phylogenetic analyses revealed five ro- bust clades congruent with a priori fine-scale shell-based species [4] . We used this correspondence to assess species diversity in three major historic collections comprising shells only, including samples from the currently inaccessible Congo coast. Re-assessments of two modern research collections, largely from the Tanzanian coast, were also conducted in the light of insights gained from his- toric samples. Opercula and radulae were examined for all putative taxa for which material was available. METHODS Radulae from alcohol preserved tissue were examined for five taxa identified by molecular analyses and shell morphology: Par- amelania damoni (n=3), P. crassigranulata (n=2), P. iridescens (n=3), P. sp. A (n=3; undescribed) and P. sp. C (n=4; undescribed). All radulae are associated with molecular sequences (CO1, 16S or both). Radulae were carefully separated from surrounding tissue and cleaned in a bath of dilute sodium hypochlorite (bleach). They were then mounted on a thin layer of poly-vinyl acetate glue on a glass coverslip (mounted on an scanning electron microscope (SEM) stub). Outer marginal teeth were folded outwards with fine needles before the radulae completely dried. Specimens were imaged using a LEO 1455 VP SEM (uncoated). As previous molecu- lar studies showed that consistent shell differences were adequate for delimiting species in this genus if no other data are present [4] , we re-examined five main dry shell collections of Paramelania: three historic, Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA; Ter- vuren, Belgium), Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS; Brussels), Natural History Museum, London (NHMUK) and two modern research collections. Using a process of reciprocal illumination, specimens were examined and assigned to putative taxa based on fine shell morphology. These were then compared to type material. Collections information was used to assemble data on distributions, depths and substrata allowing the first synthesis of perspectives on ecology and biogeography. In particular, we used a criterion of sympatry to help determine species limits sensu Genner et al. [5] . Opercula were examined using light micros- copy for all putative species, identified by shell morphology, with available material (n= 11 from 21). RESULTS Radulae were all small (ca. 2mm) and are still being examined for species level differences. Due to their fragility leading to dam- age, exact row numbers are hard to determine but are not thought to vary significantly between species. However, some species level differences were discovered, notably in the length and shape of cusps, the presence of vertical striations and the presence or absence of “lateral horns” (Fig.2). RESEARCH RESEARCH REPORT GRANT REPORT Species diversity of Paramelania from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa – unifying molecular, concho- logical, radular and distribution data. James D. Burgon 1 , J. A. Todd 2 and E. Michel 3 1 IBAHCM, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK 2 Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK 3 Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK j.burgon.1@research.gla.ac.uk RESEARCH RESEARCH GRANT REPORT GRANT REPORT Figure 1: Described Paramelania: 1) P. damoni Smith, 1881 (holotype: NHMUK 1881.4.11.1); 2) P. imperialis (Giraud, 1885); 3) P. crassigranulata Smith, 1881; 4) P. minor Moore, 1903 (syntype: NHMUK 1909.8.25.14-25); 5) P. iridescens (Giraud, 1885). Only P damoni and P. iridescens have been consistently recognised, the rest often being considered ‘forms’ of P. damoni. Photocredit: 1, 3 and 4- O. Cheronet; 2 and 5- J. Todd.