Os escargots da espécie Achatina fulica são caracóis africanos comestíveis e para essa finalidade foram introduzidos no Brasil em 1988 para substituir o escargot europeu Helix sp. Contudo, o hábito alimentar conservador da população brasileira ocasionou prejuízos aos criadores de escargots no Brasil, desencadeando uma soltura irresponsável e anti-ética desses moluscos no meio ambiente, o que proporcionou uma associação direta dos caracóis à impactos ambientais, sendo objeto de estudos e pesquisas correlatas. Todavia, estudos anteriores descreveram efeitos benéficos, antimicrobianos e cicatrizantes do muco extraído de caracóis Achatina sp, e ainda a potencialização destes efeitos a partir do acréscimo de plantas medicinais à dieta base consumida pelos escargots, constatando a capacidade de retenção em seu organismo das propriedades dos alimentos por eles ingeridos. As atividades antimicrobiana e cicatrizante também são conhecidas na utilização da própolis produzida por abelhas da espécie Apis mellifera. Partindo dessas premissas, neste estudo, foi adicionada própolis à ração base dos escargots, objetivando avaliar o efeito cicatrizante desses zooterápicos e suas aplicações. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a utilização de muco nas lesões cirurgicamente induzidas em camundongos acelerou o processo de cicatrização, comparativamente ao grupo controle que recebeu apenas tratamento com soro fisiológico. As análises parasitológica e citotóxica realizadas demonstraram que o muco é apto para a utilização proposta. A dieta acrescida de própolis interferiu nas características do muco. Foi possível observar, a partir das avaliações histológicas e macroscópicas uma discreta vantagem no processo de cicatrização para o grupo tratado com muco extraído de escargots que receberam ração base acrescida de própolis em sua dieta. Estes resultados demonstram a potencialidade desta pesquisa em resultar em um biofármaco com propriedades cicatrizantes à base de muco de escargots e ainda uma possível patente deste muco, através do indicativo de sua importância terapêutica para o reparo tecidual de lesões veterinárias e humanas. / The snail species Achatina fulica, is an edible African giant land snail species that was introduced into Brazil in 1988 as a substitute for the european escargot Helix sp. However, the conservative eating habits of the brazilian population have caused losses to breeders of escargot in Brazil due to the irresponsible, unethical release of the species into the environment. This species is known for its invasive nature and most of the literature focuses on the species disruption to the environment. Thus, the first objective of the study and related research focuses on these environmental impacts. Others studies have described beneficial attributes, antimicrobial and healing properties, of the mucous extracted from the small Achatina species. They have also described the potential benefits of feeding the snails a base diet enriched with medicinal plants to prove the capacity of the organisms to retain the aforementioned properties after ingestion. Lastly, our research will also examine the addition of propolis, to the base ration diet of snails. Propolis is a resinous material, obtained from local plant sources, used as a sealant in bee hives. For the purpose of these studies, the focus will be propolis specifically associated with the bees of the species Apis mellifera. The antimicrobial and healing properties of propolis have been well recognized and described. The objective of this work is thus, to evaluate the healing effects of this zootherapics, and its application in veterinary medicine as a biopharmaceutical. The results showed that the use of mucous in the lesions surgically induced in mice accelerated the healing process, compared to a control group that received treatment only with saline. Parasitological and cytotoxic analysis performed demonstrated that the mucous is suitable for the proposed use. The diet added with propolis influenced the parameters of mucous. It was observed from the macroscopic and histological findings a slight advantage in the healing process for the group treated with mucus extracted from snails fed diets basis with propolis in their diet. This results achieved were encouraging, showing the potenciality of this research results in a medication with scaring properties based on snail mucus and further a possible patent of this mucus, through its expressive therapeutics importance to veterinary and human lesions tissue repair.

Os caracóis terrestres são animais capazes de produzir através de glândulas localizadas em toda superfície do seu corpo, uma secreção glicoproteica denominada muco, que dentre outras funções, apresenta poder antibacteriano, que pode auxiliar nos processos de reparação de feridas de origens diversas. Desta forma, o objetivo da presente pesquisa foi o de avaliar macroscópica e histologicamente, os efeitos reparadores do muco dos escargots Achatina fulica e Achatina achatina monochromatica, em lesões provocadas na pele de camundongos da linhagem "hairless"; verificar sua potencialização após a ingestão de uma ração contendo em sua formulação uma planta com propriedades cicatrizantes comprovadas, o Confrei (Symphytum officinale); e analisar bioquimicamente a composição do muco destes caracóis. Foram selecionados caracóis das espécies Achatina fulica (n=30) e Achatina monochromatica monochromatica (n=30), retirado seu muco através de estimulação manual da glândula podal e verificação de seu efeito reparador. Utilizaram-se camundongos da linhagem "hairless" (n=75), submetidos à intervenção cirúrgica e tratados com muco de ambas as espécies de caracóis. As características macroscópicas da lesão foram registradas em protocolo e avaliadas. Fragmentos de pele foram submetidos à biópsia aos 3, 5 e 7 dias de experimento, fixados em Paraformoldeído, processados e incluídos em parafina. Os cortes foram corados com Hematoxilina-Eosina e Tricrômio de Mason. Macroscopicamente, os animais tratados mostraram edemas menores, maior presença de crosta e maior contração das bordas das feridas ao final do experimento, quando comparados ao grupo controle. Histologicamente, os grupos tratados também revelaram melhor reparação da lesão, apresentando edemas menos intensos, grandes quantidades de tecido de granulação e infiltrados inflamatórios. O grupo tratado com muco de caracóis alimentados com ração contendo Symphytum officinale foi o que apresentou melhores resultados. / Land snails are animals able to produce through glands located all over their body surface, a glycoprotein secretion called mucus. This mucus, within other roles, shows an antibacterial power that can help in the healing processes of wounds from several sources. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate through macroscopic and histological techniques the repairing effects of the mucus in the snails Achatina fulica and Achatina achatina monochromatica in lesions intentionally caused to hairless linage mice skin; to investigate mucus potential effect after snails have been fed with a diet formulation containing a plant with proved scar properties, the Comfrey (Symphytum officinale); and to study the biochemical composition of mucus from these snails. Snails of Achatina fulica (n=30) and Achatina monochromatica monochromatica (n=30) species were sorted, the mucus extracted through manual stimulation of the podal gland and the repairing effect studied. Hairless linage mice (n=75) used in this study went through surgery and then treated with mucus from both species of snails. The macroscopic characteristics of the lesion were recorded and assessed. Fragments of skin were taken to biopsy at 3, 5 and 7 days of trial, fixed in paraformaldehyde, processed and embedded in wax. Sections were stained with Hematoxilin-Eosin and Tricromio of Mason. Macroscopically, treated mice showed minor swelling, higher presence of scabs and higher contraction of wound edges at the end of the trial, when compared with control. Histologically, groups that received treatment also showed better lesion repair, presenting less intense swellings, large amount of scar tissue and inflammatory infiltrates. The group treated with mucus from snails that received a diet containing Symphytum officinale presented the best results.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-08-22T15:45:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 paulabotelhoferreira.pdf: 785454 bytes, checksum: 595027db7dae987c4e54324e928e8b46 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-08-28T13:24:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 paulabotelhoferreira.pdf: 785454 bytes, checksum: 595027db7dae987c4e54324e928e8b46 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-28T13:24:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 paulabotelhoferreira.pdf: 785454 bytes, checksum: 595027db7dae987c4e54324e928e8b46 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-24 / Os moluscos pulmonados têm sido reconhecidos como modelos interessantes para o estudo de biodiversidade oculta em função de algumas características como a baixa vagilidade, capacidade de realizar auto-fecundação, além do histórico de identificações específicas baseadas somente nas conchas, caráter esse hoje sabidamente insuficiente para a distinção de espécies. A citogenética constitui uma abordagem que pode contribuir para a resolução taxonômica de grupos de moluscos terrestres, sendo, entretanto necessário o estabelecimento de protocolos experimentais. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estabelecer protocolos para o estudo citogenético de moluscos terrestres, através da realização de bioensaios, visando testar diferentes tecidos, concentrações dos reagentes indicados e tempos de incubação. Para isso, foi realizada uma revisão prévia dos protocolos descritos para o filo Mollusca e delineados protocolos, posteriormente testados em bioensaios, utilizando-se a espécie Leptinaria unilamellata (Pulmonata, Subulinidae) como modelo experimental. O presente trabalho descreve o cariótipo da espécie L. unilamellata, com fórmula cariotípica 22m+6sm. Os resultados obtidos estão de acordo com os números cromossômicos descritos na literatura para espécies de moluscos terrestres da superfamília Achatinoidea, variando de 2n=44 a 2n=60 cromossomos. Além disso, com a técnica de coloração de nitrato de prata, observamos a presença de duas marcações no núcleolos correspondente às regiões organizadores de nucléolos, ou seja, regiões ativas do DNA. O estabelecimento de protocolos de citogenética adequados para o estudo de moluscos terrestres permitirá o aumento do número de espécies cariomorfologicamente estudadas, contribuindo para a melhor resolução da taxonomia e evolução desse grupo. / Pulmonate molluscs have been recognized as interesting models to study hidden biodiversity due to some biological characteristics as low vagility and self-fertilization capacity, besides the historic of species descriptions based solely on the shell. Cytogenetics is used to infer species relationships in several plant and animal taxa. This approach may contribute to the better resolution of the taxonomy within Pulmonata. The present study aimed to establish protocols to cytogenetic studies of terrestrial molluscs testing different target tissues, reagents concentrations and incubation times. We performed a review of the cytogenetic protocols described in the literature for phylum Mollusca and after that; we delineated protocols which were tested in bioassays, using the species Leptinaria unilamellata as experimental model. In the present study we found that L. unilamellata present diploid number of 56 chromosomes, 44 metacentrics e 12 submetacentrics. This result is in accordance with the chromosome numbers described to terrestrial snails from superfamily Achatinoidea, which varies from 2n=44 to 2n=60. Furthermore, with the technique of silver nitrate staining, we found the presence of two sites in the nucleus corresponding to nucleolus organizer regions, or active regions of DNA. The establishment of cytogenetic protocols adequate to terrestrial snails will allow increasing the number of land snail’ species karyomorphologically studied, contributing to the better resolution of the taxonomy and evolution of this group.

M.Sc. (Zoology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

A description of species abundance, richness and distribution, and eye size of heteropod molluscs from the families Pterotracheidae and Carinariidae in the oligotrophic ecosystem of the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is described based on discrete-depth sampling protocols. The collections were comprised from two midwater sampling programs conducted sequentially after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS): the Offshore Nekton Sampling and Analysis Program (ONSAP, 2011) and the Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND, 2015-2018). Study materials from DEEPEND were collected during the initial five cruises of 2015-2017. These programs collected over 3,495 heteropods in two target families from 46 sampling stations in the northern GOM. We studied five species from the superfamily Pterotracheoidea (the families Carinariidae and Pterotracheidae). The family Pterotracheidae (Pterotrachea coronata, P. hippocampus and P. scutata) were the most abundant and largest specimens examined. The zone along the northeastern GOM continental slope had the greatest species richness and abundances. The study found evidence of diel migration in P. coronata and P. scutata. We compared body size with depth of occurrence to evaluate possible ontogenic habitat shifts. The largest Cardiapoda placenta (>30 mm) and Pterotrachea coronata (>150 mm) were found only in the upper 600 m. No significant ontogenic patterns were obvious in the other four species. We evaluated eye size at capture depth for each species. There was no evidence of eye size increasing with depth among the five species. We compared eye diameter with body length and found that heteropods have consistent and similar eye sizes per species throughout the depth of the measured water column and relative eye size is species-specific. We identified that pterotracheids have smaller eyes than carinariids relative to their total body size. This finding was opposing to our expectation of eye size differences among migrators and non- migrators. This is the first comprehensive large heteropod study in the northern GOM.

This thesis focuses on the genetical and morphological diversity of plaited door snail (Cochlodina laminata). While small distribution ranges are typical for most species belonging to genus Cochlodina, the distribution range of C. laminata covers most of the European continent, except for its coolest and warmest parts. It has been previously suggested that this species might in fact be a complex of several species and large genetical as well as morphological diversity has been mentioned - however, yet undescribed - in previous studies. Sequences of two mitochondrial genes were used (16S rDNA, COI) and thirteen morphological characteritics have been assessed to investigate this diversity. I discovered that the current concept of C. laminata as a species is not in accordance with the discovered genetical nor morphological variability. The original species C. laminata/C. dubiosa form a common species complex and also interpretation of C. fimbriata will need to be assessed in more detail in the future. Other Central European species are valid species.

Cellulolytic responses of the Asiatic clam, Corbicula fluminea and a snail, Mudalia dilatata, to selected constituents of power plant effluents (i.e., zinc, cadmium, acidic and alkaline pH, individually and paired) were investigated in 30-day exposures. Exposures were conducted in both laboratory and field-oriented artificial streams and then validated in the river receiving system of a power plant. Cellulolytic activity was reduced by laboratory and field exposures to cadmium and zinc at all levels tested from 0.012 to 0.10 mg cadmium/L and generally at 0.025 to 1.0 mg zinc/L. Clams detected acute lethal levels of metal and used valve closure as an avoidance mechanism for 14 days. Snails, however, did not effectively avoid exposures and were more sensitive to acute stress during all exposures. These behavioral responses were corroborated by both cellulolytic activity and metal accumulation. Measurements of cellulolytic activity for both test species in laboratory exposures differed from those in field artificial streams. Reduced enzyme activity in controls by day 30 was attributed to artificially induced stress associated with the laboratory environment. This factor precluded any analysis of laboratory responses for periods of exposure longer than 20 days as well as recovery analysis. Field oriented artificial streams provided a sufficient environment to adequately assess long-term stress and recovery as measured by cellulolytic activity and metal accumulation in both clams and snails. Enzyme activity responded to metal exposure with respect to both degree and duration of exposure. Cadmium and zinc combined exposures caused significantly reduced cellulolytic activity at the same concentration as those for cadmium alone. Reduced enzyme activity caused by cadmium and zinc addition at levels that were not detectable suggested that the cellulolytic index was sensitive to sublethal stressors. This was supported by metal uptake patterns in clams and snails. Cellulolytic activity responded to zinc addition at alkaline and acidic pH in a manner that supported pH optima for cellulases and bioavailability of metals. Effects seen in macroinvertebrate assemblages (diversity, richness, and similarity) were compared with cellulolytic activity of caged Corbicula from a site specific power plant discharge. Enzyme activity inhibition was the most sensitive indicator measured. Reductions in cellulolytic activity at stations monitored for total zine content were consistent with effects seen at comparable exposures to zine in field-located artificial streams. A zine concentration of 0.05 mg/L consistently caused the first significant reductions in cellulolytic activity. This concentration is comparable to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Water Quality Criteria value (0.047 mg/L zinc) for protection of aquatic life. / Ph. D.

With the anticipated effects of climate change due to global warming, there is concern over how animals, especially ectotherms, will respond to or tolerate extreme and fluctuating environmental temperature stress. Littorinid snails are intertidal ectotherms that live high on the shore where they experience both extreme and variable conditions of temperature and desiccation stress, and are believed to live close to their tolerance limits. This study investigated the thermal biology of littorinid snails of the genera Afrolittorina, Echinolittorina and Littoraria from temperate, subtropical and tropical regions in South Africa and Brunei Darussalam using thermal tolerance, heart function, and proteome approaches. The effects of conditions, such as rate of change in temperature, acclimation, heat shock, season and starvation were also tested. In addition, the evolutionary relationships and genetic diversity between and within the South African Afrolittorina spp. were investigated using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Genetic results confirmed that these are two distinct species, with the brown to black A. knysnaensis predominant in the cool-temperate region of South Africa and the pale blue-grey A. africana in the subtropical region. There was low genetic variation and differentiation within each species, suggesting high gene flow among populations as a result of the effects of ocean currents on the dispersal of their planktotrophic larvae. Tests using exposure to high temperatures revealed differences in the thermal tolerances, heart performance and protein profiles of species from different latitudes, regions and zones on the shore. Thermal tolerance conformed to expectations, with clear, statistically significant trends from high tolerance in subtropical species to lower tolerance in temperate species. However, for Afrolittorina spp., there were no significant differences in the thermal tolerances of conspecifics from different regions, though there was a significant difference in thermal tolerance between juveniles and adults. Overall, adults of all species showed higher thermal tolerances than juveniles. Although lethal temperatures for these species were higher in summer than winter, laboratory acclimation had no effect on heat coma temperatures. All species showed some regulation of heart rate, with a degree of independence of heart rate from temperature across mid-range temperatures. The tropical species showed quick induction and good regulation of heart rate followed by the subtropical and temperate species, which displayed mixed responses including regulation, partial regulation and lack of regulation. Overall, tropical Echinolittorina spp. showed good regulation, while the subtropical E. natalensis and Littoraria glabrata exhibited a mixture of partial regulation and regulation. The subtropical/temperate Afrolittorina spp. showed high individual variability, some animals exhibiting regulation, while others did not. These effects seem to be largely phylogenetically determined as there were no differences in the heart rate responses of Afrolittorina spp. from different regions. The temperatures at which heart rate became independent of temperature (thermoneutral zone) were within the range experienced under natural conditions. In addition, there were differences in Arrhenius breakpoint and endpoint temperatures, showing a trend from higher in tropical animals to lower for temperate animals. Conditions such as acclimation, heat shock and starvation had little or no effect on heart performance. However, a slow increase in temperature induced good regulation of heart rate with noticeable shifts of breakpoints and endpoints for Afrolittorina spp. Lastly, there were differences in the proteome responses between and within Afrolittorina spp. as a function of species, size and treatment. Although both large and small A. knysnaensis had a greater number of protein spots in their proteome than A. africana (though the difference was not significant), the later showed significantly higher differential expression of certain proteins following heat stress. In addition, juveniles of both species displayed greater numbers of protein spots in their proteome than adults. The results indicate a difference in the physiological and biochemical responses (i.e. adaptations) of these snails to temperature, and this seems to relate to differences in biogeography, phylogeny, species identity and ecology. The ability to regulate heart rate is phylogenetically determined, while thresholds and lethal limits correspond to biogeography and species ecology. The proteome seems to correspond to species ecology. The results also indicate that these littorinids can tolerate high temperature stress and in this respect they are well suited to life in the intertidal zones or habitats where temperature and other stresses or conditions are extreme and can change abruptly. However, the limited ability of these snails to acclimate to different temperatures suggests that they are already living close to their tolerance limits with small safety margins or narrow thermal windows and so may be vulnerable to small rises in substratum temperature and/or solar radiation.

Prehistoric cultures are often studied by intrasite artifact variation and quantity without much consideration of how prehistoric populations interacted locally and regionally. Archaeologists can identify and study patterns associated with activities within a specified radius in order to gain an understanding of cultural operations. Identifying a social framework for a prehistoric society allows the investigation of group organization such as status differentiation, shared rituals, and the construction and maintenance of earthworks and living areas. That facilities were constructed for specialized use within a community is evidenced by the presence of earthworks and mounds at many sites (Lewis et al. 1998:16-17). Less well understood is how community patterns reflect social organization. The purpose of this thesis is to better document the number and distribution of structures at Lyon’s Bluff, a Mississippian to Protohistoric-period mound site in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. The focus will be on the last part of the occupation at the site, i.e., on materials recovered from the plowzone. A method employing molluscan remains and sedimentological evidence is used that allows for the delineation of structure locales using plowzone samples. Additional evidence is provided by artifact distributions and geophysical (magnetic gradiometer) data.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Os moluscos pateliformes de água doce da região Neotropical são comumente atribuídos a família Ancylidae sensu latum, abrangendo sete gêneros com pelo menos 13 espécies válidas e sete com identificação duvidosa. Os ancilídeos possuem pequenas dimensões, alcançam no máximo 15 mm de comprimento. Sua concha é frágil, composta por duas regiões, a protoconcha e a teleoconcha, as quais apresentam caracteres relevantes para a sistemática. Na parte mole as impressões musculares, a pigmentação do manto, o sistema reprodutor e a rádula são importantes para o estudo da família. Apesar de existirem vários registros de ocorrência para ancílideos no Estado do Rio de Janeiro (ERJ), existem poucos dados morfológicos. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi fornecer e ampliar as informações sobre a morfologia e distribuição geográfica das espécies de Ancylidae encontradas no ERJ. Os materiais utilizados foram procedentes de coletas próprias, material depositado em Coleções Científicas e dados de revisão bibliográfica. O estudo da morfologia comparada das conchas foi realizado com o auxílio de imagens de microscópio óptico e de varredura. Para a comparação das partes moles, os espécimes foram corados e dissecados sob lupa. Através da conquiliometria analisamos as diferenças inter e intrapopulacionais. Com este trabalho, a riqueza conhecida para Ancylidae no ERJ, aumentou de cinco para sete espécies: Burnupia sp., Ferrissia sp., Gundlachia radiata (Guilding, 1828),G. ticaga (Marcus & Marcus, 1962), Gundlachia sp., Hebetancylus moricandi (d`Orbigny, 1837) e Uncancylus concentricus (d`Orbigny, 1837). Gundlachia radiata e U. concentricus constituem novos registros para o ERJ, e G. radiata para a Região Sudeste. As três espécies com o maior número de registros de ocorrência no ERJ foram: G. ticaga (66%), Ferrissia sp. (37%) e Gundlachia sp. (18%). A ampla distribuição de G. ticaga pode ser devido à capacidade de suportar ambientes impactados. Em relação à morfologia, Burnupia sp. difere de Burnupia ingae Lanzer, 1991, única espécie deste gênero descrita para o Brasil, por apresentar diferenças na microescultura da concha e também na forma das impressões musculares. Ferrissia sp. difere de F. gentilis Lanzer, 1991, devido a diferenças na microescultura apical e número de cúspides no dente central da rádula. Gundlachia sp. é diferente de G. ticaga e G. radiata, por apresentar a abertura da concha mais arredondada, ápice mais recurvado, ultrapassando a borda da concha, pontuações irregulares em toda a protoconcha e forma dos músculos adutores anterior direito e posterior mais elíptica. A morfologia interna também mostra diferenças entre Gundlachia sp. e G. ticaga, como o apêndice terminal do útero e o número de folículos do ovoteste. Através das análises conquiliométricas, constatamos para os gêneros Burnupia, Ferrrissia e Gundlachia, que os índices morfométricos se mostraram melhores que as medidas lineares para a discriminação das espécies, provavelmente porque esses índices diminuem o efeito da amplitude de tamanho das conchas, que são fortemente influenciadas pelas variações ecofenotípicas. Contudo, os caracteres diagnósticos das conchas e das partes moles (impressões musculares) são indispensáveis para a identificação dos gêneros e espécies de Ancylidae. Palavras-chave: Mollusca. Moluscos de água doce. Morfologia. Distribuição geográfica. Estado do Rio de Janeiro.uscos. / The pateliform freshwater molluscs of the Neotropical region are commonly attributed to Ancylidae sensu latum, comprising seven genera with at least 13 valid species and seven with dubious identification. Ancylids are small, reaching up to 15 mm length. The shell is fragile, composed of two regions: protoconch and teleoconch, which microsculpture, which is relevant to systematic. In the soft part mantle scars, pigmentation of mantle, radula and reproductive system are important for the study of the family. There are several records of occurrence of ancylids in the State of Rio de Janeiro (SRJ) but few morphological data. The main objective of this study was to provide and expand morphological and geographical information about Ancylidae species found in the SRJ. The materials were come from own collections, material deposited in scientific collections and data for review. A comparative study of shell morphology was carried out by light and scanning microscope images. To compare the soft parts, specimens were stained and dissected under a research stereomicroscope. Interpopulation and intrapopulation variation were studied by shell morphometric analysis. The richness of Ancylidae in SRJ were increased from five to seven species: Burnupia sp., Ferrissia sp., Gundlachia radiata (Guilding, 1828), Gundlachia ticaga (Marcus & Marcus, 1962), Gundlachia sp., Hebetancylus moricandi (d`Orbigny, 1837) e Uncancylus concentricus (d`Orbigny, 1837). Gundlachia radiata and U. concentricus are new records for SRJ, and G. radiata to Southeast Brazil. The most frequent three species in SRJ were: G. ticaga (66%), Ferrissia sp. (37%) and Gundlachia sp. (18%). The wide distribution of G. ticaga may be due to the ability to survive in impacted environments. With respect to morphology, the single Burnupia species described from Brazil, Burnupia ingae Lanzer, 1991, differs from Burnupia sp. in shell microsculpture and also in the shape of muscle scars. Ferrissia sp. differs from F. gentilis Lanzer, 1991, due to differences in apical microsculpture and number of cusps on radula central tooth. Gundlachia sp. is different from G. ticaga and G. radiata, by presenting the shell opening rounder, more curved apex surpassing the edge of the shell, irregular punctuations across whole protoconch and the more elliptic right anterior and posterior adductor muscle scars. The morphology also shows differences between Gundlachia sp. and G. ticaga, as the terminal appendix of the uterus and the number of follicles of ovotestis. Shell morphometric analysis found that the indices provided better discrimination of species than the linear measurements to Burnupia, Ferrrissia and Gundlachia, probably because these indices decrease the effect of the shells size range that are strongly influenced by ecophenotipics variations. However, the diagnostic characters of the shells (microesculpture apical) and soft tissue (muscle scars and mantle pigmentation) are essential to identify genera and species of Ancylidae. Keywords: Mollusca. Freshwater snails. Morphology. Geographic distribution. Rio de Janeiro State. LISTAe pateliform.