The taxonomic status of Xeroamanda Monterosato, 1892 (Pulmonata: Hygromiidae)

The status of Xeroamanda Monterosato, 1892, is revised. Anatomical study showed that the type species of this nominal genus, Helix amanda Rossmässler, 1838, is characterized by a structure of the distal genitalia coinciding with that of the subfamily Hygromiinae sensu Schileyko (dart sac complex with 0 + 2 stylophores) and more precisely with the group of genera with 0 + 2 stylophores and right ommatophore retractor independent of the genitalia (Cernuella, Xerosecta, Polloneriella, Microxeromagna, Xeromunda). The wide dart sac complex fused to the walls of the vagina for a long tract and the penis joining the distal vagina level with the stylophores enables it to be included in Cernuella. The latter has two subgenera: Cernuella s. str. (penial papilla with three basal frenula, two tufts of digitiform glands on opposite sides of vagina, proximal vagina very short or absent, proximal duct of bursa copulatrix flared), and Xerocincta (penial papilla without frenula, digitiform glands around the vagina, proximal vagina long, proximal duct of bursa copulatrix not flared). Xeroamanda (penial papilla with three basal frenula, digitiform glands around the vagina, proximal vagina long, proximal duct of bursa copulatrix not flared) is intermediate between Cernuella s. str. and Xerocincta and forms a third distinct subgenus of Cernuella. At present, C. (Xeroamanda) includes two species, both endemic to the Sicilian area: the western Sicilian C. amanda (Rossmässler, 1838) and the Sicilian-Maltese C. caruanae (Kobelt, 1888).