Terrestrial Malacofauna of Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan: Biogeography and Guild Structure

Abstract

One hundred and eleven species of terrestrial molluscs belonging to six Prosobranch and 19 Pulmonate families were recorded from Shizuoka Prefecuture situated on the southern coast of central Honshu, Japan, and the distribution pattern and guild structure were analyzed. The malacofauna had altitudinal and longitudinal gradients; the former was related with ecological environments and the latter arose from geological heterogeneity, connection of the direction of spreading with various barriers for dispersal, and geohistory of isolation and speciation. Certain character displacement patterns were discerned in the shell volume of sympatric Clausiliid species. The effect of interspecific interaction on guild structure was discussed.