Conceptual shifts in animal systematics as reflected in the taxonomic history of a common aquatic snail species (Lymnaea stagnalis)

Maxim V Vinarski

doi:10.3897/zse.91.4509

Abstract

Lymnaea stagnalis (L., 1758) is among the most widespread and well-studied species of freshwater Mollusca of the northern hemisphere. It is also notoriously known for its huge conchological variability. The history of scientific exploration of this species may be traced back to the end of the 16th century (Ulisse Aldrovandi in Renaissance Italy) and, thus, L. stagnalis has been chosen as a proper model taxon to demonstrate how changes in theoretical foundations and methodology of animal taxonomy have been reflected in the practice of classification of a particular taxon, especially on the intraspecific level. In this paper, I depict the long story of recognition of L. stagnalis by naturalists and biologists since the 16th century up to the present day. It is shown that different taxonomic philosophies (essentialism, population thinking, tree thinking) led to different views on the species’ internal structure and its systematic position itself. The problem of how to deal with intraspecific variability in the taxonomic arrangement of L. stagnalis has been a central problem that made systematists change their opinion following conceptual shifts in taxonomic theory.

Highlights

The development of science as a whole, as well as the progress of a particular scientific discipline, is a complicated and diverse process with many separate aspects (Hull 1988) that permit several distinct ways to represent the history of science
The history of scientific exploration of this species may be traced back to the end of the 16th century (Ulisse Aldrovandi in Renaissance Italy) and, L. stagnalis has been chosen as a proper model taxon to demonstrate how changes in theoretical foundations and methodology of animal taxonomy have been reflected in the practice of classification of a particular taxon, especially on the intraspecific level
It is shown that different taxonomic philosophies led to different views on the species’ internal structure and its systematic position itself

Summary

Introduction

The development of science as a whole, as well as the progress of a particular scientific discipline, is a complicated and diverse process with many separate aspects (Hull 1988) that permit several distinct ways to represent the history of science. The aim of this paper is to outline the taxonomic history of a widespread and commonly known invertebrate species in Europe and North America – the great pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis (Linnaeus, 1758).

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Conclusion