ISSN 2755-3531
Abraham S.H. Breure & Jonathan D. Ablett
Abstract. Type material of some South American species in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, belonging to different families is documented. It includes 16 species: Bulimus cuneus L. Pfeiffer, 1854, Bulimus proteus Broderip, 1832, Bulimus scalarioides L. Pfeiffer, 1867, Bulimus similaris J. Moricand, 1856, Andinia (Ehrmanniella) dedicata Weyrauch & Zilch, 1954, Helix hettneriana E. von Martens, 1897, Eurycampta hidalgonis Döring, 1877, Helix aequatoris L. Pfeiffer, 1860, Helix bituberculata L. Pfeiffer, 1853, Helix bourcieri L. Pfeiffer, 1853, Helix neogranadensis L. Pfeiffer, 1845, Cyclostoma (Cyclophorus) bourcieri L. Pfeiffer, 1854, and Helix platygyra Albers, 1857. The concept of the “salvation” of type material is explained.
Key words. Achatinidae, Bulimulidae, Clausiliidae, Epiphragmophoridae, Labyrinthidae, Neocyclotidae, Scolodontidae
Date of publication. 8 March 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4501
Oxychilus translucidus (Mortillet, 1853) (Stylommatophora: Oxychilidae) found in a British hothouse [Short Communication]
Dave Guntrip & Ben Rowson
Date of publication. 8 March 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4502
Two new species of enid land snail from Sichuan, China (Stylommatophora: Enidae)
Zhong-Guang Chen, Yu-Ting Dai, Guang-Long Xie, Ping Wang, Jiao Jiang, Shan Ouyang & Xiao-Ping Wu
Abstract. Two new species of enid land snail, Dolichena wenchuanensis n. sp. and Holcauchen multicostatus n. sp., are described from the dry-hot environment of Wenchuan, Sichuan, China based on conchological morphology. Dolichena wenchuanensis n. sp. can be easily distinguished from congeneric species by its smaller shell with fewer whorls, and H. multicostatus n. sp. can be easily distinguished from congeneric species by a ribbed post-nuclear shell. The two new species were found in a biological hotspot of the family Enidae. This discovery further enhances our understanding of the species diversity of Enidae in the dry-hot environment of China.
Key words. Conchology, taxonomy, new species, land snails
New taxa. Dolichena wenchuanensis Chen, Wang, Xie & Wu in Chen et al., 2024; Holcauchen multicostatus Chen, Wang, Xie & Wu in Chen et al., 2024
Date of publication. 8 March 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4503
Min Wu & Heng-Tao Zhang
Abstract. Two species of Cathaica Möllendorff, 1884 are described from eastern China, C. pyrrhozona montana (Möllendorff, 1875) from Beijing and a new species, C. zoui Wu, n. sp., from Jinan, Shandong Province. The new species is conchologically similar to Cathaica fasciola (Draparnaud, 1801). The new species and C. p. montana, a subspecies of C. pyrrhozona (Philippi, 1845), the type species of Cathaica, share a similar structure of the dart-sac apparatus, in having one proximal accessory sac on the right side of dart sac, both mucous glands and the proximal accessory sac entering the dart-sac chamber. However, the distance between the dart-sac septum and the entrance of the mucous glands is distinctly shorter in the new species than that in C. p. montana. The genital anatomy of these two taxa suggests that the structure of the inside of the dart-sac apparatus deserves special attention of understanding systematics of the bradybaenine snails. In addition, the presence of dense cilia on the septum of the dart sac in the new species is newly reported for the subfamily Bradybaeninae.
Key words. Bradybaeninae, new species, dart-sac apparatus
New taxon. Cathaica zoui Wu in Wu & Zhang, 2024
Date of publication. 9 March 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4504
See also Tartarothyasira gen. nov., a replacement name for Tartarothyas Oliver & Chen, 2024
P. Graham Oliver & Chong Chen
Abstract. The hadal bivalves from the Japan Trench originally described as Maorithyas hadalis and Parathyasira kaireiae are reassigned to the genera Tartarothyas n. gen. and Spinaxinus, respectively. The shell, anatomy, and fine structure of the ctenidia are described, and based on these the new genus Tartarothyas is introduced. Both species have modified ctenidia to host chemosymbiotic bacteria; those of Tartarothyas n. gen. is partly tubular in structure, whereas those of Spinaxinus is of fleshy lamellae.
Key words. Taxonomy, deep-Sea, morphology, anatomy, gill structure, periostracum, Thyasiroidea
New taxon. Tartarothyas Oliver & Chen, 2024. [Found to be a homonym; see replacement name published here.]
Date of publication. 9 March 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/1405
Ran-Xi Lin & Lu Qiu
Abstract. Two new species of Moellendorffia Ancey, 1887 and one new species of Moellendorffiella Pilsbry, 1905 are described from China, namely Moellendorffia gulinensis sp. nov. from southeastern Sichuan Province, Moellendorffia wuchaoi sp. nov. from eastern Hainan Island, and Moellendorffiella yifengi sp. nov. from southeastern Yunnan Province. Shell characters and habitats are illustrated, and a distribution map of the new species is provided. Moellendorffia trisinuata trisinuata and Moellendorffiella erdmanni are re-examined and illustrated using newly collected specimens. The generic diagnosis of Moellendorffiella is supplemented.
Key words. China, taxonomy, new species, systematics, snail
New taxa. Moellendorffia wuchaoi Lin & Qiu, 2024, Moellendorffia gulinensis Lin & Qiu, 2024, Moellendorffiella yifengi Lin & Qiu, 2024
Date of publication. 9 March 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4506
Tartarothyasira gen. nov., a replacement name for Tartarothyas Oliver & Chen, 2024
P. Graham Oliver & Chong Chen
New taxon. Tartarothyasira Oliver & Chen, 2024
Date of publication. 16 March 2023
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/1407
Zhi-Jie Xu, Ming-Wei Cai & Zi-Ang He
Abstract. Formosana ruianensis n. sp. is described from Ruian Shi, Wenzhou Shi, Zhejiang, China, and its shell and genital anatomy are illustrated. The new species was confirmed in a phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S gene, and p-distances with other species of Formosana O. Boettger, 1877, Formosanella H. Nordsieck, 2003, and Paraformosana H. Nordsieck, 2003 are given. Oospira xinxingae Qiu, 2022 is transferred to Formosana: thus, Formosana xinxingae n. comb.
New taxon. Formosana ruianensis Xu & Cai in Xu et al. 2024
Date of publication. 18 March 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4508
Johann Delcourt & Louis Bronne
Abstract. Recently, the first sightings of the semi-slug Vitrinobrachium breve have been reported in Belgium. However, this species was probably already present in the east of the country a century ago. We present a historical investigation starting from an illustration in a book by W. Adam on Belgian land molluscs published in 1960. The depicted shell was presented as that of the semi-slug Eucobresia diaphana (Draparnaud, 1805) and was collected in 1923 in Malmedy. We show it most certainly belongs to V. breve. We also discuss the halo-effect hypothesis of an authoritative work in long-term identification errors and the historical biogeographic implications for these two species.
Key words. Semi-slug, museum collection, Eucobresia diaphana, halo effect, biogeography
Date of publication. 4 April 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4509
Guoyi Zhang, Zhongshu Liu, Qi Feng & Qaunyu Zhang
Abstract. Phylogenetic analyses based on morphological character and molecular data indicate that Platypetasus Pilsbry, 1895 should not be synonymized with Pseudiberus Ancey, 1887. These genera occur in different geographical areas; Pseudiberus species are distributed in the Qinling, Taihang, Yimeng, and Taishan mountains, and Platypetasus species occur in the Daxueshan, Qionglaishan, Minshan, and Dabashan mountains. Here we describe a new species, Pseudiberus shanheicus n. sp., from Henan Province, China. Its shell is distinguished by its ribless surface and hollow peripheral keel. The phylogenetic relationship among Pseudiberus sensu stricto is discussed, based on an analysis of mitochondrial DNA (16S rRNA) and nuclear DNA (5.8S rRNA and ITS2), as well as shell morphology.
Key words. Bradybaeninae, China, cladistics, molecular phylogeny, Henan Province, new species, phylogenetics, Taihang Mountains, Taishan Mountains, Yimeng Mountains
New taxon. Pseudiberus shanheicus Zhang, Liu, Feng & Zhang, 2024
Date of publication. 4 April 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4510
Marijn T. Roosen & Abraham S.H. Breure
Abstract. Currently there are several problems with the genus-level taxa within the Scolodontidae. Multiple type-species designations have been proposed for some genera, type species are poorly described, and in some cases no clear decisions have been made in cases of homonymy or synonymy. This has resulted in wrongly identified species and genera within this group, which, among other problems, hinders the discovery and description of new species as well as the identification of known species. This paper is the first in a series in which all scolodontid genera will be redescribed based on type materials, starting with Happia Bourguignat, 1890 and its allies. Nomenclatural issues are resolved where possible. One new genus and a new species are described: Luteostriatella gen. nov. and Austroselenites pichinchense sp. nov. The following new combinations are made: Happia andia (Pilsbry, 1932) comb. nov., Systrophiella altivaga (Crawford, 1939) comb. nov., Systrophiella cayennensis (L. Pfeiffer, 1842) comb. nov., Systrophiella pygmea (Spix in Spix & Wagner, 1827) comb. nov., Systrophiella snethlagei (F. Baker, 1913) comb. nov., Systrophiella vitrina (J.A. Wagner in Spix & Wagner, 1827) comb. nov., and Luteostriatella variegata (F. Haas, 1949) comb. nov.
Key words. Neotropics, South America, Mollusca, Gastropoda, Eupulmonata, Scolodontina
New taxa. Luteostriatella Roosen & Breure, 2024; Austroselenites pichinchense Roosen & Breure, 2024
Date of publication. 17 April 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4511
Love story or fling? The first observation of Vorticella sp. (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) on the freshwater snail Gyraulus rossmaessleri (Auerswald, 1852) [Short Communication]
Jean-Michel Bichain
Abstract. Shells of Gyraulus rossmaessleri (Auerswald, 1852) infested with the bell-shaped peritrich ciliate Vorticella sp. were found in small, flooded soil depressions located in a floodplain meadow in the Upper Rhine Valley (north-eastern France). The observed prevalence was 100%. Analysis of the distribution of Vorticella aggregates on planispiral shells shows that the epibionts occur largely in the pseudo-cavities formed by the apex and umbilicus and mainly along the suture. This is the first case of ciliated epibionts on gastropods associated with temporary freshwater habitats inhabited by drought-adapted fauna. However, given the scarcity of observations of G. rossmaessleri in this region, it is difficult to affirm whether this epibiosis is relatively common.
Key words. Drought resistance, floodplain meadows, Planorbidae, refuge habitat, Upper Rhine Valley
Date of publication: 1 May 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4512
Corrected version of record, published 29 May 2009
Ben Rowson
Abstract. Four new higher taxa are described in the family Streptaxidae: Gerlachina new genus, Embertonina new genus, Gulellinae new subfamily, and Primigulellinae new subfamily. These names were proposed, based on existing taxa, in an unpublished thesis in 2010. The thesis was disclaimed under the Code (ICZN 1999, Article 8.2), but the names have recently been used in other publications, which have in turn carried disclaimers. The present paper aims to resolve this by validly publishing the names and descriptions. The genera Gerlachina (2 species) and Embertonina (10 species) are endemic to the Seychelles and to Madagascar, respectively. The subfamilies Gulellinae and Primigulellinae are both Afrotropical in distribution and are considered species-rich.
Key words. Land snails, Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, taxonomy, nomenclature
New taxa. Gerlachina Rowson, 2024; Embertonina Rowson, 2024; Gulellinae Rowson, 2024; Primigulellinae Rowson, 2024
Date of publication. 22 May 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4513
R. Ravinesh, P. Graham Oliver & N. Saravanane
Abstract. A new species of deep-sea thyasirid (Bivalvia: Thyasiridae), Ascetoaxinus ravichandrani sp. nov., is described and illustrated from material collected in the northern Indian Ocean during the FORV Sagar Sampada deep-sea cruise no. 404. Specimens were collected from a depth between 1007 m and 1038 m off Kanyakumari, Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, South India. This is the first record of the genus Ascetoaxinus from the Indo-West Pacific. The new species is compared to A. quatsinoensis P.G. Oliver & Frey, 2014 from the Northeast Pacific and A. ovoideus (Dall, 1890) from the Northwest Atlantic. It can be distinguished from these species by its external shell characters. Further comparisons are made between the new species and other larger thyasirids recorded from deep waters around India, notably Channelaxinus investigatoris E.A. Smith, 1895. The distinctions and similarities among these species are discussed, highlighting the key features that set A. ravichandrani apart from related species.
Key words. Deep Ocean Mission, Samudrayaan program, taxonomy, marine biology, Gulf of Mannar
New taxa. Ascetoaxinus ravichandrani Ravinesh, Oliver & Saravanane, 2024
Date of publication. 29 May 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4514
Thomas Walker, Ben Rowson & Arjan Gittenberger
Abstract. Living populations of Liardetia samoensis have been observed over nine years in a hothouse in the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley, England. The identification has been confirmed by COI mtDNA sequencing. This species was first discovered in the Pacific island of Samoa in 1861/62 and has subsequently only been reported from other Pacific islands, from Singapore, and from the Laccadive and Maldive Islands in the Indian Ocean. This is the first report of this species living outside Asia.
Key words. Hothouse alien, England, Wisley, DNA sequencing
Date of publication. 5 June 2024
DOI. https://doi.org/10.61733/jconch/4515