By Bernard Verdcourt
Extracted from The Conchologists’ Newsletter, No.126, pp. 217–223 published September 1993
In my accounts of Last, Hannington and Gordon I failed to list the species of molluscs described from their collections. This deficiency is remedied here. All types are in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) save two.
Bulimus (Hapalus) associatus Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 157–9).
Curvella associata (Smith).
Curvella associata (Smith).
Bulimus (Hapalus) disparilis Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (holotype 1885.5.25. 75).
Curvella disparilis (Smith). Smith also cites three Kirk specimens from Usagara as variants of the same species but he himself uses the word type for the Last specimen.
Curvella disparilis (Smith). Smith also cites three Kirk specimens from Usagara as variants of the same species but he himself uses the word type for the Last specimen.
Bulimus (? Buliminus) hanningtoni Sow. III, 1889. Tanzania, Usagara, Hannington (syntypes 1907.11.21. 78,79).
Edouardia hanningtoni (Sow. III).
Edouardia hanningtoni (Sow. III).
Bulimus (? Cerastus) introversus Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (not found in collection nor in index). [Correction: Has been found in the BM(NH) collections — refer Conchologists’ Newsletter No. 129: 332.(Ed.)]
Pseudoglessula introversa (Smith). (A photograph of the type appears in my paper on Pseudoglessula in Arch. Moll. 96: 48, figs 11, 12 (1967). [Correction: This must be taken as a lectotype designation of the specimen photographed; the other three specimens in the original material are therefore paralectotypes — refer Conchologists’ Newsletter No. 129: 332. (Ed.)]
Pseudoglessula introversa (Smith). (A photograph of the type appears in my paper on Pseudoglessula in Arch. Moll. 96: 48, figs 11, 12 (1967). [Correction: This must be taken as a lectotype designation of the specimen photographed; the other three specimens in the original material are therefore paralectotypes — refer Conchologists’ Newsletter No. 129: 332. (Ed.)]
Bulimus (Ceratsus) kidetensis Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Kidete, Emin and on the plains within 50 miles of Mamboia, Last (syntypes 1890.7.16. 84–92).
Pseudoglessula kidetensis (Smith).
Pseudoglessula kidetensis (Smith).
Bulimus (Ceratsus) lasti Smith, 1890. Tanzania, plains within 50 miles of Mamboia, Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 13–15).
Pseudoglessula lasti (Smith).
Pseudoglessula lasti (Smith).
Bulimus (Ceratsus) mamboiensis Smith, 1890. Tanzania, plains within 50 miles of Mamboia, Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 24–27).
Pseudoglessula boivini (Morelet).
Pseudoglessula boivini (Morelet).
Bulimus (Rhachis) quadricingulatus Smith, 1890. Tanzania, plains within 50 miles of Mamboia, Last (holotype 1885.5.25.20).
Rhachidina braunsi quadricingulata (Smith) (perhaps ultimately R. histrio quadricingulata (Smith) since braunsi von Mts. probably = histrio Pfr. described from Pacific populations introduced from Africa).
Rhachidina braunsi quadricingulata (Smith) (perhaps ultimately R. histrio quadricingulata (Smith) since braunsi von Mts. probably = histrio Pfr. described from Pacific populations introduced from Africa).
Bulimus (Hapalus) subvirescens Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 160–4).
Curvella subvirescens (Smith).
Curvella subvirescens (Smith).
Bulimus (? Cerastus) uniplicatus Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 70–2).
Pseudoglessula uniplicata (Smith).
Pseudoglessula uniplicata (Smith).
Bulimus (Rhachis) usagaricus Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Usagara, Hannington (syntypes 1884.2.19. 46–46 and 58–59).
Rhachidina usagarica (Smith).
Rhachidina usagarica (Smith).
Cyclostoma hanningtoni Sow. III, 1889. Tanzania, ‘Equatorial Africa’, Hannington (holotype 1907.11.21. 139).
Tropidophora calcarea (Sow. I).
Tropidophora calcarea (Sow. I).
Ennea aenigmatica Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 143–146).
Gulella aenigmatica (Smith).
Gulella aenigmatica (Smith).
Ennea amicta Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 84–87).
Gulella amicta (Smith).
Gulella amicta (Smith).
Ennea consanguinea Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Kidete, Emin Pasha (syntypes 1890 7.16.130–7); Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 107–8).
Gulella consanguinea (Smith).
Gulella consanguinea (Smith).
Ennea curvilamella Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 113–117).
Gulella curvilamella (Smith).
Gulella curvilamella (Smith).
Ennea fortidentata Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (1885.5.25. 105–6 syntypes of which the one with the red probably indicated by Connolly is selected as lectotype: Hkata ( = Kidete) syntype not found) [Correction: has been found in the general collection and is a paralectotype — refer Conchologists’ Newsletter No. 129: 332. (Ed.)].
Gulella fortidentata (Smith).
Gulella fortidentata (Smith).
Ennea hanningtoni Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Usagara, Hannington (syntypes 1884.2.19. 68–70); and Kirk (syntypes 1885.6.25. 6,7); Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 103–4).
Gulella sexdentata (von Mts.).
Gulella sexdentata (von Mts.).
Ennea lendix Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 88–92; one specimen separated in a tube presumably a suggested lectotype).
Gulella lendix (Smith).
Gulella lendix (Smith).
Ennea microstoma Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (holotype (but labelled syntype) 1885.5.25. 97).
Gulella microstoma (Smith).
Gulella microstoma (Smith).
Ennea newtoni Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 93–96; one with red spot probably indicated by Connolly is selected as lectotype).
Gulella newtoni (Smith).
Gulella newtoni (Smith).
Ennea peculiaris Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (holotype ? card lists 1885.5.25. 127–8 but there is only one specimen labelled holotype and it appears as if only one was ever present).
Gulella peculiaris (Smith).
Gulella peculiaris (Smith).
Ennea soror Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 123–6; one specimen separated in a tube presumably a suggested lectotype).
Gulella soror (Smith).
Gulella soror (Smith).
Ennea subflavescens Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 99–102).
Gulella subflavescens (Smith).
Gulella subflavescens (Smith).
Ennea subhyalina Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (holotype 1885.5.25. 98).
Gulella subhyalina (Smith).
Gulella subhyalina (Smith).
Hyalina depressior Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 56–57).
Thapsia depressior (Smith).
Thapsia depressior (Smith).
Hyalina eminiana Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 52–55).
Thapsia eminiana (Smith).
Thapsia eminiana (Smith).
Hyalina hanningtoni Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 58–59).
Thapsia hanningtoni (Smith).
Thapsia hanningtoni (Smith).
Hyalina lasti Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 4–6).
Thapsia lasti (Smith).
Thapsia lasti (Smith).
Hyalina lasti var. pellucida Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 48–51).
Thapsia lasti pellucida (Smith). The type card index in the BM lists this as var. pallida but I have checked the original publication. It is not mentioned by von Martens nor do I list it in my checklist.
Thapsia lasti pellucida (Smith). The type card index in the BM lists this as var. pallida but I have checked the original publication. It is not mentioned by von Martens nor do I list it in my checklist.
Ledoulxia gwendolinae Preston, 1910. Tanzania, Usagara, almost certainly Hannington (holotype MRAC Tervuren, paratypes 1884.2.19. 30).
Trochonanina gwendolinae (Smith). Last also collected this species ‘on the plains within 50 miles of Mamboia’. 1885.5.25. 1–3.
Trochonanina gwendolinae (Smith). Last also collected this species ‘on the plains within 50 miles of Mamboia’. 1885.5.25. 1–3.
Stenogyra (Subulina) emini Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 151–4, a suggested lectotype labelled ‘holotype’ is separated in a tube).
Subulina emini (Smith).
Subulina emini (Smith).
Stenogyra (Subulina) lasti Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 155–6).
Subulina lasti (Smith).
Subulina lasti (Smith).
Stenogyra (Subulina) mamboiensis Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, plains within 50 miles of Mamboia, Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 38–40).
Subulina mamboiensis (Smith).
Subulina mamboiensis (Smith).
Stenogyra (Opeas) stenostoma Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (? holotypes 1885.5.25. 150).
‘Opeas’ stenostomum (Smith). A label says one syntype but only one specimen collected?
‘Opeas’ stenostomum (Smith). A label says one syntype but only one specimen collected?
Stenogyra (Subulina) subcarinifera Smith, 1890. Tanzania, plains within 50 miles of Mamboia and also at 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 18,19).
Pseudoglessula subcarinifera (Smith).
Pseudoglessula subcarinifera (Smith).
Stenogyra (Subulina) usagarica Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Usagara, Hannington and Kidete, Emin Pasha (syntypes 1890.7.16. 121,126).
Subulina usagarica (Smith) (probably a Ceras) (the type box label mentions only Emin but the original description gives both collectors).
Subulina usagarica (Smith) (probably a Ceras) (the type box label mentions only Emin but the original description gives both collectors).
Streptaxis mamboiensis Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 76,77 of which the one with the red spot probably indicated by Connolly is selected as lectotype).
Gonaxis mamboiensis (Smith).
Gonaxis mamboiensis (Smith).
Streptaxis ordinarius Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 78–83).
Gonaxis denticulatus (Dohrn).
Gonaxis denticulatus (Dohrn).
Trochonanina episcopalis Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Usagara, Hannington (syntypes 1884.2.19. 28–29 and 33–35).
Same (the bracketing of the authority in my checklist is an error).
Same (the bracketing of the authority in my checklist is an error).
Trochonanina mamboiensis Smith, 1890. Tanzania, Mamboia, 4000–5000 ft., Last (syntypes 1885.5.25. 60–62).
?Sitala leroyi (Bgt.).
?Sitala leroyi (Bgt.).
As can be seen from the list, Last made one of the most valuable contributions to East African conchology. His collection was particulary rich in small streptaxids and as I know from experience such a collection is not made casually; rather it involves grubbing around on one’s hands and knees for many hours and it is clear that Last was genuinely interested. Many of his species have never been recollected since the Nguru Mountains have scarcely been revisited by a serious snail collector.
Geographical notes
Mamboia 4000–5000 ft. There are two places called Mamboya within 150 km. of each other but the one at 6° 17’, 37° 08’ is the one where the mission was built and more or less the correct altitude; at that time it would have been in dense evergreen forest. The Nguru Mountains, are situated between the Usambara Mountains and the Uluguru Mountains and have affinities with both.
Mamboia, plains within 50 miles radius of. It seems likely the specimens with this locality were collected on roads or tracks radiating from Mamboya. These include the road north-east to Handeni as far as just north of Turiani but this is hardly likely to have been called plains; the road east to Mpwapwa but most likely of all the road south-east to Morogoro across the Mkata Plains. The track from Bagamoyo, then the important port, ran near the mission of Mamboya to Mpwapwa.
Usagara. A diffuse area between Ukami and Ugogo more or less bounded by the Rubeho Mountains, Uluguru Mountains, Mpwapwa, Mamboya and Kidete.
I have dealt with Gordon’s collection separately since it comprises freshwater species from a different part of the territory.
Ampullaria gordoni Smith, 1892. Tanzania, south end of Lake Victoria, Gordon (syntypes 1892.8.27. 4).
Pila ovata (Olivier).
Pila ovata (Olivier).
Ampullaria nyanzae Smith, 1892. Tanzania, south end of Lake Victoria, Jordan’s Nullah, Gordon (syntype, no number on the single BM specimen; lectotype and further syntype in coll. T. Pain who stated (1961) that the type could not be located in BM).
Pila ovata (Olivier).
Pila ovata (Olivier).
Planorbis victoriae Smith, 1892. Kenya/Uganda north end of Lake Victoria, Gordon (syntypes 1892.8.27. 34–37).
Biomphalaria choanomphala (von Mts.).
Biomphalaria choanomphala (von Mts.).
Sphaerium nyanzae Smith, 1892. Kenya/Uganda north end of Lake Victoria, Gordon (syntypes 1892.8.27. 38–40).
Same.
Same.
Two other freshwater species were collected by Hannington.
Viviparus jucundus Smith, 1892. Lake Victoria, Hannington(neither type card nor specimens found).
Bellamya jucunda (Smith).
Bellamya jucunda (Smith).
Viviparus victoriae Smith, 1892. ( = Paludina sp. of Smith, 1890). Tanzania, south shores of Lake Victoria, (syntypes Emin 1890.7.16. 144–146 and Hannington 1884.2.19. 115–121).
Bellamya trochlearis (von Mts.).
Bellamya trochlearis (von Mts.).
It seems likely that Bulimus (? Buliminus) gomezi Sowerby III, 1889, if indeed the locality given (Tanzania, Usagara) is correct, was also collected by Bishop Hannington, but I (1961) have already expressed doubts about it; the material came from Da Costa’s collection like several other Hannington specimens but neither the material, type card nor original publication mention Hannington’s name in this case (syntypes 1907.11.21.148 and 1937.12.30. 3769–70; a note says ‘largest is the type’; presumably 148 and I hereby select that as lectotype).
References
Pain, T., 1961. Revision of the African Ampullariidae, Species of the genus Pila Roding (sic) 1798 (Mesogastropoda, Architaenioglossa, Mollusca). Ann. Mus. r. Afr. cent. ser. 8º, Sci. Zool. No. 96 (p. 115).
Preston, H.B., 1910. Additions to the non-marine molluscan fauna of British and German East Africa and Lake Albert Edward. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist.Ser. 8, 6: 526–536, pl. 7–9
Smith, E.A., 1890. List of land- and freshwater- shells collected by Dr Emin Pasha in Cental Africa, with descriptions of new species. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist.Ser. 6, 6: 146–168, pl. 5, 6.
Smith, E.A., 1892. On the shells of the Victoria Nyanza or Lake Oukerewe. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist.Ser. 6, 10: 121–128.
Smith, E.A., 1892. Additions to the shell-fauna of the Victoria Nyanza or Lake Oukerewe. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist.Ser. 6, 10: 380–383.
Sowerby III, G.B., 1889. Descriptions of thirteen new species of land-shells with a note on Buliminus fuminans. Proc. zool. Soc. 1889: 577–582.
Verdcourt, B., 1961. Notes on East African Enidae. J. Conch. Lond. 25: 9–14.
B. Verdcourt