New Species - Terrestrial

The Land Mollusk section of "News of New Species" is intended to provide a synopsis of information contained in the original description. The focus will be on new species descriptions of the larger, more popular groups of terrestrials, especially those of North America. While this section is not to be considered comprehensive, every attempt will be made to include as many new species as possible. The author of this section asks anyone aware of other descriptions of new land shell species of note, not included here, to please notify him. He would appreciate receiving a photocopy or reprint of the original description.

CLAUSILIIDAE

Hemiphaedusa farooqi Auffenberg & Shamim Fakhri, 1995 (Arch. Molluskenkunde 124(1/2) pp. 93-96, March, 1995) - A third clausiliid species from Pakistan is reported and described. Endemic to the mountain ridge separating the Swat and Indus River Valleys. Small, fusiform, approximately 14mm in length. Low whorls are sculptured with weak, but distinct axial riblets. H. farooqi is compared with other Himalayan clausiliids; most closely related to H. waageni (Stoliczka, 1872), also from Pakistan, but differs by its much smaller size, reduced axial sculpture, and arrangement of the palatal plicae. A more in-depth discussion of its relationship to other Himalayan region clausiliids is included. Type locality: 12 kilometers ESE of Saidu Sharif, near Malam Jabba, Lower Swat Valley, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan, at 2420 meters above sea level.

Nothoserrulina subterranea Nemeth & Szekeres, 1995 (Arch. Molluskenkunde 124(1/2) pp. 93-96, March, 1995) - The genus Nothoserrulina is described with N. subterranea n.sp. designated as the type species. Arrangement of the apertural lamellae differentiate Nothoserrulina from Serrulina. Sharp, distinct axial riblets which widen behind the aperture of this sinistral species are a characteristic feature. The type series, 8-11mm, have 8 to 9-1/2 whorls, gradually widening at base. Columellar side of aperture exhibits many marginal wrinkles, giving appearance of a row of denticles or teeth, a typical feature of the Serrulina group. Type locality: Unye, approximately 75 kilometers east of Samsun, along the Black Sea coast of Turkey.

Serrulina (Dobatia) mariae Nemeth & Szekeres, 1995 (Arch. Molluskenkunde 124(1/2) pp. 93-96, March, 1995) - 9-10mm in length with 9-1/3 to 9-2/3 whorls. S. mariae is immediately differentiated from S.(D.) goettingi Brandt by more slender, fusiform shape and distinctly protruding, triangular-shaped aperture. Surface sculpture consists of regular blunt ribs, gradually becoming more distinct and widely spaced around last whorl. The authors consider S. (D.) mariae to be a local, highly endemic form which diverged from S. (D.) goettingi through isolation. Type locality: Taflan between Bafra and Samsun, along the Black Sea coast, Turkey.

XANTHONYCIDAE

Helminthoglypta (Charodotes) uvasana Roth & Hochberg, 1992 (The Veliger, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 338-346, October, 1992) - 17-23mm diameter shell is depressed-helicoid, with a low, conic spire, convex profile, and a distinctly impressed suture. Base moderately inflated, inner lip slightly covering the open umbilicus. Color is pinkish tan under a yellowish brown periostracum, with a 1mm wide russet spiral band on the shoulder. Most closely related to Helminthoglypta traskii traskii (Newcomb, 1861). Iincised spiral surface sculpture finer than in H. traskii. H. uvasana is also compared with H. tejonis and H. carpenteri. Type locality: Fort Tejon, Grapevine Creek, Kern County, California. Common name: grapevine shoulderband (proposed by Roth and Hochberg).

Helminthoglypta (Charodoteslain) vasquezi Roth & Hochberg, 1992 (The Veliger, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 338-346, October, 1992) - Original series of shells between 14-19mm. Thin, delicate, depressed, with a narrow umbilicus, and moderately flattened outline. Pale pinkish-tan under a yellowish olive periostracum. Compared with both H. traskii and the newly described H. uvasana. Type locality: Vasquez Rocks, Los Angles County, California. Common name:Vasquez shoulderband.

POLYGYRIDAE

Ashmunella milesi Reeder, 1993 (The Veliger, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp.69-71, January, 1993) - 12-13mm, depressed, lenticulate, with a somewhat sharp shoulder; open umbilicus, and prominent radial growth ridges on all major whorls. Color is pale brown. Apertural dentition includes two basal teeth, a single broad palatal tooth, and a prominent tooth on the parietal wall with a small callus within the aperture above the main tooth. The author relates the new species to the Chiricahuan Ashmunella species of Arizona based on some anatomical similarities. Compared with A. lenticula Gregg, 1953, of similar size, umbilical opening size and sharpness of shoulder. A. milesi has a relatively straight parietal tooth; parietal tooth of A. lenticula is sinuous. Named for Dr. Charles D. Miles, a prolific land snail researcher and field collector. Known only from type locality, but the author states that the Sierra Mariquita has not been thoroughly searched. Type locality: Northern Sonora, Mexico, west of Cananea; south-facing talus slope along road to microwave tower, Sierra Mariquita.

Vespericola marinensis Roth & Miller, 1993 (The Veliger, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 134-144, April ,1993) - 10-15mm in diameter, depressed-helicoid or broadly conical, with a narrow umbilicus, and about 5 whorls. The periphery is rounded, with a narrow umbilicus slightly covered by the reflected white peristome. Shell is covered with fine hairs or setae which extend into the umbilicus. V. marinensis is compared with V. pilosus (type species of the genus Vespericola) and also orius, in density of setae and granularity of surface sculpture. V. marinensis is also compared anatomically with other species of Vespericola. Various large and small adult shell populations have been identified throughout the Point Reyes Peninsula and surrounding region. Named for named for Marin County, California. Type locality: Point Reyes, Bear Valley Trail, Marin County, California. Common name: Marin hesperian.

Vespericola klamathicus Roth & Miller, 1995 (The Veliger, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 133-144, April, 1995) - 13-6mm in diameter, depressed-globose, the umbilical region almost covered by the reflected white peristome, parietal callus granulose with a prominent triangular lamella, periphery inflated and broadest above middle of body whorl. The shell is covered with somewhat sparse hairs or setae. Anatomical characteristics are compared with V. eritrichius. Named for the Klamath Mountains. Type locality; Aiken Creek, northeast of Weitchpec, Humboldt County, California. Common name: Klamath hesperian.

Hochbergellus hirsutus Roth & Miller, 1992 (The Veliger, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 222-225, July, 1992) - The new genus Hochbergellus is described, with H. hirsutus n. sp. designated as the type species. The authors state that anatomical characteristics alone distinguish Hochbergellus from other southwest Oregon polygyrid genera, with no diagnostic shell characters at the generic level.

From 13-17mm in diameter, the shell of H. hirsutus is depressed-helicoid to conical; the expanded, reflected peristome partially covers the narrow umbilicus. There is a constriction behind the reflected lip. The periphery is weakly subangulate. The base has short hairs or setae on the spire. The parietal callus is granulose. The shell color is tan with a white to pinkish tan peristome. The new species is compared anatomically with V. megasoma with which it is sympatric. Type locality: Sisters Rocks, Curry County, Oregon. Common name: sisters hesperian.

REFERENCES:

• "Two new species of Helminthoglypta (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) from southern California, with comments on the subgenus Charodotes Pilsbry" Barry Roth and F.G. Hochberg, The Veliger, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 338-346, October 1, 1992.
• "A New Ashnunella (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Polygyridae) from Sonora, Mexico" Richard L. Reeder, The Veliger, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp.69-71, January 4, 1993
• "Polygyrid Land Snails, Vespericola (Gastropoda: Pulmonata), 1. Species and Populations Formerly Referred to Vespericola columbianus (Lea) in California" Barry Roth and Walter B. Miller, The Veliger, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 134-144, April 1, 1993.
• "Polygyrid Land Snails, Vespericola (Gastropoda: Pulmonata), 2. Taxonomic Status of Vespericola megasoma (Pilsbry) and V. karokorum Talmadge" Barry Roth and Walter B. Miller, The Veliger, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 133-144, April 3, 1995.
• "A New Genus and Species of Polygyrid Land Snail (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) from Oregon" Barry Roth and Walter B. Miller, The Veliger, Vol. 35, No. 3, 222-225, July 1, 1992.