Published December 13, 2012 | Version v1
Taxonomic treatment Open

Richmondaropa prava Shea & Colgan & Stanisic 2012, n. comb.

Description

Richmondaropa prava (Hedley, 1924) n. comb.

(Figs 30B, C; 32B. C; 34B, C; 36B, C; 38A, B; 39F, G; 40F; 41E, F)

Gyrocochlea prava Hedley, 1924: 217.

Gyrocochlea prava: Iredale 1937: 323; Iredale 1941a: 268; Smith 1992: 191; Stanisic et al. 2010: 200.

Diagnosis. Shell very small, cinnamon brown, biconcave with weakly depressed spire. Protoconch sculpture primarily spiral consisting of 21 prominent, widely spaced, narrow, continuous spiral cords; vague, very weak, underlying radial ridges present. Teleoconch sculpture of numerous, prominent, quite uniformly spaced, slightly sinuate, strongly prosocline radial ribs. Ribs on body whorl 100–117 (mean 104). Umbilicus wide U-shaped to cupshaped. Epiphallus longer than penis, entering penis through a simple pore (verge absent). Penis tubular with an expanded apical portion, internally with 2–3 longitudinal pilasters.

Type material examined. Holotype. AM C63491, Upper Tweed River, NSW, coll. W. Petterd. Paratypes. AM C.103621, same data as holotype.

Other material examined. NSW-Booyong Nature Reserve: AM C.140225, QMMO 17066. Richmond Range: QMMO 6273, QMMO 10909/ AM C.128499, QMMO 49123. Stotts Island: QMMO 10517, QMMO 78719. Lismore: QMMO 19824, QMMO 77015. Qld-Currumbin Valley: AM C.339711.

Description. Shell very small, cinnamon brown, biconcave with weakly depressed spire. Whorls 3.62–4.5 (mean 4.00), tightly coiled, the last weakly expanding and strongly descending in front. Sutures strongly impressed. Shell diameter 3.59–3.93 mm (mean 3.77 mm), height 1.99–2.17 mm (mean 2.09 mm), H/D 0.48–0.77 (mean 0.55). Protoconch flat, of 1.12 whorls, diameter 0.56–0.67 mm. Protoconch sculpture primarily spiral consisting of 21 prominent, widely spaced, narrow, continuous spiral cords; underlying weak radial ridges present. Teleoconch sculpture of numerous, prominent, quite uniformly spaced, slightly sinuate, strongly prosocline radial ribs. Ribs on body whorl 100–117 (mean 104), width of interstices on the first teleoconch whorl equal to width of four to greater than or equal to width of six ribs; on the penultimate whorl equal to width of four to equal to width of six ribs; each rib with single periostracal blade. Interstitial sculpture of low prominent microradial ribs and low, weaker microspiral cords forming weak beads at their intersection; number of microradials between ribs on the first teleoconch whorl 5–8; on first quarter of body whorl 9–10. Aperture broadly ovately-lunate. Parietal callus prominent, transparent. Umbilicus wide U shaped to cup-shaped, diameter 0.82–1.32 mm (mean 1.04 mm), D/U 2.65–4.40 (mean 3.56). Based on 25 measured adults.

Reproductive tract with ovotestis containing two clumps of alveoli, with more than two alveolar lobes per clump. Hermaphroditic duct corrugated, crescent-shaped. Spermatheca with a medium-sized circular bulb. Penial retractor muscle inserting on top of penis at the junction of the penis and epiphallus. Epiphallus longer than penis, entering penis through a simple pore (i.e. verge absent). Penis tubular with an expanded apical portion, internally with 2–3 longitudinal pilasters. Vagina shorter than penis. Atrium short.

Distribution and habitat. Richmond River to the Border Ranges, north-eastern NSW; found in lowland to mid-altitude rainforest and vine thicket, living under logs.

Remarks: Richmondaropa prava (Hedley, 1924) n. comb. is distinguished from the more coastal and parapatric Richmondaropa conjuncta (Iredale, 1941) n. comb. by its larger size, less tightly coiled whorls and more crowded and numerous radial ribs on the teleoconch. R. prava differs from the broadly sympatric Dictyoropa eurythma chiefly by the protoconch sculpture which in R. prava primarily consists of widely spaced, narrow spiral cords in contrast to the broadly reticulate pattern of D. eurythma. Radial elements are present on the protoconch of R. prava but these take the form of weak underlying growth ridges.

Notes

Published as part of Shea, M., Colgan, D. J. & Stanisic, J., 2012, 3585, pp. 1-109 in Zootaxa 3585 on pages 82-83

Files

Files (4.6 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:972b2d1fce1fae5a4e34246914aaf2b7
4.6 kB Download

System files (26.3 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:152ee24300495eb6a5da68269d89fb60
26.3 kB Download

Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Collection code
AM
Scientific name authorship
Shea & Colgan & Stanisic
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Order
Stylommatophora
Family
Charopidae
Genus
Richmondaropa
Species
prava
Taxon rank
species
Taxonomic status
comb. nov.
Type status
holotype , paratype
Taxonomic concept label
Richmondaropa prava (Hedley, 1924) sec. Shea, Colgan & Stanisic, 2012

References

  • Hedley, C. (1924) Some notes on Australian land shells. Australian Zoologist, 3, 215 - 221.
  • Iredale, T. (1937) A basic list of the land Mollusca of Australia. Australian Zoologist, 8, 287 - 333.
  • Iredale, T. (1941 a) Guide to the land shells of New South Wales. Part 2. The Australian Naturalist, 10, 262 - 269.
  • Smith, B. J. (1992). Non-Marine Mollusca. In Houston, W. W. K. (Ed), Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Australian Government Publishing Service. Canberra, 405 pp.
  • Stanisic, J., Shea, M., Potter, D. and Griffiths, O. (2010) Australian Land Snails Volume 1: A Field Guide to Eastern Australian Species. Bioculture Press, Mauritius, 591 pp.