Springvalia isolata (Ponder & Clark, 1990)

Jardinella isolata Ponder & Clark, 1990: 339, figs. 16A, 31C–F, 32C, D, 33A, B, 34D–F; Perez et al. 2005: 547 (C.305895).

Material examined. Holotype (C.156772), paratypes (C.156773; C.156774; C.156775) and topotypes, Queensland, Elizabeth Springs, SE of Boulia, 23° 20' 30" S, 140° 34' 40" E (C.305895; C.438554; C.481123); Queensland, N of Springvale, S of Boulia, Warra Station, Bulla Bulla Spring, 22° 55' 12" S, 140° 27' 17" E, mud and water column in spring, W.F. Ponder, J.B. Studdert, C. Slatyer & J.M. Ponder, 16 Aug 2004, C.479957, 1, C.438556, 9; Reedy Spring, permanent spring in Hamilton River channels, 22° 55' 10" S, 140° 27' 08" E, R. J. Fensham, 28 Oct 2003, C.430903, 20+; base of spring base in creek gully, 22° 55' 07" S, 140° 27' 17" E, W.F. Ponder, J.B. Studdert, C. Slatyer & J.M. Ponder, 16 Aug 2004, C.447677, 20+.

Remarks. This species is common at Elizabeth Springs, a spring group about 26 km NNW of Springvale and about 95 km SE of Boulia, Western Queensland (Fig. 1). The group contains a number of small swampy springs. The locality was listed on the National Heritage List in August 2009. It contains an endemic goby (Chlamydogobius micropterus) and several rare plant species including the endangered Eriocaulon carsonii. The specimens described and figured here are from a few small springs on Warra Station, approximately 49 km north of Elizabeth Springs (Fig. 1). Both spring groups are associated with tributaries of the Burke River in the Channel Country. The Warra Station specimens are very similar to typical S. isolata in shell size and shape (Fig. 10 A–C) but differ in a few minor anatomical details. However, the molecular results indicate that these two populations can be considered conspecific. The anatomical differences noted in the Warra specimens include a more swollen vestibular area in the female (Fig. 12C), the male has a penis that lacks the distinct papilla (Fig. 12A) seen in typical S. isolata (see Ponder & Clark 1990, fig. 34A) and the rectum is arched in the Warra specimens while the examined Elizabeth Springs material has a simple rectum. These characters may well be variable within S. isolata if a larger sample was examined anatomically.

Illustrations (Figs. 9–12) and dimensions (Table 7) of the material from Warra Station are provided for comparison with typical S. isolata (see Ponder and Clark 1990, fig. 31C, F).