Spiraxidae
New taxa (21): species from Central America
20-04-2010 08:23
In a recent paper, Fred
Thompson highlights some Spiraxidae from Costa Rica
and Panama. The subfamilies within this group and
four genera are redescribed; two species are
described as new taxa. New distribution records from
both countries.
The first one is Rectaxis pagodus Thompson, 2010, from La Lola Agricultural station, west of Limón, Costa Rica. Holotype UF 80942. Fig. 1. Scale line = 1 mm.
The second new species is Volutaxis (Volutaxis) eburneus Thompson, 2010. Type locality: Costa Rica, prov. Limón, La Estrella, Hitoy Cerera Biological Reserve. Holotype UF 215409. Fig. 4.
Reference:
Thompson, F.G., 2010. Four species of land snails from Costa Rica and Panama (Pulmonata: Spiraxidae). - Revista de Biología Tropical 58 (1): 195-202.
The first one is Rectaxis pagodus Thompson, 2010, from La Lola Agricultural station, west of Limón, Costa Rica. Holotype UF 80942. Fig. 1. Scale line = 1 mm.
The second new species is Volutaxis (Volutaxis) eburneus Thompson, 2010. Type locality: Costa Rica, prov. Limón, La Estrella, Hitoy Cerera Biological Reserve. Holotype UF 215409. Fig. 4.
Reference:
Thompson, F.G., 2010. Four species of land snails from Costa Rica and Panama (Pulmonata: Spiraxidae). - Revista de Biología Tropical 58 (1): 195-202.
New taxa (16): Spiraxidae
05-08-2009 20:10
Fred Thompson recently published a paper on Mexican
spiraxids. Spriaxidae are carnivorous snails and well
represented in Mexico. Five species are reported from
karst limestone ranges that are separated by basins
of non-calcareous soils.
Streptostylella botteriana (Crosse & Fischer, 1869) is redescribed and -figured. This species occurs near Orizaba and Córdoba in Veracruz and only very few specimens are known.
Another poorly known species, recorded for the first time from Oaxaca, is Streptostyla (Eustreptostyla) nicoleti nicoleti (Shuttleowrth, 1852).
Finally, three new species are described in this paper. One is Streptostyla (Eustreptostyla) rupecula n.sp. Type locality: Veracruz, 4 km NE Comalapa (UF 81912). The two others are species of Varicoturris. V. hadra n.sp. is described from Oaxaca, 12 km NW Bethania (UF 423105) and V. elegans n.sp. from the same state on the northeast shore of Presa Miguel Aleman (UF 337226).
V. hadra (4), V. elegans (6) and Streptostyla rupecula (8)
All species are local endemics of tropical wet seasonal forests.
Reference:
Thompson, F.G., 2009. Five landsnails of the family Spiraxidae from southeastern Mexico (Pulmonata: Spiraxidae). - Archiv für Molluskenkunde 138: 63-70.
Streptostylella botteriana (Crosse & Fischer, 1869) is redescribed and -figured. This species occurs near Orizaba and Córdoba in Veracruz and only very few specimens are known.
Another poorly known species, recorded for the first time from Oaxaca, is Streptostyla (Eustreptostyla) nicoleti nicoleti (Shuttleowrth, 1852).
Finally, three new species are described in this paper. One is Streptostyla (Eustreptostyla) rupecula n.sp. Type locality: Veracruz, 4 km NE Comalapa (UF 81912). The two others are species of Varicoturris. V. hadra n.sp. is described from Oaxaca, 12 km NW Bethania (UF 423105) and V. elegans n.sp. from the same state on the northeast shore of Presa Miguel Aleman (UF 337226).
V. hadra (4), V. elegans (6) and Streptostyla rupecula (8)
All species are local endemics of tropical wet seasonal forests.
Reference:
Thompson, F.G., 2009. Five landsnails of the family Spiraxidae from southeastern Mexico (Pulmonata: Spiraxidae). - Archiv für Molluskenkunde 138: 63-70.
A poorly known Nicaraguan endemic
02-02-2009 20:57
Central American land snails are not frequently the
subject of a publication. But in the latest issue of
Iberus, the journal of the Spanish malacologists,
there is a paper by Pérez and others on
Euglandina
obtusa
(Pfeiffer, 1844). The species is hitherto only known
from the type locality in Nicaragua.
The authors redescribe the shell of this poorly known species and add 15 new localities, all in the south-western part of Nicaragua.
As some localities are at the border of Honduras, I wonder how the authors can be sure that this species is a truly endemic of Nicaragua? Snails don’t mind administrative borders...
Reference
Pérez, M.A., Altonaga, K. & López, A., 2008. New data on the morphology and distribution of Euglandina obtusa (Pfeiffer, 1844) (Gastropoda: Spiraxidae) a Nicaraguan endemism. - Iberus 26: 127-131.
The authors redescribe the shell of this poorly known species and add 15 new localities, all in the south-western part of Nicaragua.
As some localities are at the border of Honduras, I wonder how the authors can be sure that this species is a truly endemic of Nicaragua? Snails don’t mind administrative borders...
Reference
Pérez, M.A., Altonaga, K. & López, A., 2008. New data on the morphology and distribution of Euglandina obtusa (Pfeiffer, 1844) (Gastropoda: Spiraxidae) a Nicaraguan endemism. - Iberus 26: 127-131.