2urn:lsid:arphahub.com:pub:45048D35-BB1D-5CE8-9668-537E44BD4C7Eurn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:91BD42D4-90F1-4B45-9350-EEF175B1727AZooKeysZK1313-29891313-2970Pensoft Publishers10.3897/zookeys.592.81188118Research ArticleGastropodaInvertebrataMolluscaPulmonataSystematicsNeogeneChina SeasLaosMyanmarVietnamThe family Plectopylidae (Gastropoda, Pulmonata) in Laos with the description of two new genera and a new speciesPáll-GergelyBarnapallgergely2@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6167-72211MuratovIgor V.2AsamiTakahirohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5706-02721Department of Biology, Shinshu University, Matsumoto 390-8621, JapanKwaZulu-Natal Museum, P. Bag 9070, Pietermaritzburg 3200, South AfricaSchool of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, 3206, South Africa
Corresponding author: Barna Páll-Gergely (pallgergely2@gmail.com)
Academic editor: E. Gittenberger
201625052016592126FFCC670A-3014-C95E-8216-FFF4FF9AFFD508A7D4E2-B2C8-4D88-8229-30ECE9793CB25794261202201626042016Barna Páll-Gergely, Igor V. Muratov, Takahiro AsamiThis is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.http://zoobank.org/08A7D4E2-B2C8-4D88-8229-30ECE9793CB2
Previously only a single plectopylid species, Helixlaomontana L. Pfeiffer, 1862 was reported from Laos. Here we erect Naggsia Páll-Gergely & Muratov, gen. n. for H.laomontana based on the description of its reproductive anatomy and radula. Another species, Hunyadiscussaurini Páll-Gergely, gen. & sp. n. is described from Northern Laos based on conchological data. Helix (Plectopylis) andersoni Blanford, 1869, which is known from the Burmese-Chinese border region, is also classified within Hunyadiscus Páll-Gergely, gen. n. A third species, Gudeodiscus (Gudeodiscus) messageriraheemi Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2015 is reported from Laos for the first time. The new localities represent the westernmost sites of the genus Gudeodiscus. The reproductive anatomy of the latter species is described.
Páll-Gergely B, Muratov IV, Asami T (2016) The family Plectopylidae (Gastropoda, Pulmonata) in Laos with the description of two new genera and a new species. ZooKeys 592: 1–26. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.592.8118
Introduction
Land snails of the family Plectopylidae are widely distributed in East Asia, from Nepal to southern Japan (Gude 1899b, Páll-Gergely and Hunyadi 2013, Páll-Gergely et al. 2015b). The taxonomic system of the Plectopylidae was established by Gude (1899a), who recognized seven sections (Endothyra Gude, 1899a = Endothyrella Zilch, 1960, Chersaecia Gude, 1899a, Endoplon Gude, 1899a, Plectopylis Benson, 1860, Sinicola Gude, 1899a, Enteroplax Gude, 1899a and Sykesia Gude, 1897b). Two of these (Enteroplax and Sykesia = Ruthvenia Gude, 1911) are now classified in different families (Páll-Gergely and Hunyadi 2013). Recent investigation resulted in the redefinition of Gude’s (1899a) genera as well as the description of three new genera (Gudeodiscus Páll-Gergely, 2013, Halongella Páll-Gergely, 2015 and Sicradiscus Páll-Gergely, 2013). With these, plectopylids are now classified in eight genera (Páll-Gergely and Hunyadi 2013, Páll-Gergely et al. 2015a, 2015b).
The single species reported from Laos to date was originally described as Helixlaomontana L. Pfeiffer, 1862 (type locality: “Lao Mountains, Camboja”) and was classified in Chersaecia by Gude (1899a). Revision of Endothyrella showed that Chersaecia had been treated as a catchall category and that it contained species with very diverse conchological characters (Páll-Gergely et al. 2015b). We transferred five species from Chersaecia to Endothyrella, mainly based on the ribbed protoconch and the absence of an apertural fold. In Chersaecia we retained only species that were similar to the type species, Plectopylisleiophis Benson, 1860, in terms of the presence of an apertural fold and the finely granulated (not ribbed) embryonic whorls. Helixlaomontana, has also been excluded from Chersaecia, but could not be included into any other existing genus. Live collected specimens allowed the clarification of the taxonomic position of Helixlaomontana. Another species, namely Helix (Plectopylis) andersoni W. Blanford, 1869 was also excluded from Chersaecia (see Páll-Gergely et al. 2015b). Although no ethanol-preserved specimens were available for anatomical study, its shell characters provide sufficient information to clarify its systematic status. Additionally, we report two other species from Laos, one being new to science.
Material and methods
Shell whorls were counted according to Kerney and Cameron (1979: 13) (precision 0.25).
For the nomenclature of lamellae (vertical parietal folds) and plicae (horizontal parietal folds and palatal folds) see Páll-Gergely et al. 2015b. Whenever possible, the internal lamellae and plicae were exposed by removing the shell wall at the appropriate part of the shells (inner view). If damaging the shells was not an option (too few shells available), the plicae were figured on the basis of their visibility through the shell wall (outer view). “Anterior” refers to the part or side of the armature closer to the aperture, “posterior” refers to the other side of the armature.
Ethanol-preserved specimens were dissected under a Leica stereomicroscope, equipped with a photographic camera. In the descriptions of the reproductive system, we used the terms “proximal” and “distal” in relation to the apical portion of the reproductive tract i.e. the ovotestis.
Individual buccal masses were removed and soaked in 2 M KOH solution for 5 hours before extracting the radula, which was later preserved in 70% ethanol. Radulae and shells were directly observed without coating under a low vacuum SEM (Miniscope TM-1000, Hitachi High-Technologies, Tokyo).
Abbreviations
HNHM
Hungarian Natural History Museum (Budapest, Hungary)
MNHN
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France)
NHM
Natural History Museum (London, UK)
NHMUK
when citing registered specimens from the Natural History Museum (London, UK)
NHMW
Naturhistorisches Museum (Vienna, Austria)
OK
Collection Kenji Ohara, Nishinomiya Shell Museum (Nishinomiya, Japan)
PGB
Collection Barna Páll-Gergely (Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary)
RBINS
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels, Belgium)
RE
Collection Reischütz (Horn, Austria)
SMF
Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum (Frankfurt am Main, Germany)
WM
Collection Wim J. M. Maassen (Echt, The Netherlands)
ZMH
Zoological Museum, Hamburg (Germany)
Taxonomic descriptionsFamily Plectopylidae Möllendorff, 1898AnimaliaPulmonataPlectopylidae98FD288C-5B05-575D-92AA-D53C137E85FAGudeodiscusPáll-Gergely, 20132013 Gudeodiscus Páll-Gergely, In: Páll-Gergely and Hunyadi, Archiv für Molluskenkunde 142(1): 4, 8. Type species.
Plectopylisphlyaria Mabille, 1887, by original designation.
11L06 Laos, Luang Prabang Province, ca. 18 km SE of Muang Xiang Ngeun, on the left side of Nam Khan, limestone, black soil in limestone pockets, clay, under rocks and logs in old forest, 455 m a.s.l., 19°40.931'N, 102°19.743'E, leg. A. Abdou & I.V. Muratov, 30.10.2006, MNHN 2012-27054/38 shells (some of them are broken/juvenile) + anatomically examined specimen (Figs 1C, 2B, 5G–H, 6, 9D–G); 12L06 Laos, Luang Prabang Province, ca. 17 km SE of Muang Xiang Ngeun, on the left side of Nam Khan, limestone, black soil in limestone pockets, clay, under rocks and logs in old forest, 385 m a.s.l., 19°41.201'N, 102°19.197'E, leg. A. Abdou & I.V. Muratov, 30.10.2006, MNHN 2012-27055/21 shells (some of them are broken/juvenile); 34L06 Laos, Luang Prabang Province, ca. 6 km N of Phou Khoun, limestone, clay, under rocks in dry secondary forest under and above cliff, 1244 m a.s.l., 19°29.653'N, 102°24.470'E, leg. A. Abdou & I.V. Muratov, 16.11.2006, MNHN 2012-27056/11 shells (some of them are broken/juvenile); Laos, Vientiane Province, Tam Chang, Vang Vieng, leg. Pongrat Dumrongrojwattana, 11.06.2009., PGB/1, WM/1.
Shells of Plectopylidae species. ANaggsialaomontana (L. Pfeiffer, 1862) (syntype, NHMUK 20130004) BN.laomontana (Laos, Luang Prabang Province, Ban Pak Ou, Nam Wu (opposite side of Ban Pak Ou), 364 m 20°03.48276'N, 102°12.79912'E, leg. Ohara, K. 13.10.2006., coll. PGB) CGudeodiscus (Gudeodiscus) messageriraheemi Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2015, locality code: 11L06. Photos: T. Deli (B), B. Páll-Gergely (C) and H. Taylor (A). Scale represents 20 mm.
A single living specimen collected in Laos, was killed by drowning and was stored in 70 % ethanol. A part of the body was extracted from the shell and was examined anatomically. The inner parts of the genitalia, such as the gametolytic sac, the diverticulum and the spermoviduct could not be extracted.
The reproductive anatomy of Gudeodiscusmessageriraheemi was figured in the original description (Páll-Gergely et al. 2015a). The two anatomically examined Vietnamese specimens differed from each other mainly in the length of the penial caecum. The Laotian specimen possesses a short caecum, similar to one of the Vietnamese specimens. The length of the caecum probably has minor taxonomic value because it varies considerably within species (see also G.phlyarius in Páll-Gergely et al. 2015a). The inner wall of the epiphallus of the Vietnamese specimens had three, rather low, longitudinal folds. In contrast, the Laotian specimen had a single thickened fold internally.
Remarks.
Gudeodiscus (Gudeodiscus) messageriraheemi was described from Vietnam, where it inhabits the provinces Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Sơn La, Hòa Bình and Nghệ An. The Laotian specimens agreed in shell morphology with the Vietnamese specimens. The new Laotian localities of Gudeodiscusmessageriraheemi represent the westernmost record of the genus (Figure 14).
Ecology.
This taxon inhabits primary or old secondary broad-leaved forests, in the humid microenvironments under leaves, logs, limestone rocks and in black soil accumulated inside limestone pockets. The live collected specimen co-occured with Garnieriamouhoti (L. Pfeiffer, 1862), a well-known species that is also associated with the moderate humidity of broad-leaved forests (Figure 12).
andersoni Blanford, 1869, saurini Páll-Gergely, sp. n.
Diagnosis.
Shell dextral, body whorl keeled or angulated; protoconch with spiral and radial lines, with the spirals being dominant; palatal plicae slightly sinuate; parietal wall with a single lamella and some additional plicae/denticles anteriorly and/or posteriorly. Internal anatomy unknown. See also Remarks.
Differential diagnosis.
Hunyadiscus gen. n. differs from all other plectopylid genera by the protoconch sculpture, which is characterized by both spiral and radial lines, the spirals being dominant. Moreover, all species of Gudeodiscus, Halongella and Naggsia gen. n. have a rounded body whorl, which is keeled in Hunyadiscus gen. n. The most similar genus to Hunyadiscus gen. n. is Sinicola, which also possess a keeled (shouldered) body whorl, and usually lacks the apertural fold. See also Table 1.
Key characters of the shell and genitalia of plectopylid genera possessing ribbed embryonic whorls. One star: see Páll-Gergely et al. 2015b; two stars: see Páll-Gergely et al. 2015a.
Genus
Coiling direction
Apertural fold
Body whorl
Epiphallus
Penial pockets
Protoconch
Endothyrella
sinistral or dextral
absent
rounded or keeled
present
whole penial wall
ribbed*
Sinicola
dextral
absent (rarely present)
keeled
present
whole penial wall
ribbed
Gudeodiscus
dextral
absent or present
rounded
present
apical part
ribbed
Halongella
dextral
present
rounded
present
whole penial wall
ribbed**
Hunyadiscus gen. n.
dextral
absent
keeled
unknown
unknown
spirally striated and ribbed
Naggsia gen. n.
dextral
absent
rounded
absent
absent
ribbed, ribs are wavy, with extremely fine spiral striation
eastern Sicradiscus
dextral
absent
keeled
present
whole penial wall
ribbed
western Sicradiscus
dextral
present
rounded
present
apical part
ribbed
Etymology.
The genus is dedicated to András Hunyadi, Hungarian malacologist and shell collector, who first called the attention of the first author on the necessity of revising the family Plectopylidae. The name Hunyadiscus is the combination of the family name Hunyadi and discus (Latin: disc), which refers to the shape of the shells.
Distribution.
One species (H.saurini sp. n.) inhabits southern part of Northern Laos (exact locality unknown), the other species (H.andersoni) lives in southern Kachin state (Myanmar), at the bordering Chinese region (Figure 15).
Remarks.
Many plectopylid species belonging to the genera Endoplon, Endothyrella, Gudeodiscus, Halongella, Plectopylis, Sicradiscus possess two parietal lamellae (anterior and posterior). Other species, however, possess only a single one. In most cases it is possible to decide that the single lamella is homologous with either the anterior or the posterior lamella, because there are “remains” of the other lamella. For example, in some Gudeodiscus species (e.g. G.multispira [Möllendorff, 1883]), there are some small denticles in position of the anterior lamella, anterior to the well-developed, curved lamella. This indicates that the curved lamella is homologous with the posterior lamella. In contrast, in the genera Sicradiscus and Endothyrella, many species have small denticles on the posterior side of the single lamella. This suggests, that the single, well developed lamella is homologous with the anterior lamella (Páll-Gergely and Asami 2016). Hunyadiscusandersoni also has two small denticles on the posterior side of the lamella, one above, one below. This suggests that the single lamella of H.andersoni is homologous with the anterior lamella. The single lamella of Hunyadiscussaurini sp. n. is, on the other hand, probably homologous with the posterior lamella, because it has a strongly curved shape, and has a lower plica positioned anteriorly, which is, when present, situated under the anterior lamella in Gudeodiscus species. These hypotheses suggest that the two species of Hunyadiscus have remarkably different parietal plication (Fig. 11).
AnimaliaPulmonataPlectopylidaeEEB8E11A-2D7C-5FEB-B947-F96D262C5181Hunyadiscusandersoni(W. Blanford, 1869)Figures 3B–C, 4A–B, 5C–D, 11F1869 Helix (Plectopylis) andersoni Blanford, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 448 [Bhamo in regno Avæ et Hoetone in Yunan]. 1874 Helixandersoni, — Hanley and Theobald, Conchologia Indica…: 46, plate 112, figs 8–9 [Bhamo, and Hoetone in Yunan] (1870–1876). 1875 Helix (Plectopylis) andersoni, — Godwin-Austen, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 612, Plate 74, fig. 9. 1885 PlectopylisAndersoni, — Möllendorff, Jahrbücher der Deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft, 12: 389 [“bei Bhamo in Oberbirma”, “»Hoitone« in der chinesischen Provinz Yünnan”]. 1886 PlectopylisAndersoni, — Möllendorff, Jahrbücher der Deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft, 13: 188. 1887 Helixandersoni, — Tryon, Manual of Conchology. 2 (3): 161, Plate 34, fig. 71; Plate 35, figs 74–75 [Bhamo, in Ava; Hoetone, In Yunan]. 1889 Helix (Plectopylis) Andersoni, — Tapparone Canefri, Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 2a (7): 47 (=323). [“Catcin di Pun-Can, Cimfó, Monti Est di Bhamó”, “Bhamó, Hoetone”] 1896 Plectopylisandersoni, — Gude, Science Gossip, 3: 154, figs 17a–c [Near Bhamo and Ava, in Upper Burma and on the Yunnan-frontier]. 1899a Plectopylis (Chersaecia) andersoni, — Gude, Science Gossip, 6: 148. 1899b Plectopylis (Chersaecia) andersoni, — Gude, Science Gossip, 6: 175. 1914 Plectopylis (Chersaecia) andersoni, — Gude, The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma. Mollusca II. (Trochomorphidae – Janellidae), 2: 73, 114, figs 55a–c. 2013 Chersaeciaandersoni, — Páll-Gergely and Hunyadi, Archiv für Molluskenkunde 142 (1): 7, figs 14–15. Types.
According to Dance (1986) the collection of Blanford is deposited in the British Museum (now: Natural History Museum, London). In the type collection of the NHM we did not find syntypes, but there is a sample (NHMUK 1906.02.02.364) which is labelled as being collected from Bhamo, one of the type localities. This sample may represent the type lot.
Museum material examined.
Yünan, Slg. Bosch, ex H. Rolle (1 juv.), SMF 172066; alte Schau-Slg/2, SMF 150117; no locality information (alte Schau-Slg.), SMF 150117/2; Upper Indwadi, NHMUK 1888.12.04.1561/2; Burma, coll. A. S. Kennard, ex Gude, NHMUK/2; Bhamo, Upper Burma, NHMUK 1906.02.02.364/5; Khakhyan Hills, Burmah, coll. Godwin-Austen, NHMUK/3; Bhamo, NHMUK/1.
Diagnosis.
A very large, discoid, angulated species with elevated, sharp callus and spirally striated protoconch.
Description.
Shell flat, angulated, light brown or corneous; ventral side of the body whorl keeled around the moderately wide, very deep umbilicus; protoconch spirally striated, radial ribs are mostly visible on its first whorl only; teleoconch equally ornamented with fine ribbing and spiral striae, resulting in rough, irregular reticulated surface on the dorsal side; ventral side also reticulated, but much weaker than the dorsal surface; 7.5–8.5 slowly increasing whorls separated by shallow suture; near the sutures the riblets sometimes supported with fine folds of the periostracum; aperture rounded, with white, slightly expanded and thickened apertural rim; callus slightly elevated, sharp, slightly S-shaped and forms two canals upon junction with the lip.
The parietal side was examined in one specimen (SMF 150117), whereas the palatal plicae is examined in specimens of the SMF and the NHM. Parietal wall with one curved horizontal lamella with occasionally an elongated upper plica, which is in contact with the lamella; there are two small denticles on the posterior side of the lamella, these are in weak contact with the lamella; palatal side with eight horizontal plicae, first near the suture is small, the second is even smaller; the last also short and close to the lower suture and the penultimate resembles the second denticle; remaining four plicae between the first and last two are long and slim.
Measurements
(in mm). D = 24.6–27.2, H = 10.9–11.4 (n = 2, RBINS I. G. 10591, Burmah).
Differential diagnosis.
This species differs from large Chinese Gudeodiscus species (and Naggsialaomontana) by the keeled margin of the shells. It is much larger than all Sinicola species. The largest Sinicola species, S.fimbriosa (Martens, 1875) does not have a callus and has a stronger apertural margin.
Distribution.
The species is known from Northern Burma and Western Yunnan. Hoetone (Hutung Village) and Bhamo are located in Kachin Provinces, whereas Ava is in Mandalay Province (all in Burma/Myanmar). The Kakhyen Hills are situated on the Chinese (Yunnan) and Burmese (Kachin) border.
AnimaliaPulmonataPlectopylidaeED33D26A-33A3-58F8-B067-4A681B2D14B5Hunyadiscussaurinihttp://zoobank.org/EF0B1D36-1FBB-49A5-972C-89E6BCA3FBCBPáll-Gergelysp. n.Figures 3A, 4C, 5A–B, 11A1953 Plectopylislaomontana, Saurin, Journal de Conchyliologie, 93 (4), 113. Type material.
Laos, Pa Hia (Ancienne province Tran Ninh), Coll. Saurin, MNHN 24947 (holotype), MNHN 24948/7 paratypes + 5 juvenile shells (also paratypes), HNHM 97470/2 paratypes; Laos, Pah Xieng Tong, Pa Hia, Prov. Tran Ninh, Coll. Saurin, MNHN 249479/1 paratype + 1 juvenile shell (also paratype, protoconch figured: Fig. 4C); Laos, Pa Ka Tai, Prov. Tran Ninh, Coll. Saurin, MNHN 24950/5 paratypes, HNHM 97471/1 paratype; Laos, Pa Xieng Tong, Pa Hia, Prov. Tran Ninh, Coll. Saurin MNHN 24951/3 paratypes; Laos, Pa Hia (Tran Ninh), Coll. Saurin, MNHN 24952/1 juvenile shell (paratype).
Shells of Plectopylidae species. A holotype of Hunyadiscussaurini Páll-Gergely sp. n. BHunyadiscusandersoni (W. Blanford, 1869) (NHMUK 20130003 C Burmah, RBINS 10591. Photos: T. Deli (C), J. Harl (A) and H. Taylor (B). Scales represent 10 mm; upper scale refers to Fig. A, lower scale refers to Figs B and C.
Embryonic whorls of Plectopylidae. A–BHunyadiscusandersoni (W. Blanford 1869) (NHMUK 20130003, two different specimens) CHunyadiscussaurini Páll-Gergely sp. n. DNaggsialaomontana (L. Pfeiffer, 1862), same specimen as Fig. 1B. All images by B. Páll-Gergely.
Parietal (A, C, E, G) and palatal (B, D, F, G) plication of Plectopylidae species. A–BHunyadiscussaurini Páll-Gergely sp. n. C–DHunyadiscusandersoni (W. Blanford 1869) (CSMF 150117 D after Gude 1896) E–FNaggsialaomontana (L. Pfeiffer, 1862), same sample as on Fig. 1BG–HGudeodiscus (Gudeodiscus) messageriraheemi Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2015, same specimen as on Fig. 1C. Figures not to scale. Inner view: B, F, D, Outer view: H.
Reproductive anatomy of Gudeodiscus (Gudeodiscus) messageriraheemi Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2015, same specimen as on Fig. 1C and Fig. 2B. Scale represents 5 mm.
https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/89878Diagnosis.
A dextral, medium-sized or large species with a relatively sharp upper keel and a blunt lower keel on the body whorl. On the parietal wall there is a single oblique lamella with a horizontal plica below it.
Description.
The shell is yellowish or corneous (the type material consists mainly of weathered shells). The protoconch is very large, with regular riblets and spiral lines; the radial and spiral lines are approximately of the same strength. The 5.25–6 whorls are separated by a shallow suture. The umbilicus is wide but moderately deep. The body whorl has a prominent upper keel and a less conspicuous lower keel. The apertural margin is slightly thickened. The parietal callus is blunt, not well developed and is only clearly apparent in older specimens.
Three shells were opened. On the parietal wall there is a single curved lamella that is oblique, its upper end situated much more anteriorly than the lower end. A short, but thick vertical plica is situated below and anteriorly of the lamella. On the palatal wall there are six more-or-less parallel plicae, with some additional short plicae. The most prominent additional plica is situated above the posterior end of the last plica. The fifth plica is usually S-shaped.
Measurements
(in mm). D= 16.3–21.3, H= 6.7–8.6. (n=4, shells from different samples).
Differential diagnosis.
Hunyadiscussaurini sp. n. is smaller than H.andersoni, its keel is situated higher (this results a more angular body whorl), has weaker parietal callus, a lower horizontal plica on the parietal wall which is absent in H.andersoni. Naggsialaomontana has a rounded body whorl and weaker spiral striation on its protoconch.
Etymology.
The species is named in honour of the French geologist and malacologist Edmond Saurin (1904–1977) who collected it.
Type locality.
Laos, Pa Hia (Ancienne province Tran Ninh).
Distribution.
This species is known only from Southern Laos.
Remarks.
This new species shows considerable diversity in terms of shell size. However, the other shell characters are stable within and between samples.
The village “Pa Hia” or “Pah Hia” is located 100 km south from Xieng-Khouang, the capital of Tran Ninh Province (see Saurin 1953: 113). However, the exact locality could not be determined (Nordsieck 2002, Páll-Gergely 2014, Páll-Gergely 2015c). A geological report (Marutani 2006), mentioned the name “Ban Namthong” in brackets after “Pa Hia”. The two names are probably identical, but the origin of this information could not be traced. Marutani (2006) gave the following GPS coordinates for Ban Namthong: 19.05000°N, 103.28330°E. This location is situated approximately 75 km southwest from Xiangkhoang city. Google Earth placed “Ban Namthong” 7.6 km in southwest direction (18° 59'N, 103° 16'E), which agrees with the 1:50.000 map printed by the National Geographic Directorate, Vietnam, in 1965. We provisionally identify the village Pah Hia with Ban Namthong, because we could not locate the name Pah Hia on the maps available to us.
Shell flat, widely umbilicated, body whorl rounded; protoconch with dense, regular, slightly waved ribs with extremely fine spiral striation. Epiphallus absent, diverticulum and gametolytic sac are both very short, but diverticulum is still shorter than the gametolytic sac. Cusp of central tooth missing, only basal plate of central tooth present. Marginals bicuspid.
Differential diagnosis.
Naggsia gen. n. differs from the genera having ribbed embryonic whorls (Endothyrella, Gudeodiscus, Halongella, Sicradiscus, Sinicola) by the absence of an epiphallus and the presence of a very short diverticulum. Moreover, although the protoconch of Naggsia gen. n. is ribbed, the ribs (radial lines) are not straight, as in the other genera, but are somewhat wavy. Naggsia gen. n. differs from the genera without a ribbed protoconch (Chersaecia, Endoplon, Plectopylis) by the presence of regular, slightly waved ribs on the embryonic whorls. The latter genera are insufficiently known anatomically. Plectopylisbensoni Gude, 1914 (mentioned as P.achatina Pfeiffer, 1845) and P.cyclaspis Benson, 1859 have a well-developed epiphallus (Stoliczka 1871). Interestingly, these Plectopylis species have a relatively short and thickened diverticulum, which is somewhat similar to that of Naggsialaomontana. Similarly to Naggsialaomontana, Chersaeciasimplex Solem, 1966 lacks the epiphallus (see Solem 1966), but it at has no diverticulum, which is well developed in Naggsia. See differential diagnosis under Hunyadiscus and Table 1.
Etymology.
The new genus is dedicated to Fred Naggs (NHM) in acknowledgement of his help with our studies on the Plectopylidae.
Distribution.
Northern Laos (Figure 15).
Remarks.
The anatomy of Naggsialaomontana is rather similar to that of Plectopylis in the short diverticulum and to Chersaecia in the absence of epiphallus. The shell characters, namely the ribbed protoconch and the reduced parietal plication is similar to the genera Endothyrella, Gudeodiscus, Halongella, Sicradiscus and Sinicola. The radula of Naggsialaomontana shows similarities with those of Gudeodiscus (Veludiscus), Halongella and Plectopylis (see Stoliczka 1871, Páll-Gergely et al. 2015a) in terms of the small central tooth and the simple marginals. In contrast, the central tooth of Endothyrella, Gudeodiscus (Gudeodiscus), Sicradiscus and Sinicola species is large (as large as or larger than the ectocones of the first laterals), (Páll-Gergely et al. 2015a, 2015b), and the marginals are tricuspid or even quadricuspid. Before examining ethanol-preserved Naggsialaomontana specimens, we considered grouping the plectopylid genera into two tribes, namely one with a ribbed, and another with a smooth or granulated protoconch. The examination of Naggsialaomontana revealed that the character states considered to be primarily important do not allow the placement of Naggsia gen. n. in any of the two groups, and that the character states rather show a mosaic structure across genera.
AnimaliaPulmonataPlectopylidae7EBDC643-DC62-5E34-97EA-8BEE4B18BAE4Naggsialaomontana(L. Pfeiffer, 1862)Figures 1A–B, 2A, 4D, 5E–F, 7, 8, 9A–C, 101862 Helixlaomontana L. Pfeiffer, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 272, Plate 36, figs 9–10 [Lao Mountains, Camboja]. 1863 Helixlaomontana, — L. Pfeiffer, Novitates Conchologicae 2: 216, Plate 57, figs 7–9. 1868 Helixlaomontana, — L. Pfeiffer, Monographia Heliceorum Viventium...: 394. 1875b Helix (Plectopylis) laomontana, — Godwin-Austen, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 612. 1887 Helixlaomontana, — Tryon, Manual of Conchology, 2 (3): 160, plate 34, figs 60–62. 1897a Plectopylislaomontana, — Gude, Science Gossip, 3: 245, figs 36a–c. 1899a Plectopylis (Chersaecia) laomontana, — Gude, Science Gossip, 6: 148. 1899b Plectopylis (Chersaecia) laomontana, — Gude, Science Gossip, 6: 175. 1914 Plectopylis (Chersaecia) laomontana, — Gude, The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma. Mollusca.−II. (Trochomorphidae-Janellidae): 73. 1920 Plectopylislaomontana, — Gude, Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London, 14: 62, fig. 1. 2013 Chersaecialaomontana, — Páll-Gergely and Hunyadi, Archiv für Molluskenkunde 142 (1): 7–8. Types examined.
Laos, Luang Prabang Province, Ban Pak Ou, Nam Wu (opposite side of Ban Pak Ou), 364 m 20°03.48276'N, 102°12.79912'E, leg. Ohara, K. 13.10.2006., PGB/5; Laos, Tad Kuangsi Waterfall, about 20 km SW of Luang Prabang, 19°43'02.97”N 101°59'38.68”E., leg. Reischütz, A., February 2010., RE/3; Laos, Tad Kuangsi Waterfall, about 20 km SW of Luang Prabang, 19°43'02.97”N 101°59'38.68”E, leg. Theisl, T. April 2009., RE/3+2 juv.; Laos, Luang Prabang Province, Tad Kuangsi Xi (Waterfall), 466 m, 19°44.96071'N, 101°59.49286'E, leg. Ohara, K. 14.10.2006., PGB/1; 16L06 Laos, Luang Prabang Province, ca. 7 km S of Luang Prabang, Near Tad Thong waterfall, 431 m a.s.l., 19°50.064'N, 102°07.755'E, leg. A. Abdou, I.V. Muratov, 3.11.2006., MNHN 2012-27057/45 shells + anatomically examined specimens (Figs 2A, 7–8, 9A–C, 10); 39L06 Laos, Luang Prabang Province, ca. 5 km SE of Luang Prabang, ca. 1.5 km NE of Ban Lak Sip, Phou Xuang mountain, 640 m a.s.l., 19°51.605'N, 101°11.081'E, leg. A. Abdou, I.V. Muratov, 24.11.2006., MNHN 2012-27057/20 shells (some of them broken/juvenile); 42L06Laos, Luang Prabang Province, ca. 22 km SW of Luang Prabang, Kuang Si waterfall, 482 m a.s.l., 19°44.966'N, 101°59.496'E, leg. A. Abdou, I.V. Muratov, 28.11.2006., MNHN 2012-27057/14 (some of them broken/juvenile).
Diagnosis.
A dextral, medium-sized or large species with a rounded body whorl, and no apertural fold. On the parietal wall there is a single curved lamella.
Description.
The yellowish, sometimes pink or light brown shell is dextral, almost flat with the apex slightly elevated. The 5.5–6 whorls are separated by a moderately deep suture. The protoconch is very densely, regularly ribbed, with extremely fine spiral lines across the ribs. The teleoconch is irregularly ribbed; the space between the ribs is greater than on the protoconch. The lip is only slightly thickened and reflexed. There is an elevated, but blunt parietal callus, which has two shallow channels at the meeting point with the parietal part of the lip.
Four specimens were opened. On the parietal wall there is a single curved lamella without additional plicae. On the palatal wall there are seven horizontal plicae. The first, (situated near the suture) is short, undivided, not inclined, sometimes having a short denticle slightly lower than its posterior end. The second plica is slightly indented in place opposing the parietal curved lamella just before it becomes dichotomously bifurcated posteriorly, with its lower posterior arm slightly inclined away from the suture. The third, fourth and fifth exhibit an increasing tendency to be divided opposing the parietal lamella and inclined posteriorly away from the suture. The sixth is strongly, equally divided, having both parts equally inclined posteriorly away from the suture. The last one, unequally divided, consists of a long, not inclined anterior part and short, inclined posterior part.
Differential diagnosis.
Naggsialaomontana resembles Gudeodiscus species in having the single parietal lamella, rounded body whorl and densely ribbed protoconch. The protoconch of N.laomontana however reveals a unique surface structure, the riblets are comprised of slight waves that do not stand as regularly as those of Gudeodiscus. Gudeodiscus species that usually have a somewhat elevated spire, more whorls, two horizontal plicae in front of the parietal lamella, and simple (undivided) palatal plicae.
Measurements
(in mm). D= 28.3–32, H= 8.8–9.1 (n=3, syntypes); D= 18.6–21, H= 6.4–7.5 (n=5, specimens from Laos).
Characters of the genital structure
(Figs 7–8, 9A–C). Two specimens were anatomically examined (sample 16L06). The right retractor muscle crosses between the penis and vagina.
Penis long, its distal part is more slender than the proximal part, internally with 5–6 longitudinal folds aligned next to each other; only one of the folds reach the proximal end of the penis, the others are shorter; the penial wall (outside of the folded area) is wrinkled; the wrinkles are stronger near the distal end of the penis; many small, flat, lenticular calcareous granules were found in the penis lumen; epiphallic differentiation was not detected; retractor muscle slightly thinner than penis, shorter than it and connected to the apical end of penis; vagina shorter than half of penis; vas deferens has thick coiled portion just after coming out of spermoviduct, connects to vaginal wall and forms part of penial wall, reaching the middle of the proximal part of penis; diverticulum short, oval, gametolytic sac with relatively thick, cylindrical stalk and thickened, rather quadrangular sac; there were five, well-developed embryos in the uterus.
Photo of the reproductive anatomy of Naggsialaomontana (L. Pfeiffer, 1862), 16L06, spec.2. Abbreviations: Ag: albumin gland; D: diverticulum; E: embryo in the uterus (one out of five); Gs: gametolytic sac; Hd: hermaphroditic duct; P: penis; Rm: retractor muscle; So: spermoviduct; V: vagina with vas deferens alongside; Vd: coiled portion of vas deferens. Asterix indicates the place until where vas deferens could be traced back. Scale represents 5 mm.
Inner walls of reproductive organs of Plectopylidae. A–CNaggsialaomontana (L. Pfeiffer, 1862) (same specimen as on Fig. 7); Gudeodiscus (Gudeodiscus) messageriraheemi Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2015 (same specimen as on Fig. 1C). A, E penis B, G epiphallus C diverticulum D penial caecum F penis and penial caecum. Figures not to scale. All images: B. Páll-Gergely.
https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/89881Radula
(Figure 10). Radula elongated, but not very slender; the basal plates of the centrals are present, but their cusps are absent; the teeth are arranged in rows; each row contains 18–19 teeth, the first nine are laterals, the remaining are marginals, but it is rather difficult to decide which teeth are the last laterals and the first marginals; lateral teeth stand in straight rows which are perpendicular to the central column; marginals stand in anteriorly pointed, slightly oblique rows; endocones of laterals are rhomboid, rather blunt; ectocones are small, pointed, triangular; endocones of marginals are slender ovoid, blunt; the ectocones are small, pointed, triangular.
Radula of Naggsialaomontana (L. Pfeiffer, 1862). A anterior-posterior middle section of the Radula B central and first two lateral teeth C–D marginals. Sample: 16L06.
https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/89882Distribution.
The species was described from “Lao Mountains, Camboja”. We have seen material with more detailed geographical data only from the central part of Northern Laos (around Luang Prabang). In the collection of the Natural History Museum London, a single shell of Ch.laomontana is present with the locality “China” (NHMUK 20110363, Salisbury Collection Ex Beddome Ex Canon Hoisley coll. 1918; see Páll-Gergely and Hunyadi 2013). Its occurrence in China is not verified and the locality is possibly wrong.
Ecology and behaviour.
This species can be found in primary or old secondary broad-leaved forests, but it inhabits some peculiar habitats as well. It can survive droughts as well as periodical floods and can be found in large numbers near waterfalls (Kuang Si waterfall, for example, is one very popular collecting spot) (Figure 13). Unlike most terrestrial snails that start to crawl when placed in water, snails of this species, when under water, retract deep into the shell, which is probably an adaptation that helps to survive frequent floods.
Parietal plication of Plectopylidae species (diagrammatic figures). AHunyadiscussaurini sp. n. B–E main character states of Endothyrella, Gudeodiscus, Halongella, Sicradiscus and Sinicola (mainly after Páll-Gergely and Hunyadi 2013 and Páll-Gergely et al. 2015b and Páll-Gergely and Asami 2016) FHunyadiscusandersoni (W. Blanford 1869). Blue colour indicates the anterior lamella and its homologous structures; red colour indicates the posterior lamella and its homologous structures.
Habitat of Gudeodiscus (Gudeodiscus) messageriraheemi Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2015. The left side of Nam Khan ca. 18 km SE of Muang Xiang Ngeun. The red dot indicates the approximate place where the specimens were collected. Photo: Igor Muratov.
Habitat of Naggsialaomontana (L. Pfeiffer, 1862). Kuang Si waterfall. The red dot indicates the exact place where the specimens were collected. Photo: Igor Muratov.
Map showing the distribution of Gudeodiscus Páll-Gergely, 2013. The small circles in Laos indicates the new localities of Gudeodiscus (Gudeodiscus) messageriraheemi Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2015. After Páll-Gergely and Hunyadi (2013) and Páll-Gergely et al. 2015a.
Map showing the distribution of Hunyadiscusandersoni (W. Blanford, 1869) (1), Naggsialaomontana (L. Pfeiffer, 1862) (2) and Hunyadiscussaurini Páll-Gergely, sp. n. (3). For the accuracy of location no. 3. see under Hunyadiscussaurini.
We are grateful for Pongrat Dumrongrojwattana for donating Gudeodiscusmessageriraheemi shells for study. Alexander Reischütz gave us digitalized Laotian maps; Kenji Ohara provided shell material; Ronald Janssen (SMF), Jonathan Ablett (NHM) and Anita Eschner (NHMW), Virginie Héros opened access to their museum collections; Bernhard Hausdorf (ZMH) and Virginie Héros and Ahmed Abdou (MNHN) loaned museum specimens.
This study was supported by scholarships from Japan Student Services Organization and Mitsubishi Corporation to B. Páll-Gergely and Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to T. Asami. Barna Páll-Gergely is currently an International Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. We are indebted to The Biodiversity Heritage Library for the multitude of rare literature made available to us (www.biodiversitylibrary.org).
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