Research Article |
|
Corresponding author: Somsak Panha ( somsak.pan@chula.ac.th ) Corresponding author: Chirasak Sutcharit ( jirasak4@yahoo.com ) Academic editor: Edmund Gittenberger
© 2025 Piyoros Tongkerd, Teerangkul Janjai, Arthit Pholyotha, Vukašin Gojšina, Somsak Panha, Chirasak Sutcharit.
This 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.
Citation:
Tongkerd P, Janjai T, Pholyotha A, Gojšina V, Panha S, Sutcharit C (2025) The microsnail genera Clostophis and Acinolaemus (Eupulmonata, Pupilloidea, Hypselostomatidae) from central Thailand, with description of three new species. ZooKeys 1258: 35-71. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1258.162797
|
Hypselostomatid microsnails of the genera Clostophis and Acinolaemus from limestone hills in central Thailand were studied and three new species are described. Clostophis rhynchotes Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov. is diagnosed by a conical spire, long and descending tuba, 14 spiral striations on the last whorl, and only a single parietal lamella. In addition, a previously known species, C. proboscideus, is redescribed, and variations in its apertural dentition are also documented. In the genus Acinolaemus, two new sympatric species that clearly differ in shell shape are described. Acinolaemus rhamphodontis Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov. is characterised by a depressed conical spire with a long and descending tuba, and eight apertural dentitions, while A. corusticorus Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov. possesses a conical shell without a tuba and nine apertural dentitions. Specimens from the type locality of A. ptychochilus (the type species), A. cryptidentatus and A. mueangonensis are re-described and compared with the new species. The living snails of A. mueangonensis and A. rhamphodontis Tongkerd & Panha, sp. nov. possess blackish to translucent bodies. In addition, COI barcoding data for Clostophis and Acinolaemus are provided for the first time.
Chao Phraya River, DNA barcoding, gastropods, limestone, taxonomy
The terrestrial microsnails of Thailand belonging to the family Hypselostomatidae Zilch, 1959 (usually smaller than 5 mm) have been studied for more than 20 years (
The genus Acinolaemus was originally created for eight species and was diagnosed by its colourless shell, its enlarged angular lamella forming a distinctly separated sinulus, and its spiral striation crossed by oblique radial growth lines on the protoconch (
The genus Clostophis was originally described as a monotypic genus (
Chao Phraya River Basin in central Thailand plays a crucial role in the hydrology and economy of the country. The area is characterised by floodplains, highlands, and scattered limestone hills or karsts (
The fieldwork was focused on limestone outcrops in the Chao Phraya River Basin in central Thailand. The topography in central Thailand consists of scattered small hills or karst towers above alluvial plains. The flat plains in this region are currently impacted by paddy fields and other agricultural uses, and quarrying.
Specimens were collected from limestone walls, soil, and litter debris at the base of limestone outcrops, and in rock crevices. Shells were soaked in water with detergent, and dirt or mud was removed manually using fine paintbrushes. Dry shells were examined and imaged with a Leica M205C microscope with a fusion optics and the Leica Application Suite Image System. Additional specimens were photographed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM; JEOL, JSM-6610 LV) for more detailed views of microscopic shell structures. Shell whorls were counted to the nearest quarter whorl (
Total genomic DNA was extracted from tissue samples using the G-spin Genomic DNA Extraction Kit following the manufacturer’s protocol. Approximately 655 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primer pairs LCO1490 and HCO2198 (
PCR reactions were performed with an initial denaturation step at 94 °C for 3 min, 35 PCR cycles (94 °C for 45 s, 45–46 °C for 45 s, 72 °C for 1 min) and a final extension step at 72 °C for 5 min. Both strands of the amplified products were purified using the DNA-spin Plasmid DNA Purification Kit and were sequenced at Bioneer Corporation, South Korea. Chromatograms were manually corrected for misreads, if necessary, and forward and reverse strands were merged into one sequence file using MEGA v. 7.0 (
Samples used for phylogenetic analysis, with specimen codes, museum registration numbers, GenBank accession numbers, sampling localities, and references. 1 =
| Taxon | Code | Museum registration number | GenBank accession number (COI) | Locality | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acinolaemus rhamphodontis sp. nov. | HC025-1 | Paratype |
PV698334 | Tak, Thailand | this study |
| Acinolaemus rhamphodontis sp. nov. | HC025-2 | Paratype |
PV698335 | Tak, Thailand | this study |
|
Acinolaemus mueangonensis |
HC026 |
|
PV698336 | Tak, Thailand | this study |
| Acinolaemus colpodon Thompson & Upatham, 1997 | HE022-2 |
|
PV698337 | Chon Buri, Thailand | this study |
| Acinolaemus rhamphodon Thompson & Upatham, 1997 | HE025-2 |
|
PV698338 | Chon Buri, Thailand | this study |
| Clostophis rhynchotes sp. nov. | HC016-2 | Paratype |
PV698339 | Nakhon Sawan, Thailand | this study |
| Clostophis udayaditinus Sutcharit & Panha, 2025 | PUP020 | Paratype |
PV698340 | Battambang, Cambodia | this study |
| Hypselostoma hungerfordianum von Möllendorff, 1891 | - | - | HM240390 | Kelantan, Malaysia | 1 |
| Hypselostoma hungerfordianum von Möllendorff, 1891 | - | - | HM240394 | Perak, Malaysia | 1 |
| Hypselostoma salpinx (van Benthem Jutting, 1961) | - | - | HM240407 | Pahang, Malaysia | 1 |
| Hypselostoma salpinx (van Benthem Jutting, 1961) | - | - | HM240408 | Pahang, Malaysia | 1 |
| Hypselostoma frequens (van Benthem Jutting, 1950) | - | - | HM240409 | Kelantan, Malaysia | 1 |
| Hypselostoma depressispira (van Benthem Jutting, 1949) | - | - | HM240410 | Kelantan, Malaysia | 1 |
| Hypselostoma serpa (van Benthem Jutting, 1950) (= Paraboysidia tarutao Panha & Burch, 2002) | - | - | HM240411 | Kedah, Malaysia | 1 |
| Hypselostoma serpa (van Benthem Jutting, 1950) (= Paraboysidia tarutao Panha & Burch, 2002) | - | - | HM240412 | Kedah, Malaysia | 1 |
| Hypselostoma transitans von Möllendorff, 1894 | - | - | HM240405 | Kedah, Malaysia | 1 |
| Hypselostoma transitans von Möllendorff, 1894 | - | - | HM240406 | Kedah, Malaysia | 1 |
| Pupilla loessica Ložek, 1954 | - | - | KM518576 | Belyashi, Altai, Russia | 2 |
| Pupilla triplicata (Studer, 1820) | - | - | KM518612 | Hracholusky, Bohemia, Czech Republic | 2 |
Sequences were aligned using MEGA v. 7.0 with the default settings (
a, angular lamella; b, basal plica; c, columellar lamella; ifpl, infrapalatal plica; ip, infraparietal lamella; itpl, inter palatal plica; lpl, lower palatal plica; p, parietal lamella; pt, palatal tubercle; sbc, subcolumellar lamella; spc, supracolumellar lamella; upl, upper palatal plica.
Our final dataset contained COI sequences from 17 specimens representing 12 taxa in the Hypselostomatidae. Seven species were represented by just a single specimen and five species were represented by two specimens. Additionally, two sequences from two pupillid taxa, Pupilla loessica Ložek, 1954 and P. triplicata (Studer, 1820), were included as outgroup. The final COI alignment had a total length of 655 bp, containing 264 variable sites, 391 invariant sites, 232 parsimony-informative sites, and 32 singleton sites.
The BI and ML trees were largely consistent; therefore, only the BI tree is presented in Fig.
Bayesian inference tree from analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence data of species in Clostophis, Acinolaemus, and Hypselostoma. Numbers on branches indicate the Bayesian posterior probabilities (PP) and ML bootstrap (BS) support values. Blue colour represents Acinolaemus rhamphodontis sp. nov. clade. Yellow colour represents Clostophis rhynchotes sp. nov. clade. Representative shells of Clostophis and Acinolaemus are shown but not to scale.
The mean interspecific p-distance among the four Acinolaemus species varied from 14.4% to 18.4% and no intraspecific sequence divergence within our examined specimens of A. rhamphodontis sp. nov. (Table
Intra- and interspecific COI p-distances among Acinolaemus, Clostophis, and Hypselostoma.
| Taxa | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. A. rhamphodontis sp. nov. | 0 | |||||||||||
| 2. A. rhamphodon | 0.184 | - | ||||||||||
| 3. A. colpodon | 0.167 | 0.144 | - | |||||||||
| 4. A. mueangonensis | 0.155 | 0.183 | 0.179 | - | ||||||||
| 5. C. rhynchotes sp. nov. | 0.190 | 0.163 | 0.134 | 0.175 | - | |||||||
| 6. C. udayaditinus | 0.179 | 0.131 | 0.131 | 0.184 | 0.156 | - | ||||||
| 7. H. transitans | 0.210 | 0.187 | 0.182 | 0.196 | 0.192 | 0.197 | 0.031 | |||||
| 8. H. serpa | 0.174 | 0.172 | 0.164 | 0.190 | 0.163 | 0.173 | 0.137 | 0.003 | ||||
| 9. H. salpinx | 0.204 | 0.192 | 0.168 | 0.209 | 0.185 | 0.197 | 0.167 | 0.147 | 0 | |||
| 10. H. hungerfordianum | 0.182 | 0.176 | 0.154 | 0.179 | 0.170 | 0.181 | 0.139 | 0.137 | 0.151 | 0.067 | ||
| 11. H. frequens | 0.219 | 0.218 | 0.192 | 0.212 | 0.202 | 0.214 | 0.179 | 0.166 | 0.169 | 0.147 | - | |
| 12. H. depressispira | 0.198 | 0.198 | 0.183 | 0.195 | 0.177 | 0.197 | 0.161 | 0.166 | 0.145 | 0.139 | 0.179 | - |
Family Hypselostomatidae Zilch, 1959
Clostophis
Benson, 1860: 95.
Montapiculus
Panha & Burch, 2002: 148. Type species: Montapiculus proboscidea Panha & Burch, 2002.
Clostophis sankeyi Benson, 1860, by monotypy.
The genus was recently revised by
Species list, diagnostic characters, and type localities of Clostophis species. Numbers in species column refer to those in Figure
| Species | Shell shape | Tubular | Protoconch | Aperture opening | Apertural dentition | Type locality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. sankeyi species group | ||||||
| 1 C. sankeyi Benson, 18606 | concave-conical | long descending | pitted and spirally striated | ventral to subventral | 1 (parietal) or 2 (parietal, palatal) | Myanmar, Mon State |
| 2 C. proboscideus (Panha & Burch, 2002)3,6,9 | concave-conical | long and descending | pitted and spirally striated | ventral to subventral | 2 (parietal, palatal) | Thailand, Nakornsawan |
| 3 C. rhynchotes sp. nov.9 | concave-conical | long and descending | pitted and spirally striated | ventral to subventral | 1 parietal | Uthai Thani, Thailand |
| 4 C. udayaditinus Sutcharit & Panha, 20258 | concave-conical | long and descending | pitted and spirally striated | ventral to subventral | 4 (parietal, infraparietal, palatal, columellar) | Cambodia, Battambang |
| 5 C. yoga Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 20227 | concave-conical | long and descending | spiral striations | subventral | none | Vietnam, Thanh Hoa |
| C. charybdis species group | ||||||
| 6 C. charybdis Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 20227 | concave-conical | very short to absent | pitted and spirally striated | lateral | 2 (parietal, palatal) | Vietnam, Lang Son |
| 7 C. candidus Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 20227 | conical, slightly concave side | short | spirally striated | sublateral | none | Vietnam, Lang Son |
| 8 C. incurvus Páll-Gergely & Vermeulen, 20206 | conical, straight to slightly convex side | very short to absent | n/a | lateral | 2 (parietal, palatal) | Vietnam, Quang Ninh |
| 9 C. infantilis Páll-Gergely, 20207 | conical, straight side | absent | pitted and spirally striated | lateral | none | Vietnam, Haiphong |
| 10 C. koilobasis Páll-Gergely & Vermeulen, 20206 | low conical, concave side | very short to absent | spirally striated | lateral | 1 parietal | Laos, Khammouan |
| 11 C. multiformis Páll-Gergely & Reischütz, 20206 | conical, straight side | short to slightly long | pitted and spirally striated | lateral or sublateral | 1 parietal | Laos, Khammouane |
| 12 C. neglectus (van Benthem Jutting, 1961)2,6 | conical, straight side | very short to absent | spirally striated | lateral | 2 (parietal, palatal) | Malaysia, Pahang |
| 13 C. obtusus Páll-Gergely & Grego, 20206 | conical, straight to slightly convex side | very short to absent | pitted and spirally striated | lateral | none | Laos, Khammouane |
| 14 C. platytrochus Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 20206 | conical, slightly concave side | short and descending | spirally striated | sub lateral | 2 (parietal, palatal) | Vietnam, Da Nang |
| 15 C. stochi (Páll-Gergely & Jochum, 2017)5 | conical, slightly convex side | very short to absent | spirally striated | lateral | 2 (parietal, palatal) | Vietnam, Ha Giang |
| 16 C. thinbowguensis Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 20227 | conical, straight side | short | n/a | sublateral | 1 parietal | Myanmar, Tanintharyi |
| C. bactrianus species group | ||||||
| 17 C. bactrianus Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 20227 | conical, straight side | short | spirally striated | lateral | 4 (parietal, palatal, basal, columellar) | Malaysia, Pahang |
| 18 C. lacrima (Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2015)4 | concave-conical | very short to absent | pitted and spirally striated | lateral | 4 (parietal, palatal, basal, columellar) | China, Guangxi |
| 19 C. laidlawi (Collinge, 1902)1,7 | conical, slightly concave side | very short to long and descending | spirally striated | lateral or sublateral | 5 (parietal, angular, palatal, basal, columellar) | Thailand, Yala |
| 20 C. obliquus Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 20227 | conical, slightly concave side | very short to absent | pitted and spirally striated | lateral | 4 (parietal, palatal, basal, columellar) | China, Guangxi |
| 21 C. socialis (Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2015)4 | concave-conical | short | pitted and spirally striated | lateral | 4 (parietal, palatal, basal, columellar) | China, Guangxi |
Montapiculus proboscidea
Panha & Burch, 2002 [1999]: 148, figs 4–7. Type locality: Teppratan mountain, Nakornsawan Province.
Clostophis proboscideus
—
Holotype. Thailand • Wat Khao Huai Lung (former Teppratan mountain), Ban Daen, Banphot Phisai District, Nakhon Sawan Province; 15°55'35.4"N, 99°52'23.2"E; S. Panha leg.;
Clostophis proboscideus, paratype
Thailand • 2 shells (Fig.
Clostophis proboscideus, specimen
Shell concave-conical and with long and descending tuba. Apertural dentition with one parietal lamella and one weak palatal plica. Umbilicus wide.
Shell concave-conical, colourless; growing regularly; last whorl slightly expanded. Shell height 1.7–1.9 mm (including tuba) and shell width 1.6–1.7 mm. Apex large and rounded; protoconch ~1½ whorls, pitted and with very narrow spiral striae. Whorls ~4½–5 (excluding tuba), rounded and convex; suture wide and deep. Shell surface with strong, elevated and rather equidistant spiral striae (18–22 on body whorl in frontal view), and crossed with weak to strong and irregular radial growth lines. Sometimes growth lines on earlier whorls strong, thus making reticulated surface. Penultimate whorl seemingly sunken into last whorl. Last whorl slightly shouldered to rounded; tuba long, ~¼ whorl, strongly descending, curving and slightly twisted. Aperture subovate, open ventrally to subventrally; peristome thin, slightly expanded and with weak depression on parietal side. Apertural dentitions two: parietal lamella relatively strong, high, and situated near apertural lip; palatal plica moderate, low, and situated slightly deeper inside aperture (infrapalatal plica occasionally present). Umbilicus widely opened, occupies ~½ of shell width and showing all preceding whorls.
Clostophis proboscideus differs from C. sankeyi and C. yoga Páll-Gergely & Hunyadi, 2022 by having more numerous and more tightly coiled whorls, lower spire, and wider umbilicus. Meanwhile, C. sankeyi has weaker spiral striations, and C. yoga possesses no apertural dentition, has a narrower umbilicus (< 1/3 of shell width), and with spiral striations throughout the protoconch (
Clostophis proboscideus differs from the long and descending tuba morphs of C. multiformis Páll-Gergely & Reischütz, 2020 and C. laidlawi by having a concave-conical shape, wider umbilicus, aperture opening ventrally to subventrally, spiral striations appearing at late stage of protoconch, and with two apertural dentitions (parietal and palatal). In comparison, these two latter species possess conical shells with straight sides, apertures opened sublaterally, narrow umbilicus, and with spiral striations throughout the protoconch. In addition, C. multiformis has only a parietal lamella, while C. laidlawi possesses five apertural dentitions (parietal, angular, upper palatal, lower palatal, and columellar) (
This species is currently known from several limestone outcrops in central Thailand.
The correct publication date of C. proboscideus has been specified in
Shell variations were observed from specimens from Khao Patawi, Uthai Thani Province. These specimens possessed a general shell form similar to the type specimens but tended to have wider spaces between radial striations on the last whorl (~14–20), and the infrapalatal plica may be present. When an infrapalatal is present, it is located close to a larger plica, and the infrapalatal varies from a noticeable but low ridge (Fig.
Holotype. Thailand • height 1.3 mm (including tuba), width 1.5 mm (Fig.
Shell depressed concave-conical, penultimate whorl slightly sunken into last whorl, long and descending tuba, 12–14 spiral striations, peristome weakly expanded, with only parietal lamella, and wide umbilicus.
Shell depressed, concave-conical, colourless; spire growing regularly and last whorl broadly expanded. Shell height 1.3–1.4 mm (including tuba) and shell width 1.4–1.5 mm. Apex large and rounded; protoconch ~2 whorls, pitted and sculptured with prominent spiral striae. Whorls ~4–4¾ (excluding tuba) weakly shouldered and convex; suture wide and deep. Shell surface with strong, elevated, continuous, equidistant spiral striae (12–14 on body whorl in frontal view), and crossed with weaker and irregular radial growth lines. Growth lines on earlier whorls rather strong, making reticulated surface. Penultimate whorl slightly sunken into last whorl. Last whorl with slight indication of blunt shoulder; tuba short, < ¼ whorl, strongly descending and twisted. Aperture subovate, open ventrally to subventrally; peristome thin and slightly expanded on columellar side and with weak depression on parietal side. Apertural dentition one: parietal lamella strong and tall with low ridge near peristome edge then gradually taller deep inside aperture. Umbilicus widely opened, occupies ~½ of shell width and showing all preceding whorls.
Clostophis rhynchotes sp. nov. differs from C. proboscideus, C. sankeyi, and C. yoga by having a depressed conical spire, strong parietal lamella, and 12–14 spiral striae on last whorl. In comparison, these other three species possess conical spires with 18–20 spiral striae on last whorl. In addition, C. proboscideus has a parietal lamella and a strong palatal plica, while C. sankeyi and C. yoga generally have no dentition, but parietal lamella and palatal plica may be weakly present in C. sankeyi (
Clostophis rhynchotes sp. nov. also differs from C. udayaditinus Sutcharit & Panha, 2025 from Cambodia by having slightly concave-sided shell, penultimate whorl slightly sunken into last whorl, 12–14 spiral striae on last whorl, and only one parietal lamella, while C. udayaditinus has a strongly concave shell, the penultimate whorl sunken into last whorl, 18–24 spiral striae on last whorl, and four dentitions (hooked parietal, infraparietal, palatal, and hooked columellar) (
This new species is currently known only from the type locality. There is a small limestone outcrop (700 m long and 250 m wide), and a hill covered with low vegetation, surrounded by a housing area and temple, and with low disturbance.
The specific name rhynchotes is from the Greek word rhynchos meaning ‘snout’ and the suffix –otes; it refers to the tuba of the last whorl, which resembles the snout of a tapir.
Although C. rhynchotes sp. nov. shares a depressed shell, a long descending tuba, and spirally striated protoconch with A. rhamphodontis sp. nov., it is distinguished from the latter by the prominent spiral striae crossed by less prominent growth lines without forming a rectangular pattern, and with very few dentitions. These characteristics indicate the placement of this new species within the genus Clostophis.
Acinolaemus
Thompson & Upatham, 1997: 223, 224.
Acinolaemus ptychochilus Thompson & Upatham, 1997, by original designation.
The genus currently contains 11 species (
Species list, diagnostic characters, and type localities of Acinolaemus species. Numbers in species column refer to those in Fig.
| Species | Shell shape | Shell sculpture | Number of dentitions on | Palatal tubercle | Type locality | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| parietal wall | palatal wall | columellar wall | |||||
| 1. A. cryptidentatus |
conical, slightly concave side, no tuba | rectangular reticulation | 3 (parietal, angular, infraparietal) | 4 (3 palatals, basal) | 1 columella | present | Thailand, Mae Hong Son |
| 2. A. dayanum (Stoliczka, 1871)6 | concave-conical, no tuba | rectangular reticulation | 3 (parietal, angular, infraparietal) | 4 (3 palatals, basal) | 1 columella | present | Myanmar, Mon |
| 3. A. mueangonensis |
conical, straight to concave side, no tuba | rectangular reticulation | 3 (parietal, angular, infraparietal) | 4 (3 palatals, basal) | 1 or 2 columellae | present | Thailand, Chiang Mai |
| 4. A. ptychochilus Thompson & Upatham, 19971,2,7 | conical, slightly concave side, no tuba | rectangular reticulation | 3 (parietal, angular, infraparietal) | 5 (4 palatals, basal) | 3 (columellae) | present | Thailand, Chiang Mai |
| 5. A. corusticorus, sp. nov.7 | conical, slightly concave side, no tuba | rectangular reticulation | 3 (parietal, angular, infraparietal) | 3 or 4 palatals | 2 (columellae) | present | Thailand, Tak |
| 6. A. rhamphodontis sp. nov.7 | depressed conical, concave side, long and descending tuba | rectangular reticulation | 3 (parietal, angular, infraparietal) | 3 (2 palatals, basal) | 2 (columellae) | present | Thailand, Tak |
| 7. A. carcharodon |
depressed conical, curved side, short descending tuba | prominent spiral striations | 2 (parietal, angular) | 2 (parietal, basal) | absent | absent | Vietnam, Kien Giang |
| 8. A. pyramidalis ( |
conical, slightly concave side, short and descending tuba | prominent spiral striations | 2 (parietal, angular) | 2 palatals | 1 columella or absent | absent | Vietnam, Kien Giang |
| 9. A. rectus |
conical, slightly concave side, short and ascending tuba | prominent spiral striations | 2 (parietal, angular) | 2 palatals | 1 columella | absent | Cambodia, Kampot |
| 10. A. rhamphodon Thompson & Upatham, 19971 | concave-conical, no tuba | prominent spiral striations | 2 (parietal, angular) | 2 palatals | 1 columella | weak | Thailand, Chachoengsao |
| 11. A. stenopus Thompson & Upatham, 19971 | conical, slightly concave side, no tuba | prominent spiral striations | 2 (parietal, angular) | 2 palatals | 1 columella | present | Thailand, Chanthaburi |
| 12. A. colpodon Thompson & Upatham, 19971 | conical, slightly concave side, long and ascending tuba | prominent spiral striations | 1 angular | 1 palatal | 1 columella | weak | Thailand, Rayong |
| 13. A. sphinctinion Thompson & Upatham, 19971 | conical, straight side, very short and ascending tuba | prominent spiral striations | 2 (angulo-parietal, infraparietal) | 2 palatals | 1 columella | absent | Thailand, Pra Chuap Khiri Khan |
Acinolaemus ptychochilus Thompson & Upatham, 1997: 225, 226, figs 7–11. Type locality: Ban Prang Ma-O, Doi Pha San Sao (Mountain), Chiang Mae [= Chiang Mai] Province, Thailand.
Acinolaemus ptychochilus
—
Holotype. Thailand • height 1.5 mm, width 1.3 mm (Fig.
Acinolaemus ptychochilus from Chiang Mai Province. A. Holotype
Thailand • 4 shells (Fig.
Shell concave-conical, peristome weakly expanded. Apertural dentitions eleven or more, long and reaching peristome edge in form of prominent knobs: three on parietal wall, palatal tubercle, four on palatal wall, one basal, and two on columellar wall.
Shell conical, with concave sides, colourless; spire low to high and growing regularly; last whorl expanded. Shell height 1.3–1.4 mm and shell width 1.4–1.5 mm. Apex blunt; protoconch ~1½–2 whorls, with narrow and fine spiral striae. Whorls ~4–5, rounded and convex; suture wide, well impressed, and deep. Shell surface sculptured with equidistantly spaced spiral striae, crossed with irregular radial growth lines making a rectangular reticulated sculpture throughout shell. Penultimate whorl regularly coiled; last whorl rounded. Aperture subovate; peristome thickened, slightly expanded and with weak depression on parietal side. Aperture with approx. ten or eleven dentitions and with strong knobs reaching peristome edge. Parietal wall with three lamellae: parietal lamella large, outer part low, inner part long with tall ridge and located deeper inside aperture; infraparietal lamella long and low; angular lamella long, consisting of two peaks of prominent tall ridges which are interrupted by a low wide ridge. Palatal tubercle rectangular, situated at peristome edge and continuous with upper palatal plica. Three tiny low plicae present (not reaching peristome edge) in sinulus. Palatal wall with four plicae: upper-, inter-, lower-, and infra-palatal plicae connecting peristome edge with prominent tubercles, then continuing with narrow, low ridge, and becoming a stronger fold deep inside aperture. Folding of inter- and lower-palatal plicae larger than upper- and infra-palatal plicae. Infrapalatal plica hooked (in holotype). Basal plica a low ridge and similar to infrapalatal plica. Columellar wall with three or four lamellae: columellar lamella strong, distinct, and tall ridge; supracolumellar and one or two subcolumellar lamellae present as low ridges. Umbilicus widely perforated, ~⅓ of shell width, rounded and deep.
Acinolaemus ptychochilus is known from the type locality in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand (
The specimens from Chai Prakan District, which is ca 30 km north of the type locality, have only faint protoconch and teleoconch sculptures due to shell weathering. However, the original sculpture remains near the suture and around the umbilical area. These specimens differ slightly from the holotype (Fig.
Acinolaemus cryptidentatus
Changlom, Chan-ard & Dumrongrojwattana, 2019: 158, 159, fig. 2. Type locality: Tham Wua (Wua Cave), Mueang District, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand.
Thailand • 3 shells (Fig.
Shell concave-conical, peristome weakly expanded, rectangular reticulated sculpture present on shell surface. Apertural dentitions nine: three on parietal wall, three on palatal wall, one basal, and two on columellar wall. Palatal tubercle prominent and located between upper- and inter-palatal plicae.
Shell weakly concave-conical, colourless; spire high and growing regularly; last whorl expanded. Shell height 1.6–1.8 mm and shell width 1.5–1.6 mm. Apex blunt; protoconch ~2 whorls with conspicuous spiral striae. Whorls ~4–5, bluntly shouldered, and convex; suture wide, well impressed, and deep. Shell surface sculptured with equidistantly spaced spiral striae, crossed with discontinuous and irregular radial ridge-like growth lines making rectangular reticulated sculpture throughout shell. Penultimate whorl regularly coiled to slightly sunken into last whorl. Last whorl rounded to weakly shouldered and flattened below periphery. Aperture subovate; peristome weakly expanded. Aperture with eight dentitions. Parietal wall with three lamellae: parietal lamella large, outer part low and reaching peristome edge, inner part strongly developed with long tall ridge located deeper inside aperture; infraparietal lamella prominent with a high ridge; angular lamella slightly curved, reaching peristome edge, a strong, tall ridge, long deeper inside aperture and with deep incision medially. Palatal tubercle strong, triangular, and situated on peristome edge between upper- and inter-palatal plicae. Three tiny and low plicae present in sinulus. Palatal wall with three plicae: upper-, inter-, and lower-palatal plicae with tall ridges and situated slightly inside aperture. Lower palatal plica tall and more prominent than upper- and inter-palatal plicae. Basal plica prominent with tall ridge. Columellar wall with two lamellae: columellar lamella is a very tall and distinct ridge; subcolumellar lamella a strong ridge and almost same size as basal plica. Umbilicus widely perforated, ~⅓ of shell width, rounded and deep.
Acinolaemus cryptidentatus is known from the type locality at Tham Wua Cave, Mae Hong Son Province in northern Thailand (
The specimens from Mae La Na Cave in Pang Mapha District, which is ca 15 km east of the type locality are almost identical to the type specimen in shell shape, sculpture, and most of the apertural dentitions. However, these specimens have a prominent subcolumellar lamella, which was probably overlooked in the original description.
Acinolaemus mueangonensis Changlom, Chan-ard & Dumrongrojwattana, 2019: 159–161, fig. 3. Type locality: Tham Mueang On [Mueang On Cave], Mae On District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.
Acinolaemus muangonensis [sic]—
Thailand • 8 shells (Fig.
Acinolaemus mueangonensis from Tak Province. A. Specimen
Shell concave-conical, brownish and with rectangular reticulated sculpture. Apertural dentitions nine, long and reaching peristome edge: three on parietal wall, three on palatal wall, one basal and one on columella wall. Palatal tubercle continuous with upper palatal plica.
Shell conical, concave-sided, brownish to pale brown; spire low to high, growing regularly, and sometimes slightly bent; last whorl expanded. Shell height 1.8–1.9 mm and shell width 1.7–1.8 mm. Apex blunt; protoconch spirally striated, ~2. Whorls ~5–6, rounded and convex; suture wide and well impressed. Shell surface sculptured with equidistantly spaced spiral striae, crossed with discontinuous and irregular radial growth lines making rectangular reticulated sculpture throughout shell. Penultimate whorl regularly coiled or sunken into last whorl. Last whorl bluntly shouldered and flattened below periphery. Aperture subcircular; peristome thickened and slightly expanded. Aperture with eight dentitions and with strong knobs reaching peristome edge. Parietal wall with three lamellae: parietal lamella large, outer part low, and inner part strongly developed and high, long deeper inside aperture; infraparietal lamella long and low; angular lamella prominent, high, long deeper inside aperture, and with slightly narrow and low ridge in middle. Palatal tubercle triangularly shaped, situated on peristome edge and connected to upper palatal plica. One or two tiny and low plicae (not reaching peristome edge) may be present in sinulus. Palatal wall with three plicae: upper-, inter-, and lower-palatal plicae ending on peristome edge as prominent tubercles, then continuing as narrow and low, but becoming strong deeper inside aperture. Basal plica low and long deeper inside aperture. Columellar lamella strong, high, and continuing deep inside aperture. Umbilicus widely perforate, ~⅓ of shell width, rounded and deep.
Snails are typically stylommatophoran with two pairs of tentacles. Upper tentacles are long, stout, cylindrical tubes, dark greyish, and with dark eye spots on the tip (Fig.
Acinolaemus mueangonensis has a distribution beyond its type locality in northern Thailand (
The specimens from the type locality examined herein have shell sculpture and apertural dentition similar to the original description and the type specimens (
The specimens from central Thailand (Tak population) show the same distinguishing characters as the type specimens: a brownish shell, rectangular reticulated sculpture, and long denticles deep inside the aperture and becoming strong knobs when reaching the peristome edge. In addition, the parietal lamella has a low ridge near the peristome that becomes a tall ridge inside the aperture, and the angular lamella has a high ridge with a narrow and low ridged incision in the middle. However, the central Thailand population (Fig.
Holotype. Thailand • height 2.2 mm, width 1.9 mm (Fig.
A. Synoptic photo of sympatric Acinolaemus species, specimens sorted from soil sample collected at Tak Province; B, C. Acinolaemus mueangonensis, specimen
Shell concave-conical, colourless, and with rectangular reticulations. Nine apertural dentitions, reaching peristome edge: three on parietal wall, palatal tubercle, four on palatal wall, and two on columellar wall. Palatal tubercle continuous with upper palatal plica.
Shell concave-conical, colourless; spire high and growing regularly; last whorl expanded. Shell height 2.1–2.3 mm and shell width 1.8–1.9 mm. Apex blunt; protoconch ~2 whorls with fine spiral striae. Whorls 4–5, rounded and convex; suture wide and well impressed. Shell surface sculptured with equidistantly spaced spiral striae, crossed with irregular radial growth lines making a rectangular reticulated sculpture throughout shell. Penultimate whorl regularly coiled; last whorl bluntly shouldered and flattened below periphery. Aperture subovate; peristome thickened and slightly expanded. Aperture with nine or ten dentitions and with more or less strong knobs reaching peristome edge. Parietal wall with three lamellae: parietal lamella large, strongly developed, and high and long deeper inside aperture; infraparietal lamella long and low; angular lamella relatively smaller than parietal lamella, long, low near peristome edge, somewhat sinuous, and higher deeper inside aperture. Palatal tubercle strongly developed with triangular shape and continuous with upper palatal plica. Palatal wall with four plicae: upper-, inter-, lower-, and infra-palatal plicae connecting with peristome in the form of prominent tubercles then continuing as narrow and low, becoming strong and high inside aperture. Inter- and lower-palatal plicae much larger than upper palatal plica, infrapalatal plica smallest or may be absent (Fig.
This new species can be distinguished from A. cryptidentatus from northern Thailand by having major dentitions (on parietal, palatal, and columellar walls) that become strong knobs when reaching peristome edge, palatal tubercle continuous with upper palatal plica, and without tiny plicae inside the sinulus. In comparison, A. cryptidentatus possesses dentitions that do not reach the peristome edge, a palatal tubercle situated between upper- and inter-palatal plicae, and with two tiny plicae inside the sinulus.
Acinolaemus corusticorus sp. nov. is similar to A. dayanum (Stoliczka, 1871) from Myanmar and A. mueangonensis from northern Thailand in shell form and sculpture. It differs by having a colourless shell without cervical crest (a swelling or convex ridge on the last whorl behind the expanded lip); parietal lamella has a thick and high ridge; angular lamella has a continuously high ridge and without incision; palatal plicae short (<½ of last whorl length when seen from lateral view; Fig.
Acinolaemus ptychochilus from northern Thailand also clearly differs from A. corusticorus sp. nov. in shape of parietal and angular lamellae, and in having four palatal plicae (upper-, inter-, hooked lower-, and infra-), a small basal plica, and three columellar lamellae; palatal tubercle situated between upper- and inter- palatal plicae. Acinolaemus rhamphodon Thompson & Upatham, 1997 and A. stenopus Thompson & Upatham, 1997 differ from A. corusticorus sp. nov. in having fewer dentitions, a very strong angular lamella, and a weak parietal lamella. Both species also possess two palatal plicae (upper- and lower-), and a columellar lamella. Finally, A. rhamphodon has a hooked columellar lamella, while A. stenopus has an elevated shell with a high spire, and an enlarged angular lamella and palatal plica that nearly enclose the sinulus.
Acinolaemus corusticorus sp. nov. is known only from the type locality. At this locality, the species is sympatric with five other hypselostomatid species: Hypselostoma pendulum (Panha & Burch, 2002), H. khaowongensis Panha, 1998, A. mueangonensis, A. rhamphodontis sp. nov., and Krobylos takensis Panha & Burch, 2004 (
The specific name corusticorus is from two Latin words co- meaning ‘together or with’ and rusticor meaning ‘living in the country’, referring to the new species being sympatric with two other congeners.
Although this new species occurs sympatrically with A. mueangonensis, under the microscope it is evident that they are two distinct species. Acinolaemus corusticorus sp. nov. differs from sympatric congeners by having a colourless, short, and stout shell (Fig.
HoIotype. Thailand • height 1.3 mm (including tuba), width 1.4 mm (Fig.
Acinolaemus rhamphodontis sp. nov., from Tak Province. A. Paratype
Shell concave-conical, with long and descending tuba, peristome expanded. Apertural dentitions eight, all longer inside aperture: infra parietal, parietal, angular, upper- and lower-palatal, palatal tubercle, basal, subcolumellar lamella, and columellar lamella. Umbilicus wide.
Shell concave-conical, colourless; spire depressed and growing regularly; last whorl broadly expanded. Shell height 1.3–1.4 mm (including tuba) and shell width 1.3–1.5 mm. Apex large and rounded; protoconch ~2 whorls and with prominent spiral striae. Whorls ~4 (excluding tuba), rounded and convex; suture wide, well impressed, and deep. Shell surface sculptured with equidistantly spaced spiral striae (14–16 on body whorl in frontal view), crossed with discontinuous narrow radial growth lines making a rectangular reticulated sculpture throughout shell. Penultimate whorl regularly coiled; last whorl rounded; tuba long, ~¼ whorl or less, strongly descending and curving. Aperture subovate, open ventrally to subventrally; peristome thin, weakly expanded, and with thin depression area on parietal side. Apertural dentitions eight and all knob-shaped when reaching peristome edge. Parietal wall with three lamellae: parietal lamella long, outer part low, and then gradually becoming strong, thickened, and high inside aperture; infraparietal lamella evenly low; angular lamella strong. Palatal tubercle prominent, triangular, situated at peristome lip, and continuous with upper palatal plica. Palatal wall with two plicae: upper- and lower-palatal plicae connecting with peristome edge in form of prominent knobs, then continuing as narrow and low deeper inside aperture, eventually becoming stronger and higher at innermost ends. Basal plica narrow, and low. Columellar wall with two lamellae: columellar lamella prominent with tall ridge; subcolumellar lamella very small and low. Umbilicus widely opened, occupying ~½ of shell width and showing all preceding whorls.
Snail typically stylommatophoran with two pairs of tentacles. Upper tentacles are long, stout, cylindrical tubes, colourless to translucent, with dark eye spots on the tip. Lower pairs are very short to knob-shaped (difficult to observe in living snails). Animal with short body, anterior-dorsal side brownish while posterior body and foot paler to translucent. The snails tend to cover their shell with soil, mud, or dirt (Fig.
This new species is known only from the type locality, where the empty shells and one living snail were found in the soil, leaves, and twig litter at the base of a limestone cliff. The type locality is an island located in the reservoir of Bhumibol Dam, ca 45 km northwest of Tak Town. This island is ca 400 m long and 200 m wide and aligned north-south; the dry shells and the specimen were collected from the eastern slope of the island. The hills are low, with scattered land used by temples and with some exposed limestone rocks and cliffs. The vegetation on this island is dominated by low, dry, dipterocarp forest.
The shell of A. rhamphodontis sp. nov. is most similar to A. dayanum from Myanmar, and A. cryptidentatus, A. mueangonensis and A. ptychochilus from Thailand. They all share a rectangular reticulated shell sculpture, many long dentitions that reach the peristome edge where they form small denticles (except in A. cryptidentatus) and have a palatal tubercle (
Acinolaemus rhamphodontis sp. nov. differs from A. carcharodon
This new species has a long descending tuba similar to several species in the Clostophis sankeyi species group. It differs by having rectangular reticulated shell sculpture, with eight apertural dentitions (parietal, infra parietal, angular, two palatals, basal, and two columellar) reaching the peristome edge, and with a palatal tubercle present. Furthermore, A. rhamphodontis sp. nov. has 14–16 dash-like spiral striae on the last whorl and the penultimate whorl not sunken, whereas C. sankeyi, C. proboscideus, C. yoga, and C. udayaditinus have 18–20 or more continuous spiral striae on the last whorl, and the penultimate whorl sunken into the last whorl. Clostophis yoga also has a narrower umbilicus, <1/3 of the shell width, than the new species (
The specific name rhamphodontis is from two Greek words: rhamphos meaning ‘curving beak’ and odontos meaning ‘tooth’. Together they refer to the tuba that curves downward and the many dentitions in the aperture.
The presence of a rectangular reticulated shell sculpture and the many dentitions reaching the peristome edge where they form small denticles and extend inside the aperture, clearly position A. rhamphodontis sp. nov. within the genus Acinolaemus (
The report of these three new species from central Thailand raises some interesting questions regarding the generic boundaries and relationships between Clostophis and Acinolaemus. In the original description, Acinolaemus was characterised by an auriculate-shaped aperture, 1–3 dentitions on the parietal wall, an enlarged and conspicuous angular lamella, a well-developed sinulus (formed by angular lamella and palatal plica), and a spirally striated protoconch (Table
The authors are grateful to all members of the Animal Systematics Research Unit (ASRU), Chulalongkorn University, for their kind help during field trips. We also thank to E. Jeratthitikul for the map. We also thank DJ Anderson for his initial linguistic help in the original manuscript. We gratefully acknowledge the two reviewers, T. Backeljau and B. Páll-Gergely for their helpful and constructive comments, which significantly improved the manuscript. This study was conducted following the approved animal use protocol by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University (Protocol Review Nos. 2423003 and 2523009).
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
No use of AI was reported.
This research is funded and supported by the NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (B42G670038) to SP; National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT-N35E660138 and NRCT-N34E670115) and Centre of Excellence on Biodiversity (MHESI) to SP and CS; grants for development of new faculty staff, Ratchadapiseksompotch Fund, Chulalongkorn University to AP; grants of Ratchadapiseksompotch Fund Chulalongkorn University, and the Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fund Chulalongkorn University to PT; the Serbian Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation (Contract No. 451-03-136/2025-03/ 200178) to VG.
PT, TJ, AP, SP, and CS collected and prepared specimens in the field. TJ and AP performed molecular data analysis and interpreted the analysis results. PT, AP, VG, and CS provided financial and intellectual support. PT, TJ, AP, and CS prepared specimens and wrote the manuscript. PT, SP and CS conceived, designed, supervised the study, prepared figures, and approved and edited the final manuscript. VG, SP, and CS reviewed, advised, and approved the final manuscript.
Piyoros Tongkerd https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9221-9293
Teerangkul Janjai https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1524-9668
Arthit Pholyotha https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6677-1164
Vukašin Gojšina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0413-9304
Somsak Panha https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4431-2458
Chirasak Sutcharit https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7670-9540
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.