3 D X-ray microscopy (Micro-CT) and SEM reveal Zospeum troglobalcanicum Absolon, 1916 and allied species from the Western Balkans (Ellobioidea: Carychiidae) Author Jochum, Adrienne E2AD3AF2-ECC1-4DC3-BF5F-5C411AA946B3 Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Senckenberganlage 25, D- 60325 Frankfurt / M., Germany. nne.jochum@senckenberg.de Author Michalik, Peter FAEE4B6B-80F5-4452-9ED2-08CA38DFC1F9 Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Strasse 26, D- 17489 Greifswald, Germany. michalik@uni-greifswald.de Author Inäbnit, Thomas 95F0148B-E147-4EB9-903A-6EEA7F55EB47 Institute for Biochemistry & Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24 - 25, House 26, D- 14476 Potsdam, Germany. inaebnit.thomas@gmail.com Author Kneubühler, Jeannette A42A773F-9C7C-4681-B861-B354A330DC4F Naturhistorisches Museum Bern, Bernastrasse 15, CH- 3005 Bern, Switzerland. & Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH- 3012 Bern, Switzerland. jeannette.kneubuehler@nmbe.ch Author Slapnik, Rajko 09E86269-966B-49E6-AB92-31B66968DC0D ZOSPEUM, Molluscs, Cave & Karst Biological Consulting, Drnovškova pot 2, Mekinje, SI 1240 Kamnik, Slovenia. rajko.slapnik@gmail.com Author Vrabec, Marko 00C5A26B-6E4A-41D9-BC9B-F36A2799E1AF Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Aškerčeva 12, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. marko.vrabec@geo.ntf.uni-lj.si Author Schilthuizen, Menno 683D0AB7-CDD8-4FAA-94B6-436F3BFB8873 Naturalis Biodiversity Center and Leiden University, Vondellaan 55, NL- 2332 AA Leiden, The Netherlands. menno.schilthuizen@naturalis.nl Author Ruthensteiner, Bernhard 9A8A56B0-19FA-42AB-A85E-4FCA98BF4A6F SNSB - Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM), 81247 München, Germany. ruthensteiner@snsb.de text European Journal of Taxonomy 2024 2024-03-20 926 1 62 https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2469/10973 journal article 10.5852/ejt.2024.926.2469 4511b4bd-f026-49d3-9d4d-a39875e75cc5 2118-9773 10847806 A00D7669-2151-46AE-A066-9AF4D0F2BEEE Zospeum njegusiense Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 882B9D99-6028-4DC7-B9A0-82033E474B39 Fig. 17 Diagnosis Shell conical with 5¼ flatly convex whorls; aperture reniform; penultimate whorl over ½ height of body whorl; columella slender with a distinctly sculpted and broad lamellar band obliquely projecting ca ⅓ beyond the width of the slender columella; a second, barely visible low lamella is present at mid-section of the columella. Suture deep. Etymology This species is named after its type locality Njeguši, Montenegro . Type material Holotype (SEM sample) MONTENEGRO • ( Fig. 17A, D ); Njeguši , St John’s cave ; 42.4307° N , 18.8115° E , 915 m a.s.l. ; ca - 85 m vertical depth below the cave entrance; 5 Aug. 2021 ; László Dányi & Nikolett Ujhegyi leg.; NMBE 572639 (ex AJC 2483). Fig. 17. Z. njegusiense Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. , Scanning Electron Microscopy images. A . Holotype (NMBE 572639), aperture view showing subfossil shell with superficial erosion of shell layer. B . Paratype (NMBE 578378), aperture view showing close up of lamellar band on columella (Fig. C). C . Paratype (NMBE 578378), aperture view showing damaged shell and columella. D . Close up view of holotype (NMBE 572639), showing body whorl with low, irregular growth lines. E . Paratype (NMBE 578378), protoconch. Paratypes (SEM sample) MONTENEGRO • ( Fig. 17B–C, E ); 2 specs (broken shells); same collection data as for holotype; NMBE 578378 (ex AJC 2483) . Description MEASUREMENTS . Holotype : sh: 1.37 mm ; sw: 0.96 mm ; ah: 0.61 mm ; aw: 0.61 mm ; 0.63; hlw: 0.88 mm ; SA: 68.04 deg. Shell subfossil, eroded; conical with 5¼ flatly convex whorls; aperture reniform; penultimate whorl over ½ height of body whorl; teleoconch smooth with intermittent impressed striations on the body whorl; suture deep; parietal shield well defined, thick, long, and angular, curved at max. whorl convexity; peristome notch prominent at upper junction with parietal shield; smooth, impressed irregular ribbing behind peristome; columella slender with a distinctly sculpted and broad lamellar band obliquely projecting ca ⅓ beyond the width of the slender columella; a second, barely visible low ripple is present at mid-section of the columella. Distribution This species is only known from the type locality, St John’s cave in Njeguši, Montenegro . Remarks The species differs from Z. kolbae Jochum, Inäbnit, Kneubühler & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. in its uniformly conical shell form and its narrow, reniform apertural shape. Though the straight and robust columella is reminiscent of that in Z. njunjicae Jochum, Schilthuizen & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. , the pronounced configuration of the lamella differentiates significantly from the weak low lamella of that species (as seen in all its Micro-CT perspectives) except perhaps the dorsal view, which is different altogether in bearing a distinctive lamellar bulge and a secondary low lamella above the tortional formation at the base of the columella. Though the shell is eroded, it shares no whorl size dimensions nor body whorl or penultimate whorl shape with the unidentified and unassessed morphospecies, Zospeum sp. 1 (NMBE 577052–577053) ( Fig. 16C–E ) also found in St John’s cave.