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 kolbae Jochum, Inäbnit, Kneubühler & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 02B1232B-1BC5-404A-8F6D-FD189619B3AA Figs 16 , 22C Diagnosis Shell 1.38–1.52 mm , conical with 4.5–5 flatly convex, regular, tightly coiled whorls; aperture elliptical-ovate to subquadrate-oblique; columellar side of peristome thickly callused; teleoconch sculpture with conspicuous irregular scratch-like growth lines and milky, horizontal banding on the penultimate and body whorls. Etymology This species is named in honour of Prof. Dr.Annette Klussmann-Kolb for providing valuable mentorship and introducing AJ to the Ellobioidea . Type material Holotype MONTENEGRO • [holotype and body destroyed for DNA extraction, photograph and DNA are the only remnants of the holotype]; 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.; GenBank CO1 gene: ON037484; GenBank 16S gene: ON041449; GenBank H3 gene: ON088652; imaged shell of aliquot NMBE 571122 . Paratype MONTENEGRO • 1 spec. [ paratype and body destroyed for DNA extraction, photograph and DNA are the only remnants of the paratype]; same collection data as for holotype; GenBank CO1 gene: ON037485; GenBank 16S gene: ON041450; GenBank H3 gene: ON088653; imaged shell of aliquot NMBE 571123 . Description MEASUREMENTS . Snails processed for DNA sequence data and thus, the type series has been destroyed. Holotype : sh: 1.38 mm ; sw: 1.00 mm; ah: 0.66 mm ; aw: 0.59 mm ; hlw: 0.96 mm ; SA: 75.69 deg.; NMBE 571122 ( Fig. 16A ). Paratype : (N = 1): sh: 1.59 mm ; sw: 0.95 mm ; ah: 0.73 mm ; aw: 0.62 mm ; hlw: 0.73mm ; SA: 62.88 deg.; NMBE 571123 ( Fig. 16B ). Shell 1.38–1.59 mm , conical; transparent; with 4.5–5 flatly convex, regular, tightly coiled whorls; penultimate whorl equal or slightly over ½ height of body whorl (in lateral view); aperture elliptical-ovate to subquadrate; columellar side long; suture shallow; teleoconch sculpture with conspicuous irregular scratch-like growth lines and milky, horizontal banding on the penultimate and body whorls; some weak axial ribbing present immediately behind palatal lip; palatal lip narrowly reflected, palatal-basal side reflected; peristome thickly callused on basal columellar side; parietal shield long and straight with conspicuous narrow notch indentation at upper parietal and palatal junction. Distribution This species is only known from the type locality, St John’s cave, in Njeguši, Montenegro . Remarks The two shells demonstrate a significant range in shell height ( 1.39–1.59 mm ), constituting what might be the ends of the size spectrum for Z. kolbae Jochum, Inäbnit, Kneubühler & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. or that shell B is a potential hybrid with Z. dubokidoense Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. or a potential freak. Of all the shells in this study, shell B is by far the largest with that of one shell from Z. dubokidoense measuring a close second in shell height ( 1.546 mm ). With its molecularly closest congener, Z. simplex , (1.41– 1.40 mm ) it is comparable at the lower end of the size range but demonstrates a much broader spire angle than that of the narrower Z. simplex and a markedly larger aperture (ah) compared to that of Z. simplex . The elliptical-ovate to subquadrate shape of the aperture, the height of the penultimate whorl equaling or extending slightly over ½ the height of the body whorl (lateral view) are reminiscent of Z. dubokidoense from Duboki do cave ( Figs 6D , 7G ) (MCSMNHPMSL-Moll.-FVelkovrh 30360[spm1]). Their affinity in conjunction with the recent discovery of a connection between St John’s cave and Duboki do cave ( Csepreghy & Lenkei 2021 ) may be clarified by future sampling opportunities and DNA sequence analysis. Imaged with Z. kolbae , is an undescribed species ( Zospeum sp. 1 ) ( Fig. 16C–E ) (NMBE 577052–577053) found in the same cave chamber with two adults showing a substantially smaller size ( 1.29–130 mm ) than that of Z. kolbae . A third, subfossil species, found in the dry part of the same cave, Z. njegusiense Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. ( Fig. 17 ) measures within the same size range as the two shells of Z. kolbae but shows no other affinity with it. Type locality According to the collector, László Dányi, “The small chamber, where all the snails were collected, is really a rather dry part of the cave, a so called ‘fossil’ part which doesn’t have any active water-flow – even temporarily – since ages. However, on the rocks there is a thin layer of clay which is wet around micro fissures because of percolating water.” ( Fig. 22B ). Maximum depth of St John’s cave is - 537 m (László Dányi pers. comm May 2022 ). Recent exploration by the Hungarian Speleo Camp detected a connection between St John’s cave and Duboki do cave ( Csepreghy & Lenkei 2021 ).