Review of the genus Endothyrella Zilch, 1960 with description of five new species (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Plectopylidae)
Author
Pall-Gergely, Barna
Author
Budha, Prem B.
Author
Naggs, Fred
Author
Backeljau, Thierry
Author
Asami, Takahiro
text
ZooKeys
2015
529
1
70
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.529.6139
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.529.6139
1313-2970-529-1
AD4323B4913C447A88A7CE05EC8862A3
Taxon classification Animalia Pulmonata Plectopylidae
Genus
Chersaecia Gude, 1899
Chersaecia
1899c
Chersaecia
(section of the genus
Plectopylis
) Gude: Science Gossip, 6: 148.
Chersaecia
1999
Chersaecia
, - Schileyko: Treatise on Recent Terrestrial Pulmonate Molluscs, Part 4. (...): 2: 462.
Type species.
Helix (Plectopylis) Leiophis
Benson, 1860 (Figure 2) by original designation.
Figure 2. Shell (A) and protoconch (B) of
Chersaecia leiophis
(Benson, 1860), Akouktoung, purchased of W. Theobald Esq., NHMUK 1888.12.4.1526-1528 (two different shells). Photos: H. Taylor (A) and B.
Pall-Gergely
(B).
Diagnosis.
Shell sinistral or dextral, flat, widely umbilicated; in most cases protoconch seemingly
"smooth"
to the naked eye, but not glossy, rather matt; under the microscope usually tubercles of various size are visible (Figure 2B); sometimes the tuberculated protoconch is irregularly wrinkled; flat periostracal filaments are visible on the body whorl or on the dorsal surface in only a few species; aperture always with a fold; parietal wall with one vertical lamella and usually one or two long horizontal plicae (main plica and lower plica) reaching the callus; palatal plicae horizontal, sometimes divided in the middle, in some species with several additional denticles posteriorly, in some species similar to that of
Plectopylis
(three horizontal plicae above and one below the vertical plate formed by the accretion of two plicae).
Only one
Chersaecia
species is known anatomically (
Chersaecia simplex
in the original description:
Solem 1966
). Penis internally with approximately eight longitudinal rows, those situated next to the vas deferens are distinctly larger; vas deferens becomes a part of the penis wall at the penioviducal angle; no epiphallic differentiation observed; retractor muscle inserts on the dorsal surface of the penis and attaches to the diaphragm; diverticulum absent, gametolytic sac long and thickened.
Differential diagnosis.
Chersaecia
differs from
Endothyrella
,
Gudeodiscus
Pall-Gergely
, 2013,
Halongella
Pall-Gergely
, 2013,
Sicradiscus
Pall-Gergely
, 2013 and
Sinicola
by the usually tuberculated (not regularly ribbed) protoconch. The presence of long parietal plicae (main and lower) distinguishes most
Chersaecia
species from most
Endothyrella
,
Gudeodiscus
,
Halongella
,
Sicradiscus
and
Sinicola
species. The delimitation
of
Chersaecia
from
Plectopylis
and
Endoplon
needs further investigation. Among all plectopylids examined to date
Chersaecia simplex
is the only species found to lack an epiphallus. The anatomy of more
Chersaecia
species should be studied to check the taxonomic value of the lack of the epiphallus.
Content.
austeni
,
brachydiscus
,
degerbolae
,
dextrorsa
,
kengtungensis
,
leiophis
(
pseudophis
is probably a synonym, see
Gude 1908a
),
muspratti
,
nagaensis
,
perarcta
,
perrierae
,
refuga
,
shanensis
,
shiroiensis
,
simplex
.
Distribution.
The genus is known to inhabit northeastern India, eastern and southern Myanmar (Burma) and northern Thailand.