Uncovering local endemism from southeastern Myanmar: description of the new karst-associated terrestrial snail genus Burmochlamys (Eupulmonata, Helicarionidae)
Author
Pholyotha, Arthit
Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Author
Sutcharit, Chirasak
Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Author
Lin, Aung
Fauna and Flora International, Sanchaung Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Author
Panha, Somsak
Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand & Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand
somsak.pan@chula.ac.th
text
ZooKeys
2022
2022-07-04
1110
1
37
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1110.82461
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1110.82461
1313-2970-1110-1
01302157EE404B9999DD3EC3377D929C
88D66028C7A752528DD9138A2105F895
Burmochlamys whitteni Pholyotha & Panha
sp. nov.
Figs 1
, 5G
, 12C, D
, 13G-I
, 14
, 15C
Material examined.
Type material.
Holotype
: CUMZ 14221 (Fig.
12C
; width
5.8 mm
, height 5.0 mm).
Paratypes
: Same locality as holotype: CUMZ 14222 (Fig.
12D
; width
5.6 mm
, height 5.0 mm), NHMUK (two shells).
Type locality.
Limestone outcrop at Htaung Wee Cave, Hpa-An, Kayin State, Myanmar (
16°50'31.1"N
,
97°37'18.4"E
).
Diagnosis.
Shell globose and pale to dark brownish. Animal pale grey with five mantle extensions. Genitalia with slender epiphallus, rather short epiphallic caecum attached by a thick and short penial retractor muscle, and gametolytic part and free oviduct entirely encircled by connective tissue.
Description.
Shell
(Figs
12C, D
,
13G-I
). Shell globose, small (width up to 5.8 mm, height up to 5.0 mm), rather thin, and semi-translucent. Colour pale to dark brownish. Protoconch and teleoconch surface with similar sculpture. Surface of body whorl with distinct spiral furrows at regular intervals, cut by undulating radial lines (Fig.
13G-I
). Whorls 6-
61/2
, increasing regularly; suture shallowly impressed; spire much elevated; last whorl well-rounded. Aperture obliquely crescent-shaped; peristome simple. Columellar margin simple, slightly reflected near umbilicus. Umbilicus open, narrow, and deep.
Figure 13.
Representative SEM images of the shell of
Burmochlamys
species
A-C
B. moulmeinica
sp. nov. paratype CUMZ 14217
A
protoconch
B
body whorl
C
zoom-in view of body whorl.
D-F
B. versicolor
sp. nov. paratype CUMZ 14219
D
protoconch
E
body whorl
F
zoom-in view of body whorl
G-I
B. whitteni
sp. nov. paratype CUMZ 14222
G
protoconch
H
body whorl
I
zoom-in view of body whorl.
Genital organs
(Fig.
14
). Atrium (at) short. Penis (p) rather long, cylindrical and with penial sheath. Epiphallus (e1+e2) ca. five-eighths of penis length; e1 cylindrical and smaller diameter than penis and e2; e2 bulbous and ca. two-third of e1 length. Epiphallic caecum (ec) rather short, cylindrical, and with thick and short penial retractor muscle (prm) attached at tip. Vas deferens (vd) thin tube. Dart apparatus large, long cylindrical, and located on atrium at vagina and penis junction. Vagina (v) very short and cylindrical. Gametolytic sac (gs) bulbous; gametolytic duct (gd) cylindrical, moderate, ca. three-eighths of penis length; thin connective tissue encircled entire gametolytic organ and free oviduct (Fig.
14A, B
). Free oviduct (fo) as long as gametolytic duct.
Figure 14.
Genital system of
Burmochlamys whitteni
sp. nov. paratype CUMZ 14222
A
general view of the genital system
B
a part of gametolytic organ (duct and sac) and free oviduct after the connective tissue is removed. White arrow indicates the end of the penis. Yellow arrow indicates the connective tissue surrounding the gametolytic organ and free oviduct.
Radula
(Fig.
15C
). Resembles
B. cassidula
. Teeth arranged in wide U-shaped rows with each row consisting of ~ 55 teeth; central tooth monocuspid, large and ovate spatulate shape and attached at both sides of its base with two smaller triangular-shaped plates; lateromarginals monocuspid, large and ovate spatulate shape and then gradually smaller, narrower, and rather more pointed cusp; each lateromarginal tooth with one smaller triangular-shaped plate attached at base outwards. Some outermost teeth with a small and pointed cusp at inner side.
Figure 15.
Representative SEM images of the radula of
Burmochlamys
species
A
B. moulmeinica
sp. nov. paratype CUMZ 14217
B
B. versicolor
sp. nov. paratype CUMZ 14219
C
B. whitteni
sp. nov. paratype CUMZ 14222. Central tooth indicated by
'C'
; yellow colour indicates central tooth row.
External appearance
(Fig.
5G
). Living animal with reticulated skin, pale grey body, slightly paler on foot sole and darker colour on caudal horn. Mantle extensions with two shell lobes and three dorsal lobes, similar colour to body.
Etymology.
The specific epithet
whitteni
is named in honour of the late Dr. Tony Whitten (1957-2017) of Fauna & Flora International, who invited our team to explore the land snails in southern Myanmar during 2015 to 2016.
Distribution.
Burmochlamys whitteni
sp. nov. is known only from the type locality (Fig.
1
). This isolated limestone of Htaung Wee Cave is situated close to the east-bank of the Thanlwin River and is surrounded by paddy fields that are temporarily flooded during the monsoon season.
Remarks.
Among the brownish-shelled species (see Table
2
),
B. whitteni
sp. nov. can be distinguished from
B. poongee
and
B. moulmeinica
sp. nov. by the presence of the connective tissue encircled entirely at the gametolytic part and free oviduct, whereas in the latter two species this tissue is absent. In addition,
B. whitteni
sp. nov. has a thick penial retractor muscle, relatively long epiphallus, and rather short at the base of dart apparatus. In contrast,
B. poongee
has a thin penial retractor muscle, relatively long epiphallus, and very long at the base of dart apparatus, while
B. moulmeinica
sp. nov. has a thin penial retractor muscle, relatively short epiphallus, and rather short at the base of dart apparatus.