Revision of the aperturally dentate Charopidae (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) of southern Africa - genus Afrodonta s. lat., with description of five new genera, twelve new species and one new subspecies Author Herbert, David G. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:0C09EE45-6198-482E-857A-EF690C2A016F Department of Natural Sciences, National Museum Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF 10 3 NP, UK. Formerly at KwaZulu-Natal Museum, P. Bag 9070, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa phasianella@gmail.com text European Journal of Taxonomy 2020 2020-04-17 629 1 55 journal article 22877 10.5852/ejt.2020.629 3722aa65-b935-4294-ac20-0d1179da9015 3762280 ECEBD539-6E3E-45BE-A0CB-264DF3270CC0 Afrodonta mystica sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 95482B02-41BA-4129-A4B1-32DD8DF1D095 Figs 4 G–J, 6, 17M–N Diagnosis Shell very small, spire slightly raised; protoconch microscopically shagreened or malleate; teleoconch surface silky; sculpture of simple, close-set, microscopic axial riblets; aperture with a well-developed, crescentic, in-running parietal lamella and a strong baso-columellar denticle; palatal region with a strong, deeply recessed, ridge-like denticle just above mid-whorl, plus a broad, thickened pad below mid-whorl, opposite and below parietal lamella; umbilicus relatively narrow. Shell corneous-brown to yellowish-brown when fresh; diameter up to 1.2 mm . Etymology From the Greek mystikos ( μυστΙΚός ): a mystery, mysterious; with reference to the environs of Nkandla – long considered a region of mystery in Zulu folklore and to this day a place of secrecy, subterfuge and skulduggery. Material examined Holotype SOUTH AFRICA • KwaZulu-Natal , Nkandla Forest ; 28.733° S , 31.133° E ; 900 m a.s.l. ; 10 Aug. 1997 ; D.G. Herbert leg.; mistbelt Podocarpus forest, in leaf-litter ; diameter 1.16 mm , height 0.61 mm ; NMSA V4993/T4237 . Paratypes SOUTH AFRICA • 3 specimens ; same collection data as for holotype; NMSA P1009/T4238 . Description Shell very small, diameter up to 1.2 mm , H/D ratio ±0.53; spire slightly raised; suture indented and apical portion of whorls strongly convex, whorls thus weakly shouldered; periphery more or less at mid-whorl, evenly rounded; last adult whorl slightly descendant. Protoconch comprising apical cap plus approx. 0.75 whorl; diameter ±310 μm; microscopically shagreened or malleate. Teleoconch of up to 2.75 whorls; surface texture silky; sculpture of simple, close-set, microscopic axial riblets; riblets alternating in strength and with even finer spiral threads in their intervals. Umbilicus relatively narrow. Aperture obliquely lunate; parietal region with a well-developed, crescentic, in-running lamella situated well below mid-whorl, extending just beyond edge of aperture, its interior end with a distinct downward deflection; baso-columellar region with a strong denticle (shape somewhat variable); palatal region with a strong, deeply recessed, ridge-like denticle just above mid-whorl, its crest thickened, plus a broad, thickened pad below mid-whorl, opposite and below parietal lamella. Shell corneous-brown to yellowish-brown when fresh. Distribution and conservation A narrow-range endemic ( Fig. 6 ), known only from Nkandla Forest, KwaZulu-Natal , at approx. 900 m a.s.l.; living in leaf-litter of transitional mistbelt/scarp forest. This forest is formally protected and under the care of the provincial conservation authority, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife. Remarks The only other species with a single parietal lamella, Afrodonta bilamellaris and Af. unilamellaris , lack palatal dentition.