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 neuberti Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9BABF583-23ED-4ACF-92DE-1A52D8F7D0E0 Fig. 12 Diagnosis Shell ca 1.3 mm , conical with 5¼ regularly coiled whorls, with blunt irregular growth lines; parietal shield thickly callused; columella centrally aligned, completely smooth; no lamella; ventral side swollen with well-defined umbilical depression; columellar side of peristome is positioned directly above umbilical depression with last coiling of whorl leaning to right of it. Etymology This species honors the German malacologist, mentor, and curator of molluscs, Dr Eike Neubert at the Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern (NMBE), Bern , Switzerland in recognition of his support, dedicated mentorship, and contributions to malacology and specifically, to carychiid research. Type material Holotype CROATIA • ( Fig. 12C–I ); “Grabovica-Höhle bei Trebinje com. Kuščer” [ Grabovica cave by Trebinje communicated with Kuščer]; [ 42.7438° N , 18.0578° E ]; NHMW Mol.Coll. Edlauer 32006. Paratypes CROATIA • 1 spec. ( Fig. 12A ); same collection data as for holotype; NHMW Mol.Coll. Edlauer 32006 • 1 spec. ( Fig. 12B ); same collection data as for holotype; NHMW Mol.Coll. Edlauer 32006 . Description MEASUREMENTS . Holotype : sh: 1.308 mm ; sw: 0.915 mm ; ah: 0.555 mm ; aw: 0.562 mm ; hlw: 0.794 mm ; SA: 61.88 deg. Paratypes (N = 2): sh: 1.205 –1.305 mm ; sw: 0.854 –0.932 mm ; ah: 0.517 –0.532 mm ; aw: 0.539 –0.551 mm ; hlw: 0.737 –0.786 mm ; SA: 66.77–67.49 deg. Shell ca 1.3 mm , conical, with 5–5¼ regularly coiled convex whorls; transparent when fresh, opaque when older; aperture reniform; teleoconch sculpture with few irregular and occasional course growth lines; some weak axial ribbing present immediately behind palatal lip; palatal-basal lip narrowly reflected; aperture wider than high; peristome thickly callused on parietal shield and on basal columellar side, upper palatal side thin and slightly expanded, columellar side more straight than oblique, roundish not angular; parietal shield long and straight with narrow notch indentation at upper parietal and palatal junction; height of last whorl greater than half of shell height; upper rim of peristome recedes ca 1 / 6 the width of the penultimate whorl (aperture facing left); columella centrally aligned, moderately thick, smooth; umbilical depression callused; columellar side of peristome positioned directly above with last coiling of whorl leaning to right of umbilical depression, alignment of last ¼ whorl is not compact. Distribution This species is only known from its type locality cave, Grabovica jama in southwestern Croatia . Remarks Zospeum neuberti Jochum & Ruthensteiner sp. nov. is the only species to possess a totally smooth columella. Although the narrow shell spire and the straight parietal shield resembles that of Z. simplex , it differs from this species in that Z. neuberti is smaller in shell height, aperture height, aperture width, height of the last whorl and it bears a much broader spire than that of Z. simplex .