Eight new species of Gulella Pfeiffer, 1856 from the south-east coast of South Africa (Gastropoda: Streptaxidae) Author Cole, Mary L. FDA80F4A-4E08-401E-8FF6-778E033BBBA7 East London Museum, 319 Oxford St, East London, 5201, South Africa and Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa. marybursey@elmuseum.za.org Author Herbert, David G. 0C09EE45-6198-482E-857A-EF690C2A016F Department of Natural Sciences, National Museum Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom and University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag. X 01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa. phasianella@gmail.com text European Journal of Taxonomy 2022 2022-04-11 813 1 32 http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.813.1729 journal article 56043 10.5852/ejt.2022.813.1729 ac406bb4-11b2-425e-b793-599560c503d9 2118-9773 6448751 687DE2C9-28A4-43E6-A47D-DE2D2839AB60 Gulella maraisi sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1D02CEC4-33FC-48DD-86EF-592869390159 Figs 10 , 11A–D Diagnosis Shell small, cylindrical; sculptured by axial ribs that extend to mid-whorl on spire whorls and from suture to suture on last whorl; aperture little obstructed by teeth; dentition typically three-fold, including Fig. 10. Distribution map of Gulella abbotti sp. nov. (purple triangles) and G. maraisi sp. nov. (orange circles). Contour at 1000 m. a parietal lamella, a simple labral tooth and a quadrate columella lamella; sometimes with an additional small basal tooth just left of centre; umbilicus small, elongate-ovate. Etymology Named for Dr Johan P. Marais, a very productive conchologist who collected much material for the KwaZulu-Natal Museum, including specimens of this species. Material examined Holotype SOUTH AFRICA – KwaZulu-Natal • Mtamvuna River mouth beach drift ; 31.083°S , 30.197° E ; Jun. 1996 ; leg. J. P. Marais ; NMSA P1676/T4520 . Paratypes (listed south to north) SOUTH AFRICA – KwaZulu-Natal • 3specs .; Mtamvuna River mouth beach drift ; 31.083°S , 30.197°E ; Jun. 1996 ; J. P. Marais leg.; NMSA V3993/T4485 • 1 spec. ; same collection data as for preceding; NHMUK 20210077 , prev. NMSA V3993 • 1 spec. ; Port Shepstone , Simuma area , Hlokohloko Valley , degraded riverine forest ; 30.65898°S , 30.34292° E , ca 130 m a.s.l. ; 6 May 2008 ; D. Herbert and L. Davis leg.; NMSA W6277/T4486 • 1 spec. ; Port Shepstone , Simuma area , Hlokohloko Valley , stn 11- 001, riverine forest ; 30.66310°S , 30.33685° E , ca 150–200 m a.s.l. ; 5 Mar. 2011 ; D. Herbert and L. Davis leg.; NMSA W7831/T4487 • 1 spec. ; Port Shepstone area , Marble Delta , South side of Simuma Hill , woodland/forest , in leaf-litter , stn S1; 30.6683°S , 30.3470° E ; 237 m a.s.l. ; Feb. 2012 ; J. Harvey leg.; NMSA W8786/T4483 . Other material SOUTH AFRICA – KwaZulu-Natal • 2specs .; Mtamvuna River mouth beach drift ; 31.083°S , 30.197°E ; Jun. 1996 ; J. P. Marais leg.; NMSA P1613 prev. NMSA V3993 . Eastern Cape • 1 spec. ; Mkambati Nature Reserve , East bank of Mkambati River , between Mkambati and Strandloper waterfalls ; 31.2738° S , 30.0236° E ; 15 Feb. 2011 ; M. Cole leg.; ELMD 18754 • 1 spec. ; same locality as for preceding; 17 Mar. 2019 ; M. Cole leg.; ELMD 18475 • 4 specs .; Mkambati Nature Reserve , gorge of Daza River , East side ; 31.3000° S , 29.9879°E ; 16 Feb. 2011 ; M. Cole leg.; ELMD 18756 . Description SHELL ( Fig. 11 ). Shell small, cylindrical, length 3.5–4.2 mm , width 1.5–1.7 mm , L:W 2.3–2.6 (n = 11). Protoconch 1.1 mm in diameter, comprising approx. 2.5 whorls, smooth; junction between protoconch and teleoconch distinct. Teleoconch comprising approx. 5 whorls; whorls moderately convex; sculptured by subsutural axial riblets extending to mid-whorl on earlier whorls, but strong on last whorl and running from suture to suture ( Fig. 11A, B ); axial pleats prominent on base, running into umbilicus ( Fig. 11D ). Peristome thickened, interrupted in parietal region and with a hiatus behind parietal lamella ( Fig. 11C ). Aperture little obstructed by teeth; apertural dentition three- or four-fold ( Fig. 11C, E ): 1) an oblique parietal lamella which begins above insertion of labrum and curves and runs into aperture; 2) a simple in-running, ridge-like mid-labral tooth; 3) a small basal tooth just to left of centre near the lip edge in the Eastern Cape population ( Fig. 11E ); 4) a quadrate columella lamella. Labral tooth corresponds with a shallow pit behind outer lip ( Fig. 11B ). Umbilicus very small, elongate-ovate ( Fig. 11D ). Shell translucent, uniformly milky-white when fresh, reddish-pink dried tissue of animal visible internally. Distribution ( Fig. 10 ) Recorded at isolated localities in southern KwaZulu-Natal and northeast Eastern Cape provinces, from the coast up to approx. 130 m above sea level. Fig. 11. Gulella maraisi sp. nov. , holotype (NMSA P1676/T4520), length 4.12 mm, width 1.63 mm. A . Aperture view. B . Side view. C . View into aperture. D . Oblique view of base showing umbilicus. E . Specimen from Eastern Cape population (ELMD 18754), length 3.57 mm, width 1.55 mm. Scale bar = 0.5 mm. Habitat KwaZulu-Natal Scarp Forest and Pondoland Scarp Forest ( Mucina et al. 2018a , 2018b ); in leaf-litter and under logs. Remarks Specimens collected at Mkambati Nature Reserve are slightly smaller, appear to have one less whorl and have a small basal tooth to the left of centre, absent in all the specimens collected in KwaZulu- Natal. In other respects specimens from both areas appear to be identical. The Eastern Cape population is considered here to be Gulella maraisi sp. nov. , but due to the differences mentioned above, these specimens are not included in the type material. Gulella maraisi sp. nov. superficially resembles G. pentheri , but is larger and has axial sculpture, while G. pentheri is narrower and smooth. The parietal lamella of G. maraisi sp. nov. extends to the edge of the labrum and curves strongly before running into the aperture, a feature not present in G. pentheri . In respect of its apertural dentition and the short axial riblets, G. maraisi sp. nov. resembles G. inhluzaniensis , but in the present species the columella lamella is much larger and the last whorl has much stronger axial ribs. Gulella maraisi sp. nov. also resembles G. abbotti sp. nov. , but the latter is smaller, narrower and has a more substantial labral tooth as well as a basal tooth. Species in the Gulella infans group ( Herbert & Kilburn 2004 ) are larger, generally broader, have a less prominent columella lamella and weaker axial sculpture. Conservation Gulella maraisi sp. nov. appears to be a very rare species with few records. It has been collected alive at only two localities approx. 75 km apart. One of these is under threat from mining since the lower Hlokohloko Valley is being sacrificed as a waste rock dump. It has not been found in Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve immediately to the west. The other locality is in a protected area, the Mkambati Nature Reserve. It has been collected in beach drift at the mouth of the Mtamvuna River, but as yet not in the Mtamvuna Gorge Nature Reserve upstream.