Amphidromus melanomma (Pfeiffer, 1852)

Sutcharit, Chirasak, Ablett, Jonathan, Tongkerd, Piyoros, Naggs, Fred & Panha, Somsak, 2015, Illustrated type catalogue of Amphidromus Albers, 1850 in the Natural History Museum, London, and descriptions of two new species, ZooKeys 492, pp. 49-105 : 69

Taxon classification Animalia Stylommatophora Camaenidae

Amphidromus melanomma (Pfeiffer, 1852)

Bulimus melanomma Pfeiffer, 1852: 95.

Type locality.

insulis Moluccis [= the islands of the Moluccas].

Type material.

Possible syntype NHMUK 20140753/1 (Figs 2D, 10K; H=47.8 mm, W=26.3 mm).

Remarks.

The original description by Pfeiffer (1852: 95) did not give an illustration of the species but a set of measurements were provided. Küster and Pfeiffer (1854: 135, 136, pl. 39, figs 28, 29; pl. 41, figs 1, 2, 7, 8) re-published the description, and figured the nominal species and included two varietal forms.

The NHM holds a lot that has an original label in Pfeiffer’s handwriting giving the species name (in blue ink) and the collection locality of “Malacca”. The words " Bulimus melanoma var γ Pfr. Mon. Hel. III p. 310", not written by Pfeiffer, were added to the label at a later time (Fig. 2D). The specimen illustrated in Küster and Pfeiffer (1854: pl. 39, figs 27, 28) is recognized by the sinistral shell, with a yellow peripheral band on the periphery of the last whorl and the dimensions are very close to those given in the original description. Since the lot contains two other dextral specimens which were not mentioned in the original description, we refrain from designating this as a lectotype, considering the sinistral specimen to be a possible syntype. The other two dextral shells (NHMUK 20140753/2-3) that are contained in the lot are excluded from the type series ( ICZN 1999: Art. 72.4.1).