Satsuma phoenicis, Wu & Hwang & Lin, 2008

Wu, Shu-Ping, Hwang, Chung-Chi & Lin, Yao-Sung, 2008, Systematic revision of the arboreal snail Satsuma albida species complex (Mollusca: Camaenidae) with descriptions of 14 new species from Taiwan, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 154 (3), pp. 437-493 : 456-458

SATSUMA PHOENICIS SP. NOV. ( FIGS 13 , 14 )

Satsuma albida (H. Adams) , Chang et al., 1996: 25–30, fig. 1 (shell). [non albida ]

Material examined

Type specimen: Holotype: TMMT 0601 (from type locality, dry shell, tissue in alcohol). Five paratypes: all from type locality, NMNS 005405-6 (dry shell, tissue in alcohol, dissected); TMMT 0645 (dry shell, tissue in alcohol); BMNH 20060772 , ANSP 413687 , SMF 329395 (dry shell).

Type locality

Fenghuanggu, Lugu, Nantou County, central Taiwan ( Fig. 1 , Table 1) .

Diagnosis

Shell and soft body white with grey pedal stripe; proximal penis present, swollen, grooved; principal pilaster present, bifurcate, not formed in single strong pilaster.

Etymology

L. phoenicis : phoenix, translation of the type locality ‘phoenix valley’ (Fenghuanggu).

Description

Shell ( Fig. 13 ): Dextral, conical, medium sized. Apex obtuse. Whorls expanded. Periphery bluntly angulated, extending to peristome. Base expanded. Preapertural constriction behind outer and inferior lips present. Surface glossy, with spiral striae. Shell colour milky white, covered with fine periostracum. Aperture diagonal, ovate-lunate. Peristome thin, expanded. Inferior lip reflected, curved downward. Superior columellar lip vertical, reflected. Umbilicus covered by columellar lip, crevice-like. Junction between oblique inferior columellar lip and inferior lip smoothly curved.

Band or stain: Band or stain is not present in this species. Band formula = 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.

Reproductive system ( Fig. 14 ): Bursa stalk long, tapering with wiggly folds internally. Proximal vagina muscular, furrowed externally; middle vagina muscular, constrictive, with weak folds inside; distal vagina one-quarter length of vagina. Flagellum long, tapering smoothly towards tip. Penial caecum long, tapering with blunt tip; cecal pilasters two or three in number, surrounding epiphallic pore. Principal pilaster present, bifurcate, weak, not merged as single strong pilaster. Proximal penis widened, muscular, furrowed with a deep groove externally corresponding to strong, elevated, corrugated internal pilasters; middle penis short, suddenly constrictive from proximal penis, with weak and smooth pilasters inside; distal penis moderately slender, with one to two weak internal pilasters gradually weakened towards atrium. Three specimens were dissected.

Distribution

Lugu area, Nantou County, central Taiwan ( Fig. 1 , Table 1).

Remarks

Animals are arboreal, herbivores and nocturnal perching under leaves 2–3 m above ground. Adults were found during summer and autumn ( Fig. 13E ).

The swollen and grooved proximal penis and bifurcate principal pilaster is unique among species in west Taiwan. The shell of the present species differs from that of S. albida in its larger size, and being thinner, translucent and more rigidness; differs from that of S. lini in larger measurements ( Table 2), more flattened base and inferior lip, more blunt periphery, more curved downward inferior lip and, hence, smooth junction between the inferior lip and the columellar lip. This species is morphologically similar to S. lini sp. nov., but the genetic relationship was calculated to be closer to S. careocaecum sp. nov. The photographed shell in Chang et al. (1996, Fig. 1 ) belongs to this species (see remarks in S. albida .)

Figures

Figure 1. Sampling localities of all taxa in Taiwan. Bold line, Central Range; thin line, administrative boundary.

Figure 13. Satsuma phoenicis sp. nov. A–D, holotype (TMMT 0601, shell height = 19.4 mm). E, living specimen. Arrow indicates the pre-apertural constriction.

Figure 14. Reproductive system of Satsuma phoenicis sp. nov. (NMNS 005405-6). A, whole genitalia; B, interior of genitalia. Scale bar = 5 mm. See text for abbreviations.