18 Glessula ponsiensis Godwin-Austen, 1920

Figs 10 F, 11 A, B

Stenogyra (Glessula) pyramis var. major Nevill, 1878: 169 [nomen nudum]. Type locality: Ponsee.

Glessula ponsiensis — Godwin-Austen, 1920: 56, pl. 164, fig. 19. Type locality: Ponsee, Yunnan.

Type specimens.

Syntypes NHMUK 1989042 (1 shell; Fig. 10 F) and NHMUK 1989043 (3 shells; Fig. 11 A), both specimen lots collected by J. Anderson from Ponsee.

Other material.

NHMUK 1912.4. 16.747 (2 shells; Fig. 11 B) ex. Beddome collection from Ponsee, Yunnan.

Diagnosis.

Shell oblong turreted and regularly attenuated; spire high conical; apex rounded and blunt; subsequent whorls nearly smooth with fine growth lines, and strong, equally spaced radial ridges near suture. Suture impressed and whorls slightly convex. Aperture ovate; columella strong, concave, and truncated.

Distribution.

Glessula ponsiensis was first described from Ponsee, Yunnan, and later discovered in Bhamao, Kachin State, situated on the upper part of Ayeyarwady River.

Remarks.

The original description included a set of shell measurements and an illustration of the apex. Godwin-Austen (1920: 56) clearly states that this species was described based on specimens from the Indian Museum collection (now Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata) collected by J. Anderson from Ponsee, which was misidentified as ‘ Stenogyra (Glessula) pyramis Bs., var. major Nevill, 1878 ’. The name ‘ var. major ’ by Nevill (1878: 169) is unavailable (ICZN 1999: Art. 12). Under the note of the species, Godwin-Austen states, ‘ I am fortunate in getting the type-shells for examination’. It seemed that he received on loan the type specimen (or specimens that were examined by Nevill (1878: 169)). The NHMUK type collections contain a specimen lot with two registration numbers, M 10905 / 2 and 10906 / 2, which are ex-Indian Museum collection numbers where the original label states ‘ Stenogyra (Glessula) pyramis Benson, var. major ’, collection of ‘ Dr. J. Anderson’ and with collection locality from ‘ Ponsee’. Interestingly, a species-group name was struck through and rewritten with red ink by Godwin-Austen, handwritten as ‘ ponsiensis, G-A. ’ and with ‘ Type and three other one takes for B. M. ’. It is probable that these specimens were presented to Godwin-Austen for examination. The specimen NHMUK 1989042 (1 shell has blue wool inside the shell; Fig. 10 F) has a subsequent label stating ‘ holotype’, and NHMUK 1989043 (3 shells; Fig. 11 A) originates from the same Nevill type lot and has a subsequent label stating ‘ paratypes’. This is not a valid holotype designation (ICZN 1999: Arts 73.1, 73.2 and Recommendation 73 F) and these specimens are considered as the syntypes, illustrated herein for the first time.