Aghbalia aghbalensis, Glöer & Mabrouki & Taybi, 2020

Glöer, Peter, Mabrouki, Youness & Taybi, Abdelkhaleq Fouzi, 2020, A new genus and two new species (Gastropoda, Hydrobiidae) from Morocco, Ecologica Montenegrina 28, pp. 1-6 : 4-5

Aghbalia aghbalensis n. gen. n. sp.

Material examined: 1 holotype, 54 paratypes in ethanol, from type locality; 35 in ethanol from locality (2), 2 x penis in ethanole.

Holotype: shell 1.9 mm high and 0.9 mm broad from type locality, dried, ZMH 140650 .

Paratypes: 34 paratypes in ethanole from type locality, ZMH 140651 , 35 in ethanol from locality (2), ZMH 140655 , 10 in ethanole from type locality in coll. Glöer and 10 specimens in coll. Mabrouki.

Locus typicus: (1) Aghbal, 34° 55' 14.000" N 2° 6' 52.500" W, 29.10.2019 leg., (2) Tifert, 35° 2' 16.800" N 2° 25' 36.000" W, 29.10.2019 leg.

Habitat: located in the Oued Aghbal River basin at an altitude of 292 m, the Aghbal locality is a fully developed Rheocenous spring, water is routed through concrete pipes to a small retention basin before being redistributed again for domestic and agricultural purposes. Generally, in Eastern Morocco, Springs are highly influenced and subjected to a great anthropic pressure considering the scarcity of fresh water ( Mabrouki et al., 2017 b).

Etymology: named after the type locality.

Description: The reddish brown shell is ovate with 3.5-4 slightly convex whorls which are separated by a weak suture. The aperture is ovate, tapered at the top. The peristome is sharp, from lateral view sinuated. The umbilicus is closed. The shell is 1.9 mm high and 0.9 mm broad.

Male copulatory organ: The penis (part with the dark spot) has two large appendices.

Differential diagnosis: The similar looking species from Tunisia, described as Bullaregia tunisiensis Khalloufi, Béjaoui & Delicado 2017 , has a straight border of the aperture from lateral view. The penis is long and slim and has only one penial appendix.

Associated species: Islamia tifertiensis n. sp.