Vargapupa biheli viridis, Páll-Gergely & Grego, 2019

Páll-Gergely, Barna & Grego, Jozef, 2019, Notes on Pseudopomatias Möllendorff, 1885 and Vargapupa Páll- Gergely, 2015 (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda: Pupinidae), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 67, pp. 586-594 : 591

Vargapupa biheli viridis , new subspecies

( Fig. 5A–L )

Type material. Holotype (H: 10.2 mm, D: 3.6 mm, Figs 5A–F ) ( HNHM 104398 ), Laos, Xianghouang prov. , ca. 4 km

SW of Ban Khong , cliffs foot above larger vertical cave, 1,230 m a.s.l., 19°22.670′N, 102°58.742′E, coll. J. Grego, 23 February 2017 ; figured paratype (HNHM 104399, Figs 5G–L ), same data as for holotype; 2 paratypes ( SMF 326927 ), same data as for holotype; 2 paratypes ( NHMUK 20190575 ), same data as for holotype; 1 paratype (ZRC.MOL.015633), same data as for holotype; 47 paratypes (JG/47), same data as for holotype; 2 juvenile shells (not paratypes, JG/2), same data as for holotype; 1 paratype broken to two parts (JG/1), Laos, Xianghouang prov. , Caverns among boulders at large sinkhole below small settlements (5 houses about 6 km SW of Bang Knong), 1,060 m a.s.l., 19°23.251′N, 102°58.498′E, coll. J. Grego, 23 February 2017 .

Diagnosis. A subspecies of Vargapupa biheli with greenish shell colour and weaker periumbilical keel.

Measurements (in mm). H = 8.4–11, D = 3.4–3.7 (n = 7).

Differential diagnosis. Vargapupa biheli viridis , new subspecies differs from the nominotypical subspecies ( Fig. 5M–Q ) by the lower, slightly denser ribs and weaker keel. The keel of Vargapupa biheli viridis is less clearly visible from standard apertural view (i.e., more visible in Vargapupa biheli biheli ), and it is overall less elevated, and less marked by deep sutures on both sides. Fresh shells of the new subspecies are semitransparent greenish. Although we had no possibility to examine fresh shells of the nominotypical subspecies, the reddish colouration of the apical whorls of some shells, such as the holotype, indicates that fresh shells might have a reddish brown colour.

The differences mentioned between Vargapupa humilis Páll- Gergely, 2016 and V. biheli are true to the new subspecies as well. These are the following: Vargapupa biheli has a much stronger keel, a slender triangular shell (rather spindleshaped in V. humilis ), a less oblique peristome to the shell axis and a somewhat rectangular aperture (nearly rounded, teardrop-shaped in V. humilis ).

Remarks. We initially considered to handling the two subspecies as species in their own right. However, due to the similar size, shape and the lack of fresh specimens of V. biheli biheli , we rather keep the new taxon on a subspecific level.

Etymology. The name “viridis” refers to the greenish colour of fresh shells of the new subspecies.

Distribution. The new subspecies is known from two nearby sites, practically a single population in Xianghouang Province, Laos.

Figures

Fig. 5. A–F, Vargapupa biheli viridis, new subspecies (holotype, HNHM 104398); G–L, Vargapupa biheli viridis, new subspecies (paratype, HNHM 104399); M–Q, Vargapupa biheli biheli Páll-Gergely, 2015 (holotype, MNHN-IM-2012–27020). Scale ‘a’ refers to images of the whole shell, scale ‘b’ refers to images of the body whorl, both scales represent 5 mm.