Pollicaria mouhoti monochroma Kongim & Panha, 2013

Kongim, Bangon, Sutcharit, Chirasak, Naggs, Fred & Panha, Somsak, 2013, Taxonomic revision of the Elephant Pupinid snail genus Pollicaria Gould, 1856 (Prosobranchia, Pupinidae), ZooKeys 287, pp. 19-40 : 31-32

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.287.4617

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/20636E38-914D-5127-A3D9-5FB9BE34B344

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Pollicaria mouhoti monochroma Kongim & Panha
status

ssp. n.

Pollicaria mouhoti monochroma Kongim & Panha ssp. n. Figs 2C View Figure 2 4J, K View Figure 4 6C View Figure 6 Tables 1 View Table 1 2 View Table 2

Type material.

Holotype: CUMZ 1577 ( Fig. 4J View Figure 4 ; height 34.5 mm, width 18.4 mm, 6½ whorls) from the type locality, paratypes CUMZ 1548 ( Fig. 4K View Figure 4 ; 9 shells), 1561 (82 shells), 1562 (85 shells); NHMUK 20130073 (5 shells); MNHN IM-2012-2103; SMF341492 (5 shells).

Type locality.

Limestone outcrop with dry forest at Wat Tam Pha Bing, Wungsapoong District, Loei Province, Thailand (17°14'1.3"N, 101°44'3.5"E).

Other material examined.

Phakeng-Phanang, Loei: ZMMSU 0025, 0026. Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, Loei: CUMZ 1524. Phu Phalom, Muang, Loei: CUMZ 1547, 1560, 1565, 1567, 1580. Phu Phasamyod, Loei: ZMMSU 0011. Tam Erawan, Wungsapoong, Loei: CUMZ 1555, 1579. Tam Pha Bing, Wungsapoong, Loei: CUMZ 1548, 1561, 1562, 1577, ZMMSU 0001, 0004, 0006, 0017, 0028. Tam Pha Singh, Wungsapoong, Loei: CUMZ 1543, 1546. Wat Po Thi-sat, Nonghin, Loei: CUMZ 1557. Wat Tam Kuhawari, Nonghin, Loei: CUMZ 1540, 1549. Wat Tam Pha Mak-ho, Wungsapoong, Loei: CUMZ 1530, 1542. Wat Tam Pha Poo, Loei: CUMZ 1545, 1550. Wat Tam Piya, Loei: CUMZ 1527. Khao Wungpha, Nawung, Nongbua Lumphoo: CUMZ 1563, 1564. Nawung, Nongbua Lumphoo: CUMZ 1581. Tam Suwankuha, Nongbua Lumphoo: ZMMSU 0007.

Etymology.

From the Greek monos = one or single, and chroma = color of the skin; referring to the characteristic uniform dark brown to blackish spire color of the shell.

Description.

Shell: Shell relatively small, pupoid, monochrome purple to black. Periostracum thin and transparent. Whorls 5-6; sutures moderately impressed; apex obtuse; spire short. Last whorl large about two-thirds of shell height, flattened in front. Shell surface rough with malleations on upper half of last whorl. Aperture almost circular, shallow posterior angled groove present; peristome continuous, yellow to pale orange. Lip thickened, broadly expanded; umbilicus narrow. Operculum thick, calcareous, concentric, exterior little concave.

Radula: Taenioglossate radula, teeth arrangement with central, lateral and marginal teeth shape similar to the nominotypical subspecies.

Distribution.

Pollicaria mouhoti monochroma ssp. n. is restricted to the northern limit of the species’ distribution in Loei, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum and Nongbua Lumphoo Provinces.

Remark.

Pollicaria mouhoti monochroma ssp. n. can be distinguished from the nominotypical subspecies by having a much smaller, entirely black to purple shell ( Tables 1 View Table 1 , 2 View Table 2 ) and a distinct karyotype pattern (see Kongim et al. 2009, 2010). The shell size and shape of this subspecies are similar to that of Pollicaria gravida and Pollicaria crossei , but the purple shell is a distinguishing characteristic.

Shell character variations can be observed in the Phu Pha Lom, Loei Province population. These individuals exhibit a relatively larger shell than the typical populations ( Table 2 View Table 2 ), however, the monochrome black shell and similar karyotype pattern indicate that they belong to this subspecies ( Kongim et al. 2009).