Paropeas Pilsbry, 1906

Man, Nem Sian, Ablett, Jonathan D., Lwin, Ngwe, Sutcharit, Chirasak & Panha, Somsak, 2024, Contributions on a small collection of the former Subulinidae Fischer & Crosse, 1877 (Eupulmonata, Achatinoidea) with catalogue of the Glessula and Rishetia species recorded from Myanmar, ZooKeys 1208, pp. 173-239 : 173-239

Genus Paropeas Pilsbry, 1906

Prosopeas (Paropeas) Pilsbry, 1906: 14. Zilch 1959: 353.

Paropeas — Naggs 1994: 175–191. Schileyko 1999: 508.

Type species.

Bulimus acutissimus Mousson, 1857 by original designation.

Diagnosis.

Shell slender and conical; spire high, turreted, and gradually attenuated; embryonic and subsequent whorls with irregularly dense, fine, or coarse radial striations. Aperture oblique, narrow or broadly ovate; columella concave; columellar margin expanded or not expanded. Penial simple, relatively long, slender, epiphallus short, flagellum absent, and penial sheath present; vagina ~ 1 / 2 of penis length and wider than penis.

Remarks.

Paropeas can be distinguished from Bacillum and Rishetia by its irregularly coarse radial striations throughout the shell, less concave or straighter columella, and narrowly tapering and pointed embryonic whorls (Table 2 ). While Bacillum has stronger and more evenly spaced radial striations, deeper concave and truncate columella, and cylindrically tapering and obtuse embryonic whorls. Likewise, Rishetia has a glossy and smoother shell, broader whorls, more concave columella, and rounded and wider aperture ( Pilsbry 1906; Gude 1914; Naggs 1994). In terms of genitalia, Rishetia is obviously distinct from Paropeas by having a tubular-shaped flagellum, while Paropeas has no flagellum ( Naggs 1994; Schileyko 1999).

Paropeas and Prosopeas are very similar in terms of shell form and sculpture, but Paropeas possess stronger and more compact striations on embryonic whorls ( Gude 1914; Naggs 1994). However, distinguishing between these two genera is still challenging, and precise identification requires further evidence, such as data on genitalia and molecular phylogeny.

This genus is mainly distributed in Southeast Asia. Seven recognised species are present, four are reported in Myanmar ( Gude 1914; Naggs 1994; Schileyko 1999; MolluscaBase 2023).