Satsuma viridibasis, Wu & Hwang & Lin, 2008

Wu, Shu-Ping, Hwang, Chung-Chi & Lin, Yao-Sung, 2008, Systematic revision of the arboreal snail Satsuma albida species complex (Mollusca: Camaenidae) with descriptions of 14 new species from Taiwan, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 154 (3), pp. 437-493 : 482-484

SATSUMA VIRIDIBASIS SP. NOV. ( FIGS 35 , 36 )

Satsuma albida (H. Adams) . Chang et al., 1996: 25–30, fig. 2 (genitalia) [non albida ]

Material examined

Type specimen: Holotype: TMMT 0613 (from type locality, dry shell, tissue in alcohol). Total five paratypes: four paratypes from type locality: TMMT 0663 (dry shell, tissue in alcohol, dissected); BMNH 20060756 , ANSP 413676 , SMF 329385 (dry shell). One paratype from Yangmingshan , Taipei: TMMT 0675 (dry shell, tissue in alcohol, dissected).

Type locality

Sikanshui, Xindian, Taipei County, northern Taiwan ( Fig. 1 , Table 1) .

Diagnosis

Shell and soft body yellowish without pedal stripe; colour of base greenish; pre-apertural constriction present behind outer lip; number of whorls more than six; bursa stalk shorter than spermoviduct; principal pilaster short; proximal penis short, apparently expanded.

Etymology

L. viridis: green; L. basis: base, referring to the green body whorl.

Description

Shell ( Fig. 35 ): Dextral, conical, thin, medium sized. Apex obtuse. Whorls inflated. Periphery bluntly angulated, arc-like. Base inflated. Pre-apertural constriction behind outer lip only. Periostracum thin. Shell colour light yellow above periphery, light yellowish green to cyan below periphery. Surface smooth, with fine axial and spiral striae. Aperture subvertical, ovate. Junction between outer lip and inferior lip curved. Peristome thin, expanded at inferior lip and outer lip. Columellar lip vertical, reflected. Umbilicus mostly covered by columellar lip, crevice-like.

Band or stain: Band or stain is not present. Band formula = 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.

Reproductive system ( Fig. 36 ): The reproductive system is similar to that of S. vallis with following exceptions: (1) the flagellum is shorter than that of S. vallis , (2) the epiphallus is short and has three pilasters inside, and (3) spinules are present. Three individuals from the type locality were dissected.

Distribution

The species was found in lowland (<500 m) forest around the Taipei basin, northern Taiwan ( Wulai , Sikanshui , Pinglin , Mt Yangmingshan and Mt. Xiangshan) although not in the western part of the basin ( Fig. 1 , Table 1) .

Remarks

Found from 2 m to the canopy. Adult individuals were found in summer ( Fig. 35E ).

The present species is morphologically similar to S. vallis but with larger shell dimensions, greenish shell base, more diagonal aperture, more expanded base, presence of genital spinules and short epiphallus. The specimens dissected and figured by Chang et al. (1996: fig. 2) are actually this present species (see remarks in S. albida ). The species is similar to S. luteolella in shell dimensions, but S. viridibasis differs in having greenish shell base, pre-apertural constriction, shorter bursa stalk, short principal pilaster and more expanded proximal penis.

Figures

Figure 1. Sampling localities of all taxa in Taiwan. Bold line, Central Range; thin line, administrative boundary.

Figure 35. Satsuma viridibasis sp. nov. A–D, holotype (TMMT 0613, shell height = 22.4 mm). E, living specimen. Arrow indicates the pre-apertural constriction.

Figure 36. Reproductive system of Satsuma viridibasis sp. nov. (paratype, TMMT 0675). A, whole genitalia; B, interior of genitalia. Scale bar = 5 mm. See text for abbreviations.