Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) lanatum Zallot, Fehér & Gittenberger, 2018

Zallot, Enrico, Fehér, Zoltán, Bamberger, Sonja & Gittenberger, Edmund, 2018, Cochlostoma revised: the subgenus Lovcenia Zallot et al., 2015 (Caenogastropoda, Cochlostomatidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 464, pp. 1-25 : 21-22

Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) lanatum Zallot, Fehér & Gittenberger sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E615F65C-B3DC-4978-883C-4D10A06606E6

Figs 5E , 6E , 12

Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) sp. – Zallot et al. 2015: 80.

Diagnosis

Shell without spots or color bands, relatively large and slender, with sharp, regularly spaced ribs on the upper whorls; ribs less sharp and more narrowly spaced on the lower whorls.

Material examined

Holotype ALBANIA: ♀, Malësia District, SW slope of Mali e Veleçikut, Shpellë e Deleve, NW of Razëm , 1300 m a.s.l., limestone rock within cave, 42.3576° N, 19.5269° E, 28 Jun. 2016, Erőss, Fehér, Szekeres and Grego leg. ( HNHM 102806 ) .

Paratypes ALBANIA: 129 spec., same collection data as for holotype ( NHMW 111652 /7+ 12fr.+19a+ 6 ja; GR/38+2fr; HNHM 99861 /6+13fr.+ 26a); 1 ♂, same locality as holotype, 16 Oct. 2011, Gittenberger leg.

Measurements

Holotype: H 10.5 mm, W 4.6 mm, Wbw 3.8 mm, Ha 3.4 mm, Wa 3.1 mm.

Paratypes (N=12): H 8.4–9.5 mm, W 3.9–4.4 mm, Wbw 3.2–3.5 mm, Ha 2.7–3.1 mm, Wa 2.5–3.2 mm.

Description

SHELL. Rather large and slender, with 8½–9¼ whorls (H/W ratio 2.84). The apical 2.2 whorls form the protoconch, which is smooth for only the initial 0.2 whorl and finely ribbed with close riblets further on. The shell is more or less light horn-brown, without spots. The teleoconch is sculptured with rather prominent, sharp ribs, which are widely spaced on the upper whorls and increasingly more narrowly spaced and less sharp towards the aperture. The aperture has a moderately developed lip, enlarged at the columellar lobe, which is abruptly bent inwards to cover the umbilicus. While approaching the aperture, the body whorl abruptly enlarges, forming a rather prominent external lobe.

FEMALE GENITALIA. Bursa copulatrix large, with a pedunculus connected proximally; its proximal lobe smaller that the distal one. The short seminal receptacle is confined to the ventral side of the body, under (ventrally) the bursa copulatrix. The loops of the visceral oviduct are situated over the apex of the seminal receptacle. The junction of the uterine gland and the copulatory duct is far away from the connection between the pedunculus of the bursa and the distal oviduct.

Distribution

This species is only known from its type locality, the Deleve Cave on the southwestern slope of Mount Veleçik in northern Albania.

Habitat preference

Like the majority of known species of Cochlostoma , this is an obligate rock-dwelling snail. It was found in the twilight zone inside the Deleve Cave. Though little is known about its ecological requirements, it may be restricted to the epigean environment, like C. (L.) erika (i.e., subtroglophile in the sense of Sket 2008). At the Deleve Cave, its niche partitioning with Cochlostoma (Auritus) roseoli (A.J. Wagner, 1901) is similar to that of C. (L.) erika and C. (A.) auritum at the Popovo Cave in Montenegro.

Remarks

Zallot et al. (2015) assigned this species to Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) , but with only one male specimen available, its systematic status remained difficult to judge. The shell morphology, in particular the protoconch sculpture, showed affinity to that of C. erika , whereas the molecular data suggested a status as a separate species. Since then, we have been able to collect and dissect female specimens. The structure of the female genitalia supports regarding it as a species on its own.

Figures

Fig. 5. Female specimens of Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) Zallot et al., 2015 used for anatomy (shells were destroyed before dissection). A. C. (Lovcenia) erika (A.J. Wagner, 1906) (HNHM 86387). B. C. (Lovcenia) dalmatinum (L. Pfeiffer, 1863) (NHMW 110430/MN/0162). C. C. (Lovcenia) tropojanum sp. nov. (NHMW 111248). D. C. (Lovcenia) jakschae sp. nov. (NHMW 111249). E. C. (Lovcenia) lanatum sp. nov. (HNHM 99861).

Fig. 6. Female genital morphology. See Table 1 for localities and Table 3 for measurements. A. Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) erika (A.J. Wagner, 1906) (HNHM 86387). B. Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) dalmatinum (L. Pfeiffer, 1863) (NHMW 110430/MN/0162). C. Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) tropojanum sp. nov. (NHMW 111248). D1. Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) jakschae sp. nov., Bugarska Peak population (NHMW 111249). D2. Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) jakschae sp. nov., Pejë Pass population (HNHM 97221). E. Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) lanatum sp. nov. (HNHM 99861).

Fig. 12. Cochlostoma (Lovcenia) lanatum Zallot, Fehér & Gittenberger sp. nov., holotype, Deleve Cave, Albania (HNHM 102806).