Islamia karawiyiensis, Mabrouki & Glöer & Taybi, 2021

Mabrouki, Youness, Glöer, Peter & Taybi, Abdelkhaleq Fouzi, 2021, Two new species of the genera Islamia and Mercuria (Gastropoda, Hydrobiidae) from Morocco, Ecologica Montenegrina 39, pp. 76-80 : 78

Islamia karawiyiensis n. sp.

Fig. 2

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4B73B5AC-BA3D-41A6-BAFC-370E572C7806

Material examined: Holotype: 0.8 mm high, 1.25 mm broad ( ZMH 140821 ) . Paratypes: 33 from type locality ( ZMH 140822 ) + 5 in coll. Glöer.

Locus typicus: Morocco, Aouinat El Hajjaj, Fez prefecture, (28-09-20), 34°01'36.7"N 4°58'06.9"W .

Description: The valvatoid light-brownish shell has 3.25 slightly convex whorls ( Figure 2 ). The spire is short, the body whorl is prominent. The aperture is circular with a sharp peristome. The umbilicus is deep and wide. The shell is 0.8 mm high and 1.2-1.3 mm broad.

Discussion: Because we did not find a male after several attempts, the new valvatoid species described herein is included in the genus Islamia . The genus inhabiting the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands ( Ruiz Cobo et al. 2018) is already represented in Morocco by I. tifertiensis Glöer, Mabrouki & Taybi 2020 . The latter species is endemic to Lower Moulouya (Northeastern Morocco), characterized by a light corneous glossy shell, conical with a very short spire and a very prominent inflated body whorl. In addition, I. tifertiensis differs from the new species in the more vertically compressed shell. Otherwise, the study area “Aouinat El Hajjaj” located in central Morocco, has revealed recently the new valvatoid genus and species Fessia aouintii Glöer, Mabrouki & Taybi, 2020 . While I. karaouyiensis n. sp. has a light-brownish bigger shell, F. aouintii has a tiny translucent shell with a silky surface. The two species might co-occur together.

Etymology: The specific name refers to the University of al-Qarawiyyin, also written Al-Karaouine, is a university located in Fez, Morocco. Some sources such as the UNESCO and the Guinness World Records cite the Qarawiyyin as the oldest university or oldest continually operating higher learning institution in the world.

Habitat: One of the springs in a village named Aouinat el Hajjaj or Laaouina located in eastern Fez, characterized by different springs that arise on the surface and sink on the ground. The grain size of the bottom consists of stones, pebbles and sand, the banks are covered with dense vegetation of Mentha spp ( Figure 1 ). The entire area is under anthropogenic impacts

Distribution: Morocco; only known from type locality.

Figures

Figure 1. The sampling site and habitat of Islamia karawiyiensis n. sp and Mercuria atlasica n. sp.

Figures 2-4. 2: shell of Islamia karawiyiensis n. sp., 3: shell of Mercuria atlasica n. sp., 4: male copulatory organ. Abbreviations: e: eye, p: penis, pl: penial lap, s: snout.