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| Shells and live snails characteristics. A Living snail of Amphidromus (Syndromus) globonevilli Sutcharit and Panha, sp. n. from the type locality with a shell height of approximately 20 mm B Living snail of A. (Syndromus) principalis Sutcharit and Panha, sp. n. from the type locality with a shell height of approximately 25 mm C–FA. (Syndromus) globonevilli Sutcharit and Panha, sp. n.C holotype CUMZ 4925 and D–F paratypes CUMZ 4927 G–I Syntypes UMZC of A. sinensis (Benson, 1851) from China J–LA. (Syndromus) principalis Sutcharit and Panha, sp. n.J holotype CUMZ 2543 and K, L paratypes CUMZ 2478. |
Abstract
The collection of the Southeast Asian tree snail genus Amphidromus Albers, 1850 at the Natural History Museum, London includes more than 100 lots of type specimens representing 85 name-bearing types, 9 paratypes and 6 paralectotypes, and one nomen nudum. Lectotypes are here designated for A. cambojiensis, A. perakensis globosus, A. columellaris gloriosa, A. maculiferus inflata, A. lepidus, A. sinistralis lutea, A. moniliferus, A. maculiferus obscura, A. sinistralis rosea and A. sinensi vicaria. In addition, the missing types of A.A. Gould were discovered and their type status is discussed. A complete catalogue of these types, including colour photographs is provided for the first time. After examining these type specimens, two new Amphidromus species, Amphidromus (Syndromus) globonevilli Sutcharit & Panha, sp. n. and Amphidromus (Syndromus) principalis Sutcharit & Panha, sp. n. were recognized and are described herein.
Keywords: Tree snails, systematics, molluscs, type specimen, Southeast Asia, NHM, taxonomy
Amphidromus (Syndromus) principalis Sutcharit & Panha, sp. n.
Type locality: Koh Kra, about 30 km off the east coast of Pak Phanang, Nakhon Srithammarat in the Gulf of Thailand
Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the Latin “principalis” meaning “leader” and refers to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who chaired the Plant Genetic Conservation Project as a Royal Initiation to support biodiversity in Thailand. The malacological survey on Koh Kra in 2000 was part of an expedition supported by this project.
Distribution: This new species is known only from the type locality.
Remarks: Amphidromus principalis Sutcharit & Panha, sp. n. is known only from the type locality, the granitic island. The forestation type on the island was dry evergreen forest, the snails were found crawling on the tree leaves, trunks or branches of almost all trees up to 10 m height. We also explored two other satellite islands but found no Amphidromus on these islands or any other terrestrial snails other than subulinids.
Chirasak Sutcharit, Jonathan Ablett, Piyoros Tongkerd, Fred Naggs and Somsak Panha. 2015. Illustrated Type Catalogue of Amphidromus Albers, 1850 in the Natural History Museum, London, and Descriptions of Two New Species. ZooKeys. 492: 49-105. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.492.8641