Kora corallina, Simone, 2012

Simone, Luiz Ricardo L., 2012, Taxonomical Study On A Sample Of Pulmonates From Santa Maria Da Vitória, Bahia, Brazil, With Description Of A New Genus And Four New Species (Mollusca: Orthalicidae And Megalobulimidae), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 52 (36), pp. 431-439 : 431-439

Kora corallina new species

( Figs. 1-8 )

Types: Holotype MZSP 103910 .

Paratypes: MZSP 103911 , 1 shell ; MZSP 103912 , 1 shell , USNM, 2 shells; MNRJ, 2 shells; NMHN, 2 shells; MZSP 103913 , 32 shells; all from type locality .

Type locality: BRAZIL. Bahia; Santa Maria da Vitória , ~ 13°24’S, 44°12’W, ~ 460 m of elevation (Coltro col., i/2012) .

Description: Shell up to 45 mm, outline fusiform, elongated, ~2.3 longer than wide. Color white in first whorls, gradually brown pigment appearing, becoming darker in last whorl; peristome white, sometimes with brown spots in inferior region. Protoconch ( Fig. 5 ) with 2 whorls, somewhat pointed; length ~7% of shell length, and ~16% of shell width; mostly smooth, barely sculptured by axial riblets. Limit between protoconch and teleoconch weakly visible, orthocline. Teleoconch of ~5 whorls successively and uniformly increasing; profile almost straight, weakly concave; suture feebly deep; sculpture absent, except for growth lines and delicate axial, uniform undulations, ~ 55 in penultimate whorl ( Figs. 3, 4 ). Peristome deflected, except for region of callus. Callus low, weak ( Figs. 1, 7, 8 ). Aperture wide, somewhat dislocated from spire longitudinal axis; length ~44% of shell length, ~70% of shell width. Outer lip insert- ed distantly from adjacent suture, simple, arched. Inner lip strongly concave, superior half weakly convex, mostly showing outer surface of last whorl; inferior half almost straight, concave only inferiorly; bearing oblique tooth, as short fold, in limit with superior half, making peristome width with almost double width of remaining regions ( Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8 ); tooth length ~28% of peristome length. Umbilicus present, narrow, partially covered by inferior half of inner lip ( Fig. 6 ).

Measurements (in mm): Holotype: 43.4 by 22.3; Paratypes MZSP 103911: 42.9 by 22.4; MZSP 103912: 48.9 by 23.6.

Distribution: Known only for type locality.

Habitat: Caatinga environment.

Material examined: Types.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the outline of the shell, resembling a coral polyp, from the Latin corallium. The name is also a regard to Cora Coralina, the pseudonym of Ana Lins dos Guimarães Peixoto Bretas (1889-1985), a famous Brazilian poet novelist.

Discussion: The peculiar characters of Kora corallina , if compared with all species of South American land malacofauna, allowed the designation of a new genus. Initially, the first identification was some species of Thaumastus Albers 1860 . However, the Brazilian Thaumastus are much larger. Although some species from the Andes are of smaller size, no small-sized Thaumastus has so far been found in Brazilian territory. Besides, Kora differs in having a sharper protoconch, a more projected peristome, the tooth in inner lip and a clear umbilicus ( Figs. 2, 6 ). Kora is also somewhat similar to Neopetraeus von Martens, 1885 , so far restricted to the Andes region. It differs from Neopetraeus mainly by the tooth in middle level of inner lip, which is absent in all species. Additionally, it differs by the simpler fashion of the protoconch sculpture ( Neopetraeus has nepionic sculpture of delicate vertical riblets with spiral striae in the intervals), and in lacking carinated young shells ( Pilsbry, 1897:163).

The inner tooth in middle level of inner lip of K. corallina ( Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8 ) is similar to some species of Dryptus Albers, 1860 [e.g., D. rhodocheilus (Reeve, 1849) ], Plekocheilus Guilding, 1823 (e.g., P. nebulosus Breure, 2009 ), and all species of Eudolichotis Pilsbry, 1896 ( Simone, 2006). This character possibly approaches Kora from those genera, which someday can be used for separating them from the other orthalicid genera in a proper subfamily or tribe.

The degree of shell variation of Kora corallina is not high. The holotype shape ( Figs. 1-3 ) is that found in most specimens. Extreme variation patterns are represented in Figs. 7 and 8 . In Fig. 7 is represented a wide specimen with more rounded whorls and aperture. In Fig. 8 is represented the more elongated specimen, in such aperture becomes still more dislocated to right from shell axis.

Figures

FIGURES 1‑14: Shell of types: 1-8) Kora corallina new species; 1) Holotype, apertural view (H 43.4 mm); 2) Same, right view; 3) Same, dorsal view; 4) Same, detail of sculpture of penultimate whorl; 5) Same, detail of apical region, frontal-slightly apical view; 6) Same, detail of umbilicus, anterior-slightly left view; 7) Paratype MZSP 103911, frontal view (H 42.9 mm); 8) Paratype MZSP 103912, frontal view (H 48.9 mm); 9-14) Spixia coltrorum new species; 9) Holotype, apertural view (H 40.0 mm); 10) Same, right view; 11) Paratype MZSP 103921, frontal view (H 40.6 mm); 12) Same, anterior view; 13) Holotype, detail of apical region in profile; 14) Paratype MZSP 103921, detail of umbilicus, anterior-slightly left view.