Exiligada nodulicauda, Criscione & Law & Köhler, 2012

Criscione, Francesco, Law, Margot Louisa & Köhler, Frank, 2012, Land snail diversity in the monsoon tropics of Northern Australia: revision of the genus Exiligada Iredale, 1939 (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Camaenidae), with description of 13 new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 166 (4), pp. 689-722 : 707-708

EXILIGADA NODULICAUDA SP. NOV.

( FIGS 4C , 6B , 17D–F , 19 )

Holotype: AUSTRALIA, NT, VRD, 30.2 km north-east of Kirkimbie Station H /S, karst limestone formation in open woodland, open limestone formation, spinifex,

17°29 ′ 23 ′′ S, 129°22 ′ 46 ′′ E (coll. V. Kessner, R. Hokkanen, 2.ix.2009), ( WAM S83173) .

Paratypes: AUSTRALIA, NT, VRD , same data as for holotype, four wet ( WAM S49217 ); 161 dry ( WAM S49160 ) .

Etymology: In reference to the regular pattern of nodules typical of the inner penial wall, derived from ‘nodulus’ (Latin = noduled) and ‘cauda’ (Latin = tail or penis), adjective of feminine gender.

Description: Shell ( Figs 4C , 6B , 17D–F ). Moderately large, weakly elevated, moderately thick; micropustulations absent. Shell background colour yellowish horn fading to whitish towards shell base, with numerous and dense brown-reddish spiral bands, equally conspicuous on entire shell, often present on shell base, often regularly interrupted radially and giving the appearance of a regular radial bandage; maculations absent.

slightly smaller than in E. longicauda and largest amongst remaining congeners.

Figures

Figure 4. Photographs of living specimens of Exiligada species (courtesy Vince Kessner, Adelaide River). A, E. negriensis Iredale, 1939. B, E. pallida sp. nov. C, E. nodulicaudata sp. nov. D, E. punctata sp. nov. E, E. qualis Iredale, 1939. F, E. monochroma sp. nov. G, E. unistriata sp. nov. H, E. floraevallis sp. nov. I, E. rivifontis sp. nov.

Figure 6. Shells of Exiligada species. A, E. montejinni sp. nov. (paratype AM C.469982). B, E. nodulicauda sp. nov. (paratype WAM S49160). C, E. pallida sp. nov. (paratype WAM S49215). D, E. punctata sp. nov. (paratype WAM S49221). E, E. qualis Iredale, 1939 (holotype AM C.64866). F, E. rivifontis sp. nov. (WAM S49225). G, E. unistriata sp. nov. (paratype AM C.470460). Scale bar = 2 mm. Note that foot produces from some shells.

Figure 17. SEM micrographs of Exiligada shells. A-C, E. montejinni sp. nov. (paratype AM C.469982). A, Apical view showing protoconch and first whorl. B, Close-up from above of sculpture across entire shell. C, Microsculpture on teleoconch whorl. D-F, E. nodulicauda sp. nov. (paratype WAM S49160). A, Apical view showing protoconch and first whorl. B, Close-up from above of sculpture across entire shell. C, Microsculpture on teleoconch whorl. Scale bars: A-B, D-E = 1 mm, C, F = 0.5 mm.

Figure 19. Penial anatomy of E. nodulicauda sp. nov. (holotype WAM S83173). Scale bar = 5 mm.