Amplirhagada boongareensis, Köhler, 2010

Köhler, Frank, 2010, Uncovering Local Endemism in the Kimberley, Western Australia: Description of New Species of the Genus Amplirhagada Iredale, 1933 (Pulmonata: Camaenidae), Records of the Australian Museum 62 (2), pp. 217-284 : 253-255

Amplirhagada boongareensis n.sp.

Type locality ( Fig. 1 ). Western Australia, Kimberley, Bonaparte Archipelago, Boongaree Island , central section, 15°04'36"S 125°11'12"E; KIS 1-28. Rainforest on north facing sandstone scree below escarpment, under rocks (leg. M. Shea, 8.8.2007) .

Type material. Holotype WAM S34616 (Pl.1.22) . Paratypes WAM S36655

(3 preserved specimens, as holotype), AMS C463707 (8 shells, 15°04'31"S 125°11'07"E), WAM S36455 (12 shells, 15°04'31"S 125°11'07"E), WAM S36456 (15 shells, 15°04'31"S 125°11'07"E) , AMS C463706 (6 shells, 15°04'16"S 125°10'47"E), WAM S36458 (8 shells, 15°04'16"S 125°10'47"E), WAM S36656 (3 preserved specimens, 15°04'09"S 125°10'49"E) .

Additional, non-type material. WAM S36457 , WAM S36459 –60 (Boongaree Island).

Etymology. In reference to Boongaree Island, where this species occurs.

Shell ( Fig. 56A–D , Pl. 1.22). Semi-globose, with rather high spire; solid. Periphery slightly to clearly angulate; upper sector slightly shouldered, basal sector rounded. Umbilicus forming chink or narrowly winding opening, 50–100 percent concealed by columellar reflection. Background colour light brown; sub-sutural and mid-whorl bands may be absent; if present, bands are diffuse to well marked, dark reddish brown, thin to moderately broad, most conspicuous on last whorl; bands may blend into each other and covering entire surface of tip of the shell with purplish brown colour; ventral colour horn; outer lip colour same as shell; inner lip colour blends from reddish brown near parietal wall of shell into horn in outer sections. Protoconch c. 2.3 mm in diameter, comprising 2 whorls, with fine, indistinct axial lirae. Teleoconch with fine axial lirae, rounded in cross-section, spacing regular, spaces equal to thickness of elements, evenly distributed across shell surface, reduced underneath suture. Angle of aperture 30°; outer lip rounded to slightly angulate, with moderate to thick parietal notch at lower margin, slightly expanded, not or slightly reflected, basal node of lip present, palatal node absent.

Pallial morphology. Pallial cavity deep, extending one whorl; mantle pigmentation mottled, dark grey. Kidney extending about half of pallial cavity.

Genital morphology ( Figs. 54–55 ). Penis straight to curved, more or less of same length as anterior part of oviduct. Vas deferens forms simple loop before entering penis. Penial retractor muscle shorter than penis. Penial verge very short (barely visible), spatulate, with pointed tip. Penial wall pustules of average size, dense, randomly arranged on entire length of inner penial wall. Main stimulatory pilaster well-differentiated; large, cone-shaped, covered by smooth, flattened pustules arranged in horizontal rows, comprising apical to median portion of penial chamber. Two additional pilasters comprise entire length of penial chamber, supporting undifferentiated pustulation. Vas deferens entering penial sheath in upper third. Vagina moderately wide, tubular; inner vaginal wall with smooth longitudinal pilasters. Spermathecal duct of medium width, internally with smooth longitudinal pilasters. Spermathecal head elongately inflated, connected with oviduct by connective tissue, internally entirely smooth, with delicate wall. Free oviduct comprising more than half of anterior part of oviduct, zig-zag-folded underneath entrance to spermoviduct. Spermoviduct longer than anterior part of oviduct. Talon embedded in albumen gland close to anterior end of albumen gland.

Radular morphology ( Fig. 56F–G ). Rectangular. Tooth formula C+16+3+20. With 165 rows of teeth, 19.9 rows per mm (n = 1). Central teeth with sharply pointed, triangular mesocones, shorter than base of teeth; ectocones vestigial. Lateral teeth with sharply pointed, triangular to ovate mesocones; ectocones and endocones vestigial. Marginal teeth with triangular mesocones; ectocones smaller and narrower than mesocones; endocones smaller than ectocones.

Comparative remarks. His report that it also occurs on the opposite mainland requires confirmation. The bee-hive shape of the shell and its dark purplish brown colour are diagnostic. Amplirhagada regia from Boongaree Island also differs by absence of penial wall pustules or main pilaster. This species was referred to as “ Amplirhagada sp. 27” by Solem (1991).

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution of Amplirhagada species in the Kimberley region, northwestern Australia. (1) A. euroa n.sp., Adolphus Island. (2) A. solemiana n.sp., Middle Osborn Island. (3) A. indistincta n.sp., Southwest Osborn Island, Kidney Island. (4) A. combeana, Cassini Island. (5) A. mckenziei n.sp., Oliver Island. (6) A. ponderi n.sp., Kingsmill Island. (7) A. montesquieuana n.sp., Fenelon Island. (8) A. descartesana n.sp., Descartes Island. (9) A. katerana, Katers Island. (10) A. puescheli n.sp., unnamed island near Prudhoe Island. (11) A. decora n.sp., A. kessneri n.sp., Bigge Island. (12) A. berthierana n.sp., Berthier Island. (13) A. lamarckiana n.sp., Lamarck Island.(14) A. anderdonensis n.sp., unnamed island, Anderdon Islands. (15) A. tricenaria n.sp., Prince Frederick Harbour, north of Hunter River mouth. (16) A. regia n.sp., A. boongareensis n.sp., A. gibsoni n.sp., and Amplirhagada sp., Boongaree Island. (17) A. yorkensis n.sp., Coronation Island. (18) A. buffonensis n.sp., Buffon Island. (19) A. uwinsensis n.sp., Uwins Island. (20) A. sphaeroidea n.sp., St. Andrews Island. (21) A. basilica n.sp., and A. camdenensis n.sp., Augustus Island. (22) A. kimberleyana n.sp., NW of Wilson Point. (23) A. gemina n.sp., 1.5 km SE of Hall Point. (24) A. dubitabile n.sp., Steep Island. (25) A. napierana, north Napier ranges. (26) A. percita, Napier ranges. (27) A. castra, A. mitchelliana, and A. varia, Mitchell Plateau.

Figure 54.Genitalia of Amplirhagada boongareensis n.sp., paratype WAM S36655 (8 August, scale 10 mm). Compare with Fig. 3 for labelling of structures.

Figure 55. Interior of penial chamber of Amplirhagada boongareensis n.sp., paratypeWAM S36655 (8August, scale 5 mm) (drawing by F.K.). Compare with Fig. 4 for labelling of structures.

Figure 56. SEM photographs of Amplirhagada boongareensis n.sp. (A–D) Shell, paratype AMS C463706: (A) apical whorl viewed from above (scale 200 µm); (B) sculpture on second and third whorl viewed from above (scale 1 mm); (C) close-up showing axial sculpture on last whorl (scale 100 µm); (D) close-up showing axial periphery of last whorl (Scale 1 mm). (E) Jaw, paratype WAM S36655 (scale 100 µm). (E–G) Radula, paratype WAM S36655: (E) central and inner lateral teeth (scale 20 µm); (F) outer lateral and inner marginal teeth (scale 10 µm); (G) close-up of inner and middle marginal teeth (scale 10 µm).