Kartvelobia kinchkha Grego & Mumladze, 2020

Grego, Jozef, Mumladze, Levan, Falniowski, Andrzej, Osikowski, Artur, Rysiewska, Aleksandra, Palatov, Dimitry M. & Hofman, Sebastian, 2020, Revealing the stygobiotic and crenobiotic molluscan biodiversity hotspot in Caucasus: Part I. The phylogeny of stygobiotic Sadlerianinae Szarowska, 2006 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Hydrobiidae) from Georgia with descriptions of five new genera and twenty-one new species, ZooKeys 955, pp. 1-77 : 1

Kartvelobia kinchkha Grego & Mumladze sp. nov. Plates 4 (3, 4); 5(1)

Type locality.

Georgia • Imereti, Kinchkhaperdi, Kinchkha; 42°29'42"N, 42°33'01"E; 855 m a.s.l.; a small spring above right edge of the lower waterfall.

Material.

Holotype: Georgia • 1 adult, dry; type locality; 02 May 2018; J. Grego, L. Mumladze and M. Olšavský leg.; ISU FM-T018-H. Paratypes: Georgia • same as for holotype; ISU FM-T018-P1/1 dry, SBMNH 633106/1 dry, coll. JG F0987/1 dry.

Diagnosis.

The new species differs from Kartvelobia sinuata sp. nov. by its less weakly-sinuated labral margin without tooth-like folds, by smaller shell size, smooth protoconch surface and the different shape of the aperture. From the similar sized K. shishaensis sp. nov. it differs by its more smoothly sinuated labral margin, by proportionally larger body whorl, by smoother protoconch surface and by more inflated whorls.

Description.

Shell: the minute shell (1.29-1.32 mm high) with 3½ whorls and a blunt apex, with elongate-oval shape, inflated whorls, weak suture and closed umbilicus. Shell surface smooth to glossy, whitish translucent. The aperture of an irregular tear-shaped with pronounced upper-right tip and separated from the body whorl by a deep groove. The lateral profile of labral margin characteristically weakly sinuated and anteriorly elongated. The labral columellar profile almost straight, only slightly curved. Protoconch with a smooth surface.

Operculum: not known.

Animal body: not known.

Holotype measurements: H-1.32 mm; W-0.71 mm; BH-0.95 mm; BW-0.62 mm; AH-0.58 mm; AW-0.52 mm; CA: 45°.

Anatomy: not known.

Etymology.

Name derived from the tallest Georgian waterfall Kinchkha (კინჩხას ჩანჩქერი) near Kinchkhaperdi. Type locality is situated between the two lower cascades of the waterfall.

Habitat.

Stygobiotic species. The habitat represents small permanent water springs, where the water leaks out from fissures in the large limestone beds. The water emerging from fissures could be supplied from the springs and water-episaturated zones above the Kinchkha waterfall. The very narrow fissures likely lead to evolution of the more minute shell shape of the species. Some of the small springs are captured as tap water for the nearby cabins.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality.

Conservation status.

Number of known locations (1) fewer than 5 and AOO smaller than 20 km2. There is no reason to suppose that AOO, EOO, number of locations, number of subpopulations or the number or mature individuals are declining or extremely fluctuating. However, due to very small AOO it is assessed as Vulnerable (VU) D2.

Figures

Plate 4. 1 - 4 Kartvelobia shishaensis sp. nov., Georgia, Samegrelo, Mukhuri, Shisha Spring 1 holotype 2 paratype 3, 4 K. kinchkha sp. nov., Imereti, Kinchkha, small travertine waterfall at right bank of Okatse below the large waterfall: 3 holotype 4 paratype 5, 6 K. sinuata sp. nov., Imereti, Kinchkhaperdi, spring along road to Askhi Plateau, dwarf population 7 K. sinuata sp. nov., Imereti, Satsiskvilo, Turchusmtha, paratype - typical form 8, 9 K. cf. shishaensis sp. nov., Georgia, Samegrelo, Mukhuri, Mapeli Cave. The numbers correspond to individuals, and the letters represent the different views of the same individual. Photograph J. Grego.