Paladilhiopsis cattaroensis Grego and Glöe

Grego, Jozef, Glöer, Peter, Falniowski, Andrzej, Hofman, Sebastian & Osikowski, Artur, 2019, New subterranean freshwater gastropod species from Montenegro (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Moitessieriidae, and Hydrobiidae), Ecologica Montenegrina 20 (2019), pp. 71-90 : 76-77

Paladilhiopsis cattaroensis Grego and Glöe r, n. sp.

( Figs 3-4 )

Type locality

Montenegro: Herceg Novi , Zelenika - Kuti, side rivulet of Opaĉica, spring from well behind last house, 42.462747°N, 18.587347°E, ( Fig. 2E ) .

Type material

Holotype, Type locality, J. Grego and Z. P. Erőss leg., 25.07.201 6 ( HNHM 103039 ).

Measurements

Holotype: H 2.0 mm; W 0.83 mm; BH 1.13 mm; BW 0.73 mm; AH 0.63 mm; AW 0.49 mm.

Etymology

Named after its type locality situated in the northern part of Kotor (Cattaro) Bay .

Description

Two mm high fragile shell, yellowish corneous, translucent with five convex whorls separated by deep suture. The surface smooth and shiny. Shell elongate, oval-conical, slightly tapering towards semi-blunt apex. Umbilicus closed. Aperture asymmetric, tear shaped, attached to the body whorl at its upper columellar side. Peristome margin blunt, equally thick and not reflected. Outer lip not protruding beyond body whorl and frontal shell profile. Lateral profile of outer lip straight.

Differentiating features

The new species is distinguished from Paladilhiopsis gittenbergeri ( Reischütz and Reischütz, 2008) (Vau i Dejës, Albania) by its smaller more slender shell shape with a blunter apex and proportionally much smaller aperture. Paladilhiopsis falniowskii (Grego et al., 2017) (Krumë, Albania) has a larger shell with proportionally larger body whorl and a larger, differently positioned aperture. It differs from syntopic Stygobium hercegnoviensis n. sp. by its larger, more inflated, more conical shell with a proportionally smaller apex, proportionally larger and more elongated aperture, and more tumid whorls.

Habitat

The type locality is an outlet from the stony well build some centuries ago to supply the water to adjacent gardens and houses.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, where it was found together with the Stygobium hercegnoviensis n. sp. The species likely inhabits the adjacent stygobiont habitats around Zelenika basin.

Remarks

The assignment of the new species to the genus Paladilhiopsis is only provisional, until the molecular data become available.

Figures

Figure 2. Photographs of studied localities: A. Montenegro: Herceg Novi, Meljine Hospital (Stygobium hercegnoviensis n. sp., Plagigeyeria feheri n. sp); B. Montenegro: Herceg Novi, Trebesinj (S. hercegnoviensis n. sp.); C. Montenegro: Herecg Novi, Sušćepan, Izvor Vostanj (S. hercegnoviensis n. sp.); D. Montenegro: Kotor Bay with Risan, arrow. Velika Špilja (Plagigeyeria pageti forma minor, Schütt, 1961); E. Montenegro, Herceg Novi, Nemila (S. hercegnoviensis n. sp., Paladilhiopsis matejkoi n. sp.); F. Montenegro: Izvor Vitoja (Bosnidilhia vitojaensis n. sp.). (photo’s: Jozef Grego and Maroš Grego).

Figures 3-8. Discussed species of the genus Paladilhiopsis, Bosnidilhia, and Stygobium: 3–4 Paladilhiopsis cattaroensis n. sp. (Holotype HNHM 103039); 5 Bosnidilhia vreloana (Holotype ZMH 79663); 6 Bosnidilhia vitojaensis n. sp. (Holotype HNHM 103041); 7-8 Stygobium hercegnoviensis n. sp. (Holotype HNHM 103037) (photo´s: Peter Glöer, Jozef Grego)