Diplommatina abiesiana Budha & Naggs sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: F203B92F-6A52-4687-91DA-749554BB03AC

Figs 3A, 9A

Diagnosis

Measurements (n = 4): SH 2.7–2.9 mm, SW 1.4–1.5 mm, Wh 6.0–6.5; holotype: SH 2.8 mm, SW 1.5 mm, Wh 6.0. Dextral, penultimate whorl and body whorl nearly equal in width. Constriction at the middle of the parietal wall (Fig. 9A). Parietalis moderate, gradually elevated inner side of the body whorl. A short horizontal palatalis near the inner edge of the peristome. Columellaris moderately developed (Fig. 3A3). Columellar tooth weak. Protoconch smooth, Wh 1.5–2.0, with very minute evenly distributed pits, without radial ribs (Fig. 3A 1). Teleoconch with dense radial ribs; 9–12 ribs/ 0.5 mm on the penultimate whorl; 7–9 ribs/ 0.5 mm on the body whorl towards the aperture (Fig. 3A 2, A 4). Spiral striation present. Umbilicus open. Aperture circular. Peristome with two lips; inner lip thin; 8–10 thin ribs between the two lips (Fig. 3A 4). Parietal wall of the aperture extending to less than half the body whorl. Operculum paucispiral, corneous, thin, transparent, slightly concave, outer surface smooth, inner surface with weak ridge at the columellar margin.

Etymology

The species name refers to the habitat of the type locality, i.e., an Abies forest.

Type material

Holotype

NEPAL: Cholangpati, Langtang National Park, 3443 m, Abies forest, 28.110154 N, 85.334238 E, 19 May, R. Devkota and K. Saud leg. (CDZMTU020).

Paratypes

NEPAL: 3 shells from the type locality, same data as holotype (CDZMTU 021); 8 shells, Baghdwar, 2314 m, Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, 27.8052 N, 85.38447 E, 24 Jun. 2007, P.B. Budha and R. Devkota leg. (CDZMTU 055); 1 shell, Dhunche, 2056 m, Langtang National Park, 28.10894 N, 85.29155 E, 3 Jun. 2007, P.B. Budha leg. (CDZMTU 056).

Remarks

The shell form of D. abiesiana is similar to that of D. nana W.T. Blanford, 1865 (Blanford 1865; Hanley & Theobald 1876: pl. 140, fig.1; Godwin-Austen 1886: pl. 49, fig. 6.), but differs by its less prominent columellar tooth, the more widely-separated radial ribs, the penultimate and body whorls of equal width, and the circular aperture.