Diplommatina sperata W.T. Blanford, 1862

Figs 8B, 9N

Diplommatina sperata W.T. Blanford, 1862: 143 .

Diplommatina sperata – Nevill 1878: 284. — Godwin-Austen 1886: 179, pl. 44, figs 5, 5a. — Kuznetsov & Schileyko 1997: 140.

Diagnosis

Measurements (n = 3): SH 3.0– 3.2 mm, SW 1.5–1.7 mm, Wh 7.0. Dextral, penultimate whorl and the body whorl nearly equal in width, constriction at the middle of the parietal lip above the aperture (Fig. 9N). One parietalis, distinct towards the aperture (Fig. 8B 3). One vertical palatalis along the constriction. Horizontal palatalis absent (Fig. 9N). Columellaris weak. Columellar tooth distinct. Protoconch smooth, Wh 1.5–2.0, with minute pits evenly distributed, radial ribs absent (Fig. 8B 1). Teleoconch with strong, widely spaced, radial ribs; about 8–10 ribs/ 0.5 mm on the penultimate whorl; 13–16 ribs/ 0.5 mm on the body whorl towards the aperture (Fig. 8B 2, B 4). Spiral striation distinct. Umbilicus open. Aperture circular. Peristome with two close lips; under high magnification 6–8 thin ribs seen between the lips; basal columellar lip slightly directed towards the columella. Parietal wall of aperture not reaching the middle of the body whorl.

Material examined

NEPAL: 2 shells, Deurali, Langtang National Park, 2621 m, 28.1038 N, 85.3248 E, 5 Jun. 2007, P.B. Budha leg. (CDZMTU 062); 1 shell, Baghdwar, Chapali, Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, 2532 m, 27.8125 N, 85.3919 E, 23 Jun. 2007, P.B. Budha leg. (CDZMTU 063).

Remarks

Diplommatina sperata was originally described by Blanford (1862) from Myanmar (“in montibus Arakan a Pegu secernentibus”), but Kuznetsov & Schileyko (1997) reported this species from steep rocks in dense bushes in the Solukhumbu District, eastern Nepal. Nepalese shells are thinner than the alleged syntypes in NHM and have much thinner peristomal lips. Nevertheless, we provisionally assign the above Nepalese shells to D. sperata .