Kempioconcha cf. obtusa (Boettger, 1913)

Muratov, Igor V., 2010, Terrestrial molluscs of Cabo Delgado and adjacent inland areas of north-eastern Mozambique, African Invertebrates 51 (2), pp. 255-255 : 268

Kempioconcha cf. obtusa auct. non ( Boettger, 1913)

Fig. 21

Pseudoglessula cf. obtusa: Verdcourt 1967: 50–52 , fig. 23.

A rare and possibly not previously recognised species. Only a few damaged shells were found at four stations in a 6× 20 km area west of Palma. The size of the shell varies significantly, the largest (8 whorls; subadult) being 40× 20 mm. The same-sized Krapfiella magnifica Preston, 1913 a has a spirally sculptured protoconch. Differs from all other large species of Kempioconcha by the narrowly conical apex. Apparently the largest species of the genus. Verdcourt (1967: 50–52, fig. 23) most probably illustrated the same species (7 whorls subadult) from the Rondo Plateau in south-western Tanzania and gave the following shell dimensions (26.0–29.5×12.0–15.0 mm) for this species, which he called “ cf. obtusa Boettger ” and suspected that it “will prove to be conspecific” with true obtusa Boettger, 1913 and obesa Germain, 1916. However, Kempioconcha obtusa ( Boettger, 1913) , the largest known species of the genus (32.0× 15.5 mm, with obesa apparently being a synonym), has a noticeably wider, obtuse apex, which is the defining character of that species according to Boettger (1913: 352, pl. 17, fig. 2).

Figures

Figs 15–25. Cerastidae: (15) Gittenedouardia metuloides, 6.0×3.6 mm, subadult, stn 1; (16) Rhachistia catenata, 13.2×7.8 mm, stn 11; (17) Rachis cunctatoris, 19.1×8.6 mm, stn 5; (18) Limicena nyasana, 11.8×9.1 mm, subadult, stn 7. Achatinidae: (19) Achatina immaculata, 11.3×9.3 mm, juvenile, stn 1; (20) A. randabeli, 43.8×23.0 mm, stn 9. Subulinidae: (21) Kempioconcha cf. obtusa, 39.1×17.5 mm, two shells composite subadult, stn 14; (22) K. kirki, 30.2×13.9 mm, stn 6; (23) K. boivini, 17.8×9.1 mm, stn 5; (24) K. cf. subolivacea, 19.6×7.3 mm, stn 19; (25) K. conradti (von Martens, 1895), 15.4×6.4 mm, stn 5.