Afrodonta connollyi Solem, 1970

Herbert, David G., 2020, Revision of the aperturally dentate Charopidae (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) of southern Africa - genus Afrodonta s. lat., with description of five new genera, twelve new species and one new subspecies, European Journal of Taxonomy 629, pp. 1-55 : 8

Afrodonta connollyi Solem, 1970

Figs 1 D–F, 2, 17C–D

Afrodonta burnupi Connolly, 1933:148 (in part).

Afrodonta connollyi Solem, 1970: 354 , fig. 1a–d.

Afrodonta connollyi – Herbert & Kilburn 2004: 248, text-fig.

Diagnosis

Shell small, spire slightly raised, whorls somewhat flat-sided; protoconch smooth, at most with faint wavy undulations (diameter ±310 μm); teleoconch texture silky; sculpture comprising simple, very fine and close-set axial riblets, tending to alternate in strength; spiral sculpture of faint threads in riblet intervals; parietal region with two well-developed, in-running lamellae (both extending to or slightly beyond aperture edge); baso-columellar region sometimes with a recessed, rounded, in-running ridge; palatal region lacking dentition; umbilicus relatively narrow. Shell buff to pale ochre when fresh; diameter up to 1.6 mm.

Material examined

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA • KwaZulu-Natal, Weenen, Tugela Estate, Hlonyana River bank ; 11 Mar. 1928; H.P. Thomasset leg.; NMSA 4357/T1181 .

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA – KwaZulu-Natal • 2 specimens; same collection data as for holotype; NMSA 4358/ T1182 • 2 specimens; same collection data as for preceding; these specimens are also paratypes of Afrodonta burnupi Connolly, 1933 ; NHMUK 1937.12.30.2728 to 2729 .

Distribution and conservation

Endemic to south-eastern South Africa ( Fig. 2 ), ranging from northern KwaZulu-Natal (Mkhuze Game Reserve) south to eastern E. Cape (Kei Mouth), from the coastal hinterland to the Drakensberg foothills; in leaf-litter of various forest types and valley thickets. Not of conservation concern.

Remarks

Originally confused with Costulodonta burnupi gen. et comb. nov, but in that species the protoconch is axially costate, the umbilicus wider, and the upper parietal lamella is weaker, not extending to the aperture edge.

Figures

Fig. 1. Shells of Afrodonta species. A–C. Af.bilamellaris Melvill & Ponsonby, 1908, Karkloof, KwaZulu- Natal, diameter 1.45 mm (NMSA W8721). D–F. Af. connollyi Solem, 1970, Middledrift, Thukela Valley, KwaZulu-Natal, diameter 1.52 mm (NMSA V4985). G–J. Af. farquhari (Burnup, 1912), Gamtoos River mouth, E. Cape, diameter 1.39 mm (NMSA W8688). K–N. Af. geminodonta sp. nov., holotype, diameter 1.36 mm (NMSA V9891/T4241).

Fig. 2. Distribution of Afrodonta bilamellaris Melvill & Ponsonby, 1908 (blue circles) and Af. connollyi Solem, 1970 (orange squares). Contour at 1000 m.