Amphidromus (Syndromus) roemeri (Pfeiffer, 1863)

Inkhavilay, Khamla, Sutcharit, Chirasak & Panha, Somsak, 2017, Taxonomic review of the tree snail genus Amphidromus Albers, 1850 (Pulmonata: Camaenidae) in Laos, with the description of two new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 330, pp. 1-40 : 27

Amphidromus (Syndromus) roemeri (Pfeiffer, 1863)

Bulimus römeri Pfeiffer, 1863a [1862]: 274, pl. 36, fig. 4. Type locality: Laos Mountains, Camboja [sic].

Amphidromus roemeri – Pfeiffer 1863b (1860–1866): 217, pl. 57, figs 10–11.— Fulton 1896: 80. — Pilsbry 1900: 192–193, pl. 63, figs 95–96. — Laidlaw & Solem 1961: 654. — Sutcharit et al. 2015: 87 , fig. 13e–f.

Material examined

CAMBODIA: Lectotype, NHMUK 19601450 ( Sutcharit et al. 2015: fig. 13e); paralectotype, NHMUK 19601451 (1 shell).

Remarks

The type specimens have recently been figured in Sutcharit et al. (2015: fig. 13e–f). The unique characters of this species are the sinistral, ovate conical shell; spire with a brownish color; last whorl well rounded. Shell whitish ground color, Bands 1 to 3 and 6 absent and Bands 4 and 5 perform reddish brown bands. Aperture ovate; peristome weakly expanded; lip white.

Amphidromus roemeri was described based on specimens collected by H. Mouhot with the type locality “ Laos Mountains, Camboja ”. This collection locality is a historical geographic name with an uncertain boundary. So far, this species is known only from the type specimens and an uncertain record from Laos by Laidlaw & Solem (1960: 654). However, no specimens were found in the present study; therefore the records from Laos still remain to be confirmed.

Laidlaw & Solem (1961) placed A. roemeri as a junior synonym of A. sinensis (Benson, 1851) from S China. We have examined the type specimens of both species and found that A. roemeri differs from A. sinensis by having an ovate conical, whitish shell, aperture ovate, spire short and conical, last whorl well rounded (see Sutcharit et al. 2015: fig. 13e–f). In contrast, A. sinensis (see Sutcharit et al. 2015: fig. 16g–i) has a yellowish shell, elongate conical spire, aperture auriform and the last whorl rounded. Furthermore, A. globonevilli differs by having a larger, spired conical, yellowish shell and an oblique aperture.