Orientogalba cf. bowelli (Preston, 1909)

Vinarski, Maxim V., Aksenova, Olga V. & Bolotov, Ivan N., 2020, Taxonomic assessment of genetically-delineated species of radicine snails (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Lymnaeidae), Zoosystematics and Evolution 96 (2), pp. 577-608 : 577

28. Orientogalba cf. bowelli (Preston, 1909) Fig. 9N, O

Limnaea bowelli Preston 1909: 115, fig. 1.

Limnaea bowelli - Annandale and Rao 1925: 169, fig. V(6).

Lymnaea (Galba) bowelli - Subba Rao 1989: 131, figs 298, 299.

Orientogalba cf. bowelli - Aksenova et al. 2018a: 4.

TL.

Tibet, "Te-ring Gompa, in a small hill stream arising from a spring, 14,000 feet; also from Mangtsa, 14,500 feet; High Hill, Gompa, Gyantse valley in a small hill stream, among moss and stones, 14,500 feet; and Gyantse, 13,120 feet".

Types.

Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata (fide Subba Rao 1989).

This poorly-studied species inhabits China:

Tibet, Sichuan Province ( Subba Rao 1989; Aksenova et al. 2018a) and possibly lives in other parts of the High Asia ( Kruglov and Starobogatov 1985a; Kruglov 2005). Conchologically, it represents a typical Orientogalba and the traits allowing one to distinguish it surely from the two above-mentioned species of this genus are unknown. A special study of intraspecific variation in O. cf. bowelli and allied species is needed to delineate them on the basis of morphological data. The data on anatomy of O. cf. bowelli are scarce. Though Kruglov (2005) gave a rather detailed description of its genital morphology, the picture provided by this author ( Kruglov 2005: fig. 90) illustrates an animal belonging to the genus Galba , not Orientogalba .

Taxonomic remark.

The application of the binomen Limnaea bowelli Preston is difficult. Recent authors tend to consider it as a member of the (sub)genus Galba , whose distribution is restricted to High Asia ( Subba Rao 1989; Kruglov 2005; Vinarski and Kantor 2016). On the other hand, Hubendick (1951) hypothesised that Limnaea bowelli is identical with Radix auricularia , whereas Brandt (1974) synonymised L. bowelli with L. viridis . The type series was unavailable for Aksenova et al. (2018a) and the authors conditionally attached the Preston’s taxon name to a species of Orientogalba found in Sichuan Province of China. Having examined several small samples of this species kept in NHMUK and NHMN, we found that these shells may belong to Orientogalba ; some of them are very similar to shells of O. viridis , whereas others were more or less like Preston’s original drawing (see Fig. 9N, O ).

Figures

Figure 9. Shells of species of the genera Ampullaceana, Kamtschaticana, Myxas, Tibetoradix, Racesina, Orientogalba and Bullastra. A. Ampullaceana relicta relicta (05.1975, Macedonia, a spring near St. Naum monastery, Ohrid Lake region; NHMW). B. A. r. pinteri, a paratype (05.06.1973, Macedonia, Prespa Lake near Perovo; MHMW). C, D. Kamtschaticana kamtschatica (Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula, Valley of Geysers; RMBH). E. Myxas glutinosa (14.09.1963, Kazakhstan, floodplain of the Tobol River near Kustanay City; ZISP). F, G. Tibetoradix hookeri, two syntypes (NHMUK). H. T. kozlovi, the holotype (ZISP). I. Racesina luteola (India, Bengal, Paksay, Pabna; NHMUK). J. R. oxiana (04.07.2016, Tajikistan, a roadside ditch near Kurban-Shakhid village; LMBI). K. R. siamensis (" Thailand "; ZMB). L. Orientogalba viridis, a syntype (Guam Island; NMNH). M. O. ollula (1883, Japan, Yokohama; NHMUK). N. Limnaea bowelli, a type (after Preston 1909). O. Orientogalba cf. bowelli (30.06.1924, China, Tibet, Lingka, 14,500 feet a. s. l.; NHMUK). P. Bullastra cumingiana (Philippine, Cebu Island; NHMUK). Scale bars: 2 mm (C, D, F-H, L, M, O), 5 mm (A, B, E, J-K, N, P).