Parachondria (Chondropomorus) daedalus, Watters, G. Thomas, 2016

Watters, G. Thomas, 2016, Review of the Hispaniolan Parachondria (Chondropomorus) complex (Gastropoda: Littorinoidea: Annulariidae), Zootaxa 4127 (2), pp. 245-275 : 259-260

Parachondria (Chondropomorus) daedalus new species

Figures 3 A–G , 5 B

Type material. UF 216481, holotype, 15.6 mm; UF 216481, paratype 1, 13.0 mm; UF 216481, paratype 2, 16.4 mm; UF 216 481, paratype 3, 15.9 mm; UF 216481, paratype 4, 15.4 mm.

Type locality. 440 m elevation, Peralta, Azua Province, Dominican Republic.

Distribution and habitat. Upland southeastern slopes of the Cordillera Central and Sierra Martín García. Under leaf litter and talus in mesic scrub and forests; portions cleared for coffee groves. Locally common.

Material examined (112 specimens examined). Dominican Republic. GTW 7072b(1), 300 m, Barrera, Azua Province; UF 216481(5), 440 m, Peralta, Azua Province; UF 23177(5), 1 km S of Peralta, Azua Province; UF 216615(59), 560 m, 1 km SE of Peralta, Azua Province; UF 216620(18), 170 m, 1 km E of El Tablazo, San Cristóbal Province; UF 216618(24), 220 m, 13 km NW of Sabana Grande de Boyá, San Cristóbal Province [not found].

Description. Shell thin, almost translucent, conic. Maximum adult size: 17.6 mm, decollate. Minimum adult size: 13.0 mm, decollate. Adult shell usually not decollated, protoconch of 1.5 minute, smooth whorls, white with dark brown suture at apex, occasionally with faint tan, central band, demarcation between protoconch and teleoconch not well-defined. Teleoconch of 5 whorls. Axial sculpture of final whorl of numerous (170–200) very fine, narrowly spaced, flattened threads. Shell with regularly spaced growth stoppage marks, axial threads preceding marks microscopic and densely packed. Spiral sculpture of final whorl outside of umbilicus of 30–40 fine threads, nearly same width as axial threads. Intersections of axial and spiral sculpture minutely beaded. Umbilicus with ca. 15 weak spiral cords distributed across entire surface. Suture narrow, deep. Tufts composed of 1–3 slightly enlarged, irregularly spaced, almost blade-like axial threads. Aperture teardrop-shaped, lip double, rarely single. Inner lip erect, barely to prominently exserted and often fused to outer lip. Outer lip expanded, narrower facing umbilicus, slightly recurved abaperturally. Narrowly solute with previous whorl. Prominent posterior auricle, often hook-shaped. Smaller, somewhat undulating auricle also present at 8 o’clock position. Color pattern complex and variable. Base color white with tan spots between tufts, occasional dark band below tufts, and 6–9 narrow, spiral bands usually broken into spots, some specimens with irregular tan markings as well. Inner lip and both sides of outer lip with dark brown markings. Tufts white. Operculum corneous, paucispiral, lacking calcification.

Variation in specimens. Shells vary in the degree of coloration but most are quite pale overall. The Barrera specimen is much darker. Other characteristics are rather constant.

Comparison with other species. This species is similar in coloration to P. salleanus and P. isabellinus . All three species are allopatric and are distributed along the southern ranges of the island. Parachondria salleanus has a single, scarcely reflected lip; both P. daedalus and P. isabellinus have a widely expanded, double lip. Parachondria daedalus differs from P. isabellinus is having much finer sculpture (140–150 axial threads in P. isabellinus , 170–200 axial threads in P. daedalus ). Parachondria daedalus is more rotund and has a lower spire than P. isabellinus .

Remarks. One specimen contains the remains of a web within the umbilicus (fig. 3 D). It is very similar to a web found in Abbottella nitens Watters, 2013 , from the eastern Dominican Republic that contained a pseudoscorpion (Watters, 2013). This suggests that the pseudoscorpion may have been living within the umbilicus in a commensal association with the snail.

Etymology. Gr. daidalos, dappled, spotted.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A – G. Parachondria (Chondropomorus) daedalus new species. A, B. UF 216481, holotype, 15.6 mm. C. UF 216481, paratype 2, 16.4 mm. D. UF 23177, 17.5 mm, note web in umbilicus. E. UF 216481, paratype 1, 13.0 mm. F. UF 216481, holotype, detail of spire. G. UF 216481, holotype, detail of suture.