Bulimulus (Protoglyptus) dejectus Fulton, 1907

Breure, Abraham S. H., 2011, Annotated type catalogue of the Orthalicoidea (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Royal Belgian Institute of Sciences, Brussels, with descriptions of two new species, ZooKeys 101, pp. 1-50 : 12-14

Bulimulus (Protoglyptus) dejectus Fulton, 1907 Figs 15B, 15iii

Bulimulus (Protoglyptus) dejectus Fulton 1907: 153, pl. 10 fig. 1.

Type locality.

[Brazil] "Santa Catharina (fide Linnaea Institute label)".

Label.

"St. Catharina"; see remarks.

Dimensions.

"Maj. diam. 10, alt. 29 mm."; figured specimen H 28.0, D 10.0, W 7.6.

Type material.

RBINS/MT2348, one syntype, ex Sowerby and Fulton (Dautzenberg coll.).

Remarks.

During a recent visit to the NHM, another specimen was found which will be designated lectotype (Breure and Ablett, unpublished data). The Brussels specimen thus will become a paralectotype. Although the specimen is not accompanied by an original Fulton label, Dautzenberg has noted on his label that he purchased this specimen from Sowerby and Fulton on 27.ii.1907. The generic placement of this taxon is somewhat puzzling. Three taxa may be considered, viz. Protoglyptus , Naesiotus , and Rhinus . The protoconch sculpture consists of axial wrinkles, partly broken into granules, which is a sculpture not characteristic for Protoglyptus nor Naesiotus . However, there is considerable variation in protoconch sculpture within these two taxa ( Breure and Coppois 1978: Table II), and therefore it is difficult to decide on a generic placement on the basis of this characteristic alone. Further differences between the two genera are discussed by Breure and Coppois (1978: 163-165), who synonymized Protoglyptus with Naesiotus . The surface of the shell is partially sculptured with spiral series of granules, denoting an epidermis covered with hairs when fresh; this characteristic has been observed in all three groups. However, it must be noted that the shell shape is aberrant for Rhinus , and the anatomy of this species is unknown. Together with the results of Breure and Romero (in preparation), it seems justified to retain a tentative classification with Protoglyptus , which is now treated as a separate genus again. Study of live-collected specimens may shed new light on its classification.

Current systematic position.

Bulimulidae , Protoglyptus dejectus (Fulton, 1907).