Hemiplecta lanxangnica Inkhavilay & Panha

Inkhavilay, Khamla, Sutcharit, Chirasak, Bantaowong, Ueangfa, Chanabun, Ratmanee, Siriwut, Warut, Srisonchai, Ruttapon, Pholyotha, Arthit, Jirapatrasilp, Parin & Panha, Somsak, 2019, Annotated checklist of the terrestrial molluscs from Laos (Mollusca, Gastropoda), ZooKeys 834, pp. 1-166 : 1

Hemiplecta lanxangnica Inkhavilay & Panha nom. nov.

Helminthoglypta huberi Thach, 2017: 54, figs 747-749 [non Hemiplecta huberi Thach, 2017: 33, figs 389-391]. Type locality: Thakhek, Khammouane Province, Central Laos.

Etymology.

The species name " lanxangnica " is derived from "Lan Xang", the name of the historical empire during 13th to 18th centuries, which represents the current Laotian area.

Material examined.

Holotype RMNH 5006710, paratype MNHN-IM-2000-33215 (1 shell; Fig. 36C). Specimens from Tam Xang Cave, Thakhek District, Khammouan Province (Fig. 36D).

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Laos ( Thach 2017).

Remarks.

The genus Helminthoglypta Ancey, 1887 is mainly distributed in the California and northwest of Mexico ( Schileyko 2004: 1722). In addition, the Xanthonychidae , to which this genus belongs, is mainly distributed in the New World: Central America, North America and north of South America ( Schileyko 2004) and has never been recorded in the Oriental region. Placing this species in the Helminthoglypta seemed inappropriate. The medium size (width 27-34 mm and height 18-23 mm), rimate umbilicus, thin wrinkle shell surface and simple apertural lip make this species more closely resemble the genus Hemiplecta . However, examination of the genitalia anatomy is required to confirm their systematic position.

By relocating Helminthoglypta huberi Thach, 2017 to the genus Hemiplecta , it becomes a secondary homonym of Hemiplecta huberi Thach, 2017. According to the ICZN guideline ( ICZN 1999: Arts 24.2.2, 57.3.1 and 60.3), the species name of a junior homonym has to be replaced, and so we propose Hemiplecta lanxangnica Inkhavilay & Panha nomen novum as the new replacement name.