Zootecus sp.

Neubert, Eike & Damme, Dirk van, 2012, Palaeogene continental molluscs of Oman, Contributions to Natural History 20, pp. 1-28 : 20

? Zootecus sp.

( Fig. 21 )

Locality: Wadi Darbat, Dhofar, Oman.

Stratum typicum: Paludal biomicritic limestones of the Zalumah Formation.

Age: Late Priabonian.

Material: This species is only represented by the single cast, NMBE 5018987.

Measurements: Figured cast specimen: H = 7.29 mm.

Remark: This species has an elongated, turreted cylindrical shell, the cast shows six whorls, at least. The magnified detail shows some faint axial riblets on the upper whorl. The preservation of this species is too poor to justify a description, although this is for sure a new species. At the moment, the shell form and size give rise to the hypothesis that this is probably an ancestral species to the little radiation of the genus Zootecus WESTERLUND, 1887 in the area. The three Modern species are all larger, but at least the upper teleoconch whorls are also striped ( Figs. 22–24 ).

It should be stressed that Zootecus insularis (EHRENBERG, 1831) has a wide distribution ranging from the Cape Verde Islands to Northwest India (Kashmir). Today, it is the most common pulmonate snail species in southern Arabia. The other two species are local endemics, with Z. lucidissimus (PALADILHE, 1873) living in the mountains of southern Yemen and the Dhofar area, Oman, while Z. contiguus (REEVE, 1849) is endemic to Abd al-Kuri, the westernmost island of the Soqotran Archipelago ( Neubert 2003; Fig. 24 ).

Figures

Figs. 21–24: Species of Subulinidae. Fig. 21: Cast of? Zootecus sp., Wadi Darbat NMBE 5018987. Fig. 22: Zootecus insularis, lectotype ZMB 109990, Yemen, Insula Cameran. Fig. 23: Zootecus lucidissimus, SMF 320191, Yemen, Sana'a, Wadi beni Mansur close to al-Hajima, 15°05.105'N 43°52.818'E, leg. Neubert. Fig. 24: Zootecus contiguus, syntype NHMUK 1987.033, Yemen, Socotra Archipelago, Abd el-Kuri. Detail not to scale.