Pachylabra nevilliana

Cowie, Robert H., 2015, The recent apple snails of Africa and Asia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Ampullariidae: Afropomus, Forbesopomus, Lanistes, Pila, Saulea): a nomenclatural and type catalogue. The apple snails of the Americas: addenda and corrigenda, Zootaxa 3940 (1), pp. 1-92 : 43-44

nevilliana

Pachylabra nevilliana Annandale & Prashad, 1921: 11 , figs. 1b, 2. Type material — holotype [by original designation]: NZSI 11864/2; possible paratypes: NZSI 25078/5 (5 spms.). Type locality —“ Tranquebar, which is on the east coast of Southern India ”. Distribution —known only from the type locality ( Subba Rao 1989: 59).

Remarks. The holotype is the shell figured as “the type-shell” by Annandale & Prashad (1921: fig. 2). However, the number of specimens in the type series is unclear. The description was based solely on the shells of Nevill, who noted 8 ( Nevill 1877: 5) and 9 ( Nevill 1885: 4) specimens (the reason for the discrepancy is unknown). Annandale & Prashad (1921: 11, 12) reported the “type-specimens” as NZSI M 11864 /2 but gave measurements for only 3 shells. On this basis, the original type series contained at least 3 and up to 9 specimens; some of Nevill’s original shells may have been lost. However, this type lot now only contains one shell, treated in the NZSI as the holotype. There are 5 specimens in NZSI 25078/5, labelled as paratypes. It is possible that these were subsequently separated from the original type series, so that there are now 6 known type (or possible type) specimens and the additional 2 or 3 specimens noted by Nevill appear lost. Nevill was of the opinion that the “[type] locality could only be accepted with considerable reserve” ( Annandale & Prashad 1921: 12), although Annandale & Prashad seemed not to have shared this doubt. Pila , teste Subba Rao (1989: 59).

nigricans

Ampullaria nigricans G.B. Sowerby III, 1910: 60, 63, text fig. Type material — syntype: NHMUK 1910.9.30.1 (1 spm.). Type locality —“Buddhu, Uganda, 4000 feet ”.

Remarks. Synonym or infra-subspecific form of ovata Olivier , teste Mandahl-Barth (1954: 41). Synonym of ovata Olivier , teste Pain (1952: 287; as “ nigriscens ”), who stated that “Sowerby’s holotype ” was in the British Museum.

nux

Ampullaria nux Reeve, 1856e : pl. 28, figs. 132a, b. Type material — syntypes: NHMUK 20020693 (3 spms.). Type locality —“ Bombay ”.

Remarks. Berthold (1991: 10, fig. 14) illustrated a specimen he considered to be the “ Holotypus ”. However, there are three specimens in the type series, which precludes the assumption of holotype (Code, Rec 73F), and nor does Berthold’s action constitute lectotype fixation as it does not fulfil the requirements of the Code (Arts. 74.5, 74.6). Type species of Turbinicola , which was synonymized with Pila by Berthold (1991: 202). Only known from small streams near Khandalla and Igatpuri (Poona and Nasik districts) in the Western Ghats from altitudes between 2500 and 3000 feet ( Annandale & Prashad 1921: 11). Valid species in Pila , teste Preston (1915: 99). Synonym of saxea Reeve , teste Prashad (1923: 591, 1925: 87) and Subba Rao (1989: 61), followed here.

+ nyanzae

Ampullaria nyanzae Smith, 1892: 382 . Type material — lectotype ( Pain 1961: 15): NMW.Z.1981.118.00514; paralectotype: NMW.Z.1981.118.00119; possible paralectotype: NHMUK 1892.8.27. Type locality —“A creek, commonly called Jordan’s Nullah, at the south end of the lake” [i.e. Victoria Nyanza (in publication title); = Lake Victoria]. Distribution —Lake Victoria ( Pain 1952: 290, 1961: 15; Brown 1980: 45, 1994: 54).

Remarks. The type series consisted of three specimens (NHMUK 1892.8.27.1–3), but a note in the NHMUK collection (by F. Naggs, 12 October 1993) states that two of these were stolen. The one remaining shell is the one illustrated by Brown (1980; fig. 23a, 1994; fig. 23a). Pain (1951: 230) noted that a specimen in the NHMUK marked as Smith’s “ type ” was in fact not the holotype, which he therefore stated was lost. Nonetheless, on obtaining a shell of nyanzae from the Sowerby collection, labelled as from Lake Victoria and collected by E. C. Gordon, the collector of Smith’s material, Pain (1951: 230) designated this specimen as the “ neotype and possible holotype ” as it “fits the original description extremely well”. His designation of this specimen as a neotype was not valid, not only because it was not deposited immediately on publication in a recognized scientific or educational institution but also as it did not clearly fulfil the other requirements of the Code (Art. 75). This specimen is now NMW.Z.1981.118.00514. Pain (1961: 15) subsequently designated a “ lectotype ”, presumably the same specimen he had formerly designated as the neotype, with the measurements given (see also Pain 1952: 290, 1961: 15) being identical to those of Smith (1892: 382). It is probably Smith’s original measured specimen; it matches his measurements closely except for the width, which is 10 mm less, perhaps an error by Smith, repeated by Pain. Pain (1961: 15) also noted a “ syntype ”, also from the type locality; this specimen (NMW.Z.1981.118.00119) is that illustrated by Pain (1951: pl. 28, fig. 3) (H. Wood pers. comm. 15 October 2013) and Kobelt (1912b: pl. 30a, fig. 1). Valid species, teste G.B. Sowerby III (1910: 60). Race, subspecies or form of ovata Olivier , in Pila , teste Pain (1952: 290, 1961: 15), Mandahl-Barth (1954: 45) and Brown (1980: 45, 1994: 54), followed here.