Bensonella lophiodera Tongkerd & Panha, 2024

Figs 39 K, 62, 63, 97

Bensonella lophiodera Tongkerd & Panha in Tongkerd et al. 2024: 176–178, figs 7 C, 9, 13 I.

Type material examined.

Myanmar • holotype; collector unknown; CUMZ 14378 .

Additional material examined.

Myanmar • 158 shells; Shan State, NNE of Kalaw, Osei Mountain Pagoda NW 150 m; 20°39.320'N, 96°34.927'E; 1565 m a. s. l.; 03 Oct. 2018; A. Hunyadi, K. Okubo & J. U. Otani leg.; coll. HA • 181 shells; Shan State, Kalaw ESE 13.5 km, Myinmati Taung; 20°35.4264'N, 96°36.7938'E; 1350 m a. s. l.; 03 Oct. 2018; A. Hunyadi, K. Okubo & J. U. Otani leg; coll. HA .

Type locality.

“ Myinmati Cave, Kalaw Township, Taunggyi District, Shan State, Myanmar (20°35'24.6"N, 96°36'42.1"E; 1312 m a. s. l.) ”.

Differential diagnosis.

The shell of this species is relatively large when compared to other geographically approximate congeners and the transversal palatal plica is rather weak and small. See under B. taiyaiorum .

Distribution.

This species is known from three localities in Kalaw.

Remarks.

This species lacks the palatal tubercle but is still clearly a member of Bensonella because of the triangular-conical shell shape and three barriers on the parietal side. In our specimens collected from Osei Mountain Pagoda (see above under “ Material examined ”), there is a transversal plica which is usually only partly merged, i. e., interpalatal and lower palatal plicae are clearly discernible (Fig. 63). Even though in the original description, this barrier is listed as a lower palatal, we believe that it is actually a transversal plica but just much weaker than in other congeners. Furthermore, Tongkerd et al. (2024: fig. 9 C) shows a lower palatal plica that is wider than normal and positioned transversally indicating the fusion of the interpalatal and lower palatal plicae. Otherwise, our examined specimens fit perfectly in the description of B. lophiodera by all shell characters (size, colour, shape, surface sculpture, and apertural dentition).