Dadagulella cuspidata (Verdcourt, 1962) comb. nov.

Figs 31, 59, 84; Table 1

Gulella cuspidata Verdcourt, 1962: 3, 27-28, pl. 3, fig. 2.

“ Gulella sp. nov. ” – Verdcourt 1958: 94, 100, fig. 10.

Gulella cuspidata – van Bruggen 1969: 71. — Verdcourt 1983: 232. — Richardson 1988: 72. — Verdcourt 1996: 136. — Tattersfield 1998 b: 37. — Tattersfield et al. 1998: 135. — van Bruggen 2000: 233. — Verdcourt 2006: 46. — Rowson & Lange 2007: 31. — Muratov 2010: 277.

Type material examined

TANZANIA: holotype MRAC.792352: 1 ad., Worlds View, Shume, West Usambara Mts (4.70°S, 38.20°E), in rather dry evergreen forest, leg. B. & L. Verdcourt, Dec. 1956.

Other material examined

None.

Description

SHELL (Figs 31, 59). Large (4.30 - 4.80 mm high x 1.80 x 2.50 mm wide), of 7.75 whorls. Ovate-acuminate, spire coeloconoid (spire angle 58°). Apex sharply pointed. Embryonic whorls appear smooth but with fine regular radial striae. Later whorls with relatively few, coarse ribs (about 8 per mm on penultimate whorl). Sutures of intermediate depth. Umbilicus narrowly open. Peristome incomplete parietally. Outer palatal surface of aperture with a furrow-like depression corresponding to the upper palatal tooth. Dentition 6-fold (alternatively recognisable as 5-fold), consisting of: one lamella-like parietal tooth; two palatal teeth, the upper much larger and forming a parieto-palatal sinus; one basal, in-running tooth; and a strong, squarish columellar tooth, running in to form a columellar baffle which is connected to it. Juvenile shells and anatomy unknown.

Range and habitat

Elevation not stated but probably between 1500-2000 m at the type locality in northeastern Tanzania.

Remarks

This species differs from D. minareta sp. nov. in having two palatal teeth, in having a basal tooth, in the shape of the parietal tooth, and in size.