Kalidos griffithshauchleri Emberton, 2002

Figs 22, 25G

Kalidos griffithshauchleri: Emberton 2002: 259, fig. 1. Type loc.: 15 km E Antsalova, nr Tsingy de Bemaraha .

Morphological notes:

External features (Fig. 25G): Head-foot grey, with pale grey tubercles clearly delineated by dark grey skin grooves; lateral pedal grooves and peripodial groove distinct; caudal pit well developed but caudal horn not prominent; mantle lobes pale grey, minutely specked with darker spots.

Distal genitalia (Fig. 22): The largest preserved specimen available (shell diameter 54mm) proved to have a subadult or inactive reproductive tract. The organs of the distal tract were clearly differentiated, but the sperm-oviduct was immature or inactive. We illustrate the features observed, but caution that this may not truly reflect the mature condition.

Penis long (ca 21 mm) and slender, surrounded basally by a thin sheath; proximal end slightly swollen prior to junction with very long, slender epiphallus; internally this swollen region with a well-developed penial verge extending from insertion of epiphallus; verge digitiform, the distal third with a longitudinal cleft through which epiphallus discharges; hind end of cleft preceded by a raised boss; inner lining of penis comprising a mosaic of irregularly shaped pits; epiphallus with a sharp bend at insertion of penial retractor muscle and thus divided into proximal and distal limbs; proximal limb somewhat longer than distal one; a long narrow flagellum arises at junction of vas deferens and epiphallus; basal part of flagellum running close to vas deferens and both embedded in membranous sheath; apical half of flagellum free and sinuous; vas deferens continues beside penis and inside its basal sheath before recurving and running beside vagina; vagina long, its proximal end convoluted before insertion of bursa copulatrix duct; bursa duct, somewhat broader basally, but narrowing alongside sperm-oviduct. Sperm-oviduct poorly developed. Bursa copulatrix and proximal portions of reproductive tract missing.

Locality data: Tsingy Beanka: st’ns 03/06, 12/06, 14/06, 16/06, 17/06, 18/06, 02/09, 05/09, 06/09, 07/09, 08/09, 09/09, 01/10, 07/10. Tsingy de Bemaraha: st’ns 07/95, 18/95, 10/96, 12/06.

Distribution: A regional endemic; known only from Tsingy de Bemaraha and Tsingy Beanka .

Habitat: Dry deciduous and evergreen forest on limestone; dead shells are common in caves and under overhangs. During dry periods living specimens aestivate in caves and deep within slots in the tsingy, attached to the rock well above ground level. They emerge after rains and can be locally common.

Remarks:This, the largest species of Kalidos, is a conspicuous element of the Bemaraha– Beanka karst formations.Specimens from the southern part of Bemaraha, near Bekopaka, are noticeably smaller than those occurring further north with a max. diameter of 41– 46 mm (vs 64 mm in the Tsingy Beanka). The genital anatomy is broadly consistent with that of other species of Kalidos, although the penis and vagina are particularly long.