Austrochloritis nundinalis Iredale, 1943

Shea, Michael & Köhler, Frank, 2020, Eastern Australian Land Snail Species Closely Related to Austrochloritis porteri (Cox, 1868), with Description of a New Species (Mollusca, Eupulmonata, Camaenidae), Records of the Australian Museum 72 (3), pp. 63-76 : 66-70

Austrochloritis nundinalis Iredale, 1943

Austrochloritis nundinalis Iredale, 1943: 64 (probable syntypes AM C. 112312, 2d, from Nundle, NSW); Stanisic et al., 2010: 384, fig. 570.

Type material examined. Probable syntypes, AM C. 112312 (2 d; Nundle) ( Fig. 2A ) .

Non-type material examined: AM C.171350 (3 d; Ponderosa Forest Park, Nundle SF, E of Nundle, -31.47° 151.26°; alt. 1,250 m; eucalypt forest), AM C.171513 (9 d; Sheba Dams, 14 km SE of Nundle, -31.498° 151.195°; tall, moist eucalypt forest), AM C.335318 (1 d; 5 km ESE of Nundle, -31.48° 151.18°), AM C.339647 (4 d; Chaffey Dam, NW end of wall, S of Woolomin, -31.345° 151.135°; open eucalypt woodland), AM C.459889 (1 d; Nundle SF, -31.48° 151.37°; sclerophyll forest), AM C.459901 (4 d; same as AM C.459889), AM C.575259 (15 d; E side of Chaffey Dam, 5 km N of Bowling Alley Point, -31.37° 151.14°; alt. 550 m; dry sclerophyll woodland), AM C.575451 (3 w; same as AM C.575259); AM C.575260 (2 d; Sheba Dams camping area, east of Nundle, -31.50° 151.20°; alt. 1,173 m; moist sclerophyll forest), AM C.575453 (3 w; same as AM C.575260).

Taxonomic remarks

The original description is rather uninformative, stating that this species is similar to A. porteri , but differs by its higher spire and denser hair ( Iredale, 1943: 64). Iredale’s description does not contain an explicit type designation. Subsequently, Stanisic et al. (2010: 384) stated that A. nundinalis was “distinguished [from other congeners] by combination of relatively large size, flattened spire, fine moderately long setae and weakly reflected lip”.

nundinalis , A. niangala and A. copelandensis sp. nov.

Description

Shell ( Figs 2A,B , 3A,B ). Medium sized (W = 13.8–17.3 mm, H = 7.7–11.3 mm, N = 3.3–3.5; for n = 19; Table 1), depressedly subglobose, whorls rounded to slightly shouldered in cross-section, gradually increasing in diameter, suture moderately incised; protoconch sculpture of rugose radials with coarse pustules at apex, periostracal setae extending well onto protoconch; teleoconch sculpture of low growth lines and corrugations with periostracal sculpture of curved, crowded, short setae; interstitial microsculpture of very fine wavy periostracal ridgelets and scales; last whorl strongly descending behind aperture in mature individuals; aperture moderately tilted forward from axis of coiling, without thickened or reflected outer lip and without sulcus behind lip; umbilicus narrowly open with U-shaped profile; shell colour pale yellowish to dark reddish brown.

Reproductive anatomy ( Fig. 4 ). Penis cylindrical, without penial sheath, inner penial wall sculpture of many welldeveloped longitudinal pilasters, epiphallus about two to three times longer than penis, with well-developed fingerlike epiphallic flagellum at distal end, about as long as penis; epiphallus communicates with penis through broadly conical, free penial verge, penial verge comprising about half to one third of penis length; penial retractor muscle attached to distal third of epiphallus, vas deferens entering head of epiphallus through single pore just below base of epiphallic flagellum; vagina cylindrical, about as long as penis, inner wall with prominent longitudinal pilasters; bursa copulatrix long, tubular with inflated bulb-like head, about as long as oviduct to one quarter longer, head reaching base of albumen gland; hermaphroditic duct inserting into head of talon (based on three dissected specimens).

Comparative remarks

Reproductive morphology was variable among dissected specimens even within a single population: Penial length varied from about as long as vagina to half of vaginal length and the bursa copulatrix varied in length from about equivalent to the oviduct to substantially longer. The lack of a reflected outer lip and sulcus and setae extending well onto the protoconch distinguish this species from most other congeners. Austrochloritis nundinalis differs from A. porteri most notably in having a proportionally longer epiphallus, a different penial verge morphology (conical, smooth vs. elongated, sculptured), and a wider flagellum ( Shea & KÖhler, 2019). In addition, A. nundinalis has a significantly smaller shell. For a comparison with A. niangala refer below.

Distribution and ecology

Austrochloritis nundinalis is so far only known from near Nundle, where it is mainly found at altitudes between 550–1,418 m ( Fig. 5 ). It is found in sclerophyll forests, on granitic and basaltic bedrock; under logs, rocks and shed bark around base of trees. It seals to the underside of substrates with a tough parchment-like epiphragm in dry conditions.

Figures

Figure 2. Shells (front, top, and umbilical view).(A, B) Austrochloritis nundinalis: A, probable syntype AM C.112312 (Nundle, NSW); B, AM C.575260 (Sheba Dams, E of Nundle); (C–F) Austrochloritis niangala: C, holotype,AM C.339934 (ESE of Tamworth); D, paratype of A. kaputarensis, AM C.452038 (NE of Manilla); E, AM C.478658 (Mt Kaputar); F, AM C.561050 (Georges Mountain, Basin NR); G, Austrochloritis copelandensis sp. nov., holotype AM C.582897 (Copeland Tops). Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 3. Scanning electron micrographs of shells of Austrochloritis (teleoconch viewed from above, protoconch viewed from above). (A, B) Austrochloritis nundinalis, AM C.171513, Nundle; (C, D) A. niangala, AM C.339933, Niangala; (E, F) Austrochloritis sp. NE3, AM C.561050). Scale bars: A = 1 mm, B–F = 0.5 mm.

Figure 4. Reproductive anatomy of Austrochloritis nundinalis. (A) Penial anatomy,AM C.575453, Sheba Dams, E of Nundle; (B) penial anatomy, AM C.575451, Chaffey Dam; scale bar = 3 mm. (C) Reproductive system, AM C.575453, Sheba Dams, E of Nundle; (D) reproductive system, AM C.575451, Chaffey Dam; scale bar = 5 mm.

Figure 5. Occurrence records of Austrochloritis nundinalis, A niangala (= A. niangala, A. kaputarensis, Austrochloritis sp. NE3), and A. copelandensis sp. nov. (= Austrochloritis sp. SN39) from the malacological collection of the Australian Museum. Source of base map: Google Maps.