Pravonitor kreffti ( Cox, 1864 )

Hyman, Isabel T. & Ponder, Winston F., 2010, A morphological phylogenetic analysis and generic revision of Australian Helicarionidae (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Stylommatophora), and an assessment of the relationships of the family 2462, Zootaxa 2462 (1), pp. 1-148 : 64-65

Pravonitor kreffti ( Cox, 1864)

Figures 17M –0, 18G, 19H–I, 20G–H, 21H–I, 22C

Helix kreffti Cox, 1864: 21 .

Helix (T halassia) kreffti: Brazier, 1876b: 118 .

Nanina (Subg. Xesta Sect. Macrochlamys ) kreffti: Tryon, 1886: 219 , pl. 63, figs 98–99.

Nanina (Microchlamys) kreffti: Cox, 1909: 6 .

Nitor (Pravonitor) kreffti: Iredale, 1937c: 3 .

Nitor (Pravonitor) kreffti insularum Iredale, 1937c: 3 .

Pravonitor kreffti: Smith, 1992: 241 .

Taxonomic decision for synonymy Smith (1992: 241).

Material studied (all Queensland, Australia). Possible syntypes: BMNH no number (Accession number 1563) (shell measured, photographed), Torres Straits .

Other material: AM C29647 ( Pravonitor kreffti insularum holotype; shell measured, photographed), Torres Strait , Murray Island (9º56' S, 144º4' E), scrub, 30 Aug. 1907, C. Hedley, A . R. McCulloch; AM C425415 (two specimens dissected, one radula examined), Torres Strait , Gabba Island (9º45' S, 142º37' E), in forest, 30 Jul. 1975, H. Heatwole .

Description. External morphology: Shell ( Figures 19H–I , 20G–H , 21H–I ) 5.2 whorls, yellow-brown with orange-brown stripe above suture; shape and sculpture as for genus. Animal cream. Mantle laps and lobes as for genus. Caudal horn moderately large, overhanging foot; caudal foss vertical slit in tail.

Mantle cavity and digestive system: As for genus.

Genital system ( Figures 18G , 22C ): As for genus. Penis long; epiphallus enters penis through two fleshy lips; penis internally covered in round pustules, pilasters absent. Epiphallus slightly longer than penis, internally with longitudinal pilasters.

Radula ( Figure 17M–O ): As for genus. Radular formula (37.14.1.14.37) × 105 rows.

Range and habitat. Specimens attributed to Pravonitor kreffti are known from the rainforest, closed forest and scrub of Simpsons Bay, Cape York Peninsula, to the islands of Torres Strait in far north Queensland. It is found under logs and in leaf litter.

Remarks. The subspecies Nitor kreffti insularum was described as differing from P. kreffti in its slightly smaller size, more depressed spire and the presence of a coloured anteperipheral band ( Iredale 1937c). In addition, P. kreffti was thought to occur on the mainland and P. kreffti insularum on the islands of Torres Strait ( Iredale 1937c). Examination of shells from the Australian Museum has shown that the pale anteperipheral band is variable, being present on some Torres Strait Island shells and not on others from the same islands. Shell size also appears to be variable. For these reasons we concur with Smith’s (1992) synonymy.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Radulae. SEM. A–C. Fastosarion superba, AM C425248. D–F. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. G– I. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C441743. J–L. Nitor circumcincta, AM C356607. M–O. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C425415. P–R. Expocystis rustica, AM C425540. Scale bars 20 mm (D–R), 50 mm (A–C).

FIGURE 18. Reproductive systems. A. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. B. Stanisicarion virens, QMMO19238. C. Eungarion mcdonaldi, AM C438760. D. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C441743. E. Nitor circumcincta, AM C356607. F. Nitor subrugata, AM C334537. G. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C425415. H. Expocystis rustica, AM C425540. Scale bars 1 mm (E), 2 mm (A–D, G–H), 5 mm (F). Abbreviations: alb, albumen gland; bc, bursa copulatrix; c, caecum; ep, epiphallus; fl, flagellum; fov, free oviduct; her, hermaphrodite duct; m, muscle attaching penial sheath to epiphallus (only shown in A); ov, ovotestis; p, penis; pr, prostate; prm, penis retractor muscle; pt, penial sheath; ut, uterus; v, vagina; vd, vas deferens.

FIGURE 19. Shells, dorsal view. A. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. B. Stanisicarion virens, BMNH 197776 (S). C. Eungarion mcdonaldi, QMMO35628. D. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C432179. E. Nitor circumcincta, AM C104161 (POS of Helix marmorata). F. Nitor subrugata, AM C333711. G.Nitor subrugata, AM C63479 (S of N. subrugata helmsianus). H. Pravonitor kreffti, BMNH no number (POS). I. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C29647 (H of P. kreffti insularum). J. Expocystis rustica, BMNH 1982243 (POH of Helix villaris). K. Malandena suturalis, AM C425087. Scale bars 3 mm (E, J), 5 mm (A–D, F–I, K). Photographs by H. Barlow (A, D, F, I), D. Beechey (E, G), I. Hyman (K), W. Ponder (B, H, J), copyright Australian Museum; photographer unknown, copyright Queensland Museum (C). Abbreviations: H, holotype; POH, possible holotype; POS, possible syntype; S, syntype.

FIGURE 20. Shells, lateral view. A. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. B. Stanisicarion virens, BMNH 197776 (S). C. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C432179. D. Nitor circumcincta, AM C104161 (H). E. Nitor subrugata, AM C333711. F. Nitor subrugata, AM C63479 (S of N. subrugata helmsianus). G. Pravonitor kreffti, BMNH no number (POS). H. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C29647 (H of P. kreffti insularum). I. Expocystis rustica, BMNH 1982243 (POH of Helix villaris). J. Malandena suturalis, AM C425087. Scale bars 3 mm (A, D, I), 5 mm (B–C, E–H, J). Photographs by H. Barlow (A, C, E, H), D. Beechey (D, F), W. Ponder (B, G, I), I. Hyman (J). Abbreviations: H, holotype; POH, possible holotype; POS, possible syntype; S, syntype.

FIGURE 21. Shells, ventral view. A. Stanisicarion freycineti, AM C391188. B. Stanisicarion virens, BMNH 197776 (S). C. Eungarion mcdonaldi, QMMO35628 (H). D. Parmacochlea fischeri, AM C432179. E. Nitor circumcincta, AM C104161 (H). F. Nitor subrugata, AM C333711. G. Nitor subrugata, AM C63479 (S of N. subrugata helmsianus). H. Pravonitor kreffti, BMNH no number (POS). I. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C29647 (H of P. kreffti insularum). J. Expocystis rustica, BMNH1982243 (POH of Helix villaris). K. Malandena suturalis, AM C425087. Scale bars 3 mm (A, E, J), 5 mm (B–D, F–I, K). Photographs by H. Barlow (A, D, F, I), D. Beechey (E, G), I. Hyman (K), W. Ponder (B, H, J), copyright Australian Museum; photographer unknown, copyright Queensland Museum (C). Abbreviations: H, holotype; POH, possible holotype; POS, possible syntype; S, syntype.

FIGURE 22. Penis interiors. A. Nitor circumcincta, AM C356607. B. Nitor subrugata, AM C334537. C. Pravonitor kreffti, AM C425415. D. Expocystis rustica, AM C425540. E. Malandena suturalis, AM C425085. F. Echonitor cyrtochila, SAM D16557. G. Echonitor albumenoidea, SAM D16567. H. Periclocystis ardeni, SAM D16562. I. New Caledonian NC3, MNHN no registration number. J. New Caledonian NC5, MNHN no registration number. K. Caldwellia angularis, AM C205299. L. Caldwellia imperfecta, AM C205300. Scale bars 1 mm (A–L). Abbreviations: ep, epiphallus; pd, penial diverticulum; pp, penial pilaster; ppd, diamond-shaped, ridged pustules; prm, penis retractor muscle; ppu, penial pustules; pv, penial verge.