Potamolithus spp.

Salvador, Rodrigo B., Silva, Fernanda S., Cavallari, Daniel C., Cunha, Carlo M. & Bichuette, Maria E., 2022, Cave-dwelling gastropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Brazil: state of the art and conservation, Zoologia (e 21033) 39, pp. 1-10 : 4

Potamolithus spp.

Distribution: São Paulo state, Eldorado municipality, Tapagem cave (“Diabo cave”, 24°38’12.2”S, 48°24’06.1”W); Iporanga and Apiaí municipalities, Água Suja cave (24° 31’26.4”S, 48°42’ 28.4”W), Água Sumida cave (24°28’43.7”S, 48°37’45.5”W), Alambari de Baixo cave (24°33’26”S, 48°39’52”W), Alambari de Cima cave (24°33’15.0”S, 48°39’55.0”W), Betari de Baixo cave (24°34’34.0”S, 48° 37’ 39.0”W), Chapéu cave (24°26’06.1”S, 48°35’25.9”W), Córrego Seco cave (24°33’06.8”S, 48°40’59.7”W), Desmoronada cave (24°24’16.2”S, 48°32’ 44.2”W), Gruta do Chapéu Mirim I and II caves (24°25’52”S, 48°35’07”W), Gurutuva cave (24°32’03.3”S, 48°39’13.4”W), Jeremias cave (24°38’16.7”S, 48°42’03.8”W), Morro Preto-Couto cave system (24°32’00.5”S, 48°41’57.0”W), Ouro Grosso cave (24°32’31.9”S, 48°40’36.8”W), Pérolas cave (24°33’52.7”S, 48°44’34.7”W), Pescaria cave (24°24’16.6”S, 48°33’02.5”W), Santana cave (24°32’02.3”S, 48°42’09.5”W), Teminina II cave (24°23’05.0”S, 48°34’08.0”W), Aranhas cave (24°26’04.0”S, 48°35’20.6”W); border of Iporanga and Ribeirão Grande municipalities, Colorida cave (24°16’25.6”S, 48°25’11.1”W), Fendão cave (24°16’24.0”S, 48°26’32.0”W), Jane Mansfield cave (24°15’50.0”S, 48°26’42.0”W), Minotauro cave (24°16’22.0”S, 48°27’22.0”W), Paiva cave (24°16’22.4”S, 48°26’44.2”W).

Remarks: Bichuette and Trajano (2018) list 12 morphospecies of Potamolithus in the same overall area in the Upper Ribeira Valley as P. troglobius above and the related troglophilic P. karsticus Simone & Moracchioli, 1994 (known from Calcário Branco cave, including epigean; Fig. 10 ). Of those 12 morphs, five are deemed to be troglobites, six troglophiles, and one epigean. Potamolithus spp. are restricted to micro-basins and/or caves, showing small areas of distribution and probably a high degree of endemism. Whether they are indeed new species remains to be fully investigated.

Figures

Figures 1–22. (1) Habeas corpus, holotype MZSP 110000, shell height H = 10.3 mm; (2) Habeas data, holotype MZSP 106810, H = 5.7 mm; (3) Habeastrum parafusum, holotype MZSP 134301, H = 1.4 mm; (4) Habeastrum omphalium, holotype MZSP 135583,H = 1.7 mm; (5) Habeastrum strangei, paratype MZSP 137432, H = 1.6 mm; (6) Habeastrum strangei, SEM image of holotype MZSP 151626, H = 2.8 mm; (7) Spiripockia puncata, holotype MZSP 105000,H = 4.6 mm; (8)Spiripockia umbraticola, paratype MZSP 151100, H = 4.8 mm;(9) Spiripockia umbraticola, SEM image of holotype MZSP 151099, H = 5.2 mm; (10) Potamolithus karsticus, paratype MZSP 27946, H = 1.2 mm; (11) Potamolithus troglobius, paratype MZSP 27948, H = 2.3 mm; (12) Lavajatus moroi, holotype MZSP 131060, H = 35.4 mm; (13) Streptartemon molaris, holotype MZSP 112451, H = 8.7 mm; (14) Gonyostomus elinae, holotype MZSP 106226, H = 48.0 mm; (15) Gastrocopta sharae, holotype MZSP 122725, H = 1.9 mm; (16) Gastrocopta sharae, SEM image of holotype;(17)Anctus prolatus, holotype MZSP 112450,H = 25.2 mm; (18) Kora nigra, holotype MZSP 106232, H = 30.1 mm; (19) Bahiensis ribeirensis, holotype MZSP 120774, H = 21.3 mm; (20) Clinispira insolita, holotype MZSP 111847, H = 14.6 mm; (21) Cyclodontina capivara, holotype MZSP 112448, H = 19.2 mm; (22) Rhinus gilbertus, holotype MZSP 112449, H = 21.9 mm.