Conturbatia, a new genus of Streptaxidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pulmonata)

✍ Scribed by J. Gerlach

• Publisher: Pensoft Publishers
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 634 KB
• Volume: 77
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0232-5519
• DOI: 10.1002/mmnz.20010770213

✦ Synopsis

A new genus and species of the terrestrial carnivorous snail family Streptaxidae is described from FrCgate island, Seychelles. The species Conturbatia crenata is known from a single specimen from Pterocarpus indiciis Willd. woodland. It appears to be related to the Seychelles endemic genera Imperturbatia, Careoradula, Silhouettia and Acanthennea. Although the creation of monotypic genera is not ideal, the conchological and radular differences are here considered sufficiently distinct to justify the creation of a new monotypic genus. The status of all streptaxid genera and subgenera will need re-evaluation when anatomical data on types of many African genera become available. The radula of this species is greatly reduced, which is suggested to be an adaptation for carrion feeding. The restricted range of this species and its anatomical specializations make this taxon of great conservation significance.