Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
The species incorrectly referred to as Tropidophora spec. by Gittenberger et al. (2017, A field guide to the common molluscs of Bhutan: 42, fig. 27) is identified as Lagocheilus tomotrema (Benson, 1857). It is known from southern Bhutan, below 2000 m a.s.l. In fresh specimens the periostracum bears spiny or flattened, hitherto overlooked, stalked protrusions. Two species of Veronicellidae are reported as new for Bhutan. One of these was identified by a dna analysis as the pest species Laevicaulis alte. The second species could not be identified. Curvella sikkimensis is reported as new for Bhutan, where it was recorded in the western part of the country. Curvella khasiana was already known from E. Bhutan. Bhucharopa E. Gittenberger & Kezang Tobgay, gen. nov. is strikingly similar to Himalocharopa in shell shape and size, but very different in protoconch sculpture. The new genus is known by only the type species Bhucharopa mimica E. Gittenberger & Kezang Tobgay, spec. nov. The species called Bensonella plicidens by Gittenberger et al. (2017, loc. cit.: 55, fig. 40) was recently redescribed as B. hooki. The real B. plicidens is now also reported for Bhutan. When introducing Sculpteuconulus as a monotypic genus, the description and clear figures of Sitala ? recondita, published by Godwin-Austen (1883, Land and freshwater Mollusca of India, 1 (3): 75, pl. 13 fig. 4, 4a-c) were overlooked by Gittenberger et al. (2021, Archiv für Molluskenkunde, 150). Sculpteuconulus reconditus and S. obliquistriatus, i. e. the type species of the genus, are compared and illustrated. Three species tentatively classified with Helicarionidae are reported as new for Bhutan. The globular shell referred to as Sitala spec. by Gittenberger et al. (2017, loc. cit.: 83, fig. 75) exhibits very fine spiral lirae only and is atypical for the genus. Sitala turbiniformis (Benson, 1838), the type species of the genus, is described as new for Bhutan. The widespread Sivella castra exhibits a dimorphism in sculpture in Bhutan. For the moment being, in the absence of sufficient samples from outside the country, we prefer to leave it an open question whether this should be considered variability, or (sub)species-specific differences. Molbhutania bhutana E. Gittenberger & Kezang Tobgay, gen. nov. spec. nov. is introduced on the basis of the lenticular shell covered with dense, fine, radial and still finer spiral sculpture, and a frayed, sharp, peripheral keel.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2026
E-ISSN
3117-9924
Volume
90
Issue
2
Publisher
Basteria
School
School of Science
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Additional Information
We are grateful to our Bhutanese colleagues and friends Mani Prasad Nirola, Nima Gyeltshen, Pem Zam, Pema Leda, Phub Gyeltshen, Phuentsho, Sangay Tshomo, Sonam Dema, Tashi Phuntsho, Tshering Pem, and Ugyen Tenzin, for their essential contributions of samples to the NBC collection that forms the basis of this project. We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr Karma Dema Dorji, Program Director of the National Biodiversity Centre, for her unwavering support and invaluable guidance throughout this endeavour and to Dr Sangay Dema for laying the groundwork and spearheading the project’s implementation. Thanks are also due to Ms Bertie Joan van Heuven (nbc Naturalis, Leiden), who produced the sem photographs, Mr Erik-Jan Bosch (nbc Naturalis, Leiden), who composed the distribution maps, Mr Kevin Webb (Natural History Museum, London), who made photographs of type specimens, Ir Henk P.M.G. Menkhorst (Krimpen aan de IJssel) for linguistic support, Mr Jonathan Ablett (Natural History Museum, London) and Dr. Richard Preece (University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge) for providing data on type material, Dr. Tom S. White (Natural History Museum, London) for bibliographic data, and to Prof. Dr. Ruud A. Bank (Hoogezand) for contributing several photographs.
Comments
Gittenberger, E., Sherub, Gyeltshen, C., Dorji, N., & Tobgay, K. (2026). Miscellaneous notes on terrestrial gastropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of seven superfamilies represented in Bhutan, with two new genera and two new species. Basteria, 90(2).