Rediscovery of the type species of Euonyma (Subulinidae) and observations on South African species of Gulella (Streptaxidae), with description of two new species (Gastropoda: Eupulmonata)

Abstract

The rediscovery of the type species of the subulinid genus Euonyma Melvill and Ponsonby, 1896, Euonyma laeocochlis (Melvill and Ponsonby, 1896), is recorded and data regarding its distribution and habitat are provided. No specimens of this species had been collected in the more than 100 years since its original description. The streptaxid Gulella fraudator Connolly, 1939, a taxon previously considered to be of doubtful validity, is shown to be a distinct, narrow‐range endemic and is compared with similar species. Type material and recently collected specimens of both species are illustrated. Two recently discovered species, Gulella deviae sp. n. and G. lindae sp. n., are described.

Keywords:

• Euonyma
• Gulella
• Mollusca
• new species
• South Africa
• type species

Acknowledgements

Mary Bursey, Mary Seddon and Peter Tattersfield assisted with field work in the Transkei and Zululand. Johanna Swaye (now Horn), Devi Stuart‐Fox and Adnan Moussalli provided additional material from Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Derek Clark, and Caryl and Bart Logie facilitated and assisted with collecting in the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area. For leaf‐litter samples from various localities I thank Saskie Lovell, Johan Marais, Danuta Plisko, and Craig Symes. I thank also Jon Ablett, Kathie Way, and Fred Naggs for information on BMNH type material, Dolf van Bruggen for answering literature queries, and the University of KwaZulu‐Natal for use of the facilities at its Centre for Electron Microscopy.