Studies on the Charopidae of tropical and subtropical Australia. I. Oreokera: A primitive genus from the high mountains of North Queensland (Mollusca : Pulmonata: Charopidae)

Abstract

The charopid genus Oreokera is shown to be an invalidly introduced taxon. It is herein formally validated and redefined. The genus contains two species found only on the summits of the high mountains of north-east Queensland. The type species, Oreokera cumulus (Odhner, 1917) is redescribed and refigured on the basis of newly dissected topotypic material. A new species, Oreokera nimbus from Thornton Peak, is figured and described. Oreokera is identified as a primitive taxon among the Charopidae by the absence of a closed secondary ureter in either O. cumulus or O. nimbus. The relationships of the genus are discussed and some comments made on its biogeographic status.