New species and records of Pelycidion P. Fischer in de Folin & Périer, 1873 (Gastropoda: Pelycidiidae) from temperate Australia

Abstract

Four new species of Pelycidion P. Fischer in de Folin & Périer, 1873 are described from temperate Australia on the basis of shells: Pelycidion eukyrtos n. sp. from central Victoria, P. caperovertex n. sp. and P. kratycylindros n. sp. from southwest Australia and P. meizonarchei n. sp. from southern Tasmania. Two additional congeneric specimens are known from the region and discussed; one of these, from the Tasman Sea, is illustrated and likely represents a new species. Collectively, these specimens are the first members of the genus and family to be recorded from temperate Australia. A brief overview of the described species of Pelycidion is given.

Keywords:

• Caenogastropoda
• Littorinoidea
• taxonomy
• Taupo seamount
• Westernport Bay

Acknowledgements

We thank Roger Curtain and the Bio 21 Institute of The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria and Phil Francis and Arwen Pagon of the RMIT Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility (RMMF) of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne, Victoria, for access to, and training in, SEM. T. Joan Hales of Corrinne via Glen Alvie, Victoria, kindly donated material. Melanie Mackenzie, Chris Rowley and David Staples (MV) provided support, optical microscopes, references and co-ordinated specimen loans. Mandy Reid (AMS) lent material for study and SEM imaging. Leonie Cash, staff at MV library and staff at the Baillieu Library, The University of Melbourne, assisted with access to references. Daniel L. Geiger (Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, California) provided invaluable advice on practical SEM techniques. Philippe Bouchet (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris) clarified nomenclatural issues. Robert Burn provided taxonomic advice and references and together with Ken Bell reviewed an earlier draft of this work. Emilio Rolán, Geoff Macaulay and Simon Wilson also supplied references. Simon Grove (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery), Corey Whisson (Western Australian Museum) and Thierry Laperousaz (South Australian Museum) confirmed the absence of Pelycidion material from their collections. Robyn Mary Vafiadis translated selected French references and Evlambia Vafiadis assisted with the maps. We also thank Daniel L. Geiger, Winston Ponder (AMS), Bruce Marshall (Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa) and an anonymous reviewer for comments on the manuscript.