Revision of the genus Pugillaria Iredale, 1924 (Mollusca: Panpulmonata: Siphonariidae)

ABSTRACT

The species of Pugillaria Iredale, 1924 are revised and redescribed. Having not been described adequately, the type species Siphonaria stowae Verco, 1906 of the genus Pugillaria has remained confused and hence the status and validity of the genus uncertain. Previous assessments of S. stowae were based solely on the interpretation of shell and radula characteristics. Three species of Pugillaria are described, two are new and all are endemic to Australia. Pugillaria species are amongst the smallest known members of the Siphonariidae. They are very uncommon and have probably been overlooked as juveniles of larger co-existing siphonariid or patelliform species in collections. They have a distinctive shell morphology, reproductive system and radula. The genus is differentiated from other siphonariid genera (Siphonaria Sowerby, 1823, Benhamina Finlay, 1927 and Williamia Monterosato, 1884) as well as the coexisting Trimusculus Schmidt, 1818 (Ellobiidae).

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7AB7567B-9889-4FEE-A403-FCC6448E9CA9

KEYWORDS:

• New taxa
• protoconch
• radula
• reproductive system
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Mandy Reid for access to AMS collections and equipment, Simon Hager (University of NSW Electron Microscope Unit) for access to SEM facilities, Chris Rowley for access to MV collections and John Healy for access to QMS collections. I am particularly grateful to Thierry Laparousaz (SAM) for access to, and the loan of, type specimens and collection material. Winston Ponder is sincerely thanked for critically reading the manuscript. The efforts of Bruce Marshall and an anonymous reviewer are gratefully acknowledged for providing constructive comments that markedly improved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.