Land snail diversity in central China: revision of Laeocathaica Mollendorff, 1899 (Gastropoda, Camaenidae), with descriptions of seven new species.

ABSTRACT: Central China harbors the native dart-sac-bearing camaenids Laeocathaica. The genus is revised and seven new species are proposed based on museum material and newly collected specimens. This work confirmed that most Laeocathaica species have restricted habitats. The comparison of the dart sac apparatus among the dart-sac-bearing camaenid genera indicated the importance of the presence of the proximal accessory sac that might be analogous to the membranous/muscular sac surrounding the proximal dart sac and/or the distal region of the vagina near the atrium, which also plays a significant role in the diagnosis of Laeocathaica species based on its number, symmetry and position on the dart sac. Species with similar shell morphology were studied using geometric morphometric

SUBMITTER: Wu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10209311 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature