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| Sinoxychilus melanoleucus
Wu & Liu, 2019
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Abstract
A new and the first proven oxychilid species endemic to China is reported from Sichuan Province. Sinoxychilus gen. nov. is established based on this new species and has diagnostic traits of the sculptured protoconch, partial epiphallus wrapped by developed penis sheath, penial retractor muscle inserting on the top of penial caecum, spinelets on penial pilasters, absence of epiphallic papilla and perivaginal gland present on vagina and proximal bursa copulatrix duct. In light of shell morphology and through geometric morphometric analyses, Zonites scrobiculatus scrobiculatus Gredler and Z. scrobiculatus hupeina Gredler are proposed to be included in the new genus. A phylogenetic inference based on ITS2 gene indicates that the new genus is systematically close to Oxychilus Fitzinger, which is known from the Western Palearctic and the Southwestern Arabian Peninsula, regions that are geographically far from the distribution range of the new genus.
Keywords: Geometric morphometric analysis, ITS2, new genus, Oxychilidae, phylogeny, Sichuan
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| Figure 2. Sinoxychilus melanoleucus gen. nov. and sp. nov. shells. A Holotype, HBUMM08236 specimen 1 B–E paratypes, HBUMM08236 specimens 2–4, 6. |
Gastrodontoidea Tryon, 1866
Oxychilidae Hesse, 1927
Oxychilinae Hesse, 1927
Sinoxychilus gen. nov.
Type species: Sinoxychilus melanoleucus gen. nov. and sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Protoconch with intercrossing radial wrinkles and spiral grooves. Penis sheath developed, more or less wrapping partial epiphallus. Tubercles of broken longitudinal penial pilasters bearing spinelets. Penial retractor muscle inserting on the top of penial caecum. Neither flagellum nor epiphallic papilla present. Perivaginal gland present on vagina and proximal bursa copulatrix duct.
Distribution: China (Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei).
Etymology: The generic name is a compound of Greek “sino” (= China) and Oxychilus which is a genus of the family Oxychilidae.
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| Sinoxychilus melanoleucus gen. nov. and sp. nov. Active animals. The photo was taken in laboratory rather than from the original habitat. |
Sinoxychilus melanoleucus gen. nov. &, sp. nov.
Etymology: The species is named for the clear demarcation between the leaden black ommatophores and dorsum and the remaining creamy white body, which is reminescent of the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca by having the color pattern of clear-cut patches of black and white (Fig. 10).
Ecology: The new species was found living in extremely humid environment at type locality. In the laboratory, below 100% relative humidity, animals became active at the relatively lower temperature of 5 °C (Fig. 10) before they were totally inactive at room temperature (ca. 25 °C).
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| Habitat of Sinoxychilus melanoleucus gen. nov. and sp. nov. Qingchengshan, Sichuan. |
Min Wu and Zhengping Liu. 2019. The First Proven Oxychilid Land Snail endemic to China (Eupulmonata, Gastrodontoidea). ZooKeys. 870: 33-50. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.870.32903
Chinese abstract: 首次从四川青城山报道了璃螺科（Oxychilidae，癞蜗牛总科Gastrodontoidea）的陆生软体动物。依据胚螺具雕饰、交接器鞘包裹部分成荚器、交接器收缩肌着生于交接器盲囊顶端、交接器内的壁柱具小棘、成荚器乳突阙如、雌道及纳精囊管基部具雌道周腺等特征，建立了由貊华璃螺 Sinoxychilus melanoleucus gen. nov. and sp. nov.为属模式种的华璃螺属 Sinoxychilus gen. nov.。根据贝壳特征及贝壳几何形态学分析，认为分别分布于湖南和湖北的 Zonites scrobiculatus scrobiculatus Gredler, 1885 与 Z. scrobiculatus hupeina Gredler, 1887当归于本新属。据ITS2序列重建的支序关系揭示该属与广泛分布于古北区西部等地区的璃螺属（Oxychilus Fitzinger）具有较其它癞蜗牛总科类群更近的系统发生关系。地理分布上，华璃螺为位于璃螺科连续分布区之外的一属。
