Abstract
A new species of Scutalus Albers, 1850 (Gastropoda: Bulimulidae), Scutalus chango sp. n., is described from a coastal area of northern Chile. Empty shells of this new species were found buried in sand and under boulders and rocks in the foothills of the Chilean Coastal Range at Paposo, Región de Antofagasta. This new species is distinguished from all other Chilean terrestrial snails by its slender shell with a flared and reflected aperture, and by the presence of a columellar fold. This is the first record of Scutalus in Chile, and the southernmost record for this endemic South American bulimulid genus. The presence of this species in Paposo highlights the need for further research and for conservation guidelines in coastal areas of northern Chile, which have comparatively high levels of biodiversity and endemism.
Highlights
Terrestrial mollusks are one of the least well known invertebrate groups in Chile; knowledge of their diversity is based on comparatively few works, most of them from the 19th century, with a single, more comprehensive recent work (Stuardo & Vega, 1985), which lists 154 species in 14 families for all Chilean territories, including the Juan Fernández and Desventuradas Archipelagos as well as Easter Island
In the present study—part of ongoing work aimed at reviewing the terrestrial mollusks from northern and central Chile (Araya & Aliaga, 2015; Araya, 2015b; Araya, 2016)—we report a new terrestrial snail species, characterized by having a shell with an expanded
It was collected buried in humus and sand among communities of arborescent cacti (Eulychnia iquiquensis), large succulent shrubs (Euphorbia lactiflua), and other xerophytic plants in a narrow area in the foothills of the Chilean Coastal Range north of Paposo, Región de Antofagasta, in northern Chile
Summary
Terrestrial mollusks are one of the least well known invertebrate groups in Chile; knowledge of their diversity is based on comparatively few works, most of them from the 19th century, with a single, more comprehensive recent work (Stuardo & Vega, 1985), which lists 154 species in 14 families for all Chilean territories, including the Juan Fernández and Desventuradas Archipelagos as well as Easter Island. It was collected buried in humus and sand among communities of arborescent cacti (Eulychnia iquiquensis), large succulent shrubs (Euphorbia lactiflua), and other xerophytic plants in a narrow area in the foothills of the Chilean Coastal Range north of Paposo, Región de Antofagasta, in northern Chile. This new species represents the southernmost record of the genus Scutalus Albers, 1850, a South American genus of the family Bulimulidae; this family was previously represented in Chile solely by the genus Bostryx Troschel, 1847 (Valdovinos, 1999)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
