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Two new phreatic snails (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda, Cochliopidae) from the Edwards and Edwards-Trinity aquifers, Texas.

Authors :
Perez, Kathryn E.
Guerrero, Yamileth
CastaƱeda, Roel
Diaz, Peter H.
Gibson, Randy
Schwartz, Benjamin
Hutchins, Benjamin T.
Source :
Subterranean Biology. 2023, Issue 47, p1-27. 27p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

The Edwards and Edwards-Trinity Aquifers of Texas have diverse stygofauna, including fifteen species of snails found in phreatic and hyporheic habitats. These species have the hallmarks of adaptation to subterranean environments including extremely small body size and the loss of pigmentation and eyes. Here we use an integrative taxonomic approach, using shell, radula, and anatomical features as well as mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data, to circumscribe a new genus and two new cavesnail species from Central Texas. Vitropyrgus lillianae gen. et sp. nov. is described from Comal Springs (Comal County) and Fessenden Springs (Kerr County) and distinguished by a glassy, highly sculptured shell and distinctively simple, unornamented penial morphology. We also describe Phreatodrobia bulla sp. nov. from Hidden Springs (Bell County), and several other springs in Bell & Williamson Counties, Texas. This species has a smooth, unsculptured teleoconch, a reflected and flared lip, and deeply concave operculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
17681448
Issue :
47
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Subterranean Biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
174863932
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.47.113186