A new troglobite species of Habeastrum Simone, 2019 from Brazil, and support for classification in Diplommatinidae (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda)

Abstract

The genus Habeastrum Simone, 2019 was recently described based on empty shells, counting with two troglobite species. Conchological features allowed a preliminary classification in the caenogastropod family Diplommatinidae, but this family allocation was left open to future studies. Herein, we present a detailed anatomical study of newly acquired specimens, confirming the classification in Diplommatinidae. These new specimens, from Minas Gerais state, SE Brazil, belong to a new troglobite species described herein, Habeastrum strangeisp. nov. The present records extend the genus distribution ca. 1,100 km east-northeast.

Terrestrial Gastropoda from the caves of Presidente Olegário, southeastern Brazil

“…Meanwhile, several subulinine and scolodontid taxa were recovered from the epigean to the dark aphotic zone of the caves (Table 2). From all species reported herein, only Habeastrum strangei is a known cave endemic (Simone et al, 2020); all the others have wider distributions in non-cave environments.…”

“…Those efforts are leading to an increase in the amount of information on cave-dwelling mollusks (e.g. ; Simone 2012Simone , 2013Salvador et al , 2017Simone et al 2020). This increase in studies is very welcome, both from the perspectives of mollusk taxonomy (Salvador 2019b) and of environmental protection, given that cave ecosystems are usually fragile but harbor a reasonable number of endemic species (Trajano 2000;Gallão & Bichuette 2012;Weigand 2013).…”

New records of Orthalicoidea land snail species for the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil (Gastropoda, Stylommatophora)

“…The knowledge on the taxonomy and geographic distribution of terrestrial gastropods in Brazil is still in its infancy, although little by little the situation is being improved (Salvador 2019). Recent expeditions to Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu, located in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil, have retrieved a reasonable number of specimens from cave environments, which are likewise understudied in the country (e.g., Pinto-da-Rocha 1995; Bichuette and Trajano 2008;Simone et al 2020).…”