Table Of ContentBASTERIA, 58: 55-62, 1994
Five newAlbinariasubspecies from the eastern Peloponnese, Greece;
withnotes onIsabellarias.l. (Gastropoda Pulmonata:Clausiliidae)
E. Gittenberger
Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, P.O. Box9517, NL 2300 RALeiden,The Netherlands
Five subspecies ofAlbinariafromtheE. Peloponnese,Greece, aredescribed as newtoscience,
viz. A.argynnislevipalatalis,A.argynnisprofundella,A. discoloreureka,A. discolorpelocarinata, andA.
griseaakrocurta. Withina single species,A. discolor eureka bridges the gap between the two
allegedlydistinctgeneraAlbinariaandIsabellariasensu auct.; theparapatricA.griseaakrocurtaand
I. confusa,whicharestrikinglysimilarin generalshape,mightalsobeconsidered congenerictaxa
atleast.
Key words: Gastropoda,Pulmonata,Clausiliidae,Albinaria, Isabellaria,parallelism,taxonomy,
Greece.
INTRODUCTION
During a systematic survey of the molluscanfaunaofthe Parnon mountains, in the
eastern Peloponnese, Greece, several taxa new to science were discovered. Some of
these, belonging tothe clausiliidgenusAlbinariaVest, 1867,aredescribed inthepresent
paper. It concerns aseriesofsubspecies. They are relevantin thecontextofevolution-
ary studies, which is oneofthe reasons thatthey shouldbe namedprior to the time-
consuming finalizationofamore general revision ofthe Peloponnesian representatives
ofthe speciose genusAlbinaria.
SYSTEMATIC PART
Unless indicatedotherwise, the materialcited belowrefers to paratypes. For collec-
tions the following abbreviations are used: HNV, H. Nordsieck, Villingen-Schwen-
ningen (Germany); NHMW,Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien (Austria); NNM, Natio-
naal Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden (The Netherlands); PSA, P. Subai, Aachen
(Germany); RBA, R.A. Bank, Amsterdam (The Netherlands); WMD,W.J.M. Maassen,
Duivendrecht(The Netherlands).
Albinariaargynnis(figles.vi3p,a4l)atalis subspec. nov.
Material.—Lakonia:rockyareaaboveLiminIerakos (20km E. ofMolai),20 m alt.,FF8574(HNV/2;NNM
56872/holotype, 56873/12; SMF 310353/2); NW. side ofIerax (18 km E. ofMolai),60 m alt., FF8275
(NHMW/2;NNM 56874/17; PSA/2;RBA/2; WMA/2).
Diagnosis. — ArathertumidformofA. argynnis (Westerlund, 1898), with anobsolete
dorsalkeel; frontalupperpalatal fold asprominent as the principalis ormore obsolete.
Description. — Shell spindle-shaped, rather tumid, with 9-10 whorls; lower whorls
strongly flattenedand separated by a shallowsuture. Initialteleoconch whorlspromi-
nently sculptured with rather widely spaced ribs, running between the suture lines;
56 BASTERIA, Vol. 58,No. 1-2, 1994
lowerwhorlswith anincreasingly moreobsolete sculpture, which increasessomewhatin
prominence again, only from the lower part of the penultimate whorl on. On the
cervical part ofthe body whorl, the ribs are more or less regularly arranged and still
quitevague nearthe suture. Basalkeel shortbutprominent; adorsalkeel canhardlybe
distinguished and, consequently, there isno clearfurrowbetween cervical keels. Aper-
turerather diamond-shaped withroundedcorners, protruding, with abroadly reflected
and strongly thickened lip. Shell greyish white, with (very) irregular corneousspots,
occasionally longitudinal streaks.
Columellarismoderately protruding intotheaperture;subcolumellarishardly discer-
nible in front view, but clearly seen in oblique view, as a slightly curved lamella.
Parietalisprominent, forabouthalfits length running parallelto thespiralis. Principalis
clearly seenin frontalview, running inside asfar as the uppermost,backwardly curved
part of the narrowbut prominent, dorsallunula; the short, sharp lamelliformbasalis is
only vaguely connectedto the lunula.
Height 14.9-17.9mm;width 4.3-5.0mm
Range. — Only knownfromtheareanorthandnorthwestofthe scenic fiordofLimin
Ierakos.
Notes. — This taxon is consideredthe southernmostsubspecies ofA. argynnis. The
mainreasons to dosoarethedistributionalrange and,morphologically, thepresence of
a frontalupperpalatal lamella, in combinationwith thegeneral shape. Rare specimens
without afrontalupperpalatal lamellaremindofA. grisea. Moreto the souththerange
of "Isabellaria”campylauchen (Boettger, 1883) starts, probably the sister species ofA.
argynnis. In these vicariant species aprominent frontalupper palatal fold occurs.
Etymology. — Afterlevis(Latin) = insignificant. Theepithet refers to themore orless
obsolete palatalis.
Albinaria argynnis profundella subspec. nov.
(figs. 1, 2)
Material. — Arkadhia, alongthe coastalroad, 4.5 km NE. ofLeonidhion, 30 m alt., FG6816 (HNV/2;
NHMW/2;NNM56875/holotype,56876/30; PSA/2; RBA/2;SMF 310354/2;WMD/2).
Diagnosis. —A slenderform ofA. argynnis, witha laterallunulaand asharp cervical
furrow between two prominent keels, of the conspicuously twisted back ofthe body
whorl; frontalupperpalatal fold moreprominent than the principalis.
Description. — Shell(very) slenderspindle-shaped, with 8-93/ whorls; lowerwhorls
4
strongly flattenedand separated by a slightly indentedsuture. Initialteleoconchwhorls
irregularly sculptured with ribs that are prominent near the upper suture line and
strongly decrease in prominence downward, towards the lower suture line, which is
often notevenreached. Lowerwhorlswithanobsolete sculpture, apart fromthe lower
partofthe penultimate whorl andthecervical part ofthebody whorl, whichhas sharp
ribs, especially onthekeels. Thecervical ribs do not, or hardly, reachthesuture above.
Basal keel short but prominent, separated by a sharp furrow from the longer, more
conspicuous dorsal keel. Above the dorsal keel, the shell wall is concave. Aperture
Figs. 1-6. Albinariaspec. 1,2,A.argynnisprofundellasubspec.nov.,holotype(NNM),actualheight 14.6mm; 3,4,A.
argynnislevipalatalissubspec.nov., holotype(NNM), actualheight 15.8 mm; 5,6,A. griseaakrocurtasubspec.nov.,
holotype(NNM), actual height 13.9mm. PhotographsA.‘tHooft(R.U.,Leiden).
Gittenberger:FivenewAlbinaria subspeciesfrom Greece 57
58 BASTERIA, Vol. 58,No. 1-2, 1994
obliquely oval, protruding, with a broadly reflected, moderately thickened lip. Shell
greyish white,withamoreorless regularpatternofradial, corneous streaks, whichmay
be straight or curved, sometimes zigzag-like.
Columellaris broadly protruding into the aperture;subcolumellaris hardly, or not,
discerniblein front view, but clearly seenin oblique view, as anearly straight lamella.
Parietalisprominent, shortly running parallel tothe spiralis. Principalis clearly seen in
front view, running inside as far as the uppermost, backwardly curved, part ofthe
narrow but prominent, laterallunula; the short, quickly narrowing, or longer, more
lamelliform, basalis is connectedwith the lunulaand runs along the inside ridge that
corresponds with the furrow between the cervical keels.
Height 12.2-16.5mm; width 3.2-3.7mm.
Range. — Known fromonly a smallareawithinthe range ofA. a.argynnis, along the
coastal road northeastofLeonidhion.
Notes. — This form is restricted to a small areawithinthe range ofthe nominate
subspecies. It is namedas a subspecies because ofthe very characteristic shape ofthe
cervical part ofthe shell, foundin all specimens collectedat thetype locality.
Etymology. — Afterprofundus (Latin) = deep. The epithet refers totheposition ofthe
lunula.
Albinariadiscoloreureka subspec. nov.
(figs. 7-9)
Material. — Lakonia: N. side ofMolai, 175 m alt., FF6576(HNV/3;NHMW/3; NNM 56877/holotype,
56878/89; PSA/3;RBA/3;SMF 310355/3;WMD/3);Elaia(= Elia), 10m alt.,FF6169(HNV/3;NHMW/2;
NNM 56879/82; PSA/2;RBA/2;SMF 310356/2;WMD/2).
Diagnosis. — Aslender spindle-shaped formof.A. discolor, witha short but prominent
basal keel, an obsolete sculpture, and aG-type clausilialapparatuswitha long lamella
parallela accompanying a relatively low spiralis and an equally low principalis.
Description. — Shellslenderfusiform toclub-shaped, with 9-11 whorls; lowerwhorls
strongly flattenedandseparated by ashallow suture. Initialteleoconchwhorlswithvery
narrowly spaced ribs, which become nearly completely obsolete onthe lower whorls,
only increasing inprominence to faintribs again onthecervicalpartof thebody whorl.
Basalkeel shortbut prominent; no dorsalkeel developed. Aperture elliptical, protrud-
ing, with a moderately broadly reflected, somewhat thickened lip. Shellbluish white,
withsomeirregular corneousspotting, especially onthe upperwhorls; shells with larger
corneousparts occur in the population from Elaia.
Columellarislowandvery obliquely running inside; subcolumellarisusually noteven
visible in oblique view. Parietalis moderately prominent, not or over only a short
distancerunning parallel to the relatively lowspiralis. Parallel to the spiralis, the still
lowerparallela runs somewhatfurther infront; inside, the lamellaereachabout equally
Figs.7-12.Albinariaspec. 7-9,A. discoloreurekasubspec.nov.,holotype(NNM),actualheight14.5mm [7,8],witha
detailofa paratype, showing theparietalis(p), spiralis(s) andparallela (a) on the parietalapertural wall, the
columellaris (c), and theprincipalis(i) in cross-section [9]; 10-12,A. discolorpelocarinatasubspec. nov., holotype
(NNM),actualheight16.3mm [10, 11],witha detailofaparatype, showing theparietalis(p) andspiralis(s)on the
parietalaperturalwall, the columellaris(c) and subcolumellaris (b), and the principalis(i)in cross-section [12].
PhotographsA.‘t Hooft(R.U. Leiden).
Gittenberger:Five newAlbinaria subspeciesfrom Greece 59
60 BASTERIA, Vol. 58,No. 1-2, 1994
deep. The principalis is about as low asthe spiralis, andthe clausiliumbladereaches
high intotheparieto-palatal angle,which impliesthatthereisno by-pass canalthere.In
this G-type clausilialapparatus there is neither a fulcrans nor a suturalis. Inside, the
principalis runs asfarasthe uppermostpartoftheratherbroadlunula, whichis shortly
curved backward.
Height 12.7-17.2mm; width 3.3-4.2mm
Range. — This subspecies is known from populations on the southernmostborder,
and halfway on the east side, ofthe KurkulaMtn., W. of Molai.
Notes. — In size, shape and sculpture, thissubspecies cannot be distinguished from
the parapatric nominate subspecies. Its clausilialapparatus, however, belongs to the
G-type, which was consideredatypical for Albinariafor a long time(see e.g.: Gitten-
berger & Schilthuizen, in press; Nordsieck, 1984).At the two localitieswhere thisform
was foundabundantly, situated c. 7 km apart, allspecimens thatwere studiedhave the
diagnostic characters mentionedabove. Preliminary anatomicalresearch has shown,
that this form and A. d. discolor share a qualitative character in the malepart ofthe
genitalia (M. Graafland, personal communication).
Whatever their evolutionary origin may be, we are evidently not dealing here with
rare hybrid forms, butwith a taxon occurring in large populations, that deservesto be
named.Itsgeneric assignment toAlbinaria,anditsstatus as a subspecies ofA. discolor, are
in line with the biogeographical and morphological, conchological and anatomical,
datathat are available.
Etymology. — The epithet emphasizes the relevance of the discovery of this sub-
species with regard to the problematic status ofthe Peloponnesian so-called Isabellaria
species.
Albinaria discolor pelocarinata subspec. nov.
(figs. 10-12)
Material. — Lakonia: 4km NW.ofDhaimonia(= Demonia), halfwayto Papadhianika, 120m alt.,FF6661
(HNV/2; NHMYV/1;NNM56880/holotype,56881/16; PSA/1;RBA/1; SMF 310357/1; YVMD/1).
Diagnosis. — Aslender spindle-shaped form ofA. discolor, with sharp fineribs onall
teleoconch whorls, an N-type clausilial apparatus with a large by-pass canal in the
palato-parietal corner, and a very prominent, flaringbasalkeel.
Description. — Shell(very) slender spindle-shaped to somewhatmore club-shaped,
with91/2-1 1'/2whorls; lowerwhorls flat,butseparated byamarkedly indentedsuture.
All teleoconch whorls covered by sharp ribs, which are slightly more widely spaced on
the initialones, and locally more prominent on the crest of the basal keel; on the
penultimate whorl there are c. 7 ribspermm. Inbetween the ribs there arefew, vague,
growth-lines. The body whorl is providedwith avery prominent, slightly flaring, basal
keel,abovewhich the wallis concaveinoutline. Aperture elliptical, protruding, witha
moderately reflected and thickened lip. Shell greyish white, sometimes with some
corneous spots.
Columellaris low and very obliquely running upward; subcolumellaris not even
discerniblein oblique view. Parietalis moderately high in front, for overhalf its length
running parallel to thespiralis, which increases graduallyin height inwardly. Principalis
prominent, running uptoas farasthe entirebodywhorlinside, thusclearly deeper than
the broad lunula, which has a very short lamelliform uppermost part, pointing
backward.
Gittenberger: Five newAlbinaria subspeciesfrom Greece 61
Height 13.6-17.1 mm; width 3.3-3.55 mm.
Range. — Only known from the type locality.
Notes.— Thistaxon couldalsobe consideredaseparate species becauseofthe shape
of thebasal keel, which isclearly more prominently flaring thanin all otherforms ofA.
discolor. Insculpture itremindsofA. d.haessleini, which hasaG-typeclausilialapparatus,
however.
A. d. pelocarinata recalls various Albinariataxa from southern Turkey (for example A.
schuetti Nordsieck, 1984, and A. supercarinata Gittenberger, 1992) with similar or even
more prominent basalkeels. This similarity,whichis restrictedto theshape ofthe shell
basis, can hardlybe anything else than a result of parallel evolution.
Etymology. — This is the most prominently keeled (carina = keel) Albinariaknown
from the Peloponnese.
Albinariagrisea akrocurta subspec. nov.
(figs. 5, 6)
Material.— Lakonia: 2km W.ofNiata, 250 m alt., amonglimestone rocks and stones, FF6186(HNV/2;
NHMW/2; NNM56882/holotype,56883/13, 56891/9; PSA/2;RBA/2;SMF 310358/2; WMD/2); 3km W.
ofSkala,lowlimestonegorgeN.oftheroad,200 malt.,FF4580(HNV/2;NHMW/2;NNM56884/48;PSA/2;
RBA/2;SMF 310359/2;WMD/2).
Diagnosis. — A form ofA. grisea with a very short apical part and arelatively large,
subcylindrical, broad lower part, with a more or less prominent sculpture, and a
roundish aperture.
Description. — Shellwitha short, conical, apical part,taking up to c. '/4ofthe total
height, anda relatively broad, subcylindrical mainbody, slightly tapering towards the
basis. With8-9'/4whorls; lower whorls strongly flattenedand separated by a shallow
suture. Initialteleoconchwhorlswith moderately prominent, ratherwidely spaced, ribs,
which become somewhat more dense onthe following whorls, becoming more distant
again only onthecervicalpart ofthe bodywhorl. Thesculpture maybe hardly, ornot,
discernible on the middle part of the shell; the ribs themselves are nowhere more
prominent thanon the initialteleoconch whorls. There is ashort, modest, basal keel,
which is separated from the regularly inflatedrest of the body whorl by a shallow
indentation.Aperture roundish,protruding, witha broadlyreflected, moderately thick-
enedlip. Shellgreyish white, with irregular corneousspots and streaks.
Columellarislow andvery obliquely running inside; subcolumellarishardly discern-
ible in frontview. Parietalisprominent, fornearly halfits length running parallel tothe
spiralis. Principalis running insideas far as theuppermost, backwardly curved, partof
the sharp and narrow, dorsal lunula. Aperture withouta basalis.
Height 11.0-16.2mm; width 3.6-4.7 mm.
Range. — The two records are in S. Lakonia, ina still insufficiently known area, at
two sides of the Evrotas river.
Notes.— Thistaxonis classifiedwithA.griseabecauseoftheshape of thebodywhorl,
especially the structure andsculpture ofthe cervicalpart ofit. Withoutinspecting the
clausilial apparatus this subspecies cannot be distinguished from “Isabellaria” confusa
(Boettger, 1878),which mightbe parapatrically distributed; the ranges of thetwo taxa
shouldbe studied in more detail.
Etymology. — After akron(Greek) = summit, andcurtus(Latin) = short, referring to
the short apical part of the shell.
62 BASTERIA, Vol. 58,No. 1-2, 1994
REFERENCES
GITTENBERGER, E., & M. SGHILTHUIZEN, in press. Parallelismin the origin ofthe G-type clausilial
apparatus (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Clausiliidae). J.Moll.Stud.
NORDSIECK.H., 1984.NeueTaxa rezentereuropaischerClausilien, mitBcmerkungenzurBastardierungbei
Clausilien(Gastropoda: Clausiliidae). Arch. Molluskenk. 114: 189-211.
