A revision of Gyrocochlea-grade Charopidae from mid-eastern Queensland and redescription and generic reassignment of three Gyrocochlea-grade species (Eupulmonata: Charopidae)

Abstract

This study reviews the Gyrocochlea-grade charopid snails of mid-eastern Queensland. Gyrocochlea auct., characterised by brown, biconcave shells with a diameter of 3-7 mm, has been shown to be polyphyletic (Shea et al. 2010). Gyrocochlea s.s. is confirmed as a genus geographically restricted to the Border Ranges of south-east Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales (Stanisic 1990). This study utilised scanning electron microscopy of the shell architecture, qualitative and quantitative measurements of conchological features and anatomical dissection where suitable specimens were obtainable. Based on shell morphology, primarily protoconch sculptural patterns (as defined in Holcroft 2018), this study re-assigns three Gyrocochlea-grade species, G. chambersae (Stanisic, 2010), G. iuloidea (Forbes, 1851) and G. danieli (Stanisic, 2010) to three new genera, Stanisicaropa gen. nov., Whitcochlea gen.nov. and Radiolaropa gen.nov. respectively and diagnoses four new genera, Amfractaropa gen.nov., Comularopa gen.nov., Nodularopa gen. nov. and Xenoropa gen.nov. Five new species are described: Nodularopa samanthae sp. nov., Amfractaropa bretti sp. nov., Comularopa georginae sp. nov., Radiolaropa eungella sp. nov., and Xenoropa wigtonensis sp. nov.  Mollusca, Eupulmonata, Charopidae, Gyrocochlea, protoconch sculpture, new genera, new species.