Dupontia affouchensis
| Dupontia affouchensis | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dupontia affouchensis | ||||||||||||
| Griffiths , 2000 |
Dupontia affouchensis is an extinct Landlungenschneckenart that on the island of Rodrigues endemic was. The subfossil material was discovered in 1989 and 1997 by Carl G. Jones and Owen Lee Griffiths in Caverne L'Affouche, Caverne Palate and Caverne Bambara near Plaine Corail and scientifically described by Griffiths in 2000.
features
The holotype of Dupontia affouchensis has a case height of 5.5 mm and a case diameter of 11 mm. The case is pressed, thin and has a rounded periphery. The color is bright glossy white with a thin brown band that borders the seam and continues to the last turn over the periphery. The four turns are regularly raised. The seams are clearly edged. The narrow umbilicus (umbilicus) is partially covered by the folded top of the columella (spindle). The thin outer lip of the mouth is sharp and has no peristome . The mouth is wider than it is high and descends slightly below the case in a crescent shape. When magnified under the microscope, a smooth shell with fine spiral lines becomes visible. The brown ribbon is missing on many copies.
Dupontia affouchensis differs from the other Dupontia species of the Mascarene by its slightly larger size, more spherical shape and glossy white color. It is also the only Dupontia species with a peripheral band.
status
This species is only known from limestone rubble deposits (calcarenite) from the southwest of Rodrigues. This area used to be palm savannah, but was completely burned and cleared in the 1830s, so Dupontia affouchensis likely became extinct during this time. The genus Dupontia is common on Mauritius and Réunion, but only this species occurred on Rodrigues. Despite intensive searches, no living specimens were found. A total of 21 adult and sub-adult housings were collected.
literature
- Owen Lee Griffiths: Nine new species of Mascarene land snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) , Molluscan Research, Volume 20 (2), 2000, pp. 37-50