Boucardicinae Páll-Gergely, 2024

Subfamily Boucardicinae Páll-Gergely subfam. nov.

( Fig. 10 View Figure 10 )

h t t p: / / z o o b a n k.o r g / 2 6 9 6 4 1 F2 -F C 2 5 -4 1 A E - B C 9 6 - 0632E6931CC3

Tope genus: Boucardicus Fischer-Piete & Bedoucha, 1965 .

Content: Anosocolus Fischer-Piete, Ch. P. Blanc, F. Blanc & F. Salvat, 1993 ( Fig. 10A View Figure 10 ), Boucardicus Fischer-Piete & Bedoucha, 1965 ( Fig. 10B–D View Figure 10 ), Malarinia Haas, 1961 ( Fig. 10E, F View Figure 10 ). As a result of a recent intense survey, the number of known Boucardicus species has reached almost 200 species (Emberton and Pearce 1999, Emberton 2002a, Emberton et al. 2010, Balashov and Griffiths 2015). Anosocolus and Malarinia both have two species.

Diagnosis: Sutural tube absent; microtunnels long, formed by folds of the uppermost shell layer, and situated between the peristome and the position of the operculum (= constriction), i.e. anterior to the inner opening; each microtunnel reaches the common opening individually; the single opening is situated immediately behind the operculum. Operculum eccentric.

Distribution: Endemic to Madagascar ( Fig. 11 View Figure 11 ).

Remarks: Te shell sculpture of Boucardicus species, especially the rib morphology of the area between the peristome and the position of the operculum, is crucial for species delimitation and recognition. Tus, it was described in detail for each species ( Emberton 1994, 2001, 2002a, Emberton and Pearce 1999, Emberton et al. 1999, 2010). However, the function of these ribs (i.e. microtunnels) and the presence of a single opening behind the operculum have not been mentioned in the literature.