Bensonella dracula Gojšina, Hunyadi & Páll-Gergely, 2025

Bensonella dracula Gojšina, Hunyadi & Páll-Gergely sp. nov.

Figs 39 E View Figure 39 , 48 View Figure 48 , 49 View Figure 49 , 50 View Figure 50 , 51 View Figure 51 , 97 View Figure 97

Type material.

Holotype. Myanmar • 1 shell (SH: 2 mm, SW: 1.6 mm); Shan State, 22 km from centre of Hopong towards Namsang, Hkoche , near Htem Sann Cave ; 20°49.084'N, 97°20.119'E; 1240 m a. s. l.; 06 Oct. 2018; A. Hunyadi, K. Okubo & J. U. Otani leg.; CUMZ 14436 View Materials GoogleMaps . Paratypes. Myanmar • 16 shells; same data as for holotype; coll. HA GoogleMaps .

Type locality.

Myanmar, Shan State, 22 km from centre of Hopong towards Namsang, Hkoche, near Htem Sann Cave; 20°49.084'N, 97°20.119'E; 1240 m a. s. l.

Additional material examined.

Myanmar • 3 shells; Shan State, Pinlaung centre SSW 11 km – Laneli Bridge, Nam Pam , near “ Upper Spider Cave ”; 20°2.114'N, 96°45.728'E; 1420 m a. s. l.; 04 Oct. 2018; A. Hunyadi, K. Okubo & J. U. Otani leg.; coll. HA GoogleMaps • 1 shell; Myanmar, Kayah State, Hpruso district, Maw Thi Do Village , entrance of Phruno river cave; 19°22.744'N, 97°2.570'E; 12 Feb. 2019; J. Grego leg.; coll. JG GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Bensonella species with triangular, conical-ovoid shell and rounded whorls devoid of spiral striation. There are two palatal tubercles in front of a strong and frontally concave transversal plica. A single, strong basal plica present.

Description.

Shell triangular, conical-ovoid, consisting of 5–5.5 rounded, convex whorls separated by a deep suture. Protoconch consisting of ~ 1.25–1.5 roughly pitted whorls. Teleoconch devoid of spiral striation but with some fine radial growth lines, otherwise smooth, pasty. Last whorl adnate to penultimate. Aperture profile slightly opisthocline to the shell axis due to the very slightly ascending last whorl (~ 5 ° compared to the shell axis). In this view, a weak cervical crest could be observed behind the peristome. Peristome thick, expanded (especially on the parietal side where it forms a thick callus) but not reflected. Sinulus small and distinctly separated from the rest of the aperture. Aperture equipped with nine barriers (angular, parietal, upper palatal, transversal, two palatal tubercles, basal, columellar, and infraparietal). Parietal lamella very strong and high, curved and blade-like. Angular lamella much weaker and lower but longer, reaching the expanding peristome. Upper palatal plica moderate, higher in its middle parts. Transversal plica strong and with its frontal surface concave. In front of the transversal plica, there are two strong palatal tubercles. The upper one (usually present in all Bensonella species) is narrower and more acute. The lower palatal tubercle is wider and blunter. Basal plica present, short and ~ ½ as strong as the columellar lamella. The latter is strong, wide, and almost horizontal. Infraparietal lamella as strong as the basal plica. Surface of all apertural barriers is finely granulated. Umbilicus very narrow and slightly elongated, dot-like.

Differential diagnosis.

See under B. nordsiecki , B. obex sp. nov. and B. taiyaiorum .

Measurements

(in mm, n = 6). SH = 1.80–2.21; SW = 1.44–1.80; AH = 0.64–0.96; AW = 0.62–0.94.

Etymology.

Two strong palatal tubercles of this species resemble teeth of a vampire. The specific epithet refers to the iconic vampire, Count Dracula. To be used as a noun in apposition.

Distribution.

This species is known from the surroundings of Hopong and Pinlaung in Shan State, as well as Phruno river cave, Kayah State.

Remarks.

Specimens from Pinlaung (Shan) have a shorter transversal plica and have slightly more slender shells (Fig. 50 View Figure 50 ). Specimen from the Phruno river cave in Kayah State has a more ovoid shell (Fig. 51 View Figure 51 ).