Ampelita sepulcralis

Ampelita sepulcralis
Shell of Ampelita sepulcralis (specimen at Naturalis Biodiversity Center)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Stylommatophora
Family:	Acavidae
Genus:	Ampelita
Species:	A. sepulcralis
Binomial name
Ampelita sepulcralis (A. Férussac, 1821)
Synonyms
Ampelita sepulcralis var. funebrisE. von Martens, 1879 junior subjective synonym Ampelita sepulcralis var. olivacea(Pilsbry, 1890) unavailable name Helix (Ampelita) eurychilaCrosse & P. Fischer, 1883 (junior synonym) Helix (Ampelita) eurychila var. minorCrosse & P. Fischer, 1883 Helix (Helicella) sepulcralisA. Férussac, 1821 (original combination) Helix excoriataE. von Martens, 1883 (junior synonym) Helix labrellaLamarck, 1822 junior subjective synonym Helix sepulcralisA. Férussac, 1821 superseded combination Helix sepulcralis var. funebrisE. von Martens, 1879 Helix sepulcralis var. olivaceaPilsbry, 1890 (invalid; name preoccupied) Helix sepulcralis var. praeclaraCrosse & P. Fischer, 1890 (junior synonym) Helix sepulcralis var. proeclara (incorrect subsequent spelling) Helix sganzinianaCrosse & P. Fischer, 1876 (junior synonym)

Ampelita sepulcralis is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Acavidae. ^[1]

Varieties

• Ampelita sepulcralis var. albaFischer-Piette & Garreau, 1965 (uncertain > unassessed)
• Ampelita sepulcralis var. lethifera(Crosse & P. Fischer, 1890) (uncertain > unassessed)

Description

The height of the shell attains 23.2 mm, its diameter 44.2 mm.

This shell contains 4.4 whorls. The body whorl is convex below the suture, transitioning to concave before a weak carina above the shell margin, with the remaining periphery evenly rounded. The spire is flat, and the suture is deeply impressed and broadly guttered.

The aperture, measured parallel to the line connecting the upper and lower peristome insertions, is 10.61 mm in height (2.27 times the peristome insertion distance). Its width, perpendicular to this line, is 20.59 mm (0.47 times the shell diameter), resulting in an aperture height-to-width ratio of 0.52. The penultimate aperture protrudes 2.0 mm (0.10 times the aperture width) into the final aperture. The peristome is slightly reflected.

The umbilicus is wide, revealing all previous whorls. Embryonic sculpture consists of large pustules and broad, rounded growth lines in the sutures. Post-embryonic sculpture is densely pustulate.

The shell's general color is a uniform light brown. The umbilicus is bordered by a cream-colored band, which is further bordered by two darker brown bands. ^[2]

Distribution

This species is endemic to Madagascar.

References

1. Ampelita sepulcralis (A. Férussac, 1821) . 06 March 2025. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species .
2. Emberton, K.C.; Slapcinsky, J.; Campbell, C.A.; Rakotondrazafy, J.A.; Andriamiarison, T.N; Emberton, J.D. (2010). "Terrestrial mollusks of Andriantantely Massif, Eastern Madagascar, with descriptions of 36 new species (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda; Pulmonata)". Archiv für Molluskenkunde. 139 (1). Retrieved 6 March 2025. (open access)

• Fischer-Piette, E.; C. P. Blanc; F. Blanc & F. Salvat. (1994). "Gastéropodes terrestres pulmonés". Faune de Madagascar. 83: 109.

External links

• Férussac, A. E. J. P. F. d'Audebard de. (1821–1822). Tableaux systématiques des animaux mollusques classés en familles naturelles, dans lesquels on a établi la concordance de tous les systèmes; suivis d'un Prodrome général pour tous les mollusques ou fluviatiles, vivantes ou fossiles. Paris. p. 39. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
• Fischer-Piette, E., Blanc, F. & Salvat, F. (1975). "Complément aux mollusques pulmonés de Madagascar". Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Série 3, No 288. 198: 140.