Molecular phylogenetics and comparative anatomy of Kimberleytrachia Köhler, 2011 – a genus of land snail endemic to the coastal Kimberley, Western Australia with description of new taxa (Gastropoda, Camaenidae)

Kimberleytrachia Köhler, 2011 is a genus of camaenid land snail endemic to the Western Australian Kimberley region. It comprises twelve previously recognised species, all of which occur within the high precipitation zone along the north-western coast between the Admiralty Gulf and King Sound and within less than about 50 km distance from the coast. By evaluating the variation in shell and genital anatomy as well as the differentiation in the mitochondrial markers 16S and COI, we assess the monophyly of Kimberleytrachia with respect to other camaenid genera from north-western Australia. In addition, we newly describe six species (K. jacksonensis n. sp., K. leopardus n. sp., K. nelsonensis n. sp., K. serrata n. sp., K. setosa n. sp. and K. silvaepluvialis n. sp.) based on comparative morphology and mitochondrial DNA differentiation. We found that a rather smooth, weakly elevated shell and, in particular, the complex penial anatomy are key morphological characteristics of Kimberleytrachia. Its constituent species are differentiated by a combination of shell and genital features and their morphological disparity appears to be more pronounced when species occur in sympatry. While island species are usually narrowly endemic to one or a few islands, the mainland species have much larger distributional ranges. One new species from the Maret and Berthier Islands, Bonaparte Archipelago, is phylogenetically and morphologically so distinct from Kimberleytrachia that it is recognized as a new monotypic genus, Succochlea n. gen.

Mitochondrial and morphological differentiation in a previously unrecognized radiation of the land snail genus Parachloritis Ehrmann, 1912 on Timor (Pulmonata: Camaenidae)

The present work revises the taxonomy of one group of camaenid gastropods from Timor-Leste based on the study of a large number of recently collected ethanol preserved samples as well as historic museum material, including types. By employing comparative analyses of the variation in morphological features (shell, penial anatomy) and the differentiation in mitochondrial DNA sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI) and the 16S rDNA (16S), altogether nineteen species are recognized from Timor-Leste and adjacent areas in the Lesser Sunda and Moluccas, such as West-Timor, Adonara, Leti and Sermata Islands (Indonesia). Four of these species were described previously and have mostly been placed within the genus Chloritis Beck, 1837 in the few historic treatments available. Fifteen species found to be new are formally described. In contrast to the previous taxonomic treatment, placement in the genus Parachloritis Ehrmann, 1912 is proposed on grounds of comparative shell morphology. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that all examined species form a monophyletic group, which encompasses diverse shell forms. While most species have shells of the general chloritid type, which are of little taxonomic utility, highly distinct shell morphs (trochoid shells, dwarf forms) have originated within this radiation in independent lineages. Morphological change has occurred in some taxonomic lineages while the bulk of Parachloritis species has maintained an ancestral shell phenotype. This phenotypic stasis is attributed to stabilizing selection in species, which have maintained associations with ancestral habitats, while distinct shell forms have evolved as result of habitat shifts. Consequently, purely shellbased taxonomies are prone to errors due to misjudging the significance of shell characters. While some Parachloritis species uncovered here were found to be narrowly endemic, others had wide distributions that include more than one island. Narrow range endemism was predominantly found in dwarf species and in species that live in high altitudes.

Gastrocopta (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pupillidae) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia

Six species of Gastrocopta have been identified from the Pilbara region, Western Australia, by means of comparative analyses of shell and mtDNA variation. Three of these species, Gastrocopta hedleyi, Gastrocopta larapinta and Gastrocopta servilis, have been recorded in the Pilbara for the first time. Gastrocopta sp. CW1 is probably new to science and might be endemic to the region. By contrast, Gastrocopta hedleyi, Gastrocopta larapinta and Gastrocopta mussoni are shown to be widespread.

g Factor of lithiumlike silicon 28Si11+

The g factor of lithiumlike silicon (28)Si(11+) has been measured in a triple-Penning trap with a relative uncertainty of 1.1×10(-9) to be g(exp)=2.000 889 889 9(21). The theoretical prediction for this value was calculated to be g(th)=2.000 889 909(51) improving the accuracy to 2.5×10(-8) due to the first rigorous evaluation of the two-photon exchange correction. The measured value is in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction and yields the most stringent test of bound-state QED for the g factor of the 1s(2)2s state and the relativistic many-electron calculations in a magnetic field.

More on snails and islands: molecular systematics and taxonomic revision of Setobaudinia Iredale (Gastropoda : Camaenidae) from the Kimberley, Western Australia, with description of new taxa

Setobaudinia Iredale, 1933 is a genus of camaenid land snails endemic to the Western Australian Kimberley. It comprises 20 currently recognised species, most of which occur within the north-western high precipitation zone between the Admiralty Gulf and Collier Bay and within less than 60 km distance from the coast. Exceptionally, two species are found on isolated limestone outcrops in the drier interior of the Victoria River District, Northern Territory. By studying the differentiation in shell and genital anatomy as well as in the mitochondrial markers 16S and COI, we revise the taxonomy of Setobaudinia and describe new taxa. The Northern Territory species S. victoriana Solem, 1985 is identified as a member of the genus Trachiopsis, which otherwise comprises species from the York Peninsula, Queensland. The species Damochlora spina Solem, 1985 is shown to be a member of the genus Setobaudinia. A new species from the eastern Kimberley has been identified as the sister group of Setobaudinia. It is placed in the new genus Kymatobaudinia for exhibiting morphological characteristics that differ from those of all other Setobaudinia species. In addition, we describe nine new species from coastal areas and islands off the cost throughout the south-west to north-west Kimberley: S. angustilabiata, sp. nov.; S. colmani, sp. nov.; S. incisa, sp. nov.; S. kessneri, sp. nov.; S. latilabiata, sp. nov.; S. longiflagellata, sp. nov.; S. malbyana, sp. nov.; S. minima, sp. nov.; S. plana, sp. nov. ZooBank Publication code: http://zoobank.org/References/3C953F1A-62E5-4CE5-9D5E-D8D5774B4059

The growth and electronic structure of azobenzene-based functional molecules on layered crystals

In situ ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy is used to study the growth of ultrathin films of azobenzene-based functional molecules (azobenzene, Disperse Orange 3 and a triazatriangulenium platform with an attached functional azo-group) on the layered metal TiTe(2) and on the layered semiconductor HfS(2) at liquid nitrogen temperatures. Effects of intermolecular interactions, of the substrate electronic structure, and of the thermal energy of the sublimated molecules on the growth process and on the adsorbate electronic structure are identified and discussed. A weak adsorbate-substrate interaction is particularly observed for the layered semiconducting substrate, holding the promise of efficient molecular photoswitching.