Non-camaenid land snails of the Kimberley and Northern Territory, Australia I. Systematics, affinities and ranges

Abstract

All shell-bearing land snails found in the Kimberley and Northern Temtory, except those belonging to the family Camaenidae and the introduced Helicidae, are reviewed and illustrated. Several species introduced to other parts of Australia or neighbouring areas are included. They may already have been introduced and not yet collected, or undoubtedly will be introduced in the near future. This paper reports on 46 endemic and 11 introduced (or potentially introducible) taxa. An additional four extralimital species are figured for comparative purposes: Gastrocopta semiclausa Thiele, 1928; G. pontifex I. Rensch, 1937; Pumilicopta kamberae (B. Rensch, 1932); P. orientalis (B. Rensch, 1935). One genus, Pumilicopta, and the species Georissa obesa, Gastrocopta simplex, Pumilicopta kessneri, P. bifurcata, and Trochomorpha melvillensis, are described as new. Many taxa are recorded from Australia for the first time. Several changes in synonymy are proposed. The biogeographic implications of these records will be discussed in Part II.