The systematic status of some land snails mistakenly assigned to the New Zealand fauna

Abstract

Helix regularis, Laoma (Phrixgnathus) lucida var. elevata, L. elegans, and Lagochilus studeri, described from “New Zealand” or “Whangarei”, have proved to be referable to extralimital species, and should therefore be deleted from the New Zealand fauna. Helix regularis Pfeiffer, 1855 is shown to be a species of Coneuplecta Moellendorff, 1893 (Helicarionidae) closely related to or synonymous with Nanina microconus Mousson, 1865, for which a neotype is selected. Laoma (Phrixgnathus) lucida var. elevata Suter, 1896 is based on juveniles of Euconulus fulvus (Müller, 1774); Laoma elegans Suter, 1896 is Strobilops labyrinthica (Say, 1817); and Lagochilus studeri Suter, 1896 is Amnicola limosa (Say, 1817). The last three are all common in eastern North America.