Zospeum percostulatum is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Ellobiidae, the salt marsh snails. This species is endemic to Asturias, Spain. It is known from several limestone caves near Llanes. Though there were a few old records of Zospeum in Asturias, dubiously identified as Z. suarezi and Z. schaufussi, Zospeum percostulatum is the first species described for this autonomous community.

Zospeum percostulatum
Paratype of Zospeum percostulatum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Ellobiida
Family: Ellobiidae
Genus: Zospeum
Species:
Z. percostulatum
Binomial name
Zospeum percostulatum
Alonso, Prieto, Quiñonero-Salgado & Rolán, 2018

Zospeum percostulatum are microscopic snails (microgastropods) with a shell height of less than 2 mm (thought relatively large for the genus), with a distinctive costulated surface. Live individuals has been collected on concretionated cave walls covered by a wet film of percolated clay.

References

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  • Alonso A, Prieto CE, Quiñonero-Salgado S, Rolán E (2018) A morphological gap for Iberian Zospeum filled: Zospeum percostulatum sp. n. (Gastropoda, Eupulmonata, Carychiidae) a new species from Asturias (Spain). Subterranean Biology 25: 35-48. doi:10.3897/subtbiol.25.23364.