Atebbania bernasconii, a new genus and species from subterranean waters of the Tiznit Plain, southern Morocco (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)

Abstract

The new genus Atebbania is described for a new hydrobiid species, A. bernasconii, which lives in groundwaters of southern Morocco. Of the Hydrobiidae genera with known shell and anatomy Moitessieria is the closest to Atebbania. The two share the following characters: shell elongate; teleoconch surface with evident microsculpture; seminal receptacle absent. Atebbania is distinguished from Moitessieria by: shell ovate; penis with a) apical stylet, b) one lobe bent downward on left (inner) side and c) penial duct running near the right (outer) side; posterior end of foot indented. Atebbania bernasconii n. sp., lives in a limited area, the Tiznit plain in southern Morocco. Other stygobiont hydrobiids from other areas of Morocco are currently being studied. None of them appears to be closely related to A. bernasconii or to the species of Moitessieria.