Illustrated catalogue of types of Ampullariidae Gray, 1824 (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the national zoological collection of the zoological survey of India, with lectotype designations

Abstract

Malacological research in India has a long and productive history going back to the early 19th century, initially promoted by the Asiatic Society of Bengal and with significant material, including type material, deposited in the Indian Museum in Kolkata. Following the birth of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in 1916, the Museum's collecting activities and care for the collections themselves became the responsibility of the ZSI. The ZSI holds important collections of freshwater snails in the family Ampullariidae, including type material of taxa collected and described in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This catalogue brings together information about these types, including for each taxon: bibliographic details of the original description, current taxonomic status, details of the type locality and type material, dimensions and illustrations of type specimens, and additional information as deemed necessary or interesting. The catalogue provides this information for 10 taxa, including four valid species and six junior synonyms. Two published names of subvarieties are listed but these are nomenclaturally unavailable. Lectotypes are designated for three taxa to stabilise the names.