On altitude dependent characters in Albinaria idaea (L. Pfeiffer, 1849), with a revision of the species (Gastropoda Pulmonata: Clausiliidae)

Several forms of Albinaria idaea (L. Pfeiffer, 1849) have been described as (sub)species from various sites on Mt. Ida (Central Crete). In recent years, however, much additional material has been collected, which made clear that no sharp boundaries exist between these forms. Moreover, several characters proved to be altitude dependent to a certain extent. It may be concluded that on Mt. Ida only a single evolutionary entity can be distinguished, viz. A. i. idaea. On the isolated Mt. Kedros, south-west of Mt. Ida, an undescribed allopatric form was found, which because of its smaller size and differences in altitude dependent characters was given subspecific rank as A. i. amabilis ssp. nov. On the Paximadia Isles, south of Central Crete, a percostate and a finely ribbed subspecies occur allopatrically. The finely ribbed one seems consubspecific with A. i. idaea; the percostate one was recently described as the separate subspecies A. i. pichcapunlla Schultes & Wiese, 1991.