Plectostoma umbilicatum (van Benthem Jutting, 1952)

General description: 

Apex. Shape: moderately convex.

Spire. Height: 2.0–2.3 mm. Width: 1.3–1.5 mm. Number of whorls: 4 5/8–4 3/8. Apical spire shape: oblong conical. Basal spire shape: ovoid. Whorl periphery: distinctly convex. Umbilicus: completely open or partially closed by tuba.

Constriction. Parietal teeth: none. Basal teeth: none.

Tuba. Coiling direction: type 1 and aperture visible from back view. Tuba whorl length in proportion to spire last whorl: ca. 1/2–3/4. Proportion of tuba that attaches to spire: whole.

Aperture and peristome. Peristome: double peristomes. Outer peristome shape: same as inner peristome and uniformly projected all around, except the posterior part.

Spiral lines. Thick lines: present. Thin lines: present.

Radial ribs. Rib density: 6–9 ribs per mm. Rib intensity: thin. Shape: straight. Inclination: orthoclin.

Conservation status: 

Critically Endangered (B2ab(iii)+C2a(i) ver. 10.1). The Kota Tongkat limestone cluster is surrounded by oil palm plantation and heavily degraded forest. This species is only known from this limestone cluster. Recent soil samplings have not revealed any recent dead shells (Clements et al. 2008). Neverthelss, we found a living population with fewer than 100 individuals at a wet stalagmite of the entrance of one the caves during an intensive survey in May 2011. During that survey, we noticed that all other rock surfaces of the limestone outcrops in Kota Tongkat were very dry. Thus, the recorded and other unknown living populations are at risk of extinction because a long drought might wipe them out.

Diagnostic description: 

BOR 5503(>10), BOR 5625(>25).

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith