Terrestrial Molluscs of Cabo Delgado and Adjacent Inland Areas of North-Eastern Mozambique

ABSTRACT Nineteen stations were surveyed and 46 species of terrestrial molluscs were recorded from an 18×55 km area in the north-eastern corner of Mozambique. Three stations on Cabo Delgado (a peninsula at the northern extremity of the Quirimbas Archipelago) yielded 19 species that were not found on the inland-sampled area and 18 species that occur inland were not found on Cabo Delgado, with nine species inhabiting both areas. The main ecological difference between Cabo Delgado and the inland area is the abundance of limestone in the former and the total lack of it in the latter. The reference to the original publication, type locality, size of the type specimen(s) and summary geographical distribution as well as colour photographs are provided for each recorded species. One new species of Gulella (Pulmonata: Streptaxidae) is described from Cabo Delgado.


INTRODUCTION
The terrestrial malacofauna of northern Mozambique was not substantially surveyed until the middle of the 19 th century, when E. von Martens published a series of papers (1860, 1869a, 1879) based on the collections made by W. Peters between 1843 and 1847. The lists of terrestrial molluscs collected by Peters in Mozambique and Lorenzo Marques given by von Martens totalled 16 species. However, only ten of these were recorded from Mozambique in the strict sense (north of the Zambezi). Three species were added as the result of the collection effort of J. Kirk between 1858 and 1863, which were recorded by H. Dohrn (1865). Five species were added to the list by J.S. Gibbons (1879). F.L. Stuhlmann visited the area in 1889 and added one more species to the list (von Martens 1897). Only 24 species of terrestrial molluscs were known from Mozambique (excluding Lorenzo Marques) by the time M. Connolly published his major review on Portuguese East Africa in 1925. The latest list of non-marine molluscs of Mozambique published by L. Germain (1935) shows 46 species of terrestrial snails and slugs in the northern half of the country. The latest published record of a land snail from north-eastern Mozambique ( van Bruggen 2006) is based on the collection of Dr H.E. van Hoepen made in the 1970s. Except for such scattered additions, our knowledge of the molluscan fauna of the north-eastern Mozambique is as it was 75 years ago.
In 2008, a research project "Biodiversity Survey of the Coastal Dry Forests in Northern Mozambique" was initiated and the results of the second survey of this project "Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris / Pro-Natura International / Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique -'Our Planet Reviewed' Initiative, Mozambique 2009 Cabo Delgado Expedition" are presented in this paper. material was collected by I. Ineich and T. Robillard at station 4 and by A. Ohler, M. McAdam, I. Ineich and T. Robillard at station 10. All stations were within the forested areas (covering as large an area as possible) of the north-eastern part of Cabo Delgado province of north-eastern Mozambique, with three stations on Cabo Delgado itself. Living specimens and empty shells were hand-picked from under rocks and under the bark of fallen trees, on trunks and leaves, on the ground, and in leaf litter. Top layers of soil were sieved in addition to hand-collecting. Living specimens were photographed and then were frozen in a small amount of water and defrosted in 96 % ethanol to ensure the preservation of DNA and a relaxed condition for future anatomical studies.
A cluster analysis was applied to the dataset (Table 2), using a Paired Group algorithm M/Nmin, where M is the number of the same species in two compared stations and Nmin is the number of species in the station with the smaller number of species. This index treats two stations as identical if one is a subset of the other. Thus, stations were clustered "from the molluscan point of view".
All coordinates are given in decimal degrees using WGS 84 map datum. All shell sizes are given using the following template: h×w.

RESULTS
The survey recorded a total of 46 species of terrestrial molluscs belonging to 15 families (Table 2), and 182 observations of these species (collection lots) were made.  Table 1 for additional information.
More than half of the species in the study area belong to four families: Subulinidae, Streptaxidae, Helicarionidae and Urocyclidae.
Only empty shells, often in a very bad condition, were found for most of the spemolluscs were hiding deep in the ground. Sixteen (more than 36 %) of the 46 species were recorded from single stations. This suggests that we can still increase the total number of known species from the region. However, the cumulative graph of the number of species recorded sequentially at the stations in the sampled area (Fig. Three stations on Cabo Delgado (7, 8 and 9) yielded 19 species that were not found in the inland-sampled area. However, stations 8 and 9 did not add any species that were not found at station 7, which implies exhaustive sampling on Cabo Delgado.

ANNOTATED CHECKLIST
Visual estimation of the numbers of individuals in the sampled areas was used in Information on general distribution was taken mainly from Connolly (1925Connolly ( , 1939 A single shell without an operculum, collected on Cabo Delgado, is very similar to from the type locality. The photograph of the shell from Cabo Delgado matches the photograph of the shell from Cap Diego almost exactly when superimposed at 113 % shoulder ("missing" cord below the suture) and the minute dense axial striation between the spiral cords also can be observed on both shells. Cyathopoma azaniense Verdcourt, 1978 from Kenya is smaller (1.4×2.0 mm) and does not have the characteristic gap The original description of C. diegoense was based on a single adult specimen "environ" (circa) 2 mm high and 3 mm wide. The same size was repeated in comparison with C. artatum Sykes, 1897 on the same page just below the description. However, h/w ratio, which clearly does not match the proportions stated in the description. Emberton (2003) did not give any explanation for his decision to include the 2.1 mm high and 2.0 mm wide C. duboisi Fischer-Piette, Blanc, Blanc & Salvat, 1993, as well as his 1.9 mm high and 2.9 wide "voucher specimen" in the range of variation of C. diegoense. Thus, the specimen from Cabo Delgado is very likely C. diegoense sensu Emberton, 2003 but the extent of the name diegoense is doubtful.
Family Maizaniidae Tielecke, 1940 Small to medium-sized operculate snails of tropical regions of Africa.
A common species, recorded from nine stations on Cabo Delgado and inland, with a general coastal distribution from Kenya to the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Family Pomatiidae Newton, 1891 Medium-sized operculate snails of in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, with only few species reaching temperate areas in Europe and South Africa.
Tropidophora nyasana (Smith, 1899) Fig. 5 Pomatias nyasanus: Recorded from two stations on Cabo Delgado; has a general distribution in Malawi (type localities), Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Differs from the other three species of Tropidophora in the region by the presence of numerous regularly spaced spiral cords over the entire shell surface.
Tropidophora ligata (Müller, 1774) Figs 6, 56 A common species, recorded from seven stations on Cabo Delgado and inland, with a general distribution from South Africa to Tanzania as well as on Madagascar and Mauritius. Differs from the other three species of Tropidophora in the region by the very weak spiral sculpture on the periphery of the last whorl, with most of the shells having noticeable spiral sculpture only in the umbilical area.
A common species, recorded from seven inland stations, with a general distribution from South Africa to Kenya. "Described from a set in the Cuming collection labelled "Mauritius," a locality which Pfeiffer amended to "Natal" in his own working copy of his Monograph" (Connolly 1939: 547). Similar to, and probably a sister species of, T. ligata, with different ecological preferences since they do not co-occur at least in northeastern Mozambique. Cases of co-occurrence in South Africa should be re-evaluated. Can easily be distinguished from T. ligata by the fairly strong spiral sculpture on the periphery as well as on the rest of the shell, the sculpture being weaker and not as dense and regular as in T. nyasana. It is much larger but otherwise very similar to the following species.

Cyclostoma zanguebarica
Recorded from all three stations on Cabo Delgado, with a general coastal distribution from Kenya to Mozambique. Its relations with T. letourneuxi (Ancey in Bourguignat, 1887) should be re-evaluated (see remarks in Rowson 2007: 432). I prefer to use the earlier name here since variability of the shells from Cabo Delgado allows the application of both names. Resembles a small T. insularis but, unlike that species, co-occurs with T. ligata. Possibly just a coastal variation of T. insularis with size variability from 10.5×10.5 to 13.0×12.0 mm at a single locality.
Family Truncatellidae Gray, 1840 Small operculate snails with a worldwide tropical and subtropical distribution.
Truncatella marginata Küster, 1855 Fig. 9 Truncatella marginata A common, widespread species recorded in large numbers from all three stations on Cabo Delgado, with a general distribution in tropical Asia and Africa.
Family Gastrocoptidae Pilsbry, 1918 Small snails with a worldwide distribution. Recorded from two stations on Cabo Delgado, with a general distribution from Eritrea (type localities) to Mozambique. Differs from similar sized species of Vertiginidae by the fused angular and parietal lamellae, the narrow apex and the strongly convex whorls separated by a deep suture.
Family Vertiginidae Fitzinger, 1833 Small snails with a worldwide distribution. Madge, 1938 Fig.12 Nesopupa peilei A common species on the Mascarene Islands, where it appears to be restricted to on Cabo Delgado. Can be separated from the following species by the less elongated shell.
Nesopupa (Insulipupa) corrugata (Preston, 1912) Fig. 13 Jaminia corrugata Downloaded From: https://bioone.org/journals/African-Invertebrates on 08 May 2020 Terms of Use: https://bioone.org/terms-of-use A single, heavily worn shell found on Cabo Delgado. Previously recorded from the area near the type locality. There is also a single shell in the Natal Museum (L6653) collected on 19 February 1963 by A.C. and W.H. van Bruggen in the forest east of Gôndola in Central Mozambique. Characteristic strong corrugation (of the periostracum) can be observed only on fresh shells, and "a small, rather indistinct basal denticle situated well within and rather on the right-hand side of the shell" (Preston 1912: 71) can be missing barely noticeable thickening in place of the lower palatal tooth, with a corresponding slight indentation on the outer surface of the last whorl. N. corrugata has a stronger corrugated periostracum and is proportionally higher than the preceding species. A widespread but not very common species with a general distribution from Eritrea (type localities) to Mozambique. A single shell found on Cabo Delgado. Differs from both preceding species of Insulipupa by its smaller size and stronger angular tooth, which is almost as large as the parietal lamella.
Family Cerastidae Wenz, 1923 1 Small to medium arboreal snails of tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World.
Gittenedouardia metuloides (Smith, 1899) Fig. 15 Buliminus (Conulinus) metuloides A widespread but not very common species with a general distribution in Zambia, southern Malawi (type locality), Mozambique, Zimbabwe and the northern part of South Africa. A single worn shell (juvenile), found about 30 km inland, is noticeably wider than Bulimus badiolus Morelet, 1881 described from the Comoros and just slightly more slender than four specimens of G. metuloides in the Natal Museum (No. 2786, ex. coll. Connolly 1920) from the Victoria Falls. Differs from the three following species of Cerastidae by the slender shell with a deep suture.
Rhachistia catenata (Martens, 1860) Figs 16, 58 Bulimus (Rhachis) catenatus A common species, previously known only from the type locality ~150 km south of the study area. Found at 11 stations inland. Quite variable. Some shells (but not the one the paratype in Connolly (1925: 161) almost exactly. Von Martens (1869b: 150), in the original description of his Buliminus (Rhachis) braunsii from Zanzibar (~475 km north of the study area), did not compare it with his earlier described catenatus. Both species look quite similar and I provisionally choose the older name from the closest type locality until a proper revision of the group is made. Differs from the following species by its relatively wider shell, the dark band below the suture, and (in typical specimens) by the presence of the dark spots arranged in two lines above the periphery.  Van Bruggen, 1975 Fig. 17 Rachis cunctatoris A rather uncommon species previously known only from the dry lowlands of Malawi. Found at four stations inland. Differs from the previous species by the more slender shell, with not more than two dark bands (on the periphery and just above the suture) and by the complete absence of spotted coloration.
A widespread but not very common species, with a general distribution from southern Tanzania to southern Zambia, Malawi (type localities) and Mozambique. Found at one station on Cabo Delgado. Differs from the three preceding species of Cerastidae by the wider bulimoid shell with a cylindrical umbilicus, and by the characteristic protoconch Family Achatinidae Swainson, 1840 Large and medium snails of tropical and subtropical regions of Africa.
Achatina immaculata Lamarck, 1823 Figs 19, 59 one station on Cabo Delgado. Differs from all other species in the area by its large size (shell up to 200×120 mm). Fresh shells differ from the similar most common A. fulica Bowdich, 1822 (not found in north-eastern Mozambique so far) by the pink columellar margin. Juvenile shells are even more common and can easily be separated from all other shells in the region by the large smooth protoconch.
Achatina randabeli Bourguignat, 1889 Fig. 20 Achatina randabeli A rather uncommon species, previously known only from the type locality in central smaller species of Achatina. The largest shell from north-eastern Mozambique is 51×26 mm. Achatina arctespirata (57×32 mm) described by Bourguignat (1889: 83, freak specimen. Both species were considered subspecies of the Tanzanian A. craveni Smith, 1881 (type: 81×37 mm) by Bequaert (1950: 50). Differs from all other species of the genus by the narrow-conical apex with straight outlines. Can easily be separated from similar sized species of Limicolaria by the strongly truncated columella.
Family Subulinidae P. Fischer et Crosse, 1877 Small to medium snails with a worldwide tropical and subtropical distribution.
Genus Kempioconcha Preston, 1931 The space between the axial ribs on the apical whorls, although generally being Subadults have a much more elongated aperture with a straight columellar margin and a noticeable columellar-basal angle. These "characters" caused some confusion in the earlier works on this genus (often been treated as a subgenus of Pseudoglessula).
Kempioconcha cf. obtusa auct. non (Boettger, 1913) Fig. 21 Pseudoglessula cf. obtusa A rare and possibly not previously recognised species. Only a few damaged shells were found at four stations in a 6×20 km area west of Palma. The size of the shell va-Preston, 1913a has a spirally sculptured protoconch. Differs from all other large species of Kempioconcha by the narrowly conical apex. Apparently the the same species (7 whorls subadult) from the Rondo Plateau in south-western Tanzania and gave the following shell dimensions (26.0-29.5 × 12.0-15.0 mm) for this species, which he called "cf. obtusa with true obtusa Boettger, 1913 andobesa Germain, 1916. However, Kempioconcha obtusa (Boettger, 1913), the largest known species of the genus (32.0×15.5 mm, with obesa apparently being a synonym), has a noticeably wider, obtuse apex, which is the Kempioconcha kirki (Dohrn, 1865) Fig. 22 Buliminus kirki: Dohrn 1865: 232 (Cabaçeira, Mozambique; 23.8×11.1 mm).
A common species, with a general distribution in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Found at three stations inland and three on Cabo Delgado. The type (7 whorls) is slightly smaller than most of the shells of this species in the study area. However, the h/w ratio is almost exactly the same in the type (2.14) and in the shell illustrated here (2.17). It is smaller than the preceding species and much larger than any of the following species of the family.
The type locality of Buliminus liederi Martens, 1895 in south-eastern Tanzania (Kitohaui on the plateau between Ukuledi and Umbekuru, District Mgao) is only about 150 km northwest of the study area. It has a more elongated shell (h/w 2.55): 28×11 mm with 7½ whorls in the original description (von Martens 1895: 180). Van Bruggen (2008: Pseudoglessula (Kempioconcha) liederi (8 whorls subadult: 27.6×12.1 mm) from Malawi. However, he followed the Verdcourt (1967) key where liederi is separated from the similarly sized K. kirki (Dohrn, 1865) only by "apical whorls with costae only slightly more widely spaced than on the lower whorls". This character was mentioned by von Martens in comparison with "Limicolaria borellii" (= ? Glandina boivini Morelet, 1860, see Connolly 1925 and Pseudoglessula conradi in his second description of liederi separated Buliminus from Pseudoglessula based on this character, in addition to the truncated columella in the latter (von Martens 1897: 116). However, in the same work von kirki Dohrn, 1865 as Buliminus, thus acknowledging that the axial ribs are not stronger and wider spaced on the apical whorls in both liederi and kirki. Unfortunately, he did not compare these two species, concentrating his attention on the penultimate whorl sculpture of his apparently subadult specimen of kirki.
I prefer to use the earlier name here, since variability of the shells from station 6 allows the application of both names, pending a proper revision of the genus.

Kempioconcha boivini (Morelet, 1860) Figs 23, 60
Glandina boivini A common East and Central African species. Found at ten stations inland. Differs from the following two species of the genus by the proportionally wider shell.
Kempioconcha cf. subolivacea (Smith, 1890) Fig. 24 A single shell found inland is about the same size but not as widely conical with straight outlines as in the original description of Buliminus olivaceus J.S. Gibbons Zanzibar, Channel". Differs from the following species by the proportionally higher shell with much smaller apical whorls.
A common eastern African species, with a general distribution in Tanzania and Mozambique. Found at 11 stations inland and at two stations on Cabo Delgado. The shell illustrated here is quite similar in size and proportions to the type. However, only a few shells from north-eastern Mozambique have as widely spaced axial ribs on the apical whorls as von Martens (1895Martens ( , 1897 highlighted. Smith, 1899 Fig. 26 Curvella nyasana Nyika Range; 12.5×6.5 mm).

Curvella nyasana
A common eastern African species, with a general distribution in Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. Found at four stations inland. Can easily be separated from juveniles of Kempioconcha by its non-ribbed apex. Differs from other Subulinidae in the area by the pronounced axial sculpture on the teleoconch and by the relatively large body whorl.

Subulina tugelensis
Five damaged shells found at two stations inland, although similar in size to Opeas cressyi Connolly, 1922 (type: 10.8×2.8 mm) from central Mozambique, are not as elongated as that species. The largest (damaged) shell from the study area measures 8.2×3.1 mm and is similar in size and proportions to Opeas durbanense (8.7×3.3 mm) Herbert and Kilburn (2004: 133) treated durbanense as a synonym of tugelensis. Differs from the following species, as well as from common and similarly sized Allopeas clavulinum (Potiez & Michaud, 1838), by the extremely narrow umbilical slit.
types of all small subulinids can be made.

Family Streptaxidae Gray, 1860
Variably-sized and shaped carnivorous snails that prey on the other snails and other invertebrates. Live in a variety of habitats in tropics and subtropics of South America, Africa and Asia. Boettger, 1913 Fig. 30 A common East African species, with a general distribution from Kenya to Mozambique. Found at ten stations inland and two stations on Cabo Delgado. The E. ovoidea (Bruguière, 1789), as stated in the original description of . A common species found at 12 stations inland, previously known only from eastern Tanzania. The sculpture below the periphery is much less pronounced. Some of the shells are practically smooth basally. The shell illustrated here has a 0.69 h/w ratio. However, some other shells collected in the region are proportionally higher. An h/w 0.79) to the type (h/w 0.80). Another two similar Tanzanian species: T. usambarica Craven, 1880 and T. helicoides (Boettger, 1913) do not have a sinuous lip.
Gonaxis cf. percivali (Preston, 1913) Fig. 32 A few damaged shells found at two stations inland. Quite similar in size and proportions to Streptaxis percivali described by Preston (1913b should be 5) from north-central Kenya (9.25×7.00 mm) and S. woodhousei Preston (1913b radial sculpture is coarser in woodhousei and the umbilicus is wider (although still narrow) in percivali. According to Germain (1923: 12) as well as Bequaert and Clench (1936: 269) these two are synonyms. Germain (1923: 12) even suggested that Gonaxis cavallii (Pollonera, 1906), with a much more open umbilicus, could be the same species. However, all shells from north-eastern Mozambique are smooth except for the minutely serrated suture and have the umbilicus completely sealed in all the adults.
Can easily be separated from all other (except the following) species in the area by the distorted shell. It is much larger than the following species.
A widespread, common East African species with a general distribution from Kenya to Mozambique. Found at eight stations inland. This species is smaller and has a less distorted axis than the preceding species. It differs from other similarly sized Gonaxis by the smooth shell with a strongly serrated suture.
Dohrn had a quite unusual way of measuring distorted shells. He gave "Diam. maj. 7, min. 4½, alt. 3½ mill." in the original description of denticulatus. Apparently, he let the surface, calling that measurement "alt.", which corresponds to the minor diameter in modern terminology. Then his "diam. maj." roughly corresponds to the height (being slightly larger) and "diam. min." roughly corresponds to the major diameter (being slightly smaller). Thus, the size from the original description in modern terminology would be: height ~7 mm, diameter major ~4.5 mm and diameter minor -3.5 mm. (This became apparent in the original description of the similarly sized but much stronger sculptured Streptaxis kirkii Dohrn, 1865, where he added the diameter of the aperture: "Diam. maj. 5/16, min. 3/16, alt. 3/16, apert. diam. 1/8 poll." (Dohrn 1865: 232), which corresponds to: height -7.94 mm, diameter major and minor -4.76 mm, aperture diameter -3.18 mm in modern terminology.) Surprisingly, von Martens (1897: 30, 32) copied the dimensions given by Dohrn into his comparison table, which is probably the reason why he listed separately the very similar Streptaxis ordinarius Smith, 1890. The latter species measures 6.5×4.0 mm in with Streptaxis denticulatus by Thiele (1911: 186), who apparently compared the types of both species.
The similarly sized Gonaxis gibbonsi Taylor, 1877 (7.0×4.4 mm) has a proportionally more elongated and slightly more distorted shell. G. cressyi Connolly, 1922 is smaller (6.2×3.8 mm) and has slightly less distorted shell. G. mozambicensis (Smith, 1881) is be a synonym of denticulatus. A common eastern African species with a general distribution from northern Tanzania to the Save River in central Mozambique. Found at three stations inland and one on Cabo Delgado. Differs from other Streptaxidae in the area by the smooth ovalcylindrical shell with a single large curved parietal lamella, three to four palatal teeth, one basal tooth and a small cusp situated on top of the large horizontal columellar lamella. It is represented in the studied area by the var. liederi von Martens, 1897. Typical shells of sexdentata var. liederi (Fig. 34) were found at three stations inland. The illustrated shell has a barely noticeable fourth palatal lamella, which is completely absent in all other shells from inland stations. All four shells from the easternmost station on Cabo Delgado have a well-developed fourth short palatal lamella just below the regular three, and I consider these shells to be another variety not deserving a separate name.
Var. liederi was described from south-eastern Tanzania only about 150 km northwest of the study area. It differs from typical Gulella sexdentata by the presence of a small cusp on top of the much stronger columellar lamella. Germain (1935: 4) agreed with von Martens (1897: 22) that the 10×5 mm Ennea hanningtoni described by Smith sexdentata. Connolly (1925: 117;1939: 62) also treated hanningtoni as a synonym of sexdentata. He gave a 7.7-10.5 × 3.7-5.0 mm size range for this species and indicated the rare presence of "a minute additional denticle on the columellar lip" as well as occasionally lacking an upper palatal tooth (Connolly 1939: 62).

Ennea subhyalina
A not very common eastern African species, with a general distribution from northern Tanzania to northern Mozambique. Found at one station inland. Differs from other Streptaxidae in the area by the smooth cylindrical shell with a single large parietal lamella, two upper palatal, one deeply positioned lower palatal, one basal lamella and two columellar lamellae.
The type of Ennea subhyalina does not have the lower palatal tooth. There are several other species and forms with a smooth cylindrical shell and similar dentition. Ennea ingens (Durban) is much larger (9.0×3.2 mm) and also has only two palatal teeth. Ennea gwendolineae of Mombasa in south-eastern Kenya, also has only two palatal teeth and is smaller (5.0×1.5 mm) but otherwise very similar to subhyalina. Surprisingly, Preston did not mention subhyalina in the original description of gwendolineae, instead comparing his new species with the much more different , which was described by subhyalina and illustrated next to it. Connolly (1922b G. (M.) gwendolineae scissidens from Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) with an additional "more deep-set" lower palatal tooth. With the exception of its much smaller size (4.1×1.6 mm), scissidens is otherwise almost identical in shell shape, dentition and lack of sculpture to subhyalina from north-eastern Mozambique. Considering the very close similarities between gwendolineae + scissidens, and subhyalina + shells with an additional lower palatal tooth from north-eastern Mozambique, it is quite possible that all of them may well be just variations of one species with a distribution from south-eastern Kenya to north-eastern Mozambique. Therefore, it seems unnecessary to give a separate name to the seventoothed variety from north-eastern Mozambique.
Gulella perissodonta (Sturany, 1898) Fig. 36 Ennea perissodonta Found at one station on Cabo Delgado. Two shells (2.7×1.4 mm) were collected by van Hoepen ( van Bruggen 2006: 124) on Ilha Vumba only 49 km south of station 7 on Cabo Delgado. Prior to that, perissodonta was known only from south-eastern Mozambique, Swaziland and north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal where it is quite common. The type, described from the area near Maputo, is larger than illustrated here, but the shells from northern KwaZulu-Natal vary from 3.2×1.7 to 6.2×2.5 mm ( van Bruggen 1969: 47).

Gulella delgada sp. n.
Figs 37, 39-45 Etymology: From Portuguese delgada (slender, elongated) and Cabo Delgado; with reference to the overall appearance of the shell and the name of the type locality.
Diagnosis: Elongated shell with narrow umbilicus and acuminate smooth apex; with large, widely spaced axial ribs on teleoconch; large short parietal lamella, long palatal lamella (which consists of low distal and large proximal parts), small columellar cusp and large, obtuse, rounded, deeply set columellar tooth.
Description: Shell semi-translucent, white, elongated acuminate-ovate, with narrow umbilicus and acute apex. Protoconch (~2.5 whorls) smooth. Teleoconch consists of 4-5 convex whorls, slightly angulated above the periphery, separated by deep suture; with strong, widely spaced axial ribs accentuated just above the periphery of the whorls and less developed above the aperture (width of ribs on average three times less than width of intercostal spaces). Last whorl not ascending towards apex, height is less than half basal and palatal margins, incised just below the suture of preceding whorl in the area of pneumostome. Apertural dentition of (1 st ) large parietal lamella that suddenly starts a short distance forward of columellar plane, very slightly curves towards the area of Downloaded From: https://bioone.org/journals/African-Invertebrates on 08 May 2020 Terms of Use: https://bioone.org/terms-of-use quarter of a whorl long, situated closer to columella, ascends towards small columellar cusp and gradually disappears a short distance from it; (4 th ) small columellar cusp positioned about two-thirds of distance between columellar edge and large, obtuse, rounded, deeply set (5 th ) columellar tooth. Juvenile with small parietal tooth, large basal lamella (positioned parallel to basal edge of aperture) and slight thickening in middle of columella. No internal dentition in upper whorls.
Measurements of the shells: 1 st syntype: 7.5 whorls, height 4.0 mm, major diameter 1.8 mm; 2 nd syntype: 6.5 whorls, height 3.8 mm, major diameter 1.8 mm; 3 rd syntype (juvenile): 5.5 whorls, height 2.7 mm, major diameter 1.8 mm. There are four other species currently in the genus Gulella with an acuminate apex and similar dentition: Pupa minuscula 3×2 mm) from Anjouan, Comoros, Ennea radius 8; 3.25×2.00 mm) from the Shimba Hills in south-eastern Kenya, Gulella cuspidata Mountains in north-eastern Tanzania and Gulella browni described by van Bruggen KwaZulu-Natal. G. delgada differs from all four by the more elongated shell with wider spaced axial ribs on teleoconch, as well as by the much longer palatal and basal teeth.
Streptostele (Raffraya) herma Connolly, 1912 Fig. 38 Streptostele (Raffraya) herma A rather uncommon East African species, with a general distribution from southeastern Kenya to north-eastern parts of South Africa. All shells found at all three stations on Cabo Delgado are slightly smaller than the type of this species. Differs from all other snails in the area by the small, elongated shell with a weak parietal tooth and slight palatal thickening.
Family Euconulidae Baker, 1928 Minute to medium-sized snails, inhabiting damp leaf litter and damp soil worldwide.
A single shell was found on Cabo Delgado. Previously known only from the Mascarene Islands where it is quite common and recently recorded from Zanzibar (Rowson et al. in press). The smallest species in the study area. Can be easily distinguished from the following species by the lack of spiral sculpture. The shell was originally described "... depressa, discoidea and the apex is not visible on the original illustration. The measurements in the original illustrated M. minima with a protruding apex and gave "Diameter: 1.3 mm; height 0.5 mm" for the size of the shell. However, if calculated from the proportions of that illustration, assuming that diameter is 1.3 mm, the height of the shell would be 0.82 mm. Thus, in view of the fact that there are no other shells with a narrow umbilicus, without any spiral sculpture and 1.3 mm in diameter found so far on Mauritius, it would be safe to assume that M. minima has variably protruding apical whorls.

Thapsia rumrutiensis
A common East African species with a general distribution from Kenya to the Eastern Cape in South Africa. A few damaged shells were found at one station on Cabo Delgado. Differs from the preceding species by the slightly larger shell with an angulated periphery and an always clearly visible microscopic spiral sculpture.
Family Helicarionidae Bourguignat, 1877 Medium to large snails with a well developed shell, as well as various semi-slugs and slugs. Live in tropical and subtropical areas except Australia and America.
"Sitala" jenynsi (Pfeiffer, 1845) Figs 48, 62 A common East African species, with a general distribution from Kenya to central Mozambique. Found at seven stations inland and at all three stations on Cabo Delgado. Pfeiffer (1845) described the shell as "… turbiniformi, … carinata, …" from unknown reported this species from New Caledonia and illustrated a shell with a more angulated periphery but still not as carinated as illustrated here. Von Martens (1867: 254) then reported it from Java and New Hebrides, as well as from the Querimba Islands (just south of Cabo Delgado). All shells from Cabo Delgado have an obtusely angulated periphery, similar to that illustrated by Philippi (1847: 86; Helix A live-collected subadult from station 10 has essentially the same genitalia as illustjenynsi as Sitala following Thiele which prevents its formal placement into Trochonanina. However, the penial retractor its formal placement in Sitala. The shell is clearly much more similar to Trochonanina than to Sitala. I suspect that jenynsi in fact should have remained in Trochonanina (perhaps as a separate subgenus). However, I do not have any choice but to treat it as "Sitala" since this paper is not a taxonomic revision. It differs from three following species by the slightly larger shell with microscopic spiral sculpture on the entire surface and a chestnut line above the periphery as well as above the suture of the apical whorls. The shells from Cabo Delgado have a shape quite similar to that of the following species.  A common East African species, with a general distribution from southern Kenya to central Mozambique. Found at four stations inland. Possibly just a colour variety of Trochonanina mossambicensis (Pfeiffer, 1855), as it was originally described by von Martens. Can easily be recognized by the characteristic pattern of lighter, nontranslucent specks oriented in spiral lines on a darker, semi-translucent, corneous background, as well as alternating zones of lighter and darker close-set axial riblets on the upper side of the shell with only microscopic spiral striation on the base. The shell illustrated here is much faded. species, differing from it by the wider spaced, stronger axial ribs on the upper side of the more depressed, uniformly coloured shell. The shell illustrated here has lighter spots in places of the damaged periostracum.
Trochozonites (Crenatinanina) crenulata (Germain, 1905) Figs 51, 53-55 This appears to be a rediscovery of the species collected by Raffray in 1891 and not seen since 1920. The type, according to Germain in MNHN, could not be found there (Rowson 2007: 451 Embryonic whorls (destroyed in the type and thus not previously described) with All shells found at the three stations on Cabo Delgado are proportionally higher than the type, but some worn adult shells are up to 10.3×15.2 mm, approaching the size and proportions of the type. The shell illustrated in Figs 53-55 is faded, smaller than the type but similar in shape.

Bukobia uhehensis
A rare eastern African species, previously known by a single specimen from the type locality in central Tanzania, about 600 km NW of the study area. Found at one station inland. Differs from all other species of the genus Bukobia, as well from two following species of the family, by the presence of a single large soft stimulator without any calcareous elements inside the shortly elongated diverticulum of the atrium. A common eastern African species, with a general distribution from southern Tanzania to the Eastern Cape in South Africa. Found at two stations on Cabo Delgado. Differs from other continental species of the genus Elisolimax, as well as from the preceding and the following species of the family, by the long, narrow diverticulum of the atrium with two large longitudinal folds inside. Gray, 1864 Fig. 65 Urocyclus kirki: Gray 1864: 251 (Near the mouth of the River Zambezi, Mozambique).

Urocyclus kirki
A common eastern African species, with a general distribution from southern Tanzania to Zululand in South Africa. Found at a single station inland. Differs from all other species of the family by the large, muscular diverticulum of the atrium with a single large calcareous dart inside.
Family Succineidae Beck, 1837 Small to medium sized snails with worldwide distribution. A common African species, with a general distribution in tropical areas from Sierra Leone to Kenya and Tanzania, as well as on the Comoros, Seychelles and Mascarene Islands. Found at all three stations on Cabo Delgado.

DISCUSSION
The majority of the species found in north-eastern Mozambique have an eastern African general distribution. Nesopupa peilei and Microcystina minima, previously recorded mostly from the Mascarene Islands, probably will be found in many other localities on the coast of the African mainland when proper surveys of the coastal areas (with soil sieving) are done. Cyathopoma diegoense, previously known only from northern Madagascar, obviously could be found in other coastal areas as well, considering that all three species are under 3 mm in size and thus can be dispersed with the soil.
Terrestrial molluscs can be used as indicators of environmental conditions since gical preferences frequently can be found living together, forming an ecological association in particular type of habitat. The cluster analysis reveals two main groups of stations (24.662 % similarity) inhabited by terrestrial molluscs: all three stations on Cabo Delgado (7, 8 and 9) in one group and all the other stations further inland in another group.
There are 28 species of molluscs on Cabo Delgado and 27 species inland, but only nine species were found in both regions. Nineteen species that occur on Cabo Delgado are not present inland and 18 species that occur inland are not present on Cabo Delgado. The most noticeable (very abundant) species on Cabo Delgado, Pupoides coenopictus, apparently does not extend its range in north-eastern Mozambique more than a few kilometres inland. On the other hand, Rhachistia catenata, which is quite common inland, does not occur on Cabo Delgado.
The main ecological difference between Cabo Delgado and the inland study area is the abundance of limestone in the former and the total lack of it in the latter. In fact, the entire Cabo Delgado is an elevated ancient coral reef with only in its western (inland) part covered by the sandy soil. This porous limestone accumulates rainwater and slowly releases it, keeping a constant humidity favourable for the snails, as well as providing calcium carbonate for shell construction and abundant shelters.
The difference between Cabo Delgado and inland study areas may have a zoogeographical component as well, since Cabo Delgado was isolated from the mainland long enough to be populated by 19 species of terrestrial molluscs unique to the region.