DATA ON TERRESTRIAL MOLLUSCS (MOLLUSCA: GASTROPODA) IN LAI CHAU PROVINCE

Abstract

Lai Chau province, situated in the Northwest of Vietnam, is one of the Vietnam’s biodiversity hotspots having the largest number of limestone habitats. However, infomation on the Lai Chau’s biodiversity is limited. To address this knowledge gap, we have surveyed the terrestrial molluscs of different habitats, such as limestone forests, isolated limestone hills, caves, etc. This study provides an up-to-date checklist of terrestrial molluscs species found in 15 surveyed localities in Lai Chau. Altogether 84 species and subspecies of land snails belonging to 21 families, 51 genera are listed with four new genera (Amphidromus, Meghimatium, Succinea, Valiguna) and 34 new species recorded for Lai Chau. Camaenidae (nine genera, 18 species), Ariophantidae (five genera, nine species), Cyclophoridae (four genera, nine species), Achatinidae, Clausiliidae (four genera, seven species), Streptaxidae (four genera, sive species), Pupinidae (three genera, sive species) were found to be the most abundant in the habitats. Regarding the distribution pattern, the fauna from the study area shared much with those from others where limestone hills present, implying the importance of these ecosystems for terrestrial molluscs. These findings will be important information for further terrestrial molluscs diversity conservation in the study area.