328 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. IX, July, 1955 
used Pilsbry’s group diagnoses as generic 
diagnoses without any very critical re-examin- 
ation of specimens. Evaluation of these names 
must await a complete revision of the species 
of Papuina . In the meantime, they may be 
used subgenerically. P. periwonensis seems best 
ncluded in Pinnadena (Type Helix lombei 
Pfeiffer). From the lombei series it may be 
distinguished by the very sharp keel on the 
periphery. 
Gyropena nissani n. sp. 
Fig. 1 e-g 
Shell small, discoidal, umbilicate. Whorls 
three and a half including a spirally striate 
protoconch of one and a half whorls. Sculp- 
ture on postembryonic whorls consisting of 
fine raised radial riblets, about 85 on body 
whorl. Interstices with fine growth lines and 
fine spirals. Spire very slightly elevated. Peri- 
phery rounded. Suture impressed. Aperture 
rather wide, sub-lunate, unarmed. Umbilicus 
deep, perspective, about one third the great- 
est diameter. 
Major diameter 2.04 mm.; height .92 mm.; 
diameter of umbilicus 0.6 mm. 
Holotype (M. F. 2513) in Dominion Mu- 
seum, New Zealand. 
Locality: NearTangalan Plantation, Nissan 
Island, northern Solomons, in forest litter, 
R. K. Dell, June, 1944. 
The only two members of the family Charo- 
pidae hitherto recorded from the Solomons 
are Endodonta (Char op a) solomonensis Clapp 
from Ugi, and Foxidonta stevensoni Clench from 
Malaita. Foxidonta is a peculiarly turreted shell, 
large for the family, and doubtfully belonging 
to it. Charopa solomonensis Clapp seems very 
similar to the New Zealand species around 
C. anguiculus (Reeve). It has a smooth proto- 
conch. Jutting (1951: 28) has described Char- 
opa (Discachoropa) microdiscus from Java and 
South Celebes, with fine radial riblets on the 
protoconch. The type of Discocharopa (D. 
exquisita Iredale) from the Kermadecs, has a 
smooth protoconch. It is not unusual for the 
fine radials on the protoconch to be worn off 
leaving an apparently smooth protoconch and 
solomonensis and microdiscus may both for the 
present be classed under Discocharopa . The 
former is somewhat larger than the other spe- 
cies ascribed to this genus and close exam- 
ination of actual specimens may well show 
other points of difference. Gyropena nissani n. 
sp. has a protoconch with well-marked spirals, 
a very flattened spire, and an impressed su- 
ture. In some respects it recalls the New Zea- 
land charopid genus Mocella. However, the 
general facies and the impressed suture agree 
with the description and figure of Iredale’s 
Gyropena from Lord Howe Island. 
The importance of these scattered charopids 
from the Solomons and the Greater Sunda 
Islands is that they probably represent relics 
on the migration route through which the 
charopid faunas of southern Australia, New 
Caledonia, Lord Howe, Norfolk, the Kerma- 
decs, and New Zealand were derived. 
TABLE 3 
Shell Measurements of Partula {. Melanesica ) carteriensis (q. and g.) 
(Measurements in Millimeters) 
SPECIMEN 
NUMBER 
OF WHORLS 
HEIGHT 
DIAMETER 
HEIGHT OF 
APERTURE 
WIDTH OF 
APERTURE 
Nissan 
4V . 2 
17.8 
9.8 
9.0 
5.6 
Nissan 
AVi 
17.5 
8.9 
9.0 
6.2 
Nissan 
4V 2 
17.3 
9.3 
9.2 
6.2 
P. carteriensis {fide Pilsbry) 
5 
17.5 
8.5 
9.0 
6.0 
P. carteriensis {fide Pilsbry ) 
4V 2 
16.0 
8.7 
8.7 
6.0 
