Molecular Phylogeny of Tiny Land Snails From the Family Punctidae (Stylommatopohora, Punctoidea) in Australia

A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Australian punctid snails reveals a rapid diversification event on the mainland around 5.5 million years ago, with basal groups comprising taxa from Tasmania, New Zealand, Macquarie Island, Lord Howe Island, and Norfolk Island. The study, utilizing mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear (ELAVI8, ITS2) markers, demonstrates that several genera are junior synonyms of Paralaoma, including Gratilaoma, Iotula, Laomavix, Miselaoma, Pseudiotula, Tescilaoma, Trocholaoma, and Westralaoma. Additionally, it clarifies the taxonomic placement of Pasmaditta jungermanniae, Pedicamista sp. ‘Bull Hill’, and Trocholaoma spiceri as part of Cystopeltidae, while Norfolk Island charopids Norfolcioconcha, Penescosta, Cryptocharopa, and Frustropa are shown to belong to Punctidae. Morphological data supported these findings, with shell dimensions analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum test.

Hyman, I. T., Zhang, G., & Köhler, F. (2026). Molecular Phylogeny of Tiny Land Snails From the Family Punctidae (Stylommatopohora, Punctoidea) in Australia. Zoologica Scripta. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.70067