Microcystina gratilla Van Benthem Jutting, 1950
“There is some variation in the degree of elevation of the spire. The type and paratypes from Leuwiliang are rather flat. Other lots contain shells with higher spires. Besides there is some variation in the distance between the radial grooves. As has been pointed out already under Lamprocystis infans (Pfr), the present species was named Lamprocystis radiatula by O. Boettger. But, as he never published it, the name remained a museum label name only. When Moellendorff in 1897 published his Lamprocystis radiatula he took an altogether different species (Mus. Senckenberg no. 4090 type, 4091 paratypes) which I now consider to be synonymous with L. infans (Pfr), This confusion would not have led to further complications, had not Rensch (1932, p. 49-50) recorded as “Microcystina radiatula Mlldff” specimens from Bali and Flores which are evidently Lamprocystis radiatula Bttg. Non Mlldff. I could checj this opinion by examining a sample from Rensch’s expedition collected at Rana Mese, Flores (now in the Senckenberg Museum no 62485) and besides it goes forth from his own remark, where he says that Moellendorff’s dimensions: iam. 7 mm, alt. 4 mm, do not correspond with the type specimen: diam 2.7, height 1.4 mm. The nonconformity of the two measurements can be explained by the fact that Rensch has before him the type of Lamprocystis radiatula Boettger ms (now Microcystina gratilla n.sp.) and not of Lamprocystis radiatula Moellendorff (now L. infans (Pfeiffer).” (Benthem-Jutting, 1959)
Benthem-Jutting (1950) original descriptions on Microcystina gratilla – “Shell small, flat, or very little elevated. Yellowish to yellowish-brown, highly polished, somewhat transparent. Ornated with regular, distantly placed radial grooves, crossed by much finer spiral striae. In the type shell these grooves continue on the base of the shell; in some paratypes they fade away below the periphery. Whorls 4-4 ½, in exceptional cases up 5. Regularly increasing in diameter. Suture shallow, with an additional, sometimes red-brown, margin. Base moderately rounded Umbilicus very narrow. Aperture little oblique, broadly lunar. Peristome not continuous, sharp, not thickened or reflected. With a minute sinuosity in the umbilical region.”
Microcystina gratilla – “Dimension: Height 1.0-2.1 mm, width 1.8-2.8, in exceptional cases to 3.5, height of aperture 0.9-1.4 mm” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950)
Type locality – “Leuwiliang, near Buitenzorg, West Java” leg. Benthem-Jutting/Jan. 18, 1931 (Benthem-Jutting, 1950)
Other localities – “Surabaya” leg. H. Fruhstorfer/1890 (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: Mt. Tjibodas, estate of Tjampea, near Buitenzorg, 300 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: Buitenzorg, Botanical Garden, 250 mm” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: Tjibodas, Mt. Gedeh, 1400 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: Mt. Tjibodas, estate of Tjampea, near Buitenzorg, 300 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: Kandang Badak, saddle between Mt. Gedeh and Mt. pangerango, 2400 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: limestone hill near Sukanegara, Djampangs, 1000 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: Mt. Pawon, near Padalarang, 700 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: Pasir Pabeasan, near Padalarang, 800 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: Maribaja, N of Bandung, near hot springs along river, 1100 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “West Java: Mt. Puntang, near Mt. Malabar, 2000 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “East Java: Surabaja, sea level” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “East Java: Sutji, near Grissee, sea level” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “East Java: Kawah Idjen-Merapi Nature Reserve, 1600-1700 m” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950)
Habitat – “The snails were living in the soil fauna, among moss, fallen leaves etc. near the waterfall of the Tjianten, at 300 m altitude.” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950); “living on the ground, in soil fauna, among vegetable debris, moss, decaying wood, low vegetation. Recorded from sea level up to 2400 m.” (Benthem-Jutting, 1950)