Helicarion semicalcareus Schepman, 1896
“This species has much puzzled me; at first sight it looks like a Vitrina but on closer examination I can only identify it with Helicarion. It may be allied to H. whiteheadi Godwin Austen, as most of the characters of this species can be applied to the specimen before me. Besides other differences, the most striking peculiarity by which it is distinguished from whiteheadi is the membranaceous substance of the infra-peripherical part of the shell. If later on more material of my species and of H. whiteheadi will be discovered, and the anatomical characters can be studied, they will perhaps prove to belong to a new genus.” (Schepman, 1896)
Schepman (1896) original descriptions on Helicarion semicalcareus – “Shell globose, slightly depressed, only the upper part calcareous, lower part membranaceous, forming on the limit a slight angle; as the shell of the unique specimen is coherent to the body, its under surface and the form of the aperture are not visible; upper part smooth, shining, with a few wrinkles; colour golden yellow, except the nucleus which is chalk-white; spire and suture slightly sunken; whorls about 2, very rapidly increasing , nearly the whole shell formed by the last whorl, giving it the character of being a Vitrina; aperture very large, peristome thin. Animal reddish grey, with darker shades on the back; sharply keeled, keel reddish behind; mucous pore with a horn above; shell-lobes with black streaks and spots; moreover a black line runs on the part of the mantle, which borders and covers the peristome.”
Helicarion semicalcareus – “Diam. maj. (of shell) 9 ½, min. 7 mill. - Length of the animal 21 mill.” (Schepman, 1896)
Type locality – “Top of Mount Liang Koeboeng” leg. Büttikofer/Mar. 1894 (Schepman, 1896)