A New Species of Potamolithus in Hotspots of Diversity at the Paranaense Forest, Argentina

Abstract

The genus Potamolithus Pilsbry, 1896 represents a group of freshwater gastropods endemic to southern South America, with 48 described species, and constitutes the sole representative of the family Tateidae in the region. Historically, the taxonomy of the genus was based on shell morphology; however, subsequent studies incorporating anatomical and molecular data have highlighted the limitations in species identification based solely on shell features. Since 2010, the team at the Museo de La Plata has conducted comprehensive studies in the malacological province of the Uruguay River, a region with high molluscan diversity and significant relevance for aquatic biodiversity conservation in Argentina. In this context, Potamolithus davisi n. sp. is described through the analysis of morphological and anatomical characters, as well as mitochondrial COI gene sequencing. The results highlight the need for integrative taxonomic approaches and underscore the importance of the Uruguay River as a key refuge for regional malacological biodiversity. This study contributes to the systematic knowledge and conservation of Potamolithus in South American freshwater ecosystems.