Five New Species of the Land Snail from Northeastern Thailand

Assistant Professor Dr Chanidaporn Tumpeesuwan and Assistant Professor Dr Sakboworn Tumpeesuwan, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, along with Dr. Benchawan Nahok, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak Campus, discovered five new species of the land snail genus Landouria Godwin-Austen, 1918 (Gastropoda, Camaenidae) from northeastern Thailand, in addition to the discovery in 2019 at Loei and Khon Kaen provinces. The five new species are Landouria circinata Nahok et al., 2021; Landouria tuberculata Nahok et al., 2021; Landouria trochomorphoides Nahok et al., 2021; Landouria chloritoides Nahok et al., 2021; and Landouria elegans Nahok et al., 2021.

This research shows that the limestone mountain region and the sandstone mountains in northeastern Thailand are areas with more hidden biodiversity waiting to be discovered. If people and governments help to preserve their local natural areas, these valuable resources awaiting scientific discovery could be used for value-added research for sustainable use in the future. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomy, ecology, and geographical distribution of small land snails, which are used as excellent examples for teaching malacology, taxonomy, and biogeography.