Revealing the stygobiotic and crenobiotic molluscan biodiversity hotspot in Caucasus: Part I. The phylogeny of stygobiotic Sadlerianinae Szarowska, 2006 (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Hydrobiidae) from Georgia with descriptions of five new genera and twenty-one new species

Abstract

The position of the southwestern Caucasus as a stygobiotic Mollusca hotspot is confirmed. Molecular data of stygobiotic gastropods revealed the diversity of subfamily Sadlerianinae Szarowska, 2006, inhabiting the subterranean environment of Georgia. In addition to the well-known endemic genera Pontohoratia Vinarski, Palatov & Glöer, 2014 and Motsametia Vinarski, Palatov & Glöer, 2014, five more genera were identified in northwestern Georgia as new to the science: Kartvelobia gen. nov., Imeretiopsis gen. nov., Caucasopsis gen. nov., Caucasogeyeria gen. nov., and Hausdorfenia gen. nov. Additionally, 21 new species were found to inhabit the studied area (Samegrelo, Imereti, Racha regions in Georgia).