Amphidromus palaceus Group

    Amphidromus palaceus, A. javanicus, and A. heerianus and their subspecies and forms appear to be quite closely related and possibly no more than color forms of one species. Amphidromus winteri and  A. teysmanni may also prove to be part of this group. Each has similarities to the group and seems to be one extreme or another of the range of shell shapes/color patterns seen within the group. Amphidromus winteri shows the extreme lip growth which is not uncommon in many of the large Amphidromus, and A. teysmanni looks like a squat A. heerianus, another shape that is not uncommon within the group. We do not have photos of the last three. This group is native to Java and Sumatra Islands plus the satellite Islands of Madura, Nusa Kambangan, and Meeuwen.

[Click on the images for a higher resolution version.]

Amphidromus palaceus (Mousson, 1848)

    Native to both Java and Sumatra. Large (50-55mm). Dextral and Sinistral. White to yellow and very light tan. Surface not usually shiny but slightly striate. Several  forms have been named.

Amphidromus palaceus (Mousson, 1848)

Amphidromus palaceus (Mousson, 1848)

Amphidromus palaceus (Mousson, 1848)

Amphidromus palaceus (Mousson, 1848)

Amphidromus heerianus (L. Pfeiffer, 1871)

Native to Java only. Shell virtually identical to palaceus. Color darker tan, often in striations

• A. h. poecilous van Benthem Jutting, 1941  “Irregular stripes and blotches” of dark coloring, according to Laidlaw and Solem

• A. h. robustus Fulton, 1896  White or yellow ground color with several (often 4) dark brown bands.

Amphidromus heerianus (L. Pfeiffer, 1871)

Amphidromus heerianus poecilous van Benthem Jutting, 1941