Helix (Patula) stokesi Smith, 1884

Pl. 7, fig. A

Smith, 1884. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, (1884): 275, pl. 23, figs. 17, 17a, 17b.

Type material: Lectotype, NHMUK 1884.6.12.646, and paralectotypes (2), NHMUK 1884.6.12.647–648 (dry shell material) . Lectotype designated by R.K. Dell in Cumber (1961: 188).

Label details: ‘ New Zealand, Challenger Coll’.

Type locality: Wairarapa, Wellington, New Zealand (Smith 1884: 274) .

Previous illustrations of type material: Smith (1884: pl. 23, figs. 17, 17a, 17b) .

Remarks: The type material was part of a small collection of New Zealand land snails that was presented to scientific staff of HMS Challenger by William Travers, when the ship was berthed at Wellington in 1874 (Smith 1884: 274). Helix (Patula) stokesi Smith, 1884 has been considered conspecific with Patula lucetta Hutton, 1884 (e.g., Hedley & Suter 1893: 654; Suter 1894d: 268; 1913b: 668; Cumber 1961: 186; Powell 1979: 323). Hutton’s and Smith’s descriptions were published in May 1884 (see Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 1883, vol. 16: title page), and October 1884 (see Duncan 1937: 74), respectively, so Patula lucetta has priority, as noted by Powell (1979: 323). This taxon has been recorded from both the North and South islands, but Cumber (1961: 186) noted that there were morphological differences between populations north and south of Cook Strait and referred to this taxon as a species complex. Listed in genus Phenacohelix Suter, 1892 (e.g., Suter 1913b: 668; Powell 1979: 323; Goulstone 2001: 57; Spencer et al. 2009: 216), subgenus Phenacohelix (Neophenacohelix) Cumber, 1961 by Cumber (1961: 186), and genus Neophenacohelix Cumber, 1961 by Marshall & Worthy (2017: 305), but preliminary results of a phylogenetic study (M. Kennedy, T. King & F. Brook unpub. data) indicate that the genus-level placement of this species requires re-evaluation.

Taxonomy: Listed as a junior synonym of Patula lucetta Hutton, 1884 by Hedley & Suter (1893: 654), Suter (1894d: 268) and Powell (1979: 323).