Mi

THE

NAUTILUS

THE PILSBRY QUARTERLY

DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS

OF CONCHOLOGISTS it^^""*^ ^

EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS

HORACE BURRINGTON BAKER

Professor Emeritus of Zoology, University of Pennsylvania

CHARLES B. WURTZ

Consulting Biologists, 1009 Commercial Trust Building

R. TUCKER ABBOTT

H. A. Pilsbry Chair of Malacology, Academy of Natural Sciences

MRS. HORACE B. BAKER

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

PONY PRINTING, UPPER DARBY, PA.

April, 1960 nautilus iii

CONTENTS

Names of new genera, species, etc. in italics

Alaska 14

American Malacological Union 74, 160

Arion ater 36

Alabama 88

Atlantic, western 11, 23, 28, 39, 47, 76, 79, 103, 118, 119, 139

Beringius eyerdami Allyn G. Smith 5, 43

Berry, Lloyd E., obituary 117

California, marines 1, 43, 51, 65, 95

Calipyrgula circumstriata Leonard & Tong-Yun 125

Calipyrgula pecosensis Leonard & Tong-Yun 110

Campeloma integrum, sinistral 118

Canada 28

Carychium clappi Hubricht, for C. costatum 36

Clione limacina, stranding of 76

Cochliopa riograndensis, radula from Texas 125

Colorado 160

Conus, radulae of Puerto Rican species 119

Dates of the Nautilus 35

Decipifus gracilis McLean 10

Eulotidae 25

Eustomopsis polingi 63, 114

Family names in Pulmonata 114

Florida, inland 28, 37, 76, 137, 161

marines 11, 28, 79, 118

Fruiticicolidae 25

Green shells 63, 76, 1 14

Hatching, Liguus 37

Helminthoglyptidae 25

Honduras, British 129

Indiana 113

Indo-pacific 103

Introduction of unionids 36

of Zachrysia 76

Kentucky 57

Maine 113

Maryland 21, 28, 160

iv NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (Index)

Massachusetts 36, 113

Melampus 28, 47

Melongena corona, feeding & eggs 11, 77

Michigan 36

Mya arenaria on buoys 39

New Guinea 63, 114

New Jersey 28, 113, 133

New York 28

North Dakota 38

Ohio 1 13, 118

Oklahoma 37

Olivella biplicata, variation 65, 95

Oncomelania, production of eggs 147

Oyster populations, sub-tidal 139

Pacific, eastern 1, 9, 43, 51, 65, 95, 103

western 103, 160

Phyllonotus peratus Keen 105

Phyllonotus peratus decoris Keen 107

Pleistocene, inland 110, 125

marines 51, 65

Pliocene marines 65

Puerto Rico 152

Pulmonata, family names 114

Radulae, mounting minute 135

Relaxation of muricids 16

Rhodacmea kahawbensis, anatomy 88

Robertson, Roberts, appointment 160

Sampling, quantitative 131

Sinistral 118

Snails eaten by fishes 14

South Carolina 28, 1 1 3

Succinea pyrites Hubricht, for S. aurea, in part 113

Texas 28, 37, 110, 125

Thysanoteuthis rhombus 23

Truncatella 79

Virginia 21, 113

Watson, Hugh (obituary) 158

West Indies 28, 79

Wheatley collections 72

April, 1960 nautilus v

Wyoming 155

Xanthonychidae 25

Zachrysia auricoma Sc Z. provisoria from Florida 76, (4) iii

Zetek, James (obituary) 159

INDEX TO AUTHORS

Abbott, R. Tucker 160

Atmus, R 37

Baker, H. Burrington 25, 35, 76, 114

Baker Sc Stewart H. Jadis 158

Basch, Paul F 88

Beetle, Dorothy E 155, 160

Blake, John W. (Carriker &) 16

Branson, Branley A. 37

Branson & William R. Heard 14

Burch, Mrs. John Q 118

Carriker, Melbourne Romaine & John W. Blake 16

Chace, E. P 36

Clarke, Arthur H., Jr 36

Clench, William J 76, 114, 161

Dexter, Ralph W 118

Dineen, Clarence F. (Holle &) 28, 46

Erdman, Donald S. (Voss &) 23

Golley, Frank B 1 52

Gray, I. E. (Wells &) 139

Grimm, Wayne 21

Haas, Fritz ^ Alan Solem 129

Heard, William R. (Branson &) 14

Henrard, J, B 63

Holle, Paul A. & Clarence F. Dineen 28, 46

Hubricht, Leslie 36, 1 1 3

Jackson, Ralph W 1 60

Jadis, Stewart H. (Baker &) 158

Johnson, Richard 1 72

Keen, A. Myra 103

Leonard, A. Byron & Tong-Yun Ho 110, 125

McLean, James H 9

Merrill, Arthur S 39

VI

NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (Index)

Post, R. L 38

Rosewater, Joseph 57, 78

Roth, Ariel A. & Edward D. Wagner 147

Siekman, Lula B 118

Smith, Allyn G 1, 43

Solem, Alan (Haas &) 129

Sparks, B. W 158

Stohler, R 66, 95

Teskey, Margaret C 74

Tong-Yung Ho (Leonard &) 110, 125

Torre, Alfredo de la 79

Turner, Ruth D 11, 77, 135

Valentine, James W 31

Voss, Gilbert L. & Donald S. Erdman 23

Wagner, Edward D. (Roth &) 147

Warmke, Germaine L 119

Wells, Harry W. & I. E. Gray 139

Wilson, Druid 137

Wurtz, Charles B 131

REVIEWS

Italics means new taxons included originally

Abbott, R. T, Assiminea 38

Altena, C. O. v.R. Philomycidae & Limacidae (1) iii

Arias, C. S. (See Pain) (1) iii

Augustine, D. L. (See Chernin) 38

Basch, P. F. Gundlachia (2) iii

Carriker, M. R. Urosalpinx (2) iii

Chernin, E., Michaelson & Augustine, Planorbidae & Marisa 38

Clench, W. J. Admiralty 6- Bismarck, Solomons & Bahama

Is 77, 78, (4) iii

Deslandes, N. (See Paraense) 78, (3) iv

Hubendick, B. Ancylidae & Planorbidae (2) iii

Lopes, H. de L. Turhonilla 78

Lopes ^ Sa Cardosa. Solariella 78

Michaelson, Edw. H. (See Chernin) 38

Pain, T., & S. Arias C. Pomacea (1) iii

Paraense, W. L., Sc Deslandes, Taphius 78, (3) iv

April, 1960 nautilus vii

Reynolds, M. B. Pleistocene (4) iii

Riedel, A. Oxychilus (2) iii

Sa Caidosa, Paulo de (See Lopes) 78

Starabogatov, Ja. I. Planorbidae, Gyraulus (i) iii, 78

Stohler, R. Astraea & Macrarene (4) iii

Thompson, Fred G. Lithasiopsis (3) iv

Welch, d'A. A. Achatinella 38

Zilch, A. Euthyneura (3) iii

THE NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 JULY, 1959 No. 1

A NEW BERINGIUS FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

WITH COMMENTS ON CERTAIN DESCRIBED FORMS

By ALLYN G. SMITHi

During the last year and a half more than a dozen specimens

of a large Beringius have been obtained from Mr. Everett C.

Stiles of Bellingham, Washington; these were taken by trawl

fishermen operating off the Washington coast. Loan of these to

the California Academy of Sciences for study has prompted a

review of available specimens under the names Beringius cre-

bricostatus Dall, B. crebricostatus undatus Dall, and B. kenni-

cotti Dall. These include shells furnished by the U. S. National

Museum, among them the type of B. c. undatus, through the

courtesy of Dr. Harald Rehder; by the Stanford University De-

partment of Mineral Sciences from Dr. Myra Keen; by the San

Diego Society of Natural History from Mr. E. P. Chace; and sev-

eral specimens from the private collections of Messrs. Walter J.

Eyerdam, of Seattle, and John Q. Burch, of Los Angeles.

One obvious problem in studying shells of the genus Beringius

is the relative scarcity of material. One must, at present at least,

draw conclusions on but few specimens, often only a single one

from a given locality. Many are beach-worn or damaged, or are

not sufficiently full grown to show adult characters well. But

even under these difficulties it seems possible to draw some ten-

tative conclusions about certain described forms for the benefit

of others who may desire to pursue the problem further upon

acquisition of more and better material.

The shells now before me, with others seen and studied, pre-

sent a puzzling array. Identification of them with described and

figured species is difficult and can be only tentative in view of

the wide variation in sculptural characters and in the shape

aspects of the shells. There appear to be four more or less dis-

tinct categories represented by Beringius shells with heavy spiral

ribbing as follows:

iResearch Malacologist, California Academy of Sciences.

1

2 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

1. Fairly long-spired shells with strong spiral ribs and relatively

little or no evidences of transverse ribbing or plications. Num-

bers of major spirals range from 8-14 on the body whorl and

3-6 on the earlier postnuclear whorls. B. crebricostatiis

2. Fairly long-spired shells with more numerous and less strong

spiral ribs and prominent transverse ribs or plications. On the

body whorl the spirals may be continuous over the entire area,

or may be strong only below the periphery and weak or sub-

obsolete above it. Numbers of major spirals are 8 or more on

the postnuclear whorls. The transverse ribs or plications range

in number from 12-15 per whorl. B. kennicotti

3. Shells similar to "2," preceding, but transverse ribbing much

weaker and sometimes obsolete. B. undatus

4. Shells wdth spiral sculpture similar to "2," preceding, but

with shorter spire, more tabulate whorls, extremely deep sutures,

and a more tumid body whorl. B., new species

In all specimens seen the canal is short and, if not worn or

broken, has a series of weaker, closely spaced ribs on it ranging

from 5-9 in number. Although a well-marked fasciole is some-

times present, generally it is weak or absent.

The line of demarcation between B. crebricostatiis and B. ken-

nicotti is fairly distinct; but between B. kennicotti and B. undatus

it is much less so. In fact, with more and better material than

is now available, these latter two species possibly can be merged

into a single variable species. Based on the shells at hand, B.

crebricostatus undatus Dall, 1919, seemingly is wrongly placed

and should stand, at least for the time being, as a separate species

more closely related on sculptural criteria to B. kennicotti than

to B. crebricostatus.

Beringius crebricostatus (Dall), 1887. PI. 1, fig. 1

This is the type species of the genus and has been well figured.

Sculpture consists of heavy, flat-topped, spiral ribs, separated by

deeply channeled interspaces. The ribs are "swaged" at the sum-

mits so as to overhang the interspaces slightly. While the original

description and figure indicate 3 of these revolving ribs occur on

the penultimate and earlier postnuclear whorls, a beach-worn and

damaged specimen in the Stanford Collection (No. 7213) from

Simeonof Island, Alaska, has 6 revolving ribs but is typical other-

wise. Another Stanford shell from Unalaska, the type locality, is

illustrated on plate 1, fig. 1. It has 4 prominent spiral ribs on the

penultimate whorl with a 5th weak one just below the upper

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 3

suture; the earlier whorls have 3 ribs, with a weaker one just

above the lower suture. In this shell, the channeled interspaces

are much wider than the spiral ribs. The approximate number

of spiral ribs on the body whorl is given as 14 in the original

description but on the two Stanford specimens it is 13 and 14,

respectively.

Related to B. crebricostatus is a fine adult specimen collected

alive off British Columbia in 238 fathoms (U.S.N.M. No. 210299,

U.S.F.C. Sta. 2862) . This has 6 spiral ribs on the early post-

nuclear whorls and about 19 on the body whorl and canal. In

this shell, the ribs are much narrower than the channeled inter-

spaces and are less prominent overall than in the typical form.

In B. crebricostatus, evidences of broad transverse ribbing

across the whorls are slight, and this feature seems not to apply

to the species when compared with B. kennicotti. Evidently one

also must allow for considerable variation in the number of spiral

ribs, their relative prominence, and their widths compared with

the corresponding widths of the adjacent channeled interspaces.

In general, the species has a comparatively long-spired shell, the

length of the spire being about equal to or greater than the length

of the aperture and canal. Such measurements should, of course,

make proper allowance for missing nuclear whorls as these are

often lost or damaged.

If the above allowances for sculptural variation are correct,

the range of the species is extended from the Aleutians south

at least to a position off the British Columbia coast. Thus it

overlaps the ranges of other forms to be considered.

"COLUS" PERISCELIDUS Dall, 1891.

The National Museum type lot consists of two fine specimens,

No. 122643, U. S. Fish Commission Station 2842 off Akutan

Islands, Aleutians. As has long been suspected these shells, which

are now before me, have the characters of a diminutive Beringius

belonging to the group of B. crebricostatus. Placement in the

genus Coins is questionable. The two specimens in the type lot

are almost identical in measurements but only one has a perfect

lip. McConnell's drawing in the Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 17, 1894,

pi. 27, fig. 6, is an excellent representation. Another somewhat

smaller specimen in the collection of the U. S. Geological Survey

4 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

(No. D 397) from Lash Bay, Tanaga Island, Andreanof Group,

Aleutians, has the tops of the spiral cords "swaged" so as to

overhang the adjoining channels, as in typical shells of B. crebri-

costatus.

Beringius kennicotti (Dall) , PL 1, figs. 2 and 3.

Two specimens that conform to the general requirements of

this species are in the Stanford University Collection. One (No.

929-1) comes from Petersburg, Alaska; the other (No. 7215, old

no. 929-2) from Kodiak Island, Alaska. These are illustrated on

pi. 1, figs. 2 and 3. Both have about the same numbers of spiral

ribs on the body whorl and canal (23 and 26, respectively); each

has 10 spirals on the earlier whorls. The transverse rib count on

the last three whorls, starting with the body whorl is 12-15-15

for the Petersburg shell and 13-14-13 for the specimen from

Kodiak Island. These transverse ribs or plications are strong

above the periphery of the body whorl but become gradually

weaker below it in both specimens. The major difference be-

tween the two specimens lies in the fact that the spiral ribs on

the body whorl are strong throughout on the shell from Kodiak

Island, whereas on the shell from Petersburg these are extremely

weak from the summit of the whorl to a point just below the

periphery where they become equal in strength to those on the

Kodiak shell. This difference in sculpture is liable to be con-

fusing unless allowance is made for it in relating single speci-

mens to this particular species.

B. kennicotti incisiis Dall, 1907, has not been seen by the writer

but is believed to be another sculptural variant.

Beringius undatus Dall, 1919. PL 1, figs. 4 & 5, pi. 2, figs. 1 & 2.

The type specimen is figured here for the first time on pi. 1,

figs. 4 and 5. It is U.S.N. M. No. 223031 and comes from 160

fathoms, mud, off Cygnet Inlet, Boca de Quadra, southeast

Alaska (U.S.F.C. Sta. 4224) . As stated, it is a relatively young

specimen and contains the operculum. The number of transverse

plications on the body whorl is 17, which is larger than average,

the range in other specimens studied being 12-14.

The transverse plications in some specimens of B. undatus are

relatively weak and difficult to count with accuracy. Because

these do not appear to be a major sculptural feature of the spe-

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 5

cies there seems good reason to make a generic distinction be-

tween it and B. kennicotti. Considering the possible limits of

sculptural variation in shells of the genus, however, the relation-

ship between the two nominal species is admittedly close and

we may be dealing with a single polymorphic species. Specimens

studied, that are considered to belong to B. undatus, are as

follo^vs:

1. A single specimen dredged to the north of Unimak Island,

Aleutians, in 41 fathoms, sand (U.S.N. M. No. 122718, U.S.F.C.

Sta. 3259) . This is a fairly large, heavy-textured, thick-lipped

shell 115 mm. long, taken alive. Spiral ribbing is strong through-

out, there being 21 on the body whorl and seven each on the

two preceding whorls. Transverse plications are weak, the num-

bers on the last three whorls being 11-12-13, respectively,

starting with the body whorl.

2. The type specimen from Boca de Quadra, southeast Alaska,

and another smaller specimen from the same general locality and

depth (U.S.N.M. No. 222589, U.S.F.C. Sta. 4225) .

3. A single large, full grown specimen, 143 mm. long, from

off Masset, British Columbia, in the Stanford Collection (No.

7214). This shell is illustrated on pi. 2, figs. 1 and 2. Numbers

of spiral ribs on the last three whorls are 18-9-9, starting with

the body whorl. The canal has a series of 9 ribs. The channeled

interspaces are not as deeply cut as in most of the other shells

of this species that have been studied. Transverse plications are

fewer than average and number 12-12-11 on the last 3 whorls.

The shell is well preserved but not collected alive.

4. Two specimens in the Stanford Collection (No. 7214) from

off the San Juan Islands, Puget Sound, Washington, in 25-30

fathoms. These are labeled "B. crebricostatus var. undatus Dall

(1919)" in Ball's handwriting. One is an imperfect, full grown

"dead" shell; the other is a young one with the nuclear tip

complete.

5. A single young shell, dredged off Flat Point, Lopez Island,

Puget Sound, in the California Academy of Sciences Paleo. Col-

lection (No. 34789), illustrated on pi. 2, fig. 6.

Beringius eyerdami, new species PI. 2, figs. 3, 4; PI. 3, figs. 1-4.

The specimens from Messrs. Stiles and Eyerdam differ mark-

edly from other species with heavy spiral ribbing and seem

worthy of a new name.

Holotype: Shell an adult specimen, large (about 41/2 inches

long) , of fairly heavy texture, globose, creamy-white, covered in

places with a thin, golden-brown periostracum. Nuclear whorls

missing; postnuclear whorls about 41/2, well-rounded, tabulate

6 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

at the summits, with fairly deep sutures. Body whorl tumid, con-

stricted at the base to form a short but wide, relatively straight

siphonal canal. Axial sculpture faint, consisting of a series of

broad, low irregular, widely-spaced, undulating plications, more

evident on the upper portions of the postnuclear whorls but

fading out almost entirely on the body whorl. Spiral sculpture

prominent and strong over all postnuclear whorls, consisting on

the first of 6, on the next of 7, and on the body whorl of 15

heavy, square-cut, revolving ribs bounded by narrower but deep,

square-cut channels that are concave at their bottoms; both

spiral ribs and their interspaces widen gradually as they approach

the outer lip of the aperture, which is crenulated inside to cor-

respond with the heavy outside spiral sculpture. Outside of canal

worn, devoid of ribbing in the holotype. Over-all microsculpture

consisting of close, irregularly placed, growth riblets that con-

tinue over the spiral ribs and into the channeled interspaces.

Major spiral ribs on the body whorl generally cut by one, cen-

trally placed, weak, incised line and sometimes by more still

weaker ones. Aperture capacious, subovate, of a pinkish color

inside; outer lip thick, not flaring; inner lip appressed, consist-

ing of a heavy wash of callus; columella slightly curved. Canal

wide, short and relatively straight. Just inside the mouth of the

shell on the upper side of the inner lip is a broad, low, rounded,

raised area or boss. Operculum thick and coarse, normal for the

genus. Animal (in alcohol) a female, the upper portion of the

mantle yellowish-white, lightly dusted with irregular, light gray

maculations; edge of mantle incised and ribbed corresponding

with the outside sculpture of the shell, the ribs marked with red-

brown for a distance of about 5 mm. back of the edge. Dimen-

sions of shell in mm.: length, 113.9; maximum diameter, 74.8;

maximum width of aperture, 37.7; length of aperture and canal,

75.0; length of canal alone, approximately 23.5 mm.; number of

postnuclear whorls, 41/2-

Locality and disposition of specimens: Dredged at various

times in 1957 and 1958 by the trawlers "Cooledge II," "Karen,"

"Northern Light," and "Paul L." in approximately 100 fathoms

on La Perouse Bank about 40 miles off Cape Flattery opposite

the entrance to the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, Washington.

Holotype in the Calif. Acad. Sci. Paleo. Type Coll. (C.A.S. no.

36318). A total of 14 paratypes from the same general locality

have been designated as follows: 2 in Calif. Acad. Sci. Paleo.

Type Coll.; 8 in the collection of Mr. E. C. Stiles; one in the

collection of Mr, Walter J. Eyerdam; 3 in the collection of Mr.

John Q. Burch; and one in the collection of the San Diego So-

ciety of Natural History.

Geographical Range: Chignik, Alaska (Norberg) to the coast

of Washington in about 100 fms. off the Strait of San Juan de

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 7

Fuca (Stiles) ; Puget Sound, Washington (Eyerdam) .

Remarks: Because so many specimens of a large, deepwater

Beringius are available for study at one time, somewhat detailed

comments on the range in variation of the shells seems pertinent.

The total number at hand or otherwise known is as follows:

The holotype and 14 paratypes, from the type locality, ob-

tained by Mr. Stiles. The paratypes include 3 kindly loaned by

Mr. and Mrs. Burch and one supplied by Mr. Eyerdam, who

also furnished the holotype. An additional specimen (topotype)

is stated to be in the collection of Mrs. Elizabeth Phelps, Delray

Beach, Florida, has not been available for study.

A single shell (paratype) in the museum of the San Diego

Society of Natural History (No. 12917) from off Vancouver Is-

land, British Columbia.

Two shells obtained by Mr. Ingvar Norberg at Chignik, Alaska,

one of which is in Mr. Eyerdam's collection and the other said

to be in the Tromsoe Museum, Norway. The latter of these has

not been studied.

A single shell collected by Mr. Eyerdam during seine opera-

tions for herring in 1945 at Raspberry Island, Kodiak Island

Group, Alaska.

A single full-grown but "dead," worn specimen collected by

Mr. Eyerdam in Puget Sound at Restoration Point, Bainbridge

Island, Kitsap Co., Wash.

Comments on these follow in the order listed.

Of the 15 shells from La Perouse Bank obtained by Mr. Stiles,

which are at hand, 9 are fine specimens taken alive and have

opercula. Two, including the holotype, have the animals pre-

served in alcohol; both are females. The remaining 6 are "dead"

shells, somewhat worn; one of these is a poorly preserved, half-

grown specimen. Thirteen of these shells have the heavy spiral

sculpture described for the holotype and are remarkably constant

in this outstanding feature, although there are minor variations.

Several have all, or nearly all of the smooth nuclear whorls

present, which may number from 2 to 21/2; they are all some-

what worn, however. Where these are broken off the animal

plugs the open hole with shell material, a condition present in

the holotype. In several of the better preserved shells, the spiral

ribbing continues over the outside of the canal but in diminish-

ing strength, the canal being sculptured with a series of about

9 of these weaker ribs, which are closely spaced and bordered

by wider, shallow interspaces. The incised spiral lines on top of

the major ribs vary considerably and are absent on some shells.

8 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

Although a flaring lip seems not to be a feature of the species,

in two specimens there is a marked recurving toward the outer

edge and in one of these the lip is much thickened and doubled.

Coloi' also varies somewhat. The thin periostracum when present,

is light brown in some specimens, without the golden hue. One

unusually fine fresh shell is a beautiful pinkish-brown color over

all. In such fresh shells the color inside the aperture ranges from

pink toward a light purple, which evidently changes to lighter

flesh or salmon pink with age or exposure to light.

The other two shells in the type lot deviate remarkably from

the normal heavily ribbed form. On the the most striking one

of these, a "dead" shell illustrated on pi. 3, fig. 2, there is no

spiral ribbing v*^hatever on the upper whorls; toward the base of

the body whorl, however, a series of four strong ribs bordered

by quite narrow channels appears abruptly; the usual series of

weaker ribs occurs on the outer canal. Axial sculpture consists

of broad, very irregular undulations of varying prominence.

Over-all microsculpture appears as the usual closely set growth

riblets but these are finely beaded in an axial rather than in a

spiral direction. The shell is shorter than normal, with a stubby

spire, the summits of the tabulate whorls descending into the

sutures, a feature not exhibited in the normal heavily ribbed

specimens.

While there is a possibility that this single specimen may be

a pathologic variant, the other of the two with aberrant sculp-

ture and other aspects seems perfectly normal. It was collected

alive and has the longer spire of the heavily ribbed form from

the area; it is illustrated on pi. 3, fig. 3. The heavy spiral ribs are

only 7 in number and begin abruptly well below the periphery

of the body whorl, with the usual series of weaker ribs on the

outer canal. The upper part of the body whorl is sculptured with

6 or 7 weak spiral cords, widely spaced, and bordered by wide,

shallow interspaces. At the summit of this whorl is a maze of

similarly weak cording, which originates at the suture and extends

diagonally to the area where the spiral cords begin. (This fea-

ture is suggested also in the figure of B. marshalli Dall, 1919, in

Bull. 112, U. S. National Museum, p. 91, pi. 9, fig. 3.) The sum-

mits of the whorls also show a descending tendency into the

sutures. Microsculpture of this shell has been lost due to unfor-

tunate treatment with acid in cleaning it.

NAUTILUS 73 (1)

PLATE 1

1, Beri72giiis crehricostatus (Ball) . 2, 3, B. kennicotti (Ball) . 4-6, B. imdatus

Ball.

NAUTILUS 73 (1)

PLATE 2

1, 2. Beritigius luidatus Dall. 3, 4, B. eyerdami A. G. Smith, type.

NAUTILUS 73 (1)

PLATE 3

1-4, Beringins eyerdami A. G. Smith.

NAUTILUS 73 (1)

PLATE 4

Decipifiis gracilis McLean 1. (left) Holotvpe, Stanford Univ. Paleo. Type

Coll., no. 8081, X 5. 2. Faraiype, Stanford Univ. Paleo. Type Coll.. no. 8082,

X 5. Off Guavmas, west Mexico.

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 9

List of figures

Plate 1.

1. Beringius crebricostatus (Dall) , Simeonof Id., Alaska. Stan-

ford Univ. Coll. No. 7213. Length, 102 mm.

2. B. kennicotti (Dall) , Petersburg, Alaska. Stanford Univ.

Coll. No. 939-1. Length, 99.1 mm.

3. B. kennicotti (Dall), Kukak Bay, Kodiak, Id., Alaska. Stan-

ford Univ. Coll. No. 7215 (old No. 929-2) . Length, 94.6 mm.

4. 5. B. undatus Dall. Type, from 160 fms., mud bottom, off

Cygnet Inlet, Boca de Quadra, Alaska (U.S.F.C. Sta. 4224).

U. S. National Museum Coll. No. 223031. Length, 79 mm.

6. B. undatus Dall, dredged off Flat Pt., Lopez Id., Puget

Sound, Wash. Calif. Acad. Sci. Coll. No. 34789. Length,

92.3 mm.

Plate 2.

1, 2. Beringius undatus Dall, dredged off Masset, Br. Colum-

bia. Stanford Univ. Coll. No. 7214. Length, 142.8 mm.

3, 4. B. eyerdami, A. G. Smith, new species. Holotype, from

approx. 100 fms., La Perouse Bank, 40 mi. off Cape Flat-

tery, Wash. Calif. Acad. Sci. Paleo Type Coll. (C.A.S. No.

36318). Length, 113.9 mm.

Plate 3.

1. Beringius eyerdami A. G. Smith, new species. Paratype in

W. J. Eyerdam Coll. Length, 120.6 mm.

2. Same. Paratype in Calif. Acad. Sci. Coll. No. 36318. Aber-

rant specimen with obsolete spiral sculpture. Length, 99.9

mm.

3. Same. Paratype in Calif. Acad. Sci. Coll. No. 36318. Aber-

rant specimen with spiral sculpture stronger. Length, 117.2

mm.

4. Same. Raspberry Id., Alaska (Eyerdam) . Calif. Acad. Sci.

Coll. No. 36319. Length, 132.8 mm.

Note: Front views taken with axis of shell horizontal. Back

views with shells resting on their apertures, with axes slightly

tipped upward so as to show sutural characters more clearly.

(To be continued)

A NEW MARINE GASTROPOD FROM WEST MEXICO

By JAMES H. McLEAN

Stanford University

A new gastropod, which fits into the genus Decipifus, recently

proposed by Olsson and McGinty, was collected by the author

in December, 1958, at Guaymas, Mexico. Decipifus belongs to the

family Columbellidae.

"x^

\ ^ '"I f

vx

■v^y.

10 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

Decipifus Olsson and McGinty, 1958.

Bulls, of Amer. Paleont., vol. 39, no. 177, p. 36. Type species

(monotypy), Decipifus sixaolus Olsson and McGinty, 1958. East

Panama.

Original description: "Shell quite small, Phos-Vike in shape

and sculpture. Protoconch is relatively large, subcylindrical,

formed of 1 to li^ smooth whorls, the final section high and the

apical tip inrolled. Sculpture of the mature whorls is formed by

low, narrow riblets finely beaded by spirals. Aperture semi-

elliptical with a small, indistinct canal at the suture; lip simple;

columella straight, the tip of the pillar slightly twisted; no ex-

ternal fasciole."

Decipifus gracilis, new species. Plate 4

Shell small, fusiform, aperture subovate, 3/g of length. Sculp-

ture consisting of 7 low, flat-surfaced spiral cords between su-

tures, 13 to 15 cords on base, crossed by 13 to 16 somewhat

sinuous axial ribs, (13 on early whorls) , the axial ribs becoming

obsolete on base; entire surface with minute axial striae. Siphonal

notch deep, columella smooth, outer lip simple but reflecting

spiral cords. Ground color buff, with variegated dark brown and

blue-green mottling, brown on the 4 upper cords of each whorl

and on the pillar, many of the bead surfaces white.

Dimensions: Holotype, length 8.2 mm., diameter, 3.7 mm. Para-

type, length 8.0 mm., diameter, 3.5 mm.

Type locality: Bocochibampo Bay, Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico,

about 50 feet offshore from the north end of the bay, in six feet

of water, under rocks. Holotype and paratype collected by the

author, December, 1958.

Repositories: Holotype, Stanford University Paleontological

Type Collection, No. 8081; paratype, No. 8082.

This species appears to be distinct from Amphissa lyrta Baker,

Hanna and Strong (1938) which probably belongs to this genus

also, in that Decipifus gracilis is more slender, has deeper sutures,

7 cords rather than 6 between sutures, 13 to 15 cords on the base

rather than 10, and shows the blue-green mottling. Decipifus

lyrta (Baker, Hanna and Strong) is known from Isla Partida and

other islands near southern Baja California. The two west Ameri-

can species of Decipifus appear to differ significantly from the

four species of Amphissa examined in the Stanford collection.

Although the overall shape and sculpture is similar, the beading

of Decipifus is more pronounced, there is less inner lip callus, and

the two species are much smaller than the minimum size of

Amphissa (9 mm. compared to 13 mm.). The southernmost range

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 11

of Amphissa is Cedros Island, {A, versicolor Dall) , according to

Grant and Gale, 1931. Thus Decipifus and Amphissa are also

geographically distinct.

The types of D. gracilis examined may be immature speci-

mens, for the outer lips are thin and sharp. This may also ac-

count for the absence of the slight posterior canal characteristic

of D. sixaolus. Although the specimens were taken alive, the

operculum was not saved. Conceivably populations of D. gracilis

may be of more general occurrence than is suspected, since col-

lecting has not been as extensive in the subtidal as in the inter-

tidal and dredged areas. Diving in the same spot also yielded

specimens of Engina tabogaensis Bartsch, 1931, and Anachis gilva

(Menke, 1847), both unknown north of Mazatlan until recent

months.

Acknowledgmejits: I wish to express my thanks to Dr. A. Myra

Keen, of Stanford University, for her help in the preparation of

this paper and to Mr. Robert Robertson, of Harvard University,

who first noticed the similarity of "Amphissa" lyrta to the type

species of Decipifus. He also has confirmed the placement of

Decipifus in the Columbellidae from a study of the radula of an

east coast species. (Letter to A. M. Keen dated December 30,

1958.)

Literature Cited

Baker, Fred, G. D. Hanna, and A. M. Strong. 1938. Columbel-

lidae from western Mexico. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., vol. 23,

no. 16, pp. 245-254, pi. 24.

Strong, A. M. 1938. New species of west American shells. Ibid.,

vol. 23, no. 14, pp. 203-216, pis. 15-16.

Olsson, A. A. and T. L. McGinty. 1958. Recent marine molluscs

from the Caribbean coast of Panama with the description of

some new genera and species. Bulls, of Amer. Paleont., vol.

39, no. 177, pp. 1-58, pis. 1-5.

NOTES ON THE FEEDING OF MELONGENA CORONA

By ruth D. turner

Museum of Comparative Zoology

At the time that W. J. Clench and I were working on the

Melongenidae for Johnsonia, David and Nevada Schmidt sent

us 6 live specimens of Melongena corona (Gmelin) from Punta

Rassa, Florida. They arrived in early March, 1952, and were

12 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

immediately placed in a salt water aquarium in the laboratory

where 5 of them are still doing very well (January, 1959) . An

account of the care of these mollusks was published in Turtox

News (Turner, 1956) and notes on egg laying and development

in Johnsonia (1956, p. 162). Continued observations on the feed-

ing of these animals have shown that there must be some means

of communication among them. They invariably feed together,

"ganging up" on one clam even though there are plenty of others

to feed upon. Though these snails are usually rather quiet and

crawl only on the bottom of the aquarium, just before feeding

one specimen becomes very active and crawls up on the blocks

of peat or the sides of the aquarium with its siphon fully ex-

tended and actively waving from side to side. Finding a clam,

usually a small Mercenaria mercenaria (Linne) purchased at the

local grocery store, this first specimen will envelop it with its

foot and within a half-hour all the others will be on the victim

aiding the one that began the process. Just how the proboscis is

introduced between the valves, ^ve have not been able to observe.

However, when feeding is well along, one can pick up the snails

and also, hanging from their extended proboscises, the tightly

closed clam. When feeding is finished, the clam shells are gaping

and completely cleaned out. Melongena corona, unlike Thais

lapillus (Linne), which we have also had in our tanks, never kill

more clams than they can eat and consequently never foul the

tank with rotting, uneaten clam meats. Specimens of Thais lapil-

lus do not feed together but each one attacks a different clam.

They were unable to eat Mercenaria but fed readily on Mytilus.

Clench (1947, p. 66) recorded a similar "ganging up" of speci-

mens of Purpura patula (Linne) when feeding on chitons.

Recently a number of badly broken specimens of Mercenaria

mercenaria were placed in the aquarium and though the meats

of these clams were readily available and each Melongena could

have had a "private dining table" they still all fed on a single

specimen. A clam was placed very close to one specimen of Mel-

ongena which immediately became active and within 15 minutes

all the other Melongena were headed toward this specimen,

ignoring broken clams which were much closer to them. Conse-

quently it does not seem possible that the "signal for feeding"'

could have come from the "odor" of clam meat in the water but

rather from the first Melongena which had begun to feed. That

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 13

this is not true of all members of this family is evidenced by

observations made in the field on Melongena corona johnstonei

Clench and Turner. In Little Lagoon, Alabama, we observed

individuals of this subspecies feeding singly on Tagelus divisus

(Spengler) . In the clear water of the lagoon, the Melo?igena

could be detected at some distance and, if they were not moving

about, we usually found, on picking one up, that the probocsis

was extended down into the burrow of a Tagelus. The soft parts

were complete cleaned out, leaving the shells in place. These

clams with their gaping valves, however, have no protection

against the Melongena and a cooperative attack is unnecessary.

Comfort (1957) reviewed all the known data on the life span

of mollusks, listing 133 species for which some data were avail-

able; of these 35 were prosobranchs. This is an appallingly small

number, and consequently we deem worthy of record the fact

that we have had Melongena corona living in our aquarium for

nearly 7 years. The specimens were at least a year old, and con-

sidering their size probably 2 or 3 years old at the time we

received them. None of the specimens has grown more than a

quarter of a whorl since we have had them. One died in August,

1958, but whether this was from old age or some other cause

we were unable to determine.

Although our specimens have produced egg capsules quite

regularly and the young snails have emerged and crawled to the

water line, conditions in our tank were not satisfactory for their

survival. At least 3 females have been observed depositing egg

capsules and they invariably do this at the end of the aquarium

away from the window and in a common area. There is still

much to be learned and it is hoped that this note will encourage

others who are favorably situated to record similar obser^^ations

on these and other mollusks.

References

Clench, W. J. 1947. The genera Purpura and Thais in the western

Atlantic. Johnsonia 2, pp. 61-91, pis. 32-40.

Clench, W. J. and R. D. Turner. 1956. The family Melongenidae

in the western Atlantic. Johnsonia 3, pp. 161-188, pis. 94-109.

Comfort, A. 1957. The duration of life in molluscs. Proc. Malac.

Soc. London 32, pp. 219-241.

Turner, R. D. 1956. Melongena corona Gmelin, an excellent ma-

rine laboratory mollusk. Turtox News 34 (6), pp. 106-108,

pis. 1-2.

14 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

SNAILS FROM UPPER PENINSULA OF ALASKA

WITH FEEDING HABITS OF BROOKS LAKE FISHES*

By BRANLEY A. BRANSON and WILLIAM R. HEARD

Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University

During the summer of 1958 (May-September) the junior

author, working as a fishery aide at the U. S. Fish and Wildlife

Service Research Station at Brooks Lake, collected a few land

snails and some rather important data on the malacophagous

habits of several species of fishes. Brooks Lake is situated in the

Katmae National Monument on the Upper Alaskan Peninsula.

The lake is a relatively deep one (maximum 252 feet) but gastro-

pod habitats are mostly restricted to the shallow north end and

to the peripheral ring of its basin lying less than 10 to 25 feet

below the surface. This is the region of effective plant growth,

consisting mostly of a species in the algal genus Chara.

Several specimens of Succinea strigata Pfeiffer were collected

in a peat bog near banks of the Nakntk River in the region of

King Salmon, July 21, 1958. This form is apparently rather

ubiquitously distributed in Alaska (Hanna, 1956 and others) .

Deroceras laeve (Miiller) is a small grayish or blackish slug

with a soot-colored foot. Our specimens are typical of the one

called Agriolimax (= Limax) hyperboreus (Westerlund) by

Dall (1903), but proved to be conspecific with D. laeve by

Walden (1956) . These specimens were "captured" near Brooks

Lake, July 13, 1958, and days following, on the trips of dead-

fall, small-mammal traps baited with peanut butter. (We have

since used peanut butter in bottle tops to attract Oklahoma slugs

with a great deal of success. In addition, several Polygyra tex-

asiana [Moricand] were collected in this manner, as well as

numerous insects.)

The periphyton referred to above in the brief characterization

of Brooks Lake fosters a population of Lymnaea emarginata Say

that is incredibly large in numbers. Associated with this species,

and only slightly less abundant, are Menetus cooperi planospirus

F. C. Baker and Valvata helicoidea Dall. This massive popula-

tion was observed and a few specimens of each species collected

(Aug. 6 and 19, 1958) by using SCUBA, gear. The following

* Contribution #289 from the Zoology Department and the Research Foun-

dation, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 15

notes will show that these gastropods obviously are very impor-

tant in the economy of Brooks Lake piscine inhabitants.

During the course of the summer's work experimental gill

nets were utilized to capture 75 to 80 Dolly Varden charrs,

Salvelinus mahna (Walbaum), one lake trout, 5. namaycush

(Walbaum) , several round whitefish, Prosopium cylindraceum

(Pallas), several blackfish, Dallia pectoralis Bean and thousands

of the ninespine stickleback, Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus) .

Observations were made on the stomach contents of all the

charrs, but only on samples of the other species of fishes. These

data will be analyzed in considerable detail elsewhere and con-

clusions drawn therefrom. Here, we wish, for the purpose of

records, to report the species involved as food for the fishes men-

tioned above.

Menetiis cooperi planospirus was found in the stomachs of the

round whitefish and blackfish in relatively large numbers and in

the Dolly Varden charr less frequently. In large adults of the last

species, this small snail is probably taken secondarily while the

fish is feeding on the following, larger gastropod species.

Many specimens of Lyrnnaea emarginata, strongly resembling

the form reported as randolphi by Dall, were taken from the

Dolly Varden. One medium-sized fish had 82 snails in its stomach

and an 8 lb. charr was found to contain 253 gastropods, some of

them measuring up to 25 mm. in length. Little else wrs found

in the fish's stomach. Prosopiurn, a known mollusk-eater, was also

found to take many individuals of this species. Dallia apparently

takes only an occasional L. emarginata, which, because of the

small size of the fish, is usually tiny.

The round whitefish and Pungitius were the only fish species

observed to have been feeding upon Valvata helicoidea. The

whitefish devours many Valvata, the stickleback relatively few.

The lake trout is not notorious as a mollusk-eating fish. How-

ever, one specimen of L. emarginata and one empty shell (both

valves) of Pisidium idahoense Roper were found in a large fish.

Since this species eats whitefish in some numbers, it may have

ingested the mollusks along with the fish prey.

These data may turn out to be rather important in helping

to explain why there is little predation upon the valuable sockeye

salmon at Brooks Lake by the Dolly Varden charr. Possibly the

16 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

charr, in the face of such an abundant supply of readily avail-

able food in the form of gastropods, may take fish species only

when such a menu is lacking in the habitat. This, of course, is

an assumption that will have to be verified.

References

Dall, W. H. 1905. Land and freshwater mollusks. Harriman

Alaska Expd. 13:171 pp.

Hanna, G. D. 1956. Land and freshwater mollusks of the Arctic

slope, Alaska. Naut. 7^ (1) :4-10.

Walden, H. W. 1956. Notes on some Siberian slugs, especially on

the type of Limax hyperboreus Westerlund. Arkiv. Zool.

i(? (4/5): 347-365.

A METHOD FOR FULL RELAXATION OF MURICIDS^

By MELBOURNE ROMAINE CARRIKER and JOHN W. BLAKE

Department of Zoology, Chapel Hill, and Institute of Fisheries Research,

Morehead City, University of North Carolina

Abstract. A method is recommended for full relaxation and

killing in an expanded condition of Urosalpinx cinerea, Eupleura

caudata etterae, Thais haemastoma floridana, Ocenebra erinacea,

Nucella lapillus and Polinices duplicatus. Gastropods are made

partially insensible in a solution of 10 ppm. of 1-naphthyl N-

methylcarbamate ("Sevin") in one atmosphere of COg and then

frozen quickly on dry ice.

Current study of the comparative functional morphology of

boring mechanisms in muricid gastropods by the senior author

(Carriker, 1958a, 1958b) disclosed lack of a method for thorough

relaxation of these marine snails. Of the many chemicals em-

ployed in narcotization of gastropods, cocaine is reported (Lo

Bianco 1899) to provide maximal relaxation, but in the muricid

Urosalpinx cinerea it effects only partial expansion of the soft

parts (Carriker 1943) .

In this investigation, we tested a number of narcotics in search

of a method to produce fully expanded prosobranchs (mainly

Muricidae) for detailed anatomical dissection and experimental

surgery with subsequent recovery of the animal. Active, adult

Urosalpinx cinerea (Say) (collected in Beaufort Inlet, North

iThe bulk of this research was performed at the Institute of Fisheries

Research, and was supported by a U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service grant. Fed-

eral Contract No. 14-19-008-2376.

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 17

Carolina) and Eupleura caudata etterae B. B. Baker (the large

ecologic form of Eupleura, kindly provided by T. Carver, M.

Castagna, and G. Griffith, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, from

Chincoteague Bay, Virginia) were the principal experimental

animals employed. In addition small numbers of local Thais

haemastorna fioridana Conrad (from Cape Lookout, N. C; iden-

tification kindly verified by Ruth D. Turner) and the naticid

Polinices duplicatus Say (from Beaufort Inlet, N. C.) , and British

muricids Nucella (=Thais) lapillus (Linne), Urosalpinx cinerea

(Say) , and Ocenebra erinacea (Linne), were tested. The British

gastropods were obtained by the senior author through the gen-

erous cooperation of F. S. Russell, P. R. Walne, and G. D. Waugh

during the summer of 1958 while on a trip to the British Isles.

All experimental snails were maintained in laboratory running

sea-water except the British snails which, not tolerating the high

temperature of the laboratory running sea water, had to be

housed in refrigerated containers under aeration. Thus there

was no possibility of introducing the British snails in native

American waters.

Sets of five or more snails per container were subjected to

(a) increasing concentrations of narcotic, each concentration in

a separate container, (b) gradual addition of narcotic to one

container, and (c) combinations of concentrations of narcotics

in (a) showing promise as relaxing agents. Extent of expansion

of pedal and cephalic regions out of the shell, sensitivity of tenta-

cles to touch, and reaction of the snail to dilute formalin were

utilized as indices of depth of narcosis and degree of relaxation.

Mechanical shocks were avoided which might cause snails to

retract before full narcosis was achieved. Solutions of narcotics

were prepared in sand-filtered sea water ranging in salinity from

20 to 37 o/oo, and temperature of the water in experimental

dishes ranged from 22 to 28° C during the course of experi-

mentation.

Tricaine methanesulfonate (M.S. 222) , metycaine hydrochlo-

ride, dibucaine hydrochloride, and a combination of phenobar-

bital and belladonna, caused snails to retract tightly. So did

Collar's (1938) formalin treatment recommended for killing the

refractory opisthobranch Aeolis in an expanded condition. Slow

cooling (Gohar 1938) brought about slow withdrawal, a response

18 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

related to behavior in temperate regions where Urosalpinx

migrates bottomward and remains closely affixed to hard surfaces

as temperatures drop in the fall (Carriker 1955) .

Cocaine hydrochloride, phenoxetol (CgH^OCH.CH^OH, sim-

ilar to propylene phenoxetol used by Owen, 1955) , chloretone

and menthol (added as crystals) , ethyl carbamate (urethane) ,

chloral hydrate, and MgSO^ effected partial to full extension

and slight to moderate insensibility. However, even the most

effective of these narcotics produced variable unpredictable de-

grees of relaxation, and percentage of well relaxed insensitive

mollusks was relatively small. All narcotized specimens retracted

fully when cut or immersed in dilute formalin. Combination of

the more effective narcotics in their most effective concentrations

(e.g., phenoxetol 0.1%, ethyl carbamate 0.5%, and cocaine

0.05%) did not compound desirable effects of separate narcotics.

Neither aeration of the narcotizing solution (as attempted with

cocaine and phenoxetol) , nor addition of narcotic slowly (phe-

noxetol, formalin, MgSO^, cocaine, and a mixture of MgSO^ and

cocaine) , nor use of snails carefully removed from the shell

enhanced narcosis.

Full expansion of muricids was obtained by immersion in

(a) sea water under one atmosphere of CO^, (b) 10 ppm. (parts

per million) of tetraethyl monothionopyrophosphate in sea water,

and (c) 10 ppm. of 1-naphthyl N-methylcarbamate ("Sevin") in

sea water.2

Passage of CO^ (evolved from dry ice) through an air-tight

chamber with an outlet causes snails immersed in sea water in

the chamber to extend fully in about seven hours. However,

snails relaxed by this method remain slightly sensitive to touch

and retract vigorously when placed in dilute formalin.

Tetraethyl monothionopyrophosphate^, a liquid soluble in sea

2Loosanoff and associates are developing methods for chemical control of

shellfish enemies (Bull. No. 12, 1956, U, S. Fish & Wildlife Service, xMar.

Biol. Lab., Milford, Conn.) and discovered that Sevin and the pyrophosphate

relax certain gastropods, and that Sevin shows promise in controlling gastro-

pod and other enemies of oysters. Loosanoif kindly recommended the use of

these two chemicals, provided the Sevin, and suggested a concentration for

relaxing muricids which our study confirmed.

3This chemical, CP 847, was kindly contributed by the Development De-

partment, Monsanto Chemical Company, St. Louis, Missouri. It is no longer

manufactured.

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 19

water (and extremely toxic to mammals) relaxes muricids fully

in an hour, and they remain extended in it for at least 24 hours.

However considerable sensitivity is retained by snails during the

first 4 hours; this decreases toward the 10th hour when snails are

less sensitive than when in CO^. Use of pyrophosphate in sea

water of salinity of 20 o/oo produces slightly fuller extension of

snails than in a higher salinity, probably as a result of osmotic

effects. Immersion of narcotized snails in dilute formalin pro-

vokes full retraction.

Freshly prepared solutions of 1-naphthyl N-methylcarbamate

("Sevin") * (relatively safe for humans) produce partial relaxa-

tion of muricids in an hour, and full extension in four hours.

Sevin is less than 0.1 percent soluble in water; solutions were

prepared by adding 0.1 g of crystals to 15 ml of acetone and

mixing this stock solution in sea water. Narcotization with Sevin

is more complete than with either CO, or the pyrophosphate.

Immersion of snails relaxed in Sevin in dilute formalin stimu-

lates slow but complete retraction. Combination of the CO,-

Sevin treatments produces more fully extended snails than either

treatment alone. Solutions of Sevin prepared in sea water of

28 o/oo salinity produce better relaxation than in 35 o/oo. De-

nuded snails do not expand as fully as intact snails in the shell.

Freezing, either slowly or rapidly, causes normal muricids to

retract deeply, whereas rapid freezing of snails relaxed in COg,

pyrophosphate, or Sevin (on dry ice; temperature on this drops

at least to — 56°C) for 24 hours or more kills the snails in a

fully expanded state, and they do not retract into the shell when

dropped into preservative or when they are dissected after thaw-

ing. After shorter periods of freezing many snails remain irritable

and do retract when strongly stimulated.

The results of these experiments led to development of the

following method for killing fully relaxed snails:

1. Narcotize snails in a freshly prepared solution of 10 ppm.

of Sevin (1-naphthyl N-methylcarbamate) in filtered sea water

(25 to 30 o/oo), in a depth of fluid at least thrice the height of

the snails, at room temperature, for 1 hour; keep snails out of

reach of each other and on their backs with their feet extended

4This product is sold under the registered trademark "Sevin" and is

available from Union Carbide Corporation, New York City.

20 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

freely in the water;

2. Transfer snails to fresh Sevin solution in one atmosphere

of CO, at room temperature and leave there for three hours;

3. Remove snails from the narcotic one at a time and place

the ventral or lateral surface of the foot of each quickly against

the surface of a block of dry ice held in a deep freezer or in an

insulated box; then cover the freezing gastropods with chipped

dry ice, insulate the preparation, and leave for 24 hours.

Freshly thawed snails prepared in this way are ideal for de-

tailed anatomical study since organs retain color, texture, and

pliability characteristic of living relaxed tissues, and take aqueous

stains readily. Relaxed snails may be retained in a frozen state

indefinitely, provided they are not allowed to desiccate, or may

be preserved in a solution of 35 percent ethyl alcohol, 0.5 per-

cent formalin, and 5 percent glycerine in distilled water, which

hardens the tissues slightly. The following gastropods have been

relaxed and killed successfully in an expanded condition by the

Sevin-CO^-quick-freeze technic: American Muricidae: Urosalpinx

cinerea, Eupleura caudata etterae, Thais haemastoma floridana;

British Muricidae: Urosalpinx cinerea, Ocenebra erinacea, Nu-

cella lapillus. American Naticidae: Polinices duplicatus.

Living specimens of these species recover from treatment with

either CO^ or Sevin, and although insensibility is not complete,

it it sufficient to permit rapid experimental surgery on superficial

portions of the body.

Literature Cited

Carriker, M. R. 1943. On the structure and function of the

proboscis in the common oyster drill, Urosalpinx cinerea Say.

Jour. Morph. 75:441-506.

Carriker, M. R. 1955. Seasonal vertical movements of oyster drills

(Urosalpinx cinerea) . Proc. Natl. Shellfish. Assoc. ^5:190-198.

Carriker, M. R. 1958a. Additional information on the mechanical-

chemical nature of drilling by the gastropods Urosalpinx and

Eupleura. Bull. Assoc. Southeastern Biol. 5:5 (abstract) .

Carriker, M. R. 1958b. Comparative functional morphology of

the drilling mechanism in Urosalpinx and Eupleura (muri-

cid gastropods) . XVth Interntl. Congr. Zool. (London) , Sect.

IV, Paper 27: 3 pp.

Gohar, H. A. F. 1938. The preservation of contractile marine

animals in an expanded condition. Jour. Mar. Biol. Assoc.

U. K. 22:295-299.

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 21

Lo Bianco, S. 1899. The methods employed at the Naples Zoo-

logical Station for the preservation of marine animals. Bull.

U. S. Natl. Mus. No. 39: 42 pp.

Owen, G. 1955. Use of propylene phenoxetol as a relaxing agent.

Nature 175'AU.

LAND SNAILS FROM MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA

By WAYNE GRIMM

During the years 1957-1958, additional localities for 5 species

of land snails were found in Maryland and Virginia. The collect-

ing stations of these snails are recorded below.

Mesodon appressus (Say) . On July 1, 1957, twelve specimens

of this species were found under debris in a lumberyard at Cam-

bridge, Dorchester Co., Maryland. This is the second record for

M. appressus on the Delmarva, the first being a dead specimen

from the Chester River across from Chestertown, Queen Anne

Co., Maryland (Vanatta) . Doubtless the presence of this southern

Appalachian species in Maryland is due to accidental introduc-

tion, probably from somewhere in Virginia.

Retinella raderi (Dall) . A single living specimen was collected

on July 27, 1958, at the foot of Dan's Mountain, south of Raw-

lings, Allegany Co., Maryland, on Highway 220. It was found in

wet soil under a rock at the base of a large limestone outcropping.

All other snails associated with it were in the leaf litter between

loose rocks or at the base of the outcropping. Although the area

was searched diligently, no additional specimens of this rare

snail were uncovered. Several bags of leaf mould were collected,

but R. raderi was not among the many snails found therein.

Other snails taken at this unusually fine locality were: Steno-

trema jraternum, Mesodon thyroidus, Triodopsis alholahris, T.

tridentata, T. fraudulenta, Haplotrema concaviim, Ventridens

ligera, V. virginicus, Zonitoides arhoreus, Mesomphix cupreus,

Retinella indentata, R. hurringtoni, Hawaiia minuscula, Guppya

sterkii, Helicodiscus parallelus, Angispira alternata, Punctum

vitreum, Gastrocopta pentodon, G. contracta, G. armifera,

Pupoides albilabris, Vallonia perspectiva, Cionella morseana,

and Carychium exile.

Previously, typical R. raderi was found only in "subfossil" state

at Cumberland, Maryland (Howard Shriver, type 107758

22 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

U.S.N.M., topotypes A.N.S.P. 73888).

Limax marginatus Miill. Records for this introduced slug are

scattered sporadically on the Coastal Plain.

Maryland: Saltmarsh at Galesville, Anne Arundel Co.; Lum-

beryard at Cambridge, Dorchester Co.; Saltmarsh near Kent Nar-

rows at Grasonville, Queen Anne Co. Virginia: South portion of

Chincoteague Island, Accomack Co.

Previously it was reported from Newfoundland, California,

Colorado, and Missouri.

Gastrocopta cristata (Pilsbry and Vanatta). Numerous speci-

mens of this southwestern species were taken from three open,

comparatively unsheltered areas on the flat Delmarva Peninsula.

At one place it was with G. procera (Gould) . In the field it was

easily separated from procera by its larger size, lighter color, and

more cylindrical shape. One look into the aperture was sufficient

to erase any doubts concerning its identity. This snail may have

been introduced on hay from the southwest. Two lots were de-

posited in the United States National Museum.

Maryland: Under stones in dry weedy area behind Sinclair

Station on Route 50 near Skipton, Talbot Co. Under boards in

lumberyard at Cambridge, Dorchester Co. With G. procera in a

dry area near Chicamacomico River at Drawbridge, Dorches-

ter Co.

Vallonia perspectiva Sterki. This diminutive snail was found

three times in the Appalachian region of Maryland and Vir-

ginia — once in the Blue Ridge, once in the Great Valley, and

once in the Ridge - and - Valley province. Records for it are

surprisingly few in the East.

Maryland: Under dry limestone, Conococheague Creek and

Route 40, Washington Co. Rawlings, Allegany Co. (see above,

R. raderi) . Virginia: Hill near Gooney's Creek Overlook between

mileposts 6 and 7, Shenandoah National Park, Warren Co.

I wish to thank Dr. Joseph P. E. Morrison of the United States

National Museum for his help in identifying Gastrocopta cristata.

Literature Used

Pilsbry, H. A. 1948. Land Mollusca of North America (north

of Mexico) . Monogr. 3, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. 1,

part 2, and Vol. 2.

1

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 23

THYSANOTEUTHIS RHOMBUS, LARGE CEPHALOPOD

NEW TO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC^

By gilbert L. \ OSS and DONALD S. ERDMAN

The Marine Laboratory, University of Miami, and

Department of Agriculture and Commerce of Puerto Rico

On November 5, 1958, at 1205 noon, Mr. Fred Gurke, angling

from the charterboat Sea Queen III operated by Capt. Victor

Rivera, landed a blue marlin about two miles north of the

Carib-Hilton Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico. On return to the

dock, the fish was weighed in at 383 1/3 pounds, and then, at the

request of one of us (Erdman) the fish's stomach was opened in

order to examine its contents. Much to the surprise of all con-

cerned, the stomach was found to contain a large squid about

3i/2 feet long and weighing about 23 pounds. It was lodged in

the stomach tail first and except for the loss of the skin from the

strong action of the digestive juices of the marlin, was nearly

intact, only the ends of the tentacles missing. After a preliminary

examination, photographs were taken and the squid was turned

over to Erdman for preservation.

The squid was later brought by Erdman to The Marine Lab-

oratory where a more detailed study was undertaken. After a

careful examination, it was found to be a large specimen of the

squid, Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel, 1857. This squid has

not, heretofore, been recorded from the Western Atlantic. Its

measurements are given in the following table.

Table 1. Measurements (in mm.) of Puerto Rican specimen:

This is a large species of squid, although not attaining the

enormous size of the giant squid, Architeuthis, or the Humboldt

"current" squid, Ommastrephes gigas. The largest specimen of

iContribution No. 222 from The Marine Laboratory, University ot Miami.

24 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

Thysanoteuthis recorded had a dorsal mantle length of 800.0 mm

or about 30 inches.

The species is unusual among the squids for the very large

rhomboidal fins nearly as long as the mantle and the peculiar

shape of the cartilages which unite the mantle with the sides of

the funnel. The pen also is unique among the cephalopods in

that the sides of the vane become free lobed on either side of

the rhachis anteriorly.

According to the records available to us, this is the 22nd speci-

men recorded in the literature and the 2nd adult from the

North Atlantic. According to Pfeffer (1912) 11 specimens were

then known of which all but 3 very small juveniles or larvae

were from the Mediterranean. They ranged from 4.2 mm. to

740.0 mm. in mantle length. Pfeffer in 1910 named another spe-

cies of the genus, T. nuchalis, based on a single specimen of 800.0

mm. mantle length captured off Ningpo in the Yellow Sea. Ac-

cording to the Japanese cephaloped authority, Madoka Sasaki

(1929), this species is identical with T. rhombus. He based his

conclusions on 7 specimens collected in Japanese waters and

ranging in mantle length from 180.0 to 685.0 mm.

In 1947, Barnard, in a brief note recorded the stranding of a

specimen at the Cape of Good Hope and in 1956 Rees and Maul

reported a specimen with a mantle length of 350.0 mm., from

Funchal, Madeira, the only previous record from the Atlantic

Ocean.

Thysanoteuthis rhombus is a powerful squid, with heavy mus-

culature, and is a cosmopolitan warm water species. Rees and

Maul reported that the Madeiran specimen was from a school

of about 20 that came close inshore, so they probably are accus-

tomed to schooling. In schools they must be voracious predators.

Sasaki quotes the Japanese fishermen as saying that they may

leap high above the sea surface and one of his specimens was

taken after it leaped into the bunt of a sail and fell to the deck.

Nothing is known of their food habits although probably they

feed upon small fish.

Despite the paucity of records of adult specimens, this is almost

certainly a common pelagic species. A preliminary examination

of the cephalopods collected by the Dana expeditions in the North

Atlantic has revealed numbers of thysanoteuthid larvae and the

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 25

lack of capture of adults is probably due to their size and speed.

References

Barnard, K. H., 1947. Rare squid at the Cape {Thysanoteuthis

rhombus Troschel). Jour. Conch., 23 (11) :286.

Pfeffer, Georg, 1910. Synopsis der oegopsiden Cephalopoden.

Mitteil. Naturh. Mus., 77:145-198.

. 1912. Die Cephalopoden der Plankton-Expedition. Ergebn.

Plankton-Exped., 2:1-815, atlas.

Rees, W. J. and G. E. Maul, 1956. The cephalopods of Madeira.

Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Zool., 5 (6) :259-281.

Sasaki, Madoka, 1929. A monograph of the dibranchiate cephalo-

pods of Japan and adjacent waters. Jour. College Agri.

Hokkaido Imper. Univer., 2^:1-357.

Troschel, H., 1857. Bemerkungen iiber die Cephalopoden von

Messina. Arch. Naturgesch. Berlin, 23 Jahrg., 1857: 41-76.

XANTHONYCHIDAE (PULMONATA)

By H. BURRINGTON BAKER

Since the extension of priority to familial names has been

ratified again at the 25th (1958) International Congress of Zool-

ogy, the status of the family term for American helicoids needs

reconsideration. As pointed out 16 years ago (1943), the oldest

name for an American "helicid" is Xanthonychidae (1879),

which originally included only the Mexican genus Xanthonyx

(1867) . The following chronologic synopsis outlines the history

of these and the related familial names (new ones in italics) :

1867. Crosse, H. & Paul Fischer. J. de Conch. 15:212. Xanthonyx.

1879. Strebel, Hermann & G. Pfeffer. Beitr. Kennt. Faun, mex.,

etc. '^:25. Xanthonychidae (misspelled until 1956).

1883. Fischer. Man. de Conch. :469. Xanthonyx between Binneya

8c Helix in Helicidae.

1884. Tryon, G. W./Struct. Syst. Conch. 3:57. Xanthonyx = Bin-

neya in Helicidae.

1890. Moellendorff, O. von. Bericht. Senckenberg. Ges. :226.

Cochlostylidae ("type g." = Helicostyla; cf. 1909) .

1892. Pilsbry, H. A. Naut. (5:69, footnote. Cochlostylidae not ac-

ceptable.

1898a. Mlldff. Abhandl. Ges. Gorlitz 22:97. Eulotidae ("type

g." =: Fruticicola; cf. 1927).

1898b. Pilsbry %c E. G. Vanatta. Proc. ANSP. 50: 229. Copied

Tryon (1884) in Arionidae (Binneyinae) .

1900. Pilsbry. Proc. Malac. Soc. London ^:24. Xanthonyx in "Be-

logona Euadenia" (z= Eulotidae of 1928) .

26

NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 (1)

1909. Ihering, H. von. Wien. Verb. Zool. Bot. Ges. 5P:430. Heli-

costylinae.

1927. Lindholm, W. A. Archiv Molluskenk. 59:120. Fruticicolidae,

1 ("type g." = Brady baena; cf. 1934) .

1928. Hoffmann, H. Klass. Ordn. Tier-Reich., Pulmonata: 1240.

Fruticicolinae, 2 ("type g." z= Trichia) in Helicidae. Eulo-

tidae (p. 1239) with Xanthonyx as of "Unsicher Stellung,"

Cepolinae Helicostylinae, Epiphragmophorinae & Lysinoi-

nae).

1929. Ihering. Abhandl. Archiv Molluskenk. 2: (2) :50. Frutici-

colidae (2). Eulotinae (p. 61) and Cochlostylinae (p. 70) .

1931a. Hesse, Paul, Zoologica i/(i/2):105. Fruticicolidae (2).

1931b. Thiele, Johannes. Handb. Syst. Weichtierk., pt. 2:688.

Fruticicolidae (1) with Helicostylinae and (p. 697) Epi-

phragmophorinae [Xanthonyx p. 698, & Lysinoe).

1934. Pilsbry. Proc. ANSP. 86:1. Cepolidae (Bradybaeninae) .

1937. Rensch, Use. Arch. Naturgesch. 6 (i) :576. Eulotidae. (Also

M. Perrot, 1938, & G. Cherbonnier, 1943) .

1939. Pilsbry. Land Moll. N. A., ANSP. Monogr. 3, vol. 7:24.

Helminthoglyptidae, with Xanthonyx; Cepoliinae 8c Sonorel-

linae (p. 25) Sc Humboldtianinae (p. 26) . Bradybaenidae,

p. 15.

1943. Baker, H. B. Naut. 5^:82, footnote. Xanthonychidae prior.

1948. Dalsum, J. van. Basteria 72:4. Fruticicola (2) .

1952. Webb, Glenn. Gastropodia 7:1. Xanthonychidae adopted.

1953. Hosoi Sc Sone. Eulota (from Zool. Rec, Mollusca:20; p. 96

lists 3 uses, but none of Fruticicola) .

1958. Turner, Ruth D. MCZ. Occas. Papers on Mollusks 2(22) :

153. Fruticicolidae (1).

Figure 1. Duration of names (to 1956). 8 to 5 = decades (1880-1950).

C = Cochlostylidae. E, Fl & F2 = Eulotidae & Fruticicolidae, 1 & 2 (to

last citations in Zoo. Rec.) : H = Helicostylinae. X = Xanthonychidae

(dotted part = synonymy) .

From the above (Cf. fig. 1), Xanthonychidae did drop out of

sight for 64 years (1943), and was not adopted until 73 years

(1952) after its proposal. However, so far as I can make out,

even its "type genus" was not included under an applicable but

subsequent, familial name until 1928, which may be taken to

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 27

mean that Xanthonychidae remained only 15 (or 24) years in

the synonymy oi any of these. Although Xanthonyx shifted after

1879 from Helicidae (1883) to the synonymy (1884) of an arionid

(1898b), its generic status or inclusion in the helicoids has not

been questioned since Pilsbry's (1900) dissections.

The only 2 applicable, family names, which had been in exist-

ence for 50 years before 1952, are Cochlostylidae (1890) and

Eulotidae (1898). These were based, without descriptions, on

synonyms of the Old World genera Helicostyla and Fruticicola

(= Bradybaena) , respectively, and did not include Xanthonyx.

Cochlostylidae was repudiated when 2 years old (1892) and was

submerged by Helicostylinae (1909) 50 years ago, although it

bobbed up again once subsequently (1929) . Eulotidae was

adopted quite generally. After it was rejected (1927), its use by

authorities (1928, 1929 & 1937) continued for at least 16 years,

and its "type genus" apparently has remained in general use

(1953).

The 5th name, Fruticicolidae (1) , was substituted (1927) for

Eulotidae, without mention of any American genus. It was (and

still is) especially confusing, because Fruticicola (2) traditionally

had been used instead of Trichia in what now is a distinct family

(Hygromiidae Tryon, 1866) or a subfamily of Helicidae. In fact,

the next year (1928) and afterwards (1929 & 1931a), Fruticicoli-

dae (2) , with the hygromiid sense (still used in 1948) of its

"type genus," was preferred by the best European students of

helicoids.

In Eulotidae, Hoffmann (1928) included Xanthonyx, as of

"uncertain position," adopted Helicostylinae, and initiated for

other American genera Cepolinae, Epiphragmophorinae and

Lysinoinae (spelling corrected in 1929).

Unfortunately, Thiele (1931b) went back as far as the 1st

(1927) confusing Fruticicolidae. He included in it Helicostylinae

(1909) and also Epiphragmophorinae, in which he put Xan-

thonyx. Fihhry (1939) substituted Bradybaenidae (-inae, 1934) ,

partly to get rid of this confusion, but also because he judged

Fruticicola to be congeneric with Bradybaena, as did Lindholm

(1927). On the other hand. Turner (1958) copied Thiele.

Until his death. Dr. Pilsbry applied the old "rules'" for synony-

mous "type genera," but thought priority for family (-idae)

28 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

names should be kept independent from that for subfamily

(inae) terms. In 1939, when he grouped the American helicoids

in a separate family, he found Cepolidae (1934) was a homonym.

Unaware of Xanthonychidae, he quite logically (from his view-

point) proposed Helminthoglyptidae, and the included Cepo-

liinae (his emendation) , Sonorellinae and Humboldtianinae.

He put Xanthonyx (by definition) in the typical subfamily, and

it does approach Monadenia (cf. 1952) . He did say: "Epiphrag-

mophora Doering is an aberrant genus . . ."

The preceding study has proved that Xanthonychidae (1879)

must be accepted for at least the native American genera of heli-

coids, under the present "rules." Its adoption provides one, quite

considerable advantage. Since the sizes of families are matters of

convenience and/or custom, we Americans, North and South,

can leave to the wisdom of our Old World colleagues the ad-

visability of a separate family for the genera of their home lands.

When they become ready to choose its name, they also might

determine the relative status of the typically European Eulotidae

(1898) and of the primarily Philippine Helicostylinae (1909) ;

both names are prior to either Fruticicolidae (1927 or 1928) .

Incidentally, on the basis of counted citations in the 29 vols,

of the Zoological Record since 1927, Eiilota and/or Eulotidae

remain in much more general use than Fruticicola and/or

Fruticicolidae (both usages combined). The last 17 vols, (since

1939) contain 3 notices of Eiilota fruticum (type species) and

one of Bradyhaena fruticum, by Caesar Boettger, but no usage

in Fruticicola. Why not ask the International Commission to sup-

press completely Fruticicola Held, 1837, which is causing all this

confusion?

STUDIES ON THE GENUS MELAMPUS (PULMONATA)*

By PAUL A. HOLLE and CLARENCE F. DINEEN

State Teachers College, Worcester, Mass., and

Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Ind.

The ellobiid genus Melampus was erected in 1810 by Mont-

fort, for Bulimus coniformis Bruguiere from French Guiana,

*This work is a portion of a dissertation by the senior author in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy from

the University of Notre Dame.

■NAUTILUS 73 (1)

PLATE 5

i

.iJilllill i

1, Melampiis coffeus (L.) . 2, M. bidentatus Say. 3, M. floridanus Shuttle-

worth. Scales in mm.

NAUTILUS 73 (1)

PLATE 6

I nil mil

I : : ;i

...

4, Melampus from Captiva Island. Florida (lot 37) illustrating varying no

of stripes (0 to 4) . 5, Snails from Nags Head, North Carolina (lot 21)

dlustratnig varying no. and width of stripes. 6, Snails from Stonington, Conn,

(lot 12) illustrating varietv of shapes, spires and spire angles. All scales

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 29

South America. Since 1810, several species that had been described

earlier have been transferred to the genus Melanipus, and many

new species have been added. However, little agreement can be

found on the relative status of the various species. Many have

been reduced to synonymy.

Johnson (1934) recognized four species and two subspecies of

Melampus along the east coast and Gulf Coast of the United

States:

Melampus coffeus coj] ens (L.) , 1758 (Fig. I). — Cedar Keys (Flor-

ida) to West Indies.

M. c. gundlachi Pfeiffer, 1853 — Florida to West Indies.

M. flavus (Gmelin) , 1789 — Cedar Keys (Florida) to West Indies.

M. floridanus Shuttleworth, 1854-1856 (Fig. 3) — Maryland to

Florida Keys.

M. lineatus SsLj, 1822 (Fig. 2) — Prince Edward Island, Canada, to

the Gulf of Mexico.

Johnson listed these categories, without descriptions or a key,

and we relied upon the original descriptions and redescriptions,

upon such type specimens as are extant, and upon the distribu-

tional data in an eflort to separate mixed collections of salt-

marsh snails.

The essence of taxonomic separations is discontinuity, in struc-

tural features if possible, in habitat or behavior or geographical

range, etc. In Melampus discontinuities are hard to find. This

has led to a great deal of confusion, and to synonymizing in

many ways. In the lengthy list of Pfeiffer (1856), curiously

enough, was M. lineatus Say, and this usage must have been fol-

lowed by Johnson. Since Say described M. lineatus as "Variety

A" of M. hidentatus or as a possibly different species, bidentatus

has priority in event that both names refer to the same species.

Based on fine differences in shell thickness and the degree of

development of the plicae in the shell aperture (personal com-

munication, 1953), Morrison (1950) recognized three subspecies

of M. bidentatus:

M. b. bidentatus Say 1822 — South Carolina to Florida and Texas;

Tampico, Belize; Bahamas; Cuba; N. W. Jamaica; Gonave Id.,

Haiti; Tortola Id.?

M. b. lineatus Say 1822 — New Jersey to North Carolina.

M. b. corneus (Deshayes) 1830 — Prince Edward Island, Canada,

to Staten Island, New York.

30 NAi TILLS \"ol. 7:> {\)

Morrison (^I93n transtened M. fioviddnus to the genus

Detracio.

With such taxonomic disagreenKiu. it is eas\ to understand

whv distributional records are contused. Even records in other

genera have been cited: thus. Hinkley (1907) identified as

Mehvnpus tloriddnus some snails collected in northeastern Mexico

which Dall (Hinkley. 1907) identified as Tralid cin^uhito. Xor

does Johnson's summary (1954) on range provide a solid foun-

dation. He stated that Melampus coffeus was limited in range

trom Cedar Keys, Florida, to the AVest Indies: Pulle\ (1952)

reported M. cofjeus as the onlv species on the coast ot Texas.

Johnson (1934) either overlooked or disbelieved Hinkley 's iden-

tification of M. floridanus from northeastern Mexico, since he

gave the range limits of this species as Maryland to the Florida

Kevs. Johnson (1954) cited M. bide?itatus (as M. lineatus) as

extendino from Prince Edward Island to the Gulf of Mexico,

but did not indicate an exact limit along the Gulf of Mexico.

Among collections studied by the senior author are specimens

identified as M. bidentatus and/or M. lineatus from the coasts

of the Gidf of Mexico and the Caribbean as far as Nicaragua.

These collecting sites are reliably recorded, although the identi-

fications are uncertain and therefore the range of the bidentatus -

lineatus complex cannot be stated Avith finality.

The confusion between M. bidentatus Say, and M. lifieatus

Sav. is particularlv troublesome. Snails fitting Say's original de-

scription are abundant along the northeastern seaboard of Xorth

America. Under his diagnosis of ^[. bidentatus. however, he listed

a 'A'arietv A" as "verv possibly a distinct species . . .' if so. it

mav be called "lineatus. " To this day no worker has demon-

strated clearlv that bidejitatus and lineatus are distinct — vet

both names recin- repeatedlv in the literatiue.

According to Savs 1822 description, the t\pe specimens of

M. bidentatus and M. lifieatus were in the collection^ of the

"Academv and the Philadelphia Museum." All these specimens

were not inherited bv the Academv of Natural Sciences in Phila-

delphia, and a search bv the senior author indicated that they

have been lost.

Under these circumstances, the best appoach aj^peared to be a

thorough studv of topotvpes collected from localities along the

July, 1959

NAUTILUS

31

Table 1, Shells studied for shell characteristics.

X0^^^G.

32 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

Lot

#

QROUP A 1. 0 0

3. 0 0

5. 0 0

9. 0 0

12. $0 15 1 - U

16. 0 0 .

17. 22 0

20. k9 22 1 - U

21. 21 0

25. 0 0

26. k 8 1-3

27. 0 0

28. 0 0

29. 82 35 1 - 7

31*. 92 3 1 - U

37. 85 11 - 5

39. 96 13 1 - 5

U2. 31 15 1 - U

U6. 33 0

U7. n 52 1 - 6

U8. 60 0

h9. 95 0

50. 71 0

51. 100 33 2 - 8

52. 100 17 1 - 7

53. 100 33 1 - 5

55. 65 0

58. 100 11 1 - 3

63. 67 5 2-5

67. 96 6 3 - U

(moup B 15. 82 0

18. 1(0 0

2U. 90 0

38. 88 0

la. 100 0

liU. 100 0

GROUP C 32. 100 0

5U. 100 0

57. 100 0

60. 100 0

65. 100 0

66. 80 0

68^ 22 2

Table 2. Col. A - ^ of eadx lot havixtg a 3rd denticle.

" B - }S of each lot having parietal ridges,

" 0 - range In the nuaber of parietal ridges.

July, 1959

NAUTILUS

33

Table 3. Stripes - /C of each lot having stripes, and number.

34

NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 (1)

Lot

6

GROUP A

(ROUP B

GROUP C

1.

3.

5.

9.

12.

16.

17.

20.

21.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

31.

37.

39.

U2.

1(6.

Ii7.

U8.

19.

50.

51.

52.

53.

55.

58.

63.

67.

15.

18.

2U.

38.

la.

hk.

32.

5U.

57.

60.

65.

66.

68.

68

65

75

71

90

7U

77

80

8U

102

7U

85

90

78

107

98

nii

88

81

78

79

88

77

98

95

100

76

9U

98

90

60

59

72

63

68

67

86

85

90

87

86

89

55 - 85

50-85

60-95

55-115

60-95

60-100

65 - 105

75 - 115

60-85

75 - 100

75 - 105

60 - 105

90 - 120

80 - 110

95 - 125

80 - 110

70 - 95

70 - 90

60-95

80 - 100

60-100

80 - 120

75 - 125

90 - 125

65 - 105

70 - 115

75 - 125

75 - 110

50 - 70

15-85

60-85

50 - 80

55 - 85

60 - 80

65-

65 -

75 -

65-

75-

110

no

105

Table U. Angle of spire:

Plicae:

Col. A - mean angle (in o) of all spires.

" B - range (in o).

Col. C - J6 of lot having plicae*

" D - range.

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 35

Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts from Canada to

Central America.

Shell characteristics: Although 5,897 shells collected from 71

localities were carefully studied in an attempt to clarify the taxo-

nomic difficulties, the data of only 43 selected localities are in-

cluded in this report for the sake of brevity (Table 1).

Initially the shells of each lot (from each collecting site) were

measured for length, and separated into 1/2 mm. length groups,

such as 5.0 to 5.4 mm., 5.5 to 5.9 mm. Using terminology pri-

marily that of Abbott (1954) , the following observations were

made on each shell:

1, form and position of denticles;

2, presence and number of parietal ridges;

3, kind of striping, and the number of stripes;

4, angle of the spire;

5, presence and number of plicae on the inside of the lip.

An analysis of the data on these points showed that several

characteristics occurred in regular combinations, and provided a

basis for the separation of shells into three distinct groups. These

characteristics were used to construct the following key:

I. 2nd (parietal) denticle located immediately inside the

shell aperture 1

1. 3rd (parietal) denticle, when present, near the 1st

(columellar) denticle, or plainly separated from (anter-

ior to) the 2nd (parietal) denticle; parietal ridges pres-

ent in some specimens; stripes 0-4, usually 4; angle of

spire 50-125° Group A

2. 3rd (parietal) denticle, when present, located close to

or partly fused with the 2nd (parietal) denticle; parietal

ridges absent; stripes 0-2, usually 2 and near the shoul-

der; angle of spire 45-85° Group B

II. 2nd (parietal) denticle located far inside the shell

aperture Group C

(To be continued)

NOTES AND NEWS

Dates of Nautilus. — Vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 1-36, pis. 1-4, was

mailed July 21, 1958. No. 2, pp. 37-72, pis. 5-8, Oct. 1, 1958. No.

3, pp. 73-108, pis. 9-11, Jan. 15, 1959. No. 4, pp. 109-148, title page

and indexes, pi. 12, April 2, 1959.— H. B. B.

36 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

Another record of Arion ater. — While on a camping trip in

1937, Mrs. Chace and I stopped in a camp ground in the north-

east section of Seattle. In scouting around for snails, I found an

area of semi-marsh, probably pretty wet in the rainy season. Here

I saw many large, rather chunky and spotted slugs, which I later

found to be Arion ater, the European slug. This colony is known

to several people locally, but apparently never has been reported

in the literature. — E. P. Chace.

Carychium clappi, new name, for Carychium costatum

Hubricht, 1951, Naut. ^5:59, not C. costatum Freyer, 1856, Sitz-

ber. K. K. Akad. Wissensch. (for) 1855, p. 20, pi. 1, fig. 5, =

Zospeum costatum. The new name is proposed in honor of

George Hubbard Clapp, who described it from Alabama, but did

not name it (1906, Naut. 19:\S9) . — Leslie Hubricht.

Unionid introduction in Massachusetts. — On September 8,

1958, the writer began an experiment in hybridization by intro-

ducing three midwestern unionid species into the Ipswich River

drainage in eastern Massachusetts. Such introductions should be

recorded.

The unionids, Lampsilis radiata siliquoidea (Barnes), Ano-

donta grandis Say, and Elliptio dilatatus (Raf.) were collected

at Base Line Lake, Livingston Co., Michigan, by J. P. E. Mor-

rison, P. F. Basch, J. B. Burch, H. J. Walter, and the writer.

Adult specimens, 70 of L. r. siliquoidea, 16 of ^. grandis, and 7 of

E. dilatatus, were placed in a small, recently created lake near

the Valley Road in the Putnamville section of Danvers, Essex

Co. and 66 of L. r. siliquoidea were placed in Silver Lake, Wil-

mington, Middlesex Co. The writer intends to introduce equiva-

lent numbers of L. r. radiata (Gmelin) , A. cataracta Say, and

E. complanatus (Sol.) at the Danvers locality in the spring of

1959 and to observe the lake in succeeding years for possible

further evidence^ of gene flow between related groups. This lake

apparently contained no unionids prior to this introduction.

The Wilmington locality contained only A. cataracta and E.

complanatus before the Lampsilis introduction and I hope that

it will serve as a control to reveal possible phenotypic changes in

iClarke, A. H., Jr., 1958, American Malacological Union Annual Reports

for 1957. pp. 15-16.

July, 1959 NAUTILUS 37

L. r. siliquoidea, resulting from the lower calcium carbonate

content of eastern Massachusetts water. Both of these new locali-

ties contain many species of fish and are similar to Base Line

Lake in physical ecology. — Arthur H. Clarke, Jr.

RuMiNA DECOLLATA IN OKLAHOMA." — On 12 January, 1959, Mr.

R. C. Harrel found several specimens of R. decollata (L.) under

an iron pipe lying on moist, sandy soil near Ada, Pontotoc

County, Oklahoma. Three of these specimens were subsequently

sent to the author as a gift from Dr. C. J. Dennis, of East Central

State College, Ada. To my knowledge this is the first record for

this species in Oklahoma. Pontotoc County is in mid-southern

Oklahoma and lies in the so-called Texan biological province.

This particular part of Oklahoma is characterized by low, rolling

hills, sandy soil, oak-hickory associations along streams and

cross-timbers on the hills.

The specimens represented several stages of growth, from small

and immature to large, fully adult, living snails. The three

specimens sent to Oklahoma State University measured 27.5, 28.0,

and 14.0 mm. in total length. The apical whorls were decollated

from each specimen.

Seemingly in many places this species, where it has been intro-

duced by the activities of man, has become very numerous and

often a pest. Last July (1958) I found it to be one of the more

common species in Zilker Park, Austin, and rather abundant on

the banks of the San Gabriel River, Georgetown, Williamson

County, both in Texas. These snails are very easily transported

in greenhouse materials. In 1948, 15 February, several specimens

of the snail were found around the roots of a shipment of violets

from Fort Worth, Texas. Supposedly, this, or some similar ve-

hicle, is the route via which Rumina entered southern Oklahoma,

after which it escaped. Whether it will be successful is academic. —

Branley a. Branson.

LiGUUs hatched. — I just want to let you know that my first

Ggg from Liguus was hatched April 10. From all I know, this is

the first time, while in captivity. This winter, I collected 2 live

pictus in Florida. — R. Atmus (from letter) .

2Contribution 292 from the Zoology Department and the Research Fotinda

tion, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater,

38 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (1)

North Dakota. — Is anyone interested in receiving snails or

slugs? If so, I would save specimens for a taxonomist. I do not

know if anyone ever concentrated on North Dakota moUusks. —

R. L. Post, N. D. Agricultural College, Dept. of Entomology,

Fargo, North Dakota.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

The gastropod genus Assiminea in the Philippines. By R.

Tucker Abbott. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 770:213-278,

pis. 15-25. 1958. — This studies the anatomy, ecology, habits and

geographic distribution of 21 species (4 new) and subspecies (2

new) from the Islands and adjacent areas. The very dubious Syn-

cera (literally hearty or sound!) is rejected for the genus, and

the various sections, which have been proposed, are considered

artificial or unusable groups. A "Catalog of names connected

with Assiminea" covers the world. But, does not Assimineidae

date from 1856, instead of 1858 (pp. 215 8c 265)? Incidentally,

"Synceratidae" Bartsch was corrected to Synceridae by Pilsbry &

Bequaert, 1927.— H. B. B.

Distribution and variation of the Hawaiian tree snail Acha-

tinella bulimoides Swainson on the windward slope of the Koolau

Range, Oahu. By d'Alte A. Welch. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadel-

phia 77(?: 123-211, figs. 1-2, pis. 10-14. 1958.— In this continuation

of exhaustive studies on variation, especially of color forms, in a

species, which has a range of 72 square miles, 5 subspecies are

proposed as new. These beautiful shells are represented now by

rapidly vanishing, relict colonies or "demes" on the ridges, which

are outlined on maps. — H. B. B.

Studies on the biological control of schistosome-bearing

SNAILS. I. The control of Australorbis glabratus populations by

the snail, Marisa corniiarietis, under laboratory conditions. — II.

Ditto, by the leech, Helobdella fusca. By Eli Chernin, Edward H.

Michelson k Donald L. Augustine. Amer. J. Tropic. Med. &

Hygiene 5 (2) :297-307; 308-314. 1956.— III. The effects of popula-

tion density on growth and fecundity in Australorbis glabratus. —

IV. Further observations, etc. By Chernin & Michelson. Amer. J.

Hygiene <55 (1) :57-70; 71-80. 1957.— V. Ditto I, of Biomphalaria

I

July, 1959 NAUTILUS iii

pfeifferi. By Michelson & Augustine. J. Parasit. 43 (2) :135. 1957.

— The ampullariid ingested eggs and the leech attacked juveniles

especially. Crowding apparently inhibited population growth. —

H. B. B.

Notes sur les limaces. Philomycidae et Limacidae de la re-

publique El Salvador. By C. O. van Regteren Altena. Arch. Mol-

lusk. (97(1/3) :27-31, 2 figs. 1958.— Middle American records are

added for Pallifera costaricensus (variations in color pattern and

penis figured) and Deroceras laeve. — H. B. B.

On the structure of copulative apparatus of Hippeutis com-

planatus (L.) . By Ja. I. Starabogatov. Zool. Zhyr. Ak. Nauk

SSSR. i7 (11): 1743-4, 1 fig. 1958.— This planorbid has a lateral

(not apical) opening in its verge (penial papilla) , and the in-

clusion of it (and maybe Hippeutis also) in the genus Segmen-

tina is suggested. — H. B. B.

Descripcion de una especie nueva de Pomacea de Venezuela.

By T. Pain & Sergio Arias C. Nov. Cien. Ser. Zool. (Caracas)

2^:5-11, pis. 1-2. 1958. — P. falconensis from Chichiriviche, Falcon,

with male anatomy. Apparently its type locality is about 20 miles

from that selected for P. chemnitzii in 1930. — H. B. B.

WILLIAM H. WEEKS SHELL COLLECTION: Now being of-

fered for sale. To receive free lists, send name and address to:

George E. Jacobs, 853 Riverside Drive, N. Y. 32, N. Y.

CASH OFFERED: For a sea shell collection and cone shells.

E. L. Mauseth, Alden, Minnesota

How TO COLLECT SHELLS: Published by the American Malacological Union.

$1.00. Write:

Margajiet C. Teskev, Sect., Route 2, Box 318, Marinette, Wis.

Directory of conchologists. — The 1960 edition will be published the first of

that year. Price will be $2.50, postpaid. For inclusion, write:

John Q. Burch, 4206 Halldale Ave., Los Angeles 62, Calif.

Sea Shells

of Tropical

West America

MARINE MOLLUSKS

FROM LOWER CAUFORNIA TO COLOMBIA

A. Myra Keen

This is the first attempt to list and provide illus-

trations of the sea shells of the entire area of the Pan-

amic marine province — the area between the Gulf of

California and Colombia. Concise descriptions of

1,650 species of sea shells, with about 1,500 illustra-

tions, cover most of the recorded forms larger than

about one-fifth of an inch in length. For the smaller

forms, sample illustrations are given. About 70 type

specimens are here figured for the first time.

The notes on geographic distribution of the species

indicate where the collector might expect to find them,

and an extensive bibliography is included to help the

scientist and serious amateur make use of the scattered

literature. The glossary explains technical terms com-

monly used by collectors, but an effort has been made

to use nontechnical language wherever possible.

Some of the most colorful forms are shown on the

ten pages of four-color plates. $12.50

Stanford University Press

Stanford^ California

THE NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 OCTOBER, 1959 No. 2

AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE OF MYA ARENARIA L.

AND NOTES ON OTHER MARINE MOLLUSKS

By ARTHUR S. MERRILL

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Woods Hole, Mass.

Many species of mollusks having a pelagic larval stage settle

upon navigation buoys. These buoys are brought in periodically

for maintenance, at which time the attached species can be

collected. This paper is the result of sampling one such buoy at

the Coast Guard Station, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

On June 14, 1956, the Coxen's Ledge lighted bell buoy was

placed on station in Buzzards Bay Channel midway between

Gooseberry Neck and Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts (Latitude 41°

27' 00" N. and Longitude 70° 59' 20" W.), and on June 13, 1958,

just two years later, it was brought in for servicing. The buoy is

of the type equipped with a hollow cylindrical stabilizing tube.

The inner surfaces of these tubes provide a sheltered area {see

arrow, figure 1) for many species of animals and plants possibly

unable to withstand the rigors of existence on the ouside of the

buoy. When the buoy was examined, two large specimens of the

softshell clam, Mya arenaria L., were found far up in the stabil-

izer tube nestled in a thick growth of hydroids. Several other

species of mollusks were collected at the same time. These are

listed and discussed briefly.

The normal habitat of the soft-shell clam is within the mud or

sand of the bottom. Our records show that small Mya have been

taken from many buoys. To my knowledge, none approaching

the size I took from this buoy have been reported. Furthermore,

the length of these two specimens averaged 70.0 mm. which

exceeds the normal growth of a two-year-old clam in its usual

habitat. To evaluate the significance of this find, it is desirable

to review briefly some biological aspects of this species.

According to Turner (1953), the preferred habitat of Mya is

generally the upper estuary, although it is found at the heads

of bays and in inlets along the lower estuarine zone where there

is no significant reduction in salinity. Verrill and Smith (1873)

39

40 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

record softshell clams from the half-tide mark to depths of 40

fathoms, although only smaller clams have been dredged from

the greater depths.

The time at which M. arenaria spawns and the duration of

the pelagic larval stage are functions of temperature (Turner,

1948) . Spawning may begin before May in Wickford Harbor,

Rhode Island (Landers, 1954) , or as late as August in Malpeque,

Prince Edward Island (Stafford, 1912). Metamorphosis may be

complete in 12 days or require as long as three weeks. As far as

can be determined from the evidence at hand, spawning in the

Buzzards Bay area takes place about the time the buoy was placed

on station in June, so probably the Mya spat settled in it soon

after it was put out.

After metamorphosis, the tiny clams usually settle to the bot-

tom and, by means of a byssus, temporarily attach to sand grains,

rocks, seaweed or shell (Turner, 1949). They usually burrow into

the substrate and take up the sedentary phase of their existence

by the time they are about 25 mm. long.

Th large specimens we collected from the buoy were appar-

ently able to survive out of their usual environment because of

the chance protection and support offered by the hydroids and

other growths within the tube. Probably most of the small clams

which attach to buoys fall to the sea bottom, possibly even before

losing the power of byssal attachment. Probably these two speci-

mens were the sole survivors of an initially large set. They not

only survived but grew to a larger size than is usual under

normal conditions.

Newcombe (1935) was able to determine age and the rate of

growth of the soft-shell clam by counting and measuring the

"annual rings" on the shell valves. In the cold Bay of Fundy

waters, he found a two-inch clam to be about five years of age.

Turner (1949) notes that Mya in Massachusetts waters grows

two inches (50 mm.) in two to two and a half years, after which

time growth becomes significantly slower.

I attempted to read the annual rings on the two specimens,

and the measurements of these rings are as follows:

Spawned — June 1956 Specimen #1 Specimen #2

1st winter ring 30.2 mm. 26.5 mm.

2nd winter ring 58.3 mm. 60.4 mm.

Captured— June 1958 68.0 mm. 72.2 mm.

October, 1959

NAUTILUS

41

Figure 1. Sample navigation buoy. Arrow indicates the sheltered inner por-

tion of the stabilizer tube, from which the mollusks w^ere taken.

If my aging is correct, the clams were over two inches (50 mm.) ,

the minimum legal size in Massachusetts, by the time they were

a year and a half old, whereas in this area they do not usually

reach this size until about a year later.

Investigators have studied and compared the growth rate of

Mya and of other commercial bivalves both in their natural

habitat and under conditions similar to those found in buoys.

Belding (1915) suspended soft-shell clams in boxes at various

depths from a raft. He compared these with clams grown in boxes

buried to the level of the substrate in the shallow water near the

shore. Clams suspended from the raft grew faster, and this he

attributed to the faster current. Mossop (1921) secured a number

of blocks bearing mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) to an anchored

buoy and found that the greatest rate of growth occurred near

the surface of the water. In Europe, where mussel farming is

practiced extensively, a faster growth is found in those cultivated

on wooden frames above the sea bottom. Quayle (1956) found

that the raft method of oyster culture greatly enhanced the

42 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

growtli oi the suspended oysters. He further noted that this

method results in lower mortality because it eliminates silting

and reduces predation.

Belding (1930) considered the most important factor in clam

growth to be a good current which carries food, oxygen and

salts and acts as a sanitary agent. That this condition is met in

the surface waters offshore where buoys are located is evident

not only by the fast growth recorded for Mya in this particular

buoy but also for Mytilus and many other species of mollusks

from this and other buoys.

The mollusks collected in the Coxen's Ledge buoy are listed

below. Included are notes on the frequency of occurrence of the

species to this particular buoy, measurements of the smallest and

largest specimen found for each species, and, where possible,

the number of year classes represented according to our in-

terpretation.

Mya arenaria Linne: very rare. Two specimens of the following

height and length: 41.6 X 68.0 mm. and 42.2 X 72.2 mm.

Anomia simplex d'Orbigny: abundant. Largest 27.6 mm., small-

est 6.4 mm. in height. There seem to be two year classes, one

from about 20-27.6 mm., the other 6.4 to 12.0 mm.

Hiatella arctica (Linne) : rare. Largest 17.0 mm. in length. Rare

in this buoy but usually not at all uncommon when found in

buoys.

Mytilus ediilis Linne: most abundant. Largest 71.5 mm., smallest

2.0 mm. in height. Three year classes as follows:

Spawned 1956, 50.0-71.5 mm.

Spawned 1957, 20.0-40.0 mm.

Spawned 1958, 2.0-15.0 mm.

Mitrella lunata (Say): abundant. Little range in size, average

4.0 mm. in length.

Crepidula fornicata (Linne) : common. 5.6-28.5 mm. in height.

Two year classes, one from about 19.0 to 28.5 mm., the other

5.6 to 13.0 mm.

Crepidula plana Say: fairly abundant. 20.7-27.0 mm. in height.

Apparently only one year class represented.

References

Belding, D. L. 1916. A report upon the clam fishery. Fiftieth

Annual Report of the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game

for the year 1915. Commonwealth of Mass., Boston, Public

Document No. 25.

1930. The soft-shell clam fishery of Massachusetts. Mass.

Dept. Conservation, Div. Fish and Game, Mar. Fish. Series

No. L

October, 1959 nautilus 43

Landers, W. S. 1954. Seasonal abundance of clam larvae in Rhode

Island waters, 1950-1952. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Spec. Sci. Rept., Fish. No. 117.

Mossop, B. K. E. 1921. A study of the sea mussel {Mytilus edulis,

Linn.) Sect. IV — The rate of growth of the sea mussel

{Mytilus edulis L.) under various intertidal and floating

conditions at St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Contr. Can.

Biol., No. 2.

Newcombe, C. L. 1935. Growth of Mya arenaria L. in the Bay of

Fundy region. Can. Jour. Res., 13.

Quayle, D. B. 1956. The raft culture of the Pacific oyster in

British Columbia. Fish. Res. Bd. Can., Progress Rept. of the

Pacific Coast Stations, No. 107.

Stafford, J. 1912. On the recognition of bivalve larvae in plankton

collections. Contr. Can. Biol., No. 14.

Turner, H. J. 1948. Report on investigations of the propagation

of the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria. Appendix I. The soft-

shell clam industry of the east coast of the United States.

Div. Mar. Fish., Dept. Conservation, Commonwealth of

Mass., Boston.

1949. Report on methods of improving the shellfish re-

sources of Massachusetts. Factors influencing the abundance

of soft-shell clams in Massachusetts. Div. Mar. Fish., Dept.

Conservation, Commonwealth of Mass., Boston.

1953. A review of the biology of some commercial mollusks

of the east coast of North America. Sixth Report on the

Investigations of the Shellfisheries of Massachusetts. Div.

Mar. Fish., Dept. Nat. Res., Commonwealth of Mass., Boston.

Verrill, A. E. and S. I. Smith. 1873. Report upon the invertebrate

animals of Vineyard Sound and adjacent waters, with an

account of the physical features of the region. Report of the

U. S. Fish Commission for 1871-72.

A NEW BERINGIUS FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,

WITH COMMENTS ON CERTAIN DESCRIBED FORMS

By ALLYN G. smith

(Concluded from July no.)

The single, well preserved specimen from Chignik, Alaska, in

Mr. Eyerdam's collection is comparable in general aspect and

sculptural characters to the normal form from off the Washing-

ton coast on which the holotype description is based. There are

14 major spiral ribs on the body whorl and 8 each on the penulti-

mate and antepenultimate whorls. Nuclear whorls and operculum

44 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

are missing. Mr. Norberg's specimen in tlie Tromsoe Museum

is said to be similar, as is the single specimen in the San Diego

Museum from off Vancouver Island.

Mr. Eyerdam's single shell from Raspberry Island, Alaska

(C.A.S. No. 36319), is a large "dead" specimen with sculptural

characters that are intermediate between the first of the two

aberrant shells from the type lot described above (pi. 3, fig. 2)

and the other heavily ribbed specimens. It is illustrated on pi. 3,

fig. 4. This shell is cream-white, covered in places with a blackish-

brown periostracum. Nuclear whorls are missing. The summits

of the postnuclear whorls descend somewhat into the sutures.

Spiral sculpture consists on the penultimate and early post-

nuclear whorls of 3, strong, rounded cords on the lower half and

several other less prominent ones that become progressively

fainter above the periphery and fade out entirely at the tabulate

summits. On the body whorl are about 8 fairly strong spiral

cords below the periphery, which, with their corresponding inter-

spaces, widen toward the outer lip. Above these the spiral cords

become more or less obsolete; below them is the usual series of 8

smaller cords on the outer canal. Overall microsculpture consists

of many fine, closely spaced spiral lines crossed by a series of

equally fine, somewhat less closely spaced and less regular growth

riblets that are weakly nodulose or beaded at the points of cross-

ing. The low, rounded boss inside the upper end of the aperture

is present.

The single shell from Bainbridge Island in Puget Sound, col-

lected by Mr. Eyerdam, is a worn, "dead" specimen that is solid

and heavy in texture but relatively smooth over-all, without any

traces of heavy spiral ribbing whatever. Sculpturally it is much

like the second of Mr. Stiles' aberrant specimens (pi. 3, fig. 3) ,

having two widely spaced, subobsolete cords above the periphery

of the body whorl with indications of several still weaker ones

below. The outer canal, which is somewhat worn, has several

(at least two and possibly more) weakly incised grooves. The

upper portions of the earlier whorls descend somewhat into the

sutures; the summit of the body whorl, however, is not tabulate

and slopes downward in a straight line to the point where the

rounded portion of the whorl begins. The maze of weak, pro-

tractive cording on the upper part of the body whorl, which is

October, 1959 nautilus 45

present on the second of Mr. Stiles' aberrant shells, also occurs

on this specimen. The outer lip is thick and slightly recurved at

its middle part. There is a small siphonal fasciole.

Measurements of the series of shells at hand yield the follow-

ing comparative data:

Max. No. of

Specimens Length^ Diam. L/D whorls

10 adult shells from the type

lot (extremes)

Chignik, Alaska; sculpture

normal

Vancouver Id., British Colum-

bia; sculpture normal

Aberrant shell from type lot;

spiral sculpture obsolete

Aberrant shell from type lot;

spiral sculpture stronger

Bainbridge Id., Puget Sound;

sculpture like preceding

Raspberry Id., Alaska; spiral

sculpture intermediate

In view of the fact that considerable variation may exist be-

tween shells of the same species in this family of marine, carniv-

orous mollusks, probably all the specimens from the general

vicinity of La Perouse Bank, for the present at least, should be

placed in the same species of Beringius. There is little doubt

that earlier workers in the group, based on single shells coming

in separately, would have described at least two and perhaps

three species among the material now at hand. Because of the

known variation in shells from the type lot it seems wiser to

take the conservative step of naming only one species. As more

shells become available, however, a change in this approach may

be indicated. The existence of two specimens, one from the type

lot with relatively smooth sculpture and another quite similar

shell from Puget Sound present a puzzle in speciation that cannot

be solved without more material. As should be pointed out, the

animals in two of the heavily ribbed normal shells prove to be

females. Whether specimens with male animals will show sculp-

2No attempt has been made to estimate the length or number of lost nu-

clear whorls. Dimensions are in mm.

46 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

tural and other differences in their shells that are constant is also

a question for the future to answer.

Beringius eyerdami is most closely related to B. undatus Dall

but differs in possessing a more globose shell with a shorter spire

and particularly in the far more strongly developed spiral ribs

and channels. It is named for Walter J. Eyerdam in recognition

of his many contributions to the knowledge of conchology and

for the fact that he furnished the first specimen of this new spe-

cies several years ago.

Thanks are due to my associates, Drs. G. Dallas Hanna and

Leo G. Hertlein for advice and assistance with the manuscript.

The excellent photographs used for illustrations are the work

of Mr. E. C. Crompton, the California Academy's photographer.

STUDIES ON THE GENUS MELAMPUS (PULMONATA)

By PAUL A. HOLLE and CLARENCE F. DINEEN

(Concluded from July no.)

Denticles in the aperture. All shells possess at least two con-

spicuous denticles in the aperture; a columellar (1st) denticle

and a parietal (2nd) denticle. An additional parietal denticle

(3rd) is present in some shells (Table 2A) .

The 1st denticle varies little, but the variation in the shape

and position of the 2nd denticle proved significant. In groups A

and B it is located immediately inside the shell aperture, whereas

in group C it appears much farther inside and greatly facilitates

identification of the latter group.

The 3rd denticle is subject to wide variation, its position ap-

pears meaningful, and it may be present or absent. Thus when

present in specimens of group A, it consists of a rounded tubercle

adjacent to or partially fused to the 2nd denticle. In group A, the

percentage of specimens possessing the 3rd denticle was greater

in the southern localities (Table 2A). When present in specimens

of groups B and C, it is rounded and plainly separated from

(anterior to) the 2nd denticle. The incidence of this 3rd denticle

remained consistently high in all habitats south of east-central

Florida. A large percentage of specimens in lots of group B pos-

sessed a 3rd denticle, although the incidence was somewhat lower

in lots from northern localities. The incidence of the 3rd denticle

October, 1959 nautilus 47

in group C is consistently high. All shells of group C came from

southern localities. Consequently, the presence of the 3rd denticle

is correlated with latitude.

Parietal ridges. Low, limy elevations toward the posterior end

on the columellar side of the aperture were present only in some

specimens of group A and varied in the number per shell (Table

2B, 2C) . In general parietal ridges were more prevalent in south-

ern populations.

Stripes. In this study, only the pale stripes between the shoulder

and columellar denticle on the apertural side were counted.

The percentages of specimens in each lot having stripes, and the

variation in number of stripes, are shown in Table 3. In group A,

the incidence of striped specimens varied erratically from lot to

lot, but most stripe-bearing specimens had 4 stripes. The number

of stripes in some lots of group A varied from 0-4, (pi. 6, fig. 4) .

Both the number and width of the stripes varied (fig. 5) . Nearly

all specimens of group B had 2 stripes. Group C with few excep-

tions had 2 or 3 stripes; a majority had 3 stripes.

Angle of spire. The average angle of all specimens in each lot

is given in Table 4. The range in spire angles is wide even among

specimens from a single locality (fig. 6) . For group A, the aver-

age angle of the spire increases gradually from north to south.

For groups B and C, the average angle varies little for shells from

all localities.

Plicae on inside of lip. Some of the shells possessed ridges or

plicae on the inside of the lip. The percentages of shells in each

lot having plicae, and the numerical range, are given in Table 4.

In group A, all specimens (except those from extreme northern

localities) possessed plicae. All specimens of group B and almost

all group C possessed plicae, but no geographical nor ecological

pattern could be found among those of group C lacking this

structure.

If Ball's (1894) explanation for plicae is correct, it is easy to

understand why there would be considerable variation in this

characteristic. According to Dall, the columellar attachment of

snail shells without spirals is as long as the mantle edge, so that

withdrawal into the aperture results in little to no wrinkling or

folding. In forms with strong spirals, such as Melampus, by con-

trast, the attachment area is narrow and separate from the aper-

48 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

ture. As as result, the distal edge of the mantle is folded during

withdrawal — comparable to the wrinkling of a flattened napkin

when being pulled through a ring. Minerals deposited by the

wrinkled mantle edge would follow its contours and form plicae.

Discussion and summary

Confusion concerning the genus Melampiis appears due to

difficulties in identifying these snails along traditional lines. Shell

structure is variable. The distribution of each species overlaps

others. Life history information has been scarce or lacking alto-

gether (Morrison, 1950) .

As a result of this study of shell structure, two of the five cate-

gories listed by Johnson (1934) are readily identified:

Melampus floridanus (pi. 5, fig. 3) , discussed previously as

"Group B," is segregated on the basis of three features: (1) the

anterior position of the 3rd denticle; (2) its small size (less than

8.5 mm.) ; and (3) two chestnut stripes near the shoulder. On

the basis of habitat study, it would seem that this species can

tolerate low salinity, hence can be found greater distances from

sea water, especially in the upper portions of streams draining

into salt marshes.

Melampus flavus, discussed previously as "Group C," is segre-

gated on the basis of three features: (1) the anterior position

of the 3rd denticle; (2) the internal position of the parietal

denticle; and (3) the presence of three stripes in a majority of

striped specimens. Habitat studies indicate that this species fre-

quents areas which remain submerged by sea water for long

periods. They are often found in rocky areas. In this vigorous

environment they have developed a harder, thicker shell.

Group A has been more resistant to analysis. A study of shell

characteristics and interpretation of habitat and distribution data

suggest three possibilities: (1) that these snails all belong to a

single species of wide variability, this variation showing some

local features (perhaps as clones) and some correlation with

latitude; (2) that these snails belong to two species, a northern

and a southern, the ranges of which overlap along the middle

eastern coast of Florida; or (3) there are two species, a northern

and a southern, with no outliers of the southern species north

of Florida but with outliers of the northern species in southern

localities.

October, 1959 nautilus 49

If further facts support the first possibility (i.e., all in a single

species) , then all members of Group A should be called

Melampus coffeus. If the second and third possibilities should

prove valid, then the southern form would be called M. coffeus

(pi. 5, fig. 1) , the northern form M. hidentatus (fig. 2)

The first possibility is supported by the following:

1. All members have both a columellar and parietal denticle,

with the third denticle becoming more prevalent in southern

portions of the range (Table 2A) .

2. The presence of parietal ridges increases in the more southern

areas (Table 2B) .

3. The number of stripes does not exceed 4, with 4 being the

most prevalent number in the northern populations, but grad-

ually becoming variable in southern populations (Table 3).

4. The angle of the spire changes gradually from acute in the

north to obtuse in the south (Table 4A) .

5. The number of plicae is highly variable but increasing in

number from north to south (Table 4C) .

The second possibility (two species, a northern and southern,

the ranges of which overlap along the middle eastern coast of

Florida), is supported by the following:

1. The percentage of specimens having a third denticle (Table

2A) and parietal ridges (Table 2B) remains nil in most pop-

ulations until the populations of northeastern Florida are

considered.

2. The number of stripes in specimens north of Florida is pri-

marily four, while the southern forms tend to be erratic

(Table 3).

3. The spire angle of specimens north of Florida remains essen-

tially very small, tending to be greater in the more southern

forms (Table 4A) .

The third possibility (two species, a northern and southern,

with no outliers of the southern species north of Florida but

with outliers of the northern species in southern localities) is

suggested by a number of lots studied. They are:

1. Lots 27 and 28 lack a third denticle (Table 2A).

2. Lots 27-28, 48-50 lack parietal ridges (Table 2B) .

3. Lots 28, 46, 48-50 contain specimens most of which have four

stripes (Table 3) , and have very small spire angles (Table

4A).

4. Collecting data, when available, suggest that the northern

and southern forms prefer different habitats — the former pre-

ferring a grassy habitat as opposed to mangrove areas for the

southern form.

50 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

Resolution of the three possibilities will require additional

studies, especially habitat and life history studies (as was sug-

gested by Morrison, 1950).

As a result of the present study, however, several points have

been clarified:

1. Three different species of Melampus can be distinguished

among the salt-marsh snails of the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of

Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda:

M. coffeus (L) : From the east central coast of Florida south-

ward, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and

islands of the West Indies, and Bermuda: M. bidentatus may

be a synonym, or a subspecies, or a separate species, with

range extending from Georgia northward to the Maritime

Provinces of Canada.

M. flavus (Gmelin) : From the east central coast of Florida

southward, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean

and islands of the West Indies, and Bermuda.

M. floridanus Pfeiffer: From Chesapeake Bay southward, in-

cluding the Gulf of Mexico.

2. In the event that future study demonstrates the duality of

"Group A" and hence the need for a second name, M. bidentatus

is available and should have priority over M. Uneatus. As was sug-

gested by Pilsbry (1927), no reason is apparent for considering

it preoccupied.

3. Variability in the characteristics used by Morrison (1950)

in separating subspecies of M. bidentatus appears continuous

enough that his subdivision seems inadvisable; geographical dis-

tribution of the varieties he recognized shows no discontinuities

that w^ould urge retention of the subspecific names.

4. The specific name M. floridanus should be credited to Pfeif-

fer (1856), not Shuttleworth. The 1854 monograph by Adams and

Adams lists this specific name but gives no description. Accord-

ing to Dr. William Clench (personal communication) , a Mr.

Rugel collected the original Florida specimens for Shuttleworth,

and they are now part of the Cuming Collection in the British

Museum (Natural History) . Neither Rugel nor Shuttleworth

described the specimens; both merely gave them museum num-

bers. Hence floridanus remained a nomen nudum until Pfeiffer

validated it in 1856. As a matter of courtesy, and an index to its

frequent appearance in literature, it could also be M. floridanus

"Shuttlew^orth" Pfr.

October, 1959 nautilus 51

5. Until specimens from Cayo Blanco, Cuba, have been studied

and found to match Pfeiffer's (1853) description of M. gund-

lachi, this name well may be left as incertae sedis.

References

Abbott, R. Tucker 1954 — American seashells. D. Van Nostrand

Co., Inc., New York, xiv— 541, 100 figs.

Adams, H. and Adams, A. 1854 — Monographs of Ellobium and

Melampus, two genera of pulmoniferous Mollusca. Proc.

Zool. Soc. London, 22:7-13.

Dall, W. H. 1894 — The mechanical cause of folds in the aperture

of the shell of Gastropoda. Amer. Nat. 2<^: 909-9 14.

Hinkley, A. A. 1907 — Shells collected in northeastern Mexico.

Naut. 27:68-72.

Johnson, C. W. 1934 — List of marine Mollusca of the Atlantic

Coast from Labrador to Texas. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist.

^^: 1-204.

Montfort, Denys de 1810 — Conchyliologie Systematique. VoL 2

(Univalves). 1—676, 161 figs.

Morrison, J. P. E. 1950 — American Ellobiidae — an annotated list.

Amer. Malacol. Union Ann. Rpt. (1950) :8-10.

. 1951 — Two new western Atlantic species of pulmonate

mollusks of the genus Detracia and two old ones (family

Ellobiidae) . Jour. Washington Acad. Sci. ^7:17-20.

Pfeiffer, L. 1853 — Neue Auriculaceen. Zeitschr. f. Malakozoologie.

70:124-127.

. 1856 — Monographia Auriculaceorum viventium. Sumptibus

Theodorei Fischer, Casselis. xiii — 209.

Pilsbry, H. A. 1927 — Nomenclature of Leuconia, Melampus and

Truncatella. Naut. 40:125-126.

Pulley, T. 1952 — An illustrated checklist of the marine mollusks

of Texas. Texas Jour. Sci. ^ (2) : 167-199.

Say, Thomas, 1822 — An account of some of the marine shells of

the United States. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. (Phila.) . 2:221-276.

PLEISTOCENE MOLLUSCAN NOTES, II

FAUNULE FROM HUNTINGTON BEACH MESA, CALIF.

By JAMES W. VALENTINE

University of Missouri, Columbia

Huntington Beach Mesa is one of a series of low mesas and

plains developed along the coast between Palos Verdes Hills and

San Joaquin Hills, California. To the south, it is separated from

Newport Mesa by the Santa Ana Gap, and to the north, from

52 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

the small Bolsa Chica Mesa by Bolsa Gap (Poland, Piper et al.,

1956, pi. 1). These mesas lie athwart the Newport-Inglewood

structural zone, and their surfaces are commonly deformed.

Poland, Piper et al. (1956) suggest that they represent remnants

of a formerly widespread surface correlative with the surface of

the Upper Pleistocene Palos Verdes sand.

Marine sediments exposed in stream-cut bluffs and in gravel

pits below the surface of Huntington Beach Mesa have been

assigned to the Lower Pleistocene San Pedro sand (Poland,

Piper et al, 1956, pp. 62-62, pi. 3). However, Mr. Robert G.

Thomas has recently discovered marine fossils in these sediments,

and they indicate an Upper Pleistocene age.

Marine sands and gravels are exposed in a sand pit about

2 miles north of the city of Huntington Beach, Orange County,

California (see Description of fossil localities, to follow). Mol-

lusk shells are locally abundant in several lenses, but are in poor

condition, being chiefly broken and also leached by ground

water. Collections made from three localities in the sand pit

(UCLA, localities 3655, 3656, and 3657) contain a total of 47

species that can be identified definitely and 9 more that may

only be compared or referred to described species or genera,

because of their fragmentary condition (table 1) .

The identified mollusks all represent species that are living

today. Recent populations of most of them live on sandy sub-

strates and along exposed sandy beaches. Only a few species, as

Tegula ligulata and Megatehennus himaculatus, probably re-

quire a solid substratum, and these species are rare in the col-

lections. The most abundant species (for which ecologic data

are available) are exposed sandy beach forms, as Tivela and

Donax, and slightly deeper-water forms that are common along

exposed coasts on relatively coarse, current swept or wave-agitated

bottoms, as Glycymeris suhohsoleta, Tellina salmonea, and

Spisula planulata. These assemblages evidently represent depths

of less than about 5 fathoms along an exposed coast. The sedi-

ments are lenses of medium to coarse cross-bedded sands and

pebble and cobble gravels and also suggest deposition in agitated

shallow water. The collection from UCLA. Locality 3655, com-

posed of fewer species and of relatively more exposed sandy

shore species than the other two, probably represents a beach

October, 1959 nautilus 53

deposit; perhaps the other fossils are in beach deposits also.

Two species are present that live today only well to the south,

where they form part of a northward extension of the Pana-

manian fauna that inhabits embayments along southwestern

Baja California, Mexico. These are Crassinella branneri and

Petricola parallela. These species are both present in the Palos

Verdes sand at San Pedro, California, but are not known in

Lower Pleistocene deposits.

C. branneri is known to live from Laguna Scammon, Baja

California (Woodring et al., 1946, p. 88) to Corinto, Nicaragua

(Eyerdam in Burch et al., 1944, no. 39, p. 9) . Possibly, C. bran-

neri is conspecific with the Recent C. pacifica, which has essen-

tially the same recorded geographic range. C. branneri is par-

ticularly characteristic of warm-water facies of the Upper Pleisto-

cene in southern California, wherein it is recorded from Pacific

Palisades, California (Valentine, 1956, p. 195) to Bahia San

Quintin, Baja California (Orcutt, 1921), chiefly in moderately

protected shallow inner sublittoral facies but also in exposed-

shore facies. A single Recent record of branneri from San Diego

(Dall, 1921, p. 31) is probably based on fossil material (as was

the case with Dosinia ponderosa; see Woodring et al., 1946, p. 84,

footnote 81a) .

Petricola parallela is known to live from Laguna Scammon,

Baja California (Hertlein and Strong, 1948, p. 195) to Corinto,

Nicaragua (Pilsbry and Lowe, 1932, p. 99), from the littoral

zone to 8 fathoms. In the Upper Pleistocene, it is recorded from

San Pedro (U.C.L.A. collections) to near Newport Beach, Cali-

fornia (Bruff, 1946, p. 232) chiefly in protected shallow-water

facies.

A single specimen in the collections represents Tegula

brunnea, which lives only to northward in the Oregonian prov-

ince today. This species is characteristic of exposed rocky-shore

facies of the Upper Pleistocene in southern California, but is

recorded in other Upper Pleistocene facies and also in the

Lower Pleistocene. In the Upper Pleistocene, it usually is associ-

ated with other Oregonian rocky-shore species to form a distinc-

tive cool-water element. T. brunnea commonly lives somewhat

offshore near the surface on kelp (Smith and Gordon, 1948,

p. 201) as well as inter- and sub-tidally on rocks. Shells of brun-

54

NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 (2)

nea in the essentially sandy-bottom, warm water association at

Huntington Beach Mesa well may have been transported from

kelp beds offshore in cooler water, perhaps on broken kelp fronds.

No species that are characteristic of the Lower Pleistocene are

found in the collections; however, most such species belong to

other facies. Chiefly because of the occurrence of the southern

forms, then, and in the absence of conflicting evidence, the as-

semblages at hand are considered to be Upper Pleistocene.

Table 1. Mollusca from the Upper Pleistocene at Huntington

Beach Mesa. Abundance symbols are: R, less than 9; C, 9 to 32;

and A, more than 32 specimens in the collection per 1,000

specimens.

Pelecypoda

Localities: 3655 3656

Glycymeris subobsoleta (Carpenter) C A

Modiolus cf. M. capax Conrad R

Modiolus sp. R

Leptopecten latiauratus (Conrad) R R

Hinnites giganteus (Gray)

Anomia peruviana Orbigny R

Ostrea lurida Carpenter R

Crassinella branneri (Arnold) R C

Lucinisca nuttalli (Conrad) R

Trachycardium quadrigenarium (Conrad) R

"Cardium" sp.

Protothaca staminea (Conrad) R

Tivela stultorum (Mawe) C C

Petricola parallela Pilsbry & Lowe

Tellina bodegensis Hinds R

T. salmonea Carpenter R C

Macoma secta (Conrad) R

Donax gouldi Dall A C

Siliqua lucida (Conrad) R

Solen sicarius Gould

Spisula planulata (Conrad) C

Schizothaerus nuttalli (Conrad) R

Cryptomya californica (Conrad) R R

Corbula luteola Carpenter C C

Zirfaea pilsbryi Lowe

SCAPHOPODA

Dentalium neohexagonum Sharp & Pilsbry R

D. pretiosum Sowerby R

3657

A

R

A

R

C

R

C

R

C

R

October, 1959 nautilus 55

Gastropoda

Megatebennus bimaculatus (Dall)

Pupillaria parcipicta (Carpenter)

Calliostoma dolarium (Holten)

C. gemmulatum Carpenter

C. ligatum (Gould)

C. tricolor Gabb

Tegula brunnea (Forbes)

T. ligulata (Menke)

Halistylus pupoideus (Carpenter)

Tricolia? sp.

Aletes? cf. A. squamigerus Carpenter

Fartulum occidentale Bartsch

Bittium sp.

Epitonium cf. E. indianorum (Carpenter)

Crepidula coei Berry

Neverita reclusiana alta Arnold

N. reclusiana imperforata (Dall)

Acanthina spirata (Blainville)

Ocinebra interfossa Carpenter

Aesopus chrysalloideus (Carpenter)

Mitrella carinata (Hinds)

"Nassa" delosi Woodring

"Nassa" fossata (Gould)

"Nassa" mendica cooperi Forbes

Olivella biplicata (Sowerby)

O. pedroana (Conrad)

Narona cf. N. cooperi (Gabb)

Conus californicus Hinds

Acteocina culcitella (Gould)

Thus in summary the sediments exposed on Huntington Beach

Mesa are essentially contemporaneous with terrace deposits on

Newport Mesa and probably with the Palos Verdes sands in the

Long Beach and San Pedro regions. The sea was then capable

of supporting mollusks that are today restricted to the Pana-

manian province, presumably because it was warmer, at least at

times, than at present. The shallow, sandy, current and wave

agitated sea bottom where Huntington Beach Mesa now stands

was inhabited by a shallow-water molluscan community similar

to recent southern California communities in such habitats but

including Panamanian species. The upper surface of Huntington

Beach and nearby Mesas is probably a depositional surface, rep-

resenting the last epicontinental deposits of the sea during the

series of events — the "cycle" — that formed the Palos Verdes ter-

56 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

race platform and its marine cover. The surface is commonly

overlain by thin non-marine sediments that thicken considerably

where the former shoreline was bold, as along its landward mar-

gin at Palos Verdes Hills. A somewhat similar surface seems to

be preserved at an altitude of about 20 feet in the Mission Bay —

San Diego Bay district, California (Valentine, in press).

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the aid of Professor W. P.

Popenoe and Mrs. Lou Ella Saul, University of California, Los

Angeles, in comparing certain specimens, and of Peter U. Rodda,

Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas, in collecting

the fossils. Robert G. Thomas, Engineering Geologist, California

State Division of Water Resources, kindly called these deposits

to my attention.

Description of fossil localities

UCLA. Locality 3655. Essentially horizontal sands exposed on

eastern margin of sand and gravel pit, on west face of ridge north

of oil sumps, in N 14 of NE i/4. Sec. 34, T. 5 S, R 11 W, Hunting-

ton Beach Mesa, Seal Beach quadrangle. Orange County, Cali-

fornia. Southwest nose of ridge is now cut away. Uppermost

fossiliferous beds; altitude approximately 25 feet. Rodda and

Valentine, collectors, spring 1957.

UCLA. Locality 3656. Approximately 12 feet stratigraphically

and topographically below UCLA, locality 3655, in a 2-3 foot

pebble and cobble conglomerate. Rodda and Valentine, col-

lectors, spring 1957.

UCLA, locality 3657. A 2-foot pebble conglomerate exposed

in the northeast corner of the sand and gravel pit described in

UCLA. 3655. Evidently represents the same horizon as UCLA.

loc. 3656 (exposure is discontinuous) . Rodda and Valentine,

collectors, spring 1957.

References

Bruff, S. C. 1946. The paleontology of the Pleistocene molluscan

fauna of the Newport Bay area, California. Univ. Calif.

Pubs., Bull. Dept. Geol. Sci., 27 (6): 213-240, 12 text-figs.

Burch, J. Q. (ed.) et al. 1944. Distributional list of the west

American marine mollusks from San Diego, California, to

the Polar Sea, Pt. I, Pelecypoda. Conch, Club So. California,

Minutes, nos. 33-45, pagination by issue.

Dall, W. H. 1921. Summary of the marine shellbearing mollusks

of the northwest coast of America, from San Diego, Cali-

fornia to the Polar Sea, etc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Bull. 112,

217 pp., 22 pis.

Hertlein, L. G.. and Strong, A. M. 1948. Eastern Pacific expedi-

tions of the New York Zoological Society. Mollusks from

October, 1959 nautilus 57

the west coast of Mexico and Central America. Pt. 6

Zoologica 33: 163-198, 2 pis.

Orcutt, C. R. 1921. Pleistocene beds of San Quentin Bay, Lower

California. West Am. Scientist 19: 23-24.

Pilsbry, H. A., and Lowe, H. N. 1932. West Mexican and Cen-

tral American mollusks collected by H. N. Lowe, 1929-31.

Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 84: 33-144, pis. 1-17, 6

text-figs.

Poland, J. F., Piper, A. M., et al. 1956. Ground-water geology

of the coastal zone, Long Beach-Santa Ana area, California.

U. S. Geol. Surv., Water-Supply Paper 1109, 162 pp., 8 pis.,

2 text-figs.

Smith, A. C, and Gordon, Mackenzie, Jr., 1948. The marine

mollusks and brachipods of Monterey Bay, California, and

vicinity. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. 4, 26 (8) : 147-245, pis.

3-4, 4 text-figs.

Valentine, J. W. 1956. Upper Pleistocene Mollusca from Potrero

Canyon, Pacific Palisades, California. Trans. San Diego

Soc. Nat. Hist. 12 (10) : 181-205, pi. 13.

(in press) Pleistocene molluscan notes. L The Bay Point

formation at its type locality. Jour. Paleontology 34.

Woodring, W. P., Bramlette, M. N., and Kew, W. S. W. 1946.

Geology and paleontology of Palos Verdes Hills, California.

U. S. Geol. Surv., Prof. Paper 207, 145 pp., 37 pis., 16 text-

figs.

MOLLUSKS OF THE SALT RIVER, KENTUCKY

By JOSEPH ROSEWATER

Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University

An expedition was made by Dr. W. J. Clench and myself dur-

ing September, 1958, to collect mollusks in the Kentucky and

Salt River systems, Kentucky. We left Ann Arbor, Michigan,

September 6, 1958, at the close of a most enjoyable meeting of

the American Malacological Union. Traveling south through

southern Michigan and Ohio, we collected at several stations

in the Great Lakes drainage, and upon arriving in Kentucky

on September 7, at two localities on the Licking River. Since

the water level was somewhat high, we proceeded to the Kentucky

River where several stations were made on the main river and

its three forks. This was followed by a week-end trip to Cleve-

land, Tennessee, to visit Herbert Athearn, an ardent collector

of fresh-water mollusks. During this side trip, fine collections

were made in the Powell and Sequatchie Rivers, Tennessee, in

58 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

the Conasauga River of northwest Georgia and in the Green

River, Kentucky.

The Sak River drainage system occupies a roughly oval area

in north central Kentucky. Along most of its eastern boundary,

it is separated from portions of the Kentucky River system by

only a few miles. On the south and west, it is bordered by the

Green River system. On the north, tributaries of the Salt River

extend north of Louisville, Kentucky. It flo-^vs into the Ohio

River about 20 miles southwest of Louisville almost precisely

on the line of 38° N. Latitude. Two major forks, the Rolling

Fork and Beech Fork, and the Salt River propei- originate fairly

close together in Boyle and Casey Counties, Kentucky. The

Rolling Fork, the most southern branch, flo^ss in a northwesterly

direction to its confluence with the Salt River proper about nine

miles southeast of the Ohio River. The Beech Fork flows north,

then west to join the Rolling Fork about twelve miles southeast

of the confluence of the latter with the Salt River. The Salt River

proper parallels the Beech Fork during its initial northerly flow

but continues farther north than the latter, then turns west and

flows in this direction to its confluence with the Rolling Fork,

then northwesterly to the Ohio River. \'en' approximately, the

drainage area of the Salt River system covers 3000 to 4000 square

miles. The system occupies a portion of the "Blue Grass" area

of Kentucky, a region of limestone eroded to form a generally

rolling surface, and is given over in large part to farming. Also

this area supports one of Kentucky's outstanding industries, that

of the distillation of fine whiskey. One asks himself on picking

up a series of especially large Quadrula quadrula (Rafinesque),

"Could there be some correlation between the large size of these

bivalves and the dumping of distillery wastes into streams of

this area?"

We based Salt River collecting operations at Bardstown, Nel-

son Co., Kentucky, and spent four days making ten stations in

this river system. \Ve intended to make several additional sta-

tions in the Salt and also the lowei* Kentucky River working our

way east (and home) . Ho^vever, a heavv t^vo-inch rain ended the

ideal collecting conditions which had existed for nearly two

weeks and our last stations could not be made. Consequently,

a thorough report on the mollusks of the Kentucky River must

be delayed until further collections can be made there. Our

October, 1959 nautilus 59

collections from the Salt River were substantial, however, and

are therefore reported upon at this time.

Three stations have been made on the Salt River previously

that we know of, although other collectors have undoubtedly

visited the area. The known visited localities are those of Clench

and Okkelberg in 1927, corresponding to the Clench-Rosewater

stations 1934 and 1935 plus one which we did not make: Salt

River, 4 miles west of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. An account of

the fresh-water mussels collected by Clench and Okkelberg was

published by Clench and van der Schalie (1944). No account

was given of the gastropods collected.

Ortmann (1926, p. 187) stated that the Salt River system

should be expected to have an Ohioan fauna rather than a

Cumberlandian one. Clench and van der Schalie showed this to

be true and our 1958 collections only reinforce this view. On the

basis of the 1958 collections, four species of mussels may be

added to the list of Clench and van der Schalie for the Salt River:

Villosa lienosa (Conrad) ; Carunculina parva (Barnes) ; Trun-

cilla donaciformis (Lea) ; Anodonta grandis Say. On the other

hand, three species mentioned in 1944 were missing from those

collected in 1958: Cy progenia irrorata (Lea) ; Ohovaria subro-

tunda (Lea) ; Anodonts. imbecillis Say.

Goodrich (1939, p. 2 and 1940, p. 13) stated that forms not

separable from Pleurocera acutum Rafinesque^ occur in tribu-

taries of the Cumberland and Duck Rivers, Tennessee. This is,

apparently, also true of the Beech Fork and the Salt River proper

stations (1934,-36, -40, -41) as forms representing and, at present,

indistinguishable from P. acutum were also found there.

To my knowledge, there is no previous published record of

Pleurocera canaliculatum (Say) from the Salt River system. We

found it, along with Lithasia obovata (Say) at station 1939, a

locality with a distinctly large river ecology. The Lithasia had

remarkably complete, pointed spires for this species. The other

locality recorded for P. canaliculatum, station 1934, yielded

only a few dead specimens. For this reason, it is questionable

whether the species lives there or was washed down from an

area above a partially demolished rock dam where the Beech

2 Morrison (1954, pp. 359-364) discusses the taxonomy of the subfamily

Pleurocerinae in North America and gives reasons for use of different

nomenclature than is employed here; also see Hemming (1951, pp. 6-17) .

60 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

Fork runs wide and deep. Attempts to collect above the dam

failed because of hazardous conditions due to steep and slippery

banks at this locality.

I wish to acknowledge the aid of my associates, Richard I.

Johnson and Arthur H. Clarke, Jr., in the department of mol-

lusks. Museum of Comparative Zoology, in checking identifica-

tions of certain mussels. H. B. Herrington identified Sphaerium

striaiinum (Lamarck) . Thanks are given to Dr. W. J. Clench

for checking the identification of Physa and Campeloma, for

sharing with me his broad knowledge of fresh-water moUusk

collecting and for the many valuable experiences we shared in

the field. Financial aid for this trip was made possible by the

Friends of The Department Of Mollusks Fund, Museum of

Comparative Zoology.

The following is a list of the collecting stations visited in the

Salt River system, Kentucky, in September, 1958. Preceding each

station and its description is the station number. This number

is repeated in the list of fresh-water mollusks denoting where

each species was collected.

1932. Rolling Fork, Salt River, 7 miles southwest of Lebanon,

Marion Co., Ky. (Ky. Route 55) ; September 16, 1958. Ledge

rock with gravel-rock overlay; water clear, quite warm; gastro-

pods and bivalves rare, the latter often lying out on substrate, the

former crawling on rocks and gravel.

1933. Cartwright Creek, 13 miles southeast of Bardstown,

Washington Co., Ky. (U.S. Rt. 150) ; September 16, 1958. Ledge

rock; water very shallow; no bivalves found; Goniobasis abundant

in pools and on bridge pillars.

1934. Beech Fork, Salt River, 1 mile southwest of Bardstown,

Nelson Co., Ky. (U.S. Rt. 31E) ; September 17, 1958. Gravel,

some rock; water low, dammed above bridge; a large sewer pipe

entering just below dam; dead bivalves and snails abundant;

Physa abundant on sewer sludge.

1935. Rolling Fork, Salt River, 1 mile south of New Haven,

Nelson Co., Ky. (U.S. Rt. 31E) ; September 17, 1958.. Rocky

gravel; water clear in spite of heavy rain, flowing over rapids

and shoals; bivalves abundant, pleurocerids fairly so.

1936. Beech Fork, Salt River, about 3 miles south of Bardstown,

Nelson Co., Ky. (Ky. Rt. 49) ; September 18, 1958. Ledge, gravel,

stones, sand and some silt; dead bivalves abundant, apparently

washed out of substrate by recent freshets; pleurocerids in very

great abundance on mud and rocks; viviparids in sand; dead

sphaeriids in great abundance on banks.

October, 1959 nautilus 61

1937. Rolling Fork, Salt River, Raywick, Marion Co., Ky.

(Ky. Rt. 527); September 18, 1958. Gravel bars with some rock;

bivalves abundant; Goniobasis abundant in drying puddles.

1938. Wilson Creek, about 2 miles northwest of Boston, Nel-

son Co., Ky. (Ky. Rt. 61) ; September 19, 1958. Ledge rock;

water clear, fairly warm, silt on ledges; no bivalves collected;

Physa and Lymnaea rare; Goniobasis very common.

1939. Rolling Fork, Salt River, 1 mile southwest of Lebanon

Junction, Bullitt Co., Ky. (Ky. Rt. 434); September 19, 1958.

Steep, muddy banks, channel narrow and deep; water roily,

rather fast flow; bivalves probably present but impossible to

collect; Lithasia obovata and Pleurocera canaliculatum not un-

common on banks.

1940. Salt River, 3 miles southeast of Mt. Washington, Bullitt

Co., Ky. (U.S. Rts. 150 and 31E) ; September 19, 1958. Gravel-

rock bottom, sand and silt; water fairly clear; bivalves very

abundant, especially in backwater areas; pleurocerids rather rare.

1941. Salt River, 5 miles west of Taylorsville, Spencer Co., Ky.

(gravel road) ; September 19, 1958. Gravel-rock bar, shoals ex-

tending for several hundred feet on either side of bridge; water

somewhat murky, a few rapids; large bivalves very abundant

above rapids; pleurocerids common on rocks and mud at mar-

gins, Campeloma very abundant in sandy mud.

MOLLUSKS OF THE SaLT RiVER SYSTEM

Viviparidae

Campeloma ponderosa (Say)

Lioplax sulculosa (Menke)

Pleuroceridae

Pleurocera acutum Raf.

P. canaliculatum (Say)

Goniobasis semicarinata (Say)

Lithasia obovata (Say)

Physidae

Physa integra Haldeman

Lymnaeidae

Lymnaea humilis Say

L. columella Say

Unionidae

Fusconaia flava (Raf.)

Crenodonta gigantea (Barnes)

C. costata (Raf.)

X X X X X

X X X

X X X X

X X

X X X X X X X X X

X

: X X X

X

X X X

XXX X X

62 NAUTILUS

Quadrula pustulosa (Lea)

Q. quadrula (Raf.) x x

Tritogonia verrucosa (Raf.) x

Elliptio dilatatus (Raf.) x

Lasmigona costata (Raf.) x

L. complanata (Barnes) x x

Anodonta grandis Say x x

Alasmidonta calceolus (Lea) x

Strophitus rugosus (Swainson)

Ptychohranchus fasciolaris x

(Raf.)

Ohliquaria reflexa Raf.

Actinonaias carinata (Barnes) x x

Leptodea fragilis (Raf.) x x x

Proptera alata (Say) x

Carunculina parva (Barnes)

Villosa lienosa (Conrad)

Lampsilis anodontoides (Lea) x x

L. radiata siliquoidea (Barnes) ^ x

L. ovata ventricosa (Barnes) x x x

Truncilla donaciformis (Lea)

T. truncata Raf.

Dysnomia triquetra (Raf.)

Sphaeriidae

Sphaerium striatinum

(Lamarck) x x

Literature cited

Clarke, A. H., Jr. 1958. Distribution and apparent introgression

of the Unionidae in central New York. The American Malac.

Un., Annual Rpts. for 1957, Bull. 24: 15-16.

Clench, W. J., and Henry van der Schalie. 1944. Notes on Naiades

from the Green, Salt, and Tradewater Rivers in Kentucky.

Papers Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts, and Letters, 29: 223-229.

Goodrich, Calvin. 1939. Pleuroceridae of the St. Lawrence River

basin. Occ. Papers Mus. ZooL, Univ. of Mich., No. 404: 1-4.

1940. The Pleuroceridae of the Ohio River drainage system.

Occ. Papers Mus. ZooL, Univ. of Mich., No. 417: 1-21.

Heming, Francis. 1951. Report on the question whether, in order

to avoid confusion in nomenclature, it is desirable that the

plenary powers should be used by the International Com-

mission On Zoological Nomenclature to vary the type species

of the genus "Pleurocera" Rafinesque, 1818 (Class Gastro-

poda, Order Mesogastropoda) . Bull. Zool. Nomenclature,

2: 6-17.

3 Clarke (1958, pp. 15, 16) has shown that reproductive isolation is lack-

ing between L. radiata (Gmelin) and L. siliquoidea (Barnes) and that the

latter may be considered a subspecies of the former.

October, 1959 nautilus 63

Morrison, J. P. E. 1954. The relationships of Old and New World

melanians. Proc. U. S. National Mus., 103: 357-394.

Ortmann, A. E. 1926. The Naiades of the Green River drainage

in Kentucky. Ann. Carnegie Mus., 17: 167-188.

ON THE GREEN LAND MOLLUSK FROM NEW GUINEA

By J. B. HENRARD

Oegstgeest, The Netherlands

Some time ago, I received a letter from a fellow conchologist,

who called to my attention an article by Dr. Clench, in Breviora,

1957, no. 76. In this paper, a curious green land-shell was de-

scribed; it was said to be from New Guinea, but without exact

locality or collector. The species was received from Mr. Poling,

who bought it from a dealer, and presented it to the Museum of

Comparative Zoology, at Harvard University. My American

friend, w^ho knew that I had brought together a very large col-

lection of land-snails during the years I stayed in Dutch New

Guinea, suggested that this green snail probably would be repre-

sented in my cabinet. Indeed, since I had received a copy of the

publication from him and had read Dr. Clench's paper carefully,

I recognized the shell at once, and had it from several, widely

separated localities in northwest New Guinea. The shell was

considered by Dr. Clench as a member of the subfamily Chlori-

tinae, and a new subgenus Verdichloritis was created for it. The

photo in the article, enlarged 4 times, is rather bad. The name of

the species finally was given as Eustomopsis (Verdichloritis)

polingi Clench.

All the specimens in my collection agree so completely, in

dimensions and in all other characters, with the description of

Dr. Clench, that I do not hesitate to accept them as belonging

to his species. However, I have a different opinion in regard to

the correct genus to accept for this species, because all my

examples, which are adult or were taken alive, have a very

striking character. Just behind the reflexed peristome, the body

whorl has a very curious gibbous crest, which is separated from

the peristome by a shallow sulcus, that runs downwards to the

open umbilicus. This character does not occur in the genus

Chloritis, but is present in all species of the subgenus Cristigibba

Tapparone-Canefri, which was established for those species of

the genus Planispira that have such a gibbous crest. This sub-

64 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

genus was accepted as a section by Thiele, Handb., p. 681. This

character is absent from Chloritis, as may be seen by comparison

of Thiele's descriptions of the two genera. Shells with hairy

periostraca occur in both.

I wish to give here all the data on the 1949 discovery of this

species.

Mollusk collecting in the tropical regions is much more dif-

ficult than elsewhere, because the collector is hampered by the

very dense vegetation of the primeval forest. The presence of

snails often is indicated by dead and worn shells among rotten,

wet leaves at the bases of trees and shrubs. In somewhat more

open places, two species of Planospira are rather common. Both,

although variable in banding and in color of peristome, are

easily recognizable. These species are: Planispira tortilabia

(Lesson) and P. corniculum (Hombr. Sc Jacq.) . Both belong to

the subgenus Cristigibba also. I collected plenty of them; their

beautiful varieties are still insufficiently described. During my

holidays, I was a guest of some friends, who had a bivouac near

Klamesien, a locality situated on the western part of the large

peninsula called "De Vogelkop" (i.e.. Bird's Head) . At Klame-

sien, I could make many exploring trips in all directions; this

locality proved to be very rich; and a fine collection was brought

together. One day, under very dense vegetation, I found a dead

but perfect shell of a dull grayish color, but with the same gib-

bous crest as in other members of the Cristigibba group. It was

thus a species of the genus Planispira, but was quite unknown

to me, being smaller than the two species mentioned above.

Moreover this specimen was peculiar because, within the mouth

on the parietal area, there was a green spot. Further search

yielded more, similar specimens and also a much damaged one,

which was, however, provided with a green periostracum and

was still somewhat hairy. Fortunately this damaged shell had

the last part of the body whorl with a quite intact peristome,

and proved to be conspecific with the first examples, which were

totally denuded shells. This green species is arboreal, and de-

tection of living ones among the dense vegetation of nearly the

same color was very difficult. The locality was combed as thor-

oughly as possible but only two living specimens were obtained.

The greenest Planispira would be a suitable name for this unique

October, 1959 nautilus 65

species. Understandably, when other localities were visited, my

friends and I tried to locate this species, and we did find them,

but never in sufficient quantities. My friend J. Kanter handed

me two fine specimens, found by him near Klamaloe, and Mr.

H. C. Kavelaars, a very good shell-hunter, gave me a very fine

one found between the Klaga- and Klasafet River. All these are

from localities north of the Gulf of McClure. We were, however,

fortunate enough to detect this species also south of the Gulf,

when we had a beautiful and very profitable trip to the large

island of Salawati. Here we went further on the Waiboe River,

a long way, to our bivouac near Waileh in the northern part of

the island. There, on the so-called Waiboe Ridge, a calcareous

area, very fine mollusks could be procured, and once more we

obtained a few living specimens. Our conclusion was that this

species, which occurred in so widely separated localities, is not

actually very rare, but appears to be, because it is so difficult to

obtain. As a member of the genus Planispira, its name now be-

comes: P. (Cristigibha) polingi (Clench) .

In regard to the other green shells, mentioned in Dr. Clench's

paper, there are fundamental differences between this Planispira

and such genera as Liguus, Amphidromus, and all the other

shells mentioned by him. In all those shells, the coloring matter

is situated in the calcareous layer of the whorls, while in this

green Planispira only the periostracum and its hairs are green.

To the species, in which totally green whorls occur, I may add

the very beautiful Amphidromus ventrosulus Moellendorff,

which, according to Fischer and Dautzenberg, is a subspecies of

A. smithi Fulton. In this shell, the aperture also is green-colored.

STUDIES ON MOLLUSK POPULATIONS: 4

By R. STOHLER

Department of Zoology, University of California, Berkeley 4.

T. S. Oldroyd (1918) described a new variety of Olivella hi-

plicata (Sowerby) and named it angelena. It was distinguished

from the typical species as "being more delicate and slender."

He also states: "Sowerby 's type came from Monterey and does

not occur near San Pedro living, but is found fossil there in the

Pliocene and lower Pleistocene. Variety angelena is found fossil

in both the upper and lower San Pedro beds of the Pleistocene."

66 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

From the text of the note the reader is led to assume that

O. b. angelena is based on a fossil shell, but the holotype in the

Oldroyd collection at Stanford University is a fresh shell from

Los Angeles.

In 1921 the same author described two additional varieties

of Olivella bipUcata. The first of these two varieties he named

fucana and stated that it was broader across the middle and

lower part of the aperture than var. angelena. In addition to the

type locality "Straits of Fuca, near Cape Flattery" where the

variety was collected alive he also lists the Pliocene at San

Pedro. The second variety, named parva, had been collected at

Point Abreojos in Lower California by Henry Hemphill and was

described as being "nearest angelena, but much smaller, a little

broader in proportion; . . .; found in the upper Pleistocene at

San Pedro." With the descriptions of these two new varieties,

Oldroyd figured presumably the type specimens of all three

varieties as well as of a shell he called "typical" (obviously

meaning a typical O. biplicata).

Mrs. Oldroyd (1927) reprinted the descriptions almost ver-

batim, except that the first variety was then called angelina, that

in the description the type locality was given as Los Angeles

County (not included in the original description) and that

nothing was said about the fact that T. S. Oldroyd (I.e.) made

no reference whatever to a living specimen. Furthermore, the

range of the variety was given as from San Pedro to San Diego.

On her plate 26, Mrs. Oldroyd illustrated the varieties; how-

ever, the figures evoke the impression that they have been badly

retouched and close inspection indicates the possibility that the

photographs of the shells were cut out and pasted up for

reproduction.

Through the generous cooperation of Dr. A. Myra Keen, for

which I wish to express my gratitude, I was permitted to measure

the holotype of each variety in the Oldroyd collection at Stan-

ford University; at the same time all other designated specimens

in the type lots of the same collection were measured. To insure

greater accuracy, all specimens were measured again after ap-

proximately one year had elapsed. The results are given in

Table 1.

D. S. and E. W. Gifford (1944) gave a number of measure-

1

I

October, 1959 nautilus 67

merits, made on a large series of shells collected in various

localities. They used the length-width index as an indicator of

the relative obesity of shells. This index is obtained by dividing

the width of the shell by its length and multiplying the result

with 100. The Giffords showed that the populations they studied

fully overlapped, as far as the indices were concerned, all Old-

royd's varieties, although for the indices of the latter they limited

their calculations to the measurements of the type figures in

the Nautilus (1921) and the measurements of the shells as

recorded by Mr. Oldroyd.

The problem of relative obesity and absolute shell sizes at-

tracted my attention. Olivella biplicata, being a rather common

shell and easily collected throughout the year, at least in certain

localities, seemed to be an especially favorable object for a more

generalized study. A number of observations concerning the

natural history of this species were made in the course of this

particular inquiry and some of them, which may have a bearing

on some of the aspects involved in the questions revolving

around the validity of Oldroyd's varieties, will be included in

this report.

To insure accuracy as well as speed in measuring the shells

(a total of over 6200 was involved) a modified sliding caliper

was used to construct an imaginary rectangle around the shell.

Figure 1 illustrates the manner in which the width of the shell

was measured and Figure 2 shows the measuring of the length

of the shell. The dial allows direct reading of tenths of milli-

meters, while the bar shows the centimeters. By adding the cross

bar, accurately ground to form a snug gliding fit for the legs of

the caliper, truly comparable measurements on all shells could

be made with ease. The two ends of the canal of the shell were

used to form a firm base, as shown in the figures; the width was

obtained in all cases by gently rotating the shell between the

legs of the caliper until the greatest width was found. That the

method was reliable is borne out by the fact that no differences

were obtained in the measurements of the same shells in the

Stanford collection made over a year apart.

Table 2 gives the results obtained from 7 lots, collected in

California from Drakes Estero, Marine County (appr. 38° N)

to La Jolla, San Diego County (appr. 33° N). The accompanying

68

NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 (2)

i"4l"'i"T'

lOiO IliO I2|0

Figue 1: Sliding calipers, modified. The base of the canal of the shell is

gently rotated until the largest diameter is ascertained; the dial reads in

tenths of millimeters.

Figure 2: Sliding calipers, modified. To ascertain the greatest height of the

shell, the base of the canal is set firmly upon the moving leg of the instrument

and moved until the apex just touches the stationary leg.

October, 1959

NAUTILUS

69

PP ^^Y'T-^-''" ^

Figure 3: Outline map of California showing the six localities in which

Olivella biplicata (Sowerby) were collected for this study. DE = Drakes

Estero; DR = Duxbury Reef; PP = Pillar Point; MH z:^ Monterey Harbor;

GP — Government Point; LJ = La Jolla.

map (Fig. 3) shows the 6 localities at which the collections were

made. In Table 3, the figures obtained from 11 separate groups

collected in one locality at more or less regular intervals are

reproduced. Additional lots have been collected, measured and

their indices computed for the Duxbury Reef area (near Bolinas,

Marin County, California) but the figures are not included here

as it was considered unnecessary to add more of the same results.

In actuality, the study at Duxbury Reef covered collections over

a period of 18 months with semi-monthly visits, meteorological

conditions permitting; the total included 4258 individuals, and

70

NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 (2)

Table 1: "Varieties" of Olivella hiplicata (Sowerby)

in the Oldroyd Collection at Stanford University.

among them 49 mating pairs (M. P.) .

In all three tables the same terms are used. Measurements are

in units of one-tenth millimeters; thus the holotype of O. bipli-

cata angelena Oldroyd measures 278 units or 27.8 mm. in length

and 137^ units or 13.75 mm. in greatest width. From each lot,

after all measurements were completed, the figures for the largest

(i.e., longest) and smallest (i.e., shortest) specimen were se-

lected; in the same manner the slenderest or least wide and the

most obese or widest specimen was singled out. Finally the

purely arithmetical averages were computed. The information in

October, 1959

NAUTILUS

71

II

CO 00 <30

(N 1-1 ^

CO CO

>^

00

"^ t^ ^

O t> 2^

^ t^ <30

O Tt^ Co

ut) GO ^

C3

O

E

O

I

O

.2

o

a

I

CO O (SO

(N 1-H ^

00 CO

GO

CO t^ Q<i

^ o •

(N T-i O

<:o

iO Oi ?^

CO CO ^-

o ^ "^o

lO 00 »^

O TtH o

(M r-H ^

00 lO^

<:o

CO 05 e^

1— I T— ( Oo

<:o

(N o <^

Oi Ci ^^

(M '^ Oi

05 r-H lis

'^ CO ^^

t^ CO •

(M 1-H o:)

CO(N(^

(M CO Oi

(N i-H Q)

2^00

<:o

t^ CO <so

t- CO 00

CO t^ Oi

■^ 00 iJ^

o ^ o

o t-

CO 1-H ?^

lO Ir^ 00

o o •

O Tt^ ^

CO CO •

C5 00 >-i

CO o •

(M ^ QO

(M T-H >-H

O 05 00

CO 'TiH Oi

(N CO ^

iCjnqxRQ

00

(N lO 00

1—1 CO

CO i-H <^

00 CO Oi

CO <M •

(M ^ ir:5

CO i-H 00

CO lO ■

(M T^ "-^

<:o

t^ CO <:o

1— I o <^

05 CO <to

1-1 (M i^

(M i-H

59

-^ o 00

^ rt^ •

(M 1-1 2^

coio "^

-^ (N ^

T:t^ CO Oi

O O •

(M 1-H -^

lO <N Oi

00 (M •

,-1 rH lo

(M O ^

CO <N Oi

C^ CO 00

05 1— I ^

o

02

o

O

a

the tables is considered sufficient for the present study.

Of the three Oldroyd varieties, as will be recalled, angelena

was supposed to be slenderer and fucana broader or more obese

than "typical" Olivella biplicata. For reasons to be discussed

below, these two varieties will not be compared here with "typi-

cal" shells. Table 1 shows, by the obesity index, that O. h. fucana

is, indeed, more obese than O. b. angelena, at least if only the

holotype is considered. As may be noted, however, the "slender"

variety includes at least one specimen that is more obese than

the most obese of the so-called obese variety; furthermore, as

appears from the averages, the "slender" variety is actually more

72 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

obese than the "obese" variety. This alone should be sufficient

to show the invalidity of the criterion used by Oldroyd to dis-

tinguish the two varieties.

In regard to O. biplicata parva Oldroyd, as may be pointed out,

we have, in a fairly good sample, a shell of a small average; as I

have been unable to obtain large, unselected population samples

from Punta Abreojos I am not prepared to make, at this time,

any positive statements. However, I believe that the table gives

some clues, when taken together with the information contained

in the other two tables, as to the nature of this particular lot

(see the discussion further below) .

A careful comparison of the various figures in Table 2 shows

that, from sample to sample, there is but little variation in the

data, a fact which should not be surprising, although it might

be expected that in the extremes of the distributional range of

a species having such a large geographical range, differences

might be observed. This still might hold true for O. biplicata

if significant population samples from the true extremes of the

range were available; Table 2, however, includes only a somewhat

southern quarter of the entire range, it being the area from 33°

to 38° north latitude, while, according to Keen (1937) the

species may be found from 25° to 49° N.

(To be continued)

THE CHARLES M. WHEATLEY COLLECTIONS

By RICHARD I. JOHNSON

Charles Moore Wheatley was born in 1822, and in 1842, at

the age of 20, he published privately a "Catalogue of the shells

of the United States, with their localities." A second edition

appeared in 1845. His only other paper on conchology was pub-

lished in 1865 in the American Journal of Conchology 1, pp.

65-67: "Revision of M. Petit's Catalogue of the Genus Mono-

condylaea." He was an engineer by profession, also interested in

geology, and made some important fossil discoveries in Penn-

sylvania. Wheatley died on May 6, 1882.

In his article of 1862 on "The history of conchology in the

United States," G. W. Tryon mentions that Wheatley 's collec-

tion had become the property of Union College, Schenectady,

New York. By this date, Isaac Lea had described 19 species which

he mentioned as being "In the cabinet of C. M. Wheatley." This

October, 1959 nautilus 73

collection after suffering from neglect was transferred from

Union College to the Schenectady Museum Association during

the 1930's where it remained until 1959, essentially, in the con-

dition in which it was packed for transfer. The author was in-

vited by the director, Mr. Donald S. Smith, to remove to the

Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts,

any specimens that were, in his opinion, of scientific interest.

In this effort, Mr. Smith and Mr. Russell Carter, science curator,

offered every assistance and courtesy.

Apparently about 1860, Wheatley decided to specialize in

freshwater shells. This is attested to by his advertisements for

exchanges in the American Journal of Conchology. He there-

fore left only a token series of freshwater lots in this collection.

Of the species specifically mentioned by Lea as being in the

collection, only Anodonta schroteriana and Unio micans were

found.

In a published, though undated, sales catalogue issued, pre-

sumably, after Wheatley's death, a John A. Tydner of Philadel-

phia offered the freshwater collection for sale. He divided the

collection into two similar series which were offered for sale at

$2000 and $1750. From the information supplied by Dr. R. T.

Abbott, apparently both of these collections are now in the

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. One is on "perma-

nent deposit" from the University of Pennsylvania and the other

was formerly the property of E. D. Cope.

Now in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology

are some of the lots mentioned in the "Catalogue" of 1842,

though not many. There are 30 lots of Jamaican land snails from

C. B. Adams. (The main C. B. Adams collection is in the

Museum of Comparative Zoology) . Included are 62 type lots

from the collection of Hugh Cuming of species presumably sel-

ected by him and described by Pfeiffer, Broderip, Sowerby, Jonas,

Beck, and Reeve. Most of these species are Philippine land snails.

(For a discussion of the Cuming types see: Clench, W. J., 1945,

"Some Notes on the Life and Explorations of Hugh Cuming,"

Occ. Pap. Moll., Harvard Univ. 1, no. 3.)

From Bishop S. Elliott are 3 species of Unionidae described

by Isaac Lea and 2 species of Cuban land shells from Elliott

described by Poey. There are 6 more unionid types described by

Lea, 3 from W. A. Haines and 3 from other sources. Already

mentioned are the 2 type lots of the species from Wheatley

74 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

which Lea described. Finally, there are 3 type lots of land shells

described by A. A. Gould.

In all, the first Wheatley collection contained 108 type lots

in addition to which are almost 300 other lots with sufficient

data or historic interest to be worthy of retention.

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

AMERICAN MALACOLOGICAL UNION

The AMU. returned to its birthplace for this silver anniver-

sary meeting, for the Academy of Natural Sciences was where

the organization meeting was held in 1931. (Annual meetings

were suspended during World War II) . Of those present at the

first meeting, the following were on hand when, on Tuesday,

June 30, 1959, the twenty-fifth annual meeting was called to

order: H. B. Baker, Joshua L. Baily, Jr., William J. Clench,

Harald A. Rehder and Fred Tobleman.

The scene was Haverford College on the western outskirts of

Philadelphia, and there the members of the Philadelphia Shell

Club vied with one another to make comfortable the largest

assemblage in AMU. history. When the meeting was over, 133

had signed the register, and agreement was unanimous that it

had been an enjoyable and instructive four days.

Split sessions were held for the first time in AMU. meetings,

and in two halls President R. Tucker Abbott and Vice-president

Katherine Van Winkle Palmer presided as dual audiences heard

the following papers and talks:

"In search of Neopilina." Arthur H. Clarke, Jr.; "Sanibel

Island shell fair," Lulu B. Siekman; "Origin of the Land and

Fresh-water mollusks of the Bahamas," William J. Clench;

"Small beginnings," Adlai B. Wheel, Sr.; "Classification in the

Olividae," John Q. Burch; "Early Philadelphia conchologists,"

John D. Parker; "The strange phenomenon of autotomy in

Tremoctopus/' Richard W. Foster; "Mechanics of a shell club,"

Robert J. Wagner; "Some conchological miscellanies," Joshua

L. Baily, Jr.; "Expedition to the Philippines," John du Pont;

"Some techniques for anatomical work," Ruth D. Turner; "Shell

collecting around the world," Joseph J. Kuchar; "Marine

zoogeography, with special reference to the South Pacific area,"

Harald A. Rehder; "Our experiences photographing mollusks,"

Mrs. Theophil Kuczynski; "The egg mass and gross embryology

October, 1959 nautilus 75

of Pleurocera canalicidatum," Joseph Rosewater; "Mollusks, a

sound color movie"; "Unearthing Gould's types," Richard I.

Johnson; "Observations on Murex stainforthi and M. monodon,"

Virginia Orr; "Chromosomes of Pomatiopsis and Oncomelania,"

John B. Burch; "Quantitative sampling of aquatic mollusks,"

Charles B. Wurtz; "The Coosa revisited," Paul F. Basch; "The

Mollusca of Bernard Palissy, 1580," Aurele LaRocque; "Xan-

thonychidae (Pulmonata)," H. Burrington Baker; "Subspeciation

in Triodopsis," Joseph Vagvolgyi; "The mollusk fauna of Ba-

hamian mangroves," Robert Robertson; "Collecting at Broome,

Western Australia," Virginia Orr.

At a brief business meeting on Thursday morning, the fol-

lowing were elected officers for 1959-60:

President, Katherine Van Winkle Palmer; Vice-president,

Thomas E. Pulley; 2nd Vice-president, Chairman-incumbent,

AMU.-Pacific Division; Secretary-treasurer, Margaret C. Teskey;

Publications Editor, George M. Moore; Councillors-at-Large,

Alger P. Blaine, John E. Fitch, Richard Foster, Alan Solem.

It was announced that the council had accepted the invitation of

McGill University Museum to hold the 1960 meeting in Mon-

treal, Canada, in mid-August, and that the names of Dr. Julia

Gardner and Dr. Ralph Arnold had been added to the list of

Honorary Life Members, and that Dr. Paul Bartsch had been

elevated to Honorary Life President.

Other features of the meeting were the informal amateur sym-

posium of Tuesday evening, a showing of slides and movies of

former meetings following dinner on Wednesday, and an espe-

cially enjoyable social session which occupied all of Thursday

afternoon and evening.

Starting with a bus ride to the Academy of Natural Sciences

where exceptional exhibits of shells, shell products and books

arranged by members of the Philadelphia Shell Club awaited

inspection, guests were given a guided tour of the Department

of Mollusks, treated to a delightful tea by Mrs. Ruth Ostheimer

and Miss Anne Harbison, later were entertained by General

Frank and Dr. Jeanne Schwengel at the cocktail hour which

brought memories of many other such occasions to those who

have enjoyed the hospitality of the Schwengels in the past.

The annual dinner at 8:00 was held in the ANSP. auditorium

and made memorable by excellent steak, an inspirational talk

by Dr. Kenneth W. Prescott, Managing Director of the Museum,

76 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

and by individual place favors of pearl-bearing oysters (real

oysters, real pearls!) each tidily preserved in its own take-

home jar.

Following breakfast on Friday morning two chartered buses

transported those making the field trip to Cape May, New Jersey,

where a tour of the Snow clam canning factory, picnic lunch on

the Point, an afternoon devoted to collecting land and marine

shells and finally the long ride back to Haverford rang down

the curtain on the twenty-fifth annual meeting. — Margaret C.

Teskey.

NOTES AND NEWS

Zachrysia auricoma (Ferussac) in Miami, Florida. — Recently

Dr. H. A. Denmark, entomologist of the State Plant Board of

Florida, sent a series of land and freshwater mollusks from

Florida for routine determination. In this sending, there were

two species of Zachrysia: Z. provisoria (Pfr.) and Z. auricoma

(Ferussac). The record of Z. provisoria from Miami was reported

upon by Clarke (Naut. 70: 142, 1957) . So far as I can determine,

this is the first record of Z. auricoma outside of Cuba. A sub-

species, Z. a. havanensis Pilsbry, has been reported from Quinta,

Merida, Yucatan and the city of Panama, Panama, by Bequaert

and Clench (Publ. no. 457, Carnegie Inst, of Washington, p. 64,

1936).— W. J. Clench.

Green shells. — On an earlier page, J. B. Henrard states that

the calcareous layer in Liguus shells is green. In those before me,

it actually is whitish, but is so thin and translucent that the

green in the periostracum shows through and often is visible

from inside the aperture. — H. B. B.

iNTERTmAL STRANDING of CUoTie Umaciua in Massachusetts. —

On May 5, 1959, 29 living individuals of the gymnosomatous

pteropod, Clione limacina (Phipps, 1774), were collected from

pools in sand and mud and from Zostera beds where they were

stranded by the receding tide on the Lynn Harbor side of Little

Nahant, Essex Co., Massachusetts. To my knowledge, a published

record of this species occurring inshore on this coast has been

made only once in the past 91 years. Wood (1869, Proc. Port-

land Soc. Nat. Hist., 1, Pt. 2: 185-188) noted its presence in

October, 1959 nautilus 77

numbers in Portland Harbor from April 6 to May 7, 1868.

Previous to this DeKay (1843, Zool. of N. Y., Pt. 5, Mollusca,

p. 6) reported it from New York bays in April, 1883. Dr. J. H.

Welsh, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, stated (per-

sonal communication) that he has collected this species at

Nahant on at least two occasions between 1938 and 1945, but

has not seen it again until this year. Possibly the species does

occur inshore more often than is generally supposed. However,

undoubtedly notice would have been made of these animals if

this occurrence were frequent because of the easily visible bright

red coloration of the organs which are outstanding in their deli-

cately opaque bodies. Probably onshore winds, ocean currents,

and spring tides during April and May have much to do with the

sporadic appearance of this pelagic species.

The usual habitat of Clione limacina is in surface waters of

the open ocean in boreal portions of the Atlantic and subarctic

Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the western Atlantic, it is found

as far south as the latitude of Cape Hatteras (see J. J. Tesch,

1950, Dana-Report No. 36; also, references have been made to

Clione limacina on the English coast by J. E. Morton, 1958,

J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K., 37: 287-297 and M. V. Lebour, 1931,

ibid., 17: 785-795) . The only other report of the inshore occur-

rence of a gymnosomatous pteropod species in New England is

that of Danforth (1907, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 34: (1): 1-19)

who described Paedoclione doliiformis which appeared in Casco

Bay, Maine, during August and September, 1902. — ^Joseph

RosEWATER, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Uni-

versity, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Melongena egg cases. — Captive animals of Melongena corona

(Cf. Naut. 7i: 11-13) produced egg cases again, beginning on

June 23, 1959, when 9 cases, one with 112 eggs, were placed on

the side of the aquarium. — Ruth D. Turner.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

New land Mollusca from the Admiralty and Bismarck Isl-

ands. By William J. Clench. Amer. Mus. Novit, no. 1863: 6 pp.,

7 figs. 1957. — Pseudocyclotus coultasi, P. incendium, Dendro-

trochus coultasi, Nesonanina unidentata and Sulcobasis (Goldie-

lix) fasciata (from Manus I.) are proposed as new. — H. B. B.

78 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (2)

The land and freshwater Mollusca. By William J. Clench.

From "The Nat. Hist, of Rennell I., British Solomon Is." vol.

2:155-202, 3 figs., pis. 16-19. l9bS.—Palaeohelicina (s.s.) mayri,

Taheitia whitneyi, Setaepoma mayri, Nesopoma, genus of Assim-

ineidae with N. eyerdami (type) & N. galathea, Omphalotropis

nebulosa guppyi, O. quirosi, Charopa hoeyeri, C. insularis,

Quirosella, genus of "Ariophantidae," with Q. coultasi (type) ,

Q. wolffi %z Q. knudensi, Trochomorpha mcleani, Crystallopsis

{s.s.) crystallina, subgenus Cristovala (type Helix tricolor Pfr.) ,

with C. (C.) rennellensis, (vague genitalia) Eustomopsis hellon-

ensis, and E. renschi are new. The radular figs, of Quirosella

(like Nesonanina) apparently confuse the cusps on the laterals

with their basal thickenings. — H. B. B.

SoBRE "Turbonilla (Pyrgiscus) dispar" Pilsbry, 1897 (Gas-

tropoda, Pyramidellidae) . By H. de Souza Lopes. Sobre un novo

gastropodo brasileiro do genero "Solariella" Wood, 1842 (Tro-

chidae) . By Lopes & Paulo de Sa Cardoso. Rev. Brasil. Biol.

18(1) :17-21, 11 figs., and 59-64, 3 figs. \9b%.—Solariella carvalhoi

is new, from 57 meters depth, S. Paulo. — H. B. B.

Note sur Drepanotrema anatinum et Taphius peregrinus

(Pulmonata, Planorbidae) . By W. Lobato Paraense 8c Newton

Deslandes. J. de Conch. 775:152-162, 22 figs. 1958.— As usual with

the authors, the genitalia, radulae and shells are figured ex-

quisitely.— H. B. B.

System and phylogeny of Planorbidae (Gastropoda Pul-

monata) . By Ja. L Starabogatov. Bull. Moskov. O-va. Isp. Prirod.

(Soc. Investigators of Nature), Biol. 63 (6): 37-53, 4 figs. ^ phylo-

genetic scheme. 1958. — In the family Planorbidae are included

the typical subfamily (tribes sens. str. & Segmentinini) , Planor-

bulinae and Biomphalariinae (tribes s. s. ^ Acrorbini, new) . In

Camptoceratidae (^ Bulinidae) are recognized Camptocera-

tinae (= Coretinae -\- Helisomatinae) , Plesiophysinae, Bulin-

inae and Physastrinae, new (^ Miratestinae) . Figured ovotestes,

prostates and jaws are used for the separation of the major

divisions. — H. B. B.

About anatomy and systematics of subgenus Carinogyraulus

(Gastropoda, Planorbidae) . By Ja. I. Starabogatov. Nauchn.

Dokl. Byssh. Shkol. (Sci. Rept. of Superior School), Biol. no.

4:16-20, 4 figs. 1958. — In this subgenus of Anisus, genitalia,

radulae, jaws and pallial complexes of "Gyraulus" (C.) trape-

October, 1959 nautilus iii

zoidesrohustonudus, G. (C.) paradoxus 2ind G. (C.) lychnidicus

are described and figured. — H. B. B.

Materialen zur Kenntnis der Zonitiden (Gastropoda) des

Kaukasus und der Krim. By Adolf Riedel. Ann. Zool. Polska

Akad. Nauk 77(11) :383-427, pis. 29-30, 1 map, 14 textfigs. 1958.

— The morphology and distribution of one Crimean and 4 Cau-

casus species of OxycJiilus are studied carefully. These are dis-

tributed in subgenera Schistophallus, Cellariopsis, Morlina and

(new) Longiphalhis, type Helix filicum Krynicki. — H. B. B.

On the molluscan adhesive epithelium. By Bengt Huben-

dick. Arkiv for Zool. 0 (7118) :001-006, 1 fig., pis. 1-3. 1957.— In

Ancylus lacustris, the cells at the retractor attachments have

microvilli, which apparently fit into minute shell depressions. —

H. B. B.

The development of the penial stylet in Gyraulus (Moll.

Pulm.). By Bengt Hubendick. Arkiv for Zool. 11 (24):427-429, 4

figs. 1958. — All the stylet is secreted by surrounding epithelia,

and later protrudes. — H. B. B.

A NOTE on Protancylus p. & F. Sarasin. By Bengt Hubendick.

Beaufortia d (78) : 243-250, 9 figs, 1958.— Additional anatomic

data indicate that this genus belongs in the Planorbidae. —

H. B. B.

A NOTE ON THE TAXONOMY OF THE BRAZILIAN VECTOR SNAILS of

"Schistosoma mansoni." By Bengt Hubendick. Rev. Brasil. Biol.

7(9(1) :37-40. 1958.— Prefers Biomphalaria to Taphius. Again,

why not Planorbina? Or Australorbis, which is in most general

use?— H. B.B.

Studies of the genus Gundlachia (Pulmonata, Ancylidae) .

By Paul F. Basch. Occas. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. no. 602,

9 pp., 2 figs. 1959. — The status of the genus (sensu lato) remains

uncertain, but the radula of G. (Kincaidilla) meekiana is unlike

that of the typical group. It is like that of Laevapex, 1903, which

unfortunately was made prior to Ferrissia, 1903, by Hannibal,

1912.— H. B. B.

Preliminary study of newly hatched oyster drills, Urosal-

pinx cinerea (Say) . By Melbourne Romaine Carriker. J. Elisha

Mitchell Sci. Soc. 75 (2):328-351, 10 figs. 1957.— Reactions of

baby drills to water currents, light, gravity, substrata, evapora-

tion, and emanations from young hard clams were tested in the

laboratory. They were voracious and very active. — H. B. B.

x^^^C'^rx

WILLIAM H. WEEKS SHELL COLLECTION: Now being of-

fered for sale. To receive free lists, send name and address to:

George E. Jacobs, 853 Riverside Drive, N. Y. 32, N. Y.

A CHECK LIST OF THE MARINE SHELLS OF ST. CROIX,

U. S. Virgin Islands, with random annotations. Up to date.

Lists 650 species plus 60 subspecies, including 20 new. With

70 illustrations. The "random notes" contain much new infor-

mation. Price: $4.10, post free.

G. UsTiCKE, 1 North Street, Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Is.

How TO COLLECT SHELLS: Published by the American Malacological Union.

$1.00. Write:

Margaret C. Teskey, Sect., Route 2, Box 318, Marinette, Wis.

Directory of conchologists. — The 1960 edition will be published the first of

that year. Price will be $2.50, postpaid. For inclusion, write:

John Q. Burch, 4206 Halldale Ave., Los Angeles 62, Calif.

THE NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 JANUARY, 1960 No. 3

CARIBBEAN SPECIES OF TRUNCATELLA

Bv ALFREDO DE LA TORRE

Guggenheim Fellow, Division of Mollusks

U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C.

Pfeiffer (1839:356) in the report about his trip to Cuba,

describes the species Truncatella pulchella as follows: "Testa

imperforata ovato-cylindrica, gracili, pellucide fulva; anfract. 4

minutissime striatis, ad suturam subcrenulatis, ultimo semis-

triato; peristomate crasso, albido; apertura subelliptica. Long.

2, diam. 14'". Operculum tenue corneum."

In studying this description, I conclude that this is a species of

about 4.36 mm. length (= 2 German lines) , with rather obso-

lete axial sculpture, and a thick peristome.

One year later (1840:253), in the continuation of the report,

the same author describes T. bilabiata as follows: "Testa cylin-

dracea solidula, niti ce carnea, longitudinaliter confertim cos-

tulata; anfract. 4i/2 convexis; sutura profunda; apertura obliqua

ovali peristomate incrassato, duplicato. Long. 2i/2 diam., 34 lin."

This species is, according to the description, a little larger

than pulchella, being of 2i/2 German lines length (= 5.45 mm.) ,

and having closely spaced longitudinal ribs.

Clench and Turner (1948:151) write the following about

this species: "Our thanks are due to Dr. C. G. Aguayo for the

gift of several lots of Truncatella from Cuba and for the loan

of a type series of T. pulchella Pfeiffer, a series collected origi-

nally by Gundlach." In the same publication (pp. 156-158) these

authors describe what they consider to be pulchella Pfr., based

on a lectotype (Museo Poey 181, from Cardenas, Cuba) selected

by them, and mention also other specimens considered by them

to be paratypes, from the same locality, saying that: "Additional

types are probably in the Museum of Stettin, Germany." (Loc.

cit. p. 157).

In the same publication (p. 157) they stated that "T. pul-

chella is readily separated from T. bilabiata by being larger and

having a simple lip," giving for their T. pulchella a length of

79

80 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

5.5 mm. (small specimens) to 7.3 mm. (large specimens) . These

dimensions do not agree with the original description by

Pfeiffer of pulchella. This species is, according to Pfeiffer some-

what smaller than bilabiata and much smaller than the species

supposed to be pulchella by Clench and Turner. On the other

hand, the T. pulchella of Clench and Turner (not of Pfeiffer)

is in perfect agreement in the characters, dimensions and figures,

with T. caribaeensis "Sowerby" Reeve (1842:94, pi. 182, f. 2).

The last name is, as far as I know, the earliest one available

for this larger species of Truncatella of the Caribbean region.

At the same time, I have proved to my satisfaction that T.

succinea C. B. Adams (1845:12), described from Jamaica, is

absolutely identical with T. caribaeensis "Sowerby" Reeve, which

as the earlier name has priority. Dr. Morrison, who helped me

in the preparation of this publication, agrees with me in these

opinions.

As stated above, I have arrived at the following conclusions:

(1) T. bilabiata Pfr. is only the strongly ribbed form of the

previously published species T. pulchella Pfr. (2) The species

called T. pulchella, by Clench and Turner in 1948 is not pul-

chella Pfr., and must be known as T. caribaeensis "Sowerby"

Reeve, which is apparently the earliest name available for that

species. It is larger than pulchella Pfr., with the outer lip of the

peristome simple, and the lip usually thin.

In agreement with the foregoing, I have been able to examine

numerous lots of Truncatella from Cuba and other Caribbean

regions which prove that T. pulchella Pfr. (non Clench and

Turner) is very variable, going from a smoothish form with

the duplex condition of the outer lip and peristome in a very

reduced or obsolete condition, to a form presenting strong

axial ribs and with the duplex condition of the outer lip very

prominent. This last form is what properly may be called

T. pulchella, form bilabiata Pfr.

The typical T. caribaeensis "Sowerby" Reeve has well marked

axial riblets and so is identical with T. succinea C. B. Adams; the

smoothish form of this species was improperly called T. sub-

cylindrica Gray, by Pfeiffer, in his writings. The true species

T. subcylindrica (Linne) (= laevigata Risso) is a European

species.

January, 1960 nautilus 81

Going back to the problem of T. pulchella Pfr., I must point

out that Clench and Turner (loc. cit. p. 151) are in error in

considering a series of T. pulchella, from Cardenas, Matanzas

Province, Cuba, collected by Gundlach (from which these

authors have selected a lectotype) as typical. As I have stated

in previous paragraphs, I do not agree with them in consider-

ing this a type series of the species. At the same time I also

suspect that this locality can not be considered the type locality

(see A. Torre, 1952:19, also pp. 9 and 10) . As I stated in 1952,

Pfeiffer, during his trip to Cuba in 1839, visited only a few

localities in the neighborhood of Havana and Matanzas and

remained in Cuba only three months. So, the "neighborhood

of the city of Matanzas" was probably the locality from which

he collected the type specimens of T. pulchella; not from

Cardenas. It was only in 1841, two years after the publication

of the original description of pulchella Pfr., that "Gundlach

moved from Tl Fundador de Canimar,' Matanzas, to the Tinea

San Juan,' in Cardenas, extending in this way his area of explora-

tions" (A. Torre 1952:10).

The year 1856 (loc. cit. p. 193) is when Pfeiffer gave the

localities in Cuba, for T. pulchella as "prope Matanzas et

Cardenas;" evidently collected by Gundlach at the last locality

on a date posterior to the original publication of the species.

Again, in 1857 (pp. 118-119) Pfeiffer lists the species of Trunca-

tella of Cuba, giving under pulchella Pfr., the same localities

as above; "Cardenas and Matanzas, in the same living conditions

as subcylindrica."

My only conclusion is that the selection of a lectotype by

Clench and Turner for this species is inappropriate because the

lot from which it was selected is not a series of pulchella com-

ing from the original material collected by Pfeiffer and Gundlach

in 1839. What is more important, it is not even a specimen of

the species pulchella Pfr., but represents caribaeensis "Sowerby"

Reeve, which is a different and larger species.

At the same time and in accordance with the foregoing state-

ments, I am here restricting the type locality of T. pulchella Pfr.

to the "vicinity of the city of Matanzas" and am considering

the selection of a lectotype by Clench and Turner as invalid.

It would be very interesting to know if there are typical speci-

82' NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

mens of this species in the Museum of Stettin, Germany, as

Clench and Turner suspect, and then to study them and get

more detailed information about the type locality.

In 1856 (pp. 175-196) and again in 1857 (pp. 118-119)

Pfeiffer listed the species of Truncatella of the Island of Cuba;

the data given in both publications are in agreement with my

conclusions. In the publication of 1857, the species listed for

Cuba are the following: T. carihaeensis (with succinea as a

synonym) ; T. subcylindrica (Gray) Pfr. [this is not, as I state

in another part of this paper, the species subcylindrica (Linne) ,

which is a European species, but only the smooth form of

carihaeensis Reeve] ; T. bilabiata ("collected under fallen leaves

of Coccoloba, at the mouth of Canimar River, Matanzas, Cuba,")

which is the type locality of this form (see A. Torre 1952:19) ;

T. scalar is Michaud (Pfeiffer himself gives his T. costata as a

synonym) , collected at Matanzas, Cuba. The other two species

listed as Truncatella (elongata and lirata Poey) , are now known

to be Geomelania and not Truncatella.

Pfeiffer, who was named "The Prince of Malacologists," was

evidently a brilliant student of the genus Truncatella and his

writings on this genus merit the most careful consideration.

I must cite also, in support of the conclusions herein adopted,

the work by Kiister (1855). In this publication, the figures and

references given by the author absolutely support what I have

stated in this paper. Also, W. G. Binney (1859:184-190) cor-

rectly described and figured T. pulchella Pfr., declaring on page

185 that "he had sent to Pfeiffer and Poey the Florida specimens

of Truncatella and these were identified by them."

Before concluding these notes, I wish to make reference to

the species T. barhadensis Pfr., listed by Clench and Turner

(loc. cit. p. 153) in the synonymy of T. bilabiata Pfr. This

species. Dr. Morrison has proved to me, is a good species, geo-

graphically limited to Barbados, W.I., and perhaps other lesser

Antillean Islands.

Also I wish to refer to T. scalaris scalaris Michaud, and T.

scalaris clathrus Lowe, which are distinguished from one another

by the number of axial ribs on the body whorl, there being

8 to 11 in the typical form and 12 to 16 in clathrus. Since this

character is variable and the two forms overlap on some of the

January, 1960 nautilus 83

West Indian Islands, probably they can be considered only as

simple forms of the same species, instead of as subspecies.

Genus Truncatella Risso.

Truncatella Risso, 1826, Hist. Nat. de I'Europe Merid. 4, p.

124.

Type species: T. laevigata Risso (^ Helix subcylindrica

Linne) SD., Gude 1921 (According to Clench and Turner,

1948) .

Subgenus Truncatella s. s.

Truncatella pulchella Pfeiffer.

T. pulchella Pfr., 1839, p. 356 (Cuba) . Kiister, 1855, pp. 10-12,

pi. 2, figs. 11-15. Pfr., 1856a, p. 192-193 (Cuba, near Matanzas

and Cardenas; Puerto Rico, Jamaica and St. Thomas [Gives

as dimensions 41/9 mm. length X 1^9 to 2 mm. width]. Binney,

1859, p. 189, pi. 75, fig. 10 (W.I. and Fla.) . Binney, 1865, p. 99.

T. bairdiana C. B. Ads., 1852, Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. N. York

5, p. 437 (p. 213 in separate) ([West] Panama). Clench and

Turner, 1948a, p. 153, pi. 66, fig. 7 [Occurrence in West Panama

due to accidental transport from east Coast?].

T. capillacea "Gundlach" Pfr., 1859, p. 77 (Caimanera,

Guantanamo, Cuba). Clench and Turner 1948a, pi. 66, fig. 6

(Same locality) .

T. bilabiata Pilsbry, 1948 p. 1069, fig. 571b (in part) . Clench

and Turner, 1948a, p. 153 (in part).

Type locality: "Vicinity of Matanzas City, Matanzas Prov.,

Cuba" (herein restricted) . Other localities: In Cuba: Mantan-

zas and Cardenas (Ph.) ; Playa Bellamar, Matanzas (A. Torre!) ;

"El Embarcadero," Finca Bacunagua, Los Palacios, P. del Rio

(A. Torre!) ; also, Jamaica, Haiti, Florida (East and West

Coast) , Bahamas and St. Croix (USNM) .

Truncatella pulchella Pfr., form bilabiata Pfr.

T. bilabiata Pfr., 1840, p. 253 (Cuba. 1856, p. 192 (Cuba:

"Right bank of the mouth of the Canimar River, Matanzas

(Gundlach) , but not in the Island of Carmen, Gulf of Mexico

(Kiister)." Plsbry 1948, p. 1069, fig. 571a (in part). Clench and

Turner 1948a, p. 153-155 (in part) . A. Torre, 1952, p. 19. [The

type locality is fixed, according to previous restriction by Pfeiffer

in 1856].

Type locality: Right bank of the mouth of the Canimar

River, Matanzas, Cuba. Other localities: In Cuba: Baracoa and

Gibara, Oriente (Gundlach) (Ace. to Pfr.) ; "El Embarcadero,"

Finca Bacunagua, Los Palacios, P. del Rio (A. Torre) ; Buey-

vaquita, Matanzas (1 specimen, dead, in sand dredged) (A.

84 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

Torre!) ; Playa de Bellamar, Matanzas (A. Torre!) (Very com-

mon in this last locality in a cave in the seashore, etc.).

In the lots of T. pulchella Pfr. from Jamaica, Haiti, Florida,

Cuba, Bahamas and St. Croix, that I have studied at the USNM.,

there are usually mixed specimens of the typical smoother form

(pulchella), and of the costate form (bilabiata), but generally

the smoother form is scarce and the costate form very abundant.

From the Bermuda Islands there are several lots, but, in these,

all the specimens observed by me belong to the costate form or

bilahiata Pfr. The records given by Clench and Turner as

bilabiata (loc. cit.) from Barbados, W.I., really belong to the

species barbadensis Pfr. The species pulchella and the form

bilabiata apparently do not live at that locality.

Truncatella caribaeensis "Sowerby" Reeve.

T. caribaeensis "Sowerby" Reeve, 1842, p. 94, pi. 182, fig. 7

(not fig. 2, as inadvertently given by Clench and Turner in 1948)

(No locality given.) Kiister, 1855, p. 9, pi. 1 figs. 35-37 and pi.

2 f. 1-4 [these last four figures correspond to the smoother va-

riety, improperly called subcylindrica Gray, by Pfeiffer] (West

Indies, Mexico and Alabama). Pfeiffer, 1856, p. 185 (Cuba and

Jamaica). Pfeiffer, 1857b, p. 119 (Vicinity of Matanzas, Cuba

and Island of Jamaica) .

T. succinea C.B. Ads., 1845, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 2,

p. 12 (Jamaica). Pfr., 1846a, p. 118.

T. goiildii Pfr., 1846a, p. 118, Pfr., 1846b, p. 183 |in synonymy

of caribaeensis Reeve].

T. caribaeorum Pfr., 1846a, p. 118.

T. variabilis Pfr., 1846b, p. 183 [nude name in the synonymy

of T. caribaeensis} .

T. guerinii "Parreyss" Pfr., 1856 p. 185 [nude name in the

synonymy of T. caribaeensis].

T. subcylindrica (Gray) Pfr., 1856, p. 186-187 (in part)

(Cuba: Matanzas and Cardenas) ; (Puerto Rico, St. Thomas

Bermuda, etc.). Pfeiffer 1857b, p. 119 (^= caribaeensis Kiister,

1855, T. 2, f. 1-4, sec. Pfr.) Cardenas, Matanzas Prov. Cuba).

Non T. subcylindrica Linne, 1767, Syst. Nat. 12th. Ed. p. 1248

(Europe) . [This is the smooth form of caribaeensis; typical

caribaeensis being regularly axially striate].

T. pulchella Pilsbry, 1948, p. 1070, fig. 572b, c. Clench and

Turner 1948a, p.l56, pi. 68, f. 1-6 [Non pulchella Pfr. 1839].

T. pulchella form caribaeensis Pilsbry 1948, p. 1071, fig. 572 a.

Type locality: Cuba (?) (As I have not seen the reference by

Pfeiffer in 1846 (p. 183) in which this author probably gives

Cuba as locality, I am considering this as type locality with

January, 1960 nautilus 85

doubt, until I can check that reference. Other localities: North

Carolina, Fla., Texas, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba (Playa de

Manimani, P. Rio) ; Cardenas (Varadero) , Matanzas; punta

Alegre, Camagiiey; Punta de Piedra, Banes, Cabo Cruz, Oriente;

Isla de Pinos) ; Porto Rico, Virgin Islands (St. Thomas and St.

Croix); Jamaica; Hispaniola (Haiti) ; Lesser Antilles (St. Bar-

tholomew, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Trinidad, Cura-

cao); all given by Clench and Turner, 1948: 157-158), (under

the name pulchella). Bahamas, Cuba (Cabo Cruz, Matanzas);

Hispaniola (Haiti) ; Jamaica; Cayman Ids. (Given by the same

authors under the name succinea C. B. Ads., loc. cit. p. 159).

Playa de Bellamar, Matanzas, Cuba (A. Torre!) (Common) ;

Matanzas (Cuba) and Jamaica (Pfr.) ; Cardenas, Matanzas

Prov. (Pfr.) ; W. Indies, Mexico and Alabama (Kiister).

In the USNM, there are records from Cuba of several locali-

ties: Isla de Pinos; Little Cayman; Jamaica; Hispaniola (Haiti);

Porto Rico; Virgin Is.; Guadeloupe; Trinidad; Bermuda; Flor-

ida (East and west coasts) ; Texas; Bahamas and St. Croix.

Subgenus Tomlinitella Clench and Turner.

Tomlinella Clench and Turner, 1948a, p. 159 [non Tomli-

nella Viader 1938, Bull. Mauritius Inst. 1: 6].

Tomlinitella Clench and Turner, 1948 b, p. 169.

Type species: Truncatella scalaris Michaud, (OD.)

Truncatella scalaris (Michaud) .

Rissoa scalaris Michaud, 1830, Descr. Genre Rissoa p. 18

(Locality unknown) .

Truncatella costata Pfr., 1839, p. 356 (Cuba).

Truncatella cumingii C.B.Ads., 1845, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat.

Hist. 2, p. 12 (Jamaica). Pfeiffer, 1846a, p. 119 [declared iden-

tical to T. costata Pfr.]

Truncatella scalariformis C.B.Ads., 1845, loc. cit. p. 12 (Ja-

maica) (Non Reeve, 1842) (Ace. to Clench and Turner, 1948a:

160).

Truncatella adamsi Pfr., 1846a & 1846b, pp. 119 k 189 [New

name for scalariformis C.B.Ads., non Reeve 1842].

Truncatella scalaris Pfeiffer, 1856, p. 194-195 (Cuba and

Jamaica) .

Truncatella (Tomlinella) scalaris Clench and Turner, 1948a,

p. 160-161, pi. 71, fig. 1-4 [figures 5 and 6 of the same plate

probably belong to the subspecies clathrus Lowe.]

Truncatella (Tomlinitella) scalaris Clench and Turner 1948b,

p. 169.

86 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

Type locality: Port Antonio (Jamaica) (Neoholotype desig-

nated by Clench and Turner from that locality 1948a; 161).

Other localities: Cuba; Hispaniola (Haiti) ; Jamaica (Clench

and Turner); Matanzas, Cuba (Pfr.); Jamaica (Pfr.) ; Playa

de Bellamar, Matanzas, Cuba (scarce) (A. Torre!) . Haiti,

Jamaica and St. Croix (USNM.) (Teste Morrison) . (See also

under T. scalaris clathrus).

Truncatella scalaris clathrus Lowe.

T. clathrus Lowe 1832, Zoological Journ. 5, p. 303 (Locality

unknown). Reeve, 1842 p. 94, pi. 182, fig. 3 (no locality given)

[This is the first figure of this species]. Shuttleworth, 1852, p.

155 (Porto Rico and St. Thomas) . Pilsbry 1948, p. 1069, f. 571c.

T. clathra Pilsbry 1900, p. 506, pi. 62, fig. 13 (Bermuda Ids.,

Porto Rico and St. Thomas.)

T. scalaris piratica Clench and Turner 1948a, p. 161, pi. 72,

fig. 1-4 (Bermudas) . (Teste Morrison).

T. (Tomlinitella) scalaris piratica Clench and Turner, 1948b,

p. 169.

Type locality: (?) according to the literature (Shuttleworth,

1852: 155) the restriction of the type locality to Puerto Rico

seems possible, as this author cites this form from Puerto Rico

and St. Thomas (collected in the last locality by Blauner) . But

we have not seen a single specimen of T. scalaris (Michaud)

or of T. scalaris clathrus Lowe from either one of those two

localities, so, we are in doubt if this species or the form clathrus

really live on Porto Rico and St. Thomas or not. Other locali-

ties: Bermuda Islands (Clench and Turner); Cuba, Haiti, Flor-

ida, Bahamas. The localities in Cuba being Varadero, Matanzas;

Bahia de Cabanas (P. Rio) (USNM. collection) . Also: Playa

de Bellamar, Matanzas (in sand, mixed with T. scalaris scalaris)

(Michaud) both of them being rare (A. Torre!) .

This form is distinguished from the typical one because it has

12-16 axial ribs in the body whorl, instead of 8-11 as in the

typical scalaris (Michaud) . According to Dr. Morrison, these

two forms seem to have a different geographic distribution,

although they overlap in Haiti, and, according to specimens

collected by the writer they overlap in Cuba also. Dr. Morrison

thinks that the specimens coming from Florida and the Bahamas

in the collection of the USNM. all correspond to the form

clathrus and none to the typical scalaris Michaud. I keep them

separate, as distinct subspecies, although they possibly may

prove to be only different extreme forms of the same species.

January, 1960 nautilus 87

Truncatella bahamensis Clench and Turner.

T. bilabiata bahamensis Clench and Turner 1948, Johnsonia,

vol. 2 no. 25, p. 155, pi. 67, f. 1-3.

Type locality: Northwest Point, Little Inagua, Id., Bahama

Ids. Other localities: Limited to the Bahama Islands.

Truncatella barbadensis Pfeiffer

T. barbadensis P£r., 1856, p. 192 (Barbados). Pfeiffer, 1857a,

p. 337 (Barbados, W.I.) .

T. bilabiata Clench and Turner 1948a, p. 153-155 (in part).

Type locality: Barbados, Lesser Antilles. Other localities: in

the collection of the USNM. There are records of this species

from several localities in Barbados and also, records of a small

form of the species from Guadeloupe and Antigua (teste Mor-

rison) . The records given by Clench and Turner in 1948 (p. 155)

for bilabiata, from Barbados, probably correspond to this species,

these authors giving the name barbadensis as a synonym of

bilabiata Pfr. I think that they are really different species,

barbadensis being always strongly axially ribbed as well as

different in shape and other characters. The previous study by

Dr. Morrison on specimens of the collection of the USNM. is in

perfect agreement with my conclusions here.

I wish to acknowledge here my gratitude to Dr. Joseph P. E.

Morrison, for the valuable help given to me in preparing these

notes and list.

Key to the western Atlantic and Caribbean species of Truncatella.

Shell small (3-6 mm. total length) . Outer lip generally duplex

Costae 17 or more on the body whorl; no microscopic spiral

sculpture between the ribs.

Shell smoothish. Duplex condition of the outer lip some-

what obsolete T. pulchella.

Shell not smoothish. Duplex condition of the outer lip

well marked

Shell narrower and more cylindrical and elongated than

the following group (4 to 5 remaining whorls in the

adult shell) .

Axial ribs numerous and close together (about 40 on

the body whorl) T. barbadensis.

Axial ribs generally less numerous and more widely

spaced than in the preceding species (about 20 on the

body whorl) T. bahamensis.

Shell shorter and less cylindrical (3 to 4 remaining whorls

in the adult shell) T. pulchella, form bilabiata.

Costae 16 or less on the body whorl; microscopic spiral sculp-

ture between the ribs.

88 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

Costae 8 to 1 1 on the body whorl T. scalaris.

Costae 12 to 16 on the body whorl T. scalaris clathrus.

Shell larger (6 to 8 or 9 mm. in length) . Outer lip simple. Axial

costae well developed or more or less obsolete T. carihaeensis.

Bibliography

Binney, W. G. 1859. The terrestrial mollusks of the United

States and the adjacent territories of N.A., vol. 4, pp. 1-207,

pis. 75-80.

1865. Land and fresh-water shells of N.A., Pt. 3, pp. 1-220.

Clench, W. J. k R. D. Turner, 1948a. Johnsonia, vol. 2 (25),

pp. 149-164, pi. 63-73

1948b. Occ. Papers Moll., Harvard, vol. 1 (13), pp. 157-212.

Kiister, H. C. 1855. Syst. Conchyl. Cab., Truncatella & Paludin-

ella, pp. 1-20 pis. 1-2.

Pfeiffer, Ludwig. 1839. Archiv. f. Naturg. 5th yr., vol. 1, pp.

346-358.

1840. Archiv. Naturg., 6th. yr., vol. 1, p. 250-261.

1846a. Zeitschr. Malak., vol. 3, pp. 1 J 3-120.

1846b. Ibid., pp. 177-190.

1856. Monogr. Auricul. Viv., app. 2, pp. 175-196.

1857a. May 8. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, pt. 24, no. 322, pp.

336-339.

1857b. Malak. Blatt., vol. 3, pp. 118-119.

1859. ALilak. Blatt., vol. 6, pp. 66-102.

Pilsbry, H. A. 1900. Trans. Conn. Acad., vol. 10, p. 491-509, pi.

LXIL

1948. Land Moll, of N. America, vol. 2, pt. 2, pp. 1065-1074,

figs. 569-573.

Reeve, Lovell. 1842. Conchologia Systematica, Vol. 2, London,

337 pp., pis. 130-300.

Shuttleworth. R. J. 1852. Diagnosen neuer Mollusken, no. 1

(May 1852), Bern, 163 pp.^

Torre, Alfredo de la. 1952. Rev. Soc. Malac. "Carlos de la Torre",

vol. 9 (2), pp. 9-25, pis. 1-4.

ANATOMY OF RHODACMEA CAHAWBENSIS WALKER,

1917, A RIVER LIMPET FROM ALABAMA

By PAUL F. BASCH

Department of Biology, Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia

The genus Rhodacmea was established by Bryant Walker in

1917 to include a number of limpet-like freshwater mollusks,

found mainly in the southeastern United States. Heretofore,

nothing has been known of the anatomy of these snails besides

the shell and radula, both of which present distinctive features.

NAUTILUS 73 (3)

PLATE 7

I mm.

B

I mm.

250 micro

\- Shell of juvenile specimen of Rhodacmea cahaxcbensis, dorsal view;

note depression^ near lefl side of apex. B Shell of adu U ^pec^n n of ^.

cahaivbensis, rieht side view; note erosion of apical region^ C. \ entiai view

of head region. D: Jaw, dissected from an adtdt specimen, flattened. E. Cen-

tral and fi?st 7 lateral teeth of radula; marginals not shown.

NAUTILUS 73 (3)

PLATE 8

mantle

salivary gland (cut)

penial complex

brain

esophagus -

vagina

spermattiecal

duct -^

vas deferens ^ ^

prostate

buccal

mass

intestine

ovotestis

mantle^ ^--""'cr'-^

male genital opening^ ^5*''*''***^'Ci^

female genital opening

rectum

pseudobranch

A: Central nervous svstem of RJwdacmea cahcnvbensis. B: Superficial dis-

section of animal to show relative positions of organs in life. C: Deeper

dissection; most of the digestive and reproductive systems removed. Note

positions of shell muscles. D: View of left side of adult specimen, shell and

portion of mantle containing kidney removed. Note position and character

of pseudobranch.

January, 1960

NAUTILUS 73 (3)

NAUTILUS

89

PLATE 9

female genital opening

penial complex

-male genital opening

A: Penial complex of Rhodacmea cahawbensis, semidiagrammatic B- Sec-

tion of vas deferens, through plane b-b' on A; note ciliated lumen. C- Sec-

tion through penis and penis sheath at plane c-c' on A. D: Section through

penis sheath at plane d-d' on A. E: Reproductive system of R. cahawbensis

dissected out and separated to show relationships of organs

90 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

The apex of the shell in all species is tinged with a reddish

coloration, and a thick callus of shelly material usually is

found within the apical region. The enormous, unusually

shaped lateral teeth of the radula (pi. 7, fig. E) , the small mar-

ginals and the small number of teeth per row have cast doubt

upon the validity of associating Rhodacmea with the family

Ancylidae. The present investigation was undertaken to de-

termine the proper systematic position of this genus through

anatomical study.

The specimens used were collected by the author and Dr. John

B. Burch on June 6 and June 8, 1959, from stones and dead

mussel shells in rapids of the Cahaba River west of Helena,

Section 19, T 19S, R 4 W, Shelby County, Alabama. Identifica-

tion as R. cahawbensis w^as made by comparison with the holo-

type specimen, No. 102635, in the collection of the University

of Michigan Museum of Zoology. The type locality for the

species is at Gurnee, Shelby County, Alabama, about 8 miles

south of the Helena location. Specimens from the present col-

lection have been deposited in the University of Michigan

Museum of Zoology.

I am greatly indebted to Dr. Henry van der Schalie for making

the collecting trip possible and for the generous use of his facil-

ities, and to Dr. Harold W. Harry, of the University of Alabama,

Birmingham Center, for invaluable assistance in the field.

In spite of unusually high waters which made collecting diffi-

cult, sufficient specimens were secured to make a thorough ana-

tomical study of R. cahaivhensis possible. The animals were

placed in a 1% solution of Nembutal until relaxed, fixed in

the iield with formalin-acetic acid-alcohol fixative, and stored

in 70% alcohol. A few specimens were brought back to Ann

Arbor alive, but they did not survive more than four days

even when packed in ice. Gross dissections were made of 8 spec-

imens, and one was embedded in paraffin and sectioned serially

at 10 microns, for histological study. Radulae of adult and

juvenile animals were removed, cleaned in dilute sodium hypo-

chlorite solution, stained with Orange G, and mounted in

Canada Balsam or Euparal.

Shell: The shells of the juvenile specimens are distinctly

radially striate, and show a characteristic pit-like depression on

January, 1960 nautilus 91

the left side of the apex (pi. 7, fig. A.) The precise form of this

depression varies somewhat among the specimens collected, but

it is present in all. Both the depression and striae usually are

lost in the adult when the apex becomes eroded, and are not

apparent on the holotype. Both of the characters, however, are

present in adult UMMZ. specimens of Rhodacmea filosa (Con-

rad) from the Coosa River, Alabama, and in certain lots identi-

fied as R. elatior (Anthony) from Eagle Creek, Owen County,

and Green River, Hart County, Kentucky. The utility of these

apical characters as taxonomic markers is unfortunately dimin-

ished by the erosion so frequently encountered in certain species.

Juvenile shells are a rusty brownish color when collected, and

shells of the adults (pi. 7, fig. B) are black, often with tiny

clumps of algae growing on them. When cleaned with dilute

oxalic acid, the periostracum is revealed as a thin, light corneous

layer over the shell, and in those specimens in which the apex

is at least partially retained, the pink coloration becomes

evident.

External morphology: The animal of R. cahawbensis is super-

ficially bilaterally symmetrical, resembling other ancylid genera

in this respect. The head and foot are a light gray color, and the

translucency of the tissues permits the color of the internal

organs to show through. The relatively large head bears promi-

nent eyes and much reduced tentacles, through the thin integu-

ment of the front of the head the pink buccal mass is clearly

visible. Beneath the shell, the color of the dorsal surface of the

mantle is quite variable. In some specimens, it is uniformly gray

with a concentration of pigment near the periphery giving the

effect of a black ring, in others pigment is almost entirely absent

or may appear only as irregular black blotches. The pseudo-

branch is small and simple, without folds or ridges, and bears

the rectum and anus. The foot is broad, flat, and oval in out-

line, as in other ancylids.

Integument and muscles: The integument of R. cahawbensis

presents no peculiarities, and histologically is similar to that

described by Basch (1959) for Laevapex fusciis. The foot and

velar muscles are also similar to the latter species, but the right

anterior shell muscle in all specimens examined extends a much

greater distance caudally than does the homologous structure

92 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

in Laevapex or Ferrissia. The placement of shell muscles in

Ancylus fluviatilis is different from that of any of the American

forms yet examined, and in the more distantly related Acroloxus

lacustris the pattern is again different. When more genera

of the family Ancylidae become known anatomically, this may

show that the pattern of shell muscle distribution is significant

in tracing relationships.

Respiratory system: The pseudobranch (pi. 8, fig. D) des-

cribed above, resembles that of Ferrissia or Ancylus, and not the

far more complex structure found in Laevapex. The pulmonary

cavity is almost obsolete, its opening represented only as a nar-

row horizontal slit just dorsal to the anterior part of the pseudo-

branch. Undoubtedly, the habitat of this species, in rapids of a

swiftly-flowing stream, permits it to obtain sufficent oxygen

through the general body covering and renders a highly devel-

oped respiratory structure unnecessary.

Digestive system: The general plan of the digestive tract is

much the same as that of Ferrissia, Laevapex, or Ancylus. The

salivary glands, fused posteriorly, are longer than those presently

known from any other American form, but the most striking

feature of the digestive system is the extraordinarily long radular

sac. This structure (pi. 8, fig. C) extends well back into the

body, as in Ancylus fluviatilis, the common river limpet of

Europe. Whether the conformation of the radular sac is de-

pendent upon the diet of these animals, or whether it reflects

phylogenetic relationships, is at present unknown.

The peculiar radula was used as a major criterion for estab-

lishing the subfamily Rhodacmeinae by Walker (1917), and is

difficult to interpret in view of the strong similarities in other

features between Rhodacmea and other ancylid genera. The jaw

(pi. 7, fig. D) with its many small lateral elements, resembles

that of Ancylus far more closely than it does any of the known

American species (cf. Hubendick, 1947: fig. 15) .

Excretory system: The kidney of Rhodacmea shows the char-

acteristic pattern of flexures found in other ancylid snails (with

the exception of Acroloxus), and histologically presents the same

picture. The shape of the kidney appears to be a far more con-

servative character than radular or reproductive structures and

may be useful in the discrimination of phylogenetic groups

January, 1960 nautilus 93

within the family.

Nervous system: The brain (pi. 8, fig. A) is much the same as

that of Laevapex, and of Basommatophora in general. The size,

shape, and number of otoliths in the statocysts agree with those

of Laevapex. Eyes and osphradium show no peculiarities.

Circulatory system: The structure, position, and relations of

the heart (pi. 8, fig. B) are as in Laevapex, Ferrissia, and other

sinistral ancylids.

Reproductive system: In this system, Rhodacmea differs from

the other genera of ancylids whose anatomy is known. The

ovotestis has relatively few follicles (8 to 10), resembling that

of Ferrissia and Ancylus. The seminal vesicle is a variable struc-

ture, probably changing shape in all species according to the

progress of the breeding season. In the specimens of Rhodacmea

examined, the seminal vesicle consists of a number of papillose

side branches of the hermaphroditic duct (pi. 9, fig. E) appear-

ing identical in shape to that of Ancylus (Lacaze-Duthiers,

1899), and similar to Ferrissia parallela (Baker, 1928). In

Ferrissia tarda, the seminal vesicle is a simple sac (Hoff, 1940) ,

and in Laevapex fuscus it is a greatly expanded structure as

large as the ovotestis (Basch, 1959) .

The albumen gland in the living Rhodacmea consists of a

number of glistening, bright yellow, elongated pear-shaped folli-

cles which collapse quickly when placed in fixative. In shape,

this structure resembles the homologous gland in Ancylus.

The organ here called the uterus is actually a compound

gland composed of at least 3 clearly differentiated histological

regions, one or more of which may represent the separate

nidamental gland as found in other ancylids and many other

Basommatophora. In the family Planorbidae, there is a tendency

for this gland to become incorporated into the wall of the uterus

(Baker, 1945), and, in such forms as Laevapex fuscus, it is diffi-

cult to distinguish uterine from nidamental tissue. The dorsal

wall of the hollow uterus is greatly thickened in the head region,

where it extends forward over the penial complex and part of

the buccal mass. The cytoplasm in this area stains a smooth

light gray color with haematoxylin and eosin, and nuclei are

very scarce. This appears to be a storage area. The thickened

area tapers off gradually posteriad, and disappears at about the

94 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

level of the left anterior shell muscle. Here the lateral wall of

the uterus consists of an extremely active secretory epithelium

whose many cells are filled with cords of brilliant red-staining

droplets, present in enormous numbers. The third kind of

tissue, folded in a complex pattern, is found in the medial wall

of the uterus and continues posteriad. Here the cytoplasm shows

a deep blue velvety appearance, with few nuclei. This area is

that which connects proximally with the other organs of the

reproductive system.

The prostate is an irregularly shaped extension of the vas

deferens, and in some specimens seems almost to be connected

with the portion of the uterus just described. The characteristic

pattern of folded lobes which is found in Laevapex and to some

extent in Ferrissia parallel a is entirely absent in Rhodacmea

cahawhensis. The distal portion of the male system (the penial

complex) is unique among the known ancylids. The penis is

simple (pi. 9, fig. A) showing neither the ultra-penis arrange-

ment found in Laevapex nor the flagellar structure found in

various modifications in Ferrissia species and in Ancylus.

Relationships: Only a relatively small number of the dozens

of described species of ancylids have been dissected, so that

meaningful evaluations of the significance of anatomical char-

acters are extremely difficult. Still, something can be said about

the relationships of Rhodacmea. The general body morphology,

kidney, brain, pseudobranch, and digestive tract (except for the

radula) all show that Rhodacmea is indeed an ancylid snail and

related to the other genera mentioned in this paper. Several

features, such as the shape of the jaw, the radular sac, and the

albumen gland seem to indicate an affinity with the genus

Ancylus, although these resemblances may be superficial and

coincidental. The shell, radula, and penial structure, which all

are unique among ancylid snails, support the separation of

Rhodacmea as a genus, and these characters probably have suffic-

ient weight to uphold Walker's separation of the Rhodacmeinae

as a distinct subfamily.

Literature Cited

Baker, Frank Collins. 1928. The fresh water Mollusca of Wis-

consin. Part 1. Gastropoda. Wise. Geol. and Nat. Hist. Surv.

Bull. No. 70, 507 pp.

January, 1960 nautilus 95

1945. The molluscan familv Planorbidae. Urbana. Univ.

111. Press. 530 pp.

Basch, Paul F. 1959. The anatomy of Laevapex fuscus, a fresh-

water limpet (Gastiopoda: Pulmonata) . Misc. Publ. Mus.

Zool. Univ. Mich., 108: 1-56.

Hoff, C. Clayton. 1940. Anatomy of the ancylid snail, Ferrissia

tarda (Say) . Trans. Amer. Micros. Soc, 59 (2) : 224-42.

Hubendick, Bengt. 1947. Phylogenetic relations between the

higher limnic Basommatophora. Zool. Bidrag Fr. Uppsala,

23: 141-64.

Lacaze-Duthiers, H. de. 1899. Des organes de la reproduction de

VAncylus fluviatilis. Arch. Zool. Exp. et Gen., 3rd Series, 7:

33-120.

Walker, Bryant. 1917. Revision of the classification of the North

American patelliform Ancylidae. Naut. 31 (1) : 1-10.

Editor's note. For the benefit of those accustomed to the

Pilsbryan anatomic terms, which long have been established in

geophile Pulmonata, the "penis" in the preceding paper is a

verge or penial papilla; the "penial complex" corresponds to

an introverted penis; and the "flagellar structure" is a penial

appendix, on the vergic sheath or capsule. Dr. Pilsbry, since

1895, employed flagellum for a free appendix or caecum on the

epiphallus, which is not developed in the limnophiles. — H. B. B.

STUDIES ON MOLLUSK POPULATIONS: 4

Bv R. STOHLER

(Concluded from October no.)

As will be noted from Table 3, concerning specimens collected

at Duxbury Reef only, throughout the second half of the year

1950, there was a variation in the indices for this locality almost

as large as that in the entire area represented by Table 2. At

Duxbury Reef, O. biplicata varied from a slender 45.90 to an

obese 64.81. Oldroyd's varieties vary, similarly, from a slender

47.06 to an obese 61.74 (not differentiating between the several

"varieties," but all taken together) . Thus, the population at

Duxbury Reef well exceeds in its variations the varieties singled

out on what seem to have been purely subjective impressions by

T. S. Oldroyd. As may be stated, then, this study reinforces the

opinion of several authors as implicitly expressed (the Giffords,

1944, state: ". . . seems to indicate that Mr. Oldroyd dignified

mere individual variations by names, rather than . . .", and

Keen, 1937, omitted listing the varietal names in the check list) .

96

NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 (3)

o

CD

f— '

CO

Ox

O

S5 S ^

January, 1960 nautilus 97

The three varietal names given by Oldroyd have no taxonomic

significance and should be relegated to the synonymy of O. bipli-

cata (Sowerby) .

As indicated before, several other observations were made in

connection with this particular investigation which are con-

sidered worthy of record. In Table 2 are recorded measurements,

etc., made on what appears as two separate lots from La Jolla,

designated as I and II. Mr. Richard Shaw (see Stohler, 1952)

collected both lots at one time in one spot. The present writer

separated out from this single lot (and designated as II) all

shells that showed peculiar brownish markings on the early

whorls, reminiscent of O. pycna Berry. I thought that the mark-

ings might be an indication of hybridization, an idea which had

to be abandoned very quickly, because no O. pycna were con-

tained in that particular collection nor have any specimens of

this latter species been collected at that locality since then.

While lot II did not include as large a specimen as lot I, nor as

obese a one, nevertheless the arithmetical averages are identical

for all practical purposes. From observations made since that

time, seemingly about one fourth of all O. hiplicata shells show

such brown lines on the early whorls and that this is merely

another of the variables.

The smallest specimen in our collections obtained so far was

gathered by Dr. Cadet Hand (Department of Zoology, Univer-

sity of California, Berkeley) in the harbor at Monterey (see

Stohler, 1952) . As the averages of this lot indicate, there was a

gieater proportion of small shells picked up than elsewhere.

The sand in this harbor seems very fine and lacks coarse grains,

pebbles and rocks. In other areas to be discussed presently, the

sandy areas were not as uniform but included even fairly large

rocks and the fine sand was limited to relatively small pockets.

In attempts to section histologically fixed specimens, the stomach

was found to be full of sand in every case, a fact which seems to

indicate the olivellas ingest the sand in their feeding process.

This in turn would lead to the assumption that the size of the

sand grains might play an important role in the minimum size

of animals to be found in a given spot; large olivellas can ingest

coarse or fine sand while the small individuals would be limited

to fine sand only.

98 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

The following two observations appear to support this idea.

Columns Via and VIb of Table 3 refer to two areas at Duxbury

Reef; area A may be described as a very large, shallow tide pool

in a sandy area, interspersed with large and small rocks and

many pebbles of various sizes; area B was further seaward in an

area devoid of all rocks, having only fairly uniform fine sand

covering the area to a depth of about an inch. In area B, the

population was somewhat denser and also showed a smaller

average.

Mrs. Fay Wolfson of San Diego is carrying on at present a

growth study on Olivella hiplicata in the Flood Control Chan-

nel of that city. She discovered pockets of fine sand containing

only small shells and she refers in her "unofficial" records to

these areas as the "nurseries." Large specimens of this species are

found elsewhere. Mention of any other facts uncovered so far in

her study is not proper at this time, but this observation cer-

tainly appears to corroborate the assumption expressed above.

As is necessary to mention at this point, these several observa-

tions will have to be considered again a little further below in

connection with the breeding "season" of Olivella.

On the various collecting trips, I noted that, as soon as the

cold waves washed over the previously exposed sand, the buried

and apparently quiescent olivellas became active again; tracks

immediately appeared and I also observed that there was a

tendency for pairs to form, one individual following the other.

Usually, such pairs eventually mated. This mating behavior was

observed almost every time I was at Duxbury Reef, regardless

of the time of the year, except when nightfall prevented the

awaiting of the returning tides. Since this behavior was seen

every month of the year, a safe conclusion is that O. hiplicata

does not have a limited breeding season and that, consequently,

small or rather very young, as well as fully adult individuals

should be found throughout the year. This latter expectation

is borne out by Table 3. Thus from June 1 (indicated as 1 VI)

to December 21 (21 XII), 1950, specimens of over 25 mm in

length were found. The absence of the very small specimens can

be ascribed, I think, to the lack of the very fine sand necessary

for the young animals; I also suggest that the very young olivellas

cannot maintain themselves in the shallower water where the

January, 1960 nautilus 99

tidal changes cause a churning up of the sand and that they may

be expected further down, where the wave action has less effect —

or in protected bays and harbors. The latter seems to apply to

the lot collected in Monterey Harbor, while the former seems

to be the case with the "nurseries" in the Flood Control Channel.

The facts and observations just discussed also may apply in one

way or another to the lot from Point Abreojos in the Oldroyd

collection and designated as O. biplicata parva. On the other

hand, for the time being at least, the possibility of conscious or

unconscious selection on the part of Mr. Hemphill in collecting

the lot cannot be excluded.

On July 29, 1950, 11 pairs of Olivella were collected; these

were at the time actually mating; at first I thought that what had

been termed obese shells might owe this fact to the sex of the

animal, because logically the female with its ovary might require

a more spacious shell than the male. This was, however, not

borne out by the actual measurements. In the mating pairs

(M. P. in Table 3) , the animal plowing ahead is the female

while the one following is the male (when the animals are sep-

arated from each other, the penis is always part of the second,

i.e., posterior animal) . The shell of the females in all 1 1 cases

was longer than that of the male, the differences varying from

0.3 mm to 6.0 mm. As may be seen from the table in column

III b, among the mating pairs the smallest animal was 20.2 mm

long. Smaller mating partners have been observed (as stated

above, a total of 49 mating pairs have been collected, but only

the measurements etc. made on these initial 11 pairs are re-

corded here since the addition of the data from the other 38 pairs

would not have altered the picture and merely added bulk) , the

smallest found being a male of 17.9 mm length mating with a

female 27.0 mm long. Of the 11 pairs reported upon here, the

female was more obese than the male in 6 cases, the male was

more obese than the female in 5 cases. The greatest index differ-

ence between the two sexes was approximatly 9.4 units in the

group where the female was more obese (average of differences

appr. 4.75 units); in the second group the largest index-difference

was only 4.5 units and the average of the differences was about

2.36 units. One of the mating pairs collected on March 22, 1951,

seems interesting; in this pair, the male (20.7 mm long, 12.5 mm

100 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

wide) had an obesity index of 60.39 while the female (24.0 mm

long, 11.4 mm wide) had an obesity index of only 47.5, a differ-

ence of the two of 12.89; in other words, in this one case the male

is even more obese than the female than in the reverse situation;

but, of course, this is apparently an exceptional case and merely

tends to emphasize the overall conclusion: relative obesity of the

shell cannot be taken as a sex character in O. biplicata.

In Table 1 are recorded also the measurements and indices

obtained from a lot of albino shells, labeled Olivella biplicata

lapilhis (Vanatta) . While this varietal name has previously been

relegated to the synonymy of O. biplicata (Sowerby) based on

a study of color variations within unselected populations (Stoh-

ler, 1952) , these measurements were made, nevertheless, in order

to test the possibility that the white shells really were different in

other ways than in pigmentation. However, as this rather small

lot shows, the range of variation of this group falls well within

the range of our species; thus, as far as size of the shell is con-

cerned, the varietal name lapilhis also appears not justified. In

spite of these facts, in the studies reported on here, a note was

considered desirable whenever a white shell was measured; also

for the mating pairs this particular aspect was recorded. Without

going into a tedious enumeration, the statement may be sufficient

that in the tables of measurements and in the tables of the indices

computed, the letter W (denoting white shell) appears in a

random fashion. As should be stated, the two sets of tables for

each lot were arranged from the shortest to the longest shell and

from the lowest to the highest obesity index, respectively. The

following list is a sample of the distribution of W in the first

100 (smallest) shells of lot XIII from Duxbury Reef (this lot

included 1318 shells, of which 113 were white): Nos. 2, 9, 21,

45, 50, 56, 70, 93, were white, the other shells varied in color as

previously reported. In the table of the obesity indices of the

same lot XIII, the following were white shells among the 100

slenderest specimens: Nos. 5, 13, 52, 62, 84. As seems superfluous

to mention, these order numbers are, of course, not the same as

the ones in the previous list. As to the mating habits of the white

Olivella, I may point out that there seems no color preference

exhibited by the animals; for example in lot no. 9 from Duxbury,

there was a total of 115 individuals collected; of these 12 were

January, 1960 nautilus 101

mating; in one of the 6 mating pairs both partners were white,

in one other pair one partner was white (the male) while the

other partner was olive. The other four pairs showed random

color distribution. On the other hand, in lot 11 (with a total of

137 individuals and also 6 mating pairs) no white animals were

found in the process of mating. As perhaps is amusing to note,

in all the other 37 recorded mating pairs, no white individuals

were involved, which might lead to the erroneous conclusion

that white olivellas don't mate! However, workers in the field of

population genetics are well aware that such chance results are

to be expected in small samples.

The question as to the presence of a real breeding season in

Olivella biplicata at Duxbury Reef is not too readily settled.

From my field notes and from my records, the following data

shed some light on this problem: approximately 20% of all

individuals counted on July 29, 1950, were mating; approxi-

mately the same proportion was counted on November 23, 1950;

somewhat more than 10% were mating on December 21, 1950,

January 23, 1951, February 20, 1951, about 12% on March 22,

1951, but only about 2% on April 24, 1951. Thus, two high

peaks in mating activity were noted; but I cannot ascribe much

validity to these numbers for the simple reason that the instances

of little apparent activity occurred on the dates when either the

lateness of the hour or rough weather prevented me from ex-

tending my observations over a period of about 90 minutes past

the turning of the tide. I believe I may conclude safely that

O. biplicata actually reproduces throughout the year, although

possibly, at certain times, a greater percentage of the individuals

in a given population mate than at other times. Also, as should

be borne in mind, these conclusions are based on observations

made on inter tidal populations; what may take place in the sub-

tidal area is yet to be explored.

The mating behavior, and perhaps consequently the breeding

cycle, may be vastly influenced by meteorological phenomena.

The numbers recorded in Table 3 show amazingly small num-

bers of olivellas collected in August and October of 1950. My

field notes seem to me to contain the answer to this problem;

I quote them verbatim:

"26. VIII. 1950: Apparently the shore was lashed very recently

102 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

by heavy waves judging by amount of drift on beach and by

cover of fine silt over the sand. Only small number of O. b.

was seen."

"12. X. 1950: Exactly same appearance as on 26. VIII. 1950;

still fewer O. b. seen."

"9. XI. 1950: Water clear; no silt observed in entire area. O. b.

present in large numbers, ca. 25% mating."

That the population did not die out during the 6 or 7 weeks

of adverse conditions in the intertidal area is suggested by the

size distribution of the group collected on November 9; com-

paring the data in Table 3 shows that this group fits in very

well indeed with all the others. If, however, the population

previously present was killed off by the presence of silt, then

we would have to postulate that a very large population moved

in rather rapidly from the subtidal region. This in itself is not

impossible, and I assume that just such a situation did occur,

namely the olivellas present moved out when conditions became

adverse and returned when conditions improved again.

In conclusion, facts, observations and deductions may be sum-

marized as follows:

Olivella biplicata (Sowerby) is a highly variable species

throughout its range of distribution, varying from very obese

to very slender individuals in any unselected population. Also

it varies widely in color from almost entirely white to a very

dark chestnut brown, almost black.

There is no apparent sexual dimorphism in this species,

although in the measured mating pairs the female was, without

exception, larger than the male. Size alone, however, would not

be a satisfactory criterion to distinguish the two sexes as there

is great overlap.

At Duxbury Reef in Marin County, California, there is no

discernible breeding season, mating behavior having been ob-

served whenever tidal and meteorological conditions permitted

the observer to remain in the area for about 1 ^ hours after the

tide turned.

No sexual selection seems apparent as far as the shell color

of the individuals is concerned.

The size of sand grains in the habitat of a particular popula-

tion may influence the size range, i.e., coarse sand prevents very

small individuals from living there. In the search for food,

O. biplicata does ingest sand.

January, 1960 nautilus lOS

During low tide O. biplicata becomes quiescent, tending to

aggregate, sometimes in very large numbers, near larger rocks

or kelpholdfasts; this quiescence is observed even in fairly large

tide pools. With the return of the first cold waves, the animals

resume active locomotion and travel surprisingly rapidly and far.

This behavior is ascribed to a lack of oxygen rather than the

influence of the tidal pressure.

The varieties angelena and fucana, established by Oldroyd,

are considered of no taxonomic validity. The door is left open

for the variety parva, described from Point Abreojos in Lower

California, being possibly a valid geographical variant.

Bibliography

Gifford, D. S., and E. W. Gifford. 1941. Color variation in Oli-

vella biplicata. Naut. 55 (1) : 10-12.

1942. Color variation in Olivella biplicata in various locali-

ties. Naut. 56 (2): 43-48.

1944. California olivellas. Naut. 57 (3) : 73-80.

Keen, A. Myra. 1937. An abridged check list of west North Ameri-

can marine Mollusca. Stanford Univ. Press, pp. 1-84.

Oldroyd, T. S. 1918. Olix'ella biplicata angelena, var. nov. Naut.

32 (1): 34-35.

1921. Some varieties of western olivellas. Naut. 34 (4):

117-119, p. V, figs. 4, 5, 6, 7.

Oldroyd, I. Shepard. 1927. The marine shells of the west coast

of North America. Vol. II, pt. 1: pp. 160-162: pi. 26, figs.

16, 16a, 17, 17a, 20, 20a, 23, 23a.

Stohler, R. 1952. Studies on mollusk populations: II. Naut. 65

(4): 135-137.

NEW PHYLLONOTUS FROM THE EASTERN PACIFIC

Bv A. MYRA KEEN

Stanford University, California

Having in recent years recommended the deletion of Phyllono-

tus (family Muricidae) from the roster of West American

generic names, I now have the privilege of reinstating it, through

a new discovery by an alert collector, Dr. Donald R. Shasky. To

bring out the real significance of this find, one must review a

little the history of the name Phyllonotus and its place in the

Muricidae.

Phyllonotus Swainson, 1833, has, by convention, included sev-

eral handsome muricid species that share a tendency toward

fu^ / ^ '^

104 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

brown color banding, pink or brown coloration around the

aperture, and heavy varices that are not firmly soldered to the

whorl, especially near the suture. The number of these varices

per whorl and their complexity of form are classificatory char-

acters not usually regarded as important. A few years ago, with

the revival of Hexaplex Perry, 1811,^ complications began, for

its type species would come within the boundaries of Phyl-

lonotus in its customary sense. Nothing is gained, however, by

synonymizing Phyllonotus. A possible way to preserve it would

be to redefine both units; interestingly enough, a division could

be made on the basis of morphology that would separate the

species also into geographic groups. Hexaplex, with its East

Indian type species and 3 West American forms — H. brassica

(Lamarck, 1822), H. erythrostomus (Swainson, 1831), and H.

regius (Swainson, 1821)^ — would be restricted to the Pacific,

whereas Phyllonotus would be entirely Atlantic in distribution.

The type of Phyllonotus has usually been assumed to be the

northern Caribbean P. pomum (Gmelin, 1791), for the actual

monotypical type species, P. imperialis (Swainson, 1831) has

been considered identical with it. Abbott (1958, p. 61) has

challenged such a synonymy and, pointing out that the name

Murex imperialis is a primary homonym, has renamed the type

species as M. (Phyllonotus) margaritensis. His figures of the

southern Caribbean form looked so disquietingly like Hexaplex

regius that I speculated in print (Keen, 1959) on whether this

might indeed be a Caribbean Hexaplex, in which case Phyllono-

tus as a name would be jeopardized more than ever. Opportun-

ity since then to study several specimens and tabulation of all

available size measurements have laid at rest my fears. I am con-

1 Hexaplex was based on several species, none indicated as type. Jous-

seaume in the 1880's cited Murex cichoreus as type, but as this name was not

actually in the original list, the first valid type selection was that of Hertlein

and Strong, 1955: H. foliacea Perry zr Murex cichoreus Gmelin, 1791 [better

known under Lamarck's later name, M. endivia], an Indo-Pacific species.

2 This specific name has been attributed to Wood, 1828, but I can now

report that it was actually validated earlier by Swainson in his Exotic

ConcJiology, ed. 1, pt. 2, October, 1821, in the caption to an unnumbered

plate. The name was overlooked entirely by Sherborn in his lyulex Ani-

maliutn (one of his rare omissions) , although earlier Sherborn and

Reynell (Proc. Malac. Soc. London, 11(5): 279, 1915) had cited Murex

regius as validated by Swainson. This earliest use of the name was confirmed

when Dr. S. S. Berry acquired recently a copy of Swainson's exceedingly

rare book.

January, 1960 nautilus 105

vinced that Phyllonotus margaritensis is distinctive and not a

Hexaplex. New limits, however, will have to be set tor both

groups, thus:

Hexaplex includes those shells with several varices (usually

more than 4i/^) per whorl, with well-developed frills and spines

on the varices, especially along the shoulder of the whorl. Pink

coloration of the aperture is characteristic in all species, from a

trace of color at the posterior notch to complete suffusion of the

entire aperture.

Phyllonotus comprises those shells with fewer than 41/2 varices

(mostly 3 to 31/2) per whorl; varices have subdued spines or none

at all. Pink coloration in the aperture is sporadic (i.e., in only

one species and not invariably in that one) .

Under the new arrangement, Phyllonotus, with P. pomum, P.

margaritensis (or, as Dr. Clench [1959, p. 333] prefers, P.

pomum margaritensis), and one or two West African species,

would still be a group confined to the Atlantic were it not that

a new and unquestionable eastern Pacific Phyllonotus has been

found. Not only that, but the 8 specimens of the new form so

far seen show sufficient morphologic and geographic differenti-

ation to suggest a species and subspecies, which are here des-

cribed.

Phyllonotus Swainson, 1833

Zool. Illust., ser. 2, vol. 3, pi. 100 (generic name only, no

species names cited) .

Type species (subsequent fixation, Swainson, 1833) : Murex

(Phyllonotus) imperialis, var. a = M. imperialis Swainson, 1831

(not Fischer, 1807) ^=z M. (P.) margaritensis Abbott, 1958 (new

name) .

Phyllonotus peratus, new species. PI. 10, fig. 6

Shell of medium size, with about 8 whorls, general color a

dull grayish-brown, with obscure traces of underlying color

bands of cinnamon to chestnut brown below the suture and

on the base, with lighter areas between varices, and with darker

spots on intervarical nodes; aperture white, suffused along the

inner lip (also inside the outer lip of the holotype) with a

warm creamy-yellow, and with four dark brown spots (ends of

discontinuous color bands) showing on the outer lip, of which

the uppermost spot continues above the aperture as a brown

blotch. Sculpture of hollow spines along the varices, simulating

106 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

those of Hexaplex on a small scale, with 2 (rarely 3) axial rows

of sharply-defined intervarical nodes. Varices regularly 3 per

whorl, each varix ending just short of the corresponding varix

of the previous whorl, so that the rows of varices run diagonally

up the spire. Spiral sculpture of several primary cords (8 on the

last whorl of the holotype) that show best near the varices and

may disappear between the nodes, with 6 to 8 uniform-sized

spiral threads both on and between the primary cords. Aper-

ture somewhat elliptical, the inner lip nearly smooth, rising into

a free-standing parietal w^all; outer lip serrate, with 14 irregular

notches that reflect the primary and some of the secondary

spiral sculpture. Operculum dark brown, ovate, with the nucleus

sub-terminal and the right margin thickened within; outer sur-

face not smooth but showing a radial depression, marking the

inner edge of the thickening, and about 1 1 undulating con-

centric increments of growth. Posterior siphonal notch of mod-

erate size, angular. Anterior canal narrowed, markedly recurved,

nearly closed. Remnants of previous canals present (one on

holotype, two on paratype) , projecting to the left of the pillar.

Dimensions: Holotype, length, 66 mm., width, 41 mm., length

of aperture, 24 mm.; paratype, length, 69 mm., width, 42 mm.,

length of aperture, 25 mm.

Repositories: Holotype, California Academy of Sciences Paleo.

Type Collection, no. 7780; paratype, no. 7780A.

Type locality: Calif. Acad. Sci. loc. 17974, 14 mi. SE of Judas

Point, Costa Rica, depth 42 fathoms (T. Crocker-N.Y. Zool.

Soc. Exped. Sta. 214-D-l, 9° 19' 32'' N. Lat., 84° 29' 30" W.

Long., Mar. 1, 1938; mud and shell bottom) .^

Derivation of specific name: The Greeks had a word for this:

their adjective peratos (transliteration) , meaning, "on the oppo-

site side, west." W^hat more appropriate term could one ask?

Comparisons: Although some Phyllonotiis pomum specimens

are said to be spinose, none among the 40 available for com-

parison or among published illustrations equal P. peratus in

this respect. Perhaps other specimens than the type lot of P.

peratus lie, as they did in the California Academy's collection,

3 After this paper had been submitted for publication, I received a report

from Mr. Martin D. Burkenroad that he had just got some peculiar speci-

mens of a Hexaplex. Mv guess that they might be Phyllonotiis proved cor-

rect. One of his 3 specimens, submitted for study, is a good P. peratus

measuring 55 mm. in height, 36.5 mm. in diameter. The range of the

species is therefore extended to Panama (trawled in 40 fathoms off Parita

Bay, Gulf of Panama, Oct. 16, 1959). Relative proportions and sculpture

of this specimen cast doubt on the validity of P. p. deeoris as more than a

color form, though again the southern specimen is slightly more spinose

and darker in color than those from Mexico.

January, 1960 nautilus 107

mislabelled "Murex regius, juvenile." The 3 varices and lack of

pink coloration, of course, refute this.

Phyllonotus peratus decoris, new subspecies. PI. 10, figs. 4, 5, 7.

This may be only a color form, but the differences seem con-

sistent. The aperture is brighter yellow than that of P. peratus,

s. s., and the spire is a delicate coral pink for the first three or

four whorls in some specimens. The untreated shell is lighter

in color: a grayish-yellow. Etching with acid ( which had hap-

pened to several specimens before they reached their present

owners) reveals an underlying color pattern of bright cinnamon-

brown bands on a white ground, with small flecks of darker and

lighter brown to the left of each node between varices. Sculp-

ture is lower and more subdued. The shell seems also a little

smaller, with a shorter anterior canal and, in most specimens,

a slightly shorter spire.

Dimensions in mm.

Length Width Length of aperture

Repositories: Holotype, Stanford Univ. Paleo. Type Coll., no.

8753, courtesy of Dr. D. R. Shasky; Paratype, collection of Dr.

SJiasky; Hypotypes 1 to 3, collection of Captain Xavier Men-

dosa, Guaymas, Mexico; Hypotype 4, pi. 10, fig. 7, collection of

Dr. Edwin J. Purcell, Tucson, Arizona, from west Mexico, exact

locality and depth unknown.

Type locality: West Mexican coast near the Guatemalan

borcler, depth about 15 fathoms; obtained from a shrimp boat

by Dr. Donald R. Shasky.

Other localities: The hypotypes are also from shrimp boats —

exact localities unknown but unquestionably from the West

Mexican coast between the Gulf of Tehuantepec and Guaymas,

Sonora, probably in the Salina Cruz area, all taken in nets of

the Hector II, Cpt. Juan Rios, skipper.

Derivation of name: The adjective decoris is a Latin w^ord

meaning "elegant", "ornamented", or "beautiful", all appro-

priate terms for this shell.

Comparisons: The distinctions between P. peratus peratus and

P. peratus decoris, though slight, are apparently consistent, the

108 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

dimensions of the 6 specimens of the latter being almost identi-

cal except for the one slender variant shown in fig. 7. P. peratus,

s. s., geographically a more southern form, seems to be somewhat

the larger, with a higher spire and longer canal. Differences of

both from P. pomum may be summarized thus: In P. pomum

the varices become narrowed at the suture, giving the effect of

being tucked under the preceding varix, whereas in P. peratus,

s. I., they tend to flare and in P. peratus, s. s., to form several

imbricating scales or laminae. In P. pomum the spiral sculpture

consists of alternating primary and secondary ribs, striated by

finer threads. In P. peratus the secondary sculpture is nearly

even, with no additional fine threads. In P. pomum the intervar-

ical spaces rise into one or two rounded axial ribs, but in P.

peratus there are only isolated and sharp-pointed nodes in irreg-

ular rows. Graphical analysis of height-width ratios shows that

although P. pomum is more variable, P. peratus tends to be

longer for the width, to have a larger aperture, and to have a

narrower canal.

Phyllonotus pomum seems to be a stock in which geographic

races are developing into possible subspecies. The southern Car-

ibbean stock, here regarded, for convenience, as a separate

species (P. margaritensis), seems, on the basis of 9 specimens for

which measurements were available (as compared to 18, chosen

as random, for P. pomum), to grow much larger (maximum

length 110 mm., as compared to 85 in P. pomum), and it is

markedly wider for the length, with a larger aperture and a

wider canal. One unnamed variant of P. pomum, represented in

the Stanford Collection by 3 specimens from Colon, Panama, is

nearly as spinous as P. peratus, but the shells are decidedly

thinner and more slender, darker in color (almost a uniform

chestnut brown in one specimen) , with a much longer and nearly

straight anterior canal. All these variations imply that the

Miocene ancestor of the tropical-American Phyllonotus stock

was a vigorous strain capable of a number of geographic varia-

tions that are now being realized in both the western Atlantic

and the eastern Pacific.

Phyllonotus sp. PI. 10, figs. 2-3

A single specimen of a form that one would assume should be

PLATE 10

1 (x 1) ' Phyllonotus pomum (Gmelin), Grand Bahama I., James McLean,

coll. 2 (X 9) and 3 (x 1)' P- sp- 4, 5 (x 1). P- peratus decoris Keen,

holotype. 6 (x 1) > P- peratus Keen, holotype. 7 (x ^) , P- peratus decoris

Keen, hypotype 4.

NAUTILUS 73 (3)

PLATE 11

1-3, Calipyrgula pecosensis Leonard and Ho (1, holotype, 11265, KUMNH.

2 paratype,' 11266 KUMNH. having 7 whorls and proportions approaching

C. hibbardi. 3, paratvpe, 11266, KUMNH., sectioned to show strongly twisted

columella). 4, 5, C. hibbardi Leonard and Franzen, paratypes, 981,

KUMNH., from Lower Pliocene Laverne Formation, bx/o miles south Gate,

Beaver County, Okla. (4, sectioned to show nature of columella). All

figures enlarged approximately 15 times.

January, 1960 nautilus 109

part of the P. peratiis complex was collected by Mr. E. C. Stiles

on the beach at Mazatlan, Mexico .The specimen, although not

taken alive, was but recently dead, for the nuclear tip is com-

plete and perfect, showing 21/2 dark brown, rather cylindrical,

smooth whorls above the cancellate juvenile shell. Having only

6 whorls, the specimen is evidently immature. Careful study of

sculpture, form of varices, and other criteria that separate P. per-

atus from its congeners leaves one with the conviction that this

is a specimen of P. pomum. It is figured here for two reasons:

to show the form of the nuclear whorls, of which I have seen

no good illustration, and to put collectors at Mazatlan on the

alert. Though this seems unlikely, one must not dismiss as im-

possible the survival of P. pomum in both oceans since the sepa-

ration of the Atlantic and the Pacific during the later part of

the Tertiary. Fortuitous introduction of this specimen to the

Mazatlan beach seems more probable, however, perhaps by shell-

collecting tourists who had recently been working the shores of

eastern Mexico.

Repository: Stanford Univ. Paleo. Type Coll., no. 8754, cour-

tesy of Mr. E. C. Stiles, collector. Mazatlan, Mexico, spring, 1958.

Acknowledgments. My special thanks go to the collectors

whose loan and gift of material made this paper possible: Dr.

Donald R. Shasky, of Glendale, California; Dr. Edwin J. Purcell,

of Tucson, Arizona; Mr. Everett C. Stiles, of Seattle, Washington,

and the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. I wish

to thank Dr. William Clench for a comparative specimen of

P. margaritensis, Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Burch for the privilege

of studying their holdings of this form, and Mr. James McLean

for the loan of an unusually fine specimen of P. pomum for

illustration.

References

Abbott, R. Tucker. The marine mollusks of Grand Cayman

Island, British West Indies. Monog. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila-

delphia, no. 11, 138 pp., 5 pis., Dec. 31, 1958.

Clench, W. J. The genus Murex in the Western Atlantic, supple-

ment. Johnsonia, vol. 3, no. 39, pp. 331-334, 2 figs., June 26,

1959.

Keen, A. Myra. Some side notes on "Sea Shells of Tropical West

America." The Veliger, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1-3, July 1, 1959.

110 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

A NEW SPECIES OF CALIPYRGULA (HYDROBIIDAE)

FROM THE PLEISTOCENE OF TEXAS

By a. BYRON LEONARD and TONG-YUN HO

In the course of studies on the fossil molluscan faunas in the

late Cenozoic continental deposits of western and southwestern

Texas, sponsored jointly by the University of Texas Bureau of

Economic Geology, and The National Science Foundation under

the terms of a contract (NSF'-G3481) between National Science

Foundation and the University of Kansas, shells of an unde-

scribed species of hydrobiid gastropod in late Pleistocene depos-

its in the Pecos River Valley were discovered.

The new species is assigned to the genus Calipyrgiila Pilsbry,

because of the general resemblance to other species now assigned

to that genus, and the great difficulty of establishing actual rela-

tionships among hydrobiid snails in the absence of the soft

parts. There is no proof that the species described by Leonard

and Franzen (1944, p. 19) from the early Pliocene Laverne

Formation are in fact congeneric with those described by Pilsbry

(1934, p. 541) or that the species under consideration here is

congeneric with either of the two previously described groups

of species assigned to the genus Calipyrgula. Admitting the

widely separated localities of occurrence and considerations of

stratigraphic occurrence (Leonard and Franzen, 1944; Pilsbry,

1955) , it seems unlikely that all these species are actually con-

generic, but there seems little to be gained by proposing generic

names for the species concerned.

Calipyrgula pecosensis, new species. Plate 11, figs. 1-3.

Diagnosis: A minute hydrobiid gastropod, having an elongate,

narrowly conic, imperforate or narrowly rimate shell of 7 or 8

rounded whorls; small aperture; simple, ovate peristome, re-

flected over umbilicus and adherent to last whorl above; simple

and well incised suture.

Calipyrgula pecosensis (pi. 11, figs. 1-3) most closely resembles

C. hihbardi Leonard and Franzen, (figs. 4, 5) but differs in hav-

ing a more slender shell, one or two more whorls, less elongately

oval aperture (figs. 1, 2, 5) and more strongly twisted and

slightly heavier columellar axis (figs. 3, 4) .

Holotype: Catalogue number 11265, University of Kansas

Museum of Natural History, obtained by A. B. Leonard and

January, 1960 nautilus 111

Tong-Yun Ho, 6 June 1959. Orginal number, ABL 1012A.

Description of holotype: Shell elongately conic, imperforate,

small (total length, 4.42 mm., diameter, 1.27 mm.), last whorl

relatively large, comprising approximately one-half the total

length of shell; spire narrow, slender, tapering gradually to

relatively blunt apex; aperture ovate, higher than wide (height,

0.97 mm., diameter 0.71 mm.) ; peristome simple, inner margin

reflected over umbilicus, and closely adherent to last whorl

above; whorls 8, well rounded at periphery; suture simple,

deeply incised; one and one-half apical whorls finely granu-

lose having waxy texture, remaining whorls having closely

spaced, delicate, vertical growth ridges not clearly visible with-

out magnification, and extremely delicate incised spiral grooves,

visible only with high magnification.

Paratypes: Little variation occurs among the more than 1000

paratypes collected from 6 localities, although a few individuals

(PL 11, fig. 2), are less narrowly elongate than is the holotype

and have proportions that more nearly approach those of

Calipyrgula liibbardi. The extremes of variation are exemplified

by the measurements (in millimeters) of 4 paratypes (catalogue

number, 11266) from the type locality.

Total Height Diameter No. of

length Diameter Aperture Aperture whorls

On a few paratypical shells, the fine, incised spiral sculpture

is somewhat better developed, especially on the last whorl, than

on the holotype, but on none is the sculpture a conspicuous fea-

ture. Rarely, individual shells possess irregularly distributed,

strong, vertical ridges, seemingly produced by fusion of the usual,

fine, more numerous vertical ridges. Still other rare specimens

have the peristome erect, not reflected over the minute umbilicus,

and standing free of the last whorl above. Paratypical specimens

have been deposited at the Museum of Comparative Zoology,

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Type locality: Late Pleistocene deposits exposed in left bank

of Pecos River, 3.5 miles northeast of Imperial, in Crane County,

Texas.

Stratigraphic distribution: Each of the six collecting localities

from which Calipyrgula pecosensis has been recovered consists of

late Pleistocene terrace deposits, exposed by subsequent degra-

112 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

dation of the channel of the Pecos River. If C. pecosensis is bio-

logically congeneric with C. hibbardi, of the early Pliocene La-

verne Formation of northwestern Oklahoma (Leonard and Fran-

zen, 1944, p. 19), the genus is unaccounted for in the region of

its known occurrence east of the Rocky Mountains, through

most of late Cenozoic time.

Areal distribution and ecology: Calipyrgula pecosensis is now

known only from exposures along the Pecos River, southwestern

Texas, distributed from Pecos River at bridge on U. S. Highway

290, 3 miles southeast of Sheffield, Pecos County, to one mile

east of the city of Pecos, in Ward County. Although the latter

locality provided the most abundant population of all the local

deposits from which the species was collected, we were unable

to discover examples farther upstream.

The 6 localities from which C. pecosensis was collected, to-

gether with approximate numbers of specimens taken at each

locality, are:

Right bank of Pecos River, near bridge on U. S.. Highway 290,

3 miles southeast of Sheffield, Pecos County, Texas; 5 specimens.

Right bank of Pecos River, 5 miles northeast of Buena Vista,

Pecos County, Texas; 50 specimens.

Left bank of Pecos River, 3.5 miles northeast of Imperial, in

Crane County, Texas; 400 specimens. (Type locality.)

Left bank of Pecos River, 3 miles northwest of Imperial, in

Crane County, Texas; 300 specimens.

Left bank of Pecos River, 3 miles southwest of Grand Falls,

Ward County, Texas; 250 specimens.

Left bank of Pecos River, one mile east of Pecos, in Ward

County, Texas; 350 specimens.

Little is known of the ecological requirements of Calipyrgula

pecosensis. Judging from the lithology of the sediments in which

it has been found (finely and well sorted silts and fine sand,

having humic stains and marl development) , this snail thrived

in sluggish streams or in marshes; this view is strengthened by

the occurrence with it of numerous individuals of Physa anatina,

Ferrissia parallela, Pisidium sp., and a species of ostracod. So

far as known, however, no other prosobranchiate gastropod

occurs with C. pecosensis.

Literature cited

Leonard, A. Byron, and Franzen, Dorothea S. 1944. Mollusca

of the Laverne Formation (Lower Pliocene) of Beaver

January, 1960 nautilus 118

County, Oklahoma Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 30 (pt. 1, no.

2) : 15-39, pis. 4, 5. May 15.

Pilsbry, Henry A. 1935. Mollusks of the fresh-water Pliocene

beds of the Kettleman Hills and neighboring oil fields,

California. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 86: 541-

570, Jan. 29 (issue of 1934)

SUCCINEA AUREA LEA AND S. PYRITES, NEW

Bv LESLIE HUBRICHT

Succinea aurea was described by Lea (Proc. Amer. Philos.

Soc. 2:32, 1841. Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 9:4, 1846) from speci-

mens collected at Springfield, Ohio. During the spring of 1958,

the author visited Springfield to collect this species. Two species

of Succineidae, Oxyloma retusa (Lea) and Quickella vermeta

(Say) , were found in abundance in that area.

In his description. Lea states: "This is a beautiful little species,

remarkable for its fine surface and bright golden colour. In

form it is nearly allied to vermeta. (Say.)" Quickella vermeta is

sometimes of a bright golden color, especially when it lives in

sunny situations. Succinea aurea is undoubtedly based on Quick-

ella vermeta, and the Atlantic Coastal species which has borne

this name is a different species.

For this Atlantic Coastal species, the author proposes the

name Succinea pyrites, new species. It is described by H. A.

Pilsbry, Land Mollusca of North America (North of Mexico)

2:815-818, figs. 441a, b; 442E (holotype) , F. Type locality: Cape

May, New Jersey, holotype 67795, paratypes 247364 Sc 189420

A.N.S.P., other paratypes 20614, collection of the author.

Of the localities cited by Pilsbry for Succinea aurea, those from

near the Atlantic Coast from Virginia to New Jersey are prob-

ably all Succinea pyrites. In the authors experience, S. pyrites

is confined to salt marshes and the records from western New

York need to be verified anatomically before being accepted.

The records from Yammasee, South Carolina; Wells, York Co.,

Maine; and Barnstable Co., Masachusetts, are based on imma-

ture shells which are unidentifiable. The record from Oldtown,

Ohio, is based on an immature specimen of Oxyloma retusa

(Lea) . The records from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Clark Co.,

Indiana, are undoubtedly based on Quickella vermeta which is

a very common snail along the Ohio River.

114 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

THE GREEN LAND MOLLUSK FROM NEW GUINEA

B^ WILLIAM J. CLENCH

Mr. J. B. Henrard (Naut. 13: 63-65, 1959) has questioned the

generic placement of the species I described as Eustomopsis

(Verdichloritis) polingi. He claims that it should be Planispira

(Cristigibba) polingi. As he has not seen my specimen of polingi,

his specimens may be something else, as polingi is not, in any

sense, a Cristigibba and certainly is a ''Chloritis". The few speci-

mens of three species of Cristigibba in the MCZ. are compara-

tively heavy shells, are opaque, and possess a very strong gibbous

crest. E. polingi is thin, translucent and has no trace of a crest.

It does have a very slight depression behind the lip, a character

found in a multitude of land mollusks.

The shell morphology is that of Eustomopsis, but its final

placement in this genus must await the time when its soft anat-

omy is known.

Regarding the green coloration exhibited by a few genera of

land mollusks, I did not raise the question as to whether this

color was impregnated in the lime of the shell or only invested

in the periostracum. Henrard's statement that "in all those

shells, (i.e. Ligiius, Amphidromus) the coloring matter is situ-

ated in the calcareous layer of the whorls and all the other shells

mentioned by him", is certainly in error. The green color in

Liguus, most Amphidromus, Helicostyla, Papuina and others, is

located in the periostracum.

FAMILY NAMES IN PULMONATA, 4

By H. BURRINGTON BAKER

The following alphabetic index to the subfamilies and syno-

nyms of the family names in Pulmonata gives each combining

stem and, after a hyphen, enough letters to place the family in

the alphabetic list in my first (1) paper, Naut. ^9:128, which

was supplemented by a second (2) , Naut. 76>: 34, and a third (3) ,

Naut. 7^:141. This is the 4th. In these supplements, the names

in the first were corrected or redated (Cf. 2, 3, or 4) and more

names were added (2, 3 or 4) . The families with synonyms are

followed by CAPITAL letters, to assist in recognition of their

abbreviations.

January, 1960 nautilus 115

At the London Congress (1958) : "The rule that a family

name is not to be changed when the type genus is found to be

a synonym" (Cf. 1, footnotes 2 8c 4) "was reaffirmed, with the

clear provision that this was not intended to upset changes of

long standing or wide acceptance" (News letter, Soc. Syst. ZooL,

ser. 2, no. 9, p. 2). Will not the application of this "clear" pro-

vision and/or the "50 year rule" be very difficult? In any case,

please do not quote my 4 lists for the "acceptance" of any of

the changes involved. The family names which are based on

synonyms are Aperidae, Auriculidae (?) , Buliminidae, Coch-

lostylidae (obsolete) or Eulotidae, Gadiniidae, Helicterinae

(Achatinellidae) and Lucerninae (Camaenidae) . The last two

apparently have been in synonymy for 50 years, as is also true of

any name founded on Brachypodella (Urocoptidae), Mesodon-

tinae (Polygyridae) or Scolodens (Scolodontidae or Systrophi-

idae) , and probaby Plectopylididae (Corillidae) . Nevertheless,

"Helicteridae" was used as a heading in the Zoological Record

until 1939.

Acanthinul-Va.i Acav-ACA (cf. 3). Acell-Ly. Achatin-ACH.

Achatinell-Helict. Acrolox-An.^ Acrob-ini Starabogatov (1958)-

Pl. AcTore- (cf. 3) . Adven-Eu. Aegist-Eul (cf. 2). Agriolimac-Li.

Ailly-. Albe-Hv (3) . Alopi-Cl. Amastr-AMA. Ameriann-eae

Zilch (1959) -PI. Ammonitell-Thys., Lu. Amphibol-AMP.^

Amphibulim-Or. Amphidox-Pun. Amphidrom-Lu, Amphipepl-

Ly. Ampull-Ach (3) . Ampullacer-Amp. Anaden-Ar. Ancyl-AN

(cf. 3).^ Ancylastr-An.i Aneite-At. Anoglypt-Aca (3) Anthrac-

opup-inae Zilch (1959) -Au. Aper-AP. Aqueban-Sa. Ariant-He.^

Ariolimac-Ar. Arion-AR.^ Ariophant-Xe, Artemon-Str. (3).

Aspasit-Va. Athoracophor-AT. Aulacospir-inae Zilch (1959)-

Pup. Auricul-AU (cf. 2) . Auriculell-To. Austroselenit-Str.

Azec-idae^ Kennard & Woodward (1926) -Ci.

Bale-Cl.^ Berendti-Br. Binney-Ar. Biomphalari-Pl. Bothiembry-

Or (3) . Brachypodell-BR (= Urocoptidae) . Bradybaen-inae

Pilsbry (1924)-Eul. Bulim-.^ Bulimin-BU. Buliminops-Eul.

Bulimul-Or. Bulin- (cf. 3, but correct "Bulinulinae" to Bulin-

inae) Bullin-Pl (cf. 3).

Caecili-Ach. Caecilianell-Ach. Camaen-Lu. Camptocerat-Pl. Cam-

pylae-He. Carychi-CA.i Caryod-Aca. Cassidul-Au (cf. 3) . Cati-

nell-Su. Cecilioid-Ach.^ Cepol-, Cepoli-Xa (cf. 3) . Cerast-Bu.

Cerastu-inae Wenz (1930) -Bu. Ceri-, Cerion-CE (cf. 3) .^

1 "Type genus'' accepted by ICZN. Ancylus takes as type A. fluviatilis, so

Pseudancylinae is a synonym of Ancylinae, and Acroloxinae replaces my

(1) typical subfamily.

116 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

Charop-Pun. Chilin-. Chlamydephor-Ap. Chlorit-Lu. Choa-

nomphal-PI. Chondrin-Bu, Pup. Chondrul-Bu. Chron-Eu.

Cionell-CI. Circinari-Va, Ha. Clausili-CL.^ Clavator-Aca. Coch-

licop-Ol, Ci. Cochlodin-Cl. Cochlostyl-Eul (3), but prior (ob-

solete?) . Coeliax-Ach (cf. 3) Coneuplect-Eu (3) . Conovul-Au.

Conul-Eu.2 Coret-Pl. Corill-PIe. Cryptelasm-Ach. Cryptell-Li.

Cylindrell-Br. Cystopelt-Eu.

Daudebardi-Vi. Derocerat-Li (3) . Dipnelic-Lu (2) . Disc-Pun. i

Dorcasi- (cf. 3) . Drepanotrem (at)-eae Zilch (1959) -PI. Durgell-

Xe. Durgellin-Eu (cf. 3) . Dyak-Xe.

Elasmatin-To. Ellobi-Au. En-Bu (cf. 2) .^ Endodont-Pun. Enne-

Str (cf. 3) . Epiphragmophor-Xa. Erept-Helica (cf. 2) . Euca-

lod-Br. Euconul-EU.i Euglandin-Sp. Eulot-EUL (cf. 3). Eu-

paryph-He.-

Fanul-Eu. Ferrissi-An. Ferussac-Ach. Filholi-Cl. Flammulin-Pun

(cf. 3). Fruticicol-Eul, Hy. Fusul-Cl.

Gadini-G (cf. 3). Garnieri-Cl (cf. 3) . Gastrocopt-Pup. Gastro-

dont-Vi. Geomitr-Hy. Geotroch-Helica. Gibb-Str. (2) . Girasi-

Xe (cf. 3) . Glandin-Ol. Godwini-Vi. Gonidom-Str (2) . Gonio-

disc-Pun. Grangerell-Or. Gudeconch-Pun.

Hadr-Lu. Haplotremat-HA. Hedleyell-Aca. Hedleyoconch-Eu.

Helic-HE.i Helicarion-HELICA (ef. 3; Helixarionidae prior) .

Helicell-Vir Hy (cf. 3),^ He.^ Helicigon-He (cf. 3) . Helicodisc-

Pun. Helicodont-He (cf. 3). Helicostyl-Eul (cf. 3). Helicter-

HELICT (= Achatinellidae) . Helisomat-Pl. Helixarion-

Helica (3) . Helminthoglypt-Xa. Hemiplect-Xe. Holospir-Br.

Humboldtian-Xa. Hyalimac-Su. Hyalini-Vi. Hygromi-HY.^

Hypselostomat-inae Zilch (1959) -Pup.

Imer-Va. Isidor-Pl.

Jacost-Hy.- Jamini-Bu. Janell-At. Janul-Vi.

Kaliell-Helica.

Laevapic-An. Laminifer-Cl. Lampadi-Lu (3) . Lane- Laom-Pun.

Lati- (cf. 3). Lauri-Pup.^ Ledoulxi-Ur. Leptachatin-Ama.

Leptax-He. Leucochro-Hy. Liardeti-Eu. Ligu-Or (2) . Limac-

LI (cf. 3) .^ Limn-, Limnae-Ly.- Limnophys-Ly. Lucern-LU

(= Camaenidae) . Lymn-,- Lymnae-LY (cf. 2) .^ Lysino-Xa.

Macrochlamyd-Xe. Macrocyl-. Marpess-Cl. Megalophaedus-Cl

(3) . Megaspir-. Megomphic-Thys., Lu. Meisenheimeri-Va.

Melamp-Au. Mantissoide-Cl. Mesodont-MES (z= Polygyridae) .

Microceram-Br. Microcyst-Eu. Milac-Li.^ Miratest-Pl (3).

Murell-He (cf. 3) . Myotest-Xe.

Nanin-Xe. Napae-Bu. Neni-, Neniastr-Cl. Neoplanorb-An. Neso-

pup-Pup. Nitor-Helica.

Obelisc-Ach (cf. 3) . Odontostom-Or. Oleacin-OL.^ Onchid-,

Oncidi-ON. Oncidiell-On. Oopelt-Ar. Opeat-Ach. Orcul-Pup.

2 "Type genus" rejected by ICZN.

January, 1960 nautilus 117

Oreohelic-Lu. Orthalic-OR. Orthogibb-Str (2) . Ostracoleth-

Xe. Otin-.i Otoconch-Pun.

Pachnod-Bu. Pacificell-To. Pagodin-, Pagodul-, Pagodulin-Pup.

Papuin-Lu. Paralaom-Pun. Parmacell-Li. Parmacellill-Tr.

Parmarion-Xe. Partul-. Paryphant-Rh (c£. 3 & 2) . Patul-Pun.

Patulastr-Pun. Pedinogyi-Aca. Pediped-Au. Peltat-Ur. Peroni-

On. Phaedus-Cl. Phenacohelic-Pun. Philomyc-PHI. Philonesi-

Eu. Phys-. Physastr-inae Starabogatov (1958) -PI. Planispir-Lu.

Planorb-PL (cf. 3) .^ Planorbul-Pl. Platysuccine-Sa. Plectopy-

lid-PLE (cf. 3; = Corillidae). Plesiophys-inae Bequaert &

Clench (1939) -PI. Pleurodisc-PLEU (= Pyramidulidae/

1914) . Pleurodont-Lu. Plutoni-Vi. Poecilozonit-Vi. Polygyr-

Mes. Polygyrell-Thys. Pompholic-Pl. Pompholycode-Pl. Pro-

tancyl-Pl. Pseudancyl-An.- Pseudocharop-Pun. Pseudoplect-

Xe. Pseudotrochatell-Helica. Pseudoveronicell-Va. Ptychotre-

mat-Str. Punct-PUN.^ Pup-Ce (cf. 3) . Pupill-PUP.i Pyramidul-

idae^ Kennard & Woodward (1914) -Pleu. Pythi-Au.

Rathousi- (cf. 3) Rhagad-Lu. Rhodacm-An. Rhytid-RH (cf. 3) .

Rotadisc-Pun. Rumin-Ach.^

Sagd-SA. Sarasinul-Ve. Scalax-inae Zilch (1959) -Ach. Scaph-On.

Scarab-Au. Scolodent-, Scolodont-SC. Segmentin-Pl.^ Selenit-

Str. Semperul-Ve. Serrul-Cl (3). Sesar-Helica. Sheldoni-Ur.

Siphonari-. Sital-Xe. Sonorell-Xa. Sophin-Eu. Spelaeoconch-Ci.

Spelaeodisc-Va. Sphincterochil-inae Wenz (1959) -Hy. Spirax-

SP. Staffordi-Xe. Stenacm- (cf. Naut. 72:68). Stenogyr-Ach.

Stenop-Sc. Stenopyl-Pun. 8treptax-STR. Strepostel-Str (3) .

Streptostyl-Sp. Strobil-, Strobilops- STRO. Strobil-idae Zilch

(1959) not Joos (1911) -To. Succine-SU^ Systrophi-Sc.

Tacheocampyiae-He (3) . Tanychlamyd-Xe. Tebennophor-Phi.

Testacell- Theb-He.i Thyrophorell- (cf. 3) . Thysanophor-

THYS. Thysanot-Pun. Tornatellin-TO.i Trigonochlamyd-TR.

Triodops-Mes. Trimuscul-idae Habe (1958) -G. Triptychi-Cl.

Trochomorph-Vi. Trochananin-Ur. Eu. Trochozonit-Ur.

Troch-Hy. Truncatellin-Pup.^

Urocopt-Br. Urocyl-UR.

Vaginul-Ve. Vallon-VA.^ Varicell-Ol. Veronicell-VE. Vertigin-

Pup.i Vitre-Vi.^ Vitrin-VI. Vitriplutoni-, Vitriniplutoni-

Vi.

Xanthomelon-Lu. Xanthonych-XA. Xerophil-He, Hy.^ Xest-

XE.

Zacole-inae Webb (1959)-Ar. Zaptych-Cl (3; Xaptych-) . Zonit-

Vi. Zoph-Str. Zospe-idae Bourguignat (1856) -Ca.

3 Previously (1) , I did not notice that succinea was a Latin adjective.

NOTES AND NEWS

Lloyd E. Berry, 1892-1959.— On October the sixth, 1959, we

118 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (3)

lost a very dear and true friend with the passing of Lloyd E.

Berry, a retired U. S. Army lieutenant who saw action in Siberia

during World War I. His passing at the U. S. Government Hos-

pital at Sawtelle was the result of service-connected disability.

We who have known Mr. Berry the last decade knew him as a

conchologist, who specialized on the Cypraeidae, having an out-

standing collection. Few Cypraea collectors could equal his col-

lection in quality, number of species, and number of specimens.

Nor do I know of a private collection that was so well kept. This

fabulous collection was inherited by his surviving sister, Mrs. J.

V. Yankie, 1804 Warwick Road, San Marino, California, and

will eventually be for sale as a unit. — Mrs. John Q. Burch

Sanibel marines. — I understand that some Indo-Pacific shells

are being found on Sanibel Island, Florida, and think that this

is the result of dredging. Some 3 shell collections were lost dur-

ing a hurricane in 1920, and now these shells are being found

on the beach, dead, of course. — Lula B. Siekman (from letter) .

Sinistral shell of Campeloma integrum. — While sinistral

specimens of the uterine young of Campeloma are fairly com-

mon, adult specimens of reversed symmetry are only rarely col-

lected. An adult sinistral specimen of Campeloma integrum Say

was collected by one of my students in field zoology, Mario

Pisanelli, on April 8, 1959. This shell and three dextral shells

of the same species were collected in a swamp at Twin Lakes,

north of Kent, Ohio. The sinistral shell measures 30 mm. high,

and 19 mm. wide. The apex is eroded, and 41/2 whorls are in

view. The species was determined by Dr. William J. Clench,

and the specimen was given to the Museum of Comparative

Zoology at Cambridge, Mass.

Over (Naut. 29: 90-95. 1915) reported a similar sinistral

specimen of this species from the Vermilion River in Clay

County, South Dakota. Sinistral specimens of C. decisum have

been reported by Ancey from New York (Naut. 10: 104-105. 1897),

Hinkley (Naut. 20: 40-44. 1906) from the Tennessee River,

Vanatta (Naut. 26: 96. 1912) from Pennsylvania, and Daniels

(Naut. 26: 38-42. 1912) from Indiana. F. C. Baker (The Fresh-

water Mollusca of Wisconsin, Part I, p. 67. 1928) reported one

January, 1960 nautilus

111

reversed specimen among 160 adults collected. Sinistral shells of

C. siibsoUdum were found in Missouri by Sampson (Naut. 29:

128-129. 1916) and one of C. geniculum by Goodrich (Naut. 52:

129-131. 1939) in Georgia. Webb (United States Mollusca, p.

149. 1942) gives an illustration of a sinistral specimen of C. pon-

derosa and C. decisiim, the latter from New York. Sinistral speci-

mens of an unidentified species of Campeloma were described

by Hand (Naut. 41: 106-107. 1928) and by Meyer (Naut.

41: 107. 1928) from Chicago. Pilsbry (Naut. 10: 118. 1897)

commented in regard to the rarity of reversed adult shells of

Campeloma that, "This doubtless indicates that the reversed

condition is an unfavorable one for maturation." — Ralph W.

Dexter, Dept. of Biology, Kent State Univ., Kent, Ohio.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

EuTHYNEURA. By Adolf Zilch. Handbuch der Palaeozoologie.

Gastropoda, by Wilhelm Wenz, continued Teil 2, Lieferung 1,

pp. 1-200 + I-XII, 701 figs. 1959.— This issue carefully surveys

the shell-bearing (fossil forming) opisthobranchs and Pulmon-

ata, up through the geophile Orthurethra and Heterurethra.

For each genus or subgenus included, the type species, a brief

description of its shell, and its distribution in time and space,

are given. Shell descriptions for the major taxons are necessarily

vague, and notes on the animals, about which little can be

learned from paleozoology, mainly are limited to habitat and

external form. The figures of the type species show the shape ex-

cellently, but sometimes are a little weak on details, such as sculp-

ture and apertural armatures. However, they do serve well to illus-

trate this systematic outline, which, of course, is not meant to

be used for specific identifications. In the limnophiles, the Lan-

cinae are included in the Lymnaeidae, but the Ancylidae are

divided into 5 families. Among the last is the 'Terrissiidae,"

although unfortunately Hannibal, 1912, made both Laevapicinae

and its "type genus" prior. In the pupilloids, Steenberg, 1925,

is followed mainly. Of course, his "Chondrinidae" is subsequent

to Gastrocoptinae Pilsbry, 1918, and even the usage of Chondrina

is open to doubt (Cf. Pilsbry, 1935, Man. Conch. 2<9:203) . In

general, the names of familial groups follow the old "rules;"

for example, "Trimusculidae" is substituted for Gadiniidae,

1840. On the other hand, "Cerastuinae" apparently is preferred

to Pachnodinae because of the supposed homonymy (?) of the

"type genus" of Cerastinae Wenz, 1923. Subclass Euthyneura is

divided into 10 orders, 6 or 7 of which are opisthobranchs

("Suborder" Notaspidea, p. 59) and 2 or 3 are Pulmonata

(Soleolifera omitted, p. 4) . To the latter, I would add Actophila

(p. 63) and Thalossophila (Amphibolidae &: Siphonariidae, but

not Gadiniidae, which are patelliform Limnophila) . — H. B. B.

Gebruder Borntraeger, Berlin. DM 84.

Two NEW PLEURocERiD snails from eastern Mexico. By Fred

G. Thompson. Occ. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 600: 8 pp.,

1 fig., 1 pi. 1959. — Lithasiopsis crassa and L. darnelli are des-

cribed from Rio Sabinas. Radulae are like northern genera. —

H. B. B.

"Taphius PRONUs" (Martens, 1873) Pulmonata, Planorbidae) .

By W. Lobato Paraense & Newton Deslandes. Rev. Brazil. Biol.

i5:367-373, 10 figs. 1958.— Shells and animals are described and

figured clearly. — H. B. B.

WILLIAM H. WEEKS SHELL COLLECTION: New lists now

in preparation; full scientific data. Send name and address

for free copies. Shells also wanted for purchase and exchange.

George E. Jacobs, 853 Riverside Drive, New York, 32, N. Y.

A CHECK LIST OF THE MARINE SHELLS OF ST. CROIX,

U. S. Virgin Islands, with random annotations. Up to date.

Lists 650 species plus 60 subspecies, including 20 new. With

70 illustrations. The "random notes" contain much new infor-

mation. Price: $4.10, post free.

G. UsTiCKE, 1 North Street, Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Is.

How TO COLLECT SHELLS: Published by the American Malacological Union.

$1.00. Write:

Margaret C. Teskey, Sect., Route 2, Box 318, Marinette, Wis.

Directory of conchologists. — The 1960 edition will be published the first of

that year. Price will be $2.50, postpaid. For inclusion, write:

John Q. Burch, 4206 Halldale Ave., Los Angeles 62, Calif.

THE NAUTILUS

Vol. yi April, 1960 No. 4

SEVEN PUERTO RICO CONES: NOTES AND RADULAE

By GERMAINE L. WARMKE

Institute of Marine Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez

The cones are among the most beautiful and most interesting

gastropod mollusks. At least part of this interest comes from the

fact that they possess a poison gland and are capable of injecting

a venom into their prey by means of detachable, spear-like

radula teeth (p. 123) . Painful and even fatal bites are reported

to have been inflicted on humans (Abbott, 1950) . None of the

West Indian species, however, is believed to be dangerous to man.

The present paper describes the radulae of seven species of

cones found in Puerto Rico. Most of these species occur through-

out the West Indies; but to our knowledge, the radulae have

not been described or figured previously.

All the radulae studied are toxoglossate. Each tooth is made

up of a sheet of chitin rolled up like a paper spill. The teeth,

from 20 to 70 in number, depending on the species, are enclosed

in a radula sac. These are detached one at a time from the

radula, through the proboscis, to paralyze the prey. A highly

toxic venom flows from the large poison gland through the hol-

low tube of the tooth when the tooth is emitted by the animal.

The radula teeth studied appear to fall into four distinct

groups, as follows:

1. Point armed on one side with a barb and on the other with

a blunt-ended blade, (fig. 4) . The tooth is serrate for about half

of its length. There is usually a minute cusp at the end of the

serration. In addition, there is a spur at the base of the tooth.

C. daucus, C. spurius, C. mus, and C. juliae belong to this group.

These four species can easily be separated by the following key:

A. Serration just over I/2 length of tooth. Blade very short

C. spurius (fig. 5)

B. Serration less than i/^g length of tooth.

1. Blade slightly longer than serration, serration usually with

17-22 notches C. juliae (fig. 6)

2. Blade shorter than serration.

a. Blade about I/2 length of serration C. daucus (fig. 4)

119

120 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

b. Blade almost as long as serration, serration usually with

8-15 notches C. miis (fig. 7)

II. Tooth rather short and broad, the head armed on one side

with a small barb at the tip and three minutely serrated blades

on the other. Conus regins belongs to this group (fig. 3) .

III. Tooth small and lacks any kind of serration. The tip is

armed with a sharp barb on each side, one being about twice

as long as the other. The rest of the tooth is plain, except for

a rather large spur at the base. C. jaspedius and its forms belong

to this group (fig. 1).

IV. Tooth large, lacking serration; the shaft is cylindrical with

a simple base and no spur. The armature consists of two large

barbs, one on each side of the tip, and a long backward-point-

ing process with curved tip. C. ranunculus is in this group

(fig- 2) .

Peile (1939) suggested that the presence of the projecting spur

at the base of the tooth might serve to retain the tooth within

the proboscis when prey is attacked. However, Kohn (1956)

showed that Conus striatus, which does not possess the spur,

retains the tooth in the proboscis in feeding.

Kohn (1959) showed that the presence of the spur at the base

of the cone is generally correlated with feeding on eunicid and

other tube-dwelling polychaete worms. Since eunicids burrow

in the coral and coral-reef rocks, Kohn suggests that the spur

may help the predator in extracting the worm from its burrow.

At least one of the Puerto Rican species, Conus regius, was found

to contain a large number of polychaete bristles in its alimentary

tract, and the radula teeth of this species do have spurs at their

base. (Table 1 and fig. 3) .

About 100 live or preserved cones were available for this study.

Notes which may prove of interest are included for each species.

Conus regius Gmelin

A common species found living under rocks and in coral reefs

in 4 to 10 feet of water. The animal is blood red in color. The

cones studied ranged in length from 19 mm. to 67 mm. The

radula sac contained from 25 to 32 teeth, most of them stained

yellowish brown. The teeth increased in length with the size

of the shell. In the 19 mm. cone the teeth measured 0.525 mm.

in length; in the 67 mm. cone they measured 2.1 mm. The

largest variation in size of teeth within one shell was 0.07 mm.

In the 67 mm. cone, the poison gland measured 20 mm. in

April, 1960 nautilus 121

length, the radula sac 10 mm. in length, and the tube leading

from the poison gland to the buccal mass was 290 mm. long

when stretched out.

CoNUs Mus Hwass

This is one of the most common cones in Puerto Rico. It is

found crawling on rocks and in crevices in a few feet of water.

The animal is dark red, speckled with purplish red. The

cones studied ranged in size from 15 mm. to 36 mm. in length.

The radula sac contained from 32 to 35 teeth, which ranged in

length from 0.379 mm. (15 mm. shell) to 1.106 mm. (36 mm.

shell) . The teeth within the same cone vary little in size, 0.03

mm. being the largest variation observed.

In the 36 mm. cone the poison gland measured 9.5 mm. in

length, the radula sac 5.5 mm. in length, and the tube leading

from the poison gland was 95 mm. in length when stretched

out.

During March, 1959, Conus mus was found with egg cases.

The cones were in a rock depression, in about 2 feet of water,

and the cases were attached to the rock. The egg capsules were

light cream colored, rectangular in shape, and measured approx-

imately 10 mm. in length by 7 mm. across. Each case contained

over 500 eggs, the majority still in the 1-cell stage, but some

had divided into 2 cells, and a few had reached the 4-cell stage.

Conus jaspedius Gmelin

Most of the specimens used for this study were obtained from

shallow dredgings on sandy or mud bottoms. The animal is

yellow, speckled with black. The cones ranged in length from

19 mm. to 30 mm. and varied from smooth (without pustula-

tion) , to intermediate (some degree of pustulation) , to verrucose

(pustulose) .

The radula sac contained from 52 to 70 teeth. The teeth of

these three forms are identical in shape, and the length of the

teeth is proportional to the size of the cone, regardless of its

form. (See Table 1) . This similarity in tooth structure would

seem to indicate that Conus verrucosus is not a distinct species

from Conus jaspedius, but rather a genetic form as suggested

by Abbot (1958).

122 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

Table 1. Comparison of tooth and shell length in smooth,

intermediate, and pustulose forms of Conus jaspedius Gmelin.

Shell length Average length of

in mm. teeth in mm,.

Smooth 19 0.31

Pustulose 20 0.34

Intermediate 21 0.34

Smooth 21 0.36

Intermediate 22 0.38

Pustulose 26 0.41

Smooth 30 0.44

Conus ranunculus Hwass

This is one of the rarer species of cones from Puerto Rico.

All our information is based on one preserved specimen collected

by M. McDowell, on Mona Island, 40 miles west of Puerto Rico.

The specimen measured 50 mm. in length and the operculum

11 mm. The animal had a bright orange proboscis, the edge of

the mantle was yellow-orange, and the rest of the animal was

cream colored, splotched with brown. The periostracum was

thin and Hght yellow in color. The radula sac measured 13 mm.

and contained 34 teeth, averaging 5.17 mm. in length.

In this species, the muscle at the base of the tooth is very

long and strong.

Conus spurius Gmelin

Dead shells of this species are fairly common on the west

coast, where there are reefs offshore. Our studies are based on

a freshly-killed specimen, 44 mm. in length, which had a 14

mm. operculum. The periostracum was light brown, thin, flaky,

and transparent. The animal was cream-white in color. The

radula sac contained 38 teeth, measuring from 1.085 mm. to 1.15

mm. in length.

Conus daucus Hwass

Like C. spurius, dead shells are often found on the beaches,

but live shells are hard to find. The animal is bright orange

throughout. The tiny black eyes are almost at the tips of the

tentacles. The radula teeth measured from 0.995 mm. to 1.20

mm. in length in the 45 mm. shell.

In this species, the muscle at the base of the tooth appears to

be weak, since not one of the teeth retained the muscle when

April, 1960

NAUTILUS

123

Camera lucida drawings of single radula tooth from 7 species of Puerto

Rican cones. 1, Conus jaspedius (actual size of tooth .34 mm., extracted

from a 21 mm. cone) . 2, C. ranunculus (tooth 5.17 mm. from 50 mm. shell) .

Part of shaft omitted in figure because of extreme length. 3, C. regius (tooth

2.1 mm. from 67 mm. shell). 4, C. daucus (tooth 1.2 mm. from 45 mm.

shell). 5, C. spurius (tooth 1.15 mm. from 44 mm. shell). 6, C. juliae

(tooth .63 mm, from 20 mm. shell) . 7, C. mus (tooth .75 mm. from 30

mm. shell) .

124 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

they were teased away from the radula sac.

One specimen found at Aguadilla remained alive in a dish of

salt water for over 2 weeks. The animal was most active at

night. When the shell was placed with the aperture down on

the bottom of the dish, the animal would turn a somersault by

pushing with its foot until it flipped up in an almost verticle

position, with the spire of the shell resting on the bottom of

the dish.

CoNus juLiAE Clench

This little cone is usually found on the west and northwest

coasts, where there are reefs offshore. Specimens of this species

remained alive for several days in the laboratory. The color of

the animal is bright orange-red. The specimens studied were

20 and 27 mm. in length. The radula sac contained 20 teeth,

which measured from 0.63 to 0.69 mm. in length.

In the 20 mm. cone, the poison gland measured 5.5 mm. in

length and the radula sac 2.0 mm. in length.

Acknowledgements: This work was made possible through the

kindness of many persons, who donated or loaned their shells

to the Institute of Marine Biology for this study. The author

is most grateful to Ted and Lois Arnow, F. St. Clair, Merrill

Arbuckle, M. McDowell, Genie Garrison, Amy and K. O. Phares,

Gordon Usticke, General Merwin H. Silverthorn, Jorge Rivera

Lopez, A. J. Ostheimer, 3rd., A. L. Laurence, James and Betty

Bradford, and Charles Cover.

Christine Boyce, of the College of Agriculture and Mechanic

Arts, University of Puerto Rico, made all the drawings.

Literature Cited

Abbott, R. Tucker. 1950. The venomous cone shells. Science

Counselor. Dec. 1950.

1958. The marine mollusks of Grand Cayman Island, British

West Indies. Mon. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia No. 11: 1-38.

Kohn, Alan J. 1956. Piscivorous gastropods of the genus Conus.

Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 42: 168-171.

1959. The ecology of Conus in Hawaii. Ecological Mon.

2P(1): 47-90.

Peile, A. J. 1939. Radula notes VIII. Conus. Proc. Malacol. Soc.

London 23: (6): 348-356.

April, 1960 nautilus 125

NEW CALIPYRGULA FROM PLEISTOCENE OF TEXAS

AND NOTES ON COCHLIOPA RIOGRANDENSIS

By a. B. LEONARD and TONG-YUN HO

Continued studies of the large assemblages of fossil shells from

Pleistocene deposits in the Pecos River Valley in southwestern

Texas, jointly sponsored by The University of Texas Bureau of

Economic Geology and The National Science Foundation (con-

tract number NSF-G3481), have brought to light another un-

described species, here assigned to the genus Calipyrgula for

reasons which were discussed in a previous paper (Leonard and

Ho, 1960). In the course of these studies, both fossil and living

examples of Cochliopa riograndensis Pilsbry and Ferriss were

obtained. We also include in this paper our observations on this

little-known species.

Calipyrgula circumstriata, new species. Plate 12, figs. 1-3

Diagnosis: A minute hydrobiid gastropod, having an elongate,

narrowly conic, imperforate, or narrowly rimate shell of 6 or 7

rounded whorls; aperture small, ovate, slightly angulate above;

peristome simple, slightly reflected over minute umbilicus and

adherent to last whorl above; suture simple, well incised; proto-

conch finely granulose, remaining whorls generally bearing 5 or

more narrow spiral ridges of somewhat irregular size and

spacing.

Calipyrgula circumstriata closely resembles C. hihbardi Leon-

ard and Franzen (1944, p. 19) , but the latter lacks the surface

sculpture characteristic of C. circumstriata. It differs from C.

pecosensis Leonard and Ho (1960, p. 110) in having fewer

whorls, less slender form, and spiral sculpture. From species of

Tryonia, C. circumstriata differs by having spiral, rather than

vertical sculpture, and by having well-rounded, rather than

shouldered whorls.

Holotype: (PI. 12, Fig. 1) Catalogue no. 11301, University of

Kansas Museum of Natural History, obtained by A. B. Leonard

and Tong-yun Ho, 4 June, 1959. Original no.: ABL 1004.

Description of holotype: Shell minute (less than 5 mm. in

length) , narrowly conic, imperforate, having 7 well-rounded

whorls; aperture ovate, narrower and angulate above; peristone

simple, slightly reflected over umbilicus and adherent to last

whorl above; protoconch of one and one-half whorls finely gran-

ulose, remaining whorls bearing narrow, somewhat irregularly

spaced spiral ridges ranging in number from 3 on second whorl

126 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

to 12 on last; last three whorls having a few indistinct vertical

ridges crossing spiral sculpture; extremely fine and numerous

vertical growth lines apparent on all whorls save protoconch;

suture simple, well incised.

Paratypes: No. 11302, UKMNH. (Plate 12, figures 2, 3). Con-

siderable variation occurs among the several hundred paratypes

from the same locality; the extremes are illustrated. Fig. 2

exemplifies the obsolescence of the spiral lines on some shells,

while fig. 3 shows another extreme, but relatively rare, variation

in which vertical ridges are conspicuously developed. Inter-

gradation occurs among the variants; most shells, however,

closely resemble the holotype. Variations in dimensions are illus-

trated by the following measurements, in millimeters.

Height Diameter No. of

Length Diameter aperture aperture whorls

Holotype 4.9 2.1 1.5 1.2 7

Paratype 4.3 1.8 1.3 1.0 61/2

(fig- 2)

Paratype 3.7 1.4 1.2 0.7 6

(fig- 3)

Paratypical specimens have been deposited at the Museum of

Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massa-

chusetts, and at the United States National Museum, Wash-

ington, D. C.

Type locality: Late Pleistocene terrace deposits in right bank

of Pecos River, one-fourth mile above mouth of Independence

Creek, on Chandler Ranch, Terrell County, Texas.

Areal and stratigraphic distribution: We found Calipyrgula

circumstriata at: the type locality; on W. C. Dunlap Ranch,

about 12 miles south-southeast of Sheffield, in Terrell County;

and near bridge on U. S. Highway 290, 3 miles southeast of

Sheffield, Pecos County, Texas. At the last mentioned locality,

a single specimen of C. circumstriata was found associated with

C. pecosensis, although the latter species occurs abundantly in

the late Pleistocene terrace along the Pecos River, as far north

as northern Reeves County (Leonard and Ho, 1960, p. 112).

Each of the three localities of occurrence of C. circumstriata is

in the late Pleistocene terrace in which the Pecos River is

presently shallowly entrenched.

Inasmuch as C. circumstriata has been found in deposits along

the Pecos only at places where that river has begun its entrench-

April, 1960 NAUTILUS 127

ment in Cretaceous rocks as it approaches the deeply entrenched

Rio Grande, we may infer that C. circumstriata inhabited the

clear, cool, rocky streams characteristic of certain tributaries

(such as Independence Creek) of the Pecos River. This inference

is strengthened by the observation that at the Chandler Ranch

(type) locality, C. circumstriata occurs with fossil Cochliopa

riograndensis Pilsbry and Ferriss; the latter is presently living in

Independence Creek. Efforts to find living C. circumstriata have

not been successful.

Cochliopa riograndensis Pilsbry and Ferriss. PI. 12, figs. 4-7,

text figs, 1-4.

Pilsbry and Ferriss (1906, p. 171) described Cochliopa rio-

grandensis from shells found at two localities near the Rio

Grande, Val Verde County, Texas. The original description

was based on "dead" specimens taken from drift debris. For

this reason, they gave no information about habitat, or about

anatomical details of radula and operculum. To our knowledge,

neither the radula nor the operculum has been described and

figured. We deem it advisable, therefore, to contribute our ob-

servations to a further knowledge of this little-known species.

Shortly after the discovery of fossil shells of C. riograndensis

(UKMNH. no. 11343) at the type locality of Calipyrgula cir-

cumstriata, we found nearly 30 specimens of living C. riogran-

densis in Independence Creek, near the bridge on Texas High-

way 349, about 16 miles south of Sheffield, in Terrell County,

Texas (UKMNH. no. 11636, 4 June, 1959, original no. TYH

30) and no more than a mile from the place where the fossil

shells were collected. The snails were living in relatively slug-

gish water about six inches deep in the clear, cool, fast-flowing

stream. C. riograndensis was here restricted to the edge of the

stream, and was fairly abundant under cobbles of limestone,

logs, and in aquatic vegetation. Associated with C. riogranden-

sis were Lymnaea hulimoides techella (Haldeman) , Gyraulus

similaris (Baker), Physa anatina Lea, and Ferrissia shimekii

(Pilsbry) . To our knowledge, this occurrence of C. riograndensis

is a northern extension of its previously known range.

Operculum (PI. 13, fig. 1): Horny, thin, roundly ovate, all

sides regularly rounding upward to a semiarcuate apex; whorls

5, the last about triple the width of penultimate whorl, inner

128 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

whorls narrower and increasing regularly in width; sculpture

consisting of coarse unequidistant, obliquely radiating growth

lines crossed by very fine spiral lines that are visible only on

the last half of the last whorl; nucleus small, circular, more or

less granular, placed about 6/13 the distance from base to apex,

somewhat toward the left side; attachment to operculigerous

lobe indicated by a thickening about a third of the distance from

border to nucleus; thickening raised above the general level

of the operculum; greater diameter from 0.8 millimeters to 1.3

millimeters.

Measurement of figured specimen: greater diameter, 1.3 mm.;

lesser diameter 1.1 mm.

Radida (PL 13, figs. 2, 3, 4): Central tooth (fig. 2): Width

about twice height; lateral angles produced and sharply tri-

angular; ventral margin having large, triangular process extend-

ing from base; lateral ridge large, wide, having two basal den-

ticles, anterior one larger than posterior; reflection wide and low,

having 11 sharply elongate cusps, central cusp about three times

as wide as lateral cusps, reaching nearly 2/^ distance from dorsal

margin to ventral margin; lateral cusps smaller, gradually in-

creasing in size toward center. Lateral tooth (fig. 3) : Body

slightly wider than high, having sharply rounded lobe extending

from inner basal part of body; large, U-shaped, pit-like depres-

sion in center of body; peduncle almost twice as long as body,

gradually narrowing toward end, having elongate ridge parallel

with long axis, but displaced toward outer margin; reflection

wide and low, bearing two inner cusps, one large central cusp

and four outer cusps, all cusps sharply elongated and diminish-

ing in size toward margin of tooth. Inner marginal tooth (fig. 4) :

Falcate, having long and narrow body; peduncle spatulate, less

than twice length of body, bearing elongate centrally placed

ridge parallel to long axis and branching near base of body;

reflection wide and low, bearing 20 to 30 fine, sharply elongate

cusps; cusps near central portion of reflection relatively large

and acute, those on lateral margin becoming smaller.

Measurements of figured radula in microns

Central tooth. Width 32

Height 16

Length of cusp row 20

Lateral tooth. Height 58

Length of cusp row 20

Marginal tooth. Height 51

Length of cusp row 24

We found no significant differences between the fossil shells

of Cochliopa riograndensis (PI. 12, figs. 4, 5, 6), and those from

living individuals (PI. 12, fig. 7) . The spiral color bands on

NAUTILUS 73 (4)

PLATE 12

Figs. 1-3, Calipyrgula circumstriata Leonard & Ho: 1, holotype shell.

2, 3, paratypes from same locality, to show extremes of variation in size, pro-

portions and surface sculptine. Figs. 4-7, Cochliopa riograndensis Pilsbry &

Ferriss: 4-6, fossil shells. 7, apical view of shell from living animals.

NAUTILUS 73 (4)

PLATE 13

Figs. 1-4, Cochliopa riograndensis Pilsbry & Ferriss: 1, outer view of oper-

culum, X 26. 2-4, radular teeth (x 1000) : 2, central; 3, lateral; 4, inner

marginal.

Figs. 5-7, Choanopoma radiosum (Morelet) : normal adult (5) and two

elongate freaks (6, 7) . Fig. 8, Coelocentnun fistulare (Morelet) nuclear

whorls.

April, 1960 nautilus 129

shells from living snails differ in number and in width; a few

individuals had broad colorless bands on the ventral aspect of

the shell. The protoconch is invariably colorless, and lacks also

the spiral ridges characteristic of the remaining whorls. Color

bands are, of course, absent on fossil shells since the epiostracum

is not preserved, and the spiral ridges are often faint, as they are

on the figured specimen.

Several of the living examples of C. riograndensis from Inde-

pendence Creek contained embryos in advanced stages of devel-

opment; these varied from 30 to 50 in number in adult snails.

Literature cited

Leonard, A. Byron, and Franzen, Dorothea S. 1944. Mollusca

of the LaVerne Formation (Lower Pliocene) of Beaver

County, Oklahoma. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 30, pt. 1, no. 2:

15-39, pis. 4, 5. May 15.

Leonard, A. Byron, and Ho, Tong-yun. 1960. A new species of

Calypyrgula (Hydrobiidae) from the Pleistocene of Texas.

Nautilus, 73 (3): 110-113, pi. 11. January 15.

Pilsbry, Henry A., and Ferriss, J. H. 1906. Mollusca of the

southwestern states. H. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. -Philadelphia,

58: 123-175, pi. 9. July 24.

^ I ^^>5- '

NON-MARINE MOLLUSKS FROM BRITISH HONDURAS

By fritz HAAS and ALAN SOLEM

Chicago Natural History Museum

Outside of the few records listed by von Martens (1890-1901),

no non-marine mollusks have been reported from British Hon-

duras. The availability of some material collected by Ivan T.

Sanderson in 1940 and W. D. Thomas in February, 1959, has

prompted this short list. Mr. Thomas collected at the Rio Frio

Cave East, about two miles from Augustine on the Mountain

Pine Ridge, Cayo District, British Honduras. Mr. Sanderson

collected at several localities as listed under the specific names.

The material is all deposited in Chicago Natural History Mu-

seum, with a set of duplicates of Mr. Thomas's shells in the

Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard.

Most of the species are common Guatemalan forms, but sur-

prisingly, some species previously known only from the Bay

130 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

Islands off Honduras (see Ancey, 1886 and Richards, 1938)

were represented. Some peculiarly incrusted fresh-water shells

are reported on separately (liaas, 1959) . A few forms are figured

as an aid to future workers.

Pomacea belizensis (Crosse and Fischer) . Stann Creek Valley.

Pomacea ghiesbreghti ghieshreghti (Reeve) . Kate's Lagoon.

Neocyclotiis dysoni dysoni (Pfeiffer) . Rio Frio Cave, Kate's

Lagoon, Bokowina.

Choanopoma (C.) rigidulum (Morelet) . Rio Frio Cave.

Choanopoma (Colobostylus) radiosum (Morelet). (PI. 13,

figs. 5-7) Rio Frio Cave.

Two non-decorticated, elongate freak specimens are shown

with a normal individual.

Choanopoma (C hoanopomops) largillierti (Pfeiffer) . Che-

tumal.

Helicina (H.) flavida (Menke) . Rio Frio Cave.

Helicina (Oxyrhombus) amoena (Pfeiffer) . Rio Frio Cave,

Double Falls, Bokowina.

Lucidella {Poeniella) lirata (Pfeiffer) . Rio Frio Cave.

Pyrgodomus simpsoni (Ancey) . Rio Frio Cave.

Described from Utilla Island, Honduras, by Ancey (1886:

253-254) , this species differs from the Guatemalan P. microdina

(Morelet) only in having a more angulate periphery. Possibly

they are only subspecifically distinct.

Pachycheilus (P.) planensis Lea Rio Frio Cave.

Living examples were collected from the stream issuing from

the cave and mummified specimens (see Haas, 1959) were found

inside the cave.

Pachycheilus (Glyptomelania) obeliscus (Reeve) . Sibun R.,

tributary of Eastern Branch, Cayo District (W. D.

Thomas!) .

Synopeas beckianum (Pfeiffer) . Rio Frio Cave.

Leptinaria (L.) fordiana (Ancey) . Rio Frio Cave.

Leptinaria (L.) lamellata (Potiez and Michaud) . Stann Creek

Valley.

Spiraxis (Volutaxis) sulciferus (Morelet) . Rio Frio Cave.

Streptostyla thomsoni (Ancey) . Rio Frio Cave.

Streptostyla dysoni (Pfeiffer) . Rio Frio Cave.

Euglandina sp. Rio Frio Cave.

Euglandina cylindracea (Philippi) . Chetumal.

Hyalosagda haldemaniana (C. B. Adams) . "British Honduras."

Unless Sanderson's locality is in error, this species has

probably been imported on plants from Jamaica.

April, 1960 nautilus 131

Microceramus (M.) consisus (Morelet) . Chetumal.

Brachypodella (B.) sub tills (Morelet) . Rio Frio Cave.

Coelocentrum (C.) fistulare (Morelet). (PL 13, fig. 8). Rio

Frio Cave. The opportunity is taken to figure the nuclear

whorls.

Orthalicus princeps crossei Martens. Rio Frio Cave, Double

Falls.

Drymaeus (D.) alternans honduranus (Pfeiffer) . Rio Frio

Cave, Kate's Lagoon.

Bulimulus (B.) corneus (Sowerby) . Chetumal.

Averellia {Trichodiscina) coactiliata (Deshayes) . Rio Frio

Cave, Chetumal.

We are indebted to Mr. W, Donald Thomas of Balboa, Canal

Zone, for the opportunity to study this material and to Mr.

A. H. Anderson, Archaeological Commissioner of British Hon-

duras, for information concerning the Rio Frio Cave site.

Bibliography

Ancey, C. F. 1886. Une excursion malacologique sur le versant

atlantique de Honduras. Ann. de Malacologie 2:237-260.

Haas, Fritz. 1959. Ueber Schneckenmummien. Arch. f. Mollusk.

(95(4/6) : 159-161, 5 textfigs.

Martens, E. G. 1890-1901. Land and freshwater MoUusca. Biol.

Cent. Americana.

Richards, H. G. 1938. Land mollusks from the island of Roatan,

Honduras. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, 79 (2) : 167-178, 3 pis., 1 fig.

QUANTITATIVE SAMPLING

By CHARLES B. WURTZ

Consulting Biologists, Philadelphia 2, Pa.

In this paper, the term quantitative is used in the sense of the

statistician and not in the lay sense of simply large numbers of

organisms taken in the field.

Mollusks are collected, as are all other organisms, for two

reasons only. First, and of no interest here, they are collected

simply as curiosities of natural history. Second, they are col-

lected for the purpose of studying all, or some aspect of the

population. In this latter kind of collecting the only practical

method of collecting is by means of samples. The samples rep-

resent observations. In so far as it is practicable to do so, and

only in so far as practicable, samples should be collected quanti-

132 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

tatively. Actually, an ideal quantitative sample must fulfill three

fundamental criteria (cf. Simpson and Roe, "Quantitative Zool-

ogy" (1939) :

1) Collections must be made from a single, well-defined

population only.

2) Collections must include all the variations within the

population.

3) The variations must occur in the sample with the same

relative frequency they have in the whole population.

Good sampling starts with a definition of the population to

be sampled, and good collecting involves as complete a collection

of all the elements in the definition as possible.

The first criterion of the ideal sample is commonly achieved.

It is easy to limit our collections to a single, well-defined pop-

ulation. All that is necessary is to specify the geographic area,

to include all the ecological habitats, and to limit the material

to be collected to a feasible group. The crucial part of this

criterion is the exact description of the population to be studied.

The second criterion is a product of technique. This ideal may

or may not be achieved by a persistent collector with nimble

fingers and a supply of sampling devices. The problem en-

countered in resolving this criterion is the ability to recognize

objectively when effective satisfaction of the criterion has been

realized. Subjectively, no one can recognize whether or not this

criterion has been fulfilled.

The third criterion is the area in which we move from biol-

ogy into statistics. We cease dealing with natural populations

as such and begin working with frequencies. The statistics of

quantitative analysis fall beyond the scope of this paper.

The first criterion of the ideal sample is almost wholly biolog-

ical, and the biologist can resolve it to his complete satisfaction.

The third criterion is almost wholly statistical, and the statisti-

cian can resolve it to his complete satisfaction. But the criterion

falling between these two appears to be in a never-never land

of inarticulation. The collector who works intensely goes home

convinced that he has collected all the species with all their

variations that occur within the defined population. The statis-

tician who receives this material for processing is inclined to

doubt that this has been accomplished. This, apparently, is in

accord with the experience of each.

April, 1960 nautilus 133

In any quantitative sampling, there are only three basic ap-

proaches. These are: 1) samples based on a fixed and predeter-

mined unit of area, 2) samples based on a fixed and pre-

determined unit of mass, and 3) samples taken through a fixed

and predetermined period of time. Everything else is only a

modification of one or more of these.

Plankton can be measured volumetrically. Time can be used

for organisms that can be trapped or for organisms that will

invade and populate a sterile surface. However, these are re-

stricted samples. The techniques based on area are the only ones

that are applicable to all kinds of organisms.

Two years ago the molluscan population of a New Jersey

river was sampled. The area collected was a shaded, rubble-

bottomed, low-gradient stretch of a small coastal river. Although

one pool had a depth of about 15 feet the stream held a littoral

fauna only. Rooted aquatic vegetation occurred in extensive

patches. The stream was not polluted, although some organic

enrichment was evident. From the collected area, the following

13 species of mollusks were taken:

Campeloma decisum Gyraulus parvus

Amnicola limosa Physa heterostropha

Goniobasis virginica Laevapex fuscus

Lymnaea humilis Elliptio complanatus

Pseudosuccinea columella Anodonta cataracta

Helisoma trivolvis Sphaerium transversum

Helisoma anceps

At this location on the eastern seaboard in the latitude of

New Jersey, any experienced collector would assume that all

the species of the defined (molluscan) population that might

be anticipated were, in fact, found. The only exception might

be Pisidium casertanum.

The sample was taken on an areal basis. The collection was

made so that material from every ecological habitat was included.

The qualitative collecting was quantitatively tempered by insert-

ing a time factor. Each habitat was collected until 30 minutes

elapsed without the addition of a species not previously taken.

If a purely quantitative sample had been sought, only two

techniques, or a modified combination of them, could have

been used. The first would be the quadrat method; the other

the transect method. However, the physical structure of the

134 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

collected area would have eliminated the proper use of either

of these.

In quantitative collecting, the sampling devices must be uni-

form. No sampling device ever invented would have taken a

uniform and constant sample from this locality because the

physical structure of the stream militated against this. Collecting

was done until the collectors were satisfied subjectively that

no further additions to the fauna could be found.

It is significant to note that the accumulated field experience

of most collectors is such that the possibility of designing a

single piece of equipment that would uniformly sample even a

small percentage of all the areas collected in a field season is

virtually nil. This is a very real handicap for absolute quantita-

tive sampling. Because of this, all collecting must, of necessity,

be biased. Furthermore, because of this, it is theoretically

impossible to take samples that are amenable to quantitative

techniques.

Aside from the inability to take quantitative samples because

of mechanical limitations, there is another aspect that must be

considered. This is the concept of randomness. The heterogeneity

of the environment and the behavioral characteristics of each

species are opposed to random collecting. A good quantitative

sample must be chosen at random, otherwise bias is introduced.

Actually natural waters are not disposed at random and aquatic

organisms are not dispersed at random. There are real causes

behind their occurrence and distribution. This is a built-in

bias that cannot be overcome.

An experienced biologist would anticipate the presence of the

species actually collected from this locality, but he certainly

would not seek them by random collecting. He would look for

them in the habitats where they live. The three species of clams,

along with Campeloma decisum, are burrowing forms. They can

only be taken by digging into the substrate. The limpet,

Laevapex fuscus is virtually sedentary. Conversely, the other pul-

monate snails are quite peripatetic in their foraging, as are

Amnicola limosa and Goniobasis virginica. Some of these tend

to be gregarious while others tend to be solitary. The lymnaeids

do not hesitate to leave the water and forage on sloping mud

banks, etc. Yet they certainly must be included in the fauna of

April, 1960 nautilus 135

an aquatic habitat. Evidently the collector resolves the second

fundamental criterion of the ideal sample to his own satisfaction,

but he does not do this quantitatively in a statistical sense, and

his data should not be used to resolve the third criterion.

To sample, randomly, a population composed of burrowing,

sedentary and peripatetic species, as well as solitary and gre-

garious species, and have the results mean anything quantita-

tively, is a highly dubious procedure.

The second fundamental criterion for the ideal quantitative

sample cannot be mechanically realized as a standard practice.

Quantitative samples can only be taken if the population is

defined with those restrictive terms which, by their very nature,

eliminate the total faunal complex from the population. A com-

plete fauna cannot be included in the definition.

The collector who wishes to handle his material quantitatively,

and the statistician who wishes to analyze such material, must

keep two thoughts constantly in mind. First, collections produced

by competent qualitative collecting will yield approximate

quantitative data. This approximation is sufficiently accurate

for use in a textual description of the population. Second, a

perfect sample in the quantitative sense is impossible of collec-

tion because the introduction of bias in sampling cannot be

avoided, and this defeats the concept of randomness.

In addition to these very severe limitations, it is worth men-

tioning that statistical analyses are very time-consuming, and

therefore expensive. Furthermore, only very rarely do statistical

analyses reveal facts that are not already apparent from really

competent qualitative collecting. Usually such studies do not

produce results that are sufficiently advanced over qualitative

work to justify the time and expense involved.

MOUNTING MINUTE RADULAE

By R. D. turner

Museum of Comparative Zoology

The preparation of radula mounts of minute snails (i.e.,

those 5 mm. and less in size) is generally a time consuming,

extremely tedious task, and, in the process of moving the radula

from one solution to another, it is often lost. This is particularly

136 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

frustrating when only one or two specimens are available. The

following technique is practically foolproof and produces excel-

lent results.

If the specimens are preserved in alcohol, the animal can

often be extracted from the shell using a minuten pin mounted

in a glass rod and hooked at the point. Using the slide on which

it is planned to mount the radula, start at the left and place

in a line, first a small drop of KOH or NAOH, then a drop of

water, a drop of 70% alcohol and a drop of polyvinyl alcohol

mounting medium. Place the specimen in the NAOH to soften

the animal until it is clear but can still be moved without falling

apart. The length of time required for this varies with the

material and it must be watched under the scope. The specimen

is then slid from the NAOH to the drop of water to remove

the base, then on to the drop of 70% alcohol for a couple of

minutes. From here you can slide it into the drop of mounting

medium. The radula can be seen inside the head and can be

easily teased out by using "minuten pin dissecting needles."

Move the radula to a clear spot and, if sufficiently large, one

possibly may dissect a portion of the radula in the medium.

The operculum, if present, can also be removed easily and safely

and moved to a clear spot. The remainder of the animal can

then be removed from the mounting medium if desired.

If the animal cannot be removed from the shell, only two

small drops need be added to the slide so that, beginning at

the left, there is a drop of weak acid to dissolve the shell, a

drop of water to get rid of the acid and then a drop of weak

base to soften the animal and continuing as before.

By this procedure, the entire process may be carried through

to completion without ever lifting the specimen or taking your

eye from it. To this point, all work is done under the highest

power of a binocular dissecting scope. Once the cover slip is in

place, the remainder of the slide can be wiped clean and the

radula can be examined under the high power of a compound

microscope. Since PVA does not harden rapidly, one can, with

a needle and light pressure on the cover glass, rotate the radula

and examine it in various positions while making illustrations.

When the study is completed, the slide should be ringed with

duco cement or fingernail polish. Staining the radula usually

April, 1960 nautilus 137

is not necessary when using PVA mounting medium but if this is

desired, a drop of acid stain can be added to the line just prior

to the drop of PVA. This procedure has reduced a process, which

may run into hours devoted mainly to groping for lost radulae,

to less than 20 minutes and so far, since using this method, I

have not lost a specimen.

LAND SNAILS FROM CENTRAL SOUTH FLORIDA

By DRUID WILSON

The area around Lake Moody, two miles north of Frostproof

in Polk County, is in a part of the Central Highlands or High-

lands Ridge of Florida locally called "the Ridge." Originally,

the open pine woods of the high surrounding hills graded in

places and at slightly lower elevations into black-jack oak

(Quercus laevis) woods and near the lake into a narrow zone of

palmetto thickets. Most of the area is now planted in citrus

groves. The soil is mapped as Norfolk fine sand (F'owler and

others, 1932, Soil map of Polk Co.), but some minor variation

is evident. The soil is noticeably lighter wherever black-jack

oaks predominate. During the last 25 years, changing cultural

practices doubtlessly have caused fluctuations in the populations

of the snail species. The soil is naturally deficient in calcium

and application of such materials as basic slag and dolomite to

the soil of citrus groves appears to affect favorably some of the

species. Use of basic slag in the 1930s was never really common,

but dolomite is now almost universally used. Desultory spraying

with lime-sulfur solution or dusting with sulfur in these depres-

sion years probably had little or no effect on species living in

citrus gi'oves. Present day intensive spraying with oil emulsions

and compounds of copper and zinc and application of copper

sulfate to the soil apparently are injurious to some of the species

or inhibit the growth of their food.

Polygyra cereolus (Muhlfeld) . The species was first noticed

in 1940 in a young citrus grove adjacent to the highway near a

roadside fruit stand. All the individuals examined have been

of the "normal" form Polygyra cereolus carpenteriana (Bland)

except one within the size range of the historically typical and

138 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

larger form Polygyra cereolus cereolus (see Pilsbry, 1940, p. 584-

586) having a diameter of 12 mm. Since 1940 the species has

spread to groves nearby and along the highway which has a base

and shoulders of limestone. Pilsbry (p. 589) reports that Polygyra

cereolus occurs on calcareous soils and Polygyra septemvolva Say

on acid soils in the same districts. Establishment of a spreading

colony of cereolus, in an area of naturally acid soil deficient in

calcium, some distance from any reported occurrence, is prob-

ably due to chance introduction and the presence in the treated

citrus grove soil of sufficient calcium carbonate. All the specimens

examined have the internal lamina characteristic of cereolus.

The data given for Hubricht's conclusions (1953, p. 116) that

"the internal lamina is not a valid specific character, and P.

septemvolva and P. cereolus are one species" are unconvincing

and directly opposed to the data and opinions on the two species

given by Pilsbry (1940, p. 582-590) ,

Praticolella jejuna (Say) . A high, pine timber habitat for

this species was noted long ago (Simpson, 1885-89, p. 66; Webster,

1892) . It apparently is the only land snail endemic on the high-

est hills of the Ridge district. Before most of the land was

cleared, the species was rare and never found in colonies, but

it is now common in citrus groves. In the early 1930s, it was

excessively abundant in two citrus groves several miles apart in

which the soil had been treated with basic slag. Either dolomite

now used is less favorable, or current spraying practices and the

use of copper sulfate on the soil affect the species adversely.

Practicolella bakeri Vanatta. No living specimens have thus

far been found, but "bones" have been collected in two small

areas. A few in a black-jack oak woods one half mile northeast

of Lake Moody, now cleared, and in greater numbers about 1.5

miles further north in a citrus grove bordering on woods of

the same kind.

Euglandina rosea (Ferussac) . This species is probably native

to the thickets of the lake edge and has also been taken around

houses. None of the individuals collected exceeds the measure-

ments given by Pilsbry (1946, p. 194) for the small ecological

variety E. rosea minor (W. G. Binney) which according to Pilsbry

inhabits dry places.

Zonitoides arboreus (Say) . Specimens have been found living

April, 1960 nautilus 139

only in the crowns of the ornamental palm "Cocos plumosa,"

where it is sometimes abundant. This restricted ecological niche,

sometimes as much as 20 feet above ground, has little except

temperature in common with its surroundings. It supports along

with the snails an amazing community of which blattids, sow

bugs, earthworms, and ants are the more obvious members.

Pupisoma dioscoricola (C. B. Adams) . Formerly present in

vast numbers in citrus trees, these minute snails are now common

only in trees not subject to repeated spraying.

These species are the only land mollusks, except an unidenti-

fied slug, that I have found in the area during a period of over

35 years.

I am grateful to Dr. J. P. E. Morrison of the U. S. National

Museum for identifying the specimens of Zonitoides arboreus

and Pupisoma dioscoricola.

Bibliography

Fowler, E. D., and others, 1932, Soil survey of Polk County,

Florida: U. S, Dept. Agriculture, Bur. Chemistry and Soils,

ser. 1927, no. 39, 39 p., soil map (1927) .

Hubricht, Leslie, 1953, Land snails of the southern Atlantic

Coastal Plain: Naut., 66 (4) : 1 14-125.

Pilsbry, H. A., 1939-1948, Land Mollusca of North America

(north of Mexico) : Philadelphia Acad. Nat. Sciences, Mon.

3, V. 1, pt. 1, p. 1-574, 1939, pt. 2, p. 575-994, 1940; v. 2, pt. 1,

p. 1-520, 1946, pt. 2, p. 521-1113, 1948.

Simpson, C. T., 1885-1889, Contributions to the Mollusca of

Florida: Davenport Acad. Sci., Proc. 5 (1885-1889): 45-72,

63*-72*.

Webster, G. W., 1892, [Note on Helix jejuna]: Naut. 5 (10) : 119.

SOME OCEANIC SUB-TIDAL OYSTER POPULATIONS

By harry W. wells and L E. GRAY

Department of Zoology, Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

The oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is usually regarded as an

estuarine organism, that is, one which lives in estuaries, where

seawater is mixed with fresh water. It thrives especially well

under estuarine conditions, forming natural beds. Churchill

(1920) placed the optimum salinity for oysters between 14

140 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

and 28 o/oo. Several reasons have been suggested for this char-

acteristic distribution. A greater quantity of planktonic food

is available to oysters there than in a more marine environment.

Fresh water flowing into the estuary may bring elements that

are important to the oyster's successful completion of its life

history, such as copper which has been credited with an impor-

tant role in settling (Prytherch 1934) . Probably more important

is the inability of many oyster enemies to live in brackish waters.

The boring sponge, Cliona celata, and the oyster drill, Urosal-

pinx cinereus, are two such oyster enemies that are barred from

upstream beds by reduced salinities.

In high salinity waters of the southeastern states, oysters are

usually restricted to the intertidal zone, the deep water beds

occurring in areas of reduced salinity. This intertidal distribu-

tion has been attributed to the selection of this zone by oyster

larvae (Galtsoff & Prytherch 1927), or to a flow of chemical

elements from fresh water that stimulates larvae to attach in

the intertidal zone (Prytherch 1934), or to the failure of oyster

spat to survive at lower levels. Lunz (1943) blamed the boring

sponge, Cliona celata, for eroding shells below the low tide mark

to such a degree that development of natural oyster beds in this

lower zone is prevented. Similarly, Chestnut and Fahy (1953)

suggested that the predation of oyster spat by the oyster drill,

Urosalpinx cinereus, offers a partial explanation for this distri-

bution of oysters in high salinities.

This report describes an unusual occurrence of oysters below

the intertidal zone in coastal North Carolina waters. Certain

environmental factors which appear to be involved are discussed.

Observations: A study has been made of marine organisms

attached to metal wrecks near the outer coastline in the vicinity

of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The location of each collect-

ing station is indicated in Figure 1 and described below.

1 — Overlook. This unidentified wreck is located 100 yards

from the beach 2 miles north of the Pea Island National Wild-

life Refuge Headquarters, formerly the Pea Island Lifesaving

Station. Its boiler stands above high tides; other sections are

exposed only by lowest tides.

2 — Rodanthe. The wreck of Landing Ship 232, 1948, is located

in the surf on the beach 600 yards south of Chicamacomico

April, 1960 nautilus 141

Lifesaving Station. The ship is largely intact, with super-struc-

ture extending well above mean high water.

3 — Waves. The wreck of a landing ship, 1948, is located 50

yards from the beach opposite the village of Waves. The ship

is broken into sections, several of which project above mean

high water.

4 — Salvo. An unidentified wreck is located 80 yards from the

beach opposite the village of Salvo. Several pieces extend above

mean high water.

5 — Ocracoke. Wreck of the Steamer "Ariosto," 1899, is located

300 yards from the beach 2 miles southwest of the ferry slip at

the eastern end of Ocracoke Island. Its mast extends less than

two feet above mean low water.

6 — Portsmouth. Wreck of the Freighter "Miget," 1952, is

located 300 yards from the beach 3 miles south-southwest of

Portsmouth village. A large section extends above mean high

water.

Oysters were collected in numbers at the four stations situated

north of Cape Hatteras. However, no living oysters were found

on the Ocracoke wreck. At the Portsmouth wreck, living oysters

and many dead shells of Crassostrea virginica were present. While

oysters are present on wrecks in the Hatteras area, they were

scarce on wrecks south of the Cape.

On the wrecks at Rodanthe (#2) and Waves (#3) living

oysters were abundant, attached to metal parts below the low

tide level. Immediately above them was a zone of blue mussels,

Mytilus edulis, which formed the lowest truly intertidal zone.

Only abnormally low tides would expose any oysters in this

habitat; most are never exposed. Oysters occupied most of the

surfaces in this subtidal zone, with only occasional openings

where the corrosion of underlying steel or the erosion of oyster

shell by boring sponge had so weakened attachment that a cluster

of oysters had been dislodged. This layer of oysters provides

attachment for some organisms and crevices suitable for the

colonization of other species. Oyster distribution on other wrecks

followed these general lines, with the principal segment of the

population occupying subtidal surfaces, and only a minor repre-

sentation in intertidal zones. The intertidal individuals were

restricted to the lowest fringe of the intertidal zone.

142 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

On the Portsmouth wreck (#6) , Crassostrea virginica did not

constitute a large part of the community. Oysters have success-

fully attached to this wreck and survived, but they are far out-

numbered by specimens of the horse oyster, Ostrea equestris.

On these southern wrecks, O. equestris effectively replaces C.

virginica, both in numbers and in its contribution to suitable

substrate for the colonization of other organisms. On wrecks

north of the Cape, individuals of O. equestris occur, but in less

abundance than on the Ocracoke and Portsmouth wrecks.

Discussion: An analysis of the various environmental factors

helps explain this unusual distribution.

PHYSICAL FACTORS: Animals attached to these wrecks are

regularly exposed to the action of surf, its aeration, its tendency

to dislodge insecurely attached forms, and to the abrasive effects

of suspended sand. At each station oysters are exposed to oceanic

conditions — relatively stable high salinities and moderate tem-

peratures that change gradually with the seasons. Neither salinity

nor temperature exceed the tolerances of the oyster. Tempera-

ture gradients along the coast have been recorded for the Cape

Hatteras region (Parr 1933, Wells & Gray 1960) , but they seem

unlikely to be directly responsible for permitting sizeable pop-

ulations of oysters north of the Cape and none or few south of

the Cape in comparable situations. Instead, temperature may

have an indirect effect by controlling the distribution of oyster

enemies. Physical factors do not provide a satisfactory explana-

tion for the observed distribution.

BIOLOGICAL FACTORS: A large number of oyster enemies

are recognized in different parts of the world (see Korringa

1952) , They include competitors for food and space, and organ-

isms that invade the oyster meats or shell, as well as the more

obviously effective predators.

Competitors: Mussels (Mytilus edulis and Brachidontes

exustus) and barnacles (Chthamalus and Balanus species) occur

in abundance on these wrecks. By sheer numbers, they would

make attachment to a firm substrate difficult for oyster larvae.

However, they are usually attached at higher levels on the

wrecks than are the oyster populations, and the oysters are suc-

cessful in maintaining themselves in spite of their presence.

The horse oyster, Ostrea equestris, is much more abundant on

April, 1960 nautilus 143

wrecks south of Cape Hatteras. Its abundance might present

serious competition with Crassostrea virginica for suitable at-

tachment.

''Invaders": Apparently the same species of boring sponge

(Cliona species) are present on wrecks south of the Cape as on

wrecks north of the Cape. There is a greater abundance of boring

sponge colonies, however, on southern wrecks. This is probably

a reflection of the greater abundance of Ostrea equestns there,

for this species of oyster may be more heavily infested by boring

sponges, as Wells (1959) has reported at Beaufort, N. C. Shells

of oysters are usually securely attached to the wrecks, otherwise

surf action would pull them loose. Apparently Cliona has not

been so effective in preventing the development of sizeable pop-

ulations of oysters here as Lunz (1943) found in waters of

comparable salinities in South Carolina.

Predators: Although starfish of the genus Asterias are impor-

tant enemies of oysters in Long Island Sound (Galtsoff &

Loosanoff 1939) , few starfish have been found and those only

on the Rodanthe wreck where the oyster population is best

developed. Apparently, starfish have little effect upon these

populations of oysters.

Lunz (1947) has pointed out the importance of the blue

crab, Callinectes sapidus, as a predator of oysters in South Caro-

lina. Numbers of large blue crabs were often observed feeding

among organisms attached to the wrecks. They were present on

wrecks both north and south of the Cape, and were observed

feeding directly on oysters at the Rodanthe wreck. Although

crabs are abundant in this habitat and they prey on oysters, the

distribution of these oyster populations is not related to the

distribution of crabs.

Predaceous gastropods, recognized oyster enemies in many

parts of the world, are represented on these wrecks by two

species: Thais fioridana, the Gulf oyster drill, and Urosalpinx

cinereus, the Atlantic oyster drill. In the Gulf of Mexico, Thais

fioridana is a serious predator of oysters (Burkenroad 1931,

Butler 1954) . In the Hatteras area, this species was collected in

numbers from the two wrecks south of the Cape, but none were

found north of the Cape.

Although individuals have been recorded from Chincoteague,

144

NAUTILUS

Vol. 73 (4)

CAPE HATTERAS

Fig. 1. Eastern North Carolina with the Cape Hatteras region enlarged to

show the location of collecting stations.

Virginia, Thais fioridnna does not occur in numbers north of

the point of Cape Hatteras. The populations on the southern

wrecks were producing typical clusters of e^g capsules in early

June, 1959, indicating that they are capable of reproduction in

this locality. Planktonic larvae of this species could be carried

northward, but apparently have not populated the northern

wrecks. Conditions seem to be unfavorable for reproduction

north of this point. Probably temperature gradients in the

region of Cape Hatteras are responsible for preventing the

successful colonization of otherwise suitable habitats to the

north. Apparently the scarcity of oysters on wrecks south of the

Cape can be correlated with the occurrence of sizeable popula-

tions of this predator.

The Atlantic oyster drill, Urosalpinx cinereus, is recognized

as the most important enemy of oysters in many areas (Carriker

1955) , but because it cannot tolerate low salinities, oyster beds

in the upper part of many estuaries are free of this pest. The

isolation from drills provided by low salinities permits the

April, 1960 nautilus 145

development of large natural oyster beds in these areas.

Urosalpinx cinereus was abundant on the Ocracoke wreck

(#5) , while none were found on the other wrecks studied. Ap-

parently here predation by this species has prevented the main-

tenance of a sizeable oyster population below the low tide mark.

On wrecks north of Cape Hatteras, however, subtidal oyster pop-

ulations survive and thrive in the absence of this species.

Of the major oyster enemies, only drills are absent on wrecks

north of the Cape. All other species mentioned — mussels, barna-

cles, oysters, sponges, starfish, and crabs — have pelagic larvae

which could be carried by currents to a newly-foundered wreck

where they could attach and produce a thriving population.

The pelagic larvae of T. floridana are similarly capable of reach-

ing new wrecks, but are apparently barred from penetrating

north of the Cape. On the other hand, instead of pelagic larvae,

Urosalpinx cinereus produces a "crawl-away" larva which emerges

from its egg capsule as a miniature of the adult. Crawling con-

stitutes the chief means of dispersal, although Carriker (1957)

has shown that these larvae may attach to moving objects or

seaweed or be carried by the surface film. The present-day dis-

tribution of this species is attributed to its unintentional intro-

duction to new areas by man (Carriker 1955) . Urosalpinx

cinereus has been recorded from hard bottoms off the North

Carolina coast (Pearse & Williams 1951, Chestnut, in Carriker

1955) , and has been collected from hard bottom off Ocracoke

Inlet. In view of the exposure of these wrecks to wave action,

crawling over the bottom seems the most likely means of inva-

sion. However, this species would have to traverse miles of sand

bottom to reach these wrecks from known hard bottoms. The

possibility of individuals reaching one of the wrecks would

be very small, but the probability of a successful invasion would

increase with time. The Ocracoke wreck now populated by U.

cinereus, where oysters no longer thrive, is one of the oldest

wrecks. It has been subject to such invasion for sixty years.

It appears as though the abundance of oysters on wrecks north

of Cape Hatteras can be correlated with the absence of oyster

drills, which is in turn correlated with the age of a particular

wreck. In this case, the isolation from oyster drills provided

oysters on these wrecks is similar to the isolation from drills

146 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

provided oysters in upstream estuarine oyster beds through the

agency of a salinity barrier. In both instances, oysters may flour-

ish in the absence of drills. The presence of mussels, boring

sponges, and crabs has had little obvious effect on these oyster

populations.

The abundance of Ostrea equestris on the southern wrecks

may be explained by a preference of these gastropod drills for

C. virginica as their prey, and their avoidance of O. equestris as

prey. Such a preference between these two oysters is exhibited by

another predaceous gastropod, Fasciolaria hunteria (Wells 1958) .

The presence of Thais floridana on the southern wrecks sug-

gests that it is partly responsible for the observed scarcity of

subtidal oysters there. Probably this species also contributes to

restricting oysters to intertidal situations in higher salinities in

the southeastern states. Unlike Urosalpinx cinereus, Thais flori-

dana can quickly populate new wrecks by means of its pelagic

larvae, thus making the likelihood of oysters establishing sub-

tidal populations in the ocean very small south of Cape Hatteras.

Acknowledgements: The authors wish to express their grati-

tude to Mrs. Mary Jane Wells, Mr. Alex Marsh, and Mr. Bruce

Welch, who were our assistants in this study, and to the Cape

Hatteras National Seashore of the National Park Service, which

supplied useful information and facilities. This study was sup-

ported by a grant (G-5838) to Duke University from the Na-

tional Science Foundation.

Summary

The unusual occurrence of subtidal populations of oysters

in the ocean has been noted on five wrecks on the outer coast

in the region of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Comparisons

were made with wrecks where oysters are scarce. The occurrence

of oysters has been correlated with an absence of the oyster drills,

Thais floridana and Urosalpinx cinereus, which are apparently

most important in limiting oysters to intertidal situations in high

salinities in some areas.

References

Burkenroad, M. D. 1931. Ecology 12: 654-665.

Butler, P. A. 1954. Proc. Nat. Shellfish. Assoc. 1953: 67-75.

Carriker, M. R. 1955. U. S. Fish %c Wildl. Serv., Spec. Sci. Rept.

Fish. 148: 1-150.

1957. Jour. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 7i:328-351.

April, 1960 nautilus 147

Chestnut, A. P. & W. E. Fahy. 1953. Nat. Shellfish. Assoc. Conv.

Addr. 1952: 79-89.

Churchill, E. P. 1920. Rept. Comm. Fish. 1919, App. VIII (Bur.

Fish. Doc. 890): 1-51.

Galtsoff, P. S. & V. L. Loosanoff. 1939. Bull. Bur. Fish. 49: 75-132.

H. F. Prytherch. 1927. Bur. Fish. Econ. Circ. 61: 1-8.

Korringa, P. 1952. Quart. Rev. Biol. 27: 266-308, 339-365. /

Lunz, G. R. 1947. Jour. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 63: 81. ^

Parr, A. E. 1933. Bull. Bingham Oceanogr. Coll. 4 (3) : 1-90.

Pearse, A. S. & L. G. Williams. 1951. Jour. Elisha Mitchell Sci.

Soc. ^7; 133-16L

Prytherch, H. F. 1934. Ecol. Monogr. 4: 47-107.

Wells, H. W. 1958. Bull. Mar. Sci. Gulf Carib. 5:152-166.

1959. Jour. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 75 (2) : 168-173.

1. E. Gray, 1960. LimnoL Oceanogr. 5(1). (In press).

NOTES ON THE PRODUCTION OF EGGS IN

ONCOMELANIA NOSOPHORA AND O. FORMOSANA^

By ARIEL A. ROTH and EDWARD D. WAGNER

Department of Microbiology and School of Tropical and Preventive Medicine,

College of Medical Evangelists, Loma Linda, California2

In a previous publication (Roth and Wagner, 1957) the

anatomy of the reproductive system of Oncomelania nosophora

(Robson) has been described. The present investigation was

pursued to determine the changes taking place as the ^g^ de-

velops while passing through the reproductive system of the

female.

For this study, snails which had been reared under laboratory

conditions of near constant temperature and light were used.

The snails were fixed in Bouin's embedded in paraffin, serially

sectioned at 6 to 10 microns and stained usually with Harris'

hematoxylin and tryosin.

The anatomy of the female reproductive system of Oncome-

lania formosana (Pilsbry & Hirase) was studied and found to be

similar to that of O. nosophora. Wagner and Chi (1959) have

shown that these two species will cross with each other produc-

ing fertile offspring. The development of the oocyte appears

1 This investigation was supported by research grant E-644 (C3) from

the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the U. S. Public

Health Service.

2 Present address of senior author: Department of Biology, Emmanue^^ Mis-

sionary College, Berrien Springs, Michigan. ' ^»ir«*; c

148 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

to follow the same process in both O. nosophora and O. formo-

sana. The following description is based on O. formosana.

The early stages up to the completion of the formation of the

yoke take place in the ovary. The first indication that one of the

cells along the wall of the diverticulated ovary is becoming an

oocyte is an increase in size especially of nucleus along with the

appearance of a large nucleolus. The cytoplasm which is at

first reduced, finely granular and strangely basophylic (Figs. 1

and 2) , becomes acidophylic as the oocyte reaches full size. At

this stage, it is composed mainly of yolk globules of various

sizes tending to be arranged in chains (Figs. 3 and 4) . These

are enclosed in a vitelline membrane and since the oocyte takes

on many varied shapes obviously the contents as well as the

surrounding membrane are very pliable. In many of the medium

and large oocytes, the nucleolus, which in earlier stages appears

single, becomes an amphinucleolus (Fig. 2) with both parts

basophylic; however, one part does not stain as deeply, and, in

Mollory's connective tissue stain, one half is red while the other

is blue.

The following changes usually take place in the parts of the

oviduct which lies between the ovary and the gonopericardial

diverticulum; however in several specimens these changes were

noted in the ovary, while in others these changes were not noted

even in the oocytes found near the gonopericardial diverticulum.

The nucleus, which previously was nearly spherical, now be-

gins to flatten conspicuously. The amphinucleolus also flattens

but maintains its two characteristic parts. A large depression

develops at the outer surface of the oocyte (Figs. 3 and 4) . The

nucleus becomes associated with this depression and usually

lies against it, but is separated from the vitelline membrane by

a thin dense layer of cytoplasm, which apparently is devoid of

yolk (Figs. 3 and 4) . In some instances on the side of the oocyte

opposite from the depression and nucleus can be found a small

mass of cytoplasm, also devoid of yolk (Fig. 3) . This may

correspond to the mass of cytoplasm found at the vegetative

pole of the egg of Lymnaea stagnalis L. as described by Raven

(1945) .

The oviduct proceeds anteriorily beyond the gonopericardial

diverticulum, passes by the opening of the seminal receptacle

April, 1960

NAUTILUS

149

CO

cy^/m

NO

NU

SOJi

All figures at same magnification. Abbreviations used: AN, amphinucleolus:

CO, cytoplasm found on side opposite from nucleus; CY, cytoplasm; NO,

nucleolus; NU, nucleus; SP, sperm; YO, volk.

1, section of young oocyte of O. formosana found along wall of ovary.

2, section of more mature oocyte of O. formosana found along wall of

ovary. 3, section of large oocyte of O. formosatia found in ovary, composite

of two serial sections. 4, section of large oocyte of O. formosana found in

accessory gland (composite of 3 serial sections) .

and bursa copulatrix, and then goes lengthwise through the

elongate, accessory gland opening into the mantle cavity. Eggs

are very rarely found in these anterior portions of the oviduct.

To enhance this possibility, 80 male-female pairs were isolated

in as many petri dishes provided with mud, filter paper, and

maple leaves. The dishes were inspected for the presence of eggs

five to six times a week. We found that the feinales, that lay

any eggs, tend to lay for periods of a few days, which alternate

with longer periods when no eggs are laid. Those females which

appeared to be most active reproductively were examined at

150 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

frequent intervals throughout the day to try and ascertain when

each was about to lay an egg, and when such was suspected the

temale was immediately placed in the fixative. The shell was

crushed to permit rapid penetration ol the fixative.

The eggs of O. nosophora are laid singly and are enclosed

in a layer of mud, with which entire faecal pellets can be found.

Some of the specimens were fixed when the female appeared to

have selected a site for the building of the egg capsule; others

were fixed after the building of the egg capsule had actually

started. The female used her proboscis to lay the foundation

for the mud capsule. The rest of the process of egg laying was

not observed.

Of the females involved in this study 28 were fixed at a time

when oviposition was suspected. They were serially sectioned,

stained and examined for the presence of eggs. Eggs were fre-

quently found in the posterior part of the oviduct, but in no

instance could they be found in the parts of the reproductive

system anterior to the gonopericardial diverticulum. The mantle

cavity of each of these snails was also examined for the presence

of eggs, but none could be found there. Possibly the last steps

in the production of an egg are rapid ones.

While pursuing another study on the function of other parts

of the reproductive system, an egg was found in the posterior

region of the accessory gland of O. jormosana. The specimen in

which this egg was found had been raised in isolation until 24

hours prior to fixation when it had been mated to a male.

Apparently egg laying already was taking place. The oocyte (Fig.

4) appears to be of the same size and general structure as those

found in the first part of the oviduct. The nuclear contents are

not so distinct. No extra layers are present on the outside of the

oocyte such as are found in eggs that have been laid. Several

sperm are attached to the surface of the oocyte while many more

are in close proximity to it. No sperm appeared to be definitely

inside the oocyte at this stage.

The presence of eggs in the accessory gland of Oncornelania

has not been previously reported, to the writers' knowledge.

Dundee (1957) who studied Po?natiopsis lapidaria (Say) which

belong to the same subfamily, reported that no eggs were found

in the anterior parts of the oviduct in many specimens collected

April, 1960 NAUTILUS 151

from the field. She did state that a fellow worker found an egg

in a specimen, and mentioned a report on it which has not been

published yet.

Since the oocyte found in the accessory gland had a maximum

length of less than 150 microns while Chi and Wagner (1957)

have found the egg, including its mud capsule, had an average

diameter of 1.0 mm., obviously much must be added before the

egg is completed. About a 14 of this addition consists of the mud

capsule. The rest is composed of a clear, spherical, gelatinous

mass in which the small, whitish oocyte is readily detectable. The

origin of this gelatinous mass could not be determined in our

study. Finding an oocyte in the anterior part of the accessory

gland might help elucidate this question. Perhaps fixation of

specimens earlier or later than was done in this study might

produce more positive results; also both Abbott (1946) and

Dundee (I.e.) suggested that the eggs are laid at night. This cycle

might be used as an aid in obtaining eggs in the anterior part of

the oviduct. This was not a factor in our study since the constant

source of light, under which the snails were kept, eliminated the

possibility of such a cycle.

Literature cited

Abbott, R. T. 1946. The egg and breeding habits of Oncomelania

quadrasi Mlldff., the schistosomiasis snail of the Philippines.

Occ. Pap. On Mollusks, Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard Univ.,

7:41-48.

Chi, L. W. and Wagner, E. D. 1957. Studies on reproduction

and growth of Oncomelania quadrasi, O. nosophora, and O.

formosana, snail hosts of Sehistosoma japonieum. Amer.

Jour. Trop. Med. and Hyg., 6: 949-95.

Dundee, D. S. 1957. Aspects of the biology of Pomatiopsis lapi-

daria (Say) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) . Misc.

Pub., Mus. Zool., Univ. Mich., No. 100.

Raven, C. P. 1945. The development of the egg of Lymnaea

stagnalis L. from oviposition till first cleavage. Arch. Neerl.

Zool., 7:91-121.

Roth, A. A. and Wagner, E. D. 1957. The anatomy of the male

and female reproductive systems of Oneomelania nosophora.

Trans. Amer. Microsc. Soc, 76: 52-69.

Wagner, E. D. and Chi, L. W. 1959. Species crossing in Oncome-

lania. Amer. Jour. Trop. Med. and Hyg., 8: 195-198.

152 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

ECOLOGIC NOTES ON PUERTO RICAN MOLLUSCA

By frank B. GOLLEY

AEG, Savannah River Project,

Department of Zoology, University of Georgia

While on an ecological expedition^ to study the functional

ecology of the montane rain-forest and mangrove forest com-

munities in May, 1959, I was able to make several observations

on molluscan ecology. Although some of these notes may be

repetitive, they are offered here in hope that they may prove a

not unwelcome contribution to the ecology of neotropical mala-

cology. One objective of my study was to determine the biomass

or weight of the herbivores and carnivores in the community.

To do this, a count necessarily was made of all animals in repre-

sentative plots within the forests, at various periods during the

day and night. During these very intensive examinations of the

habitat, mollusks were encountered and the following observa-

tions recorded.

Montane Rain-Forest: Observations were made in two loca-

tions within the montane rain-forest. These were both within

the Luquillo National Forest, on the north-east end of the island

of Puerto Rico. The first study area was on the eastern front of

the mountains above the Sabana Ranger Station, at an altitude of

340 meters, in a relatively undisturbed region of the forest. The

study area was representative in that it included both ravine and

ridge habitats. Vegetation here included the dominant tabunuco

(Dacroydes excelsa) and palms, tree ferns, lianas, and bromeliads

characteristic of tropical forests.

The second study area was located within the mountain massif,

at El Yunque. Here, at the transition between the montane rain-

forest and the sierra palm forest (altitude approximately 700

meters) a moist ravine was investigated. Tabunuco and tree ferns

were present at this location, and the sierra palm (Euterpe

globosa) increased greatly in density. A few additional observa-

1 Supported through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to the Insti-

tute of Marine Science, University of Texas. I am indebted to Dr. H. T.

Odum, expedition leader, and Mr. Ronald Wilson, Institute of Marine

Science, for their assistance in making the observations which form the basis

of this paper. I am also grateful to Dr. J. P. E. Morrison for identifying the

mollusks and for his suggestion that I prepare these notes on molluscan

ecology, and to Dr. Grace J. Thomas, University of Ga., for critically reading

the manuscript.

April, 1960 nautilus 153

tions were also made in the mossy forest or elfin woodland,

crowning the mountain peaks, in the Mt. Brittian area.

Rainfall is quite heavy in these regions, averaging at study

area one, 135 inches per year, and increasing as one ascends

the mountains. Temperature is very constant, averaging 23° C.

during the day, and dropping to approximately 19° C. at night.

At the Sabana study area, mollusks were observed in tree trunks

and in the thin leaf litter overlying the soil. The long, thin

Nenia tridens appeared to be the dominant tree snail on the

ridges. Close examination of ten tabunuco trees of different

diameters indicated that the ratio of Nenia to the other abund-

ant snail, Pleurodonte carocolla, was seven to one. In the ravine,

the round Pleurodonte increased in abundance and appeared to

be codominant with Nenia. In the leaf litter, Megalomastoma

(Neopupina) croceum was most abundant. The average number

of snails on the ground was 0.4 per square-meter, and on the

trees, L8 per tree. In this community, snails, when considered

either on the basis of numbers or biomass per square-meter,

are less abundant than are ants or Orthoptera.

On El Yunque, Pleurodonte was decidedly the most abundant

snail and was present on most tree trunks and on the concrete

walls of cabins. As many as a dozen individuals could be col-

lected within 7 feet of the ground on a single palm tree. Over 100

individuals were collected and measured in this locality. The

major diameters of the shells (exclusive of lip of aperture) are

shown below. If shell diameter is a crude approximation of the

Midpoint of diameter class in mm.

Diameters 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51

No. of snails 1 0 3 1 4 4 6 1 6 23 35 17

age of the snail, these data indicate that there may be continual

additions to the population. Diameters of a few of the Pleuro-

donte were also taken at study area one; however, none of these

measured less than 40 mm.

In the mossy forest on Mt. Brittian (approximately 1000 meters

altitude) one square-meter quadrat was carefully inspected for

its animal fauna. Because of exceptionally heavy rainfall, con-

tinual erosion occurs and the soil is washed from between the

tree roots. The result of this erosion produces a thick and very

dense mat of roots on top of the mineral soil and rocks. This

154 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

root mat is approximately 6 cm. in depth. In addition, the trees

in the mossy forest are covered with a thick growth of mosses

and lichens. The combination of epiphytic covering on the tree

trunks and the root mass on the ground surface appears to pro-

duce an adverse environment for invertebrate life. No snails were

found on the quadrat or on the trees bordering the trail through

the forest. And only 3 small insects were collected in the square-

meter plot.

Mangrove Forest: The mangrove forest was studied at La

Paquerre, the location of the Laboratory of Marine Biology,

University of Puerto Rico. The study area in the forest was

located approximately 20 meters from the open water, where

the vegetation was completely composed of red mangrove,

Rhisophora mangle. At the time of the study, only one-half of

the study area was submerged at high tide. Techniques similar

to those used in the rain-forest were used in the mangrove for-

est. Three one-square-meter quadrats were observed at various

periods during the day and night and all animals seen were

counted. Samples of the thin layer of mud and the mangrove

peat beneath the mud were handsorted for residents. Finally,

tree trunks, prop roots, and leaves were carefully examined for

animals.

The snail, Melampiis cofjeus, was the most numerous animal

present on the surface of the mud. An examination of 9 square-

meter plots revealed that 54 snails were present per square-meter.

Melampus was the second most important animal in the com-

munity on the basis of biomass (.254 grams dry weight/m^) , the

crab, Uca mordax, having the greatest biomass (.425 grams dry

weight/m^) .

The Melampus could be observed during the day, at low tide,

on surfaces of decaying leaves and on the mud. However, during

the night, at high tide, many of these snails had ascended the

young seedlings of Rhisophora or the prop roots of mature

trees. For example, in one night quadrat, 26 individuals of

Melampus were observed on seedlings, 2 on prop roots and 7 on

the ground surface; in another 15 were on seedlings, 22 on

prop roots and 4 on the mud.

No large Melampus were observed in the study area, all speci-

mens being less than 6 mm. in total length. Very small examples

April, 1960 nautilus 155

of Melampus were abundant in every plot examined. Unless the

large adults were present in some portion of the forest not

studied, the size distribution of Melampus would indicate two

generations, with a turn-over in the snail population once every

two years.

NOTEWORTHY RECORDS OF WYOMING MOLLUSCA

By DOROTHY E. BEETLE

Fourteen species in 9 genera have been found during the past

5 years of intensive collecting in Wyoming.

Pupoides hordaceus (Gabb) was collected on the sandstone

cliffs overlooking Guernsey Reservoir, elevation 4400 feet, in

Piatt County. The area is very dry, supporting only scattered

Yellow pine and cedar. Yucca, grasses, and a few herbaceus plants

form a scant ground cover. A single fresh, dead, specimen of P.

hordaceus (D. Beetle 56-289) was found in a crevice in the rocks.

A broken Gastrocopta, probably G. armifera (Say) (D. Beetle

56-298) was sorted out of drift at the edge of the reservoir.

Pupilla syngenes dextroversa (Pils. & Vanatta) was collected

in Hot Springs County, 5 miles east of Thermopolis, on the

road to Lysite. In the leaf mold of cottonwoods and shrubs grow-

ing along a dry stream, 5 specimens (D. Beetle 57-374) were

found. The soil was fine red sand, overlying sandstone. The

elevation is 4400 feet.

Vertigo ovata Say was found by Paul Freytag in Albany County

along the banks of the Little Laramie River near Centennial,

elevation 7800 feet. The snail was found in willow debris, and

brought to the author for identification.

Vallonia excentrica Sterki was discovered at two localities in

Wyoming. At Thermopolis, some individuals (D. Beetle 57-370)

occurred under sedimentary rocks on the hillside opposite the

hospital. This is a south facing slope, dry, supporting cedar,

a few grasses and shrubs. The elevation is 4350 feet. In Sheridan

County this mollusk was found in willow leaves along the

Tongue River at Ranchester, elevation 3775 feet. (D. Beetle

57-430) .

Vallonia costata (Mueller) (D. Beetle 56-276) was collected

at Ayers Natural Bridge near Douglas, Converse County. La

156 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

Prele Creek flows through a hollow where it has carved out

a natural arch in the sandstone. Cottonwoods, box elder, willows,

grape, and poison ivy grow in dense thickets. V. costata was

living in the leaf mold and grass of the caretaker's lawn. The

elevation is approximately 4850 feet.

Lymnaea (Radix) auricularia (L.) was picked up by Dr. George

Baxter at Alsop Lake, Albany County. This is a shallow, alkali

pond on the Laramie Plains, elevation 7000 feet. The author

has found L. auricularia in two Colorado localities; Woodland

Park in Teller County, and in the lake at City Park at VValsen-

berg, Huerfano County. Where this introduced mollusk has

become established, it is very abundant.

Lymnaea (Galba) doddsi (Baker) was discovered at three lo-

calities along the western slopes of the Big Horn Mountains.

Dry Fork Canyon above the Elkhorn Ranch, near Shell, has a

tiny creek tumbling down it. Near the mouth of the canyon,

at an approximate elevation of 4300 feet, the creek disappears

into a small hole in the rocks. It falls through a cave in which

it has hollowed out a basin in the sedimentary rock. The walls

and floor of the cave are overgrown with moss. The Lymnaea

(D. Beetle 58-219) was around the edge of the basin and in the

moss. It also occurs in Washakie County, in Leigh Canyon, near

the Fish Hatchery at an elevation of 4450 feet. The snails were

crawling on sedimentary rocks at the edge of the small creek

(D. Beetle 58-157), and on grass along a slough farther up the

canyon (D. Beetle 58-147) .

Lymnaea (Galba) dalli Baker was found living in Barber Lake

in Albany County at an elevation of 8700 feet. This is a tiny,

shallow, silt bottomed pond. The animals were crawling on

aquatic vegetation near the shoreline (D. Beetle 50-358) .

It was previously reported (Beetle, D. 1957. Nautilus 71 (1):

12-22.) that Gyraulus articus (Miiller) was found in Leigh Lake,

Teton County. Additional material, identified now by Dr. Dwight

W. Taylor as Promenetus umbilicatellus (Cock.) , has been dis-

covered in Yellowstone Lake as well as in Bighorn, Johnson,

Goshen and Albany Counties. The mollusks are usually crawling

on vegetation in shallow muddy areas. Inclusive elevations range

from 4300 to 9200 feet.

Three species of Pisidium, identified by Rev. H. B. Herring-

April, 1960 nautilus 157

ton, can be included in Wyoming records.

Pisidium compressiim Prime was noted by J. Henderson at

Evanston many years ago. Recently it has been found in Goshen

County in a backwater of the Springer Reservoir, elevation 4250

feet. The clay bottom contained many clams (D. Beetle 56-158) .

Empty shells were found in drift in Guernsey Reservoir, and in

the Laramie River in Albany County. In Laramie County it was

found in two ponds in the south eastern corner of the county.

Pisidium ferrugineum Prime was found in the mud of a beaver

pond on Libbey Creek near Bear Lake in Albany County (D.

Beetle 55-537) . The elevation is approximately 9100 feet.

Pisidium nitidum Jenyns (D. Beetle 56-130) was collected

in a beaver pond on Texas Creek at the Williams Ranch near

Tie Siding, Albany County, elevation 7750 feet. It occurred in

similar situations in Carbon County, both on South Bruiser

Creek near Ryan Park (D. Beetle 56-91), and near Baggs (D.

Beetle 54-404) .

Physa skinneri Taylor, described from the Berends fauna of

the Pleistocene, was collected in Yellowstone Lake by Dr. A. A.

Beetle. This small Physa was living on vegetation and rocks in

shallow water around the shoreline.

The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the Wyom-

ing Chapter of the Society of Sigma Xi for two grants-in-aid that

were used in studies of the molluscan fauna of the Big Horn

Mountains.

References

Baker, F. C. 1911. The Lymnaeidae of North and Middle

America. Recent and Fossil. Chicago Acad. Sci. Spec. Publ. 3.

Beetle, D. E. 1954. Nautilus, 67 (4): 121-129.

1957 Ibid., 77 (1): 12-22.

Henderson, J. 1924. Univ. Colo. Studies 13 (2).

1933. Nautilus, 47 (l):l-3.

1936. Supplement Univ. Colo. Studies 23 (2).

Pilsbry, H. A. 1939-1948. Land Mollusca of North America.

North of Mexico. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. Monographs

158 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

HUGH WATSON

1885-1959

With the death of Hugh Watson on 21 January, 1959, Eng-

land lost one of its most meticulous and experienced malacolo-

gists, one whom it will be very difficult to replace for a long time.

Born in Newcastle-on-Tyne on 1 June, 1885, Hugh Watson

was educated privately, and later read the Natural-Sciences

Tripos at Trinity College, Cambridge, where, after a First in

Part I in 1910, his health unfortunately deteriorated. Possessed

of private means, he devoted the rest of his life to the study of

Mollusca, and lived a very retired life in Cambridge.

In his early days, while he was still capable of travel on the

continent, he collected widely both marine and non-marine

Mollusca, but later he concentrated almost entirely on the study

of non-marine gastropods. He was equally interested in both

anatomy and shell form, as is shown by many of his papers.

Among British Mollusca he was especially interested, early on,

in such genera as Vallonia and Vertigo, while later on he be-

came mainly interested in the Zonitidae, especially in the British

species of slugs, although his publications ranged widely. But

his interests extended far beyond this, especially to the study of

certain African genera of Mollusca, notably the Planorbidae.

In fact, his opinion was continually being consulted by malacolo-

gists from all over the world with whom he maintained a volumi-

nous correspondence.

He was equally interested in problems of nomenclature and

a series of papers on the correct names for the British non-marine

Mollusca were published in 1943. Almost all of the names he

suggested have been adopted in the latest British census. At the

time of his death, he had just finished an exhaustive enquiry

into the correct names for the European species of Viviparus.

To a lesser degree, he was concerned with the history of

British species discovered by the study of the Mollusca of Pleisto-

cene deposits and was always hoping for the discovery of new

records both fossil and living, especially in the east of the

country, of species found in adjacent parts of the continent. Un-

fortunately, his ill health prevented him from looking for these

himself, although the care with which he studied doubtful Pleis-

tocene specimens submitted to him was largely instrumental in

April, 1960 nautilus 159

the establishment of several new British records.

Because of his retired life, Hugh Watson was not known per-

sonally to many other malacologists. He worked with extraordi-

narily great care, was fundamentally modest about his own

knowledge, and would only commit himself after an exhaustive

consideration of all literature and data bearing on the subject.

He would not tolerate careless work by anyone, and would go to

great pains to ensure that any work submitted to him for ap-

proval was as thorough and as accurate as his detailed knowledge

could make it. This passion for accuracy made him sometimes

a little unpopular with impatient prospective authors, but it

was completely offset by the kindness which he showed in devot-

ing much of his valuable time to their problems and instruc-

tion.

By his will, Hugh Watson left his specimens and his library

to the University of Cambridge as well as a considerable sum of

money for the furtherance of malacological research.

A list of his publications has been published in Arch. Mol-

luskenk. 88:77 -7S. — B. W. Sparks, University of Cambridge Dept.

Geography, England.

NOTES AND NEWS

James Zetek. 1886-1959 — James Zetek died June 2, 1959, at

his home in Panama City. He married in 1914, and they are

survived by a daughter, Ella Zetek, of Ecuador. Mr. Zetek was

born Dec. 12, 1886, in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from the

state university in 1911. He went to the Canal Zone in the same

year as entomologist for the zone's Sanitary Department, and

later served similarly the Republic of Panama, which (1915-17)

bestowed on him gold medals and a National Grand Prize. He

also was connected with the Board of Health Laboratory and

the U. S. Department of Agriculture. He helped found the

scientific laboratory of Barro Colorado, in Lake Gatun, and

became its curator in 1923. The island was set aside as a natural

park in 1943, and from 1941 until near the time of his death he

was Resident Manager of the Canal Zone Biological Area. (Cf.

Smithsonian Rept. for 1947: 126-151) .

Although primarily an authority on termites, he also was

160 NAUTILUS Vol. 73 (4)

interested in mollusks and contributed much of the material that

was described by Dr. Pilsbry in 1926, as Scolodonta zeteki com-

memorated. Among Mr. Zetek's own publications on mollusks

are:

1918. The Mollusca of Pratt, Champaign and Vermillion Coun-

ties, Illinois. Trans. 111. Acad. Sci. i7;151-182.

1918. Los moluscos de la Repiiblica de Panama.

1931. (With H. A. Pilsbry) . A Panamic Cyrenoida. Naut. ■^5;69,

pi. 3, fig. 4.

1934. A new Drymaeus from Barro Colorado Island, Panama

Canal Zone. Naut. ^7:93-94, pi. 13, fig. 1. (D. pilsbryi.)

1936. (With R. A. McLean) . Hiata, a new genus of the family

Pholadidae from the Pacific at Panama, with a description

of a new species. Naut. 49: 1 10-1 1 1, pi. 8, figs. 1-4.

— H, B. B. and Stewart H. Jadis.

American Malacological Union. — The 1960 meetings will

be held August 9 to 12, in the Redpath Museum of McGill Uni-

versity, in Montreal, Canada. Rooms will be available in the

Royal Victoria College dormitories. A field trip to Mont St.

Hilaire is planned.

Robert Robertson appointed Assistant Curator of mollusks

at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia — Dr. Robert

Robertson, who has recently received his degree from Harvard

University working under Dr. Clench, has been appointed to

the staff of the Academy. His doctorate thesis was on the ecology

of the marine mollusks of Bimini, Bahamas. At the Academy,

he plans among other things to monograph the Indo-Pacific

Phasianellidae and to continue work on Bahamian marine mol-

lusks. He would welcome the loan or gift of specimens of Tricolia

and Phasianella from the Indo-Pacific — R.T.A.

PupoiDES INORNATUS Vauatta was collected in Larimer County,

Colorado, along Route 287 opposite the turnoff to Red Feather

Lakes. A limestone ridge is exposed some two hundred feet

above the highway. It is a dry situation; a few cedar grow on

the rocks, along with poison ivy and grasses. The Pupilla were

found alive in the crevices and on the undersides of loose rock.

(D. Beetle 53-74) . — Dorothy E, Beetle.

Vallonia perspectiva Sterki in Maryland. — On June 28, 1959,

Leslie Hubricht and the writer visited Elliott Island, Dorchester

April, 1960 nautilus iii

County, Maryland, to collect land shells from this isolated sta-

tion. From an Indian shell heap, over 20 species of land shells

were secured, mostly dead, but the most interesting discovery

was the collecting of live juvenile and adult Vallonia perspectiva

Sterki. This small snail has only been previously reported from

the coastal plain by Dr. Pilsbry who collected specimens near

Atlantic City, New Jersey, in August, 1909 and May, 1910 (Naut.

25 ;35) . This station no longer exists (Land Mollusca of North

America, Vol. 2, pt. 2, p. 1033, footnote) . — Ralph W. Jackson,

Route No. 1, Cambridge, Maryland,

Zachrysia provisoria (Pfr.) in Homestead, Florida. — Dr. G.

W. Dekle, entomologist of the State Plant Board of Florida, sent

several specimens of this species which had been collected alive

by P. E. Briggs and J. H. Knowles on November 10, 1959. Appar-

ently this Cuban land snail will shortly become common over

much of southern Florida where suitable situations occur. It

probably is being distributed on plants, either as eggs in the

soil about their roots or as young snails on the plants. As far as

I know, no species in Zachrysia is considered a pest in Cuba.

They feed mainly at night, probably on dead vegetation. (See also

Naut. 7i;76, 1959) — W. J. Clench.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Two NEW SPECIES of wcst North American marine gastropods.

By Rudolf Stohler. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 29 (11): 423-444, 10 figs.

1959. — Astraea (Uvanilla) rupicollina and Macrarene coronaden-

sis are described and exquisitely figured as new from Lower Cali-

fornia.—H. B. B.

Pleistocene molluscan faunas of the Humboldt deposit,

Ross County, Ohio. By Martin B. Reynolds. Ohio J. of Sci.

5^:152-166. 6 figs. 1959. — Mainly on stratigraphic grounds, this

fresh-water deposit is considered to be of "early" Wisconsin age.

— H. B. B.

Land and freshwater mollusks of Great and Little Inagua,

Bahama Islands. By William J. Clench. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool.

Harvard 72i:29-53. 1 pL, 1 map. 1959.— Eutrochatella klinei,

Drymaeus bahamensis, subsp. salina (nounl), and Cerion (May-

nardia) ericksoni are new. — H. B. B.

INDO-PACIFIC MOLLUSCA

Monographs of the Marine Mollusks of the

Tropical Western Pacific and Indian Oceans

A new series devoted to taxonomic revisions o£ the marine

mollusks found from East Africa to Polynesia and Japan to

Australia. All species are illustrated either in full color, black-

and-white photographs or line drawings. With descriptions,

synonymies, anatomy, recent and Tertiary records, habitats, etc.

Editor: R. Tucker Abbott; co-editors: William J. Clench and

Harold A. Rehder. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Introduction and Vasidae) now

available. Vol, 1, no. 2 (Stromhidae, with 6 color plates) in press.

Issued in pamphlet or loose leaf form. State preference. Attrac-

tive, gold-stamped, post binder protects your copies, saves you

cost of binding. $4.25 (foreign: add 50 cents) . Subscription: $5.00

per 100 pages. Not sent as a library exchange.

Department of Mollusks,

Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila., Philadelphia 3, Pa., U.S.A.

WILLIAM H. WEEKS SHELL COLLECTION: New lists now

in preparation; full scientific data. Send name and address

for free copies. Shells also wanted for purchase and exchange.

George E. Jacobs, 853 Riverside Drive, New York, 32, N. Y.

A CHECK LIST OF THE MARINE SHELLS OF ST. CROIX,

U. S. Virgin Islands, with random annotations. Up to date.

Lists 650 species plus 60 subspecies, including 20 new. With

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