THE

NAUTILUS

THE PILSBRY QUARTERLY

DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS

OF CONCHOLOGISTS

VOL. 78

JULY, 1964 to APRIL, 1965

EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS

HORACE BURRINGTON BAKER

Professor Emeritus of Zoology, University of Pennsylvania

CHARLES B. WURTZ

La Salle College, Philadelphia, Pa. 19141

R. TUCKER ABBOTT

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

MRS. HORACE B. BAKER

Havertown, Pennsylvania 19083

PONY PRINTING, UPPER DARBY, PA.

April, 1965 nautilus iii

CONTENTS

Names of new genera, species, etc. in italics

Achatina fulica 6, 23

Adelopoma costaricense 68

Africa 57

Alabama 28, 69, 106

Alexania -f Habea 140, 141

American Malacological Union 62

Amimopina 52

Anisorhyncus -|- Ursirivus 105

Antartica 60, 79

Apertural lamellae 57

Argentina 48

Arkansas 143, 144

Asiatic clam 28, 29

Atlantic, east 109

Atlantic, west 1, 3, 18, 37, 42, 49, 64, 65, 68, 73, 83,

96, 104, 106, 108, 109, 140, 143

Australia 52

Australorbis glabratus 57

Bahamas, Eleuthera 121

Baily, Ruth Ingersoll (obituary) 139

Barnard, Keppel Harcourt (death) 104

Biological controla of Achatina 21

Birds, dispersal of snails 135, 136

Bronson, Albert B 144

Caribbean marines 1

Carnivorous habits 143, 144

Carunculina -|- Corunculina 33

Cassis madagascariensis spinella 106

Colorado 66

Collections deposited 108

Corbicula fluminea 28, 29

C. manillensis 106

Corbula limatula 68, 104

Corbula cuneata & C. inaequalis 108

Courtship in Helminthoglypta 30

Cyamiomactra robusta Nicol 60

iv NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (Index)

Dates of Nautilus 27

Dispersal of aquatic snails 135, 136

Egeria = Galatea 67

Elliptio complanata wheatleyi 67

Elliptio feminine 33

Elliptio tetralasmus sayana 67

Eupera singleyi 106

European Malacological Congress 144

Florida, land 31, 50, 131, 135

Florida, marines 49, 73

Fossils 17, 86, 105, 108

Foster, Richard Winslow (death) 70

Freezing 31

Galatea -|- Egeria 67

Gastrocopta tappaniana 106

Glyphyalinia 133

Greenhouse snails 131

Growth rates 6

Habea =: Alexania 140

Helicodiscus 28

Helix aspersa 16

Helmithoglypta 30

Host penetration 42

Indiana 30

Indo-Pacific 101, 117, 140

Intestinal dispersal by birds 135

Iowa 27

Laevicardium mortoni swimming 104

Latiaxis (Babelomurex) fearnleyi Emerson Sc D'Attilio 101

Lehmannia poirieri 144

Litter size in Sphaeriidae 47

Littorina lineolata k L. ziczac 65

Log snails 107

Louisiana 16, 28, 131

Lymnaea auricularia 66

Macromphalina floridana Moore 75

Mesodon clausus 30

M. indianorum 143

M. kiowaensis 143

April, 1965 nautilus v

M. roemeri, sinistral 143

Mesodesma arctatum, type 3

Mesodesma deauratum, type 96

Mesomphix 1 33, 1 34

Michigan 47

Missouri 27

Monomphalus, type species 141

Nassarius Trivittatus 49

Nautilus, increased price 64

New Jersey 83

New York 83

North Carolina 133

Notes and news 27, 64, 104, 139

Nudibranchs 37

Oceanography 63

Ocean Science and Engineering 144

Odostomia seminuda, f>enetration by 42

Ohio 29, 106

Oklahoma 28, 104, 143

Orbigny in Sagra, dates 105

Oxycheilus -\- Synapterpes 67

Oyster chromatograms 64

Pacific, land 6, 23, 68

Pacific, eastern 117

Pacific, western 101, 140

Paleozoic 17, 86

Paravitrea 133

P. smithi, type locality 60

Pelecypod spines 109

Pennsylvania 107

Permian 86

Polygyra 31, 81

Predaceous snails 22, 143

Proboscis penetration 42

Publications received 33, 70, 144

Sinistral Mesodon roemeri 143

Solariorbis semipiinctus Moore 77

South Carolina 68

Sphaeriidae, litter size 47

vi NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (Index)

Sphaeriid names 45

Sphaerium occidentale 46

Sphaerium simile -|- S. sulcatum 46

Spines on pelecypods 109

Stenotrema magnifumosum 70

Stream dispersal 30

Strobilops aenena 27

Synapterpes ^ Oxycheilus 67

Tellina hybrid 18

Tennessee 70, 133

Texas 28, 31, 32, 81, 131, 143, 144

Thyasira dearhorni Nicol 79

Typhis (Talityphis) puertoricensis Warmke 1

Ursirivus = Anisorhyncus 105

Ventridens 133

Vermont 106

Vitrinella texana Moore 76

West Indies 57

West Virginia 28

Wyoming 125

Zonitidae 133

Zonitoides 133

INDEX TO AUTHORS

Abbott, R. Tucker 65

Baker, Emmett B 104

Baker, H. Burrington 27, 33, 33, 45, 66, 67 (4) , 68,

104, 105, 108, 141

Beetle, Dorothy E 125

Bierbaum, Veronica M 64

Boss, Kenneth J 18

Boss (Merrill Sc) 42

Chrosciechowski, P. (Malek &) 54

Clench, William J 106, 108

DAttilio, Anthony (Emerson &) 101

Davis, John D 3, 96

Dundee, Dee Saunders (Hermann &) 16, 81, 131

Emerson, William K. & Anthony D'Attilio 101

Emerson 8c William E. Old, Jr 116

April, 1965 nautilus vii

Haas, Fritz (Solem &:) 68

Habe, Tadashige (Robertson Sc) 140

Heard, William H 47

Hermann, Patti Watt Sc Dee Saunders Dundee 16, 81

Hermann, Bennie C. Strickland & Dee Saunders Dundee 131

Horning, W. B. & Lowell Keup 29

Hubricht, Leslie 27, 28, 69, 70, 106, 106, 133

Jacobson, Morris K 83, 120

Jones, David T 1 08

Keup, Lowell (Horning &) 29

Krauss, N. C. H 21

Mackenthum, K. I\L (Thomas &) 28

Malek, Emile A. k P. Chrosciechowski 54

Malone, Charles R 135, 136

McCoy, Clarence J., Jr 68

McMichael, Donald F 52

Merrill, Arthur S. & Kenneth J. Boss 42

Moore, Donald R 73

Moyer, William W 107

Nicol, David 17, 60, 79, 86, 109

Old, William E., Jr. (Emerson &) 116

Porter, Hugh J 106

Pratt, William Lloyd 31, 32, 143, 142, 143, 144

Richards, C. S 57

Robertson, Robert & Tadashige Habe 140

Ross, Landon T 50

Russell, Henry D 37

Scheltema, Rudolf 49

Solem, Alan Sc Fritz Haas 68

Strickland, Bennie C. (Heimann Sc) 131

Teskey, Margaret C 62

Thomas, N. A. & K. M. Mackenthum 28

Warmke, Germaine L 1

Webb, Glenn R 30, 30, 31

THE NAUTILUS

Vol. 78 July, 1964 No. 1

A NEW CARIBBEAN MURICID MOLLUSK,

TYPHIS PUERTORICENSIS

Bv GERMAINE L. WARMKE, Institute of Marine Biolog>%

University of Puerto Rico, Mayagiiez, Puerto Rico

Recent collections around Puerto Rico have brought to light

many interesting and rare mollusks. The total for the island is

now well over the 858 species listed in 1961 (Warmke & Abbott)

and increases with each dredging expedition.

Recently, the first specimens of the muricid genus Typhis were

collected by dredging from 33 to 50 fathoms off the west coast

of Puerto Rico. These represent a species which is described

herein as new.

Family Muricidae, subfamily Typhinae

Genus Typhis Montfort, 1810,

subgenus Talityphis Jousseaume, 1882

Typhis (Talityphis) puertoricensis, new species.

Plate 1, figs. 1-4

Shell medium-sized, strong, rosy brown when young; later

whorls whitish with a brownish-pink cast. Nucleus with two

smooth and glassy whorls, followed by 5 gradually increasing

whorls each bearing 4 cylindrical tubes alternating with the 4

rounded varices. Varices terminating in thin, recurved hooks.

Tubes placed near the preceeding varix, long and backward-

pointing before breaking (Plate 1, fig. 2) . Whorls parted by an

increasing deep suture which is irregularly fluted by upper ends

of recurved varices and bases of tubes. Surface sculptured with

weak spiral cords that are more prominent on the varices, 6

being visible on the outer lip. Aperture small, oval, smooth in-

ternally; varix at outer lip greatly expanded and of nearly

uniform width throughout. Suture line between outer lip and

unsculptured pad above aperture making a 45-degree angle with

the sculpture of the outer lip (Plate 1, fig. 3). Anterior canal

long, slender, closed in front; pillar with remnants of three ante-

cedent canals. Operculum unguiculate, with an apical nucleus.

Animal small, light-cream colored, with scattered yellow and

I

2 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

opaque white spots. Foot broad; tentacles long and narrow; eyes

tiny black specks at the outer upper half of tentacles, which be-

come thin filaments above the eyes.^

Holotype: Stanford University Paleo. Type Coll. no. 9722.

Adult, length 17.2 mm.; greatest width 10.0 mm.; aperture 4.0

mm..; longest tube 4.5 mm.; dredged alive in 33 fathoms off Punta

Cadena, North of Mayaguez, on the west coast of Puerto Rico,

from the vessel "Shimada", May 10, 1963.

Paratype: U. S. National Museum No. 635750. Young, length

13.7 mm.; greatest width 7.0 mm.; aperture 4.0 mm.; longest tube

2.9 mm.; dredged alive in approximately 50 fathoms off Punta

Cadena, Puerto Rico, from the vessel "Carite", September 14,

1963, bottom sandy-mud and dead shells.

Remarks: Aguayo and Jaume (1947) listed 4 recent species of

Typhis from the Caribbean. The species and their distributions

are: Typhis (Pterotyphis) fordi Pilsbry, 1943, Florida to Cuba;

Typhis (Talityphis) expansus Sowerby, 1874, Santo Domingo;

Typhis (Siphonochelus) longicornis Dall, 1888, Florida to the

Antilles (127-410 fathoms) ; Typhis (Tripterotyphis) cancellatus

Sowerby, 1841, Antilles, T. cancellatus also was listed from the

Caribbean coast of Panama by Olsson and McGinty (1958) .

The new species belongs to the subgenus Talityphis (adopted

from Keen, 1944), which is characterized by the presence of 4

tubes per whorl, the tubes being free and nearer the preceding

varix, and the lip of varix of nearly uniform width throughout.

Of the species previously reported from the Caribbean, only

Typhis expansus belongs to the subgenus Talityphis.

Diagnosis: Compared to T. expansus, the new species is pro-

portionately more slender; the varices are rounded in T. puerto-

ricensis (fig. 4) , whereas in T. expansus the varices are thin and

laminar. Another difference is the position of the suture line

between the outer varix and the unsculptured pad above the

aperture. In T. expansus this suture lies at right angles to the

top of the aperture; in T. puertoricensis the suture makes a 45-

degree angle with the sculpture of the outer lip (fig. 3) ; the

1 The adult specimen remained alive in an aquarium for several weeks. My

observations on the morphology of its foot, tentacles and eyes are different

from those that Baker (1895:181) reported for the genus: ". . . foot long

and narrow, tentacles thick and broad; eyes situated at their base." Perhaps

Baker's observations were made from preserved material.

NAUTILUS 78 (1)

PLATE 1

Typhis puertoricensis Warmke. Figs. 1 & 2, para type, length 13.7 mm. 3 & 4,

holotype. adult. 4. enlarged to show nuclear whorls and shapes of varices.

NAUTILUS 78 (1)

PLATE 2

Mesodesma arctatum (Conrad). Lectorype, A.X.S.P. 51199. A. exterior of

left valve. B, exterior of right valve. C, interior of left valve. D. interior of

right valve.

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 3

area above the aperture thus seems less flaring.

I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. John E. Randall, Direc-

tor of the Institute of Marine Biology, who spared no effort to

help with this project; to Dr. Myra Keen of Stanford University

for assistance and advice; to Dr. Axel A. Olsson for the loan of

the Typhis expansiis specimens which he collected in Santo Do-

mingo; to Dr. Harald Rehder, U. S. National Museum, for the

loan of T. longicornis and T. cancellata; to Dr. Robert Robert-

son, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and to Dr.

Kenneth Boss, then at Harvard, for sending copies of original

descriptions that were not available to me; and to Dr. Frank G.

Lowman, of the Puerto Rico Nuclear Center, for use of the

vessel "Shimada."

Literature cited

Aguayo, C. G. and Jaume, M, L. 1947. Catalogo Moluscos de

Cuba, no. 110, 1 p. (mimeographed).

Baker, Frank C. 1895. Preliminary outline of a new classification

of the family Muricidae. Chicago Acad. Sci. Bull. 2 (2) : 169-189.

Keen, A. Myra. 1944. Catalogue and revision of the gastropK)d

subfamily Typhinae. Jour, of Paleon. 18 (\) :5\-72.

Olsson, Axel A. and McGinty, T. L. 1958. Recent marine mol-

lusks from the Caribbean Coast of Panama with the descrip-

tion of some new genera and species. Bull. Amer. Paleon.

5P (177): 1-58.

Warmke, G. L. and Abbott, R. T. 1961. Caribbean Seashells. 346

pp., Livingston Publishing Company, Narberth, Pennsylvania.

LECTOTYPE DESIGNATION FOR

MESODESMA ARCTATUM^

By JOHN D. DAVIS

Department of Zoology, Smith College

Mesodesma arctatum (Conrad) is relatively uncommon along

the Atlantic coast of North America, yet occasionally it occurs

in great numbers at scattered localities. Largely ignored, this

bivalve nevertheless presents some interesting questions in tax-

onomy and distribution. While attempting to clarify and answer

some of these questions through the study of museum collections,

I discovered that the specimens used by Conrad in making his

original description could no longer be found in the Academy of

Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, their original depository.

1 Contribution no. 247 from the Smith College Department of Zoology.

4 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

However, records indicated that one group of shells of M. arc-

tatum in the collection of the Academy had originally come from

Conrad's collection. Although there was no evidence to indicate

that any of these specimens were used by Conrad in making his

original description, it seemed desirable to designate a lectotype

and paratypes using this group of shells.

The following synonymy has been established:

Mesodesma arctatum (Conrad) . Plate 2, figs. A-D

Mactra arctata Conrad 1831, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia

^:257, pi. 11, fig. 1 (Massachusetts).

Cerojiia arctata (Conrad) , H. and A. Adams, 1857, The Genera

of recent Mollusca, London 2:414.

Using the name Mactra arctata, Conrad originally described

the species in this manner:

"I. M. arctata. Plate XI, fig. 1. Shell subovate, solid, compressed,

anterior side short, truncated and somewhat angular; posterior

side produced, with the end margin rounded; cartilage pit tri-

angular and profound; posterior lateral tooth elongated, and

crossed by regular elevated striae.

Inhabits Massachusetts.

Cab. Academy, No. 840. I. Lea, D. B. Smith.

This shell somew^hat resembles in shape the M. donacia, Lam.

The specimens in the Academy's collection were obtained on the

coast of Massachusetts, by Dr. C. Pickering."

A careful search of the records and collections of the Academy

of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia has failed to produce evi-

dence of specimens deposited under the number 840. Presumably,

therefore, either the original shells have been lost or cannot be

traced because of the assignment of new numbers.

One group of valves, designated "Ceronia arctata Conr., Mas-

sachusetts, Ex. Auct., no. 51199," was found in the collection of

the Academy. There was no indication whether or not these

valves were the specimens originally described by Conrad. In any

case, a lectotype was designated in this group of shells which all

are considered syntypes or paratypes. There are 7 valves in the

group, 3 obvious pairs and one single left valve. The pair selected

as the lectotype most clearly resembles the figure published with

the original description. The lectotype has retained the original

number indicated above, but the paratypes have been recata-

logued under no. 290263 of the Academy of Natural Sciences of

Philadelphia.

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 5

The lectotype of Mesodesma arctatum (Conrad) consists of

paired right and left valves, length 25.2 mm., height 18.0 mm.

(Plate 2, figs, A-D) . The beaks or umbones are posterior, lending

a truncate appearance as the posterior edge plunges sharply from

the beaks to the ventral margin. (Note Conrad's mistake; he

described the anterior end as truncate.)

The valves are triangular or wedge-shaped, the posterior edge

being the shortest, the dorsal edge somewhat longer and the

rounded ventral edge the longest. The dorsal and ventral edges

meet at the rounded anterior end. The concentric lines of growth

spreading outward from the beaks are visible but not particu-

larly prominent in this specimen. There is no evidence of the

external yellow periostracum usually covering shells of this spe-

cies, indicating this specimen was probably subject to consider-

able abrasion. This may also account for the relatively smooth

outer surface of these two valves. Most living specimens are con-

siderably rougher.

There is a small piece about 2.2 mm. long missing from the

dorsal margin of the right valve above the anterior portion of

the anterior lateral groove. There is also a slight chip in the

posterior margin of the left valve adjacent to the posterior

lateral tooth.

The medial side of each umbo possesses a large cartilage pit

or chondrophore. The left valve has two lateral teeth. One of

these, the anterior, extends forward from the chondrophore ad-

jacent and parallel to the dorsal margin. The posterior lateral

tooth extends posteriorly from the chondrophore adjacent and

parallel to the posterior margin. It is shorter than the anterior

lateral tooth. Each is equipped with many small vertical ridges

on both sides. The right valve has two deep, similarly ridged,

lateral grooves in position to receive the lateral teeth of the op-

posite valve.

The pallial line is complete and includes a shallow U-shaped

sinus posteriorly. The anterior adductor muscle scar is shaped

with an anterior convex side and a posterior concave side. The

posterior adductor muscle scar is nearly spherical except for a

small dorsal portion near the margin, set off by an indentation

on the anterior side of the scar.

The paratypes in lot A.N.S.P. 290263 can be described briefly:

One pair of matching left and right valves 36.2 mm. long and

6 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

25.5 mm. high. Concentric growth ridges are pronounced. A thin

border of periostracum persists along the posterior and ventral

margins. Small parts of the posterio-ventral margin have been

chipped away, especially on the left valve.

One pair of matching left and right valves 29.6 mm. long and

20.0 mm. high. Concentric ridges are fairly pronounced but less

than in the preceding pair. The holdfasts of aquatic plants are

attached at several places on the exterior. This pair of valves is

considerably less truncate posteriorly than the others in the

group.

One left valve 21.5 mm. long and 14.0 mm. high. Concentric

growth ridges are much reduced and the exterior is rather smooth

and polished. A crack extends from near the mid-point of the

dorsal margin to below the middle of the valve. The valve is

white or chalky without periostracum.

In the original description, Conrad identified the locality of

the shells as "the coast of Massachusetts." As noted previously,

the lectotype and paratypes are described as coming from Massa-

chusetts. It seems desirable to restrict this broad designation and

indicate a specific locality known to support an extensive popu-

lation of M. arctatum. Therefore, Plum Island, near Newbury-

port, Massachusetts, is designated as the type locality. Supported

by the Essex Institute and the Boston Society of Natural History,

much past conchological work has centered in the north shore

area. Inasmuch as Plum Island is in this area, it probably figured

prominently in early study of Mesodesma arctatum. For this

reason, this site was selected.

Appreciation is expressed to Dr. William J. Clench for reading

the manuscript and for his helpful suggestions. I also wish to

thank Drs. R. Tucker Abbott and Robert Robertson for making

the collections and records of the Academy available to me.

GROWTH RATES IN ACHATINA FULICA BOWDICH

By YOSHIO KONDO

Bishop Museum

The growth rates involving the measurements of length, width,

and whorl increase, of 5 Achatina fulica individuals were com-

piled weekly from infancy to adulthood between March 26, 1956,

and May 6, 1957. Duration: 1 year, 1 month, 10 days or 406 days.

The study was undertaken purely for self-interest (for fun) ,

July, 1964

NAUTILUS

with no thought at that time about the publication of results. A

limited review of recent literature discloses that no parallel study

has been published.

Lang (1950) gave the measurements of shells raised on Guam

by Daniel B. Langford as follows: 5 mm., 8, 12, 26, 34, 40,

63 mm., each figure representing the length of the shell for each

succeeding week. For 6 of these weeks the increases are: 3 mm.,

4, 14, 8, 6, 23 mm.

Rees (1950) plotted the growth curves of three broods of

A. fulica hamillei Petit in scattergrams. The approximate period,

in days, and the dimensions of the longest specimens are as fol-

lows: brood 1: 70-26 mm. x 17; brood 2: 29-22 mm. x 16; brood

3: 16-12 mm. x 9.5. The scattergrams for the first two broods

show this interesting phenomenon: there are a few fast growers,

and a few laggards interspersed by a large median cluster. The

smallest eggs were removed from the third brood and the growth

of the remainder plotted, giving an artificial picture.

Data most relevant to this growth study are summarized in

table 1.

TABLE 1

8 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

Summary ot this tabulation, utilizing Ghose as a yardstick, is

as follows:

Achatina fiilica lays from 27 to 356 eggs per clutch once a year.

The first clutch is the smallest; each clutch increases in number

in the second and third years; the number declines in the 4th and

5th years. Average per clutch is 200 eggs. Average size of normal

eggs is 5.5 mm. X 4. Small eggs, constituting an average of 2.5%,

are 3.5 X 3. Total per lifetime is 1000 and fertility 80% (Mohr) .

Incubation period is between 1 and 15 days. Egg laying season

coincides with the wet or rainy season, July to September.

Sex maturity is reached at the end of the first year. The

smallest sexually mature specimen was 59 mm. X 27. Lang gives

three criteiia for sexual maturity: 147 days, 7 to 7.5 whorls, and

2.25 to 3.5 inches (57 mm. - 88 mm.) ; Mohr, 80 mm.

Growth rates are not well known. Ghose gives 67 mm. X ^^ ^^

8 months; Lang, 58 mm. in 7 weeks.

Self-fertilization is evidently a proven point; copulation occurs

but is apparently an unnecessary function in reproduction. Fer-

tilization probably takes place in the basal ovotestis duct (Ghose,

1960, p. 92).

Aestivation occurs between November and June.

Longevity is another unsettled point. Mead cites 5 to 6 years.

Whorls in relation to grow^th are given by Lang, 6.5 in 156

days.

Material and Method. A clutch of about 50 eggs was hatched

on or about March 22, 1956. The infants were first seen on

March 26. Mensuration commenced immediately, discovuiting

those lost 3 to 4 days.

Ten infants were individually segregated in vials with a piece

of lettuce leaf and sealed off with a plug of cotton. These vials

were kept in the humid cage with the remainder of their siblings.

Individual segregation was for the purpose of (a) observing self-

fertilization, if any, and (b) to make simple mensuration of

length, width, and number of whorls every seven days.

Two weeks after incarceration, only 5 experimental snails

remained (#1, 4, 8, 9, 10) ; the other 5 crawled under the cotton

plug and got lost among their free siblings within the cage.

Vials were changed for larger jars as the snails grew and when

they were between 61 and 64 mm. long, the 5 were transferred

to wooden cages with a glass top, 8" X 9" X 12.5'', containing

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 9

moist soil 2" thick. At this time, # 8 and 9 were paired in one

box while #1, 4, and 10 were isolated individually. The paired

snails (#S and 9) were to be controls.

Food and Water. Lettuce leaves were the snails' daily fare, vari-

egated by an occasional piece of head cabbage, carrot, apple,

papaya, banana, omelette, a local fungus called pepeiao akua

(Auricularia polytricha), and Achatina shells for lime. Head cab-

bage was nibbled and so were carrot and apple. They liked the

occasional omelette but ignored the fungus. In descending order,

the food preference seemed to be: lettuce, papaya, banana, ome-

lette, apple, carrot, head cabbage, fungus. Water was obtained

from food. It is interesting that, with a nearly monotonous diet

of chiefly lettuce, the 5 shells became large and heavy.

Environment. The cages were purposely kept covered ^vith

heavy glass tops at all times, primarily to keep the humidity

within at a high level and secondarily to prevent escape. The

humidity kept the snails in continuous activity during their

rapid giowth period. The only incidences of premature aestiva-

tion prior to their final aestivation in maturity were those of

:^9 and 10 when they were a month old (17 mm.) , for a period

of three to four days.

The approximate average room temperatures for the period of

growth were: March 75° F; April, May, June, 80°; July 85°;

August 87^; September 85°; October 82°; November 80°; De-

cember, January, Februai-y, 75°.

The average room humidity ranges from 55% to 75% through-

out the year with an occasional 80 to 85% rise after heavy rains

during southerly weather for a day or two. This probably has

no relation to the internal environment of a moist cage.

Sanitation was practiced to this extent: All garbage was re-

moved regularly and the soil exchanged for new clean soil

regularly.

Measurements. When the snails were very small, they were

measured against a millimeter ruler under a low power dis-

secting microscope. While they grew longer, a vernier caliper

and then a cranium caliper were used but were found unsatis-

factory. A sliding ruler was devised after that. This ruler blocks

off the extremes of length and diameter in relation to their hori-

zontal and lateral axes and procures accurate measurements.

Acknoxuledgement. Miss Setsuko Nakata of the Entomolog)'

10

NAUTILUS

Vol. 78 (I)

Department carried on the measurements after I left for the

Philippines on January 7, 1957, thereby deserving half of the

credit of this study.

Results

The results are summarized in the 2 accompanying tables and

in the 3 graphs. To obviate cluttering the graphs, 3 individuals

were plotted for length (#1, 4, 8), two for diameter (#1, 4),

and one for whorl age (#1). Three gratuitous pieces of infor-

mation are also plotted, namely, (bottom graph) the periods of

aestivation, (top graph) lateral growth of the lip, and (top

graph) loss of weight during inactivity followed by aestivation

(small sample only).

TABLE 2

1956 1957

Har Ap May Je Jl Aug Sep Oct Nor Dec Jan Peb Mar Ap May

Plots

26 30 28 25 30 27 2k 29 2?

Ik 20 18

No. days

35 28 28 35 28 28 35 29

35

kj 35 29 18

Spm.No.

k

1

9

10

8

5mm 18 37 63 92 107 115 118 125

6 18 38 63 9^* 106 110 111 111

5 17 "M) 64 92 102 107 112 113

5 16 39 62 91 103 106 107 110

5 18 37 61 91 101 103 106 108

128 129 129 129 129

lU 116 116 116 116

lU 115 115 115 115

110 112 112 112 112

109 110 110 110 110

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 11

A summary of the growth picture is shown in table 2. Mensura-

tion was made every 7 days. The transfer of the data to the graph

was simplified to a month by month plotting (28, 29, 35 & 43

days per month) . A tabulation of the monthly data is shown

in table 3.

Bottom Graph. In the bottom graph, is pictured the length

mensurations of specimens :^1, 4, and 8. Aestivation (ae) per-

iod (s) are plotted by dark horizontal bars. Beside the mm. scale

to the left is an inverted pyramid which summarizes the data for

#4 specimen for: (a) giowth in mm. for each one of the 8 peaks

of growth (internode) , (b) the number of days per inter

peak (node) , and (c) the quotient derived from the formula

length -h days — length per day.

At the left hand bottom corner is a series of 5 numbers which

may be confusing so we should get them out of the way. Clock-

wise: Number 1 points to solid line for specimen :^1; number 4

to a dashed line for specimen :^4; 0.3 is the quotient for the

pyramid's apex; number 13 means 13 mm., the length of the

apex of the pyramid; 35 da. means days.

The dotted line running through the word "length" is the

weekly plot of specimen #1 which proves that the conspicuous

infant stage is not an artifact created by the monthly plotting

of the growth. The weekly dotted plotting is offset to the right

purposely and does not mean that the growth begins at June 25th.

LENGTH. Infant groiuth, No. 4. Specimen #4 begins at

5 mm. on March 26, 1956, and reaches 13 mm. in 35 days. This

may be called the infant growth. It is characterized by a rela-

tively slow growth of 0.3 mm. per day for the first 35 days. The

other specimens (#1 and 8 plotted; 9 and 10 not plotted)

follow the same lengthening procedure. This period may be

taken as a normal and expectable pattern of growth in A. fiilica.

The monthly plot seemed to give a conspicuous upswing at this

point so a weekly plot was instituted for :^1 to test it for

artificiality. The dotted partial plot for 17 weeks shows that

there is a definite upswing at that point, indicating accelerated

metabolism and collateral speedup in growth.

Adolescence, ^4. The curve for specimen # 4 takes a steep

rise (April 30 to May 28) . In a period of 91 days, it grows 74 mm.

lengthwise, averaging 0.8 mm. per day. At this point, :i^^ is

12

NAUTILUS

Vol. 78 (1)

I

ss

2Mi.

17 mi*.

Lai. Grtatk S^mlO

WHORLS

142 9 If tUt.

l3-6|r.*r 0\tftr4t.

WI.Lmi Sfm-t

•0-

13 an

M *

DIAMETER

-i 1-

92 mm. long. Before the 5 test snails reached the peak of adol-

escence, numbers 8 and 9 copulated (8 -f- 9 cop.) when they were

105 days old ( 3 months, IS days), are 77 mm. long, and have

7.6 whorls. The two (#8 and 9) had been paired since they had

reached 61 and 64 mm. respectively while the other 3 (#1, 4, 10)

were caged solo.

Young Adult, No. 4. After reaching 92 mm., #4's growth rate

begins to level off in (generally) ever decreasing steps as shown

by the inverted pyramid: 28 days, 28, 35, 29, 35, and finally 45

days. The daily average growth begins to drop rapidly from

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 13

0.5 mm. to .02 per day in the final stage.

Maturity. Shell maturity appears to be attained about Febru-

ary 14, 1957, at the age of 324 days (11 months, 10 days) .

Sexual maturity was undeterminable in this experiment be-

cause no viable eggs were laid. Sometime in October, one of the

isolated specimens laid about 10-15 small white infertile eggs. No

note was kept of this event, regretfully.

Any fact-finding regarding self-fertilization was precluded

when the 5 specimens were allowed to die during aestivation

(May 6, 1957 and beyond) .

No. 4 compared with No.'s 1 and 8. Specimen :^1 (solid line)

began as a 6 mm. infant and ended as a 116 mm. adult. It was

quickly overtaken by #4 at end of infancy. Thence, #1 lagged

behind #4 until it (#1) overtook #4 at 77 mm. and passed

:^4 at end of adolescence at 94 mm. Soon after end of adoles-

cence, #1 was overtaken by #4 and thereafter leveled off

quickly while #4 continued climbing steadily but at a decel-

erated rate.

No. 1 had 3 periods of aestivation (black bars) : the fii"st

lasting 8 days, the second 42 days, the third 47 days and beyond

until death without emergence from aestivation sometime after

May 6.

No. 8 began as a 5 mm. infant and completed its maturity at

110 mm. Its infant and adolescent growth rate (not plotted)

clung closely to those of #1 and #4 until end of adolescence

(see table) . Thence, the rate (plotted) diverged and stayed

below those of :^1 and :^4.

Onset of #8's aestivation coincided with that of #4. No. 8

was allowed to die in aestivation. A sample of #8's loss of weight

is plotted in the top graph. Its weight was taken just before it

went into aestivation at 142.8 grams. At the end of 83 days, it

weighed 129.3 grams, a loss of 13.6 grams which averaged out

to 0.16 grams {>er day loss. This average loss of body weight in

aestivation is confirmed by the loss of weight in four other

specimens, namely, A, B, C, and ^9, the data of which will be

presented at a later date.

The growth rates of #9 and 10 (unplotted) show similar

patterns with individual variations after the end of adolescence.

1 believe the paterns of growth described for #1, 4, and 8 under

14 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

infancy, adolescence, young adult, and maturity, represent a

characteristic mode for Achatina fidica.

Diameter. The chart of the diameters of #1 and 4 (middle

graph) is an instructive one. There is a definite correlation

between linear and diametric growth in relation to their fovu-

stages of growth, namely, infancy, adolescence, young adult, and

maturity.

No. 1 demonstrates a fairly smooth curve, thereby proving

itself to be a normal average A. fiilica having a symmetrical helix

as its shell. On the other hand, :^4 appears to be slightly out

of rhythm, fluctuating somewhat erratically and unpredictably,

first broadening beyond :^1 just as their lengths coincide (June

25) , next narrowing (August 27) wiien its own length is sur-

passing that of #1. The result is that the shell of :^4 has a less

symmetrical and a slimmer outline than that of symmetrical #1.

W}iorls. The top graph shows that the accretion of whorls is

accomplished in an orderly and regularly manner, the first 8

whorls being attained quickly (4 months) in concert with

length and diameter. Thence, the accretion levels off with only

a small rise from 8.3 to 8.5 at November 2 (#1) . The data for

snail #4 (not plotted) differs only slightly in that there is a

0.2 of a whorl more at May 1956.

Lateral growth. No. 10. Lateral growth of the lip was sampled

but not continued to the end. In a 14-day period, near the end

of adolescence (July 2 to 16) the lip of #10 grew 55 mm. or

.8.9 mm. per day. At the same time the length of the shell grew

increased 18 mm. (extrapolated from #1). In the next lateral

measurement, the lip grew 17 mm. in 28 days or 0.6 mm. per

day (September 17 to October 15). During this lateral growth,

#\0 grew only 2 mm. longitudinally.

Each point of the growing lip grows at a rate that is different

from that of any other point on the same lip. In #10 a point

10 mm. below the suture was selected arbitrarily for mensuration.

Aestivation. Aestivation or snail hibernation is a conspicuous

function in Achatina fulica. The snail becomes lethargic, with-

draws into the shell, secretes an epiphragm (or hibernaculum)

which seals the animal from the external environment, and re-

mains in a state of torpor for days, weeks, and months.

Aestivation apparently is brought on by tw^o main factors,

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 15

namely, a seasonal physiological change and by factors adverse

to the economy of the snail's living process. Ghose gives Novem-

ber to June as a seasonal period of aestivation. The February to

May (#4, 8) and March to May (#1) aestivation periods tend

to support his findings. Ghose found that the reproductive organs

prepare for egg-laying during aestivation.

Among the factors causing aestivation are dryness and heat of

summer, starvation, low temperature and low humidity. This is

a subject needing closer study.

The epiphragm seals the aperture of the shell almost com-

pletely, leaving a minute slit at the middle of the seal for respira-

tion. When the snail is ready to aestivate, it withdraws into the

shell and secretes a kind of mucus that hardens quickly. The

epiphragm is paper-thin, white, and brittle. If disturbed, the

snail might push the epiphragm out, protrude slightly, then

withdraw and form another epiphragm If protrusion is a natural

one, it might feed on the fragments of the epiphragm, indicating

that there is a certain amount of lime in this.

Upon emerging from aestivation, the snail remains lethargic

for hours and often will not feed immediately indicating that

long aestivation may not be correlated with hunger in every

instance.

References

Ghose, K. C., 1959. Observations on the mating and oviposition

of two land pulmonates, Achatina fiilica Bowdich and Macro-

chlamys indica Godwin-Austen. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

5(5(2): 183-1 87.

1960. Observations on the gametes, fertilization and go-

nadal activites of two land pulmonata Achatina fulica Bowdich

and Macrochlamys indica Godwin-Austen. Proc. Zool. Soc,

(Calcutta) 13 (2):91-96.

Lange, W. Harry, Jr., 1950. Life history and feeding habits of

the giant African snail on Saipan. Pacific Science 4 (4) : 323-335.

Mead, A. L., 1950. The problem of the giant African snail

(Achatina fulica) in Micronesia. Pacific Science Board, Na-

tional Research Council, Mimeograph Report.

1961. The giant African snail: A problem in economic

malacology. University of Chicago Press.

Mohr, J. C. Van Der Meer, 1949. On the reproductive capacity

of the African or giant snail Achatina fulica (Fer.) . Treubia

20{\):l-\0.

Rees, W. J. 1950. The giant African snail. Proc. Zool. Soc.

London 72^ (3) : 577-598.

16 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

HELIX ASPERSA IN LOUISIANA*

By PATTI watt HERMANN and DEE SAUNDERS DUNDEE

Louisiana State Universities in Baton Rouge and in New Orleans

Helix aspersa Muller has been recorded from three localities

in Louisiana: Baton Rouge (Featherman, 1871; Binney, 1885;

Harry, 1948); New Orleans (Tryon, 1866; Viosca, 1928); and

Shreveport (Branson, 1961). The latter record consisted of 3

adults from a plant nursery.

In 1948 Harry collected in New Orleans and did not find this

species; the present authors have done extensive collecting there

also without finding it. Therefore, it seems likely that H. aspersa

is no longer present in New Orleans having last been reported

there in 1928 by Viosca.

Baton Rouge, however, still has a colony of H. aspersa. On

September 28, 1963, 11 live specimens were found in the back

yard of a residence at 202 East Boulevard. From this same area,

Harry (1948) reported collecting this snail 15 years ago.

This residence is reported to be at least 50 years old and

possibly 100. The ground under the house is barren of vegetation

and offers little cover for snails. Helix aspersa was found under

a pile of lumber which was lying adjacent to a small shed. The

board had been there only two months, having been transported

from a demolished garage at 165 East Boulevard (a brief check

along that lot revealed no Helix) . Most of the snails were found

between the lowest boards and the leaf littered ground or near

the bottom of the pile thus being in the dampest area.

Two of the 11 specimens were accidentally crushed, 5 were

collected and 4 were left under the lumber pile. One was in the

process of laying eggs and was still doing so 3 hours later in the

collecting container.

Other gastropods found under the boards were 19 Limax

flavus and a few Zonitoides arboreus. Two clutches of Limax

eggs were seen. Lamellaxis gracilis and Hawaiia minuscula were

found in other parts of the yard.

In subsequent trips to this area, shells were found 4 blocks to

the south and one block to the west of this address. No other

localities with living Helix have been found, however.

Supported by Public Health Service Research Grant GM-07194.

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 17

The rediscovery of Helix aspersa in Baton Rouge 15 years

after it was last reported and nearly 100 years after it was first

reported once again points up the tenacity of some introduced

species of organisms. Once introduced, they survive despite the

fact that, in a case such as this, a large city grows around them.

And, like many introduced forms, they become pests such as

are these.

Literature cited

Binney, W. G. 1885. A manual of American land shells. Bull.

U.S. Nat'l. Mus. 28.

Branson, B. A. 1961. Notes on some gastropods from northern

Louisiana. Proc. La. Acad. Sci. 24: 24-30.

Dundee, D. S. and Watt, P. A. 1961. Louisiana land snails with

new records. Naut. 75 (2) : 29-82.

Fcatherman, A. 1871. Report of a botanical survey of southern

and central Louisiana, made during the years 1869-1871. Ann.

Rept. Board of Supervisors, La. State Univ.: 131.

Harry, H. W. 1948. Notes on foreign land snails of Louisiana.

Naut. 62(]): 20-24.

Tryon, G. W., Jr. 1866. Monograph of the teiTestrial Mollusca

of the United States. Amer. Jour. Conch. 2: 218-277.

Viosca, P. 1928. European land snails in New Orleans. Naut.

41 (4): 139-40.

THE PRESENT NOT ALWAYS KEY TO THE PAST

By DAVID NICOL

Dept. of Geology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondalc

Recently in the Nautilus (1964, 77: 92-93) the writer pointed

out that shell-attached marine pelecypods like the chamids are

not found in the arctic and antartic regions today and are also

rare in cold deep water elsewhere. About 20 years ago and also

in Nautilus (1944, 57: 90-93), the writer presented the fact that

shell-attached marine pelecypods were not present in Ordovician,

Silurian, Devonian, and Mississippian strata and are certainly

very rare in Pennsylvania and Permian strata. Does this mean

that the Paleozoic seas were cold? Certainly not. It only means

that the pelecypods commonly adopted this mode of attachment

after the Paleozoic. Only after the Paleozoic did the pelecypods

begin to show their great diversity and greatest amount of adap-

tive radiation.

Equally mistaken conclusions might be made by comparing

18 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

living species of other major groups with their Paleozoic con-

geners. Some historical geology textbooks assert that the climate

during Pennsylvanian time probably was very warm because

many of the insects attained a size unsurpassed by any living

insect; i.e., all living insects of unusually large size live in tropical

areas, and therefore the large Pennsylvania insects must have

lived in a very warm climate. However, not all groups of animals

follow Cope's Rule, and perhaps some of the more primitive

insects were the largest as merely a stage in their evolutionary

development.

One more example of a possible erroneous conclusion can be

based on the maximum shell size of a mollusk group. The

nautiloids apparently attained their largest size in the Ordovician

seas. The largest calcareous-shelled species in many groups of

invertebrates are found in warm seas today (e.g., the largest

pelecypods, the large Foraminifera). Does this mean that Ordo-

vician seas were warmer than those of the Silurian and all later

geologic periods because the nautiloids attained their maximum

adult size in the Ordovician?

The obvious lesson here is to be careful in drawing paleoeco-

logic conclusions, particularly when one is dealing with Paleozoic

organisms that are often not closely related to modern ones.

Literature cited

Nicol, David, 1944. Observations on Pseudomonotis, a Late Pa-

leozoic pelecypod: Nautilus 57 (3) : 90-93,

, 1964. Lack of shell-attached pelecypods in Arctic and Ant-

artic waters: Nautilus 77 (3) : 92-93.

NOTES ON A HYBRID TELLINA (TELLINIDAE)

By KENNETH J. BOSS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.

The occuiTence of hybridization between species or genera of

mollusks has been reported infrequently in the literature. A

general review of possible cases has been given by Pelseneer

(1920) . Data on natural and experimental hybridization be-

tween species of the land snail Cerion (Bartsch, 1920 and 1955;

Mayr and Rosen, 1956) suggest that the phenomenon may occur

with some frequency. In the Bivalvia, experimental hybridiza-

tion has been studied and obtained between species of Ostrea

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 19

and Crassostrea (Seno and Hori [in] Miyazaki, 1939; Davis,

1950), Pholas [Zirfaea -f Barnea] (Pelseneer, 1920), Vetiits

[Mercenaria] (Chestnut, Fahy, and Porter, 1957) and Pinctada

(Matsui, 1958). In many cases the experimental hybrids are

subject to high, if not complete, mortality. Some evidence has

been marshalled to show that certain species or subspecies of

North American unionids hybridize (Clarke and Berg, 1959) .

The example given herein records a case of hybridization be-

t^vcen two closely related species of the genus Tellina.

The hybrid specimen and the specimens of the parental species

(Plate 3, figs. 1, 2, 3) were collected in Bermuda by Mr. Russell

H. Jensen of Bloomfield, New Jersey, in September 1963. He

kindly sent them to the author for study. The two species in-

volved, Tellina magna Spengler, 1789 and T. laevigata Linnaeus,

1758, are largely sympatric and closely related but possess a num-

ber of qualitative as well as quantitative species characteristics.

The populations sampled by Mr. Jensen came from Tucker's

Bay, Harrington Sound. The average depth of water was 6 feet

and the individuals were living 12 inches below the surface of a

fine sand substrate. The sample consisted of 2 specimens of

magna, 7 of laevigata and the unique hybrid.

Conchologically, magna may be separated from laevigata by its

elongate-elliptical shape, its lateral compression, its generally

whitish coloration, which may be suffused centrally with pink,

orange, and red, and by its obsolete posterior lateral tooth in the

right valve. In addition, the ligament of magna is somewhat

sunken and the margins of the valve in this area are sharp;

whereas in laevigata the ligament is more protuberant and its

margins are smooth and beveled. The periphery of the shell in

laevigata is typically orange-yellow. The convexities of the valves

and the outlines of the shells may be quantified by measurements

of lengths, widths, heights, and ratios thereof.

Based on measurements of series of each species, including the

samples from Bermuda, the mean length-height ratio for magna

is 1.8 with a range from 1.6 to 2.1, for laevigata 1.3 with a range

from 1.2 to 1.4; the mean length-width ratio for magna is 5.7

with a range from 5,4 to 6.3, for laevigata 3.5 with a range from

2.9 to 3.8. These ratios show that magna is proportionally more

elongate and more compressed than laevigata.

The hybrid specimen is intermediate in its qualitative concho-

20 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

logical characteristics. It has an internal suffusion of colors which

is unlike that of magna but like that of laevigata in as much as

the suffusion is not concentrated centrally, but peripherally. On

the other hand, the umbo shows the typical external concentra-

tion of orange-red coloration which is generally found in speci-

mens of magna. The right posterior lateral tooth is weakly de-

veloped but is more definitive than the obsolete tooth in magna

and less definitive than the strong tooth possessed by laevigata.

Since the characteristics of the dispensation of coloration alone

seem to be unsatisfactory criteria upon which to conclude that a

specimen is a hybrid, the shape of the shell was also considered.

The measurements of the hybrid are: length 78.7 mm.; height

51.3 mm.; width 20.5 mm. The length-height ratio is 1.53 and

the length-width ratio is 3.8. The former lies clearly out of the

range of these ratios for either parental species and the latter

coincides with the greatest extreme of laevigata. In any case, the

ratios of the hybrid are well separated from the means of the

parental species and the shape of the shell is intermediate in its

dimensions.

Consideration of the occurrence of a hybrid between laevigata

and magna lends credence to their inclusion in the subgenus

Laciolina Iredale, a procedure followed in the author's forth-

coming monograph of the Tellininae. It also calls attention to

some inherent weaknesses in the establishment of subgenera in

the Tellinidae on lateral dentition alone. As practiced in other

taxonomic groups, the hybrid may be referred to as Tellina

magna x laevigata.

The discovery of an adult hybrid between two closely related

and relatively abundant western Atlantic tellens not only adds

another record of hybridization among bivalves, but opens a

promising avenue for experimental research. The stability of

magna and laevigata indicates that the hybrid is probably infer-

tile for there has not been any introgressive merging of popula-

tions of the parental species.

The author wishes to acknowledge the suggestions given by

Drs. J. Rosewater and W. J. Clench, who critically read the

manuscript.

Literature cited

Bartsch, P. 1920. Experiments in the breeding of cerions. Dept.

Marine Biol., Carnegie Inst., Washington 14 (282) :55, 59 pis.

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 21

Bartsch, P. 1955. The pyramidellid mollusks of the Pliocene de-

posits of North St. Petersburg, Florida. Smithson. Misc. Coll.

725 (2): 102, 18 pis.

Chestnut, A. F., Fahy, W. E., and H. J. Porter. 1957. Growth of

young Venus mercenaria, V. campechiensis and their hybrids.

Proc. Nat. Shellfish Assn., ^7:50-56, fig. 1, tabs. 1-2.

Clarke, A. H.. Jr., and C. O. Berg. 1959. The freshwater mussels

of central New York. Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell

University, Mem. 367, 79 pp., 8 pis.

Davis, H. C. 1950. On interspecific hybridization in Ostrea. Sci-

ence 5 (2889): 5221.

Matsui, Y. 1958. Aspects of the environment of pearl-culture

grounds and the problems of hybridization in the genus Pinc-

tada. [in] Buzzati-Traverso. Perspectives in Marine Biology, pp.

519-531. University of California Press. Berkeley and Los An-

geles.

Mayr, E., and C. B. Rosen. 1956. Geographic variation and hy-

bridizations in populations of Bahama snails (Cerion) . Amer.

Mus. Novitates, no. 1806, 48 pp.

Miyazaki, I. 1939. Some notes on the cross-fertilization of Japanese

oysters. Bull. Jap. Soc. Sci. Fish., Tokyo, 7:257-261.

Pelseneer, P. 1920. Les variations et leur heredite chez les mol-

lusques. Hayez, Bruxelles, 826 pp.

INVESTIGATIONS ON BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF

GIANT AFRICAN (ACHATINA FULICA) AND

OTHER LAND SNAILS

By N. L. H. KRAUSS

State Department of Agriculture, Honolulu, Hawaii

This paper briefly records investigations on various predators

of land snails carried on by the author during several periods

from 1950 to date. Only the species sent to Hawaii for release

or study in quarantine are listed. The main purpose of the work

was to establish in Hawaii predators which would reduce the

enormous numbers of the giant African snail, Achatina fulica

Bowdich, which was introduced into the islands from Taiwan

and Japan in 1936. I also hoped that some of the predators would

exert control on various small garden snail pests. Five species of

the predators are known to have become established: the snails

Gonaxis kihweziensis (E. A. Smith), G. quadrilateralis (Preston),

Gulella wahlhergi (Krauss) and Euglandina rosea (Ferussac) ,

and the carabid beetle Tefflus zanziharicus alluaudi Sternberg.

Among the persons who aided me in these investigations, I

22 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

would like to mention especially Joseph C. Bequaert, Harvard

University; Yoshio Kondo, B. P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu;

Francis X. Williams, San Diego, California; Martin H. Muma,

Citrus Experiment Station, Lake Alfred, Florida; C. F. McLauch-

lan, Sydney, Australia; J. Hope MacPherson, National Museum

of Victoria, Melbourne; Bernard Verdcourt, East African Herb-

arium, Nairobi; Maxwell Trench, Diani Beach, Kenya; Keizo

Yasumatsu, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; Nobukiyo Taka-

hashi, Tokyo University Forest, Yamabe, Hokkaido, Japan; Henry

Fernando, Department of Agriculture, Peradeniya, Ceylon; and

Hugo de Souza Lopes, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro.

The predacious snails and beetles sent to Hawaii were handled,

propagated, studied, and, in some cases, released by O. C. Chock,

C. J. Davis, Harry Nakao, Mabel Chong and other members of

the staff of the Entomology Branch, State Department of Agricul-

ture (formerly Board of Agriculture and Forestry) , and Yoshio

Kondo, B. P. Bishop Museum.

Predacious snails: Streptaxidae

Gonaxis kibweziensis (E. A. Smith) . In 1947-48 Francis X.

Williams investigated this snail in Kenya (Williams, 1951) . Some

were sent to Hawaii for study but they were not released. In the

period June-December 1951, the writer sent several shipments to

Honolulu from Diani Beach, Kenya. The first release was made

in June 1952 at Kaneohe, Oahu. In 1950, R. Tucker Abbott sent

many of the snails from Diani Beach to Agiguan Island in the

Mariana group, western Pacific and they were released there.

C. J. Davis in 1954 brought several hundred of the snails from

Agiguan to Hawaii and they were released at Kaneohe in August.

This species is now well established on Oahu and Maui. A few

Gonaxis sp. from Amani, Tanganyika were sent to Honolulu in

November and December 1951 but these were not released.

Gonaxis quadr Hater alis (Preston) , In June 1957, I found large

numbers of immature and adult snails of this species among seed-

ling mvule trees in a nursery of the Forest Department and sur-

rounding forest at Kwale, Kenya (elevation about 1,200 feet).

Several shipments, totaling 5,476 snails, were sent to Honolulu,

and liberations were made on Oahu and Maui beginning in June.

The snails are established on both islands and are considered

the most important of the predators on Achatina (Davis and

Butler, 1964) . The shells of the Kwale individuals were rather

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 23

fragile and the orange bodies could be seen through them. Acha-

tifia of various sizes were numerous in the area.

Gonaxis vulcani Thiele. This species was sent to Honolulu

from Yangambi, on the Congo River, Republic of the Congo

(formerly Belgian Congo) in October-November, 1956. It was

released at Waiahole, Oahu during the same months.

Gulella zuahlbergii (Krauss) . Large numbers of these snails

were collected among fallen leaves and humus under a dense

gro\v'th of trees and shrubs on the Bluff, Durban, South Africa in

December 1956-February 1957. They were released on Oahu and

at Haiku, Maui in 1956-57. Recoveries were made in Nuuanu

Valley, Oahu on September 8, 1960, and February 18, 1964.

Gulella bicolor (Hutton) . This small species was sent to Hono-

lulu from Manila, Philippines in October, 1957; from Susupe,

Saipan, Mariana Is. in February, 1958; and in very large numbers

from Kuala Lumpur, Malaya in August-September 1958. At Ma-

nila it was observed feeding on Subulina octona Bruguiere. Some

were released on Oahu in October-November, 1957, and March

and August, 1958, but the largest number (600) were liberated

at Hilo, Hawaii in September 1958. Dr. Kondo has advised me

that he found one dead specimen of this species on the University

of Hawaii campus, Honolulu, in 1940 or 1941.

Gulella sp.; about 15 mm. long, yellow bodies, orange antennae.

Fifty-eight of these, collected at Port Shepstone, Natal, South

Africa, were forwarded to Hawaii.

Gulella sp. This species was collected among dead leaves on

the ground at Yangambi, Republic of the Congo, in October,

1956. It was released at Kaneohe, Oahu in November.

Gulella sp. probably G. planti (Pfeiffer) . Some of these were

found on the Bluff, Durban, South Africa in November 1956-

February 1957 and sent to Honolulu.

Edentulina affinis C. R.. Boettger. Several of these snails were

collected at Diani Beach, Kenya in August and September 1951

and in May 1957, and these were sent to Honolulu. One indi-

vidual was released in the Kaneohe district, Oahu in June 1957.

The body of this species is orange. A few Edentulina sp. were

collected in the forest at Amani, Tanganyika in October-Novem-

ber 1951.

Edentulina obesa var. bulimiformis (Grandidier). A few indi-

viduals were collected at Diani Beach in June 1957. Four were

24 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

released at Tantalus, Oahu in August. The pearly shell is about

an inch long, and the body bright green.

Ptychotrema walikalense Pilsbry. Collected among dead leaves

on the ground in the forest at Yangambi, Republic of the Congo

in October 1956. Released in Kaneohe, Oahu in November.

Ptychotrema sp. Forwarded to Honolulu from Yangambi, Re-

public of the Congo in October 1956; not released.

Streptaxis contusus (Ferussac). The pearly shells are about 22

mm. in diameter and the bodies are yellowish-orange in color.

A number of individuals were obtained at Rio de Janeiro in

April 1961 through the cooperation of Hugo de Souza Lopes of

the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Eighteen were released at Kapaa

Homesteads, Kauai on May 24.

Spiraxidae

Euglandina rosea (Ferussac) . During September-November

1955 large numbers of this predacious snail were collected near

Whitney, at Gainesville, Silver Glen Springs, Lakeland and near

AstoT, Florida and sent to Honolulu. Nearly all these were from

orange groves near Whitney in Sumter County (near the city of

Leesburg) . The snails were on the ground or a foot or two up the

trunks of the trees, sheltering under empty fertilizer bags in the

crotches of the trees. They were feeding on the citrus tree snails,

Drymaeus sp. In June and July, 1956, more snails and eggs col-

lected in the Whitney area were forwarded. Alan Thistle of the

Hawaii State Department of Agriculture sent further shipments

in 1957. The first releases were made on Oahu in November 1955.

The snail was found established in 1957, and is now established

on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai. It is fond of

the garden snail Bradyhaena similaris (Ferussac) as well as Acha-

tina.

Euglandina singleyana (W. G. Binney) . One live individual

about li/2 in. long was found on a wall at Goliad, Goliad Co.,

Texas in August 1963. It was sent to Honolulu and readily fed

on Achatina fulica in the laboratory.

Salasiella (Laevoleacina) oleacea straminea (Deshayes) . The

shells are a glossy amber color, and the bodies yellowish-brown.

These were collected in good numbers in Vinales Valley, Cuba

in November-December, 1955, and June, 1956. They were re-

leased at Kualoa, Oahu in January and July, 1956. A further lot

collected by Alan Thistle in Vinales Valley in 1957 was released

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 25

at Hakipuu, Oahu in May of that year.

Salasiella sp.? This species was collected at Camoa and Caimito,

Cuba in November-December, 1955, and June, 1956. It was re-

leased at Kualoa, Oahu in July, 1956,

Oleacinidae

Varicella sp. Several individuals were collected at Cobre River

Gorge, Jamaica, in December, 1955, and forwarded to Honolulu.

Rhytididae

Natalina cafjra (Ferussac) . A number of these large snails were

collected on the Bluff at Durban, Port Shepstone and Scottburgh

in Natal, South Africa in December 1956-February 1957 and sent

to Honolulu. In June, 1958, some more were received from G. R.

McLachlan, Museum and Snake Park, Port Elizabeth, South

Africa. These were studied in quarantine but not released.

Rhytida spp. Nine Rhytida inaeqiialis Pfeiffer, collected at

Sarramea, near La Foa, New Caledonia in July, 1950, and several

R. ferreziana Crosse found at Montague des Sources, N. C. in

August were forwarded to Honolulu. They were found under

logs, etc. in the forest.

Paiyphanta compacta Cox & Hedley. Forty-five of these snails

were collected under logs, etc. in a forested area near Forrest, Vic-

toria, Australia in April 1950 and sent to Honolulu. They did

not survive long in the laboratory. The shells are about an inch

in diameter and a glossy blackish in color.

Strangesta capillaceo (Ferussac). Eight young individuals col-

lected at Sydney, Australia were sent to Honolulu in April 1950

but died in quarantine.

Zonitidae

Oxy chillis cellarius (Miiller). 206 of these small predacious

snails from Sydney, Australia were shipped to Honolulu in April

1950 but all died in quarantine within several months, probably

due to the heat.

Haplotrematidae

Haplotrema Vancouver ense (Lea) . A few of these predacious

snails found under logs, boards, etc. at Corvallis, Oregon in May,

1963, were sent to Honolulu. Several more of probably the same

species from Charleston and Brookings, Oregon were forwarded

in June.

Predacious beetles: Carabidae

Teffliis zanzibaricus alluaudi Sternberg. Good numbers of this

26 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

large black beetle, about 45-50 mm, long, were collected among

fallen leaves, etc. in the forest at Diani Beach, Kenya in June-

September 1951 and April-June 1957. The first releases were made

on Oahu in June 1952. In July 1959 some additional ones were

received from D. J. McCrae in Kenya. The beetles are established

in the islands, recoveries having been made in 1958 and 1960.

Tefflus purpureipennis wituensis Kolbe. This species is smaller

than the preceding, being about 35 mm. long. Large numbers

were collected at Diani Beach in September 1951 and April-June

1957 and sent to Hawaii. Additional adults were sent from Kenya

by D. J. McCrae in 1959. All releases weie made on Oahu, begin-

ning in May 1957.

Tefflus jamesoni Bates and T. tenuicollis (Fairmaire) . These

predacious beetles were collected in the forest at Yangambi and

Bengamisa, Republic of the Congo in October-November, 1956,

and were released in the Kaneohe area of Oahu in the same

months. Neither species is known to be established.

Thermophilum hexastictum Gerstaecker. Several of these beet-

les, which may feed on snails as well as caterpillars, were collected

at Diani Beach, Kenya in April 1957, and three were released in

Kaneohe, Oahu in May.

Damaster blaptoides blaptoides Kollar. Adults and larvae of

this large predacious beetle were collected under fallen leaves,

piles of cut grass, debris, etc. and in traps baited with crushed

snails at Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan in June-July, 1958. These were

released on Oahu and Maui in July. In 1959 and 1961 additional

beetles sent from Fukuoka by Prof. Keizo Yasumatsu were released

on Oahu, Maui and Kauai.

Damaster blaptoides rugipennis Motschulsky. These carabids

Avere collected in tins set as mouse traps in the bottoms of small

ditches surrounding plantings of forest tree seedlings at Yamabe,

Hokkaido, Japan in July, 1958. Forty-six were released on Mt.

Tantalus, Oahu on July 28.

Scaphinotus sp. Several adults of this snail-eating beetle found

under boards and logs at Corvallis, Oiegon in May 1963 were

forwarded to Honolulu.

Drilidae

Undetermined species. Two bristly brown larvae about an inch

long found crawling on walls at Rabat, Morocco in April 1962

were sent to Hawaii.

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 27

Lampyridae

Lamprophorus tenebrosus (Walker) . The larvae of this giant

firefly were sent to Honolulu in large numbers from the Kandy

area of Ceylon by Henry Fernando and Henry A. Bess in 1954

and 1956. In August, 1957, the writer shipped 8,665 larvae of

various sizes collected under leaves and debris in cacao planta-

tions of the Pallekelley group of estates, 6 to 8 miles from Kandy,

to Honolulu, and in October 1958 another 3,026 larvae were sent

from the same area. The larvae were released on Oahu during

the period 1954-58 and on Maui in 1958, but no recoveries have

been made.

Colopliotia concolor E. Olivier and Pyrophanes quadrimacii-

lata var. bimaciilata E. Olivier. Four lots totalling 460 adidts of

these lampyrids collected at Pasonanea Park, Zamboanga, Min-

danao, Philippines were sent to Honolulu in Decembei', 1958.

They were not released.

References

Davis, C. J. and G. D. Butler, Jr. 1964. Introduced enemies of

the giant African snail, Achatina fiilica Bowdich, in Hawaii

(Pulmonata: Achatinidae) . Proc. Hawaiian Ent. Soc. Vol. 18,

in press.

Krauss, N. L. H. 1951-1963. Monthly reports on biological con-

trol investigations. Hawaii Bd. Agr. and For. and Hawaii Dept.

Agr. (Dittographed and mimeographed) .

Mead, Albert R. 1961. The giant African snail: a problem in

economic malacology. Chicago, University of Chicago Press,

257 pp.

^Villiams, F. X. 1951. Life-history studies of East African Achatina

snails. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoo., Harvard Coll., 105 (3) : 295-317.

NOTES AND NEWS

Dates of Nautilus. — Vol. 77, No. 1, pp, 1 to 36, pis. 1 to 4,

was mailed July 6, 1963. No. 2, pp. 37 to 72, Oct. 5, 1963. No.

3, pp. 75 to 108, iii, January 7, 1964. No. 4, pp. 108 to 144, pis.

5 to 9, April 14, 1964.— H. B. B.

Strobilops aenea west of the Mississippi River. — The state-

ment has been made that Strobilops aenea Pilsbry does not occur

west of the Mississippi River (Branson, B. A. 1961. Proc. Okla.

Acad. Sci. vol. 41. p. 62.). However, I have a number of collec-

tions from there. From Iowa I have collected it in Fayette, Clay-

ton, Jackson, and Muscatine Counties In Missouri it is known

from St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, and Washington Counties.

28 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

In Arkansas 1 have found it in Columbia and Union Counties.

I have also found it in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and Tyler

County, Texas.

I have also collected it in river drift on the South Canadian

River, north of Whitefield, Haskell County, Oklahoma, and on

the Red Rivei, at Fulton, Hempstead County, Arkansas. But as

there are no fresh shells in either of these lots they may have

been washed from Pleistocene deposits. — Leslie Hubricht.

Helicodiscus tridens and h. aldrichiana. — Recently I exam-

ined specimens of Pilsbryna tridens Morrison and Clappiella

aldrichiana (Clapp) and believe that both species should be

placed in the genus Helicodiscus.

A large series of specimens of Helicodiscus tridens was col-

lected in drift of the South Canadian River, north of Whitefield,

Haskell Co., Oklahoma. Most of the specimens appeared to have

been wished from Pleistocene deposits, but some were quite fresh

so that this species must be living today in Oklahoma.

Thirteen specimens of Helicodiscus aldricJiiana were collected

in fine rubble on a chert hillside, 0.5 mile north of Hammond-

ville, DeKalb Co., Alabama. One specimen was dissected, but

luifortunately it was not sexually mature. The animal is yellow

^vith an orange margin to the mantle, a color pattern found in

several species of Helicodiscus, — Leslie Hubricht.

Asiatic clam infestation at Charleston, West Virginia. —

The Asiatic clam, Corbicula jiuminea (Miiller) , has extended

its range into the Kanawha River. The clam was collected from

the Kanawha July 17, 1963, at Chelyan, West Virginia. The

population was limited to a few live clams in the center of the

river, but large numbers of open shells were collected from the

banks of the river.

During the same period, an inquiry, later followed by samples

of clam shells, was recieved from Union Carbide Olefins Com-

pany, 15 miles upstream from Charleston, West Virginia. The

plant obtains raw water from the Kanawha River. The water

passes through a traveling screen to a sump. Centrifugal pumps

then pump the water to an elevated storage tank from which it

flows by gravity to heat exchangers and thence to the river.

y\s the result of the infestation during the summer of 1963,

clam shells lodged in valves on some of the water lines and re-

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 29

stricted the flo^v of water. Clams were also noted when heat ex-

changers were flushed. Since the traveling screen would prevent

passage of adult clams, assumably the sump and elevated storage

tank were the nursery areas for the clams found in the water

lines and heat exchanger. Partial control was accomplished by

increasing the flow velocities in the water lines, thus removing

the sediment that formed a substrate for the clams.

Individual clam sizes up to 27 mm. indicate that a population

has been established in the Kanawha River since 1961. This is

based on size "year class" data presented by Keup et al. 1963,

Keup, L., W. B. Horning and W. M. Ingram. Nautilus

17 (1): 18-21. — N. A. Thomas and K. M. Mackenthun, Biolo-

gists; Technical Advisory and Investigations Section, R. A. Taft

Sanitary Engineering Center, U. S. Department of Health Edu-

cation and Welfare, Public Health Service, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Decline of Asiatic clam in Ohio River. — Benthic samples

taken from the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio, during 1962

contained large numbers of the Asiatic clam, Corbicula fliiminea

(Miiller) [Stein, E. B., Ohio Journ. Sci., ^2 (6) : 326-327, 1962;

and Keup, L., Horning, W. B., and Ingram, W. M., Naut.

77(1):18-21, 1963]. Quantitative bottom samples collected from

Cincinnati downstream to Warsaw, Kentucky, showed the Asia-

tic clam to be the dominant benthic organism in September,

1962 (Keup, et al., op. cit.) .

Quantitative benthic samples were collected in September and

October, 1963, at the same stations that ^vcre sampled in 1962.

Comparison of the two years' data indicates a near elimination

of the Asiatic clam from the Cincinnati reach of the Ohio River

during the interval of a year. At River Mile 461.5, live Asiatic

clams were reduced from 27 to 1 per square foot of bottom. Four

other stations sampled had live Asiatic clam populations ranging

from 20 to 222 per square foot in 1962; in 1963 no live Asiatic

clams were found at these 4 stations.

Explanations for the sudden decline of the Asiatic clam popu-

lation remain open for speculation. A possible explanation lies

in the severity of the 1962-63 winter. This winter had the cold-

est (-14°F) recorded air temperature since 1936 (-17°F) ; and

the Ohio River was frozen over the longest (7 days) since the

winter of 1947-48 (12 days) (unpublished: U. S. Weather

Bureau Data) . The clam originates from more temperate cli-

30 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

mates in southeast Asia and the abnormally severe Ohio valley

winter conditions may have caused a "winter kill" in the clam

population. — W. B. Horning and Lowell Keup, Biologists;

Technical Advisory and Investigations Section, R. A. Taft Sani-

tary Engineering Center, U. S. Department of Healtli, Educa-

tion, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Stream dispersal of Mesodon — On March 15, 1942, on the

West Fork of White River, Marion County, Decatur Township

near intersection with W. Thompson Road, Indiana, a water-

soaked specimen of Mesodon clausus (Say) was found floating

in the river with the animal inertly extended. Upon being

harshly stimulated, the snail retracted itself into its shell. There-

fore, probably if stranded by receding water, this specimen

might have survived at a new spot in so far as effect of immer-

sion might be involved. At another place, an adult Mesodon

thyroidus (Say) was also found floating in a flooded lowland

near the main channel of the river. The animal also was water-

soaked and extended. Unfortunately this specimen was lost, so

my plan to study its survival aborted. — Dr. Glenn R. Webb,

Kutztown State College, Kutztown, Pa,

Courtship between two species of Helminthoglypta — On

November 26, 1941, an animal of Helminthoglypto tndiculata

(Binney) was found head-on to one of H. nnihilicnta (Pilsbr)') .

A black, tubular body (penis?) was seen to extend from the

tudiculata and to be pressed against the dilated genital-pore

region of the umbilicata. Action ceased after I inverted the

cage cover-glass. But again on November 29th, this pair was found

in an oblique head-on position. Both snails had the genitalia

partly protruded. The organs of the tudiculata were very dark,

almost black and much darker in color than the pale organs of

the umbilicata. The dart-organ of the tudiculata was very small,

but perhaps it was not fully everted. After the foregoing was

seen, I went to get pen and notebook. When I returned, the

tudiculata had fallen from the cover-glass and was lying with

its foot in the air on its spire. Possibly the umbilicata had stabbed

the tudiculata so vigorously that the later fell in pain from the

cover-glass. The fallen tudiculata eventually climbed back up

and rejoined the umbilicata on the cover-glass. Then the um-

bilicata harassed the tudiculata by a biting attack which caused

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 31

the tudicidata to arch itself violently away and to withdraw

from proximity. The pair again became briefly separated. When

the specimens again met, the umbilicata employed its dart from

the tip of the dart-organ against the sole of the foot of the

tudiculata. The tiidiculata jerked violently and again withdrew.

The tudiculata made no attempt to reciprocate with its own

dart-organ. The present two instances suggest that a possible

sex-organ and mating-behavior barrier exists between these two

species to preclude any interbreeding. This is a field worthy of

exploration by observant collectors and malacologists. — Glenn

R. Webb.

Freezing versus Polygyra septemvolva Say — On October 31,

1941, 3 specimens of this species were tested to obtain pilot data

in regard to whether freezing weather might be an important

factor in restricting the species in distribution to the Gulf and

south Atlantic coastal areas. The results were as follows: Three

aestivating specimens survived nearly 24 hours of 36°F. in the

refrigerator; only one out of three aestivating specimens sur-

vived nearly 24 hours of slightly below 32°F. in the refrigerator.

The surviving specimen seemed normal and continued to survive

when returned to its cage. The specimens in question were col-

lected at Port St. Joe, Florida. I am indebted to James T. Close

of Indianapolis, Indiana, for helping secure the material. —

Glenn R. Webb.

Two EASTERN LAND SNAILS NEW TO Texas. — This uote rcports

on specimens of one species and one subspecies of snails not

previously reported from Texas. I wish to express my gratitude

to the membership of the J. K. Strecker Herpetological Society

for saving the snails they often find while searching for reptiles

and amphibians.

Haplotrema concavum (Say) . Shelby County: my 801, a single

fresh shell, part of epidermis still intact. East Hamilton Scenic

Area, Sabine National Forest, 9 miles east of Patroon, Texas.

This represents a range extension of 200 miles from Logan

County, Arkansas, the nearest locality for live material, and 150

miles from the loess record at Natchez, Mississippi. The speci-

men is from the ecotone of the Sabine River bottoms and the

pine-hardwood forest. Additional collecting will be needed be-

fore any statement as to the extent of Haplotrema range in Texas

32 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

can be made. It was found in association with Mesodon thyroidus

and Angiiispira alternata crassa.

Anguispira alternata crassa Walker. Cass County: my 704, ?>

iresh shells, 2 February, 1963, bottoms of the Sulphur river 1.7

miles north and 1.7 miles west of Domino, Texas. Shelby County:

my 800, one live and two fresh shells, under logs, pine-hardwood

forest. East Hamilton Scenic Area, Sabine National Forest, 9

miles east of Patroon, Texas, 28 September, 1963. A. a. crassa has

been recorded from Caddo and De Soto parishes in Louisiana

on the Texas border, but not previously from Texas. The range

of this subspecies in Texas cannot be determined without exten-

sive collecting. A. a. strongylodes occurs as far north and east

as Dallas County and they may intergrade on the western edge

of the pine-hardwood forest. — William Lloyd Pratt, Jr., 4501

El Campo, Ft. Worth, Texas.

Some Texas localities for Helicidae. — Pilsbry (Land Mol-

lusca ^ (1) , 1939) recorded no helicid snails from the state of

Texas. More recently Grimm (Nautilus 77 (3) : 108-109) reported

Otala lactea from Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas. The

purpose of this note is to record additional localities for this

species and to report the presence of two additional species in

the state.

Otala lactea (Miiller) . Galveston County: my 182, 16 live

and fresh shells, garden of Galvez Hotel, Galveston, Texas, 8

December 1961. Brazos County: Mr. David Christopher has

found this snail in several localities around College Station,

Texas. Tarrant County: A single specimen (FWCM. 121) in the

collection of the Fort Worth Children's Museum. It was found

crossing the street in front of the museum in the early morning

during a rain by Mr. Robert Millican, the building engineer,

during December, 1962. Extensive search in the area has not

yielded further specimens and this may be a chance import.

Otala vermiciilata (Miiller) . Galveston County: my 292, two

adult shells, having the same data as O. lactea reported above.

Helix aspersa Miiller. Tarrant County: my 804, two live snails

found in a nursery during December, 1963, by Mr. F. J. Pratt.

The owner says that they are found annually on freshly arrived

rose bushes from California. They apparently have not become

established. Dallas County: I have seen one specimen reportedly

found on the outside wall of a residence in Dallas, fall, 1962.

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 33

1 have no further information nor have I seen additional speci-

mens.— William Lloyd Pratt, Jr., 4501 El Campo, Ft. Worth,

Texas.

Carunculina (Lampsilinae) — Carxinculina "Simpson" F. C.

Baker, 1898, Chicago Acad. Nat. Sci., Bui. 3, is the legal spelling,

for the following reasons: 1. The original publication gave

alternative spellings, Corunculina (p. 109) and Carunculina (in

the index) . [Incidentally another, nearby heading is an obvious

misprint; "Euryma" (p. 100) is correctly Euiynia in the index.]

2. Simpson, 1900, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 22: 563, preferred

Carunculina and thus determined the correct spelling. Never-

theless, according to article 51 (c) , the authority for Carun-

culina is not "Simpson in Baker" but Baker, because Simpson

contributed nothing to the "validating conditions" in the original

publication. The only reason it dates from 1898 is due to the

fact that F. C. Baker included in it one species, Lampsilis parxms

(Barnes) , which automatically becomes its type. Of course, its

first description was published by Simpson (1900) who (illegally)

chose Unio texasensis Lea. — H. B. B.

Elliptic feminine. — Elliptio Rafinesque, 1819, J. de Phys.,

etc. S8: 426, although usually treated as a masculine noun,

apparently should be employed as a feminine one. Rafinesque,

1820, Ann. Gen. Sci. Phys. Bruxelles 5: 291-295, consistently

used Elliptio as feminine (e.g. E. nigra) , although this may

have been due to the fact that he erroneously treated Uiiio as

such. However, unio (onion) was a concrete noun (masculine)

while Elliptio (elliptic?) has more the form of an abstract com-

pound (feminine) . — H. B. B.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Powell, A. W. B. 1964. The Family Turridae in the Indo-

Pacific. Part. The subfamily Turrinae. Indo-Pacific Mollusca

7(5): 227-346, pis. 172-262 (3 in color) .—35 genera and 177

species, recent and Tertiary treated, of which 13 are new. The

editor (not the author) erroneously interchanged the figures

in plates 248 and 249, and figures 1 and 2 in plate 240. Re-

placement pages will be sent subscribers.

Parker, Robert H. 1963. Zoogeography and ecology or some

macro-invertebrates, particularly mollusks, in the Gulf of

34 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

California and the continental slope off Mexico. Vidensk.

Medd. fra Dansk naturh. Foren. 126: 1-178, pis. M5.

Cotton, Bernard C. 1964. South Australian Mollusca — Chitons.

Handbook of the flora and fauna of South Australia, 151 pp.,

139 figs., 1 color plate. A revision of Cotton and F. K. Godfrey's

1940 handbook on the chitons.

Altena, C. O. van Regteren. 1958. De Landmollusken van de

Sint-Pietersberg. Naturh. Maanbl. 47: 86-98. — Dutch province

of Limburg.

Araujo, J. L. de Barros. 1963. Sobre Anostoma (Ringicella)

ringens (L., 1758) (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Odontostomi-

dae) . Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 61: 149-152, 7 figs. — Anatomy

and shell.

Basch, Paul F. 1963. A review of the recent freshwater limpet

snails of North America. Bui. Mus. Comp. Zoo. 129: 401-461,

20 figs. — Shells and anatomy.

1963. Environmentally influenced shell distortion in a

fresh-water limpet. Ecology 44: 193-194, 1 fig.

Benthem Jutting, W. S. S. van. 1962. Selection of lectotypes of

non-marine Mollusca of New Guinea, described by Tapparone

Canefri, and now preserved in the Museo Civico di Storia

Naturale 'Giacoma Doria" in Genoa. Ann. Mus. Civ. Sto.

Nat. Genova 73: 1-8, 10 figs.

1963. Non-marine Mollusca of west New Guinea. Part 1,

Mollusca from fresh and brackish waters. Nova Guinea, Zoo.

20: 409-521, 56 figs. %z pis. 24-25. — New species are included in

Bellamya, Fluviopupa, Clenchiella, Taheitia, Stenothyra, Gab-

bia, Tatea, Hemistomia, Assiminea, Acmella, Omphalotropis,

Melanoides, Physastra, Gyraulus and Anisus.

1963. Part 2, operculate land shells. Nova Guinea, 2^o.

23: 653-726, 3 text-figs., pis. 27-30. — New species are added to

Hydrocena, Sulfiirina, Pleuropoma, Lagochiliis, Ditropis, Pu-

pinella, Bellardiella, Pupina, Moulinsia, Palaina, Pseudo-

cyclotus and Dominamaria.

Blinn, Walter C. 1963. Ecology of the land snails, Mesodon

thyroidus and Allogona profunda. Ecology 44: 498-505, 2 figs.

— Seasonal histories and activities.

Clarke, Arthur H., Jr. 1963. Arctic archibenthal and abyssal

molluscs dredged from Drifting Station Charlie (Alpha 2) .

Nat. Mus. Canada Bui. 185: 90-109, incl. 41 figs. & 2 pis.—

NAUTILUS 78 (1)

PLATE 3

External views of the right valves. Fig. 1 Tellina magna Spengler. Fig. 2.

Hybrid specimen. Fig. 3. T. laevigata Linnaeus. (All about 0.85 x)-

July, 1964 NAUTILUS 35

Alvania karlini is proposed.

& Anne Meachem Rick. 1963. Supplementary records of

Unionacea from Nova Scotia with a discussion of the identity

of Anodonta fragilis Lamarck. Nat. Mus. Canada Bull. 199:

15-27, incl. 1 pi. and a map.

Clayton, Lee. 1961. Late Wisconsin MoUusca from ice-contact

deposits in Logan County, North Dakota. Proc. N. D. Acad.

Sci. 15: 1M8, 2 figs.

Clench, William J. 1962. New species of land mollusks from the

Republica Dominicana. Breviora M. C. Z. no. 173: 1-5, 1 pi. —

New species are added to Helicina, Proserpina, Geomelania

and Zaphysema.

1963. Land and freshwater mollusks of the Crooked Island

group, Bahamas. Bui. Mus. Comp. Zoo. 128: 395-413, 3 pis. New

species are included in Eutrochatella, Opisthosiphon, Micro-

ceramus and Plagioptycha.

Dazo, Bonifacio C. Sc Ricardo G. Moreno. 1962. Studies on the

food and feeding habits of Oncomelania quadrasi, the snail

intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in the Philippines.

Trans. Amer. Micr. Soc. 81: 341-347, 2 figs.

Forcart, Lothar. 1961. Spedizione biologica in Somalia dell'

Universita die Firenze, 1959. Risultati zoologici, 5, Mollusca.

Monit. Zoo. Ital. 69: 39-45. — Inland mollusks.

Getz, Lowell L. 1962. Pomatiopsis cincinnatiensis and P. Ispidaria

as potential interaiediate hosts of Schistosoma japonicum. J. of

Parasit. 48: 498-499.

Ghose, Krishna Chandra. 1962. Origin and development of the

digestive system of the giant land snail Achatina fulica Bow-

dich. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 68 (pt. 3): 186-207, 19 figs.

1963. The alimentary system of Achatina fulica. Trans.

Amer. Micr. Soc. 82: 149-167, incl. 1 fig. & 2 pis.

1962. Morphogenesis of the nervous system in the giant

land snail Achatina fulica Bowdich. Zoo. Anz. 169: 467-475,

16 figs.

— 1961 & 1962. Morphogensis of the statocyst in the giant

land snail Achatina fulica. J. Univ. Bombay 30: 77-79, incl.

pi. 1.

— 1961 & 1962. Morphogenesis of the eye in the giant land

snail, Achatina fulica. J. cit.: 73-76, incl. pi. 1.

— 1962. Morphogenesis of the pedal gland in the giant land

36 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (1)

snail, Achatina fulica Bowdich. Current Sci. 52: 167-168, 4 figs.

1962. Organs of special senses in Achatina fulica. J. Anim.

Morph. & Physiol. 9: 131-184, 1 pi.

— 1963. Reproductive system of the snail Achatina fulica.

Proc. Zoo. Soc. London 140: 681-695, 1 fig., pis. 1-2.

— 1963. Embryogenesis and larval organs of the giant land

snail Achatiiia fulica Bowdich Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh,

sect. B, 68: 237-260, 25 figs.

1962, The cleavage, gastrulation and germ layer formation

in the giant land snail, Achatina fulica. Proc. Zoo. Soc. [Cal-

cutta] 75: 47-54, pi. 4.

Habe, Tadashige. 1962. Trichotropidae in Japan (Mollusca) .

Bui. Nat. Sci. Mus. (Tokyo) 6: 67-77, 5 figs, pi. 1 .—Tricha-

mathina (n. gen.) and new species of Iphinoe, Turritropis,

Akibumia ^ Amamiconcha are included.

Henrard, J. B. Year? A new species of Pseudobha (Mollusca,

Gastropoda) from western New Guinea. Zoo. Meded. Rijksmus.

Nat. Hist. Leiden 39: 308-310, 1 fig.

Hubendick, Bengt. 1962. Aspects on the diversity of the fresh-

water fauna. Oikos (Copenhagen) 13: 249-261, 3 figs. — Limnic

& hololimnic.

Kawaguti, Siro & Noriaki Ikemoto. 1962. Electron microscopy

on the mantle of a bivalve, Musculus senhousia during re-

generation of the shell. Biol. J. Okayama Univ. 8: 31-42, 17

figs. — All 3 layers of the shell are mended.

Klappenbach, Miguel A. Una nueva especie de Cyclodontina

del Uruguay (Gastr. Pulm.) . Com. Zoo. Mus. Hist. Nat. Mon-

tevideo 4 (81): 1-4, pis. 1-2.

Loosjes, F. E. 1963. Supplement to a monograph of the Indo-

Australian Clausiliidae. Zoo. Med. Rijksmus. Nat. Hist. Leiden

39: 153-169, 5 figs, pi. 5 — New species are added to Pseudone-

nia & Acrophaedusa.

1963. Clausiliidae collected by the Netherlands Biological

Expedition to Turkey in 1959. Med. cit.: 242-260, 2 figs., pis.

18-20. New species are proposed in Euxinastra 6- Acrotoma.

MacClintock, Copeland. 1963. Reclassification of gastropod

Proscutum Fischer based on muscle scars and shell structure.

J. of Paleont. 37: 141-156: 141-156, 31 figs., pi. 20.— Transferred

to Patellinae.

THE NAUTILUS

Vol. 78 October, 1964 No. 2

NEW ENGLAND NUDIBRANCH NOTES

By henry D. RUSSELL

The following notes and table concerning the activities of the

Nudibranch fauna of the Cape Cod region are the result of the

author's observations while at the Marine Biological Laboratory

at Woods Hole, Massachusetts from September 1962 — September

1963. Certain species e.g. Tergipes despectus (Johnston) were

abundant and were studied both in laboratory aquaria and in the

field, while others e.g. Idulia coronata Gmelin or Aeolidia papu-

losa (Linne) were collected only once or twice. The species were

discovered at widely different localities in the coastal waters of

Cape Cod and/or the adjacent islands and at widely spaced in-

tervals of time. This may help to explain some of the apparent

inconsistencies of table 1 and indicates the need for further in-

vestigation.

Previous studies have shown that there are two chief breeding

periods for northern New England nudibranch species — one in

May and one in November. This contrasts with the findings for

British species which breed chiefly in June, while those for Ire-

land breed chiefly in August and September. The species of the

Cape Cod region, however, start slightly ahead of those in

northern New England in this respect in that breeding and egg-

laying begins in late March. After egg-laying, many of the species

appear to be exhausted from the effort and die.

The species are presented more or less in systematic order

rather than in accord with their seasonal occurrence and their

activities are summarized in table 1.

Elysia chlorotica Gould

On July 2 and 17 specimens of Elysia chlorotica Gould were

collected abundantly on Vaucheria sp. upon which they appar-

ently were feeding. The alga was growing on the mud banks of

tidal inlets in the Barnstable marshes. E. chlorotica did not seem

to be breeding and no e^^ masses were found. They were exposed

by the receding tide to an air temperature of 37.0°C. Specimens

were placed in running sea-water tanks in the laboratory and

37

egg coils containing young in the veliger stage were observed

on July 25.

Collecting again in the Barnstable marshes on August 9, only

a few specimens were seen, most of the Vaucheria sp. had disap-

peared and only a few scattered patches were found. No tgg

masses were seen. The marshes had been heavily and aerially

sprayed at least twice, on July 17 and August 9, for greenhead

flies, Tahanus sp., control with 0.2% malathion. This may or

may not have influenced the presence or absence of E. chlorotica

at the time of field observation in August. It is quite possible

that the life cycle terminates naturally at about this time after

.oviposition.

Aeolidia papillosa (Linne)

One adult specimen of Aeolidia papillosa (Linne) was found

in the running seawater table of the Laboratory in October. It

apparently had developed in the salt-water tanks located on the

roof of the laboratory and had come down through the salt-water

system.

Cratena aurantiaca (Alder and Hancock)

The following sequence of events outlines some of the activities

of Cratena aurantiaca (Alder and Hancock) from March to July.

Specimens were found on the hydroid, Parypha crocea, both

when it was growing just below low tide on wharf pilings or

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 39

dredged at a depth of 60 feet in Vineyard Sound, southeast of

Job's Neck, Naushon Island. Alder and Hancock^ report that

the eggs are laid on the Northumberland coast in June and July.

The first specimens taken by the author appeared to be carrying

eggs on March 25 when the water temperature from which the

8-10 mm. animals were taken was 4.0 °C. Adults were placed in

jars with running sea-water in the laboratory and preferred to

remain deep among the stalks of P. crocea where they might

easily have been overlooked. They spend their time here, lay

their white, kidney-shaped, 3mm.-long ^g'g masses here and

emerged only when the water became foul or the hydroid died.

They apparently feed on the hydroid, though this was not

observed.

Egg masses were first recorded on April 23 in the 16-celled

stage. The young veligers showed signs of motion within the egg

capsule on May 6, but did not hatch until May 22. The water

temperature was 14.0°C. The hatching of the veligers continued

through June 10 and the adults continued to lay eggs. The ob-

servations were terminated by July 1 as no more egg masses were

produced. The hydroid P. crocea and the specimens had died.

Cratena concinna (Alder and Hancock)

The first few 12-|- mm. specimens were observed on the hy-

droid, Thuiaria argentea growing on stones under the bridge at

Sengecontacket Pond, Martha's Vineyard, on January 15. No eggs

were observed at this time. On April 9, eight 18 mm. specimens

were dredged in 60 feet of water in Vineyard Sound southeast of

Job's Neck, Naushon Island. They were laying irregular cream-

white-pinkish egg coils and in some the veligers were active and

approaching hatching. Eggs laid in a jar of running seawater at

a temperature of 10.0°C. on April 16 were seen to be active and

in the veliger stage two days later and to be hatching by the 22nd.

Egg laying appears to take place during March and into May

as the water warms from 4.0°C. — 14.0°C. Development to the

veliger stage and their hatching takes place during this per-

iod also.

Emhletonia jiiscata fuscata Gould

On June 17 two adult specimens of Embletonia fuscata fuscata

Gould were observed in Wellfleet Harbor on the hydroid,

1 Monograph of the British Nudibranchiate Mollusca, Family 3, 1851.

40 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

Obelia commisuralis. The water temperature was 18.8°C and the

0.5- 1mm. rounded to kidney-shaped Qgg capsules were scattered

along the stalks and branches of the hydroid. The young ap-

peared to be in the veliger stage, nearing hatching. Eggs were

visible through the body wall of the adults also. The observation

of ova in July was reported in 1870 by A. A. Gould and W. J.

Binney in Report on the Invertebrata of Massachusetts, p. 252.

Tergipes despectus (Johnston)

Adults, deposition of e^g masses and hatching of veligers of

Tergipes despectus (Johnston) were observed on the hydroid,

Laomedia loveni (Allman) growing on a wharf in the Eel Pond

at Woods Hole. The animals 3-10.5 mm. in length were dis-

covered with kidney-shaped t2,^ masses on March 19. The water

temperature was 4.0° C and the nudibranchs were feeding on the

hydroid by rasping a hole at the base of the hydrotheca and

drawing the hydranth through it into the mouth — tentacles last.

On March 29, the young laid on March 19 left their disinte-

grating gelatinous egg capsule and swam freely in the sea-water.

Egg laying continued from the middle of March until the end

of May at which time the water temperature was 17.0°C and by

June 3 only one adult was seen on the wharf and no eggs were

found. The water temperature was then 21.0°C.

In the laboratory, egg masses laid on April 18 and 25 hatched

on May 2 and 6 respectively in a water temperature of about

10.0°C, while in the Eel Pond ^^^ laying continued as the tem-

perature changed from 4.0°-17°C over a period of 214 months.

An examination of the wharf on July 10 showed that the Lao-

media loveni (Allman) had disappeared, having reproduced

during June.

Coryphella pellucida (Alder and Hancock)

On one of the running salt-water tables in the laboratory, sev-

eral specimens of Coryphella pellucida (Alder and Hancock)

were first observed on April 30. They ranged in size from 1.5 —

15.0 mm., were feeding on the hydroid, Eudendrium sp. and on it

an irregular, pinkish coil of eggs was laid. The water tempera-

ture was 4.0°C. The young reached the veliger stage on May 6

and hatched on May 13 when the water temperature was 6.0 °C.

in their aquarium. Egg masses were deposited from May 1-10.

The majority of veligers had hatched by the 15th and were dead

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 41

by the 24th, probably due to starvation and/or being caught in

the surface film.

Idiilia coronata (Gmelin)

Two adult Idiilia coronata (Gmelin) were found on the hy-

droid, Obelia commisuralis on May 6 in water of 8.5°C. The hy-

droid was growing on wharf timbers in the Eel Pond at Woods

Hole. No Qgg masses were observed at this time. On June 14,

several adults depositing eggs were found on Obelia sp. growing

on the south breakwater at the eastern end of the Cape Cod

Canal. The water temperature was 4.4°C. Three days later a

young, 1 mm., specimen was located on the hydroids and the

t^g masses contained active veligers that appeared near the

hatching stage.

Dendronotus frondosus (Ascanius)

A 25 mm. specimen of Dendronotus frondosus (Ascanius) was

found on a wharf timber in the Eel Pond on April 16 in water

whose temperature was 10.0°C. No egg masses were observed.

Onchidoris fusca (Muller)

An adult Onchidoris fusca (Muller) about 25 mm. long was

observed feeding on the barnacle, Balanus balanoides, in a labor-

atory running sea-water table on May 13. A coil of eggs was laid

on May 27 and active veligers were found on it. By June 3 many

had hatched into the 16.0°C water and on the following day

"rafts" of dead and dying veligers were found caught in the sur-

face film.

The two largest specimens measuring 37 x 25 mm. and 31 x 18

mm. had died by June 27, but two smaller ones 25 x 18 mm. and

18 X 12 mm. were alive and appeared to be breeding in the

21.5°C water.

Onchidoris aspera (Alder and Hancock)

Several specimens were found August 9 on the seaweed, Chon-

drus crispiis, growing on the south breakwater at the eastern end

of the Cape Cod Canal. They ranged in length from 2 — 3 mm.

and were in water at 16.5°C.

Table 1 contains many blank or incompletely recorded spaces,

showing the aitical need for further collecting, species study,

both in the laboratory and its comparison with individuals in

the field, and the compilation of the resulting data to point the

way for future research.

The overlapping dates and variety of water temperatures may

42 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

appear to be troublesome in pin-pointing or comparing species

activity. This apparent discrepancy may be explained by the

facts that species were collected or studied in water temperatures

observed at as widely different localities as the Cape Cod Canal,

Wellfleet, Woods Hole or Martha's Vineyard and that species

often already were engaged actively in egg-laying, for example,

when discoveied in the field.

Bibliography

1. Alder, J. and A. Hancock, 1845-51. British nudibranchiate

Mollusca, pts 1-8 with Supplement by Sir Charles Eliot.

2. Gould, A. A. and W. G. Binney, 1870. Report of the Inverte-

brata of Masachusetts, pp. 225-258, text figs. 516-521, pis. 16-22.

3. Johnson, C. W. 1934. List of the marine Mollusca of the At-

lantic coast from Labrador to Texas. Proc. Boston Soc. of Nat.

Hist. 40, No. 1, pp. 1-204.

REACTIONS OF HOSTS TO PROBOSCIS PENETRATION

BY ODOSTOMIA SEMINUDA (PYRAMIDELLIDAE)

By ARTHUR S. MERRILLi and KENNETH J. BOSS2

Ectoparasitic pyramidellids occur on a wide variety of hosts

(see Robertson and Orr, 1961, for review of the literature) . Also

documented is the fact that prolonged parasitization by pyrami-

dellids may interfere with the normal development and growth

of the host (Cole and Hancock, 1955; Loosanoff, 1956) . The im-

mediate reactions of hosts to the stimulus of proboscis penetra-

tion by ectoparasites are less well known. One of the purposes of

this paper is to describe and illustrate these reactions.

The work of Cole and Hancock (1955) indicated that in the

European oyster, Ostrea edulis Linnaeus, and in the common

edible mussel, Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, mantle tissues are sub-

ject to considerable irritation by the penetration of the probos-

cides of parasitic gastropods. Constant irritation causes the with-

drawal of the affected portions of the mantle and allows the ecto-

parasites to enter and live within the shell cavity of the host.

The host often reacts by depositing a barrier of shell material,

this resulting in local internal shell malformation. Cole and Han-

cock suggested that the oysters suffered a varying "loss of condi-

1 Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massa

chusetts.

2 Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Ichthyological Laboratory, U. S. National

Museum, Washington, D. C .

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 43

tion" and even death, depending upon the severity of attack. In

general, Loosanoff (1956) reported similar effects in the Ameri-

can oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) . He further noted

that the oyster soon becomes accustomed to prolonged localized

parasitization and fails to close its valves even when under severe

attack by several parasites at the same time.

Observations of actual proboscis penetration by Odostomia

impressa (Say) have been made on Crassostrea virginica from

which one valve had been removed (Allen, 1958; Wells, 1959) .

We employed this method using the ectoparasite, Odostomia bi-

suturalis (Say) , in an attempt to observe the reactions of C.

virginica to penetration. We were able to note clearly the long,

thin, semi-transparent proboscis of O. bisuturalis extending to

the somewhat retracted mantle of the oyster and to see the suck-

ing and pumping action of the proboscis. However, we failed

to detect any muscular reaction by the bivalve hosts when they

were pierced. This we attributed to the probability that the oy-

sters would not react normally after recently sustaining the shock

of removal of one of their valves.

In order to make observations on the immediate reaction of

normal hosts to proboscis penetration, it was necessary to find

host animals that could be observed uninjured. The sessile gas-

tropods, Crepidula fornicata (Linnaeus) , C. plana Say, and

Criicibulum striatum Say were selected because the external mor-

phological features of the animals could be observed in situ

without direct or tactile interference by the investigators. The

host animals were allowed to adhere to glass plates and the

Odostomia seminiida (C. B. Adams) (Plate 4, fig. 1.) were intro-

duced among them. The entire procedure was done under water

in glass aquaria. With the glass plate set on edge, both dorsal

and ventral views of the host animals were easily obtained.

Our observations show that in most cases the proboscis of

Odostomia seminuda penetrated the mantle of the host (Plate

5, fig. 1) , although infrequently the proboscis would extend be-

yond to pierce the visceral mass (Plate 4, fig. 2) . In either case

proboscis penetration elicited from the host an immediate mus-

cular response. Plate 4, fig. 2 pictures the withdrawal reaction

exhibited by C. fornicata when it was being parasitized. Figure

3, in Plate 4 taken 2 two minutes after fig. 2, illustrates the

gradual subsidence of the withdrawal reaction of the host after

44 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

the removal of the proboscis.

Cole and Hancock (1955), Allen (1958), and Robertson and

Orr (1961), reported the gathering of ectoparasites around a

single host. This was noted often during this study when hosts

and parasites were placed randomly on glass plates. Plate 5, fig. 1

shows the dorsal and fig. 2 the ventral view of the same animal,

Crucihulum striatum Say, with the concentration of Odostomia

seminiLda at the shell edge. The mantle of the Crucihulum is

withdrawn in one area where the vague outline of a proboscis

can be seen penetrating into it. These two species would not be

found together in the natural environment since they are bathy-

metrically isolated; Crucihulum striatum is found in deeper wa-

ter. Those used in this study were dredged during "Albatross IV"

cruise 63-3, station 52, Great South Channel, near Nantucket

Shoals, off Massachusetts (N. Lat. 40°37'; W. Long. 69°080 , in

37 fathoms. On the other hand, O. seminuda were collected in

shallow water, 2-4 feet deep, near the mouth of the Bass River,

West Dennis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Under laboratory condi-

tions the two species form this strong association, which is herein

reported for the first time.

Odostomia seminuda usually move about rather freely among

a clump of Crepidula jornicata, but at times they aggregate

around a single specimen. When observed in the field, most of

the ectoparasites were near, or at the edge of the host's shell.

Examination under a dissecting microscope showed the proboscis

of Odostomia extending underneath C. fornicata in the manner

described and figured by Robertson (1957) . We often observed

O. seminuda at the margin of the host but close examination

showed that they were not always feeding. The peripheral in-

teriors of sevei'al dozen shells of C. fornicata were inspected

without finding any indication of shell malformation due to

excessive parasitization of one area of the mantle. Since C. forni-

cata clamps its shell against the substrate as a reaction to the

parasitization and since O. seminuda thereupon instantly with-

draws its proboscis, there is little opportunity for extensive

irritation.

We concur with Robertson (1957) that Odostomia seminuda

feeds on Crepidula fornicata for only short periods at a time. A

similar situation prevails in the small gastropods Hydrohia and

Rissoa which are parasitized by Odostomia scalaris MacGillivray

NAUTILUS 78 (2)

PLATE 4

Fig. 1. Odostoniia seminuda (C. B. Adams) (actual length 3.7 mm).

Fig. 2. Ventral view of Crepidula foruicata Linnaeus with associated parasites,

Odostomia seminuda. Proboscis penetration into the visceral mass is evident.

Note contracted muscles in the area of penetration (length of Cupidula

30 mm). Fig. 3. Ventral view of Crepidula foruicata (photograph taken 2

minutes after the one in fig. 2) . Crepidula has clamped tightly to the glass

plate causing Odostomia to withdraw its proboscis. Muscles are less con-

tracted, especially in the mantle.

NAUTILUS 78 (2)

PLATE 5

Fig. 2

Fig. 1. Dorsal view of Crucibulum striatum Say with a concentration of

Odostomia seminuda C. B. Adams along the shell edge (length of Crucibulum

35 mm). Fig. 2. Ventral view of same animal of Crucibulum striatum showing

the withdrawal reaction of the mantle. Note the vague outline of a proboscis

(arrow) penetrating the mantle at its point of greatest withdrawal.

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 45

(^ rissoides Hanley) . According to Ankel and Christensen

(1963) , these hosts seldom allow the parasites to feed for periods

of more than a few seconds before they retract into their shells.

The persistence of the parasites enables them to be successful in

their attacks on Crepidula, Crucihulum, Hydrohia, and Rissoa.

References cited

Allen, J. F. 1958. Feeding habits of two species of Odostomia.

Nautilus 72: 11-15.

Ankel, F. and A. M. Christensen. 1963. Non-specificity in host

selection by Odostomia scalaris MacGillivray. Vidensk. Medd.

fra Dansk naturh. Foren. 12^. 321-325.

Cole, H. A. 1951. An Odostomia attacking oysters Nature 168:

953-954.

Cole, H. A. and D. A. Hancock. 1955. Odostomia as a pest of

oysters and mussels. J. Mar. biol. Ass. U. K. 34: 25-31.

Loosanoff, V. L. 1956. Two obscure oyster enemies in New Eng-

land waters. Science 123: 1119-1120.

Robertson, R. 1957. Gastropod host of an Odostomia. Nautilus

70: 96-97.

Robertson, R. and V. Orr. 1961. Review of pyramidellid hosts,

with notes on an Odostomia parasitic on a chiton. Nautilus

74: 85-91.

Wells, H, W. 1959. Notes on Odostomia impressa (Say) . Nauti-

lus 72: 140-144.

NOTES ON SPHAERIID NAMES

By H. BURRINGTON BAKER

Recently, using H. B. Herrington's very helpful monograph

(1962) and the typewritten slips, which I think represent his

careful identifications, the Sphaeriidae in the Academy of Na-

tural Sciences of Philadelphia have been rearranged and labeled.

The following notes on nomenclature may be of interest to

others.

Sphaeriidae, 1820.

Acording to article 40 (b) of the 1961 "code," the generally

accepted, familial name Sphaeriidae dates from Cyclad-ia Rafin-

esque (1820). However, Pisidi-adae Gray in Turton (1857) is

apparently prior to any use of Sphaeriidae as such. [Bourguignat,

1883, employed Sphaeridae, and Dall, 1895, Sphaeriidae.] For the

same reason, the superfamily Sphaerioidea also is dated from

1820, and thus is prior to Corbiculidae, which would go back to

Cyrenidae Gray, 1840 [Corbicul-adae Gray, 1847]. [Vernaculars

(outlawed by article 11, b) have not been checked.]

46 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

Sphaerium simile, 1816.

Herrington (1950) in his discussion of Cyclas sunilis Say

(1816) seems to have been a bit confused. In bivalves, Say, like

many of his contemporaries, for example Isaac Lea, used

"breadth" to mean what we now call length, and employed

"length" for what we term height. They used diameter much as

we do. This means that the missing type of similis, as Say meas-

ured it, was about 10.2 mm. long and 8.9 mm. in height (87% of

length) .^ However, Say's figure is more elongate; I make it about

11.4 X 8.4 mm., so that its height appears to be only 74% of its

length, which brackets the usual proportions of this species, de-

scribed from the Delaware River. Furthermore, Say indicated

that one of his shells measured nearly 15.2 mm. in height, which,

using the same proportion as his dimensions, means at least one

valve about 17 mm. in length, or, applying the shape of his fig-

ure, one about 20 mm. long.^

Partly for these reasons, I agree with F. C. Baker (1898) that

Sphaerium simile (Say) is the prior name of what Herrington

(1962: 28) called S. sulcatum (Lamarck) . Incidentally, 5. simile

is not a "nomen oblitum."

Sphaerium occidentale, 1856.

Following Prime in subsequent works, 5. occidentale usually

is dated from him (1860) . However, at that place, he also cited

Cyclas occidenalis "Pr." Lewis (1855 & 1856). Actually in 1855,

the name was nude, but in 1856, Lewis vested it with the indica-

tion: "20. C. occidentalis, Prime (ovalis Pr., formerly) ." Since to

call this well known "Musculium," a "nomen oblitum" would be

quibbling, it apparently should be cited as Sphaerium occidentale

(Lewis) or more completely ("Prime" Lewis, 1856).

Sphaerium fabale, 1851.

The type specimen of Cyclas edentula Say (1829) is this spe-

cies, but apparently that prior name, which was considered a

synonym of S. striatinum, is now a "nomen oblitum."

References

Baker, Frank Collins. 1898. The Mollusca of the Chicago area.

Bui. Chicago Acad. Sci. no. 3: 116.

1 A shell of these dimensions may not be "juvenile." Foster (1932) proved that

a Sphaerhun of the same group (Arnesoda Raf.) becomes sexually mature

before it attains half the maximum size of its sterile senility. Apparently

growth is continuous until death.

2 It might have died of old age, and been too eroded for description.

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 47

Foster, Thuial Dale. 1932. J. of Morphology 53: 490. [On S. soli-

dulum, identified by Sterki.]

Herrington, H. B. 1950, Naut. 63: 117-118.

1962, A revision of the Sphaeriidae of North America (Mol-

lusca: Pelecypoda) . Misc. Publ. Mus. Zoo. Univ. Mich. no. 118.

Lewis, James. 1855. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 5: 122.

1856. Proc. cit, ^; 2.

Prime, Temple. 1860. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 12: 295.

Rafinesque, M. C. S. 1820. Ann. Gen. Sci. Phys. Bruxelles 5 (13) :

318.

Say, Thomas. 1816. Nicholson's Encyclopedia. American Edition

(first) 4: pi. 1, fig. 9. [Not paginate; only photostat seen.]

1829. New Harmony Diss. 2: 356.

Turton, William, 1857. Manual of the land and fresh-water shells

of the British Islands. New edition, with additions by John

Edward Gray. Pages xvi & 263.

LITTER SIZE IN THE SPHAERIIDAE

By WILLIAM H. HEARD

Florida State University, Tallahassee

Ovoviviparity is a familiar character of sphaeriid clams, and

the comparative differences in the number of embryos contained

in a single developing litter have been used in support of Mus-

culium Link as a valid genus apart from Sphaerium Scopoli.

Gilmore (1917) found that the majority of gravid Sphaerium

simile (znS. sulcatum) contained 2 embryos while a few sup-

ported 4, and Foster (1932) reported 2 to 4 embryos for S. soli-

dulum (= S. striatinum) . Gilmore (1917) also listed up to 16

embryos per litter in Musculium truncatum (=M . partumeium) ,

and Van Cleave, Wright and Nixon (1947) reported 8-18 em-

bryos, and Ihomas (1959) recorded up to 21 for the same

species.

While it is generally conceded that Sphaerium. has a smaller

litter size than Musculium, little information has been available

concerning the numbers of young produced by species in the

other sphaeriid genera.

On June 3, 1962, I made a collection of 144 pisidia from Ore

Creek at U.S. Hwy. 23 near Hartland Road, Livingston County.

Michigan, Each individual was isolated in the field in the method

developed by Dr. F. E. Eggleton of the University of Michigan:

a single living clam was placed in a 14-ounce screw-capped bottle

filled with pond water The collection was then left until the

48 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

body tissues had decayed, leaving intact the shells of the adult

and any post-dissoconch embryos present in that individual of

that species. The data from this collection are summarized below.

IDENTIFICATION

Pisidium adamsi

P. casertanum

P. co7npressum

Seven of 8 specimens of P. variahile collected on June 3, 1961,

from Fleming Creek at Cherry Hill Road, Washtenaw County,

Michigan, were gravid. Litter size ranged from 12 to 34, and the

average was 27.8.

Dried museum specimens (University of Michigan Museum of

Zoology No. 65282) of Eupera cubensis collected on April 23,

1935, from the Pasion River at Sayaxche, Dept. Peten, Guata-

mala, were immersed in a saturated solution of tribasic sodium

phosphate for several days. This treatment essentially rehydrated

the dried tissues still adhering to the interior of the valves, al-

lowing one easily to dissect out any shelled embryos present.

Litter sizes of 31, 25, and 35 were observed among 7 specimens

examined.

A preserved collection (September 8, 1952) of Eupera platen-

sis Doello-Jurado from Lagunas del Arroyo Malabrigo, 5 km. N.

of Romang, Sante Fe, Argentina, was recently given to me by

Dr. J. J. Parodiz of the Carnegie Museum. Gross dissection of

nine animals revealed litter sizes of 37, 66, 56, 30, 45 and 22 in

the six individuals that were gravid.

It is apparent that high rather than low litter sizes are to be

expected in Pisidium C. Pfeiffer and Eupera Bourguignat as well

as in Musculium Link. There is unfortunately no information

at present concerning the reproductive habits of Pseudocorbicula

Dautzenburg and Byssanodonta Orbigny. The evolutionary sig-

nificance of different litter sizes and of different numbers of litters

produced in Pisidium will be the subject of a more detailed

future report.

Literature cited

Foster, T. D. 1932. Observations on the life history of a finger-

nail shell of the genus Sphaerium. J. Morphol. 55; 473-497.

Gilmore, R. J. 1917. Notes on reproduction and growth in cer-

tain viviparous mussels of the family Sphaeriidae. Nautilus

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 49

31: 16-30.

Thomas, G. J. 1959. Self- Fertilization and production of young in

a sphaeriid clam. Nautilus 72: 131-140.

Van Cleave, H. J., A. G. Wright, and C. W. Nixon. 1947, Pre-

liminary observations on reproduction in the molluscan genus

Musculium. Nautilus 61: 6-11.

REPRODUCTION OF NASSARIUS TRIVITTATUS

OFF THE COAST OF GEORGIA

By RUDOLF S. SCHELTEMA*

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Recently evidence for the reproduction of Nassarins trivittatus

Say off the southern coast of Georgia was obtained when on

April 2, 1964, its t^^ capsules were collected on the outer beach

of Jekyll Island. The specimens were attached to the horny

axial skeleton of a gorgonian coral. No eggs or embryos wei'e

contained in the capsules indicating that reproduction off the

Georgia coast had probably been going on for some time, possi-

bly since early March. The average length of the egg capsules

was between 1.5 and 2.0 mm. and hence they probably were laid

by a small individual. The e^^ capsules of N. trivittatus are to be

distinguished from those of Nassnrius ohsoletus, the intertidal

form, by several characters already described in a previous paper

(Scheltema and Scheltema 1964, in press) .

The southernmost distribution of the New England basket-

shell, N. trivittatus is uncertain because of the lack of off-shore

dredge samples. Abbott (1954) considers the species to extend

from Nova Scotia to South Carolina whereas Bousfield (1960)

more recently has indicated a range from Gaspe Bay, Quebec

and western Newfoundland to Florida. The southernmost speci-

mens represented in the collection of the Museum of Compara-

tive Zoology, Harvard University, which appear to have been

collected alive are those from off the coast of South Carolina,

although there are several records of shells picked up along the

shoreline as far south as Key West. The recovery of egg capsules

in Georgia gives evidence for the occurrence of a reproducing

population of N. trivittatus at that latitude (ca. 31 °N.) and is

of especial interest because of the apparent uncertainty of the

southern limit of this species.

Contribution No. 1496 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

50 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

References

Abbott, R. T. 1954. American Seashells. Van Nostrand and Co.,

New York, xiv, 541 pp.

Bousfield, E. L. 1960. Canadian Atlantic Sea Shells. Nat. Mus.

Canada (Dept. North. Affairs and Nat. Resources) v, 72 pp.

Scheltema, R. S. and A. H. Scheltema. 1964. Pelagic larvae of

New England intertidal gastropods. Ill Nassarius trivittatus.

Hydrobiologia (in press) .

THE LAND MOLLUSKS OF SIESTA KEY,

SARASOTA COUNTY, FLORIDA

By LANDON T. ROSS

Department of Geology, Florida State University, Tallahassee

The land mollusks of Siesta Key are of considerable interest.

Any survey of the land snails on the mainland in this region will

reveal a much smaller number of species living there than on ad-

jacent islands. This is explained by the fact that many of the

species involved are found living only near shore lines. Most of

the islands along the west coast of Florida w^ere formed in Qua-

ternary time by the depression of an earlier shore line or, possi-

bly, by a rise in sea level and many of the snails then living

along the shore line were trapped on the newly formed islands.

Most of these species have not, as yet, succeeded in spreading

to the mainland.

Siesta Key is a small island forming the southwestern boundary

of Sarasota Bay on the west coast of Florida. It is approximately

7.3 miles long with a maximum width of about 1.4 miles at the

northern end. The soil is usually white quartz sand, often only a

few feet thick and overlying unconsolidated coquina rock. There

are some areas of uncleared vegetation which consist mainly of

cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) , saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) ,

and live oak {Quercus virginiana) . The beaches along the Gulf

of Mexico commonly have a sand ridge behind them with a char-

acteristic vegetation composed primarily of sea oats {Uniola

paniculata) . The bay front is usually a mangrove swamp (Rhizo-

phora) . Numerous brackish water, drainage canals and fresh

water ponds are present on the island.

The land snails of Siesta Key may be roughly divided into 3

groups: those found over the entire island, those restricted to

areas inhabited by man, and those restricted to the margins of

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 51

the bay and the brackish water canals. In the accompanying list,

these groups are indicated by the numbers 1, 2 and 3, respec-

tively. A few snails are distributed over most of the island but are

most common along the bay front. These are indicated by the

number 4. One species (5) was found only in dune vegetation on

the south tip of the Key. The greatest numbers of individuals

and of species were found just outside of the most landward ex-

tensions of the mangrove swamps. Of the 3 species of snails re-

stricted to inhabited areas, two are introduced and the third, the

slug Veronicella floridana (Leidy) , seems to prefer a diet of cul-

tivated plants according to local residents.

The following list details all the species of land mollusks that

were found on Siesta Key. The numbers indicate the habitat as

previously discussed and the letters indicate the relative abun-

dance of each species (V = very common, C = common, O ==

occasional, and R == rare) .

1 C Euglandina rosea (Ferussac)

3 C Gastrocopta contracta form peninsularis Pilsbry

3 V G. pellucida hordeacella (Pilsbry)

3 C G. pentodon (Say)

3 V G. rupicola (Say)

3 O Guppya gundlachi (Pfeiffer)

4 C Hawaiia minuscula (Binney)

3 O Helicina (Oligyra) orbiculata (Say)

3 R Microceramus fioridanus (Pilsbry)

2 O Opeas pumilum (Pfeiffer)

1 V Polygyra cereolus (Miihlfeld) , including form

carpenteriana (Bland)

3 C P. pustula (Ferussac)

1 O P. uvulifera (Shuttleworth)

1 V P. uvulifera striata (Pilsbry)

3 R Praticolella jejuna (Say)

3 O Pupoides modicus (Gould)

3 O Reiinella dalliana ("Simpson" Pilsbry)

A O R. indentata paucilirntn (Morelet)

3 O Strobilops texasiana floridana (Pilsbry)

2 C Subulina octona (Bruguiere)

5 O Succinea luteola floridana (Pilsbry)

3 C Thysanophora plagioptycha (Shuttleworth)

3 C Truncatella bilabiata (Pfeiffer)

2 O Veronicella floridana (Leidy)

4 C Zonitoides arboreus (Say)

52 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

During this study, 20 stations in various localities and habitats

were examined. Eight of these yielded only the most common

land snails (symbol V in the list) . At one station, no snails were

found. With the exception of this single station, Polygyra cere-

olus was invariably present and apparently is the most common

snail in this area.

I would like to thank Dr. William H. Heard of Florida State

University for his valuable aid in the preparation of manuscript

of this paper and also Dr. Joseph Vagvolgyi of the Florida State

Museum for his kind assistance in the identification of several of

the above species.

THE GENUS AMIMOPINA IREDALE, 1933

By DONALD F. McMICHAEL

Curator of Mollusca, The Australian Museum, Sydney

In a recent paper, Solem (1964) has given an invaluable ac-

count of the anatomy of the Australian land snail, Amimopina

macleayi (Brazier) which clearly demonstrates that it is a mem-

ber of the family Enidae.

In dealing with the nomenclature of the species, Solem dis-

cusses at length the generic name which has been used for it,

Amimopina, and puts forward the case that, although the name

was first proposed by Iredale (1933) and has been subsequently

used in lists by a number of workers, it was not properly intro-

duced by Iredale in 1933, according to the international code of

zoological nomenclature, and therefore should be regarded as a

nomen nudum,. As a consequence of this, Solem introduced the

genus as new in his paper.

While I agree with Solem that many Iredalean names are in-

adequately proposed according to the international code and

possibly some of them will have to be regarded as nomina nuda,

and while I deplore the generally vague manner in which many

of these names were introduced, I feel that it is unfortunate that

Solem should have chosen the name Amimopina for an example,

especially as the facts are not quite as set out in his paper.

Solem states: "After mentioning a referral of Bulimus macleayi

to Papuina (Camaenidae) that he considered incorrect, Iredale

(1933, p. 42) states It may be noted that Kobelt (Conch. Cab.,

ed. Kuster (sic), Bd. i, Abth. 13, ante Sept., 1901) refen-ed the

species macleayi to Bothriemhryon (Bulimulidae) , a worse selec-

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 58

tion than Papuina, so that the new generic name Amimopina is

proposed, the Australian B. {ulimus) beddomei Brazier being

the type.' Iredale did not (i) have 'a statement that purports to

give characters differentiating the taxon,' (ii) give 'a definite

bibliographic reference to such a statement,' and (iii) no generic

name had ever been proposed for Bulimus beddomei, so he was

not proposing a substitute name."

However, if reference is made to Iredale (1933, p. 42) we find

that the full text reads as follows:

". . . the generic name Rachispeculum is introduced, the type

being Bulimus bidwilli Cox, that specific name now being re-

vived. The species bears so little resemblance to typical Papuina

that it need scarcely be differentiated, but it may be noted that it

is more elongate, with an entirely different mouth and quite

rounded whorls. Almost as f>eculiar a reference to Papuina is the

very thin, unicolor brown shell with rounded whorls like the

preceding, which was described from Yule Island, New Guinea,

as Bulimus macleayi by Brazier (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., i,

1876, p. 108) who reported it as being found in the dry season in

crevices of coral rock. According to all other collectors, Papuina

is essentially a tree-living group, a feature stressed by Hedley in

connection with P. folicola above noted. Brazier later named an

Australian shell B. beddomei, (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., i, 1876,

p. 127, nom. nud.; iv, 1880, p. 394, May: Torres St.) but soon

discarded it as equivalent to the New Guinea macleayi. There

are differences however, and a third form lives near Port Essing-

ton." Then follows the paragraph quoted by Solem.

Now the above is very much more than "mention of a referral

of Bulimus macleayi to Papuina that he considered incorrect." In

fact the characters of the type species are described in a compara-

tive manner with those of "typical Papuina" which is previously

defined by reference to its type species and literature dealing

with the gioup, and even ecological contrasts are drawn. Iredale

might well have written:

Amimopina gen. nov. Type species: Bulimus macleayi Brazier.

Diagnosis: Differs from typical Papuina Martens, 1860 (type

species: lituus Lesson) in that the shells are very thin, unicolor

brown, with rounded whorls (like those of Bulimus bidwilli

Cox) . The type species, from Yule Island, New Guinea, lives in

coral rock crevices during the dry season (fide Brazier) and

54 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

therefore differs from Papuina sA. which is arboreal. The genus

includes two species, B. macleayi, and B. beddomei (from Torres

Straits) , while a third undescribed species lives at Port Essing-

ton." Such a presentation no doubt would have been perfectly

acceptable. The fact that Iredale did not set out the new genus in

the above manner is beside the point. All the pertinent informa-

tion is given, and in my opinion, there can be no doubt that the

new generic name was "accompanied by a statement that pur-

ports to give characters differentiating the taxon" and thus is

available and validly introduced.

I shall, therefore, continue to regard Iredale as the author of

the genus Amimopina, and of any other names introduced with

similar detail.

References

Iredale, T. 1933. Systematic notes on Australian land snails. Rec.

Aust. Mus. 19: 37-59.

Solem, A. 1964. Amimopina, An Australian enid land snail.

Veliger 6: 115-120.

LYMNAEA (PSEUDOSUCCINEA) COLUMELLA FROM

VENEZUELA, AND NOTES ON DISTRIBUTION

OF PSEUDOSUCCINEA

By EMILE a. MALEKi and P. CHROSCIECHOWSKI2

In a study of the lymnaeid snails of the Gulf States and regions

southward, collections were made in the southern United States,

and in Venezuela; one collection was received from Costa Rica

and others had been examined at the Museum of Zoology, Uni-

versity of Michigan. The lymnaeid collected in Venezuela was

identified as Lymnaea (Pseudosuccined) columella Say. A species

of the subgenus Pseudosuccinea has not previously been reported

from northern South America. The only other lymnaeid previ-

ously known to occur in Venezuela is the amphibious Lymnaea

(Fossaria) cubensis Pfeiffer, 1839, whose type locality is Cuba,

and whose general distribution can be described as the area along

the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The snails from Venezuela were half-grown juveniles, living in

1 Department of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Tulane Medical

School, New Orleans. The study was supported by National Institutes of

Health Grants AI-02898 and 5-K6-AI-18.

2 Division of Ancylostomiasis and other Helminths, Maracay, Aragua, Vene-

zuela.

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 65

an aqueduct near Maracay, State of Aragua, attached to the con-

crete lining at the water surface and to floating sticks and debris.

The mantle was heavily pigmented, but in the laboratory most of

the pigmentation was lost and the progeny were only lightly pig-

mented. The morphology of the shell and body of these speci-

mens agree in the main with that of those collected elsewhere in

North and Central America.

The shell, with a characteristic short spire and large body

whorl, is thin, horn color, and shiny on the surface; the axial

sculpture is coarse and the spiral sculpture fine and microscopic.

The large, ovate aperture is expanded at its lower portion. The

vergic sac is narrower than the preputium and about half its

length. A sarcobelum is present on the preputium. The uterus is

globular, the vagina short, the prostate cylindrical and narrow.

In the radula, the central tooth is unicuspid, the laterals, tri-

cuspid.

The type locality of Lymnaea {Pseudosuccinea) columella Say,

1817 is probably near Philadelphia, U.S.A. According to Baker

(1928) , its general distribution extends over the eastern and mid-

western states, ranging from Nova Scotia westward to Minnesota,

Kansas and Texas, and from Manitoba and Quebec southward to

Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. Synonymous species

described from within this range are Lymnaea columella Say,

1817; Pseudosuccinea columella Baker, 1911; Limnaea navicula

Valenciennes, 1833; Lymnaea columellaris C. B. Adams, 1839;

Lymnaeus macrostomum C. B. Adams, 1842; Lim,naea acuminata

C. B. Adams, 1870.

There are also records of this subgenus from Mexico and Cuba

(Aguayo, 1938) . Apparently the snail has been introduced into

California (Gregg, 1923), Oregon (Vanatta, 1915) and Europe

(Hubendick, 1951) . Van der Schalie (1948) believes that it has

been introduced into Puerto Rico where he recorded it as being

fairly common in San Anton Creek, about 6 kilometers east of

Rio Piedras, and abundant in small streams near the University

campus (at Rio Piedras) . Ferguson and Richards (1963) also

record it as common in Puerto Rico.

In South America, information about lymnaeid snails is on the

whole scanty. Lymnaea peregrina Clessin, 1882, whose type local-

ity is Taguara del Mundo Novo, Brazil, has been found to have

shell and body characteristics identical with those of L. (Pseudo-

56 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

succinea) columella Say, 1817 (Meeuse and Hubert, 1949;

Hubendick, 1951) . Shells of L. peregrina and those of L. (Pseu-

dosuccinea) columella from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Michi-

gan were examined in this study and found to be identical,

taking into consideration the individual variations usually en-

countered within populations. According to Hubendick (1951),

the distribution of Lymnaea (Pseudosuccinea) columella (syn.

L. peregrina) in South America is as follows: Villarica in Para-

guay, Rio Chico in southern Argentina (identified as L. andeana

Pilsbry) , and Rio Camaguam in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

There have been no previous records from Venezuela, or from

the central and northern parts of Brazil or from the Guianas.

Shells collected from Moravia de Chirripo Turrialba in Costa

Rica by Dr. Rodrigo Brenes, University of Costa Rica, were

identified as L. (Pseudosuccinea) columella Say. This snail has

also been reported from Honduras (Hubendick, 1951) and

Nicaragua (Van der Schalie, 1948) .

On the basis of present information, the general distribution

of this snail can be described as the area along the Gulf of

Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America as far south as

Paraguay.

References

Aguayo, C. G. 1938, Los molluscos fluviatiles cubanos. Parte I.

Generalidades. Parte IL Sistematica. Mem. Soc. Cubana Hist.

Nat. 12: 203-242; 253-276.

Baker, F. C. 1928. The freshwater Mollusca of Wisconsin. Part I.

Gastropoda. Wise. Acad. Sci., Arts 8c Letters, Monograph.

Ferguson, F. F. and Richards, C. S. 1963. Fresh water molluscs of

Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Trans. Amer. Micros.

Soc. S2: 391-395.

Gregg, W. O. 1923. Introduced species of Lymnaea in southern

California. Nautilus 37: 34.

Hubendick, B. 1951. Recent Lymnaeidae. Their variation, mor-

phology, taxonomy, nomenclature, and distribution. Kungl.

Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar Fjarde Serien.

Band 3, No. 1.

Meeuse, A. D. J. and Hubert, B. 1949. The mollusc fauna of glass

houses in the Netherlands. Basteria 13: 1.

Vanatta, E. G. 1915. Lymnaea (Pseudosuccinea) columella Say

in Oregon. Nautilus 29: 60.

Van der Schalie, H. 1948. The land and freshwater molluscs of

Puerto Rico. Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. no. 70,

128 pp.

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 57

APERTURAL LAMELLAE AS SUPPORTING STRUCTURES

IN AUSTRALORBIS GLABRATUS

By C. S. RICHARDS

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service,

National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and

Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Bethesda,

Maryland 20014

Apertural lamellae occur in several species of planorbid mol-

lusks including some of the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma

mansoni. In Australorbis glahratus the presence of lamellae is

commonly associated with a spontaneous tendency to crawl out

of the water (Parense, 1957; Richards, 1963) . McCullough

(1958) found lamellae in appreciable numbers of Biomphalaria

pfeifferi gaiidi in Ghana, collected mainly during the dry season.

The possibility that these structures may have survival value to

the snails under adverse conditions such as drought or mollusci-

ciding needs evaluation. Richards (1963) has suggested that the

lamellae function primarily as supporting structures. The follow-

ing studies were conducted to test this.

Methods

Snails tested included: Laboratory colonies of albino A. glahra-

tus originally from Brazil, Tropicorbis obstriictus from Puerto

Rico and from Louisiana, U. S., and Tropicorbis albicans from

Puerto Rico. Each snail was placed on a glass slide on a spring

scale and the weight noted. By means of a second glass slide pres-

sure was gradually exerted downward on the snail until it was

crushed. The force required to crush was recorded to the nearest

5 gms. up to 100 gms.; to the nearest 10 gms. above 100 gms. Only

living snails were used, in matched pairs; two snails (one with

lamellae and one without) taken at the same time, of the same

diameter, from the same population, from the same jar, reared

on the same food. One group of A. glahratus (I) was reared in

gallon jars, fed only Romaine lettuce, and the water changed

only when it became foul. A second group (II) was reared in a

different laboratory in larger aquaria, fed both lettuce and pow-

dered prepared food, the water aerated and periodically recircu-

lated. The T. ohstuctus and T. albicans tests included specimens

from both jars and aquaria, but each matched pair tested was

from a single container.

58

NAUTILUS

Vol. 78 (2)

Results. In group I a total of 86 A. glabratus (43 matched

pairs) ranging from 2.5 to 6.5 mm, in diameter was tested; in

group II, 18 ^. glabratus (9 matched pairs) 3.0 to 6.0 mm. in

diameter. Results are shown in Table 1 and figure 1. In every

matched pair of every size category in both groups the lamellate

snail sustained considerable more force before being crushed

than did the non-lamellate snail. In group I the average force

needed to crush the lamellate snails was 175 gms.; the non-lamel-

late 55 gms.; the mean ratio 3.7:1. In group II the average force

required to crush the lamellate snails was 470 gms.; the non-

lamellate 105 gms.; the mean ratio 5.0:1.

In 54 (27 matched pairs) of the Louisiana strain of T. obstruc-

tus, 4.0 to 6.0 mm. diameter, the lamellate snails sustained an

average force of 400 gms.; the non-lamellate 330 gms. The mean

ratio, lamellate to non-lamellate (1.2:1), was not statistically

significant, the standard error of the mean difference between the

members of each matched pair being 0.3. In 26 (13 pairs) of the

Puerto Rican T. obstructus, 4.5 to 6.0 mm. diameter, the lamel-

late snails sustained an average force of 355 gms.; the non-lamel-

late 270 gms. The mean ratio, lamellate to non-lamellate (1.3:1) ,

Table 1. SUMMARY OF CRUSHING EXPERIMENTS TO DETERMINE FORCE SUSTAINED BY

LAMELLATE AND NON-LAMELLATE PLANOKBID MOLLUSKS

Oct., 1964

NAUTILUS

59

FIG. I. AVERAGE WEIGHTS REQUIRED TO CRUSH

BOOr —

700

600-

m 500

o

400

5 300

o

200

100

A. GLABRATUS SNAILS OF VARIOUS

DIAMETERS, WITH AND WITHOUT

LAMELLAE.

1,060

I

GROUP II

SNAILS

LAMELLATE

NON-LAMELLATE

GROUP

SNAILS

e.S 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0

DIAMETER IN MILLIMETERS

was not statistically significant, the standard error of the mean

difference between the members of each pair being 0.18. In 24

(12 pairs) of the Puerto Rican T. albicans, 4.0 to 5.0 mm. diam-

eter, the lamellate snails sustained an average force of 380 gms.;

the non-lamellate 270 gms. The mean ratio, lamellate to non-

lamellate (1.43:1), was barely significant statistically, the stand-

ard error of the mean difference between the members of each

pair being 0.19 (i/gP is less than 2.5%) .

Discussion. Although snails of group II A. glabratus were gen-

erally stronger than those of group I, indicating more favorable

growth conditions, the relationship between lamellae and resist-

ance to crushing was comparable in both groups. The ability of

the non-lamellate snails in the Tropicorbis species to sustain

more force than in A. glabratus was to be expected, since lamella-

formation usually occurs at maturity in the tropicorbids studied,

while in A. glabratus it occurs in the relatively fragile immature

snails (Richards, 1963) . The results suggest that the lamellae

have a survival value as supporting structures in A. glabratus

60 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

under certain conditions, but that they are of Httle significance

as supporting structures in the two Tropicorbis species.

Summary

A total of 104 A. glabra tus in matched pairs (lamellate and

non-lamellate) were subjected to enough force to crush them.

The lamellate snails sustained an average of approximately 4

times as much force as the non-lamellate. Tests with T. obstruc-

tus and T. albicans suggested that lamellae increased only

slightly the strength of the shells in these species. Lamellae are

considered to have survival value as supporting structures in

A. glabratus under certain conditions.

References

McCullough, F, S., 1958. The internal lamellae in the shell of

Biomphalaria pfeifferi gaudi (Ranson) from Ghana, West

Africa. Jour, de Conchyliologie 97: 171-179.

Paraense, W. L., 1957. Apertural lamellae in Australorbis gla-

bratus. Proc. Malacological Soc. London 32: 175-179.

Richards, C. S., 1963. Apertural lamellae, epiphragms, and aesti-

vation of planorbid mollusks. Am. J. Trop. Med. and Hvg. 12:

254-263.

A NEW SPECIES OF CYAMIOMACTRA (PELECYPODA)

FROM THE ROSS SEA, ANTARCTICA

By DAVID NICOL

Department of Geology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Cyamiidae, Cyamiomactra Bernard, 1897

Type species (monotypy) : Cyamiomactra problematica Ber-

nard, 1897, pp. 310-311.

Cyamiomactra robusta Nicol, new species. PI. 6, figs. 1-3

Type repository: Division of Mollusks, U. S. National Museum.

Holotype cat. no. 653063; paratypes cat. nos. 612811 and 612766.

Description: Shell thin, porcelaneous, somewhat chalky on the

umbonal area; periostracum thin, glossy, light brown; ornamen-

tation consists of fine concentric striae and prominent concentric

ridges which may represent periodic growth cessation, number

varying from 5 to 9 and commonly more closely spaced toward

the ventral margin; a radial keel or rounded carina present on

posterior quarter of the shell; prodissoconch not preserved;

equivalve; without a gape; valve outline subrectangular, anterior

end rounded and somewhat pointed, posterior end subtruncate;

length always greater than height; largest specimen is 9.7 mm.

long, 8.7 mm. high, 6.9 mm. in convexity of both valves; smallest

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 61

specimen (holotype) is 8.8 mm. long, 6.6 mm. high, and 6.2 mm.

for convexity of both valves; ratio of convexity to height for

three specimens is 0.83; ratio of length to height for 3 specimens

is 1.20; beaks small, orthogyrate; interior margins of shell

smooth; concentric ridges on exterior of the shell correspond to

concentric grooves on the interior of the shell; pallial line and

adductor muscle scars not observable on these thin shells; liga-

ment and hinge teeth typically cyamiid; lateral teeth absent; car-

dinal teeth 2 in the right valve and 3 in the left valve; central

tooth 2 in left valve shaped like an inverted V, tooth 4a short

and narrow and slopes antero-ventrally, tooth 4b is longer, nar-

row, and slopes postero-ventrally; teeth 3a and 3b in right valve

are large, triangular, and bifid; ligament completely internal,

narrow, sloping postero-ventrally, located in a narrow groove on

the hinge plate behind the cardinal teeth in each valve; hinge

plate narrow and rather short.

Comparisons: Cyamiomactra robusta appears to be most closely

related to C. laminijera (Lamy) , but it differs from the latter

species by being more convex and by having well-developed con-

centric ridges on the exterior of the shell. Cyamium exasperatum

Preston from the Falkland Islands superficially resembles Cyami-

omactra robusta, but it is a much smaller shell and has only 2

cardinal teeth in the left valve.

Habitat: Cyamiomactra robusta was collected at two stations,

one of which was 321 meters in depth and the other 640 meters

in depth. The bottom temperature at the deeper station was

— 1.86° C. The type of bottom described from the shallower col-

lecting station was coarse glacial marine till.

Geographic distribution: The holotype and one paratype with

both valves came from 77° 38' S., 163° 11' W.; Kainan Bay, Ross

Sea.. One right valve was collected at 77° 26' S., 169° 30' E.; Mc-

Murdo Sound, Ross Sea.

Cyamiomactra robusta was collected only by the Deepfreeze I

Expedition during January and February, 1956. It appears to be

quite rare and may be endemic to the Ross Sea region. It may

also be rather restricted in its distribution as to depth and kind

of substrate upon which it lives.

Cyamiomactra robusta is one of the largest members of the

Cyamiidae that the writer has seen. The largest of the 3 speci-

mens is 9.7 mm. long. The other cyamiid species that attains at

least this length is Cyamiomactra laminifera (Lamy) which also

lives in the Antarctic region. Cyamiid species from warmer waters

62 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

in the southern hemisphere commonly attain no more than 5

mm. in length. This is another example of a family of pelecypods

that has one or more of its largest species living in the coldest

water. Two more cases of this phenomenon among species of

Antarctic pelecypods will help to prove this point. The largest

living species of limopsid is Limopsis (Felicia) jousseaumi (Ma-

bille and Rochebrune) from the Antarctic region. However,

other Antarctic species of limopsids are small. Laternula elliptica

(King and Broderip) , an Antarctic species, is the largest living

laternulid with the possible exception of specimens of Offadesma

angasi (Crosse and Fischer) from Stewart Island which may be as

large. On the other hand, the largest pelecypods, like Tridacna,

are confined to warm water. This trend among pelecypods to

have the largest species of a family or a genus living in the cold-

est water seems to be so common that it could be considered an

ecological or geographical rule.

Mr. W. J. Byas, museum specialist in the Division of Mollusks

at the U. S. National Museum, skillfully opened and separated

the 2 valves of the holotype so that the hinge area could be de-

scribed and then later repaired the left valve of the holotype

after it was broken by the writer.

Mr. David H. Massie of the U. S. Geological Survey made the

photographs of Cyamiomactra rohusta.

This short paper is a preliminary note on a study of Antarctic

pelecypods which is being supported by a grant from the Na-

tional Science Foundation (G-13335) .

Literature cited

Bernard, F. 1897. Sur quelques coquilles de Lamellibranches de

I'ile Stewart. Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, no. 7: 309-314.

AMERICAN MALACOLOGICAL UNION, INC.

By MARGARET C. TESKEY, Secretary

The 30th annual meeting of the American Malacological

Union was held in New Orleans, July 21-24, 1964. One hundred

registered guests enjoyed a most unusual program, minded the

heat not at all and with a moonlight boat ride on the mighty

Mississippi as the final feature, voted the 1964 meeting an un-

qualified success.

Dr. Dee Dundee and Dr. Harold Dundee planned and ar-

ranged for the 4 day convention while John Q. Burch of Los

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 63

Angeles as A.M.U. President presided over presentation of 26

scientific papers by as many authors, an instructive and well bal-

anced program.

Other highlights were a tour of historic New Orleans and field

trips which took the land shell collectors on a 100 mile bus tour

of the bayou country while others dredged in Lake Pontchartrain

from two boats loaned by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fish Com-

mission. Another highly enjoyable feature was the annual dinner

at Arnauds, one of the city's famed French restaurants; the hardy

relished and the timid sampled "escargot," many for the first

time.

These papers made up the scientific program: Freshwater mol-

lusks of the Hudson Bay watershed, Arthur H. Clarke, Jr. Shell

deformity of mollusks caused by Hydractinia echinata, Arthur S.

Merrill. Behavior of unionid glochidia, William H. Heard and

Sherman S. Hendrix. The foreign freshwater snails now estab-

lished in Puerto Rico, Harold W. Harry. Who were The Sower-

bys? Katherine V. W. Palmer. Fresh-water Mollusca from the

early Tertiary of Patagonia, J. J. Parodiz. Geographic distribu-

tion of eastern American brackish water mollusks, J. P. E. Morri-

son. A phenomenon associated with sexual behavior in polygyrid

snails, Walter C. Blinn. "Indo-Pacific Mollusca," R. Tucker Ab-

bott. Molluscan magnetism, Lulu B. Siekman. Some highlights in

the study of mollusks on the United States Gulf Coast, Gordon

Gunter. Radulae of Ottawa River snails, Maryl Weatherburn.

Cytotaxonomy of the genus Oncomelania, John B. Burch. The

Coosa River and its shells, Herbert D. Athearn. Tarebia grani-

fera and Melanoides tuberculata in Texas, Harold D. Murray.

Anatomical relationships in the Teredinidae, Ruth D. Turner.

The evolution of Mesogastropoda, Donald R. Moore. Disc elec-

trophoresis in the study of molluscan systematics, George M.

Davis and Gene Lindsay. The chromosome cycle in the land snail

Catinella vermeta, C. M. Patterson (read by Robert Wakefield) .

Cytological studies of opisthobranch mollusks, R. Natarajan.

Notes on the sex of Campeloma, Henry van der Schalie. The

mussel shoals of the Tennessee River revisited, David H. Stans-

bery. Cell and tissue culture of mollusks, Catalina Cuadros and

John B. Burch. Gastropods in scientific research, Albert R. Mead

(read by title) . Stunting of Oncomelania formosana in culture,

Henry van der Schalie and George Davis.

64 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

Over the past year new constitutions have been adopted by the

A.M.U. and by the A.M.U., Pacific Division. The American

Malacological Union has been incorporated as a scientific, non-

profit organization. At the recent meeting, the following were

elected to hold offices in 1964-65:

President, Juan J. Parodiz. Vice-president, Ralph W. Dexter.

2nd Vice-president, Edwin C. Allison. Secretary, Margaret C.

Teskey. Treasurer, Jean M. Gate. Publications Editor, M. Karl

Jacobson. Councillors-at-Large, William H. Heard, Leo G. Hert-

lein, Leslie Hubricht, Richard L Johnson.

The 1965 annual meeting will be held at Wagner Gollege on

Staten Island, New York, July 20th through the 23rd.

NOTES AND NEWS

Increase in price of Nautilus. — Bare costs of printing, exclusive

of postage, again are exceeding considerably the income from sub-

scriptions. For this reason, beginning with volume 79 (July, 1965),

but not including renewals for 1965, domestic subscriptions will be

raised to ^4.25 a year, and foreign ones to ^4.75. The extra increase

in foreign subscriptions is due largely to the postage on requested

separate invoices.

Oyster chromatogram — Crassostrea virginica (Gm.) col-

lected from the York River, Va., above the Fleet Weapons Pier

at Yorktown, June 24, 1964, was used for chromatographic stud-

ies during an N.ST, program (Grant GE-3798) at La Salle Col-

lege. The specimen was preserved in the field in FAA. fixative.

The oyster was macerated and spotted on Whatman's No. 1

Filter Paper. The chromatographic solvent used was butanol :

acetic acid : water (4:1:1). The solvent front was permitted to

migrate 18 cm. The resulting chromatograms were sprayed with

ninhydrin solution (50 ml. of 0.2% ninhydrin in methyl alcohol,

plus 10 ml. glacial acetic acid, and 2 ml. 2-4-6 collidine) and sub-

mitted to a temperature of 110° G. for a period of 30 minutes.

Twenty-two pure amino-acids were prepared in a buffer of

pH 3.7 (the pH of the macerated oyster) and the chromato-

graphic procedure was repeated.

Rf values for each amino-acid and for each region of colora-

tion in the oyster material were computed and compared. Tenta-

tive conclusions indicated the presence of L-cystine (Rf = .094) ,

L-arginine (Rf = ,166), glycine (aminoacetic acid) (Rf = .278),

NAUTILUS 78 (2)

PLATE 6

All figures of holotype of Cyamiomactra robusta Nicol, 5x. U. S. N. M. cat.

no. 653063. Fig. 1. right valve, exterior. Fig 2. right valve, interior. Fig. 3.

left valve, interior.

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 65

and DL-alpha-alanine (Rf = .360) . Comparable Rf values for

these 4 amino-acids in pure form were: .094, .178, .266, and .361,

respectively.

"Analytrol" charts were produced for each chromatogram. The

tentative conclusions were confirmed by comparison of the loca-

tion of peaks along the horizontal scale.

Light coloration throughout the chromatograms and an irregu-

lar trace recording indicate a strong probability of the presence

of other amino-acids. — Veronica M. Bierbaum, Bethlehem, Pa.

LlTTORINA ZIGZAG (GmELIN) AND L, LINEOLATA OrBIGNY

Since Bequaert's 1943 monograph on "The Genus Littorina in

the Western Atlantic" (Johnsonia, vol. 1, no. 7, see pp. 14-18),

most workers have followed the suggestion that sexual dimorph-

ism accounted for the extreme shell variability in Littorina

(Melarhaphe) ziczac (Gmelin, 1791) . That two species were in-

volved was noted by Dr. J. P. E. Morrison (in litt.) on the basis

of shell characters. Thanks to fresh material obtained in Grenada

by Mrs. Ruth Ostheimer and Dr. Minerva Buerk, it is now

known that males and females are present in two forms. The egg

capsules of "ziczac" illustrated by Lebour (1945) , Abbott (1954) ,

J. B. Lewis (1960), and Marcus and Marcus (1963) strongly

suggest, because of their differences, that all these authors have

been working with a mixture of these two species.

True ziczac Gmelin is illustrated in Bequaert's monograph, pi.

5, figs. 1-4, and in "American Seashells" by Abbott on pi. 19,

fig. e. It is characterized by its smoothish surface, by its fairly

well-rounded whorls, light ash-gray color over which are rather

distinct, usually evenly-spaced, axial, slanting, narrow flames or

stripes of weak brown. The surface sculpture consists of numerous,

microscopic incised spiral scratches, usually about 20 to 30 be-

tween sutures. The nuclear whorls are seldom eroded away.

L. lineolata Orbigny is illustrated by Bequaert on his pi. 5,

figs. 5-10, and in "Caribbean Seashells" by Warmke and Abbott on

pi. 9, fig. 1. It differs from ziczac in being usually smaller, more

darkly colored, and in having only 5 to 9 spiral incised lines

between sutures, in having flat-sided whorls and a keeled base,

and in sometimes being spirally corded. The apex is usually

eroded away.

The ranges of these two species appear to be about the same.

66 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

although in Bermuda lineolata is rare, while in Texas ziczac is

absent or rare. They live in approximately the same tidal zone,

but further observations are needed. An examination of Dr.

Robert Robertson's photographs (in litt.) of the holotype of

Phasianella lineata Lamarck, 1822 [not Buccinum lineatum

Gmelin, 1791, which is Littorina scahra (Linne, 1758) ], supports

Bequaert's statement that Lamarck's species is tessellata Philippi,

1847.

Among the obvious synonyms of ziczac Gmelin are dehilis

Philippi, 1846, d'orbignyana Philippi, 1847, and dispar Mon-

tagu, 1815. Synonyms of lineolata Orbigny, 1842, are carinata

Orbigny, 1842 (non Sowerby, 1819), crassior Philippi, 1847, and

jamaicensis C. B. Adams, 1850, — R. Tucker Abbott.

On Lymnaea auricularia in Colorado. — Henderson (1912,

Nautilus 26 :M and 1918, ibid. 52:71) reported the Palearctic

pond snail Lymnaea auricularia (L.) from Colorado Springs (El

Paso Co.) and Dotson Reservoir, near Fowler (Otero Co.) , Colo-

rado. Recent collections have it from Varsity Pond in Boulder

(Boulder Co.) and City Park Lake in Fort Collins (Larimer

Co.) , extending the range in Colorado northward along the east

face of the Rocky Mountains. The location of 3 of the 4 Colorado

colonies in city park lakes would indicate that each probably re-

sults from a separate introduction. — Clarence J. McCoy, Jr.

Glauconome rugosa, 1842. — Both date and author are given

incorrectly in Sherborn, 1902, Index Animal.: 5676. Glauconome

rugosus (sic) was figured by Hanley, 1842, [Lamarck's] The

species of shells: pi. 2, fig. 31, and named in the accompanying

"List of illustrations" [for pis. 1 to 3]. Apparently this small,

hand-colored lithograph was copied (as a mirror image) in

Hanley, "early part of 1843" (Preface: v; probably 1856), 111. k

desc. cat. rec. bivalve shells (1842-1856) : pi. 10, fig. 24. Inci-

dentally, bound in the A. N. S. P. copy of the evidently rare Han-

ley, 1842, are "A list of the species delineated in the supplemen-

tary plates," etc. (only pages 1 to 8) and (at the end) the "Sys-

tematic list of the shells figured in this work," etc. (pages 1 to 8) .

Thus the former (or both?) of these appears to be "their ex-

planatory text" (1856, loc. cit.) for plates 9 to 13 of Hanley, 1842-

1856, and the wording seems identical with those bound in the

A. N. S. P. copy of this last. [Page 9 of the list suppl. pis. is signa-

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 67

ture-marked "app." etc.] This apparently means that all the

names o£ species on pis. 9-13 were vested (made valid) at least

"early" in 1843, and are prior to any bivalve in Reeve's "Con-

chologia Iconica." Involved names in Corbiila are: C. crassa,

C. fasciata^ C. nimbosa and C. trigonal (not Roemer, 1836). —

H. BURRINGTON BaKER.

Elliptic complanata wheatleyi. — Apparently Unio wheat-

leyi Lea, 1858, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 9: 85, is neither

a homonyn or a "nomen oblitum," although Lea, 1862, J.

A.N.S.P. 5; 54, pi. 1, fig. 209; Obs. 8: 58, substituted U. catawben-

sis for it. Both names seem to be prior to U. rostrum Lea, 1862,

Proc. cit. 13: 391, which was used by Simpson, 1914: 660, for a

species. — H. B. B.

E. (Uniomerus) tetralasmus sayana. — Is an incomplete de-

scription, despite the incorrect reference to an unpublished plate,

enough to validate Unio sayanus Conrad, 1838, Monogr. no. 11:

102, "pi. 55, fig. 2?" If so, Conrad, 1840, Monogr. no. 12: 103,

pi. 56, lower 3 figs., was right, when he included, as a junior

synonym, U. sayi Ward in Tappan, 1839, Amer. J. Sci. i5; 268, pi.

3, fig. 1. In any case, this is only a question of spelling. — H. B. B.

Galatea (Donacidae) . — According to article 56 (a) of the

1961 "code," Galatea Brugiere, 1797, Encycl. Meth. (Tabl. Vers) :

pi. 250, is not a junior homonym. It originally included only one

(unnamed) species, Venus paradoxa Born, 1780. However, be-

cause its emendation, Galathea Lamarck, 1804, Ann. Mus. Hist.

Nat. Paris 5; 431, is preoccupied, it often has been replaced by

Egeria Roissy, 1805. Evidently, Galatea must be restored as the

lawful name for this estuarine group of west Africa. — H. B. B.

Oxycheilus (Subulininae?). — Also because of a difference of

one letter, Oxycheilus Albers, 1850, Die Heliceen: 174, is not a

homonyn of Oxychilus Fitzinger, 1833 (Zonitinae) or Oxy-

cheila Dejean (1825) . As already has been indicated, 1963, Proc.

Acad. Nat Sci. Philadelphia 115: 216, Synapterpes Pilsbry, 1896,

Naut. 10: 46, must be replaced by Oxycheilus, of which O. han-

leyi (Pfeiffer in Philippi) is the type species, for this Brazilian

1 According to Lamy, 1941, C. assiniensis Chaper, 1885, is a usable synonym.

68 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

group. Unfortunately, a supposed homonym seldom becomes a

"nomen oblitum," because it is repeated continuously as a senior

synonym. — H. B. B,

CoRBULA LiMATULA, 1846. — Has auyoue subsequently col-

lected C. limatula Conrad, June, or earlier, 1846, Proc. Acad.

Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 3: 25, pi. 1, fig. 2, dredged off the west

coast of Florida? Apparently, if Edouard Lamy, 1941, J. de

Conch. 84: 228, had not noticed the description, it now would be

a "nomen oblitum." The type specimen is in the A.N.S.P. (no.

50909a) ; it is about the size of Conrad's fig. and measures: right

valve 8.2 x 6.3 mm., left (smoother and still stuck in place) 7.2 x

4.8; diam. 4.6 mm. Under the present "code," the name should

continue valid until 2014. — H. B. B.

Abstract reports on oceanography. — Stepped-up emphasis

on research in aquatic biology, particularly oceanographic stud-

ies, is evidenced by a 145% increase in numbers of these papers

abstracted by Biological Abstracts (BA) since 1959. Abstracts

cross referenced to Oceanography from numerous other inter-

related areas of biology add to this total by another 70-100%.

Both broad and specific coverage of life science papers relating to

Oceanography is provided in Biological Abstracts. Searches in

this field are facilitated through use of appropriate index words

in B.A.S.I.C. and through a check of abstracts listed under

Oceanography in the Cross Index. — Release.

Adelopoma costaricense Bartsch and Morrison, 1942, not an

inhabitant of the United States — Several years ago, Haas (1947,

Nautilus 61: 33-34) reported that a single specimen, apparently

ieferable to this species, had been collected alive at a light trap

in Charleston, South Carolina. During a current review of Adelo-

poma, the specimen (CNHM 24510) was re-examined and found

to be misidentified. It is the Mariana Island Palaina taeniolata

taeniolata Quadras and Moellendorff, 1894, and probably is a

mislabeled shell. CNHM 24925 contains a long series of P. taen-

iolata collected by H. S. Dybas in 1945 about 1 mile from Yigo,

Guam Id., Mariana Islands. The supposed Adelopoma cannot be

distinguished from members of this set. A Division of Insects

label reading "Charleston, South Carolina, April 12, 1945, R. L.

Wenzel collector" is still with the shell. Both Dr. Wenzel and Mr.

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 69

Dybas (entomologists at Chicago Natural History Museum) had

recently returned from wartime duties and their collections were

being sorted by Division of Insect personnel aided by college

students. The label with the "Adelopoma" can be identified as

having been written by one of the college students. These facts

present the strong probability that mislabeling is involved rather

than an introduction. Of all the diplommatinids, the Micronesian

Palaina are most closely allied in shell form and sculpture to the

Neotropical Adelopoma, the former differing only in greater up-

wards expansion of the parietal-palatal lip. Controversy still

exists as to whether Adelopoma is native to Central and South

America, or whether it has been introduced from the Old World.

Review of all known Adelopoma by one of us (Solem) indicated

a pattern of variation in Adelopoma that is not exactly duplicated

by any Old World species group, although no adequate generic

distinctions from Palaina could be recognized. Confusion of

Adelopoma and Palaina is quite easy. Alan Solem and Fritz

Haas, Chicago Natural History Museum, Chicago, Illinois.

Type locality for Paravitrea smithi — Paravitrea smithi

(Walker) was described from two specimens collected by Her-

bert H. Smith from Sand Mountain near Pisgah, Jackson Co.,

Alabama.

I collected at several localities on Sand Mountain near Pisgah

without finding it. I then made a list of all the species which

Walker (1928, Terr. Moll. Ala., Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool. Misc.

Publ. no. 18.) recorded from near Pisgah. There were 20 species,

several of which were calciphiles. This indicated that Smith's

collections were made on the lower side of the mountain, rather

than on the summit. After examining topographic maps of the

vicinity, I decided that the most likely place was below Sublett

Gap, about 4 miles west of Pisgah. Here an old road went dow^n

the side of the mountain to where at one time there had been

a ferry on the Tennessee River. I visited this place in early June,

1964 and collected two specimens of Paravitrea smithi, together

with most of the species which Walker reported from Pisgah.

I believe this is the place where Smith collected his specimens.

One specimen was mature with 5 whorls, the other was an im-

mature shell of 3 whorls. There were no teeth in either specimen.

The animals were white. — Leslie Hubricht.

70 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

Stenotrema magnifumosum in the Cumberland Mountains

— Stenotrema magnifumosum (Pilsbry) was found living in the

canyon below Fall Creek Falls, Van Buren County, Tennessee.

During the Pleistocene, species of higher altitudes in the southern

Appalachians were able to move down to lower elevations and

extend their ranges. In some favorable localities they were able

to survive to the present. — Leslie Hubricht.

Richard Winslow Foster, of the Museum of Comparative

Zoology at Harvard University, died suddenly September 3, 1964,

in Rome, Italy, of asthma, after an apparently successful opera-

tion for appendicitis. He was 44 years of age. "Dick" will be

missed greatly by all his many friends, and colleagues in the col-

lection and study of mollusks, and our sympathies are extended

to his wife.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Mathews, L. Harrison &: Maxwell Knight. 1963. The senses of

animals. 240 pp., 40 figs. & frontispiece. Philosophical Library,

15 East 40th St., New York 16, N. Y. |7.50.— Notes on eyes

and touch-receptors of mollusks are included.

Nicol, David. 1962. The biotic development of some Niagaran

reefs — An example of an ecological succession of sere. J. of

Paleont. 36: 172-176, 1 fig.

Paraense, W. Lobato. 1963. The nomenclature of Brazilian plan-

orb ids, 3. ''Australorhis stramineus" (Dunka', 1848) . Rev.

Brasil. Biol. 23: 1-7.

& Lygia R. Correa. 1963. Variation in susceptibility of pop-

ulations of Australorbis glabratus to a strain of Schistosoma

mansoni. Rev. Inst. Med. trop. Sao Paulo 5; 15-22, 1 fig.

& do. 1963. Susceptibility of Australorbis teganophilus to

infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Rev. cit.: 23-29

& Newton Deslandes. 1962. "Australorbis intermedius" sp.

n. from Brazil (Pulmonata, Planorbidae) . Rev. Brasil. Biol.

22: 343-350, 6 figs.

Pilson, M. E. Q. Sc P. B. Taylor. 1961. Hole drilling by Octopus.

Science J 34: 1366-1368, 1 fig.

Rezende, H. E. Barboza k P. D. Lanzieri. 1963.Uma nova especie

do genero Protoglyptus Pilsbry, 1897, do Brasil. Mem. Inst.

Oswaldo Cruz 61: 111-126, 38 figs. — Shell and anatomy.

Riedel, Adolf. 1963. Zwei neue Zonitidae (Gastropoda) von

Siidostbulgarien. Ann. Zoo. Polska Akad. Nauk 20: 473-485,

18 figs. — New species are added to Oxychilus & Carpathica.

Oct., 1964 NAUTILUS 71

1963. Ein rezenter Hawaiia-Fund aus Afghamistan und ein

fossiler aus dem Kaukasus (Gastropoda, Zonitidae) . Ann. cit.

21: 33-41, 14 figs. — 2 new species are added.

1963. Fossile Zonitidae (Gastropoda) aus dem Kaukasus.

Ann. cit. 21: 273-287, 18 figs. — New species are proposed in

Oxychilus, Vitrea ^ Vitrinoxy chillis ("gen. n." but not de-

scribed) .

La Rocque, Aurele. 1960. Quantitative methods in the study of

non-marine Pleistocene Mollusca. Intern. Geol. Cong. 21 (4) :

134-141, 1 fig.

Schalie, Henry van der. 1963. People and their snail-borne dis-

eases. Mich. Quart. Rev. 2: 106-114, 1 fig. & 1 map.

& Lowell L. Getz. 1962. Reproductive isolation in the

snails, Pomatiopsis lapidaria and P. Cincinnati ensis. Amer.

Midi. Nat. 68: 189-191, 1 fig.

Sc Getz. 1962. Distribution and natural history of the snail

Pomatiopsis cincinnatiensis (Lea) . Vol. cit.: 203-231, 13 figs.

— %: Getz. 1962. Morphology and development of the sex or-

gans in the snail, Potamiopsis cincinnatiensis (Lea) . Trans.

Amer. Micr. Soc. 81: 332-340, incl. pis. 1-5.

& Getz. 1963. Comparison of temperature and moisture re

sponses of the snail genera Pomatiopsis and Oncomelania.

Ecology H: 73-83, 12 figs.

& Guy Colwin Robson. 1963. Bivalve. Encycl. Britt.: 8 pp..

18 figs.

Schalie, Henry and Annette van der. 1963. The distribution, ecol-

ogy, and life history of the mussel, Actinonias ellipsiformis

(Conrad) in Michigan. Oc. Papers Mus. Zoo. Univ. Mich. no.

633: 17 pp., incl. 3 pis.

Sinclair, Ralph M. 1963. Effects of an introduced clam (Corbi-

cula) on water quality in the Tennessee River valley. 12 pp. &

1 pi.

Solem, Alan. 1960. Notes on South American non-marine Mol-

lusca 1-3. Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova 71: 416-432, pis. 24

& 25. — New species and subspp. are proposed in EudoUchotis,

Choanopoma & Tudora.

1959. Notes on Mexican mollusks, 2. Oc. Papers Mus. Zoo.

Univ. Mich. no. 611: 1-15, incl. pis. 1 8c 2. — A new species is

added to Polygyra.

Thompson, Fred G. 1963. Systematic notes on the land snails of

the genus Tomocychis (Cyclophoridae) . Breviora M. C. Z. no.

181: 11 pp., incl. 1 fig. & 1 pi. — A new species is added.

1963. New land snails from El Salvador. Proc. Biol. Soc.

Washington 76: 19-31, incl. figs. 1-2 & pis. 1-2. — New species

are proposed in Amphicy dolus, Streptostyla, Eucalodium &

Lysinoe.

Turner, Ruth D. 1961. The genus Lignopholas Turner (Phola-

72 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (2)

didae) . Mit. Zoo. Mus. Berlin 57; 287-295, incl. pis. 1-4.

Tuthill, Samuel J, 1961. A molluscan fauna and late Pleistocene

climate in southeastern North Dakota. Proc. N. D. Acad. Sci.

15: 19-26, 3 figs.

Tweedie, M. W. F. 1961. On certain Mollusca of the Malayan

limestone hills. Bui. Raffles Mus., Singapore no. 26: 49-65, fig.

1, pis. 15-16.

Uminski, Tomasz. 1962. Revision of the Palearctic forms of the

genus Discus Fitzinger, 1833 (Endodontidae) . Ann. Zoo. Pol-

ska Akad. Nauk 20: 299-333, incl. 1 fig., 3 maps, 5 tables and

pis. 3-4,

1962. Taxonomy of Anguispira (?) 7narmorensis (H. B.

Baker, 1932) with notes on the tasonomy of the genera Angui-

spira Morse and Discus Fitzinger (Endodontidae) . Ann. cit.

21: 81-91, 19 figs. & 1 table.

Verdcourt, Bernard. 1959. Scorpion shells. E. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc.

J- 23: 1 p. .

1960. East African slugs of the family Urocyclidae, pt. 2. J.

cit.: 233-240, figs. 5-8. — A species is added to Urocyclus.

1960. Some further records of Mollusca from N. Kenya,

Ethiopia, Somaliland and Arabia, mostly from arid areas. Rev.

Zoo. Bot. Afric. 61: 221-265, 9 figs. — Inland mollusks with

some anatomy.

& R. Polhill. 1961. East African slugs of the family Urocy-

clidae, (parts 3 8c 4) . J. E. Africa Nat. Hist. Soc, special suppl.

7: 36 pp., 41 figs. — New species and subspp. are added to

Trichotoxon.

1961. Notes on the snails of north-east Tanganyika. Coryn-

don Mem. Mus. Oc. Papers no. 8: 23 pp., 18 figs. — Streptaxi-

dae, with anatomy.

— 1961? The cowries of the east African coasts. Supplement 3.

J. E. Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc. 23: 281-285, &: 3 figs, (as 2 pis.) .

1962. Report on a collection of East African slugs (Urocy-

clidae) . J. cit. 24: 29-36, & 14 figs, (as 5 pis.) .

Zarate Lopez, Adolfo Ortiz de. 1962. Una especie nueva de Heli-

cella (Hellicella (Xeroplexa) cobosi) . Arch Inst. Aclimata-

cion (Almeria) 11: 41-43, pi. 1.

1962. Observaciones anatomicas y posicion sistematica de

varios helicidos espanoles. 5, Genero Oestophara Hesse, 1907.

Bol. R. Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat. (B) 60: 81-104, 14 figs. — A new

species is added.

Shells. Photographed for "Life" by Nina Leen. 1964. Life

57 (2) : 46-54, 12 large figs., mainly colored. This contains an in-

teresting account of the shell-collecting experiences of George

and Mary Kline, Shunpike Road, Box 271, Madison, N. J., in the

oceans around Ceylon and the Pacific islands.

THE NAUTILUS

Vol. 78 January, 1965 No. 3

NEW SPECIES OF VITRINELLIDAE FROM

GULF OF MEXICO AND ADJACENT WATERS^

By DONALD R. MOORE

Institute of Marine Science, University of Miami

Abstract

The systematics of the families Vitrinellidae and Tornidae are

briefly reviewed and reasons given for maintaining the two fami-

lies as separate entities. Three new species of Vitrinellidae from

the Gulf of Mexico are described, Macromphalina fioridana,

Vitrinella texana, and Solariorbis semipunctus.

tP tp tt tt tt

The family Vitrinellidae is fairly large with about 220 de-

scribed recent species from the Western Hemisphere, and wath

probably as many or more from the Indo-Pacific region. The

western Atlantic species number over 60, but many are poorly

known or have not been seen since their description. The writer,

while working on the vitrinellid fauna of South Florida and the

Gulf of Mexico, found 3 species that had evidently been missed

by previous workers on these minute mollusks. They are de-

scribed below along with a brief discussion of the systematics of

the family.

Early workers placed vitrinellids in Rotella, Umbonium, or

other small trochid genera. Fischer (1857) described several new

species as Adeorhis-Tornus, while many authors placed species in

Cyclo'strema. Katherine Bush (1897) was the first to point out

that Vitrinella and its allies should be placed in a separate family,

but she, unfortunately, did not have a clear understanding of the

affinities of the group. She clearly thought that they were related

to the Trochidae, and included a number of genera which are

certainly not vitrinellids. It was Pilsbry and McGinty (1945) who

first showed figures of living vitrinellids, and Pilsbry later (1953)

placed the family in the Rissoacea.

Abbott (1950) showed that Cyclostrema is a genus closely

1 Contribution No. 580 from The Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine

Science, University of Miami.

73

74 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

allied to Lioiia, and placed the genus in the Liotiidae. Thus

Cyclostrema is shown to be quite different from the vitrinellids,

and the family name Cyclostrematidae is synonymous with Lioti-

idae. Many of the species formerly grouped under Cyclostrema-

tidae should go into Skeneidae, or if mesogastropods, into some

other family. Malacologists have often equated the Vitrinellidae

with the Adeorbidae-Tornidae, and the most recent such classifi-

cation is that of Taylor and Sohl (1962) . They state that the

name Vitrinellidae should be used in preference to Tornidae on

the grounds that the former name has been used more often.

However, nearly everyone has ignored the anatomical work of

Woodward (1899) on Tornus subcarinatus (Montagu), the type

species of Tornus, and the work of Fretter (1956) on a vitrinel-

lid, Circiilus striatus (Philippi). In addition, Pilsbry and Mc-

Ginty (1945) gave information on the external morphology of

vitrinellids, including Vitrinella helicoidea C, B. Adams, the

type species of Vitrinella. Moore (1962) provided a more precise

illustration and description of the external morphology of the

vitrinellid, Paruiturboides interruptus (C. B. Adams) .

When the vitrinellids are compared with Tornus subcarinatus,

the following important differences are noted: 1.) The vitrinel-

lids have a circular, multispiral operculum; Tornus has a pau-

cispiral oval operculum. 2.) The vitrinellids have a penis in the

male; this organ is lacking in Tornus. 3.) The gill is deep in

the mantle cavity of vitrinellids; it extends well out of the right

side of the aperture in Tornus and may even curve around the

margin of the shell. Fretter (1956) cites further important dif-

ferences in the internal anatomy. There are similarities in the

appearance of the shell, in features of the radula, and both

possess a pair of pallial tentacles on the right side of the mantle.

However, while relationship is apparent, the differences are too

great to put Tornus in the same family with the vitrinellids.

In view of the above observations, the writer feels that attempts

to equate the Vitrinellidae with the Tornidae are based on

misconceptions, and that both families should take their place

in the superfamily Rissoacea.

Acknowledgments. All the specimens but one were collected

by various people who turned their material over to the writer.

Thanks are extended to the following persons for their coopera-

tion and interest: Mrs. Winnie Rice, Mrs. Edna Marcott, Dan

January, 1965 nautilus 75

Steger, and Barry and Buena Valentine. The specimen of Ma-

cromphalina floridana from Soldier Key was collected as part

of a qualitative sample in the sea grass Thalassia testudinuni

under National Science Foundation grant no. G- 14521. The

study was completed under National Science Foundation grant

no. GP-2455.

Macromphalina FLORmANA, sp. nov. PL 7, figs. 1-3

Description. The shell is depressed, with a tilted, slightly pro-

jecting protoconch. The umbilicus is widely open, periphery

strongly carinate, and the aperture strongly oblique.

The protoconch consists of approximately U/g smooth glassy

whorls. It terminates with a barely discernible varix, and the

sculpture of the teleoconch begins immediately after. The teleo-

conch consists of nearly two whorls in the holotype, and is cov-

ered, both top and bottom, with sculpture of narrow, recurved

radial ribs. Betw^een the ribs there is a microsculpture of close

set spiral threads. The radial ribs above the periphery are opis-

thocline, while those below are prosocline. They are not contin-

uous, however, for the ribs are slightly more numerous on the

upper half of the shelL There were 46 counted on the dorsal half,

34 on the lower half of the body whorl of the holotype.

The aperture is oblique, and viewed from below, is broadly

ovate. The upper part of the peristome overhangs the aperture

considerably. The peristome is continuous, and in the holotype,

is slightly separated from the preceding whorl. The peristome is

closely appressed to the preceding whorl in the paratype from

Soldier Key, but this specimen is evidently not quite mature. The

umbilicus is widely open, and the sculpture continues on the

inner surface up to the preceding whorl.

Material. Holotype, Madeira Beach at 150 Avenue, St. Peters-

burg, Florida, collected by Mrs. Edna Marcott during the winter

of 1959; diameter, 3.1 mm., altitude, 1.5 mm. Deposited in the

Division of Mollusks, U. S, National Museum, no. 636310. Para-

types. 1 specimen from the east side of Soldier Key, Biscayne Bay,

Florida, in a depth of about 1 meter, November 2, 1961, collected

by D. R. Moore; diameter, 1.9 mm., altitude, 1.0 mm., UMML

no. 30:2773. 1 specimen from Madeira Beach at 150 Avenue, St.

Petersburg, Florida, collector, D. Steger; diameter, 1.0 mm., alti-

tude, 0.5 mm. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia no.

295621. This specimen was considerably larger, but most of the

76 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

second adult whorl has been broken away.

Name derived from Florida, the state where all the material

was collected.

Remarks. Macromphalina floridana is strongly carinate; the

other two West Indian species have a rounded periphery. M. caro

(Dall) is much more elevated, but M. palmalitoris Pilsbry and

McGinty is similar to M. floridana in size and shape. There are

other differences between M. floridana and M. palmalitoris, how-

ever, for M. floridana has a tilted protoconch and discontinuous

axial ribs, while M. palmalitoris has an erect protoconch and

continuous axial ribs. The axial sculpture of M. floridana is also

much stronger.

M. dipsycha Pilsbry and Olsson appears to be the Panamic

analog of M. floridana. M. pilsbryi Olsson and McGinty is Vani-

koro oxychone Morch (personal communication, Robert Robert-

son) , and thus is not considered in the discussion of comparative

characters of the West Indian species.

VlTRINELLA TEXANA, sp. nov. PI. 7, figS. 4-6

Description. The shell is depressed, and has a flattened apex.

The umbilicus is narrow but deep, and is almost flat sided. Sides

of the shell curve out and down gently so that the periphery

forms an angle with the base of the shell. The aperture is oblique.

The protoconch consists of 1% glassy whorls. The teleoconch

consists of about I14 whorls, and is sculptured on the upper

side with fine spiral grooves and on the lower side with numer-

ous short radiating riblets. These riblets are crossed by a few

weak spiral grooves, and there are several stronger spiral grooves

in the umbilicus. The ventral side is flattened, and, in the holo-

type, bears about 36 radiating riblets. The riblets become indis-

tinct on the last half of the whorl, and become difficult to count.

The aperture is oblique, and is broadly ovate. The peristome

is deeply notched at the upper inner angle. The parietal wall is

rather thick, and is extended a little forward of the aperture.

The umbilicus is narrow and almost flat sided, but there is no

angle with the base of the shell. The shell itself is quite thin

and fragile, and only the holotype and one immature paratype

are unbroken. One paratype is actually only half of the body

whorl of a broken shell.

Material. Holotype. Mustang Island, near Port Aransas, Texas,

February 14, 1960, collector, Winnie Rice; diameter, 1.72 mm..

January, 1965 nautilus 77

altitude, 0.78 mm. Deposited in the Division of Mollusks, U. S.

National Museum, no. 636311. Paratypes. All collected by Win-

nie Rice on Mustang Island, Texas, near Port Aransas. 2 speci-

mens from Cline's Point, Port Aransas, August 24, 1959; both are

broken and have lost part of the body whorl. Institute of Marine

Science, U. of Texas, no. 1015. 1 specimen from drift near the

ferry landing. Port Aransas, September 2, 1959; this is a fragment

consisting of about one half of the body whorl. Institute of Ma-

rine Science, U. of Texas, no. 1016. 1 specimen from Port Aran-

sas, October 21, 1959; this is worn and broken. UMML no.

30:2775. 1 specimen from Port Aransas, October 26, 1959; this

specimen has the upper part of the peristome broken away, and

a piece is broken out of the body whorl close to the aperture —

diameter, 1.9 mm., altitude, 0.8 mm. UMML no. 30:2776. 3 speci-

mens from Mustang Island, February 14, 1960; 2 specimens are

quite worn and broken, but one is quite fresh. The shell is glassy

and unbroken except for a few nicks in the peristome. However,

it is immature, and has the following measurements: diameter,

1.2 mm., altitude, 0.55 mm. One specimen Academy of Natural

Sciences of Philadelphia no. 295622; 2 specimens Division of Mol-

lusks, U. S. National Museum no. 636312.

Name derived fiom the state of Texas.

Remarks. The genus Vitrinella is as yet in a confused state, and

it is not practical to attempt to enumerate all the species of the

West Indian region at this time. However, no species of Vitri-

nella have as yet been reported from the Texas coast. Three

species found in Texas waters are V. helicoidea C. B. Adams,

V. thomasi (Pilsbry) , and V. floridana Pilsbry and McGinty.

None of these has the periphery at the base of the shell, nor do

any have radiating riblets on the ventral side. Thus V. texana is

quite distinct from other species of Vitrinella found on the coast

of Texas.

SoLARioRBis SEMiPUNCTUS, sp. nov. Plate 8, upper figs. 1-3

Description. The shell is strongly depressed, and has a flattened

upper surface. The umbilicus is narrow, and partly concealed by

a thickening of the body whorl around the umbilicus.

The protoconch apparently consists of I1/2 whorls, but this

could not be determined with any degree of certainty. There are

3 whorls in all, covered, in the adult portion, with many spiral

ridges. Between the ridges are somewhat narrower grooves. These

78 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

grooves are simple on the upper side but become punctate on the

periphery and on the lower surface. The aperture is oblique,

ovate, and with a rather heavy parietal callus. There is a notch

in the upper inner- angle of the aperture. The umbilicus is quite

narrow, but deep. The thickening of the inner portion of the

body whorl begins about half a whorl from the aperture. It may

cover the umbilicus completely, or leave a small opening.

Material. Holotype. From northwest Campeche Bank, Mexico,

18 meters, mud bottom, collector, Dan Steger; diameter, 0.93

mm., altitude, 0.4 mm. Deposited in the Division of Mollusks,

U. S. National Museum no. 636309. Paratype. 1 specimen from

beach drift. Bale de Aquin, Haiti, 1956, collectors, Barry and

Buena Valentine; diameter, 0.9 mm., altitude, 0.38 mm. UMML

no. 30:2774.

Name. The name semipunctus is derived from the Latin, semis,

a half, and punctum^, a small hole, and refers to the series of

small pits on the lower half of the shell.

Remarks. There are about 11 recent species of Solariorbis pre-

viously described from the West Indian region. S. semipunctus is

smaller than any of the other known species, and is the only one

with punctate sculpture on the lower half of the shell. S. blakei

(Rehder) appears to be the most closely related species. It is only

slightly larger than S. semipunctus, and may, in some specimens,

also cover the umbilicus with an unusual development of the last

whorl. S. blakei, however, does not have a flat upper surface,

nor does it have the sculpture found in S. semipunctus.

Of the two specimens, the paratype from Haiti appears to be

the more recently dead. The sculpture is beach worn, however,

and not nearly so distinct as that found on the holotype. Little

can be said about the distribution of the species except that the

distance between the two localities leads one to believe that it

must be widespread in the West Indies and adjacent continental

coast.

References

Abbott, R. Tucker. 1950. The genus Cyclostrema in the western

Atlantic. Johnsonia 2(27) : 193-200, pis. 86-88.

Bush, Katherine J. 1897. Revision of the marine gastropods re-

ferred to Cyclostrema, Adeorbis, Vitrinella, and related genera.

Trans. Conn, Acad. Arts. Sci. 10: 97-144, pis. 22, 23.

2 Actually the adjective punctm, pricked (punctate) . — Ed.

January, 1965 nautilus 79

Fischer, Paul. 1857. Etudes sur un groupe de coquilles de la

famine des Trochidae (Fin) 8. J. Conchyliol. 6: 284-288, pi. 10,

figs. 10-13.

Fretter, Vera. 1956. The anatomy of the prosobranch Circulus

striatus (Philippi) and a review of its systematic position.

Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 126 {?,) : 369-381, figs. 1-5.

Moore, Donald R. 1962. The systematic position of the family

Caecidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) . Bull. Mar. Sci. Gulf &

Carib. 12 (4) : 695-701, figs. 1-3.

Pilsbry, Henry A. 1953. Vitrinellidae, Part 3a in Pliocene Mol-

lusca of southern Florida with special reference to those from

north Saint Petersburg. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia monog.

8: 411-438, pis. 49-56.

Pilsbry, H. A. and T. L. McGinty. 1945. Cyclostrematidae and

Vitrinellidae of Florida— 1. Nautilus 59 {}) -. 1-13, pis. 1, 2.

Taylor, D. W. and N. F. Sohl. 1962. An outline of gastropod

classification. Malacologia ^ (1) : 7-32, fig. 1.

Woodward, M. F. 1899. On the anatomy oi Adeorbis subcarinatiis

Montagu. Proc. malac. Soc. Lond. 3: 140-146, pi. 8.

A NEW THYASIRA (PELECYPODA)

FROM THE ROSS SEA, ANTARCTICA

By DAVID NICOL

Department of Geology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Thyasiridae: Thyasira Lamarck, 1818

Type-species, (monotypy) Tellina flexiiosa Montagu, 1803.

Thyasira dearborni Nicol, new species. Plate 8, lower figs. 1-2

Type repository — Division of Mollusks, U. S. National Mu-

seum. Holotype cat, no. 653099; paratypes cat. nos. 612770 and

635392.

Description — Shell thin, small, porcellanous, somewhat chalky;

color varying from white to pale yellow; periostracum thin, yel-

low; a ferruginous, buff coating present at the anterior and pos-

terior ends of the shell; equivalved; without a gape; anterior and

ventral borders arcuate, postero-ventral area indented in the

region of the constriction, remainder of posterior border gently

rounded, dorsal border short and sloping both anteriorly and

posteriorly; posterior one-eighth of the shell strongly constricted

or flattened; holotype 4.8 mm. high and long, one paratype 4.9

mm. high and long, the other paratype 5.0 mm. high and 4.9 mm.

long; no prodissoconch; beaks prosogyrate, contiguous; surface

ornamentation consists of numerous concentric lines; interior

margins of shell smooth; adductor muscle scars and pallial line

not seen; ligament external, opisthodetic; hinge edentulous and

hinge plate absent.

80 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

This species is named in honor of Mr. John H. Dearborn of

Stanford University who collected the holotype and one of the

two para types.

Comparisons — Tliyasira dearborn i can be easily distinguished

from the more common Axinopsida bongraini (Lamy) by the

prominent constriction on the posterior side of the shell, and this

morphologic feature also distinguishes Thyasira dearborni from

Axinopsida magellanica (Dall) because the latter species has

only a shallow sulcus on the posterior side. Thyasira falklandica

(E. A. Smith) is a much larger species with a well-developed

greenish periostracum.

Habitat — The holotype was collected at a depth of 836 meters

from a bottom of gravel and pebbles. One paratype was found at

a depth of 695 m. associated with a sponge-gorgonacean complex.

The other paratype was found at a depth of 640 m. on a bottom

of coarse glacial till.

Geographic distribution — The holotype of Tliyasira dearborni

vvas discovered by Mr. Dearborn at 73°46.7'S., 169°09'E., off

Coulman Island in the Ross Sea. One paratype, also found by

Mr. Dearborn, came from 76°11.6'S., 164°46'E., in the Ross Sea.

The other paratype was collected by the Deepfreeze I Expedition

and came from 77='38'S., 163°irW., Kainan Bay, Ross Sea. This

uncommon species may be endemic to the Ross Sea region, and

it certainly appears to live only in rather deep water — more than

600 m.

Mr, W. J. Byas, museum specialist in the Division of Mollusks

at the U. S. National Museum, cleaned the holotype so that it

could be photographed.

Mr. David H. Massie of the U. S. Geological Survey made the

photographs of Thyasira dearborni.

This paper is a preliminary note on a study of antarctic pele-

cypods which is being supported by a grant from the National

Science Foundation (G-13335) .

NAUTILUS 78 (3)

PLATE 7

Figs. 1-3, Macromphalina floridana Moore. 1, apertiiral, 2, upper, and 3.

lower views. Figs. 4-6, Vitrinella texaua Moore. 4, apertural, 5, upper, and 6,

lower views.

NAUTILUS 78 (3)

PLATE 8

UjDper figs. 1-3, Solariorbis semipunctus Moore. 1, apertural, 2, upper, and

3, lower views. Lower figs. 1 &: 2, Thyasira dearborni Nicol. 1, left valve,

interior. 2, right valve, exterior.

January, 1965 nautilus 81

MALACOLOGICAL PROBLEMS: 1

By dee S. DUNDEE and PATTI ^VATT HERMANN

Louisiana State University in New Orleans and in Baton Rouge

During a field trip to Texas^, the junior author collected a

series of snails which we first called Polygra septemvolva febigeri

(Bland) . Upon checking further (Pilsbry, 1940) , we discovered

that there were snails in that lot matching the descriptions of

P. septemvolva, P. s. febigeri, and P. s. volvoxis.

This confusion prompted us to check our other collections

from the Gulf Coast area to see what the situation is there.

Examining lots covering Texas through Florida, we were not

surprised to find a similar situation in them. In fact, in some we

discovered the further problem of not being able to distinguish

the 3 above-mentioned ones from the non-laminate form of

P. cereolus carpenteriana (Bland).

The table shows the size ranges in our collections.

1 The collections mentioned here were made simultaneously with others

which were sponsored by Public Health Service Grant GM-07194 (National

Institutes of Health). To this agency we are indebted.

82 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

Evidently from the foregoing table, size ranges and measure-

ments in general are no criteria on which to distinguish among

these snails. This had already been pointed out by Vanatta

(1912) when, after comparing measurements of Polygyra cereolus

Muhl. and P. c. carpenteriana Bland in two collections, he stated,

"It will be seen that no definite division based on size as is the

practice can be made. Each of these lots represents a single

colony. ..."

Walker (1928) listed 3 of these forms (P. septemvolva, P. s.

volvoxis, and P. s. febigeri) from Mobile; Pilsbry (1940) said it

seems doubtful that all these occur in Mobile and that a large

series should be studied. Again, our findings from Mobile would

seem to confirm Walker's statement that all 3 exist there. Pilsbry

(1940) has pointed out the primary distinctions between these

forms as being the following:

(1) P. cereolus differs from P. c. carpenteriana in that P. cere-

olus is larger and has more whorls but does not have the last

whorl angular in front, sloping inward below the angle but be-

coming abruptly swollen in its last half or third and the rib striae

not extending to the base as in P. c. carpenteriana.

He also points out that "practically all large lots afford com-

plete series of intergrading sizes and forms, although intermediate

sizes may form a minority."

(2) P. cereolus differs from P. septemvolva by having an inter-

nal lamina (although it may be reduced or occasionally absent

in P. c. carpenteriana), being less acutely carinate and more cal-

careous, and in having central cavity of the base less widely

open. P. cereolus occurs on calcareous soils while P. septemvolva

is on acid soils. The ranges overlap.

(3) P. septemvolva differs from P. s. volvoxis by smaller caliber

of whorls (in same diameter specimens) , greater depression of

the shell, greater number of whorls. "However, ambiguous speci-

mens are occasionally found."

(4) P. septemvolva volvoxis differs from P. s. febigeri by hav-

ing the area of the whorl below the peripheral angle flattened

rather than convex as in P. s. febigeri. The central cavity is wider

in P. s. volvoxis and the parietal callus is raised more than in

P. c. febigeri.

Pilsbry earlier (1897) had considered P. febigeri a synonym of

P. s. volvoxis.

January, 1965 nautilus 83

In view of our observations and the conflicting impressions of

just what each of these really is, apparently the entire Polygyra

cereolus complex needs attention by a systematist.

Numerous small problems such as this exist in our own United

States and could provide excellent short studies for students. The

current trend is towards seeing an isolated, "untouched" spot in

the world in which to work since the United States has been so

well "worked over." From small problems such as this one, ob-

viously such thinking is not valid.

Similar problems will be pointed out later.

Literature cited

Pilsbry, Henry A. 1897. A classified catalog of American land

shells, with localities. Naut. 11 (6) : 72.

1940. Land Mollusca of North America (north of Mexico) ,

Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Monogr. 3, v. 1 pt. 2, 575-994.

Vanatta, E G. 1912. Land shells of Southern Florida. Naut.

26 {2) \ 16-22.

Walker, Bryant. 1928. The terrestrial shell-bearing Mollusca of

Alabama. Misc. Pub. No. 18, Mus. Zool., U. Mich.: 1-180,

NEW RECORDS FOR NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY

Bv MORRIS K. JACOBSON

American Museum of Natural History

Triodopsis hopetonensis (Shuttleworth). In April, 1964, Mr.

G. C. Colantonio of Jersey City found a large and apparently

well-established colony of this snail in Sayreville, Middlesex

County, New Jersey. This represents a considerable northw^ard

extension of this species. According to Pilsbry (p. 812) it ranges

no further north than North Carolina. A subspecies, T. h. chin-

coteagensis Pilsbry is found in Virginia, but the New Jersey shells

do not have the small umbilicus and reduced apertural ornamen-

tation characteristic of the Virginian form. They seem in all

respects to be quite typical. Alexander (p. 57) does not cite it

in his check list of New Jersey land snails. Mr. Colantonio re-

ports that the colony is about 600 feet from the Raritan River,

just beyond the railroad tracks. The area is an empty lot, low

lying, with a few birch and oak trees. The snails are found on

the ground, under leaves and twigs. The finder estimates that in

the center of the colony, which is about an acre in extent, there

were 5 individuals to the square foot. The only other mollusk

84 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

found was Philomycus carolinianus (Bosc) .

Littorina irrorata (Say) . Last autumn Mr. Colantonio dis-

covered a sizeable colony of this species at the Manasquan Inlet

Railroad Bridge in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Subse-

quently, Mr. Bernard Blum of Rockaway, New York, showed the

writer one live specimen and one dead specimen of the same

species that he had taken on June 17, 1964 in Jamaica Bay at

Beach 65th Street. Both of these records are important because

they refer to the northern part of the range of the species, where

Bequaert (p. 7) feels they are dying out. Generally, northern

records of this species are based upon dead material.

Valvata bicari7iata Lea. The only Valvata ever recorded from

the New York City area is V. tricarinata (Say) (Humphreys, p.

10; Jacobson and Emerson, p. 31, etc.). There are no Long Island

records. This summer Mr. Harry Fertik of Bayside, Queens found

V. bicarinata in Oakland Lake, a small body of water at Spring-

field Boulevard and Northern Boulevard in Queens County,

New York City. The lake is small, about 4 city blocks long and

about 2 wide. It is surrounded by a rather steeply rising shore-

line which is thickly covered with deciduous trees. The snails

were found in fair numbers in a few localities near shore crawl-

ing around on the surface of a very fine mud deposit. Where the

mud was not present, the snails too were absent. The shells were

quite typical, conforming well to the distinction from V. tricar-

inata pointed out by Walker (p. 122) . The largest specim.en

measured 6.3 by 5.0 mm. As far as could be determined, the near-

est locality from w'hich V. bicarinata has been reported is Phila-

delphia, Pennsylvania (Walker, p. 125) . The isolated presence

of this snail in this one pond [none were found in Alley Pond,

just a short distance away] suggests a recent and probably acci-

dental introduction.

Vivipariis contectoides Binney (:= ? V. georgianus Lea) . This

species, found commonly further up state, appeared in Central

Park some years ago (Jacobson and Emerson, p. 35) . Mr. Fertik

found this species associated with Valvata bicarinata in Oakland

Lake. The specimens were smaller than those from Central Park,

New York City but far less eroded. This is the first time this

species was found in Long Island. The absence of the far more

widespread V. malleatus from the lake is surprising. Seemingly

there is hardly a permanent body of water in the New York City

January, 1965 nautilus 85

area that does not support a sizeable colony of this immigrant

from the Far East. Oakland Lake is an outstanding exception.

Other mollusks found living in Oakland Lake are Amnicola

limosa (Say) , Helisoma anceps (Menke) , H. trivolvis Say, Physa

heterostropha Say, and Musculium sp. The presence of large

numbers of fishes indicates the probable presence of some naiads

which have not yet been found.

Cir cuius liratus (Verrill) . For several years, isolated specimens

of this vitrinellid have been found dead in beach drift in Rock-

away Beach. The only other records of this species are those of

Verrill ("off Newport, Rhode Island, 8i/4 fathoms," p. 529) and

C. W. Johnson ("Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, 8 to 43 fath-

oms," p. 76). The determination of the specimens has been con-

firmed by Donald R. Moore of the University of Miami who is

using the record in a study of the Vitrinellidae in which he is at

present engaged.

Triodopsis fosteri F. C. Bakei\ Several years ago the writer vis-

ited Burlington, New Jersey and procured a series of this species

that had been planted there by W. G. Binney about a century

ago (Pilsbry, p. 832) . Some were released in the waiter's garden

in Rockaway Beach where they have flourished amazingly, even

exceeding the other imported snail Cepaea nemoralis (L.)

(Jacobson and Smit, p. 2-4) , It lives in a bed of ground ivy to-

gether with the Cepaea, Discus rotunda tus (Muller) Anguispira

alternata fergusoni (Bland) and several species of slugs.

Dr. William K. Emerson kindly read the manuscript. Speci-

mens of the shells mentioned have been deposited in the collec-

tion of the American Museum of Natural History.

Literature cited

Alexander, Robert C. 1952. Nautilus, 66: 54-59.

Bequaert, Joseph C. 1943. The genus Littorina in the western

Atlantic. Johnsonia, no. 7: 1-28, pis. 1-7.

Humphreys, Edwin H. 1909. Nautilus 23: 10-11.

Jacobson, Morris K. and William K. Emerson. 1961. Shells of the

New York City Area. Larchmont, New York, pp. i-xvii plus

1-142, illustrated.

Jacobson, Morris K. and Walter Smit, 1946. Nautilus 60: 2-4.

Johnson, Charles W. 1934. List of Marine Mollusca of the At-

lantic coast from Labrador to Texas. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat.

Hist. ^(1) : 1-204.

Pilsbry, Henry A. 1940. Land Mollusca of North America 1 (2) :

86 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

iii-vi, i-ix [index], plus 575-994, figs. 378-580.

Verrill, A. E. 1882. Trans. Connecticut Acad. 5.- 447-587, pis.

42-44, 57, 58.

Walker, Bryant. 1902. Nautilus 75; 121-125, figs. 1-7.

AN ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF FOUR PERMIAN

MOLLUSCAN FAUNAS

By DAVID NICOL

Department of Geology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

The reasons for the occurrence of predominantly molluscan

faunas in some strata of Middle Permian age in the southwestern

United States have received surprisingly little thought. Perhaps

one explanation for this is that the reefs of Permian age have

been considered economically more important and therefore mer-

ited more study than other Permian marine environments. The

purpose of this paper is to point out why many typical marine

organisms are rare or absent from these dominantly molluscan

faunas.

Four examples of dominantly molluscan Permian faunas have

been selected and compared with each other, and these in turn

are compared with two possibly similar environments and faunas

from the Recent along the coast of Texas. The 4 Permian faunas

are found in tlie Fort Apache Limestone Member of the Supai

Formation in eastern Arizona; the Alpha Member of the Kaibab

Formation at Flagstaff, Arizona; the Blaine and Dog Creek For-

mations (which are essentially alike even to the same species) of

Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas; and the Whitehorse Sandstone of

Oklahoma and Texas. These strata range in age from Early

Leonardian to Middle Guadalupian. The Fort Apache is appar-

ently Early Leonardian. The Kaibab and Blaine appear to be

Late Leonardian. The Dog Creek is Early Guadalupian, and the

Whitehorse is Middle Guadalupian in age.. The Recent faunas

from Texas are the hypersaline macrofauna from Laguna Madre

and the brackish-water macrofauna from the Rockport region.

Two paragraphs in the book by Newell et al, 1953, provide us

with some explanation of the reason for the unusual zoological

composition of these faunas. (The writer realizes that these mol-

luscan faunas were not the main consideration of Newell and his

colleagues.) The first statement of interest in this problem is

January, 1965 nautilus 87

given in the abstract (p. xviii-xix) and is as follows:

(10) For the most part, the rocks of the shelf province are

poorly fossiliferous in the lower part and unfossiliferous in the

upper part of the column. This is only partly a result of dolomiti-

zation and recrystallization. There are a few gastropods, brachio-

pods, scaphopods, and pelecypods, several of which also occur in

the marginal and basin provinces. Evidently these forms were

tolerant of a broad range of environmental conditions.. Proximity

to evaporite deposits suggests euryhalinity for the characteristic

species of the shelf rocks. Groups which characteristically have

always been stenohaline (corals, bryozoans, echinoderms, and am-

monoids) are very poorly represented in the shelf faunas. Fusu-

lines and, in the beds of Capitanian age, dasycladacean algae are

abundant in the calcarenite zone immediately behind the banks

and reefs, but they do not extend far from the edge of the Dela-

ware Basin.

Essentially the same ideas are presented by Newell et al on

p. 205 and are, therefore, not quoted here.

Newell (1940, p. 267) postulates the following type of physical

environment for the Whitehorse Sandstone fauna, and conditions

similar to this probably occurred in the Fort Apache, Kaibab,

and Blaine and Dog Creek faunas.

The lagunal environment behind the offshore bars of a hyper-

saline sea might well be more habitable to invertebrates than the

water on the seaward side of the barriers. Streams draining the

arid lands bordering the relic sea, although few in number, would

effectively reduce the salinity of the water along the coast bor-

dering the stream mouths. Lagunal areas behind offshore bars

near the streams might well become a haven for such relics of a

normal marine fauna that could exist under the rather difficult

conditions of environment.

On the basis of the evidence gleaned from both the lithology

and the fossils, it is assumed that these faunas lived in almost

completely land-locked, very shallow lagoons. On one side of

each lagoon was an offshore bar; on the other was a low-lying

arid land with few intermittent streams emptying into the lagoon.

If this were a desert region, the rainfall would be little, but it

would most likely come in great cloudbursts which would reduce

the salinity in the lagoon at infrequent and irregular intervals.

During most of the time, the salinity would be greater than that

88 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

Table 1. — Number of species in each faiina.

1* Fort Apache Member, Supai Formation. 2* Alpha Member, Kaibab

Formation. 3* Blaine and Dog Creek Formations. 4* Whitehorse Sandstone.

5* Recent, hypersaline, Laguna Madre. 6* Recent, brackish, Rockport.

1** one bi'yozoan fragment. 1*** one crinoid stem.

January, 1965 nautilus 89

of normal sea water, but shortly after a heavy cloudburst the

lagoon, or most of it, might have a salinity less than that of

normal sea water (brackish water) . Most of the lagoon might

have been hypersaline but near the mouth of a large stream or

river the water may have been brackish. The lagoons during the

Middle Permian, like those along the south and central Texas

coast today, were undoubtedly shallow. Maximum depth was

probably about 10 meters in these lagoons and most of the

lagunal areas probably had a depth of no more than 5 meters.

Because the water was shallow with relatively little influx of

water from the open sea, the seasonal and diurnal fluctuations of

temperature must have been great. Parker (1959, p. 2108-2109)

has recorded a yearly range of temperature in Laguna Madre of

as much as from 5° to 40° C. Probably very similar fluctuations

of temperatures occurred in the Middle Permian lagunal areas.

These Permian faunas must have consisted of animals that were

not only euryhaline but eurythermal as well. The gieatest mor-

tality of shallow water marine organisms commonly occurs at the

maximum temperature rather than the minimum temperature

because most organisms can withstand an extremely low temper-

ature for a longer period of time than they can an extremely high

temperature. These Permian organisms must have been able to

withstand extremely high temperatures for at least short periods

of time. Modern reef corals thrive when there is a yearly temper-

ature fluctuation of not more than 5° C. One other limiting

factor may have played a role in the composition of the Permian

faunas, and that was type of substrate. Bottom conditions in the

Permian lagoons were probably similar to those of the modern

Laguna Madre, which has substrates of shelly sand, silty sand,

clayey sand, and clay. These substrates would provide a good en-

vironment for the infauna and the vagrant benthonic organisms,

but a rather poor environment for the epifauna and organisms

that needed a hard object for attachment. However, the type of

bottom in the shallow Permian lagoons was probably not so re-

strictive that it would completely eliminate all crinoids, corals,

and bryozoans. Thus, the type of substrate was a less restricting

factor than was the greatly fluctuating salinities and temperatures

in these Permian lagoons.

This rather lengthly exposition on the probable physical con-

ditions in which these Permian faunas lived is given mainly to

90 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

explain why some of the most abundant and widespread Permian

invertebrates are absent or rare in the Fort Apache Limestone

Member of the Supai Formation, the Alpha Member of the

Kaibab Formation, the Blaine and Dog Creek Formations, and

the Whitehorse Sandstone. If one assumes that these faunas are

essentially marine, then their unusual composition shoidd be

explained, if it is at all possible. This, in essence, is the problem.

Let me analyze the faunal composition of each of the Permian

faunas in some detail and compare them with the living ones at

Laguna Madre and Rockport, Texas. Table 1, which lists the

number of species in each fauna, can give us only a general idea

as to the faunal composition in each case, but it clearly indicates

that the pelecypods are either the most important element or one

of the two most important elements in each of the six faunas.

The basic data for these 6 faunas were taken from the followinsr

o

sources: Winters, 1963 (Fort Apache Limestone), Nicol, 1944

(Alpha Member of the Kaibab Formation) , Clifton, 1942 (Blaine

and Dog Creek Formations), Newell, 1940 (Whitehorse Sand-

stone), Parker, 1959 (Laguna Madre and Rockport, Texas) . A

better idea of the faunal composition and possible environment

could be obtained by taking a sample and counting the specimens

of the major groups in each fauna, but, unfortunately, such a

count was made only in the Kaibab study.

The first fauna to be considered is the Fort Apache Limestone

Member of the Supai Formation in eastern Arizona. This fauna

is slightly older and richer than the other 3 Permian faunas and

is more like the Kaibab fauna than any of the others.

Pelecypods and gastropods dominate the fauna, both in num-

bers of species and in numbers of specimens. Winters mentions

29 species of gastropods and 20 species of pelecypods in the Fort

Apache Limestone. The most abundant ones (represented by

60 or more individuals) are six species of pelecypods, including

one species of Protobranchia, and five species of gastropods. One

of the two species of echinoids in the fauna is also listed as most

abundant, but it apparently is represented only by spines and

one interambulacral plate. The spines are not complete, and their

condition suggests the possibility that they may have been trans-

ported into the Fort Apache Limestone after the death of the

echinoids. Two species of nautiloids are described but neither is

common. As in the other Permian faunas, one species of scaph-

January, 1965 nautilus 91

opod is present. An unusual invertebrate found in the Fort

Apache Limestone is a species of solitary rugose coral which is

common at two of the four fossiliferous localities.

Only two species of articulate brachiopods are present and only

one of them is abundant. This is certainly a poor representation

for the brachiopods in a marine environment during the Permian.

Apparently at least one species of bryozoan is found at one

locality (p. 21-22), but it is not mentioned by Winters in his

section on systematic paleontology. One species of trilobite, repre-

sented by only three fragments of pygidia, is found in the Fort

Apache Limestone. The Kaibab Formation, also in Arizona, con-

tains trilobites, too; but the other two Middle Permian faunas

discussed in this paper have no trilobites, although they were

ecologically similar and geographically close. This fact again

substantiates the observations of other writers who have noted

that, throughout the Permian, relict trilobites exhibit endemic

geographic distribution. Some kind of unknown selective barrier

that prevented the trilobites (but not many other organisms)

from spreading eastward, is also a possible explanation for the

absence of trilobites in the Blaine and Dog Creek Formations and

the Whitehorse Sandstone in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Pelecypods and gastropods almost completely dominate the

fauna of the Alpha Member of the Kaibab Formation, both in

numbers of species and in numbers of individuals. The number

of specimens counted was as follows: pelecypods 198, gastropods

125, scaphopods 50, brachiopods 36, trilobite 7, cephalopods 5,

annelids 1, bryozoans 1 poorly preserved fragment. The writer

now doubts that either the few nautiloid cephalopods or the one

bryozoan fragment were indigenous to the area and believes they

were probably transported after death into this region; they

should be eliminated from further consideration in the analysis

of the Kaibab fauna. Accordingly, the adjusted number of iden-

tified specimens is 417, including 373 pelecypods, gastropods, and

scaphopods. Mollusks comprise about 89 per cent of the total

number of specimens in the fauna. A further breakdown of the

various components of the Kaibab fauna is as follows: pelecypods

47 per cent, gastropods 30 per cent, scaphopods 12 per cent, and

articulate brachiopods 8 per cent. The Kaibab fauna is, thus, a

predominantly molluscan one dominated, on the basis of number

of species and individuals, first by the pelecypods and secondarily

92 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

by the gastropods. The articulate brachiopods are a minor

element on the basis of number of species and number of in-

dividuals.

The Blaine and Dog Creek faunas differ from the Fort Apache,

Kaibab, and Whitehorse faunas in two significant ways. One is

the abundance and variety of cephalopods and the other is the

scarcity of gastropods (Clifton, 1944, p. 1027) . The pelecypod

specimens and species dominate the Blaine and Dog Creek faunas

because the cephalopods are more restricted in both their strati-

graphic and geographic distributions. One cannot be certain that

the cephalopods were not washed into these lagunal deposits

through inlets in barrier bars after death and are therefore not

indigenous to these Middle Permian strata. The crinoid stem

very likely came from outside the barrier bar and was washed

into these deposits. Two species of articulate brachiopods are

found at one of the 5 fossiliferous localities in the Dog Creek

Formation but are completely absent from the Blaine Formation.

One of the two brachiopod species is represented by one specimen

and the other is reported as scarce. The uncommonness of gas-

tropods is a most unusual feature of the Blaine and Dog Creek

faunas, and the only factor that might have restricted the number

of gastropods in these faunas was the soft muddy substrate.

Newell (1940, p. 269) has this to say about the composition

of the Whitehorse fauna.

The Whitehorse fauna is predominantly molluscan, 26 out of

a total of 32 forms being pelecypods and gastropods. Pelecypods

dominate the fauna in both variety and numbers. Two pelecypod

species, Dozierella gouldii (Beede) and Pleurophorus albequus

Beede, make up more than % of all specimens found. There are

14 kinds of pelecypods and 12 gastropod species.

Calcareous worm tubes belonging to Spirorbis sp. are fairly

common, as are specimens of the one bryozoan species Lioclema

dozierense Moore. Brachiopods are represented by 4 species, none

of which is abundant.

It is interesting to note that each of the 4 Permian faunas has

one species of scaphopod. Scaphopod individuals are fairly abun-

dant in the Kaibab fauna (50 specimens observed) but only two

specimens were found in the Whitehorse Sandstone, and they are

scarce to common in five localities in the Blaine and Dog Creek

Formations. They are also common at two fossiliferous localities

January, 1965 nautilus 93

and rare or very rare at two other fossiliferous localities in the

Fort Apache Limestone. Except for the Fort Apache, one species of

annelid worm occurs in each fauna, but they are never more than

fairly common. Bryozoans apparently are not indigenous to the

Kaibab Formation, and this may also be true of the Fort Apache

Limestone. Bryozoans are not common in the Blaine and Dog

Creek Formations and only fairly common in the Whitehorse

Sandstone. The brachiopods in all four faunas are articulate

forms, and one species of productid occurs in each of the four

faunas except the Whitehorse Sandstone, where only terebratulids

and athyrids occur. No linguloid brachiopods are present, and

the reasons for their absence may be either a scarcity of slightly

brackish water habitats or lack of the proper muddy substrate in

which these brachiopods prefer to live.

Brachiopods are not abundant as to numbers of individuals in

the Kaibab Formation, and they occur only rarely at one locality

in the Dog Creek Formation. They are not found in the Blaine

Formation, nor are brachiopods abundant as to individuals in

the Whitehorse Sandstone, where they have been found in only

three of the eleven fossiliferous localities examined. Only one of

the two species of articulate brachiopods from the Fort Apache

Limestone is abundant. A unique feature of the Fort Apache and

Kaibab faunas is the presence of trilobite pygidia in these beds.

Some of the few species of trilobites living during Middle Per-

mian time might have been able to endure rather euryhaline and

eurythermal conditions. However, there is again the possibility

that these pygidia may have been washed into these lagunal de-

posits from the open sea. A more detailed analysis of the pele-

cypod faunas of these Permian strata reveals that there are no

protobranchs in the Whitehorse fauna; only one species is found

uncommonly at three localities in the Blaine and Dog Creek

Formations; one species occurs abundantly in the Fort Apache

Limestone; and two species (32 specimens of undoubted proto-

branchs) are found in the Kaibab fauna. Only 16 per cent of all

the individual pelecypods counted in the Kaibab fauna were pro-

tobranchs. Thus, the nuculids and their allies do occur in most

of these Permian molluscan faunas, but they are never the domi-

nant subclass of pelecypods.

In the Recent hypersaline fauna of Laguna Madre, the pele-

cypods are commonly the dominant group from the standpoint

94 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

of numbers of individuals because 9 of the 19 species listed by

Parker are considered by him to be exceedingly abundant. The

gastropods follow rather closely and 5 of the 20 species are ex-

ceedingly abundant as to numbers of living individuals. The one

species of Amphineura listed is rare, and neither species of

echinoderm is common. One species of Crustacea is considered

exceedingly abundant by Parker. Only one of the 19 species of

pelecypods listed is a protobranch, and it is not common in any

hypersaline environment. Thus, the faunal composition of the

hypersaline fauna of Laguna Madre is similar to those of the

Fort Apache, Kaibab, Blaine and Dog Creek, and Whitehorse

Permian faunas; and the similarity is particularly remarkable

when one considers that approximately 200 million years in age

separates the Permian faunas from the one at Laguna Madre.

The brackish-water fauna in the Rockport, Texas, region is

a more impoverished one than is the hypersaline one at Laguna

Madre, and it is more completely dominated by species and

living individuals of pelecypods. Five of the 8 species of pele-

cypods are exceedingly abundant according to Parker but only

two of the six species of gastropods are exceedingly abundant.

No species of protobranchs taken alive are reported from this

brackish-water fauna. Strangely enough, the one species of echin-

oderm is also exceedingly abundant. Perhaps the similarity of

the Recent Rockport fauna to some of the more impoverished

Permian faunas, which are commonly dominated by a few species

of pelecypods, can be attributed to below-average salinity in

both cases.

Before concluding, it is interesting to note that those groups

of invertebrates that are absent or are poorly represented in the

four Permian molluscan faunas are generally the ones that

suffered most from the rapid world-wide extinction at the end

of the Permian. The fusulinids and Paleozoic corals became ex-

tinct at the end of the Permian, and so did some of the important

classes and orders of Paleozoic echinoderms. The bryozoans, like-

wise, suffered much extinction, and the cephalopods also nearly

became extinct although they recovered rapidly in the Triassic.

The brachiopods, of course, declined rapidly in numbers of

species, genera, and families at the end of the Paleozoic. The tril-

obites cannot be considered in this light because they were nearly

extinct before the extremely unfavorable conditions in the Per-

January, 1965 nautilus 95

mian took place, but this may have hastened their extinction.

In other words, these molluscan faunas that occur in the Permian

adumbrate the dominant invertebrate faunal types found in the

Early Triassic. The Early Triassic marine faunas are dominated

by abundant and widely distributed pelecypods.

Gastropods and cephalopods may be abundant in some areas,

but they generally are not as common as the pelecypods. Corals

are absent from the Early Triassic. The brachiopods, possibly

because they were not nearly so commonly euryhaline and eury-

thermal as the pelecypods, no longer were more varied and

abundant than the latter group. Thus the molluscan faunas of

the Permian herald the changes of faunal dominance from Trias-

sic time onward.

Literature cited

Clifton, R. L., 1942, Invertebrate faunas from the Blaine and the

Dog Creek Formations of the Permian Leonard Series: Jour.

Paleo. 16 (6) : 685-699.

, 1944, Paleoecology and environments inferred for some

marginal Middle Permian marine strata: Am. Assoc. Petr.

Geol., Bull. 28{1) : 1012-1031.

Newell, N. D., 1940, Invertebrate fauna of the Late Permian

Whitehorse Sandstone: Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 5/ (2) : 261-335.

Newell, N. D., J. K. Rigby, A. G. Fischer, A. J. Whiteman,

J. E. Hickox, and J. S. Bradley, 1953, The Permian reef com-

plex of the Guadalupe Mountains region, Texas and New

Mexico. A study in paleoecology: W. H. Freeman & Co., San

Francisco, Calif., 236 pp.

Nicol, David, 1944, Paleoecology of three faunules in the Permian

Kaibab Formation at Flagstaff, Arizona: Jour. Paleo. 18(6):

553-557.

Parker, R. H., 1959, Macro-invertebrate assemblages of central

Texas coastal bays and Laguna Madre: Am. Assoc. Petr. Geol.,

Bull. 43(9): 2100-2166.

Winters, S. S., 1963, Supai Formation (Permian) of eastern Ari-

zona: Geol. Soc. Am., Memoir 89, 99 p.

96 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

MESODESMA DEAURATUM: SYNONYMY,

HOLOTYPE AND TYPE LOCALITY^

By JOHN D. DAVIS

Department of Zoolog}', Smith College

Recently (Davis 1964) a lectotype was designated for Meso-

desma arctatum, one of the two arctic wedge clams found in the

western North Atlantic. Attention is now turned to the com-

panion species, Mesodesrna deauratum.

The following synonymy has been established:

Mesodesma deauratum (Turton) Plate 9, fig. A-D

Mactra deaurata Turton 1822, The Bivalve Shells of the

British Islands, Exeter, England, p. 71, pi. 5, fig. 8 (Exmouth

[England]) .

Mactra denticulata Wood 1828, Index Testaceologicus, 2nd.

ed. Supplement, p. 4, pi. 1, fig. 9, (no locality given) .

Mesodesma jauresii De Joannis 1834, Magasin de Zoologie

(Guerin) , Paris, pi. 54, [no pagination].

Mesodesma deaurata Turton. Hanley 1843, Catalogue of Re-

cent Bivalves, London, p. 39.

Ceronia deaurata H. and A. Adams 1857, The Genera of Re-

cent Mollusca, London 2:414.

Turton's original description follows:

"MACTRA testa oblonga depressa inaequilaterali, latere pro-

ducto rotundato altero suhtruncato, umbonihus incurvis.

"Shell oblong flattish inequilateral, rounded at the elongated

side and somewhat truncate at the other, with the beaks in-

curved. Tab. nost. 5, g. 8.

"Mus. nost. Dredged up in the offing of Exmouth.

"Shell five-eighths of an inch long, and an inch and a quarter

broad, opake and strong; one side elongated, sloping from the

beaks, and rounded; the other shorter and somewhat angular,

where it is a little open: color dull greyish-white, covered with a

shining bronzed skin reflecting metallic lustres; coarsely and ir-

regularly striate transversely, with a few coarser ridges towards

the hinge: inside glossy greyish white, with the margin plain:

beaks rather prominent and pointed, a little inclining to the

longer side.

"Of this vei-y beautiful shell we know neither description nor

figure. In the outline it something resembles the Mactra deal-

bata described in the eighth voL of the Linnean Transactions,

p. 68, tab. 1, fig. 10, and the Dorset Catalogue, tab. 7, fig. 7. But

1 Contribution no. 251 from the Smith College Department of Zoology.

January, 1965 nautilus 97

that shell is represented as thin and transparent, and somewhat

angular at the longer side: the teeth also appear to be different."

In 1834, De Joannis published his description of Mesodesma

jauresii from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. His description follows:

"Mesodesme. Mesodesma. Deshayes. M. de Jaures. M. jauresii.

Joannis.

"Long. 4 decim.; haut. 27 mill.; epaiss. 17 mill.

"Coquille assez epaisse epidermee, couverte de rides produites

par les stries d'accroissement equivalve tres inequilaterale, forte-

ment tronquee en arriere (a la maniere de quelques Donaces) ;

la partie inferieure du limbe legerement sinueuse; ligament pos-

terieur externe se prolongeant a I'interieur, et y occupant le

fond d'un cuilleron cardinal et ties profond. Deux dents sub-

cardinales obliques, striees transversalement sur la valve gauche

et portant a leur pied une fossette oblongue, striee en dedans

sur la droite. La dent anterieure plus allongee que la posterieure,

et soutenue en dessous par un epaississement du test. Deux im-

pressions musculaires, submarginales, reunies par une ligule

paleale etroite, et portant un petit sinus semi-circulaire en

arriere.

"Patrie, I'embouchure du fleuve Saint-Laurent.

"A I'epoque ou Ton decrit cette coquille, on ne I'avait encore

que privee de son epiderme, et en partie degradee par Taction

des eaux. Elles pendaient en grappes a des fucus qui s'etaient

implantes dessus. Cette agglomeration en grappes n'existe point

evidemment dans leur etat vivant."^

Hanley (1843) first suggested that Mactra deaurata was not a

member of the jMactridae but of Deshayes' new genus Meso-

desma. Accordingly, he introduced the name Mesodesma deau-

rata. However, it remained for Stimpson (1851) to suggest that

Mactra deaurata, Mesodesma deauratum and Mesodesma jauresii

w^re all synonyms. The issue was settled two years later when

Forbes and Hanley (1853) published the following account:

"Under the name of Mactra deaurata, Dr. Turton has intro-

duced into our Fauna a species of the genus Mesodesma, stating

that it was dredged up in the offing of Exmouth. One of our

most assiduous and scientific collectors, Mr. Clark of Bath, whose

researches in that neighborhood extended over a period of

twenty years, during that long space of time never once procured

a single specimen, a strong, although negative, proof of the in-

dividual shell described by the doctor being of foreign importa-

tion, and not of native origin. The species is an inhabitant of the

Gulf of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, and does not range to the

European seas. Inquiries instituted on the Devonshire coast have

2 Lack of accents graves not author's fault. Ed.

98 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

enabled us to solve the mystery of the discovery of this and other

transatlantic shells in spots so utterly at variance with their

known habitats. We find that during many years several vessels

from those parts were engaged in prosecuting the Newfoundland

fisheries; so that the accidental appearance of a few specimens of

northern shells may readily be accounted for, as they frequently

are mingled with the ballast of ships. A comparison of the

original type with its delineation in the Conchylia Dithyra, com-

pels the remark, that it is represented as more narrow and elon-

gated than nature has shaped it, and enables us to declare its

perfect identity with examples of the Mesodesma jauresii, re-

ceived by us from North America."

Thus the representatives of the Mesodesmatidae in the western

North Atlantic were reduced to two species, Mesodesma arctatum

and Mesodesma deauratum.

At the same time, Gray (1853) divided the Mesodesmatidae

into two groups based on the existence of a pallial sinus. The

forms with a "siphonal inflection" included Mesodesma, Taria,

Donacilla, Paphia, and Ceronia (a new genus created by Gray) .

The genera without a sinus were Anapa and Davilia. Observing

that Gray described the lateral teeth of Ceronia as "strongly cross-

grooved," H. and A. Adams (1857) suggested 4 species, C. arctata

(Conrad) , C. donacia (Lam.) , C. jauresii (Joannis) and C.

lanceolata (Deshayes) . Later, Dall (1896) discussed the family

Mesodesmatidae in detail and concluded that Ceronia and Meso-

desma were synonyms. Subsequently, the name Ceronia was

abandoned.

Mr. S. P. Dance of the British Museum has informed me (per-

sonal communication) that there are no records of M. deaura-

tum being found on British shores subsequent to the discovery

described by Turton in 1822. Thus Mesodesma deauratum is

probably confined to the waters of the western North Atlantic.

More specifically, distributional information from museums in

the United States and Canada indicates that M. deauratum is

probably restricted to the St. Lawrrence estuary and the Gulf of

the St. Lawrence.

M. deauratum can be distinguished from M. arctatum by its

less truncate posterior end. In other words, the posterior edge of

M. arctatum usually plunges more sharply to the ventral margin.

Because of marked variation in the degree of truncation of both

species, separation of the two species on the basis of this mor-

phological variation is at best indistinct.

January, 1965 nautilus 99

During the study of museum collections a pair of valves was

found in the United States National Museum with a label indi-

cating the specimen was originally a part of Turton's collection.

The label also indicated that the valves had previously been a

part of the Jeffreys collection. Inasmuch as Jeffreys acquired the

entire Turton collection, quite possibly this specimen might have

been the one used by Turton in making his initial description.

Further investigation confirmed this. Comparison of the ex-

terior of the left valve with the drawing accompanying the ori-

ginal description leaves no doubt about the specimen being the

one used by Turton. The left valve and the drawing coincide

exactly, both in size and shape, and the pattern of the remaining

periostracum is very similar on both. Most convincing, however,

is the appearance of a similar growth aberration on both picture

and valve. Below and slightly posterior to the umbo, the third

and fourth growth rings fuse forming a noticeably wider ridge

and deeper groove.

Therefore, this specimen (shown in Plate 9, figs. A-D) is des-

ignated as the original type used by Turton, or as a modern

lectotype. The museum label accompanying the specimen reads

as follows: "Mesodesma deaurata Turt. Ex. Mus. Turton. Jeff.

Coll." USNM. No.. 172665.

The type specimen consists of paired right and left valves,

length 27.9 mm., height 17.1 mm. The posterior edge is not

sharply truncate but rather extended, and does not plunge

sharply to the ventral margin. The dorsal margin is relatively

straight and connects with the ventral margin at the rounded

anterior end. The beak or umbo region is closer to the midpoint

of the shell than in M. arctatum primarily because of the less

truncate posterior end of M. deauratum. The concentric lines of

growth spreading outward from the beaks are quite pronounced

and easily visible. The previously mentioned fusion of the third

and fourth growth rings is apparent on both valves. Considerable

periostracum persists on the periphery of each valve.

On the inner side of each valve there is a large cartilage pit

or chondrophore in the beak region. On the left valve are two

lateral teeth. Each of these consists of a ridge running parallel

to the margin of the valve and covered with many vertical ridges.

The anterior lateral tooth is somewhat longer than the posterior

lateral tooth. The right valve has a posterior and anterior lateral

100 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

groove similarly ridged and positioned to receive the lateral

teeth of the left valve. A complete pallial line includes a shallow

U-shaped sinus posteriorly. The anterior adductor muscle scar

has an anterior convex side and a posterior concave side, whereas

the posterior adductor muscle scar is almost spherical with a

small dorsal portion partially set off by an indentation on the

anterior side of the scar.

The question of type locality also needs consideration. Tur-

ton's original specimen was collected off Exmouth, on England's

south coast. M. deauratum is not believed to live there at the

present time. Therefore, it seems desirable to note the source of

the original specimen and then designate as the type locality an

area known to support a large population of M. deauratum

today. For this reason. Petite Matane, Province of Quebec, Can-

ada, is designated as the type locality for Mesodesma deauratum.

This site, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence estuary, supports

a massive population of this pelecypod mollusk.

I wish to thank Dr. William J. Clench for reading the manu-

script and for his helpful suggestions. Appreciation is expressed

to Drs. Harald A. Rehder, Curator of the Division of Mollusks,

United States National Museum, and T. D. Stewart, Director,

Natural History Division of the Smithsonian Institution, for their

loan of the type specimen. I also wish to thank Mr. Norman

Tebble and Mr. S. P. Dance of the British Museum for addi-

tional information on possible British occurrence of the species.

References

Adams, H. and A. Adams. 1857. Sub-family Paphiinae, p. 412-

415. In: The genera of Recent Mollusca. Vol. 2, Van Voorst,

London.

Dall, W. H. 1896. Contributions to the Tertiary fauna of Florida

(Family Mesodesmatidae). Wagner Free Inst, of Sci., Trans.

3:907-913.

Davis, J. D. 1964. Lectotype designation for Mesodesma arctatum.

Nautilus, 75:3-6.

Forbes, E. and S. Hanley. 1853. M. deaurata Turton, p. 346-347.

In: A history of British Mollusca. Vol. I Van Voorst, London.

Gray, J. E. 1853. Ceronia. In: Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (s. 2) 77:44.

Hanley, S. 1843. An illustrated and descriptive catalogue of

recent bivalve shells. 6 pts, [Published in separate sections

from 1842 to 1856].

Stimpson, W. 1851. Shells of New England. Phillips, Sampson

and Co. Boston, vi -|- 58 p.

NAUTILUS 78 (3)

PLATE 9

B

^''"^>

D

Mesodcsma deaitraluin (Turton) . Holotype, U. S. N. M. 172665. A, ex-

terior of left valve. B, exterior of right valve. C, interior of left valve. D, in-

terior of right valve.

NAUTILUS 78 (3)

PLATE 10

Latiaxis

January, 1965 nautilus 101

A NEW LATIAXIS FROM THE WESTERN PACIFIC

(MURICIDAE)

By WILLIAM K. EMERSON and ANTHONY D'ATTILIO

American Museum of Natural History

Commercial pearl-shell divers have obtained in recent years

many specimens of an apparently undescribed species of Latiaxis

from off the northeast coast of Australia, near Cooktown, Queens-

land. Specimens of this species, masquerading as "Lataxiena

lataxiena Jousseaume," are now available to private collectors in

Australia and the United States. Therefore, it is appropriate at

this time to describe this long-neglected species.

According to Dr. D. F. McMichael of the Australian Museum,

a specimen of this species has been represented in the collection

of his institution for many years. Charles Hedley (1909: 369)

cited it from Cooktown under the name of Coralliophila imbri-

cata (Smith), 1876. Dr. McMichael concurs with our belief that

this species is not referable to Smith's taxon and he kindly sug-

gested that we describe it.

We take pleasure in naming this species for Mr. Jack Fearnley

of Cooktown, Australia, to whom we are indebted for providing

most of the specimens used in this study.

Latiaxis (Babelomurex) fearnleyi, new species. Figs. 1-4, 6

Coralliophila imhricata Smith, Hedley, 1909, p. 369.

Not Fusiis imhricatus Smith, 1876, p. 540, pi. 30, fig. 3.

Shell is large for the genus, robust, high spired, fusiform, with

8 to 10 highly imbricated and angulated whorls; exterior is grey-

ish buff white. Protoconch is apparently simple, but is not well

preserved. A spiney keel is commonly developed at the shoulder

of the body whorl. Axial sculpture consists of 8 undulating ridges

spirally crossed by numerous ribs. All major ribs are of nearly

equal size and are divided by a minor rib. Spiral sculpture con-

sists of numerous scaly processes which are most strongly devel-

oped at the intersections formed with the axial ridges. Whorls on

the spire have 3 major spiral ribs above the shoulder and 3 below;

on the body whorl there are 3 to 4 spiral ribs above the shoulder

and 10 below, followed by 3 additional ribs on the siphonal

canal, the central one being the most prominent. These ribs are

crowdedly ornamented with large scaly spines, with the spine

open on one side and with the rounded opposite side set with

102 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

additional numerous vaulted scales. Shoulder-spines, which coin-

cide with the axial ridges, are relatively large; the spines are tri-

angularly shaped and are adapically turned. The spines below

the shoulders of the whorls, gradually diminish in size and be-

come progressively more depressed on the basal part of the body

whorl; spines on the siphonal canal increase in size and project at

right angles from shell. The siphonal canal is moderately open,

long, recurved. The wide pseudo-umbilical region is roughly

laminate and is bordered by a flaring fasciole set with close scales

and the ends of previously formed canals. Aperture is small,

ovate, angulate posteriorly, being about i/^ the height of shell; the

outer lip is crenulate and lirate within. The entire aperture and

inner surface of canal is colored a uniform shade of medium

violet. No opercula were available for study.

Measurements: holotype, length 61.9, diameter (below the keel

of body whorl) 31.2 mm.; largest paratype, length 67.3, diameter

31.3 mm.; smallest paratype, length 27.2, diameter 14 mm.

Type locality: in 8 fathoms, on broken coral bottom, 1 mile

northwest of Dawson's Reef, which is 7 miles southeast of Cook-

town, Queensland, Australia.

Specimens examined: Holotype (A.M.N.H. No. 111976) and

14 paratypes (2 A.M.N.H, 7 A. D'Attilio and 4 B. F. Grunzig col-

lections) from type locality, ex J. Fearnley 1 paratype (Aust.

Mus. No. 25110) off Cooktown, Queensland, C. Hedley. 1 para-

type, 56.3 X 30.2 mm. (A.N.S.P. No. 297260) , 20 fms., off Cook-

town. 2 paratypes (Aust. Mus. No. 64476) off Cooktown, Queens-

land, ex P. Colman. 1 specimen, Gloucester Island, Bowen,

Queensland, N. Buckland collection. 1 specimen, Peel Island,

Moreton Bay, Queensland, V. Christiansen collection.

This species, which is the largest known living representative of

Latiaxis {s. 1.) appears to belong to a group of L. (Babelo-

miirex) , including L. australis (Laseron), 1955, from southeast

Australia and L. japonicus (Dunker) , 1882, from Japan. The

large size, prominent scaly spines, violet aperture, and relatively

slight development of the shoulder keel, however, serve to charac-

terize L. fearnley i (figs. 1,2).

This species is known to range off Queensland, Australia from

near Cooktown on the north coast to Moreton Bay, near Bris-

bane, on the south coast. Three specimens of a Latiaxis in the

junior author's collection from 10 fathoms in Kii Channel re-

semble the present species, but the Japanese specimens possess

somewhat less markedly imbricated scales and a paler colored

January, 1965 nautilus 103

aperture (figs. 5, 7, 8) . Additional collecting in Japanese waters

may demonstrate that these are immature examples o£ L. fearn-

leyi. Another specimen from Japan was figured by Shikama and

Horikoshi (1964, pi. 62, fig. 13) from off Shinomisahi, Kii Chan-

nel, Japan and was misidentified as Coralliophila (Latimurex)

costularis (Lamarck), 1816. Compared to L. jearnleyi, Lamarck's

species, however, has a much smaller shell, which is a paler white,

has a bluish purple aperture, whorls that are more rounded, axial

sculpture that is more prominent, and scaly ornamentation that

is more weakly developed (figs. 9-12) .

In addition to Dr. McMichael and Mr. Fearnley, we are in-

debted to several people for assistance in the completion of this

study, Dr. R. T. Abbott permitted access to collections of the

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Mr. Peter Dance

checked the collection of the British Museum (Natural History)

for pertinent specimens. Mr. B. F. Grunzig of Avenel, New Jersey,

Mr. A. Teramachi of Kyoto, Japan, and Mr. S. Kinoshita of

Shirahama-Onsenjo, Japan, provided specimens. Mr. W. E. Old,

Jr. of the American Museum of Natural History assisted in vari-

ous ways.

Literature cited

Hedley, Charles. 1909. The marine fauna of Queensland. Rept.

Austr. Assoc. Bisbane 72:329-371.

Shikama, Tokio, and Masuoki Horikoshi. 1964. Selected shells

of the world, illustrated in colours. Tokyo, Japan, 154 pp., 211

text figs., 102 pis. in color.

Smith, E. A. 1876. A list of marine shells, chiefly from the Solo-

mon Islands, with descriptions of several new species. Jour.

Linn. Soc. London 72:535-562, pi. 30.

Explanation of Plate 10

Figs. 1-4, 6, Latiaxis (B.) jearnleyi from off Cooktown, Aus-

tralia, type locality; figs. 1, 2, holotype; figs. 3, 4, small paratype;

fig. 6, paratype.

Figs. 5, 7, 8, L. (B.) cf. L. (B.) jearnleyi, Kii Channel, Tosa

Bay, Japan, 10 fathoms.

Figs. 9-12, Latiaxis (Latimurex) costularis (Lamarck); figs. 9,

10, Kii Channel, Japan, 10 fathoms; figs. 11, 12, Zanzibar, inter-

tidal. All figures natural size.

104 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

NOTES AND NEWS

Dr. Keppel Harcourt Barnard died suddenly on Sept. 22,

1964. He had worked at the South African Museum since 1911,

and was the Director from 1946 until his retirement in 1956. He

was engaged actively in his research up to the time of his death.

An observation of Laevicardium mortoni actually swim-

ming.— On June 1, 1963, while collecting the ectoparasitic gas-

tropod, Odostomia bisuturalis (Say, 1821), on its host the com-

mon oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1790) , we witnessed

an unusual phenomenon in the behavior of a pelecypod. This

happening was so unusual that it might have gone unreported

for lack of confirmation had only one of us observed the occur-

rence. We were wading side-by-side in shallow water when we

observed what appeared to be a 'tadpole' swimming. Leaning

forward, we saw Laevicardium mortoni (Conrad, 1830), its foot

extended well beyond the ventral edge of the shell and moving in

a sculling motion, in this way propelling the shell through the

water. In a few moments the animal withdrew its foot and fell

to the bottom where it remained on its side. It was then that we

identified the species. This observation was made several hundred

feet in from the mouth of Bass River, a river which separates the

towns of West Dennis and Yarmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape

Cod. The tide was ebbing, the water was 3-6 inches deep, clear,

with no ripples to distort the observation. Edward S. Morse

(Proc. Bos. Soc. Nat. Hist, i5 (5) : 173, 1919) illustrated the ex-

tended foot of L. mortoni and remarked that, "The foot is long,

white and pointed and active in its movements." Morse also

mentioned that this animal was able to push itself about with

the aid of its foot but so far as we know ours is the first observa-

tion of actual swimming movements in this bivalve. — Emmett B.

Baker, Kingston, Massachusetts, and Arthur S. Merrill, Woods

Hole, Massachusetts.

Corbula limatula again. — C. limatula Conrad, between Feb.

and June, 1846, Proc, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 3 (1): 25, pi. 1,

fig. 2, was discussed briefly in 1964, Naut. 78: 69. It evidently does

not belong in the same group^ as C. (Caryocorbula) contracta

1 The prior name for the subgenus (or genus?) is Bothrocorbula Gabb, 1873.

January, 1965 nautilus 105

Say, which is more nearly equivalve, both in sculpture and size,

although the 2 species were associated by Lamy, 1941, J. de

Conch. 84: 228. It actually appears to belong in Varicorhiila,

which is uncomfortably close to Corbula s. s., type C. sulcata

(Lamarck) from west Africa; both are decidedly inequivalve

in sculpture and usually also in size. C. limatula seems closest to

C. operculata Philippi, 1848, Zeitschr. Malak. 5; 13. This last

often has been considered a synonym of C. disparilis Orbigny in

Sagra, Hist. Cuba, Moll. 2: 283 (322 of Spanish ed.) , pi. 27, figs.

1-4, the date of which is highly dubious (either text or plate) ,

and may be as late as 1853.

[In both French and Spanish editions, the headings of plates

26 to 28 are in larger type than those preceding them. In the

Spanish text, almost all Orbigny's names are followed by

" (d'Orb., 1846) " which must be a manuscript date, in signatures

61 to 93 (pp. 241 to 371) . In the French edition, the same (with-

out the parentheses) is true of signatures 10 to 23 (pp. 145 to

368) with the exception of Purpura galea (p. 147, "1846") which

is in signature 60 (p, 239) of the Spanish one. None of Orbigny's

Corbula spp. is quoted in C. B. Adams, 1852.]

Orbigny stated that C. disparilis was inequivalve, but his figs.

1-3 show valves almost equal in size and relatively higher than in

C limatula, or operculata, although similarly different in sculp-

ture, I doubt if disparilis be conspecific with the other 2. How-

ever, if these 3 names be considered synonyms, C. limatula

appears to be the prior name for this species of the group Vari-

corbula. — H. Burrington Baker.

Anisorhyncus vs. Ursirivus. — Because Anisorhyncus Conrad,

1874, Proc. Acad.. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 26: 27, 28, originally

was used in 3 places (and subsequently quoted by Gabb) , it can

not be considei'ed an "error" for Anisorhynchus "Conrad" Meek

in Hayden, 1871 (a homonym) . Also in the same paper (p. 27) ,

Conrad discussed the difference between Pachydon and its emen-

dation Pachyodon (another homonym) . In fact, he included in

Anisorhyncus, with certainty, only one species, his Pachydon

cuneiformis, although he stated "it is closely related to A. pyri-

formis. Meek." Apparently, Ursirivus Yokes, 1945, Bui. Amer.

Mus. Nat. Hist. 86: 15, was an unnecessary substitute. — H. B. B.

106 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

CORBICULA MANILLENSIS IN THE ALABAMA RiVER. On Sept. 6,

1964 two small specimens of Corbicula manillensis Philippi were

collected in the Alabama River at Claiborne, Monroe County,

Alabama. — Leslie Hubricht.

EupERA singleyi ln OKLAHOMA. — On October 20, 1964, Eupera

singleyi (Pilsbry) was found abundant attached to the under-

sides of waterlogged wood in Little River, in the rapids below^

the US-70 bridge, northeast of Idabel, McCurtain County, Okla-

homa. This species had not been reported previously from Okla-

homa. — Leslie Hubricht.

Cassis madagascariensis spinella off North Carolina coast.

— Abbott in "American Seashells" (1955, see pp. 194) lists Cassis

madagascariensis spinella Clench as occurring "Off Beaufort,

North Carolina (fossil?), and the Florida Keys." On April 15,

1963 two specimens of this subspecies were taken from a shrimp

trawler unloading at Morehead City, North Carolina by a Mr.

Stephen Brown. These specimens had been taken alive off Cape

Lookout, North Carolina. The smaller of the two, donated to the

mollusk collection of the University of North Carolina, Institute

of Fisheries Research, was catalogued as number 1131. Data for

it is as follows: length, 186 mm.; width, 131; number of whorls,

9; number of spines on first tubercle row of body whorl, 12;

number of teeth on inner margin of outer lip, 11; operculum

length, 48 mm.; and operculum width, 8 mm. These and other

characteristics fit the description for the subspecies as first de-

scribed by Clench in "Johnsonia" (1944, i[16]: 15-16). Helmet

shells are found not uncommonly off the North Carolina coast,

particularly in the Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras areas. Sev-

eral different forms may be present and many of the shells found

are fossil. The above record provides the first evidence that a liv-

ing population of the Helmet Shell, C. m. spinella occurs as far

north as Cape Lookout, North Carolina. — Hugh J. Porter, Uni-

versity of North Carolina, Institute of Fisheries Research, More-

head City, North Carolina.

Note on Gastrocopta tappaniana (C. B. Adams) . — In 1842

C. B. Adams published this species in Thompson, Z., History of

Vermont. No locality w^as given and subsequent writers have as-

January, 1965 nautilus 107

sumed that it came from Vermont, and this has been considered

its type locality. In 1942 the Museum of Comparative Zoology

received the C. B, Adams collection and the original types of

Adams were contained in it. The type locality on the label is

Roscoe [Coshocton Co.], Ohio. G. tappaniana appears to be a

synonym of G. pentodon (Say) ; the lectotype (here selected) is

nearest to the figure of pentodon given on pi. 3, fig. 7, 1916, Man-

ual of Conch. (2) 24: 33, and not to fig. 9 which is given as tap-

paniana. This same plate was republished in Land Mollusca of

North America, vol. 2, pt. 2, fig. 477, p. 887, Mono. no. 3, Acad.

Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1948. The following is the complete

reference:

Pupa tappariianum 'Ward' C. B. Adams 1842 [in] Thompson,

Z., History of Vermont (no locality) . [Lectotype, here selected,

Mus. Comp. Zool. no. 186171; para type no. 186172, from Roscoe

[Coshocton Co.], Ohio]. — William J. Clench.

Brief census of log-associated snails in Berks County, Penn-

sylvania. — The present census was done to fulfill the require-

ments for a research project in the zoology course at Kutztown

State College during the summer of 1964. The material has been

identified by Dr. Glenn R. Webb, who also attempted to ex-

clude all the non-living specimens from the census. A few seem-

ingly recently-dead and fly-parasitized shells were included with

the living shells because it was believed probable that they were

alive a few weeks before being collected.

The study consisted of collecting all the snails on or under

part of the logs in a wood-lot on the Lehigh-Berks County line,

11/2 miles south of Alburtis, Pennsylvania. The 9 logs included

had a total area of about 3996 square inches (27.6 square feet) .

The habitable area of a log was calculated roughly by the for-

mula: Area := length X width (diameter of log) . The areas

were doubled in the calculations because specimens were secured

both on the log and in the depression where it had lain before

being overturned. Less error seemed to result from this formula

than from using that for the area of a cylinder. Areas so calcu-

lated are rough approximations only.

The results were as follows. The calculated 3996 square inches

of log habitat yielded 384 living, dying, and recently dead speci-

mens of Ventridens suppressus (Say) ; two immature snails tenta-

108 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (3)

tively identified as Mesodon infiectus (Say) ; one Retinella in-

dentata (Say) ; and one specimen of Helicodiscus parallelus

(Say). The average number of V. suppressus was .09 per square

inch or one per 10.4 square inches of log habitat. — William W.

Mover, Kutztown State Coll., Kutztown, Pa.

Collections deposited. — Both the mussel collection of Dr.

Harold Ray Eggleston of Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, and

the snail collection of Dr. David T. Jones, 818 East 5th Street,

Vinton, Iowa, have been deposited recently in the Ohio State

Museum, Columbus 10, Ohio, where Dr. David H. Stansbery is

Curator of Natural History. — David T. Jones.

Correction. — New Land Mollusks in the Families Camaeni-

dae and Fruticicolidae from Hispaniola. Museo Argentino de

Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" 8: 213-227, Dec.

1962. Unfortunately, neither galley proofs nor page proofs of this

paper of mine were ever received for corrections. The two plates

were interchanged. The caption for plate 1 is for plate 2 and the

caption for plate 2 is for plate 1. — W. J. Clench

CoRBULA cuNEATA AND C, iNAEQUALis. — In his descriptions

of these. Say, 1824, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 4: 152 & 153,

pi. 13, figs. 3 8c 2, cited fig. 3 for both species. In his "reprint,"

Harris, 1896, Bui. Amer. Paleont. no. 5: 76, made matters worse

when he gave fig. 2 for ciineata and fig. 3 for inae quale (sic) .

Both Say's dimensions ("breadth" = length & "length" ^

height) and his descriptions prove that C. cuneata (actually fig.

3) is more elongate than C. inaequalis (actually fig. 2) . How-

ever, the citations (& figs.) in Clark, Shattuck k Dall, 1902, Md.

Geol. Surv., Miocene: 281 k 282, are correct. — H. B. B.

THE NAUTILUS

Vol. 78 April, 1965 No. 4

ECOLOGIC IMPLICATIONS OF LIVING PELECYPODS

WITH CALCAREOUS SPINES

By DAVID NICOL

Department of Geology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois

This general study is a natural outgrowth of my work on

antarctic pelecypods and my interest in cold-water pelecypod

faunas because I noted no living spinose pelecypods from arctic

(Nicol, 1955, p. 116) and antarctic waters. The main objective

of this work is to summarize the data on the spinose Pelecypoda

so that they may be useful to the paleoecologist.

The greatest difficulty in a study of this kind is to make a clear-

cut definition of a spine. Commonly a spine is thought to end in

a sharp point, and many spines of pelecypods do; but some pro-

jections on pelecypod shells that do not have pointed ends can be

considered spines in the broad sense. Another problem is what

is a short spine and what is a long spine. In this case it is im-

portant to attempt to set some limit of length between short and

long spines because of the relationship of length of spines to

water temperature. I am arbitrarily setting the uppermost limit

in length for short spines as 10 mm., and any spine longer than

this is considered to be a long spine.

In discussing the families with spinose representatives, I shall

follow the systematic sequence in Thiele's Handbuch except that

I shall discuss the fresh-water pelecypods last. The data are

taken from an examination of the pelecypods in the general

systematic collection in the Division of Mollusks at the U. S. Na-

tional Museum. If a certain family is not mentioned, this means

that no spinose pelecyjxxls were noted in that group. However,

in many cases I do state that I found no spinose specimens in

certain major groups. One of the reasons for doing so is that it

appears that genetic factors are most surely involved, as well as

environmental factors, as to whether a major group will have no

spines, short spines, or long spines on the exterior of the shell.

Neither the Protobranchia vera nor the solemyacids have any

spinose representatives. This appears to be the condition, too,

109

no NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

in all the arcaceans, including the glycymeridids and limopsids.

The mytilids and isognomonids are also non-spinose.

Some of the pteriids have short spines, but in most cases they

are outgrowths of periostracum which surround some calcareous

material. All spinose specimens noted in this family were taken

from warm water.

Most of the species of Pinnidae are spinose, but the spines are

never long and are found mainly on the part of the shell that

extends above the substrate when the animal is in its normal

habitat. Most pinnid species are tropical but a few range into

cooler waters such as South Africa, Tasmania, Patagonia, and

New Zealand.

Most species of plicatulids have short spines. The species of

this family are confined to warm water today. A few species of

the large family Pectinidae have short spines. Most of these

species are found in warm water, but a specimen of Chlamys

pusio from southern England has short spines and the same is

true for a specimen of Hinnites multirugosus from the Gulf of

Alaska. Many species of Spondylus have long spines, and this

family today is confined almost entirely to warm water. Speci-

mens with the longest slender spines are generally found in the

warmest waters such as in the Philippines and Borneo. Spines as

long as 25 mm. are not uncommon on specimens of the Spondyl-

idae. Some species of limids have short spines. All limid speci-

mens with spines in the U. S. National Museum collection were

taken from warm water. Arctic and antarctic species of Limatula

are not spinose.

A few specimens of anomiids have short spines. The most spin-

ose specimen seen was an Anomia peruviana from the Gulf of

California. In the discussion of Anomia, mention must be made

of an interesting paper by Merrill (1962) on spinosity in Anomia

aculeata. Merrill found that some individuals of this species be-

came spinose while others never developed spines. He points out

(p. 137) that the variation in surface sculpture might be a gen-

etic factor rather than an environmental factor. In this case where

spinose and non-spinose forms were taken from the same buoy,

the genetic factor must be the decisive one. Living species of ^4?*-

cinella [Echinochama], a warm-water pelecypod, are always spin-

ose, but the warm-water Area species are never spinose. Both

groups live on the bottom and have all the environmental factors

April, 1965 nautilus 111

most favorable for the production of spines; and so one must con-

clude that genetics as well as environment is an important factor

in determining the presence or absence of spines. It should be

pointed out that species of pelecypods which have both spinose

and non-spinose variants are more numerous than those living

species which have only spinose representatives.

Merrill alo notes that the small shells are never spinose but

that spinosity becomes common after a certain size is attained.

However, some species of pelecypods tend to lose their spines

when they attain large size, as seen in some individuals of cham-

ids and spondylids.

Many species of ostreids are spinose. Short-spined species range

into cool water, as for example Crassostrea virginica, which

ranges as far north as the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It should also be

noted that this species lives in water of reduced salinity. Dr.

Joseph Rosewater showed me a small oyster (15 mm. in height)

that he collected off mangrove roots in the Strait of Malacca. It

has short slender spines on the surface of the upper valve. Long-

spined ostreid species are all tropical, and species like Ostrea

frons, in which the spines wrap around the stems or roots of

trees, are confined to warm water. Species of Arctostrca from the

Cretaceous are similar to Ostrea frons in tlicir elongate shape

and type of spinosity.

Living trigoniids, which are confined to Australian waters, are

sometimes found to have tiny spines. The astartids and crassatel-

lids are all non-spinose. A few carditid species having short spines

were found in tropical waters but one specimen came from South

Australia. Nearly all of the lucinids are non-spinose, but several

specimens of Lucina pensylvanica from the Florida Keys have

short spines. Lucinomn dentifera from the Red Sea also has short

spines.

The chamids rival the spondylids for being the most spinose

family of pelecypods, and most species of chamids have spinose

representatives. The family is almost completely confined to

warm water, but a few species straggle into cooler waters. Speci-

mens of Chama pellucida from Newport Beach, California, and

San Pedro, California, do have broad flat spines that are 12 mm.

in a few cases. This species ranges as far north as Oregon. Chama

macerophylla from Miami, Florida, has long spines, and Chama

112 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

lazariis from the East Indian region commonly has spines of more

than 20 mm. in length. Arcinella, also known as Echinochama, is

the most spinose of all living chamids. The genus is confined to

waim watei' of the western hemisphere and shows a good gradi-

ent between temperature and spine length. The longest and usu-

ally most slender spines are found on Arcinella arcinella arcinella

from the Caribbean region and Arcinella arcinella californica

from the Panamic Province. Arcinella brasiliana from the south-

ernmost range of the genus in the western Atlantic has slender

spines, but they are shorter than those commonly found on

Arcinella arcinella. Arcinella cornuta, which ranges as far north

as Cape Hatteias, has shorter and thicker spines than Arcinella

arcinella.

Numerous species of the cardiids have short spines. Probably

the most spinose group is Acanthocardia, and some species of

this genus are found in cooler waters. Acanthocardia aculeata

from the south coast of Devon has surprisingly long slender

spines, but no specimens were observed with spines as long as

10 mm. Arctic cardiid species lack spines. Hippipus has short

spines and a color pattern resembling the spines and color pat-

tern of the cardiids. The remainder of the living tridacnids are

cither smooth or have broad projecting frills rather than spines.

The great majority of venerids are not spinose, but a few trop-

ical species have short spines. One exceptional group. Pilar

(Hysteroconcha), has one or two rows of long slender spines

toward the posterior side of the shell; this subgenus is confined

to the warm waters of the Caribbean region and the Panamic

Province. The well developed pallial sinus would indicate that

these forms are reasonably deep burrowers, but it is difficult to

understand how the spines would be an aid in burrowing.

The mactrids, donacids, gariids, and semelids are all non-

spinose. Few species of tellinids have short spines, and they are

all tropical forms. The solenids are also non-spinose, as well as

the hiatellids, corbulids, myacids, and gastrochaenids. Most of

the pholadids have short spines which may aid these animals to

bore in rock. The families Teredinidae, Lyonsiidae, Pandoridae,

Chamostreidae, Myochamidae, Laternulidae, and Periplomatidae

are all without spines. Brechites, a warm-water clavagellid, has

short spines.

The Septibranchia are essentially non-spinose, although speci-

April, 1965 nautilus 113

mens of Euciroa from Borneo might be considered spiny by some

observers. The spines on Euciroa are certainly minute.

Some specimens of Canthyria collina have short spines. Com-

monly there are only one or two present, and they are located

just to the posterior of the center of the shell. This sf>ecies is con-

fined to the James River, Virginia, and the Tar River in North

Carolina. Another naiad, Canthyria spinosa from the Altamaha

River, Georgia, has long slender spines. The spines are located

near the posterior side and are hollow in the center; they com-

monly attain a length of 20 mm. Some specimens of this species

have no spines or spines on only one valve. A variety of Schisto-

desmus lampreyanus from near Shanghai, China, apparently has

short spines, but there are no specimens of this variety in the

U. S. National Museum collection. One more naiad should be

mentioned: Chelidonopsis liirundo from the Congo region has a

posterior flange on each valve that slightly resembles a spine. The

Corbiculidae and Sphaeriidae all lack spines.

The great majority of spinose species of pelecypods are mem-

bers of the epifauna. Such species are most numerous in warm

sea water and become much less so in the colder waters. As exam-

ples of the epifaunal groups, one can list the pteriids, plicatulids,

pectinids, spondylids, chamids, most if not all the tridacnids,

limids, anomiids, and ostreids; and 1 would even include the pin-

nids in this category because, although they do partially bury

themselves in the bottom, they remain attached by a byssus in a

fixed position during the adult part of their life. The infauna has

relatively few spinose representatives, the most startling ones be-

ing the few species of tropical venerids with long spines and one

long-spined naiad from the Altamaha River in Georgia. Most

active burrowers in soft substrate have either small spines or none

at all. Note, too, that the protobranchs and septibranchs Which

are mainly burrowers are all non-spinose. Many of the pholadids

which bore into rock do have short spines, and these may assist

them in their cutting into the hard substrate.

No long-spined species are found in brackish water, and short-

spined forms are less common in an environment of reduced

salinity than they are in normal water. The fresh-water pele-

cypods are almost never truly spinose; only three spinose forms

of living naiades are known to occur in limited geogiaphic re-

114 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

gions. It is true that the naiades are commonly noded or knobby

exteriorly but not truly spinose.

The reader has probably already noted that families and gen-

era which have shells of small maximum size never develop

calcareous spines. Examples of such groups are My sella, Philo-

brya, Cyaniium, Cyamiomactra, Montacuta, Crenella, and Dacry-

dium. The species of these genera rarely attain a maximum size

of more than 10 mm., and they are commonly smaller than that.

It is also noted that these genera are most abundantly represented

in cold sea water or deep sea water. Small species attached by

their byssuses to other living animals as commensals also do not

develop spines.

Arctic and antarctic pelecypods are devoid of spines. The surface

temperature of the sea water in these polar regions certainly never

reaches a maximum of more than 5° C. It is possible that short-

spined pelecypods may live in water that never becomes much

more than 5° C, but it is more likely that 10° C is the lowest

maximum temperature where one would find any spinose pelecy-

pods (e.g., August surface temperature in the Gulf of Alaska) .

Long-spined forms are not found in areas where the minimum

water temperature falls below 20° C, and long slender spines are

found in areas where the minimum water temperature is at least

25° C (e.g., Arcinella arcinella). Thus, the long-spined pelecy-

pods are generally limited to about the temperature where one

would expect to find any reef corals. Finally, oysters that have

the habit of clasping slender objects such as twigs with their

spines (e.g., Ostrea frons) also are confined to water that never

reaches a lower temperature than about 20° C.

Water depths, temperatures, and other ecologic data are gener-

ally inadequate concerning the pelecypod material in the U.S. Na-

tional Museum collections, and so it is not possible to reach precise

conclusions concerning the occurrences of spinosity in deep-water

(more than 1,829 meters) pelecypods. Clarke (1962b, p. 295)

notes that only a few mollusk genera show sculpturing, and he

names two gastropod genera as those that exhibit this feature.

Some of the families and genera cited in Clarke's annotated list

(1962a) of abyssal pelecypods are represented by a large number

of species in this fauna. Where these same families and genera

also occur in shallow water, they are mainly non-spinose. The

deep-water fauna includes an unusually large number of proto-

April, 1965 nautilus 115

branchs and septibranchs. If there are any spinose deep-water

pelecypods, they must all be short-spined forms.

These data concerning spinosity in living pelecypods can lead

to inferences concerning the ecology of most Tertiary pelecypod

faunas, I would think, with a considerable degree of confidence;

but what of older faunas and other groups of calcareous spined

organisms? For example, in the Middle Devvonian Misenheimer

Shale in southern Illinois, a small productoid brachiopod with

long needle-like spines is found. Is this a good indicator of warm

water during the deposition of the Misenheimer Shale?

The writer wishes to acknowledge that this paper was made

possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation

(G-13335).

NOMENCLATURE NOTE ON ARCINELLA

VERSUS ECHINOCHAMA

A. Myra Keen (1962, p. 179) pointed out that because the In-

ternational Commission on Zoological Nomenclature in 1956

rejected Oken's Lehrbuch der N aturgeschichte , vol. 3 (Zoology)

the generic names in this work no longer have official status in

zoological nomenclature unless properly validated after the work

was published (1815-1816) . Oken proposed the name Arcinella

for a carditid group in his Lehrbuch. In 1817, Schumacher pro-

posed the name Arcinella for Chama arcinella Linne, which is

also the type species of Fischer's genus Echinochama (1887) . Miss

Keen concludes that Arcinella of Schumacher is now available as

the generic name for the species Chama arcinella Linne and also

Echinochama californica Dall. I have no objection to using the

generic name Arcinella for these species, but I am afraid that

some malacologists will object sooner or later. These objectors

will point to the latest International Code of Zoological Nomen-

clature and say that Arcinella of Schumacher is to be considered

a forgotten name (nomen oblitum) . Furthermore, they can prob-

ably win this particular case. For example, I looked for the name

Arcinella in the Zoological Record for the years 1900-1960 and

found it listed only 3 times. In no case did I see it used for what

we heretofore have been calling Echinochama. I do not consider

this conclusive proof that Arcinella has not been used as a generic

name in the sense of Echinochama, but some malacologists might

regard this as enough evidence to consider Arcinella of Schu-

116 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

macher a nomen oblitum. My personal preference is to apply

strict priority in such a case where the genus is relatively unim-

portant and has few species. Echinochama has not been men-

tioned frequently in primary zoological literature within the past

50 years. I fail to see that a name change in such a small unim-

portant genus should be upsetting. (On the other hand, I cer-

tainly would be in favor of invoking the "nomen oblitum" rule

in the case of Ostrea.) Furthermore, one ruling by the Commis-

sion so often brings on one or more additional nomenclature

problems as the direct result of a decision by the International

Commission. This very case is an example of that.

If someone has not already done so, it will be only a matter of

time before some well-meaning person asks the International

Commission for a ruling in favor of retaining the name Echino-

chama. However, the writer of this paper has no intention of

taking such action.

Literature cited

Clarke, Arthur H., Jr., 1962a, Annotated list and bibliography

of the abyssal marine molluscs of the world: Nat. Mus. Canada

Bull. no. 181, 114 pp.

, 1962b, On the composition, zoogeography, origin and age

of the deep-sea mollusk fauna: Deep-sea Res. and Oceanogra-

phic Abs. 5';291-306, Pergamon Press, London.

Keen, A. Myra, 1962, Nomenclatural notes on some West Ameri-

can mollusks, with proposal of a new species name. Veliger 4,

(4): 178-180.

Merrill, Arthur S., 1962, Variation and change in Anomia

aculeata. Nautilus 75(4) :131-138, pi. 14.

Nicol, David, 1955, An analysis of the Arctic marine pelecypod

fauna. Nautilus ^<^ (4): 115-122.

Thiele, J., 1934, Handbuch der Systematischen Weichtieikunde,

Bd. 2, T. 3, pp. 779-1022, Gustav Fischer, Jena.

NEW MOLLUSCAN RECORDS

FOR THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

By WILLIAM K. EMERSON and WILLIAM E. OLD, JR.

American Museum of Natural History

During the past three years the American Museum of Natural

History has accumulated a small collection of marine mollusks,

largely gastropods, from the Galapagos Islands. Most of the

April, 1965 nautilus 117

specimens were purchased from Mr. Carmen Angermeyer and

Mrs. Jacqueline DeRoy of Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island.

Their material was collected in the intertidal zone and by dredg-

ing from a skiff in depths of 4 to 15 fathoms.

The 11 species of gastropods prefaced by an asterisk (*) in the

dicussions that follow appear to be new records for the Gala-

pagos molluscan fauna, which is composed largely of species of

the Panamic faunal province, together with small elements of

Indo-Pacific and endemic species. These records represent eight

Panamic and three Indo-Pacific species. The distribution of these

species in the eastern Pacific, including occurrences on the off-

shore islands: Revillagigedo Islands (Clarion and Socorro) ,

Cocos Island, and the oceanic atoll: Clipperton Island, is cited.

The literature pertaining to the recent marine mollusks of the

Galapagos Islands was summarized recently by Hertlein and

Strong (1955a).

Architectonicidae: *Heliacus bicanaliculatus (Valenciennes) ,

1832, synonym: H. radiatiis (Menke) , 1851. Mrs. Angermeyer

reports taking two beach specimens, one of which is in the present

collection, from Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island. This Panamic

species previously was reported to range on the mainland from

Punta Penasco, Sonora, Mexico (Lowe, 1935), to Bahia Honda,

Veragua, Panama (Strong and Hertlein, 1939); it is recorded

from Clarion Island and Socorro Island (Strong and Hanna,

1930) .

Cypraeidae: *Cypraea teres Gmelin, 1791. Mrs. Angermeyer

collected one beach specimen at Puerto Grande, San Salvador

Island, and she reports that a second beach specimen was taken

by a neighbor. The only previously known occurrence of this

Indo-Pacific species in the eastern Pacific was at Clipperton

Island, where fresh as well as worn specimens are reported from

the rocky beaches (Hertlein, 1937; Hertlein and Allison, 1960a) .

Another Indo-Pacific species, Cypraea moneta Linnaceus, 1758

and 5 of the 7 recent Panamic Cypraea, namely albuginosa Gray,

1825, isabellamexicana Stearns, 1893, cervinetta Kiener, 1843,

arabicula Lamarck, 1811, and nigropunctata Gray, 1828, also are

known from the Galapagos Islands (Ingram, 1948) . Additionally,

Cypraea darwini Ingram, 1948, was described from "old beach

deposits" [? Pleistocene] on Baltra del Sur [South Seymour

Island] and was based on a single specimen, which, judging from

118 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

the description and illustrations appears to be a form of C. albii-

ginosa. It is interesting to note that only two west American

species, C. albuginosa and C. isabellamexicana, are known to

occur at Clipperton Island, where 10 Indo-Pacific species of

Cypraea are recorded (Hertlein and Allison, 1960a) . Also of

interest is the presence at Cocos Island of C. albuginosa (Emer-

son and Old, 1964), C. isabellamexicana, C. moneta, and C.

rashleighana Melvill, 1888, which is the sole record for this Indo-

Pacific species in the eastern Pacific (Ingram, 1951) . Only C.

albuginosa and C. isabellamexicana are reported from the Revil-

lagigedo Islands (Ingram, 1951).

Ovulidae [=r Amphiperatidae auct. ]: *Pseudocypraea adam-

soni (Sowerby) , 1832. Mrs. Angermeyer reports taking four liv-

ing specimens under rocks at low tide and one beach specimen

at Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island. Two of the specimens are in

the present collection, and these appear to be referable to this

Indo-Pacific species, which is recorded to range from Madagas-

car to the Tuamotu Islands (Schilder, 1932). According to

Schilder (1947) , this species does not occur in the Hawaiian

Islands; he cites it, however, from several other localities in the

western Pacific, including Japan (1947), New Britain (1933)

and Jaluit, Marshall Islands (1944) .

Cassididae: *Semicassis centiquadrata (Valenciennes), 1832.

Mrs. Angermeyer obtained one beach specimen from Rabida

Island. This Panamic species, which is reported to range on the

mainland from Baja California, Mexico, to Lobitos, Peru (Emer-

son and Old, 1963) , also is cited from Clarion Island (Strong and

Hanna, 1930) and Cocos Island (Emerson and Old, 1964) . All

the living west American representatives of this family, with the

exception of Casrnaria vibexmexicana (Stearns), 1894, now are

known to occur in the Galapagos Islands.

Cymatiidae: *Cy?natium gibbosum (Broderip) , 1833. Mrs.

Angermeyer reports finding one living specimen and one large

beach specimen, which is in the American Museum collection,

from Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island. This Panamic species

is known to range on the mainland from the Gulf of California,

Mexico, to Negritos, Peru (Emerson and Old, 1963).

Bursidae: * Bursa caelata (Broderip), 1833. Mrs. Angermeyer

reports taking 3 beach specimens, one of which is in the present

April, 1965 nautilus 119

collection, from Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island. This Panamic

species is recorded to range on the mainland from Baja Cali-

fornia, Mexico, to Peru (Hertlein and Strong, 1955b), and is

cited from Cocos Island (Hertlein, 1963) .

Muricidae: *Favartia incisa (Broderip) , 1833. Mrs. Anger-

meyer obtained 3 specimens, one of which is in the present col-

lection, by dredging in 10 fathoms off Rabida Island. Keen

(1958) reports this Panamic species to range from Port Guatulco,

Mexico, to southern Ecuador. *Ocenebra vittata (Broderip),

1833. One beach specimen was received from Mrs. DeRoy from

Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island. Mr. Anthony D'Attilio has ob-

tained from Mrs. Angermeyer 7 other specimens from the fol-

lowing localities: Puerto Nunes and Academy Bay, Santa Cruz

Island; Rabida Island; San Salvador Island; shore to 8 fathoms.

Keen (1958) reports this Panamic species to range from the Gulf

of California, to Guayaquil, Ecuador. *Thais biserialis (Blain-

ville), 1832, synonym: T. haematura (Valenciennes), 1846. Mrs.

Angermeyer reports taking 3 specimens from Rabida Island. One

large beach specimen in the present collection is a typical exam-

ple of this Panamic species, w^hich is reported to range on the

mainland from Baja California, Mexico, to Valparaiso, Chile

(Clench, 1947) . It also is cited from Cocos Island (Hertlein,

1963) and Clipperton Island (Hertlein and Allison, 1960b).

Coralliophilidae [Magilidae]: *Coralliophila violacea (Kie-

ner) , 1835, synonym: C. neritoidea (Lamarck), 1822. One live-

collected specimen from Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island was

received from Mrs. DeRoy. This wide-ranging Indo-Pacific species

was previously known in the eastern Pacific only from Clarion

Island, Socorro Island (Strong and Hanna, 1930) , and Clipper-

ton Island (Hertlein and Allison, 1960b). *Latiaxis hindsi (Car-

penter), 1857, synonym: L. muricata (Hinds), 1843. One live-

taken specimen was dredged by Mrs. Angermeyer in 1.5 fathoms

off Rabida Island. This species was previously cited from the

Galapagos Islands under the name of Coralliophila oldroydi

(Oldroyd, 1929) . This Panamic species is reported to range on

the mainland from Puertecitos, Baja California, Mexico (Du-

Shane, 1962), to Panama (Carpenter, 1857).

We are greatly indebted to Dr. Leo George Hertlein for read-

ing the manuscript and for providing helpful information.

120 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

Literature cited

Carpenter, P. P. 1857. Rept. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci, for 1856,

pp. 159-368.

Clench, W. J. 1947. Johnsonia 2(23) :61-91, pis. 33-40.

DuShane, Helen. 1958. Veliger 5:39-50.

Emerson, W. K., and W. E. Old, Jr. 1963. Amer. Mus, Novitates,

no, 2153, 38 pp., 28 figs.

Emerson, W. K., and W. E. Old, Jr. 1964. Nautilus 77:90-92.

Hertlein, L. G. 1937. Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 7<^:303-312,

pi. 1.

, 1963. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 52:219-289, 4 figs.

, and E. C. Allison, 1960a, Veliger 2:94-95, pi. 22.

, and E. C. Allison, 1960b, Ibid. i:13-16.

, and A. M. Strong, 1955a, in Essays in the Natural Sciences

in Honor of Captain Allan Hancock, Univ. So. Calif. Press,

Los Angeles, pp. 111-145, pi. A,

-, and A. M. Strong, 1955b, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.

7^7:159-318, pis. 1-3.

Ingram, W. M. 1948. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (4) 2^:135-145.

pi. 2.

, 1951. Bull. Amer. Paleont. 55:125-178, pis. 21-24.

Keen, A. Myra. 1958. Sea shells of tropical west America. Stan-

ford Univ. Press, viii -[- 624 pp., illus.

Lowe, H. N., 1935, Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. <?:15-34,

pis. 1-4.

Oldroyd, Ida S. 1929. Nautilus ^2:98, 99, pi. 5.

Schilder, F. A. 1932. Cypraeacea, in Quenstedt, W., Fossilium

Catalogus, 1: Animalia, Berlin, pt. 55, 276 pp.

, 1933. Zool. Anz. 702:288-303, 12 figs.

, 1947. Arch. Moll. 7^:169-189.

, and M. Schilder. 1944. Arkiv for Zoologi, 36 A: 1-32.

Strong, A. M. and G D. Hanna. 1930. Proc. Calif. Acad,

Sci., (4) 7^:7-12.

Strong, A. M. and L. G. Hertlein. 1939. Allan Hancock Pac.

Exped. 2:177-245, pis. 18-23.

ON SOME LAND SHELLS OF ELEUTHERA, BAHAMAS

By morris K. JACOBSON

Associate, American Museum of Natural History

This report is based upon a small collection of land shells

made by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Jensen of the New York Shell

Club in July, 1964. The shells were all taken dead in under-

brush near or under calcareous rocks. This collection is of some

interest because it adds two new localities to those mentioned by

April, 1965 nautilus 121

Clench (p. 101-116), who has made the most complete listing

of Eleuthera shells to date. In addition, Succinea luteola fioridana

is reported from the island for the first time. Clench (op. cit.)

gives a synonymy of the various species.

To the localities mapped by Clench (pi. 16), the following

should be added: Sweetings Pond, on the west shore, one mile

north of Hatchet Bay, between stations 12 and 13 of Clench;

Ten Bay, about 10 miles south of Governor's Harbour on the

west coast between Palmetto Point (Clench, locality no. 21) and

Bullards (Clench, locality no. 24).

Alcadia jallax Wagner. Ten Bay, 2 weathered specimens.

Clench cites this species from Tarpum Bay in the south and

James Cistern in the north. Ten Bay lies about midway between

these two points.

Opisthosiphon bahamense (Pfeiffer) . Ten Bay, on main road,

4 specimens; Sweetings Pond, 14 specimens. Clench cites 11 lo-

calities for this species. There seems to be no reason to reject

Clench's evaluation of the Bartsch names (p. 102) .

Melampiis coffeus (Linne) . Ten Bay, two specimens. This is

the first localized record; Clench cites it only from "Eleuthera."

One small specimen resembles M. lineatus Say closely. Probably

a similar one caused Dall to report the species from Egg Island,

Bahamas (Clench, p. 102) .

Detracia bulloides (MontagTi) . Ten Bay, 4 specimens. The

locality closest to the present one mentioned by Clench is Tar-

pum Bay, far to the south.

Oleacina solidula (Pfeiffer) . Ten Bay, 1 specimen; Sweetings

Pond, 1 specimen. Clench cites this from 9 localities, reaching

from the south to the north of the island. It is apparently well

distributed everywhere.

Polygyra plana (Dunker). Ten Bay, 5 specimens. Palmetto

Point is the locality cited by Clench which is nearest to the

present one.

Bulimulus sepulcralis (Poey) . Ten Bay, 1 fresh, mature speci-

men.. This is the first localized record for Eleuthera. Clench cites

only "Eleuthera" on the basis of specimens in the Bland Col-

lection. Pilsbry (1897, p. 50) thinks that the home of this species

is Yucatan and Central America from where it was introduced

into Eleuthera probably by commerce some time after the

Spanish conquest.

122 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

Cerion gla?is Kiister. Sweetings Pond, 3 specimens, one very

small. The variable shells of Cerion are not always easily deter-

mined, and intergrades are not uncommon. Clench, with some

hesitation, cites 13 species from Eleuthera. Determination of

the present specimens was made by comparison with shells in the

author's collection determined by Clench. The present shells were

all collected dead and hence do not necessarily live in the areas

collected. Dead Cerion shells are quite buoyant and easily trans-

ported by wave action from beach to beach. Nevertheless, the lo-

calities for the present specimens are not too far removed from

the localities cited by Clench.

Cerion glans coiyi Maynard. Ten Bay, on main road, 1 speci-

men which is doubtfully assigned to this form. Clench cites it

from 7 localities, reaching from The Bluff in the north to Ban-

nermantown in the south. The present locality is about in the

center of the island.

Cerion liliorum Clench. Sweetings Pond, 1 specimen. The as-

signment is doubtful because the present specimen is about one-

half the size of typical liliorum. Nevertheless, it conforms in

surface sculpture, color, and apertural characteristics. Clench

cites it from Long Pond, the locality nearest to the present one.

Cerion eximeum Maynard. Ten Bay, 2 specimens. The present

shells have only faint signs of the close surface striation charac-

teristic of this highly variable species.

Microceramiis russelli Clench. Sweeting Pond, 1 specimen.

Clench cites only 3 localities for this species, of which Hatchet

Bay is the closest to the present one.

Succinea luteola floridana Pilsbry. Sweetings Pond, 3 speci-

mens. This is the first Succinea cited from the island. The speci-

mens conform closely to specimens collected in Key West, Florida

and elsewhere. It is without doubt a very recent introduction.

The only other Succinea cited from Bahamas is 5. harhadensis

Guilding, 1828 (not S. barbadensis Guilding, Reeve, 1872, Con.

Icon., 18, Succinea, pi. 7, fig. 46) . However, this species, though

similar in outline to S. luteola floridana is not easily confused

with it. S. barbadensis is thinner, lacks the yellow color in the

aperture, and does not have the earthy and opaque texture that

is characteristic of the subgenus Calcisuccinea Pilsbry, 1948, to

which the Floridian shell belongs.

April, 1965 nautilus 123

Zachrysia provisoria (Pfeiffer) . Ten Bay, 3 mature, 4 imma-

ture specimens. This species, originally from eastern and central

Cuba, has been introduced into many West Indian islands as well

as to the Bahamas and the Florida mainland, Bendall (p. 293)

reports it from Bahamas as early as 1895, and Bland from New

Providence in 1861 (p. 351; table II). The present locality is

far to the north of those cited by Clench, and not near any

settlement (Ten Bay is still only a projected housing develop-

ment). However, the Jensens report having seen it "everywhere."

Zachrysia provisoria is separated from Z. auricoma Ferussac

on the basis of the sexual apparatus (see Pilsbry, 1928) . In shell

characters they are very close. Since all the present shells were

taken dead, it can only be assumed that they are as indicated by

Clench. In this connection, Pilsbry's statement (1928, p. 583)

that Z. auricoma, because of its "hard, calcareous epiphragm"

it is probably better able to withstand dessication than the other

species, is of interest. One would think it is this species, rather

than provisoria that would survive in the largely arid, unshel-

tered areas of the Bahamas.

Hemitrochiis x'arians (Menke) . Ten Bay, 5 specimens; Sweet-

ings Pond, 8 specimens. Clench cites this from no fewer than 16

localities. That it is found in two more should excite no surprise.

Plagioptycha macrodon iitowana Clench. Ten Bay, 5 speci-

mens. This species can be easily distinguished from P. gregoriana

Dall by being generally smooth and shiny, with wavy radial

raised cords appearing only on a few early post-nuclear whorls.

Its distribution seems to be confined to the southern half of

the island.

Plagioptycha gregoriana (Dall) . Sweetings Pond, 6 specimens.

As indicated above, the shell is easily determined by the presence

of rather strong, wavy radial costae covering the entire shell ex-

cept the nuclear whorls. It is apparently confined to the northern

half of the island.

Discussion. A plotting of localities of the species based on the

data provided by Clench and the Jensens leads to a few inter-

esting observations. The discrete distribution of the two related

species of Plagioptycha is striking: P. macrodon utoiuana occurs

in the southern half of the island, from Governor's Harbour to

Bannermantown, whereas P. gregoriana occurs in the northern

124 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

half, from Sweetings Pond to Next Point. The latter is also

found in 4 localities on the satellite islands clustered about the

northern tip of Eleuthera.

Polygyra plana seems to be clustered about an area south of

the mid-point of the island, from Palmetto Point to Rock Sound.

But the single off-shore island locality (Current Settlement)

would seem to indicate that more collecting activity will discover

it in several more situations at least in the northern half. Cerion

eximeum seems to be confined to the north, but the apparent

cluster of localities of Microceramus russelli in the north (from

Sweetings Pond to Long Pond) is probably due to incomplete

collecting efforts. Certainly this must also be true of Detracia

hulloides, which can be expected to occur in every favorable

tidal area.

As was to be expected, Opisthosiphon bahamense, Oleacina

solidula and especially Hemitrochus varians have the most gen-

eral distribution. Possibly many, if not most, of the other species

mentioned here and by Clench, with the exception of Cerion,

will also be found to enjoy the same general distribution. How-

ever, the instance of Plagioptycha demonstrates that some im-

portant exceptions to this situation will also be found. The

island, after all, is not small, extending for about 80 miles, and

though it is generally less than two miles for most of its length,

it contains 166 square miles of territory (Clench, p. 98) .

I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. William K. Emerson of

the American Museum of Natural History who has read the

manuscript and offered valuable suggestions, and especially to

Mr. and Mrs. Jensen who gave liberally of their restricted vaca-

tion time to hunt, at my urgent suggestion, for land shells in

an area where, as Clench found (p. 98) , "in the main, land

collecting was poor."

The shells mentioned in this report have been deposited in the

collection of the American Museum of Natural History, New

York.

Literature cited

Bendall, Wilfred. 1895, Proc. Mai. Soc. London, 7:292-295.

Bland, Thomas. 1861, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, 7:335-361.

Clench, William J. 1952, Rev. Soc. Mai.. Carlos de la Torre,

^.-97-116, pis. 14-16.

Pilsbry, Henry A. 1889, Man, Conch., ser. 2, 5:1-339, pis. 1-64.

April, 1965 nautilus 125

, 1897, Man. Conch., ser. 2, i7;l-339, pis. 1-51.

-, 1928, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 80:bSl-606, pis.

28-30, text figs. 1-19.

MOLLUSCAN FAUNA OF SOME SMALL PONDS

IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

By DOROTHY E. BEETLE

Curator of Education, Charlotte Children's Nature Museum, Inc.,

Charlotte, North Carolina

In a previous study of the mollusca of Grand Teton National

Park I collections were obtained from many small ponds that

dot the area. Considerable variation was found in fauna and

flora even between adjacent ponds. Ten ponds in the vicinity of

Jackson Lake dam were selected for investigation of molluscan

variations and for population analysis of the most abundant

gastropod in each.

Ecology. Each of the ponds lies in the lodgepole pine forest

that has developed upon the moraines dumped by the Pleistocene

glaciers. I assumed, therefore, that their origins and ages are

similar. They occur at an approximate elevation of 6700 feet.

The annual precipitation in the vicinity of Jackson Lake is about

20 inches, three-fourths of which falls as snow. Summer showers

during June, July and August are brief and scarcely replenish

the ponds, which are subject to greatly fluctuating water levels.

Snow and ice may lie late into May, but the ponds can be open

from May through September and evaporation rapidly shrinks

their volume. The monthly mean temperature in the region

varies from 13.6 to 61.3 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the shallow

water of the ponds is warm during the short summer, varying

between approximately 60 to 82 degrees F. along the margins.

The shallowness of the water bodies precludes any thermal

stratification.

The largest of the ponds measures 300 by 100 yards. The

smallest is scarcely 100 yards long. Maximum depth of the water

varies between one and four feet and accumulates mainly by

snow melt. Ponds that dry in summer are without water until the

following spring and have a snow rather than an ice cover during

the winter. The outlines of abandoned channels and partially

submerged beaver lodges in three ponds. Moose, Signal Moun-

126

NAUTILUS

Vol. 78 (4)

tain, and Pacific Creek No. 2 attest to more stable water condi-

tions formerly. Pond bottoms are covered with a layer of mud

overlying glaciated stones and gravel.

Pacific Creek Pond 2, Arizona Pond No. 2, Pond No. 4 and

No. 10 are small ephemeral bodies of water usually dry by mid-

August. Colter Bay Pond dries completely in years of deficient

precipitation. Moose, Signal Mountan, Pacific Creek No. 1 and

Arizona Pond No. 1 receive some underground water and usually

retain a few inches of water at their centers. Pond No. 7 is fed

by adequate springs and varies least in water level.

To varying degrees the ponds are ringed by or show scattered

remnants of aspen stands. Interior to the aspen are willows.

Sedges, grasses, forbs and moss grow along the edges of the ponds.

By mid-summer the water in most of the ponds is so covered

with rooted aquatic plants as to give the appearance of a

meadow. Conium maculatum, Sagittaria cuneata, Ranunculus

cymbolaria, Mentha arvensis and species of Carex and Juncus

are amphibious plants commonly found in the ponds. Nuphar

polysepalum, the yellow pond lily, was found only in ponds that

retained some water if but an inch or two.

THE MOU-l'SCAM FAINA CF !»ME PONDS IN GRAND lEION NATIONAL PARK

Methods. The molluscan fauna of each pond was collected

and identified. The temperature was taken one foot below the

surface at each visit, several feet offshore and also along the

shore. Four ponds were then selected for population analysis

April, 1965

NAUTILUS

127

and at intervals during the three summer months of June, July

and August a random sample of approximately 100 individuals

of the most abundant species was sized. The four ponds are

Moose, Colter Bay, and Pacific Creek No. 1 and No. 2. See Table

1 for the faunal composition of the various ponds.

Discussion. In early June the pond at Colter Bay, Sec. 35,

T46N, R115W, extends shallowly into the aspen around its

shoreline. Not more than three feet in depth it rapidly shrinks

by evaporation. By mid-August the remaining water lies in a

small depression along the north boundary. As the water recedes

the lavender bloom of Mentha arvensis covers the dry pond bed.

This pond dried completely in September of 1960 and 1961.

A large population of Stagnicola jacksonensis and Sphaerium

lacustre rykholti frequent Colter Bay pond. In two seasons of

study only one live Promenetus umbilicatellus and five Physa

PACIFIC CREEK No. 2

H». 3 10 15 20 IS

COLTER BAY

10 19 20 25

k

^

t^

,5 10 IS 20 25

10 l5 20 25

10 IS 20 25

Li

5 10 15 20 25

SO

f\

'■'■ • 5 10 IS 20 25

10 IS 20 25

fk

10 15 20 25

PACIFIC CREEK POND # 2

HORIZONTAL SCALE ■■= DIAMETER

IN MM. HELISOMA SUBCREiJATUll

DISJECTUM

VERTICAL SCALE =N0. OF SHELLS

IS SIZE CATAGORY

COLTER BAY

HORIZONTAL SCALE = HEIGHT

IN MM. STAGNICOLA JACK-

SONENSIS

VERTICAL SCALE = NO. OF

SHELLS IN SIZE CATAGORY

HISTCGRAKS OF POPtlLATION SIZE CLASSES IN 2 PONDS

DURING 1960-1951.

128 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

gyrina were collected. In addition to the mollusks the pond sup-

ports an abundant fauna of crustaceans, insects, tiger sala-

manders, frogs, leeches and fresh water sponges.

Selected histograms of population sizes can be seen in Figure

1. Large numbers of young hatch out in early June. Of those that

survive, growth is most rapid before midsummer, but continues

all during the growing season. Many animals die in situ when

the water recedes, but others are still active in late August,

crawling upon the mud and burrowing into it. The wide range

of shell sizes present during the short giowing season argues for

the successful aestivation of individuals in all stages of growth.

Pacific Creek No. 2, Sec. 6, T45N, R113W, is an ephemeral

pond which dries by mid-August. Meadow plants, predominantly

Conium. maculatum, sedges and grasses, grow up through the

water to clothe it deceptively as a field. Once the w^ater has

evaporated, only the presence of dead shells and the stains of

high water marks prove that water lay in the area. The vege-

tation protects all of the substrate except for a few bare patches

of mud in the center.

This pond supports insects, crustaceans such as conchostracans,

tiger salamanders and frogs. Waterfowl nest in the reed clumps.

Twelve species of mollusca are found in Pacific Creek No. 2.

Helisoma subcrenatum disjectum is the most abundant and a

fairly large number of Stagnicola palustris is present. The other

species formed a minor portion of the fauna. Only one indi-

vidual of the clam, Sphaerium striatinum, was found.

Aestivating mollusks are mainly found in the central patches

of bare mud. Although the mud became deeply cracked in late

August of both years, it remained slightly damp three inches and

more below the surface crust. Figure 1 shows details of popula-

tion composition for Helisoma subcrenatum. Here again indi-

viduals of all sizes could be found throughout the summer.

Pacific Creek pond No. 1, same locality, lies over the ridge

from No. 2. It is the only pond with a tan colloidal muck bot-

tom. The pond surface is completely covered with marsh trefoil.

Menyanthes trifoliata, so that it appears as a lush green meadow.

The bulbous plant roots with their filamentous rootlets and the

decaying vegetation create a fibrous mat interspersed through

the ooze. A pole can be forced down more than 3 feet through

the root matting to firmer bottom. To walk in the pond is im-

April, 1965 nautilus 129

possible until the surface water evaporates.

When the pond dries, the mollusks retreat to the moisture

below. There was no surface water in evidence by August 4, 1960,

and the bottom had dried firmly enough to support the weight

of an adult. The following year surface water disappeared by

August 10 after an early and wet spring. Helisoma suhcrenatum

disjectum, the dominant species, can be found aestivating 6

inches and more below the surface. The other snails and clams

are largely found around the perimeter of the pond in the thick

giowth of sphagnum moss. As the water recedes, land snails as

Vertigo ovata, V. gouldi coloradoensis, Pupilla hehes, Vitrina

alaskana and Catinella wandae invade the damp moss and mingle

with the freshwater forms.

Since the population size analysis of Helisoma from this pond

is similar to that reported from Pacific Creek No. 2, it is not

shown. A small population of 11 other species of freshwater

mollusks is present in this pond, as may be seen from Table 1.

Moose Pond, Sec. 19, T45N, R114W, holds a large population

of Stagnicola palustris wyomingensis and Sphaerium lacustre

rykholti. Five other species in the pond occur in fair numbers.

The largest individuals of Stagnicola, and these with badly

eroded shells, congregate in deep water along the east shore. The

other animals are rather evenly scattered along the shore of the

pond. Fewer animals, and these only adult forms, scavenge more

widely in mid-pond. Population sizing of Stagnicola over two

seasons showed that all sizes of individuals are present at all

times in the pond.

Pond No. 4, Sec. 15, T45N, R114W, is a shallow depression in

an aspen grove. A small population of Sphaerium lacustre ryk-

holti, Stagnicola palustris and Planorhula christyi remain active

until the water evaporates the latter part of July.

Pond No. 7, Sec. 23, T46N, R115W, a perennial water body,

contained only Pisidium compressum. Taylor has indicated that

this species is restricted to permanent waters. A thin crust of salt

has been deposited over the thick muck and heavy algal growth

around the pond's perimeter.

Pond No. 10, Sec. 23, T46N, R115W, fits into the general pat-

tern of the ponds with its ring of aspen, some willows and sedges.

It is shallow except for 3 holes in the center that are two feet

below the general level. It dries completely during July, and al-

130 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

though it supports a few frogs and water insects, it has no

mollusks.

Gros Ventre Pond, Sec. 2, T42N, R114W, near Slide Lake, was

seen but once and is included in this report only as an example of

the build-up of a population under severly limiting ecological fac-

tors. It is a small pond, one of a chain, that lies along the flood

plain of the Gros Ventre River rather than in the pine forest.

The water is highly alkaline, with a pH reading of 7.8, and has

deposited a crust of salts around the perimeter of the pond. Huge

numbers of the tiger salamander, Amblystoma tigeris and Stag-

nicola palustris live in the pond. The snails crawl over the alkali

flats in such numbers that the movements of the pneumostomes

result in an easily audible clicking. Other than 5 individuals of

Physa skinneri found during seining operations, this was the only

mollusk present.

Conclusions

A total of 21 molluscan species are found in the 10 ponds.

Field notes of the author indicate that these species habitually

occur in ephemeral pools, sloughs, marshes and quiet perennial

water. This agrees with the findings of Taylor who has listed the

ecological requirements of these species as varying from tem-

porary ponds to quiet stagnant ^vater (perennial) . The presence

of Valvata lewisi in Pacific Creek No. 2, a temporary pond, was

unexpected. This species is supposedly restricted to perennial

waters.

In a study of the population of Sphaerium partumeium in an

ephemeral pool near Ann Arbor, Michigan, Thomas found that

it was primarily carried from year to year by young individuals.

Very few sub-adults were able to survive the rigors of a severe

habitat over winter. In these ponds around Jackson Lake it ap-

pears that individuals of all growth stages must overwinter to

account for the wide range of shell sizes present during the

glowing season.

Bibliography

Beetle, D. E., 1957. Nautilus 71 (1) : 12-22.

Reed, J. F., 1952. Amer. Mid. Naturalist 48 {^) : 700-729.

Taylor, D. W., 1960. Geological Survey Professional Paper 337,

Late Cenozoic Molluscan Faunas from the High Plains.

Thomas, G. J., 1963. Nautilus 77 (2) : 37-43.

Tuthill, S. J., and Laird, W. M., Nautilus 77 (3): 81-90.

April, 1965 nautilus 131

BATON ROUGE GREENHOUSE GASTROPODS

By pat W. HERMANN, BENNIE C. STRICKLAND,

DEE SAUNDERS DUNDEE

In our continuing attempt to determine the distribution of in-

troduced mollusks in the Gulf Coastal area, a survey of Baton

Rouge greenhouses was made during May and June, 1964. It

revealed the presence of 22 species of gastropods of which 3

species are introduced forms. Dundee and Watt (1962) collected

21 species of snails and slugs from New Orleans greenhouses in-

cluding 6 species of introduced mollusks.

Three introduced species, Lamellaxis gracilis, Gulella bicolor,

and Vaginulus sp. were found in both New Orleans and Baton

Rouge greenhouses while Subulina octona, Bradybaena similaris,

and Veronicella fioridana were only in those of New Orleans. Al-

though Bradybaena similaris was not found in Baton Rouge

greenhouses, it is present in this city.

In order to determine if there was a correlation between the

presence of introduced forms in a greenhouse and the source of

their plant material, some of the greenhouse owners or managers

were asked if they had received any plants from out of Louisiana.

With reference to Table 1, greenhouse B received plants from

Florida and Texas, C from Florida, California, Mississippi, and

Alabama, D from Miami, Florida and The Netherlands and M

receives cacti from our southwestern states. A, G, I, L dealt only

within Louisiana. Those not mentioned were not asked about

their plant sources.

It is of interest to note that Vaginulus sp. was found in green-

houses B and D both of which receive material from Florida.

Gulella bicolor and Lamellaxis gracilis were also found at D

giving a possible Florida link but L. gracilis was found at A

which does not receive out of state material.

The owner of greenhouse C said that he thinks he has seen

snails on plants coming from California but added that plants

are dipped upon arrival.

Most of the owners or managers said that they had little or no

trouble with snails and slugs damaging their plants. At green-

house A, Vaginulus sp., Mesodon thyroidus and Limax margi-

natiis were in fair abundance but appeared to be confined to the

ground under the raised benches. This area was littered with

boards, pots, cardboard and supported sufficient plant growth to

132

NAUTILUS

Vol. 78 (4)

Table 1

Baton Rouge Greenhouse Gastropods

T G — fi — I 3 7. E — FT

Greenhouse :

B

D

Helicina orbiculata CSay;

X X

X X

X X

provide an excellent habitat in which these animals were thriv-

ing. Perhaps this is why they were not bothering the commercial

plant material kept on the benches.

A few owners seemed to have a little problem with gastropods

and those at greenhouses B and M said that snails were particu-

larly destructive to petunia plants. Succinea sp. were found crawl-

ing on petunias at B.

Although the consensus of opinions of the greenhouse oper-

ators is that snails and slugs generally don't cause much damage,

most of these operators do use control measures. Among those

mentioned were the commercial baits, Sluggit, Bug-Geta, Mala-

April, 1965 nautilus 133

thion, Metaldehyde, Cygon, and Dieldrin. Karlin and Naegele

(1958) state that Dieldrin and Endrin has been reported to kill

slugs but experiments tend to give conflicting results and more

tests must be made to determine their actual effectiveness.

All the greenhouses visited are sprayed regularly with Hepta-

chlor, an insecticide. Whether this is useful in mollusk control

also was not determined.

Literature cited

Dundee, D. S. and P. Watt. New Orleans Greenhouse Gastropods

with a List of Some Other Southern Snails. Proc. La. Acad.

Sci. 25: 47-49, 1962.

Karlin, E. J. and John A. Naegele. Slugs and Snails in New York

Greenhouses. Cornell Ext. Bull. 1004: N. Y. Coll. Agric,

1958.

NOTES ON ZONITIDAE

By LESLIE HUBRICHT

Glphyalinia roanensis (H. B. Baker)

Retinella (Glyphyalis) cumberlandiana roanensis H. B. Baker,

1930, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 82: 203, pi. 9, figs. 7-9.

I have seen no intergradation between G. roanensis and G.

cumberlandiana either in the shells or in the genitalia; they

should, therefore, be considered distinct species. G. roanensis is

found within the range of G. cumberlandiana but I have not

found them together. It ranges as far south as Grundy and Mon-

roe Counties, Tennessee, and Graham and Macon Counties,

North Carolina.

Glyphyalinia indentata (Say)

Retinella (Glyphyalinia) indentata paucilirata (Morelet)

H. B. Baker, 1930, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 82: 210,

pi. 11, figs. 6-8.

Having dissected over 100 specimens from many localities, I

find that there is no correlation between anatomical differences

and shell differences. Animals like paucilirata may be found in

shells like indentata, and vice versa. Most animals are inter-

mediate. The two anatomies figured by Baker are those of two

lots and are not characteristic of either shell form. Because of

the absence of any real pattern to the variation, in either the

shells or the animals, I do not believe that recognition of the

subspecies Glyphyalinia indentata paucilirata is worth while.

134 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

Glyphyalinia solida (H. B. Baker)

Retinella (Glyphyalinia) ajptomphala solida H. B. Baker,

1930, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 82: 213, pi. 13, figs. 1-8.

Anatomical and shell differences are constant with no inter-

gradation in the large amount of material examined, and G.

solida should be considered a distinct species from G. ayptom-

p/iala. G. cryptomphala occurs within the range of the wide-

spread G. solida but I have not found them together.

Glyphyalinia sculptilis (Bland)

Retinella (Glyphyo gnomon) sculptilis snbdola H. B. Baker,

1930, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 82: 217, pi. 12, figs. 5-9.

Glyphyalinia sculptilis often becomes sexually mature when the

shell has reached a size of about 5 whorls. At this time the flagel-

lum on the penis is very small or wanting. As the shell and animal

grow the flagellum grows until in shells with 6 to 7 whorls the

flagellum becomes well developed. The subspecies snbdola is

based upon shells which have just reached sexual maturity.

Mesomphix capnodes (W. G. Binney)

MesompJiix cupreus ozarkensis (Pilsbry k Ferriss) , 1946, Acad.

Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Monogr. 3, 2: 337-338, figs. 173g, 175.

Mesomphix cupreus miktus Pilsbry, 1946, Acad. Nat. Sci, Phil-

adelphia Monogr. 3, 2: 339, fig. 173f.

The papillose spirals on the shell of M. capnodes are sometimes

deciduous. The papillae are found only on very new shell. In a

lot of miktus from Campbell Co., Tennessee, one specimen had

had the shell broken. It had healed with a small piece of shell

set below the general surface. There were papillose spirals on

this small protected piece, but not anywhere else on any of the

shells in the large lot collected.

The species of the subgenus Omphalina do not have the con-

spicuous differences in the genitalia which are found in section

Mesomphix s. s. In both M. capnodes and M. cupreus the epi-

phallus is inserted near the end of the penis but emerges from

the penial sheath near the middle of the penis. In specimens in

which the penial sheath is tight, the epiphallus looks as if it were

inserted in the middle of the penis.

Paravitrea tridens Pilsbry

Paravitrea capsella tridens Pilsbry, 1946, Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila-

delphia Monogr. no. 3, 2: 375-376, fig. 195c-d.

Paravitrea tridens is anatomically distinct from P. capsella

April, 1965 nautilus 135

(Gould). It is probably more closely related to P. reesei Mor-

rison.

Ventoidens eutropis Pilsbry

Ventridens intertextus eutropis Pilsbry, 1946, Acad. Nat. Sci.

Philadelphia Monogr. no, 3, 2: 470, fig. 255.

Ventridens eutropis is anatomically distinct from V. intertextus

(Binney) and I have seen no intergradation in shell characters.

Pilsbry gave the type locality as "Cherry Valley," east of Water-

town, Tennessee. But Cherry Valley is west of Watertown. It is

known from Cheatham, DeKalb, Macon, and Wilson Counties,

Tennessee.

VENTRmENs voLUsiAE (Pilsbry)

Ventridens intertextus volusiae (Pilsbry), Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil-

adelphia Monogr. no. 3, 2: 471.

Ventridens volusiae has not been dissected; however, the shell

differences are constant. It is a species of the St. Johns River

Valley of northeastern Florida. It is known from Duval, Lake,

St. Johns, Seminole, and Volusia Counties, Florida.

DISPERSAL OF AQUATIC GASTROPODS VIA THE

INTESTINAL TRACT OF WATER BIRDS

By CHARLES R. MALONE

Department of Biology, Texas Technological College, Lubbock

The occurrence of gastropods in isolated bodies of water has

interested biologists for many years. Most authors (e.g. Kew,

1893, Boycott, 1936 and Baker, 1945) agree that birds are pri-

marily responsible for transporting snails overland. The usual

assumption is that snails become attached to the external sur-

faces of resting or feeding water birds and can remain attached

and viable for sufficient lengths of time to effect dispersal. Malone

(1965) showed that this is possible and that water birds do pro-

vide an effective and readily available means of dispersal for

fresh-water snails.

Seldom has the possibility of viable snails being carried in the

intestinal tract of birds been considered. Pascal (1891) suggested

that the egg masses of Lymnaea auricularia might pass through

the tract of swans but apparently he did not actually recover

eggs from the feces of the birds. Kobelt (1871) thought that

snails might pass unharmed through birds. His suggestion was

136 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

tried by Bondesen and Kaiser (1949) with Hydrobia jenkinsi.

They found that no snails passed unbroken through ducks.

My research was undertaken to determine if juveniles and

adults or egg masses of Physa anatina and Helisoma trivolvis

could be dispersed via the intestinal tract of birds. Both species

commonly occur in isolated bodies of water in west Texas.

Mallard ducks {Anas platyrhynchos) and killdeer (Charadriiis

vociferus) were considered as examples of agents transport.

This research was supported by National Institutes of Health

Grant GM 11 394-01 Al. I am grateful to Vernon W. Proctor for

giving helpful suggestions and to E. P. Cheatum for aiding in

identification of the snails.

Methods and Results. Ducks were placed in wire cages and fed

aquatic vegetation containing large numbers of snails and egg

masses. Each bird ingested about 75 to 100 e^g masses per meal.

Estimates of the number of snails eaten per trial ranged from

50 to 200. After feeding, the birds and cages were inspected for

adhering eg^ masses and snails. Brown wrapping paper was

placed beneath the cages and the first several droppings passed

by each bird were collected.

Feces were inspected with a dissecting microscope. Any egg

masses or embryos found were placed in small dishes of water

and Chlamydomonas sp. for observation. To provide for unde-

tected snails, the feces were placed in jars of soil and water with

Elodea. All cultures were placed in a 27 °C light room. Controls

treated similarily hatched within 5 or 6 days.

Five ducks were used for 47 trials with Physa. Only 2 intact

egg masses were recovered from the feces. The first of these con-

tained 17 embryos, none of which developed further. Seven eggs

were contained in the second; 4 developed normally and hatched

on the fourth day following recovery. Five juveniles were found

in a gallon jar which had received feces 14 days earlier. These

probably developed from an tg'g mass. Juvenile and adult snails

were never found in the feces. Shell fragments were frequently

seen indicating that most if not all had been crushed. Apparently

the Qgg masses wTre usually broken and the embryos scattered

during passage through the tract. Twenty-eight individual Physa

embryos in various stages of development were recovered from

feces. An attempt was made to culture these but none were viable.

Eight trials were made with ducks and Helisoma. Neither em-

April, 1965 nautilus 137

bryos nor juveniles and adults were recovered from the feces.

However, one snail was found in a culture of feces 23 days after

passage. No other Helisoma were recovered from birds, suggest-

ing that this individual was probably a contaminator.

Post mortem inspection of the intestinal tract of 10 ducks indi-

cated where the snails w^ere being killed during passage. The

birds were fed vegetation with Physa each 15 minutes for one

hour. Fifteen minutes after the last meal, they were killed. Ma-

terial found in all portions of the tract was removed, inspected,

and cultured.

Neither juvenile and adult snails nor ^^'g masses were found

past the gizzard. Portions of 4 ^gg masses containing 31 embryos

were taken from the gizzard. None developed further. Only one

snail was recovered from the gizzard. It was found just inside the

entrance. The snail's peristome was damaged but the snail was

living when recovered. However, it died within the following

hour. Only shell fragments were found in the lower portion of

the gizzard where grit is contained.

The only viable snails recovered from the dead ducks were

found in the crop. Four juveniles and 9 egg masses containing

153 embryos were recovered. All the juveniles lived and 136 of

the embryos hatched within 5 days.

Egg masses were mixed with zooplankton and fed to killdeer.

Individual birds were placed in a cage consisting of two com-

partments. Each was fed in one compartment then moved into

the next where feces were collected. Ten killdeer were used for

56 trials with Physa and 20 with Helisoma. Each bird ate 10 to

20 Qgg masses per meal. No juvenile and adult snails were fed

nor were post mortem studies conducted with killdeer.

Feces collected from killdeer were placed immediately in well

oxygenated water. This procedure was not possible with the bulky

duck feces but did not hamper inspection of killdeer feces. Egg

masses wre quickly separated from the feces by gentle agitation,

removed, and cultured in the same manner as those taken from

ducks.

A total of 45 Physa egg masses were recovered from the feces

of killdeer. Only 3 of these contained viable embryos. 17 of 26

embryos contained in the 3 tgg masses hatched. Embryos con-

tained in the remaining 42 ^gg masses were killed during passage.

One hundred and thirty-two individual embryos from broken egg

138 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

masses were recovered, but as with ducks, none was viable.

Only 8 Helisoma ^^'g masses were recovered from the feces of

killdeer. None of the embryos contained in these developed.

Thirty-seven individual embryos were found in the feces; none

survived passage.

Discussion

It seems unlikely that dispersal of P. anatina and H. trivolvis

via the intestinal tract of birds is of much significance, particu-

larly with the latter. Apparently the only important aspect of

internal transport is the possibility of snails and Q^g masses being

carried in a bird's crop. Ingested food is not exposed to signifi-

cant digestion before it enters the gizzard. Thus, if snails and tg'g

masses contained in the crop were vomited, they would be viable.

Bondesen and Kaiser (1949) did not consider this possibility in

their study of Hydrobia jenkinsi.

Although internal transport of snails by birds seems possible,

external transport as demonstrated by Malone (1965) , is a much

more effective mechanism of dispersal. The passage of viable

snails through birds is probably a matter of chance and appears

to be a rare occurrence. On the other hand, snails frequently be-

come attached to the surfaces of birds and the opportunities for

dispersal are probably numerous.

The distance snails can be carried internally is limited by the

time required for food to pass through the intestinal tract and

also by the period that snails can survive within the tract. In this

study, the last of an entire meal seldom required over 2 hours

to be passed by either ducks or killdeer. Viable embryos recov-

ered from feces had always passed within 30 to 45 minutes follow-

ing ingestion. Thus, it is unlikely that embryos could survive a

maximum passage of 2 hours.

Dispersal via the crop probably has significance only involving

short distances. Unfortunately, the rate of passage of food from

the crop of ducks is not known. However, only 3 of the 10 ducks

killed had food in their crops 15 minutes after eating.

Snails adhering to the surfaces of birds are likely to be carried

great distances. Sufficiently small snails can remain attached to

birds indefinitely and the period that snails can survive out of

water far exceeds their period of survival within the intestinal

tract.

Fresh-water gastropods apparently have not acquired resistant

April, 1965 nautilus 139

eggs to enable them to be dispersed via the avian intestinal tract.

For aquatic organisms that are easily desiccated, this has proven

to be a highly effective mechanism of dispersal. For example,

Proctor (1964) found that the eggs of many crustaceans are suf-

ficiently resistant to withstand passage through the intestinal

tract of ducks. Apparently no selective advantage has been placed

upon resistant eggs for snails since juveniles and adults can usu-

ally resist the amount of desiccation encountered during an over-

land journey.

Literature cited

Baker, F. C, 1945. The molluscan family Planorbidae. The Uni-

versity of Illinois Press, Urbana. 233 p.

Bondesen, Poul and E W. Kaiser, 1949. Hydrobia (Potamopyrgus)

jenkinsi Smith in Denmark illustrated by its ecology. Oikos

1: 252-281.

Boycott, A. E., 1936. The habitats of fresh-water Mollusca in

Britain. Jour. Anim. Ecol. 5; 116-186.

Kew, H. W., 1893. The dispersal of shells. Kegan Paul, French,

Trubner, and Company Ltd. London. 291 p.

Kobelt, W., 1871. Fauna der nassauischen Mollusken. Jahrb. d.

nassau. V. f. Nat., Wiesbaden: XXV-XXVL 274 p.

Malone, Charles R., 1965. Killdeer as a means of dispersal for

aquatic gastropods. Ecology 46: (in press) .

Proctor, Vernon W., 1964. Viability of crustacean eggs recovered

from ducks. Ecology 45: 656-658.

NOTES AND NEWS

Ruth Ingersoll Baily died suddenly January 11, 1965. She

was born in Montrose, Colorado, but at an early age, her mother

took her to San Diego, California, where she lived much of her

life. She was an alumna of Mills College. She met Joshua L.

Baily, Jr., on the beach at La Jolla, where they both were collect-

ing shells. They were married in San Diego, Feb. 19, 1917. Mrs.

Baily was a member of the Society of Natural History of San

Diego, the Historical Society of San Diego, many other San Diego

organizations, the Mills College Club, the Academy of Natural

Sciences of Philadelphia, the American Malacological Union, etc.

As joint author with Dr. Baily, she published several papers on

mollusks. All who knew Ruth will miss her keenly, and she still

lives in our memories. — Editors.

140 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

Alexania replaces Habea (Epitoniidae) — A genus was dis-

covered at three widely separated localities, and each time was

newly described and named and placed in a different one of the

three subclasses of Gastropoda. Robertson & Oyama [1958, Nau-

tilus 72(2) . -68-69] reported that Stenacme Pilsbry, 1945 [Nauti-

lus 5<5 (4) : 112-116, pi. 5], type-species S. fioridana Pilsbry (south-

east Florida), is a synonym of Habea Kuroda, 1943 [Japanese

Journ. Malac. (Venus) ii (1-4) : 11-14, fig. 1], type-species H,

inazawai Kuroda (southern Japan) . Pilsbry wrongly placed Sten-

acme in a new family Stenacmidae, placing this next to Amphib-

olidae (subclass Pulmonata) . Kuroda [1943], and also Habe

[1943, Japanese Journ. Malac. (Venus) 13 (1-4) : 65-67, figs. 1-6],

correctly placed Habea in Epitoniidae (subclass Prosobranchi-

ata) . Subsequently, Habe [1961, Venus 21 (4) : 417, 423] has des-

cribed a third species, H. callizona (southern Japan) .

One of us (T.H.) has discoveied an older name for the genus

than Habea Kuroda [1943]: Alexandria Tomlin, 1926 [Ann.

Natal Mus. 5(3): 287-288, pi. 16, figs. 1-2], type-species (mono-

typy) A. natalensis Tomlin (12 mi. S.W. of Durban, South

Africa) . The description and figures of the shell and radular teeth

of Alexandria agree in every respect with our observations of

Habea. Unfortunately, Alexandria Tomlin [1926] is a homonym

(non Pfeffer, 1881 [Echinoidea]) . Embrik Strand, who studied

homonymy to the neglect of synonymy, renamed Alexandria

Tomlin twice, first as Alexania [1928 ("1926"), Arch. Natur-

gesch. 92 A (8) : 63], seemingly the correct name for the genus,

then as Tomlinula [1932, Folia Zool. Hydrobiol., Riga, 4(2)'.

193], an objective synonym [Pilsbry, 1933, Nautilus 47 {\) : 35-

36], Tomlin tentatively placed Alexandria {^Alexania Strand)

in Acteonidae (subclass Opisthobranchiata), where it was re-

tained by Thiele [1931, Handb. syst. Weichtierkunde 1 (2) : 380]

and Zilch [1959, Handb. Palaozool. 6 Gastropoda 2 — Euthyneura

(1) : 10, fig. 21 {Stenacme Pilsbry p. 80, fig. 260) ].

While a participant in the International Indian Ocean Expedi-

tion (U. S. Program in Biology) , one of us (R.R.) studied an

Alexania at Mandapam Camp, on the coast of the Gulf of Man-

nar, southeast India, Shells of all species in the genus are less

than 10 mm. long, elongate-ovate to globose, with inflated whorls,

an impressed (slightly channeled) suture, a fairly thin periostra-

cum, and a fragile, styliform protoconch. The thin shells are dark

April, 1965 nautilus 141

brown to pale brownish yellow or have variable brown bands

on white; the surfaces are smooth except for axial growth lines,

and (commonly indistinct) low axial blades on spire reminiscent

of Epitonium. Thus, the shell is not particularly distinctive, and

resembles those in some widely unrelated genera — such as Vivi-

pariis, Lacuna, Problitora and Algamorda (both Littorinidae?) ,

various Assimineidae, Halotapada (Fossaridae?) , Salinator (Am-

phibolidae) , and various Lymnaeidae.

The ecology and anatomy of Alexania are, however, distinc-

tive, and show that the genus does belong in Epitoniidae. All

the known species occur on subtropical and tropical continental

shores. They probably all live intertidally on sand-scoured rocks

with sea anemones (Actiniaria) , on w^hich they feed (compare

other Epitoniidae [Robertson, 1963, Proc. Malac. Soc. London

i5 (2-3) : 51-63, pis. 5-7]) . Their appearance is seasonal, and small

to dwarf males occur with the females. Pairs commonly are found

with masses of Epitonium-like, sand-agglutinated egg capsules.

Pelagic veligers hatch from these. The hypobranchial gland se-

cretes purple. Epipodium-like flaps extend from the foot on both

sides and partly cover the shell. Even though not used to close

the aperture, the horny, paucispiral operculum is large. The pro-

boscis is thick, fairly short, and acrembolic, and the radula is

ptenoglossate.

The Epitoniidae and Janthinidae are closely related. Shells of

Alexania (Epitoniidae) and Recluzia (Janthinidae) are remark-

ably similar. However, Recluzia is larger, makes a bubble float,

and seemingly is holopelagic.

The above information is recorded now, in advance of a mono-

graph planned by one of us (R.R.) with the belief that Alexania

can be found on shores between Florida, South Africa, India, and

Japan. More comparative material is needed for study. Possibly,

one of several variable, circumglobal species are involved (com-

pare Janthina and Recluzia [Laursen, 1953, Dana-Report (5(38) :

1-40, figs. 1-41, pi. 1; Abbott, 1963, Nautilus 76(4): 151]).—

Robert Robertson & Tadashige Habe.

Monomphalus (PuNcrmAE) — According to article 69 (a)

(iv) of the 1961 "code," the type species of Monomphalus Ancey,

1882, is Helix heckeliana Crosse, 1872, of New Caledonia. Actu-

ally, Pilsbry, 1893, Man. Conch. (2)9: 19, selected F [lammidina]

142 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

rossiteriana (Crosse, 1871) but (p. 20) synonymized it and hecke-

liana (a substitute) "at the same time." Solem, 1961, Fieldiana:

Zoology 41: 464, subsequently designated Helix bavayi Crosse

and Marie, 1868. — H. B. B.

Notes on land snail distribution in texas — This note re-

ports new county records lor land Pulmonata in Texas. Only the

county is given for common, widespread forms. Catalogue num-

bers are those of the author.

Philomycus carolinianus flexuolaris Raf. Four specimens (265)

were collected in the bottoms of the Sabine River just down-

stream of Lake Taw^akoni, Rains County. One specimen (909)

was collected in the Sam Houston National Forest, in southern

San Jacinto County. Anguispira alternata crassa Walker. Seven

specimens (910) were collected in the Sam Houston National

Forest in Southern San Jacinto County. Limax flavus Linnaeus.

Tarrant County (702) . Mesomphix friabilis (W. G. Binney) .

Cass County (705) . Rumina decollata (Linnaeus) . Menard,

Menard County around ruins of Mission San Saba (955) .

Euglandijia texasiana (Pfr.) . The only published Texas rec-

ords are from "Brownsville." During August, 1962, and January,

1964, specimens were collected in Southmost Palm Grove (558,

814, 818) and Rabbs Palm Grove (563) southeast of Browns-

ville; in the Arroyo Colorado (living material, not drift) at

Harlingen (571) ; west of Bayview (565) ; and at Highland

School 5i/9 miles east and 4i/^ miles north of Los Indios (821)

all in Cameron County. In Hidalgo County specimens were found

at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge (557) and at the Las

Palomas Wildlife Management Area south of Madero (824) .

Bulimulus dealbatus ragsdalei Pilsbry. Western Travis County

(486); McCulloch County, collected by G. V. Oliver (747) ; Hood

County, collected by R. L. Lardie (WLP 782) ; Palo Pinto Coun-

ty (894, 943, 1005) ; Wise County (WLP 974) ; Erath County

(984) . Intergrades with B.d. mooreaniis were collected in north-

western Tarrant County (837) ; and in Parker County, collected

by R. L. Lardie (872, 873, 874) .

B. alternatiis mariae (Albers). Kenedy County, eleven miles

south of Sarita (811) . B. schideanus pecosensis Pilsbry 8c Ferriss.

Kimble County, twenty miles west of Junction, collected by G. V.

Oliver (1049) . Triodopsis vultuosa copei (Weatherby) . Mont-

April, 1965 nautilus 143

gomery County (WLP 186, 900); San Jacinto County (913).

Stenotrema leai aliciae (Pilsbry) . Montgomery County (187,

898); Liberty County (904) ; San Jacinto County (911) ; Gonzales

County (WLP 494, 500) ; \Vise County, collected by B. E. Dial

and J. Glidewell (975) . S. leai subsp. Hemphill County at Lake

Marvin on the North bank of the Canadian River eleven miles

east of Canadian. In a relict area of deciduous forest (279) .

Polygyra auriformis (Bland) . Hays County, near Wimberly

(532) ; Gonzales County at Palmetto State Park (501) . P. t. tex-

asiana (Moricand). Hunt County (263) ; Hopkins County (343) ;

Palo Pinto County (942) ; Taylor County, non-fossil material,

collected by G. V. Oliver (749) . P. dorfuelUana Lea. Hood

County (53) ; Palo Pinto County (944, 993) ; Parker County

(251), — W. L. Pratt, Jr., 4501 El Campo, Ft. Worth, Texas

76107.

Carnivorous habits in Mesodon indianorum (Pilsbry) — On

9 March 1963, I collected a number of M. indianorum (Pilsbry)

[=r M. binneyanus] at Beaver Bend State Park, McCurtain

County, Oklahoma. Three of these ^vere maintained alive in a

terrarium along with Triodopsis albilabris and Anguispira alter-

nata. On 14 May 1963 at about 8:00 P.AL, a specimen of Buli-

muliis dealbatus was added to the terrarium. At 10:00 P.M. the

largest Mesodon was found to have consumed the foot and part

of the mantle of the Bulimuhis which was completely consumed

by 11:30 P.M. A literature search has yielded no previous records

of carnivorous habits in the family Poligyridae. The Mesodon is

No. 732-a in my collection. — W. L. Pratt, Jr., 4501 El Campo,

Ft. Worth, Texas 76107.

Additional locality for Mesodon kiowaensis — Branson

(Proc, Okla. Acad. Sci. 42: 60-80) mentions that about 20 speci-

mens of M. kioxvaensis (Simpson) are known. On 8 July 1962,

I collected 2 adult and 5 immature shells in all growth stages

from under a single log 4 miles northwest of Mount Ida, Mont-

gomery County, Arkansas. The specimens are No. 317 in my col-

lection. — W. L. Pratt, Jr.

Sinistral Mesodon roemeri — On 31 October 1964, a sinistral

adult shell of M. roemeri (Pfr.) was collected in Possum King-

144 NAUTILUS Vol. 78 (4)

dom State Park, Palo Pinto County, Texas. This is apparently the

first record of a reversed shell of this species. The shell is No. 992

in my collection. — W. L. Pratt, Jr.

An introduced slug new to Texas — On 1 January 1965, 1

collected 10 adult specimens (No. 1041) of Lehmannia poirieri

(Mabille) in the Botanic Gardens of Fort Worth, Texas. There

does not appear to be a previous record of this European slug

in Texas. — W. L. Pratt, Jr.

The 2nd European Malacological Congress and Symposium

on Malacology and Parasitology will be held in Copenhagen,

Denmark, August 10 to 14, 1965. Those who wish to attend

should notify them at Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen o Den-

mark, not latei- than May 1, 1965.

Ocean Science and Ocean Engineering Conference will be

held at the new Washington Hilton Hotel, June 14-17, 1965, in

Washington, D.C., sponsored by the Marine Technology Society

and the American Society of Limnology and Oceanogiaphy. Capt.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau, famed undersea explorer, will speak at

the banquet meeting, June 15, at 7:30 P. M.

Albert B. Bronson, well-known collector and shell dealer on

Guam Island, died of a heart attack at the age of 55, while walk-

ing on a beach near his home, on February 10, 1965. He was

buried at sea on February 14.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

Altena, C. O. van Regteren. 1964. Notes sur les limaces. 9

Description d'une nouvelle espece de Deroceras des environs

de Grenade. Zoo. Mededeling. Rijksmus. Nat. Hist. Leiden

39: AbAl, pi. 8. — D. hilhrandi from Spain.

Baker, H. Burrington. 1963. Type land snails in the Academy of

Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Part 2. Land Pulmonata,

exclusive of North America north of Mexico. Proc. Acad. Nat.

Sci. Philadelphia 115: 191-259. 1964. Part 3. Limnophile and

thalassophile Pulmonata. Part 4. Land and fresh-water Proso-

branchia. Proc. cit. 116: 149-193.

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