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REGISTER OF AMERICAN MALACOLOGISTS
JANUARY 30. 1980
THE
NAUTILUS
ISSN 0028-1344
Vol. 94
No. 1
A quarterly
devoted to
malacology and
the interests of
conchologists
Founded 1889 by Henrj' A. Pilsbry. Continued by H. Burrington Baker.
Editor-in-Chief: R. Tucker Abbott
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
CONSULTING EDITORS
Dr. Arthur H. Qarke, Jr.
Division of Mollusks
National Museum of Natural History
Washington, D.C. 20560
Dr. William J. Clench
Curator Emeritus
Museum of Comparative Zoology
Cambridge, Mass. 02138
Dr. William K. Emerson
Department of Living Invertebrates
The American Museum of Natural History
New York, New York 10024
Mr. Morris K. Jacobson
Department of Living Invertebrates
The American Museum of Natural History
New York, New York 10024
Dr. Aurele La Rocque
Department of Geology
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Dr. James H. McLean
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
Dr. Arthur S. Merrill
Woods Hole Biological Laboratory
National Marine Fisheries Service
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543
Dr. Donald R. Moore
Division of Marine Geology
School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
10 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149
Dr. Joseph Rosewater
Division of Mollusks
U. S. National Museum
Washington, D.C. 20560
Dr. G. Alan Solem
Department of Invertebrates
Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Dr. David H. Stansbery
Museum of Zoology
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Dr. Ruth D. Turner
Department of Mollusks
Museum of Comparative Zoology
Cambridge, Mass. 02138
Dr. Gilbert L. Voss
Division of Biologj'
School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
10 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149
Dr. Charles B. Wurtz
3220 Penn Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Dr. R. Tucker Abbott
American Malacologists, Inc.
Box 2255, Melbourne, Florida 32901
Mrs. Cecelia W.Abbott
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THE
NAUTILUS
Volume 94, number 1 — January 30, 1980
ISSN 0028-1344
ERRATUM: The running heads at the top of the page in the last, October 1979,
issue should have read Vol. 93 not 94. Further, the species names in the table of
contents should not have been capitalized. The printer and editor apologize.
CONTENTS
Short Papers
I. S. Khomasurya
Pleuroploca aurantiaca (Lamarck) (Fasciolariidae) in the Grenadines, Lesser Antilles 1
Clement L. Counts, in
Rangia cuneata in an Industrial Water System (Bivalvia: Mactridae) 1
Artie L. Metcalf
Fossil Rangia cuneata (Mactridae) in Eddy County, New Mexico 2
Fred G. Thompson and Jane E. Deisler
The Introduction of the Land Snail Alcadia striata (Lamarck)
into Miami, Florida 3
Samuel L. H. Fuller and Raymond H. Hartenstine
Anodonta imbecUlus Say (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in the Delaware
River Basin 4
Eva Pip
Somatogyrus (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae) in Lake Winnipeg, Canada 4
Lynn B. and Wayne C. Stames
Discovery of a New Population of Pegias fabula (Lea) (Unionidae) 5
E. J. Petuch and M. G. Harasewych
Distorsio kurzi a New Cymatiid Gastropod from the Central Philippines 6
J. K. Buttner and R. C. Heidinger
Seasonal Variations in Growth of the Asiatic Clam, Corbicula Jluminea
(Bivalvia: Corbiculidae) in a Southern Illinois Fish Pond 8
Victor Scarabino
Cadulus tetraschistus (Watson), an Earlier Name for C. quadridentatii^
(Dall) and C. incisits Bush (Scaphopoda) 11
Ralph W. Taylor
Mussels of Floyd's Fork, a Small Northcentral Kentucky Stream (Unionidae) 13
Artie L. Metcalf
A New Fossil Radiocentrum (Pulmonata: Oreohelicidae) from Northern
Coahiula, Mexico 16
Thomas R. Piatt
Observations on the Terrestrial Gastropods in the Vicinity of Jasper,
Alberta (Canada) 18
Charles M. Cooper and V. Wayne Johnson
Bivalve Mollusca of the Yalobusha River, Mississippi 22
David H. Kesler
Seasonal Abundance of Amnicola limosa (Hydrobiidae) Egg^ and
Individuals in a Rhode Island Pond 25
H. Lee Fairbanks
Morphological Notes on Oreohelix amariradix Pilsbry, 1934
(Pulmonata: Oreohelicidae) 27
John F. Wehmiller and William K. Emerson
Calibration of Amino Acid Racemization in Late Pleistocene
Mollusks: Results from Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico, with
Dating Applications and Paleoclimatic Implications 31
Deaths 10 Publications Received 37
Announcing a New Scientific journal
MONOGRAPHS OF MARINE MOLLUSCA
Taxonomic revisions of the living and
Tertiary marine Mollusca of the world
Edited By R. Ti'cker Abbott
Monographs of Marine Mollusca is a professional journal devoted to the systematics,
biology, zoogeography and taxonomy of marine mollusks, both living and fossil. It is
issued with color plates and in a convenient looseleaf form compatible with the former
Indo-Pojcific Mollusca. Subscribers to the latter should make certain they now apply for
the continuing editorial production of the editor, Dr. R. T. Abbott. Numbers are issued
irregularly as research is completed. Number 1 is "The Family Cerithiidae in the Indo-
Pacific" by R. S. Houbrick of the Smithsonian Institution. Numbers in preparation in-
clude the Mitridae by W. 0. Cemohorsky, and the family Buccinidae in the Indo-Pacific.
Subscribe by writing American Malacologists, Inc.. P. 0. Box 2255, Melbourne, FL 32901.
U.S.A. or phone: (1-305-725-2260). No. 1, $17.50. With binder, $26.00
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIR-
CULATION (Required by) Act of October 23, 1962: Section
4396. Title 39. United States Code, and postal regulation
132-622.
1. Title of publication: THE NAUTILUS.
2. Date of filing, September 25, 1979
3. Frequency of Issue: Quarterly (4 per year).
4. Location of known office of publication: 2208 South
Colonial Dr., Melbourne, FL 32901.
5. Location of the Headquarters of General Business
Offices of the Publishers: 2208 South Colonial Dr.,
Melbourne, FL 32901.
6. Names and addresses of publisher, editor, and
managing editor: Publisher, American Malacologists,
Inc., P.O. Box 2255, Melbourne, FL 32901. Editor, R.
Tucker Abbott, P.O. Box 2255, Melbourne, FL 32901.
Business Manager, Mrs. Cecelia W. Abbott, P.O. Box
2255. Melbourne, FL 32901.
7. Owner: American Malacologists, Inc.. P.O. Box 2255,
Melbourne, FL 32901.
8. Known bondholders, mortgages, and other security
holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total
amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities:
none.
Extent and Nature of Circulation:
I certify that the statements made by me above are cor-
rect and complete,
(signed) R. Tucker Abbott, Editor
Vol. 94(1)
January 30, i;»S()
THE NAUTILUS 1
SHORT PAPERS
PLEUROPLOCA AURANTIACA (LAMARCK)
(FASCIOLARIIDAE) IN THE GRENADINES,
LESSER ANTILLES
L S. Khomasurya
Carriacou Marine School
Canadian Junior College
Carriacou, Grenada
The Caribbean molluscan faunal province ex-
tends south to Brazil, (Abbott, 1968). However, no
specimen of Pleuroploca auranti(w.a has been
reported in the Caribbean Sea area. In fact, the
species is considered to be endemic to Brazil,
with its range extending from Espirito Santo to
Amapa, Brazil, (Rios, 1975).
Recently, two live specimens were collected by
Mr. James Whitney and myself, in Carriacou, an
island 32 km north of Grenada, (3,000 km from
Amapa), one at Windward Reef, January, 1978,
FIG. 1. Pleuroploca aurantiaca (Lamarck} from Windward
Reef. Camacou. collected by Mr J. Whitney at 13 m depth on
Janiuiry 1978; and photographed by Mr K. Pitcher. 150 mm.
and the other at the Sunset Beach area, March,
1978, at depths of approximately 13 m. On fur-
ther inquiry, it was learned that other specimens
have also been found in Grenada at Westerhall
Bay and Calivigny Island, Grenada (D. L. N. Vink
and D. Willcox, personal communications). This
species has not, as yet, been reported from the
TrinidadA"obago region, the chain of islands con-
necting South America and the Grenadines.
Both Carriacou Island shells were adult speci-
mens, measuring approximately 150 mm in
length. The shell resembles Pleuroploca gigantea
(Kiener) in outline, but has a more prominent
shoulder and numerous spiral cords bearing
heavy beads. The most distinguishing feature is
the color of the live soft parts, which are not red,
as in P. gigantea, but are light-tan with
numerous rectangular markings of bright
torquoise-blue.
LITERATURE CITED
Abbott, R. T. 1968. SeasheUs of North America. Golden Press,
New York.
Rios, E. C. 1975. Brazilian Marine Mollusks Iconography, Fun-
dacao University Rio Grande, Brazil.
RANGIA CUNEATA IN AN INDUSTRIAL
WATER SYSTEM (BIVALVIA: MACTRIDAE)
Clement L. Counts, III
College of Marine Studies
University of Delaware
Lewes, Delaware 19958
Rangia cuwata (Sowerby, 1831) is commonly
found in fresh and brackish coastal waters from
Chesapeake Bay to Texas (Abbott, 1974). The
northernmost extension of its range has been
reported as the upper reaches of the Chesapeake
Bay where severe winter temperatures have
caused mass mortalities (Gallagher and Wells,
1969). The present report records for the first
time the presence of R. cuneata in Delaware Bay.
Adult specimens of this clam were collected
from the water system of the Getty Oil Refinery,
Delaware City, New Castle County, Delaware,
2 THE NAUTILUS
January 3(1, 1980
Vol. 94(1)
during May 1979. The clams were discovered by
employees during a minor fire when nozzle
pressure of the fire hoses was significantly
reduced. When the nozzle was removed, adult R.
cuneata fell from the fire hose.
The source of the water for the refinery's
water system is the Delaware River. Water is
pumped through a 40.64 cm screened intake pipe
and then pumped to a 3,103,700 liter tank which
serves as a reservoir for the fire and cooling
systems. Pipes in these systems range from 7.62
cm to 40.64 cm in diameter. The water in the
pipes is usually treated three times a day by slow
feed (25 min) hypochlorination which leaves a
residual free chlorine level of less than 3 ppm in
the water. Invasion of the system was attributed
to a breakdown of the chlorination system during
the late spring of 1978. It thus appears that R.
cuneata has tolerated this concentration of
chlorine, although no data is available to indicate
its effects on the survival of larvae in the water
system.
The appearance of R. cuneata in Delaware Bay
may have resulted from clams migrating through
the Chesapeake-Delaware Canal which connects
northern Chesapeake Bay with Delaware River
upstream of the oil refinery. The present paper is
also the first to report R. cuneata as a biofouling
nuisance. The circumstances in which R. cuneata
were collected is a striking parallel to problems
usually associated with Corbicula (Ingram, 1956;
Sinclair, 1971).
The author wishes to thank Dr. R. Tucker Ab-
bott for confirming the identificatiort of the
species and Dr. Melbourne R. Carriker for his
review of the manuscript. University of Dela-
ware, College of Marine Studies Contribution No.
142.
LITERATURE CITED
Abbott, R. T. 1974. American Seashells. 2nd Ed. Van Nostrand
Reinhold, New York. (Ki pp.
Gallagher, J. L.. and H. W. Wells. 1969. Northern range ex-
tension and winter mortality of Rangia cuneata. The
NautiluxS3{\y.-22-Z^.
Ingram, W. M. 19.56. Snail and clam infestation of drinking-
water supplies. Jour. Amer Water Wurks Assoc.
48(3):2.W-268.
Sinclair. R. M. 1971. Corhieukt variation and parallels.
fi(o/(«/w/ (Virginia) 53(2):1.5,3-159.
FOSSIL KANGIA CUNEATA (MACTRIDAE)
IN EDDY COUNTY. NEW MEXICO
Artie L. Metcalf
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas 79968
Presence of fossils of the brackish water, mac-
trid clam Rangia cuneata (Sowerby. 1831), in
southeastern New Mexico was noted by Andrews
(1977:220). Herein, more specific information con-
cerning these occurrences is provided.
Shells (Figs. 1, 2) have been taken at three
localities (listed below) along the Pecos River,
east of Malaga, Eddy County. At none of these
places were shells found in situ in sediments;
however, it seems most likely that they were
derived from gravel deposits of Pleistocene age.
At Localities 2 and 3 shells were found where
quarrj'ing operations had been carried out in
gravels of stream-flanking terraces. These gravels
are clearly older than inset, Holocene sediments
(predominantly silts) and seem likely to be of
Pleistocene age. At Locality 1 shells were found
in gravels of various sources and ages (Holocene
and Pleistocene) along the floodplain of the Pecos
River.
Most shells have a limonitic-stained rind of
calcium carbonate, especially on their inner sur-
face (Fig. 2) and all are judged to be fossil. No
fresh shells have been found here or elsewhere
along the Pecos River. Shells collected range from
31 to 42 mm in length.
Occurrence of this estuarine clam so far inland
FIGS. 1-2. F(i.<sit Rangia t'uneata (Sowerby) from Liealilii 1
(see text), Eddy County. New Mexico.
Vol. 94(1)
January 30, 198n
THP] NAUTILUS 3
is unexpected. The nearest populations are on the
Texas coast some 800 km to the southeast. There,
Andrews (1977:220) noted that R. cuneatn is a
brackish water species that has been found a few
miles up the Nueces River. Hopkins et al
(1973:220) found that R. cuneata is usually
restricted to estuarine environments because of
(1) larval requirements of salinities between 2
and 10 ppt and (2) necessity for salinity changes
as a stimulus to induce spawning.
In the area of Malaga Bend (of the Pecos
River) where these specimens were taken,
numerous springs and seeps contribute a salty
brine to the Pecos River. The brine is produced in
Upper Permian (Ochoan) strata at the base of the
Rustler Formation where its waters contact and
dissolve salts of the underlying Salado Forma-
tion. Artesian pressure brings the brine upward
in the Malaga Bend area (Robinson and Lang,
1938:86-90). In one study (McClure, 1938:75) it
was found that there was, in river waters in the
12 km between Malaga and Pierce Crossing gaug-
ing stations, an increment of total dissolved
solids of "about 420 tons per day of which about
eighty percent or 340 tons was common salt."
Although conditions of salinity were seemingly
not inimical to R. cuneata in this short segment
of the Pecos River, the question of how it could
have dispersed so far inland is difficult to
answer. Movement upstream through the fresh
waters of the Rio Grande and lower Pecos River
seems unlikely and the area has been far from
the sea throughout Tertiary time. Transport by
waterfowl seems the most plausible hypothesis to
account for this occurrence. An avian transport
hypothesis has been advocated by Bachhuber
(1977:263-265) to account for presence of
foraminifera in Quaternary deposits of Pluvial
Lake Estancia in central New Mexico. There are
other reports of organisms with marine or
brackish water affinities occurring far inland in
this region. These include several species of
gastropods, occurring as fossils, found by Dr.
Dwight W. Taylor farther downstream in the
Pecos River drainage in Terrell County, Texas
(Andrews, 1977:92, 98, 180). Creel (1964:236-240)
reported the extraordinary occurrence of a
marine, grapsoid crab and "a barnacle" in salt
springs at Estelline, Hall County, Texas, in the
Red River drainage.
LOCALITIES OF COLLECTIONS
All localities are along the Pecos River, Eddy
County, New Mexico.
1. 32°12'37"N; 104°0r42"W. SE corner. Sec. 13,
T. 28 S, R. 29 E. 3.7 km E and 1.6 km S of
Malaga. (4 shells).
2. 32°13'05"N; 104°00'05"W. SE'4, SE'/4, NE'/4,
Sec. 17, T. 24 S, R. 29 E. 6.5 km E and 0.9 km S of
Malaga, immediately dowTistream from Fishing
Rock (an island in river). (5 shells).
3. 32°11'20"N; 103''58'37"W. SE>/4, SW'/^,
NWy4, Sec. 27, T. 24 S, R. 29 E. On SE side of
Pecos River at Pierce Canyon crossing. (3 shells).
LITERATURE CITED
Andrews. J. 1977. Shells and shores of Texas. Univ. Texas
Press, Austin, xx -I- 365 pp.
Bachhuber, F. W. and W. A. McClellan. 1977. Paleoecology of
marine Foraminifera in the Pluvial Estancia Valley, cen-
tral New Mexico. Qmt. Res. 7:254-267.
Creel, G. C. 1964. Hemigrapsus estellinensis: a new grapsoid
crab from North Texas. Southwest. Natur. 8:2.36-241.
Hopkins. S. H., J. W. Anderson and K. Horvath. 1973. The
brackish water clam Rangia cuiwata as indicator of
ecological effects of salinity changes in coastal waters. U.S.
Army Eng. Waterways Exp. Sta. Contract Rep. H-73-I:xi
+ 1-250.
McClure, T. M. (Ed.). 1938. Water quality, Pecos River. Bien.
Rep State Eng.. New Mexico 12/13:62-75.
Robinson, T. W. and W. B. Lang. 1938. Geology and ground-
water conditions of the Pecos River Valley in the vicinity
of Laguna Grande de la Sal, New Mexico, with special
reference to the salt content of the river water. Bien. Rep.
State Eng.. New Mexico 12/13:79-100.
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LAND SNAIL
ALCADIA STRIATA (LAMARCK) INTO
MIAMI, FLORIDA
Fred G. Thompson
Florida State Museum
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
and
Jane E. Deisler
Florida State Division of Plant Industries
13603 Old Cutler Road
Miami, FL 33158
4 THE NAUTILUS
January :?(!. UWO
V.il.Hldl
A Puerto Rican snail, Alccidia striata Lamarck
(Prosobranchia, Helicinidae) has been introduced
in Miami, Florida, where at least one breeding
population is established. The species was
discovered at the Sunlan Aquatic Nursery, 8301
NW 8 St. by plant inspectors from the Florida
State Division of Plant Industry (FSDPI). It is
abundant on the nursery grounds and on im-
mediately adjacent properties. By now it prob-
ably has been introduced, via nursery stock, into
other places within the greater Miami area. The
nursery has imported ornamental plants from
Puerto Rico for about 22 years, from where the
snail probably was introduced on nursery stock.
We wish to thank Curtis F. Dowling and
Lionel Stange (FSDPI) for bringing to our atten-
tion this introduction. Voucher specimens are
deposited in the Florida State Museum (UF
25239, 25240).
ANODONTA IMBECILLIS SAY (BIVALVIA:
UNIONIDAE) IN THE DELAWARE RIVER
BASIN
Samuel L. H. Fuller
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
and
Raymond H. Hartenstine
Jack McCormick & Associates
860 Waterloo Road
Devon, Pennsylvania 19333
Anodonta imbecillis Say is among the
geographically more widely distributed of Nearc-
tic naiades, but in the Atlantic drainage it has
understandably been considered only a southern
species: in a recent comprehensive account, for
example, Johnson (1970, Bulletin of the Museum
of Comparative Zoology, 140:362-364) recorded
this species from no farther north in that
drainage than the Gunpowder River basin in
Maryland. However, we recently (5 June 1976, 5
June 1977) secured numerous A. imberillis in
Pickering Creek of the Delaware River basin in
Chester County, Pennsylvania.
This unexpected extension of geographic range
raises the question of the antecedents of these
animals. Ih they represent an overlooked natural
population or an inadvertent introduction by
man'.' We infer the success of the Pickering Creek
p<jpulation from our having observed gravid
females and several age-classes (i.e., reproduction
and recruitment). Had there been natural suc-
cessful populations in the Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, area, the assiduous local investigators of
the last 150 years (e.g., William D. Hartman and
Isaac Lea) would probably have found them. Con-
sequently, we suspect that the Pickering Creek
population was inaugurated by man, but have not
as yet gained the necessary information (if ex-
tant) regarding the presumed age of the popula-
tion and the time(s) of introduction(s) of host
fishes suitable for larval parasitism by Anodonta
imbecillis. Further investigation of this and other
points of interest concerning this population is
underway, and the results will be reported.
Constructive criticism of an early version of
this note was offered by Robert C. Bullock of the
University of Rhode Island at Kingston.
somat(x;yrus (gastropoda: HYDROBI-
idae) in lake winnipeg, canada
Eva Pip
Department of Botany
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R3T2N2
The genus Somatogyrus consists of numerous
species whose distributional focus lies in the
southeastern United States. Some species have
spread within the Mississippi River drainage, and
a single species, S. subglobosus (Say), occurs as
far north as the Great Lakes, and the St. Law-
rence and Ottawa Rivers (La Rocque, 1968).
Neither living nor fossil material of this genus
has been reported from areas west or north of the
Great Lakes.
Specimens of a Somatogyrus species (Fig. 1)
were collected at Victoria Beach, on the southeast
shore of Lake Winnipeg (50''44'N, 96°36'W) in
September of both 1976 and 1978. Although the
shells were empty, their relatively fresh condition
suggested the existence of a living population off-
shore. The area is characterized by a sand bottom
Vol. 91(1)
Januarv^O, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 5
FIG. 1. Somatogyrus sp. from Lake Winnipeg. A, /.■? mm. B,
6.0 mm.
strewn with large rocks exposed to heavy wave
action and contains submerged stands of Pota-
mogeton richardsonii, P. pectinatus and
Myriophyllum exalbescens, which are populated
by a variety of other amnicolids, as well as
Campeloma decisum Say and by pulmonates. The
water chemistry at this site averaged a total
filtrable residue value of less than 150 mg/1, a
total alkalinity value of less than 100 mg/1
CaCOa, and chloride, nitrogen and phosphorus
levels of less than 5 mg/1 respectively, although
sulphate values were as high as 30 mg/1.
The origin of this taxon in Lake Winnipeg is
problematic. The Great Lakes system was con-
fluent with Lake Agassiz during Pleistocene
times, and the former is at present connected
wath the Winnif)eg River-Rainy River system at
Saganaga Lake (48°15'N, 90°55'W) (Clarke, 1973).
However surveys by Clarke (1973) and Pip (1978)
failed to find Somatogyrus in the waters of the
Winnipeg and Rainy River system. The record
nearest to Lake Winnipeg (Pip, 1978) is based on
a specimen from Itasca Co., Minnesota, in the
Mississippi River drainage system. Furthermore,
the Lake Winnipeg species is not the lirate-
apexed S subglobosus, but has a punctate apex
and appears to be more closely related to S. in-
teger (Say) which is known from the region south
of the Great Lakes, and to S. depressiis (Try on)
from Wisconsin.
Whether the Lake Winnipeg population is in-
digenous or the result of recent accidental in-
troduction, its apparent establishment presents a
substantial range extension for the genus in
North America.
LITERATURE CITED
Clarke. A. H. 1973. The freshwater molluscs of the Canadian
Interior Bas\n. Maku-<ihiyin 13:1-509.
La Rocque, A. 1968. Pleistocene MoUusca of Ohio. Ohio I)iv.
Geol. Survey, Bull. 62, Part 3. 357-553. (p. 402).
Pip, E. 1978. A survey of the ecology and composition of
submerged aquatic snail-plant communities. Can. Jour. Zooi
56:2263-2279.
DISCOVERY OF A NEW POPULATION OF
PEGIAS FABULA (LEA) (UNIONIDAE)
Lynn B. Starnes
Tennessee Valley Authority
Division of Forestry, Fisheries,
and Wildlife Development
Norris, Tennessee 37828
and
Wayne C. Starnes
University of Tennessee
Department of Zoology
Knoxville, Tennessee 37916
Simpson (1914) lists the distribution of Pegias
fabula (Lea, 1838) as the Tennessee and
Cumberland River drainages. It appears to be
restricted to small, high-gradient tributaries of
these drainages (Ortmann, 1918). Stansbery
(1976) has proposed Pegias for endangered status
and has indicated that a few additional previous-
ly unknown populations may be discovered in
smaller tributaries.
On October 22, 1977, five gravid females of
Pegias fabula were collected by the authors at
Freedom Church Ford on the Little South Fork
Cumberland River approximately 8 km north of
Ky 92 crossing, Wayne County, Kentucky [Ohio
State University Museum (OSUM) 41308 (3), W.
C. Starnes CU/BS-2 (2)]. The individuals collected
were of rather uniform size ranging from 24.1
mm to 26.7 mm in length and 14.3 mm to 16.7
mm in height. In addition to these live in-
dividuals, numerous valves were also collected in-
dicating a substantial population. Additional
specimens of similar dimensions were collected by
A. and C. Bogan (University of Tennessee) at the
same locality on October 30, 1977 [OSUM 41309
(6)].
6 THE NAUTILUS
Januarv '-M). 198fl
Vol. 91(1)
The Little South Fork Cumberland River at
Freedom Church Ford is approximately 20-25 m
wide. Except for its clear, cold water, it does not
assume headwater characteristics described as
typical habitat for Pegias. While riffles are pres-
ent in the area where Pegias was collected,
there are extensive reaches of pool areas. All
Pegias specimens were collected from the transi-
tion zone at the tail of a long sluggish pool just
at the point where water velocity suddenly in-
creased (about 0.2 m/sec) to enter a turbulent rif-
fle below. Water depth averages about 20 cm at
low river stages. Substrate was predominately
dark sand with scattered small gravel. Pegias oc-
curred either partly buried or on the substrate
with only the foot penetrating the sand. The
periostracum of all individuals had been largely
eliminated, apparently from the abrasive action
of sand in the current-swept habitat. Similar
massive erosion was noted on all specimens ex-
amined from several other localities (University
Michigan Museum of Zoology, 70152, 23144, 23151,
58872, 105467, 29085, 105469 through 105477). In
close association with Pegias were Ptychobran-
chus subtentum and Corbicula manilerisis. Oc-
curring elsewhere in the riffle were Ptycho-
branchus fasciolare, EJliptio dilatatiis, Medio-
nidus conradicus, Villosa iris, V. taeniata, V.
vanuxemi, Lampsilis fasciola, and Fusconaia
subrotunda.
Additional Pegias valves have been collected at
Ritner Ford 3.2 km upstream from Freedom
Church Ford [WCS CU/BS-1 (2)] indicating that
the Little South Fork population is widespread in
riffle areas of the river. The Little South Fork
originates in Pickett County, Tennessee, and
stretches some 41.6 km along the Wayne/Mc-
Creary County line in Kentucky to its confluence
with the Big South Fork Cumberland River. Con-
siderable additional habitat may be extant
upstream from Ritner Ford. However access to
this area is limited and it has not been assessed
thus far. The Little South Fork is perhaps the
most pristine stream remaining within the entire
known range of Pegias in the Cumberland and
Tennessee drainages.
While analogous habitat occurs in the Big
South Fork Cumberland River, additional popula-
tions are not expected there. In recent years, in-
creases in coal surface mining has increased silta-
tion and decreased water quality to the point
that the mollusk population is declining rapidly
and will perhaps soon disappear.
The discovery of a substantial and perhaps the
healthiest, population of Pegias fabuLain the Lit-
tle South Fork Cumberland River constitutes a
significant addition to the known distribution of
this rare mollusk. If the Little South Fork, which
is designated a Kentucky Wild River, continues
to enjoy protection from strip mining and other
perturbations, its mussell population should be
afforded continued preservation. This suggests
that perhaps the status of Pegias should be
regarded as threatened rather than endangered.
We thank David H. Stansben,'. OSUM, for
provision of information and deposition of
specimens.
UTERATURE CITED
Lea, Isaac. 1838. Observations on the Genus Unio together
with descriptions of new genera and species in the families.
Naiades. Colimacea, Lymnaeana, Melaniana, and Peristo-
miana. 2:1-152. Privately published, Philadelphia. Penn.
Ortmann, Arnold E. 1918. The nayades (freshwater mussels)
of the upper Tennessee drainage. With note on synonymy
and distribution. Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 57(6); 521-626.
Simpson, Charles T. 1914. A descriptive catalogue of the
naiades, or pearly freshwater mussels. Detroit. Privately
published by Bryant Walker. 1-1540.
Stansbery. David H. 1976. Status of endangered fluviatile
mollusks in Central North America. Peguw: fahtila (Lea.
1838). U.S. Dept. of Interior. Fish and Wildlife Service. RF
3712. p. 1-6.
DISTORSIO KURZI. A NEW CYMATIID
GASTROPOD FROM THE CENTRAL
PHILIPPINES
E. J. Petuch
Rosenstiel School of Marine
and Atmospheric Science
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149
and
M. G. Harasewych
College of Marine Studies
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware 19711
Over the last few years there has been in-
creased interest in commercial shell collecting in
the deeper waters of the central Philippines. This
.94(1)
January :?(), 19S0
THE NAUTILUS 7
FIGS. 1-2. Distorsio (Rhysema) kurzi new spedes. 1, Holotype. USNM 783780, off Balicasag, Bohol Island, Philippines, in
120-150 meters (1 X). 2, Pamtype. USNM 783931. same locality and depth (1 X).
has brought to light many new and unusual
species from previously unsampled offshore com-
munities. Among these is a new Cymatiidae
species of Distorsio described herein.
Distorsio (Rhysema) kurzi new species
Figs. 1 and 2
Description: Shell to 56 mm; spire angle
45° -50°; protoconch with 2 whorls, smooth, glassy;
teleoconch with 7-9 whorls; first 4 whorls conical;
b^inning with 5th whorl there is a swollen bulge
with the parietal shield 180° in apposition, unit
arrangement repeating every 270°; shell strongly
sculptured with beads or ribs at intersections of
spiral cords and axial ribs; spiral sculpture con-
sists of 1 major cord at the suture, 1 at the
sharply angled shoulder (comprising 8 coalescing
threads), 5 major cords below the shoulder, and 4
or 5 on the siphonal canal. Shell color deep
golden brown with darker brown bands at the
shoulder and the suture; parietal shield thin, len-
ticular, coffee to orange-brown in color, with
white denticulations; 8 denticles on inside of
outer lip; anterior 5 produce white denticles on
outer lip with white chevrons between; 6th denti-
cle greatly enlarged, protruding into aperture op-
posite corresponding indentation in columella;
13-16 white denticles on columellar side of
siphonal canal below the indentation.
Ti/pe material: Holotype — United States Na-
tional Museum (USNM 783780), length 51 mm;
paratypes in the United States National Museum,
Washington, D.C. (USNM 783931).
Type locality: Off Balicasag, Bohol Island,
Philippines, in 120-150 meters.
Range: Known only from the type locality.
Discussion: This new species is a component of
the lower continental shelf communities that sur-
round the deep water pockets between the islands
of the central Philippines. Distorsio kurzi most
closely resembles the Japonic D. constricta habei
(Lewis, 1972:38-44, figs. 38, 39) but differs
primarily by having a sharply angled shoulder
that produces the characteristic pronounced
humps. The new species is more darkly colored
than D. constricta habei being consistently
golden brovm, with a darker mid-body band,
brown parietal shield and outer lip, as opposed to
the pale-tan to white body color and white
parietal shield of D. constricta habei. The number
of denticles on the columellar edge of the
siphonal canal also consistently differs between
the two species; 8-12 in D. constricta habei and
13-16 in Z). kurzi.
The new taxon honors Richard M. Kurz,
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, who first recognized the
species as new and donated the type material.
LITERATURE CITED
Lewis, H. 1970. Notes on the genus Distorsio (Cymatiidae)
with descriptions of new species. The Nautilus 86:27-50.
8 THE NAUTILUS
January .•^), 1980
Vol. 91(1)
SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN GROWTH OF THE ASIATIC CLAM,
CORBICULA FLUMINEA (BIVALVIA: CORBICULIDAE)
IN A SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FISH POND
J. K. Buttner and R. C. Heidinger
Qx)perative Fisheries Research Laboratory
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
ABSTRACT
Fifty specimens of the Asiatic clam were stocked into a 0.06 ha fish pond for 62
days during the summer, and UO days for both fall and muter. Clam recovery for
summer, fall, and winter observations was 82%, 60%, and 98%, respectively. Gam
growth rates for summer and fall averaged 0.012 mm/day and 0.05i g/day. while
vnnter growth rates averaged 0.003 mm/day and 0.0003 g/day. Summer and fall
growth rates were not significantly different (P = 0.29). while winter growth rates
were significantly lower (P = 0.001). Relative weight gain per day for all observa-
tions was significantly greater (P = 0.01) for smaller clams. Absolute weight gain
per day was significantly greater fP = 0.006) for larger clams during the summer,
while fall and winter absolute growth was similar for all clams. Summer, fall, and
winter water temperatures were significantly different (P = 0.001), while
phytoplankton density remained relatively constant for all observations.
INTRODUCTION
Corbicula fluminea (Miiller)' was first collected
in the United States from the Columbia River,
Washington in 1938. Subsequently it has become
established in all river drainage systems except
the Great Lakes and Northeast (Sinclair and
Isom, 1963; Sickel, 1976; and Gardner, et at.
1976). Presently Corbicula is considered a
nuisance, possible subplanting native mollusks,
causing economic problems in irrigation canals
and power generating plants, and exhibiting
periodic dieofife (Sinclair and Isom, 1963; Bickel,
1966; and Sickel, 1976). Although the ecological
preferences, range, and economic importance of
Corbicula are well-documented by Heinsohn
(1958); Sinclair and Isom (1963); and Rinne
(1974), the biology of the clam itself is poorly
known. Few studies exist on Corbicula growth
rates and none on seasonal variations in growth
(Sinclair and Isom, 1%3; Rinne, 1974; O'Kane,
1976; and Sickel, 1976). The purpose of this in-
vestigation was to determine daily and seasonal
growth rates of Corbicula, and effects of clam size
' Also known as Corbicula manilensis (Philippi) and leana
Lea.
on absolute and relative growth rates in a south-
ern Illinois fish pond.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifty specimens of Corbicula were labeled with
nail polish, measured to the nearest 0.1 mm, and
weighed to the nearest 0.01 g. Linear values were
obtained from length measurements and weight
values after test clams were cleaned and blotted
dry. Two open top cages, each 0.3 m^ and 9 cm
deep, were filled to a depth of 3 cm with
sutetratum obtained from the test pond. Twenty-
five clams were placed on the substratum of each
cage and stocked into a 0.06 ha pond (Table 1).
Cages containing clams were placed on the pond
substratum in 0.5 m water. Summer, fall, and
winter runs were initiated on 20 July, 22 Oc-
tober, and 6 December, respectively. Surface
water temperatures were recorded between 0700
and 0900 daily. Phytoplankton samples were col-
lected with an integrated column sampler, fixed,
preserved, identified, and counted as described by
Vollenweider (1969). Upon termination of each
run recovered clams were measured to nearest 0.1
mm and weighed to nearest 0.01 g. all statistical
examinations were by multiple regression
analysis.
Vol. 94(1)
January 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 9
TABLE 1. Summary ((/(brbicula stockim/ data for all observatinns.
Parameter
Summer
Fall
Winter
No. Clams Stocked
Wt. Clams Stocked (g)
Ln. Clams Stocked (mm)
Density Stocked (No./m )
Density Stocked (g/m^)
Duration of Run (days)
50 50
0.95-8.15 1.14-9.34
14-29 15-30
78 78
256 273
62 40
50
1.28-11.10
15-32
78
299
40
' Ln. equals length.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Low recovery of clams during the fall was very
likely due to muskrat predation (Table 2).
Muskrat tracks were found along the shoreline
and digging marks observed in the substratum of
test cages. Clams not recovered were lost, no
labeled empty shells were collected. Surface
water temperatures were significantly different
for all seasons, while phytoplankton numbers re-
mained relatively constant (Table 2). Phyto-
plankton was dominated by chlorophytes in sum-
mer and chrysophytes in winter. Fall phyto-
plankton populations were dominated by varying
ratios of chlorophytes and chrysophytes.
Corbicula grew throughout the year, even in
winter when water temperatures averaged 3.0° C.
The presence of a crystalline style in 80% of Cor-
bicula examined on 22 February, when the pond
TABLE 2. Summary 0/ Corbicula growth and related parameters.
(P) is an abbreviation for probability and numbers in parenthesis are standard deviations.
1(1 THK NAUTILUS
JanuaiT :¥), 198n
.91(11
was ice-covered and water temperature 4.2° C, in-
dicates clams were still ingesting. According to
Pennak (1978) the crystalline style is present on-
ly in actively feeding clams and disappears when
ingestion is not occurring. Growth of Corhicula in
winter was also observed by Sickel (1976), but at
greatly reduced rates. However, Gale and Lowe
(1971) found Sphaerium transversum to cease in-
gestion at 2-4°C and Mackie and Quadri (1978)
observed no growth in Musculium secum at
temperatures less than 10° C.
Corbiciila growth during summer and fall was
similar, although water temperatures averaged
24.7° C and 11.2° C, respectively (Table 2). Similar
findings were reported by Gale and Lowe (1971)
working with S. transversum. They observed max-
imal ingestion to occur in spring, early summer,
and fall. O'Kane (1976) found Corbicula to grow
best at temperatures in excess of 24.0° C and
reported length increases averaging approximate-
ly 4.4 X 10"' mm/day. However, Corbicula
respiration has been observed to decrease rapidly
at temperatures in excess of 30° C, McMahon and
Aldridge (1976). Sickel (1976), employing frequen-
cy distribution techniques, found length increase
in Corbicula ranging from 7.2 X 10"' mm/day to
negative growth. The limited growth data avail-
able from literature is quite similar to the values
we observed for Corbicula.
Absolute growth for Corbicula in summer was
directly related to clam size. Clams 4.0 g and
larger gained significantly (P = 0.006) more
weight per day than smaller clams. In fall and
winter absolute weight gain per day of large and
small clams was not significantly different (P =
0.73 and P = 0.46, respectively). Relative growth
for Corbicula during all seasons was inversely
related to size. Smaller clams gained a signifi-
cantly (P > 0.01) greater percentage of body
weight per day than did larger clams.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to acknowledge assistance pro-
vided for this investigation by the Cooperative
Fisheries Research Laboratory at Southern Il-
linois University— Carbondale and Sigma Xi, the
Scientific Research Society.
LITERATURE CITED
Bickel. D. 1966. Ex»logy of Corbicula mcmilensis Philippi in
the Ohio River at Louisville, Kentucky. St erhiana 23:19-24.
Gale. W. F. and R. L. Lowe. 1971. Ph>toplankton ingestion by
the fingernail clam. Sphaerium transversum (Say), in Pool
19, Mississippi River. &ft^(9i/52(3):507-13.
Gardner, J. A., Jr., W. R. Woodall, Jr., A. A. Staats, Jr., and
J. F. Napoli. 1976. The invasion of the Asiatic clam (Cor-
bicula manile-nsis Philippi) in the Altamaha River. Georgia.
neNaufilus90(3):W.
Heinhson, G. E. 1958. Life History and Ecology of the
Freshwater Clam, Corbicula Jluminea. MA. Thesis. Univ.
Calif Santa Barbara. 64 p.
Maci<ie. G. L. and S. U. Quadri. 1978. Effects of substratum on
growth and reproduction of Mtisctdium securis (Bivalvia:
Sphaeriidae). The Nautilus 92{'iyAK-M.
McMahon, R. F. and D. W. Aldridge. 1976. Respiratory
response to temperature and low ox>'gen tensions in Cor-
bicula maniknsis Philippi. Abstract in Corbicula Newslet-
ter 1(4):6.
O'Kane, K. D. 1976. A population study of the exotic bivalve,
Corbicula manileiisis (Philippi, 1841) in selected Texas
Reservoirs. A/.S TheMs. Texas Christian Univ. 134 p.
Pennak. R. W. 1978, Freshwater Invertebrates of the United
States. John Wiley and Sons. New York. 803 p.
Rinne, J. N. 1974. The introduced Asiatic clam Corbicula, in
central Arizona reservoirs. The Nautilus 88(2):56-61.
Sickel, J. B. 1976. An ecological study of the Asiatic clam Gir-
bicula manilensis (Philippi, 1841) in the Altamaha River,
Georgia, with emphasis on population dynamics, productivi-
ty, and control methods. PhD. Thesis. Eimory Univ. 126 p.
Sinclair. R. M. and B. G. Isom. 196.3. Further studies on the
introduced Asiatic clam (Corbicula) in Tennessee. Tennessee
Dept. Pub. Health. Tennessee Stream Polution Control
Board. 78 p.
Vollenweider. R. A. 1969. A Manual for Measuring Primary
Produetion in Aquatic Environments. IBP Handbook No. 12.
Blackwell Scientific Publications. Oxford and Edinburgh.
213 p.
DEATHS
John Marwick, New Zealand paleontologists,
died at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, on August 16,
1978, at the age of 87. He emigrated from
Scotland in the 1880's and became noted for his
work on Tertiary mollusks. An excellent
biography of him was published in Nat)trr. vol.
276, p. 428, Nov. 1978.
Mina May Slinn, amateur conchologist of St.
Petersburg, Florida, died July 29, 1979, at the age
of 69. She was an active collector and writer on
shells for .several Florida shell clubs.
Vol. 91(1)
January 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 11
CADULUS TETRASCHISTUS (WATSON), AN EARLIER NAME FOR
C. QUADRIDENTATUS (DALL) AND C. INCISUS BUSH (SCAPHOPODA)
Victor Scarabino
Institutx) de Investigaciones Biologicas
"Clemente Estable"
Avenida Italia 3318 - Montevideo, Uruguay
ABSTRACT
Cadulus quadridentatus (Dall, 1881) and Cadulus incisus B^ish, 1885 are junior
subjective si/nonifms o/ Cadulus tetraschistus (Watson, 1879), based on an examina-
tion of typological and other specimens. The range of this taxon is frorn North
Carolina and Bermuda, to Argentina, as far south as the GidfofSan Matias. Com-
parisons are made mth Cadulus tetrodon Pilsbry and Sharp, 1897, which is con-
sidered to be a valid species.
Siphodentalium tetraschistum Watson (1879:
521) was based on an empty shell dredged by the
"Challenger" Expedition, Station 113A, off Fer-
nando de Noronha Island (Brazil), between 7 and
25 fathoms (13 and 46 meters). A detailed
description was provided, but the illustrations ap-
peared later (Watson, 1886:pl. 2, Fig. 8a-d). Wat-
son (1885:16) compared his taxon with Siphoden-
talium bifissiim Wood, S. lofotense Sars, and S
intreum Sars.
Siphonodentalium quadridentatum was
described by Dall (1881:36) from a lot dredged off
the west coast of Florida in 30 fathoms (55
meters). He considered this nominal species to be
closely related to Watson's taxon, mentioning
that the description agreed almost exactly with
the Floridian specimens. Later Dall (1889a :428)
cited specimens as Cadulus quajdridentatus from
". . . Fernando de Noronha, 7-25 fms.," without
an explanation. The same year, Dall (1889b:295)
extended the range south to the mouth of the Rio
de la Plata ("Albatross" Station 2765).
The status of these nominal species became
confused further when Pilsbry and Sharp (1897:
148) treated Dall's species, together with CculnUis
incisus Bush, 1885, as varieties of C. tetraschistus
Watson, proposing Bush's species as intermediate
in form between the extremes represented by the
other two taxa. The confusion was compounded
when Henderson (1920:97-101) separated tetra-
schistus and quadridentatus, and further sep-
arated the latter into two subspecies, the nomi-
nate and C. quadridentatus acompsus Henderson.
In 1938 and 1942 respectively, Carcelles, and
Carcelles and Parodiz identified Cadidus tetrodon
Pilsbry and Sharp, 1897, from stomachs of star-
fish taken off Puerto Quequen (Buenos Aires,
Argentina). These specimens {ex Museo Argentino
de Ciencias Naturales, MACN 23156) and de-
posited in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
(MCZ 118674) are now labeled as Cadulus
tetraschistus. Turner (1955:314) identified (to-
gether with Carcelles' specimens) a lot taken in 7
fathoms in the Rio de la Plata by the "Hassler"
Expedition, as C. tetraschistus. She recognized
Watson's species as inhabiting southwestern At-
lantic waters, ranging from Fernando de
Noronha to Uruguay, and she considered Cadulus
quadridentatus to occupy areas from the Carib-
bean Sea to North Carolina and Bermuda, a view
held by Penna-Neme (1974:114-117). Scarabino
(1970; 1973) and Rios (1970) cited the range of C.
quadridentatus from North Carolina to northern
Argentina in depths to 42 meters, and limited C.
tetraschistus to Fernando de Noronha.
While checking the collections of several South
and North American Institutions, we e.xamined a
large series of specimens assigned to these
nominal species and compared them with the per-
tinent type material. When the type specimens of
Cadulus quadridentatus (MCZ 7739) and Cadulus
tetraschvitus (BM/NH 1887.2.9.66) were compared
we did not find enough differences to consider
them as separable species. Watson's type (Fig. la)
is a relatively immature example in a very satis-
factory state of preservation, while Dall's (Fig.
12 THE NAUTILUS
Januan- 30, 1980
Vol. 94(1)
FIG. 1. Cadulus tetraschistus (Watson, 1879) camera lucida
dramngs. a, Tiff* o/C. tetraschistus (BM/NH 1887.2.9.66). b.
Type of C. quadridenUtus (Doll 1881) (MCZ 7739) Scales in
millimeters.
lb) is a little larger and has lost the dorsal lobe.
We must conclude that Cadulus quadridentatus
and Cadulus incis-us Dall (holotype in USNM
44860) are conspecific with C. tetraschistus, the
latter name having priority.
The "remote longitudinal texture . . ." men-
tioned by Watson (1879:521) which was the only
feature that kept us from uniting these species,
was found not to be an external feature and to be
probably due to internal irregularities formed
during the construction of the shell or perhaps
due to the process of drying after coming from
the ocean. This characteristic feature is very
often observed in specimens of this and other
species of the family.
At the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phil-
adelphia, we examined three lots (ANSP 35574,
35575, and 75744) formerly labeled as tetra-
schist'us, but the labels had been changed to read
"quadridentatus ".
Syntypes of Cadulus tetrodon Pilsbry and
Sharp in the Academy of Natural Sciences
(ANSP 71070) have characteristics that caused us
to believe it to be a distinct species.
The known distribution of C. tetraschistus is
from North Carolina, Bermuda, the Caribbean
Sea, F'ernando de Noronha (Brazil), Uruguay and
Argentina as far as the Gulf of San Matias (42° S.
Lat.), with a bathymetrical range of three to 120
meters, on largely sandy substrates (Scarabino,
1975:182). Caduhut tetraschistus is reported from
the Upper Miocene and Pliocene of Florida and
Venezuela (Weisbord, 1964:134).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am indebted to the following persons for
their assistance, hospitality and the use of the
facilities of their institutions' collections which
made possible this contribution: Lie. Miguel A.
Klappenbach (Museo Nacional de Historia Nat-
ural Montevideo); Prof. Helena Martinez-Fontes
(MACN); Dr. Peter B. Mordan (BM/NH); Dra.
Licia Penna-Neme (Museo de Zoologia da Univer-
sidade de Sao Paulo); Dr. Elizer de Carvalho Rios
(Museu Oceanografico de Rio Grande); Dr. Robert
Robertson (ANSP); Dr. Joseph Rosewater
(USNM); Dr. Ruth D. Turner (MCZ). I especially
thank Dr. William K. Einerson and William Old,
Jr. (AMNH) and Dr. R. Tucker Abbott of Mel-
bourne, Florida, for their help and critical ex-
amination of the manuscript. This paper is part
of the results of the Grant 73-186A of the Inter-
national Committee for Exchange of Persons
(Fulbright-Hays Program) made to the author.
LITERATURE CITED
Bush, Katherine J. 1885. Additions to the shallow-water
Mollusca of Cape Hatteras. N.C. dredged by the U.S. Fish
Commision steamer "Albatross" in 1883 and 1884. Tmns.
Conn. Acad. Arts&Sci. 6(11): 453-180.
Carcelles. Alberto. 1944. Nuevos datos sobre el contenido
estomacal de Astropecten cingulatus Sladen. Physis
19:461-472,
and Juan Jose' Parodiz. 1938. Moluscos del con-
tenido estomacal de Astropecten cingulatus Sladen. Physis
12:252-265.
Dall, William Healey. 1881. Reports . . . steamer "Blake" . . .
15. Preliminary report on the mollusca. Bull. Mus. Comp.
Zool. 9(2):34-35.
1889a. Reports . . . steamer "Blake" 29. Report on
the mollusca. 2. Gastropoda and Scaphoptxia. Bull. Mux.
Comp. Zool. 18:418-433.
1889b. Preliminary reports . . . "Albatross" 7.
Proc. U.S. Nat. Mtts. 13(733):219-362.
Henderson, John B. 1920. A monograph of the east American
Scaphopod mollusks. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 111:1-151.
Penna-Neme, Licia. 1974. Consiceracoes sobre os scaphopoda
(Mollusca) da costa brasileira, com descricao de uma nove
especie. Pap. A v. Zooi Sao Paulo 28(6): 105- 126,
Pilsbry, Henr>' A. and B. Sharp. 1897. Scaphopoda. Mariual of
Corwhology. (Ser. 1)17:1-280.
Vol. 94(1)
January 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 13
Rios, Elizer de Carvalho. 1970. Coastiil Brazilian S<'(Uihellx.
Fund. Univ. R.G. Mus. Oceanogr. R.G.S. Brasil, 255 pp.
Scarabino. Victor. 1970. Las especies del genero ('(ululus
Philippi, 1884 (Moll. Scaphopoda) en el Atlantico sudoc-
cidental (lat. 24° S a 38° S). Com. Soc. Malar. Urug.
3(19):39-48.
1973. Scaphopoda (Moll.) del sur del Brasil
Uruguay y Argentina hasta 42' S.- (Sistematica, Distribu-
cion) Trah. V. Cimgr. Latinoam. Zool. 1:192-203.
1975. Class Scaphopoda: 180- 186 /in/ Rios, Elizer
de Carvalho — Brazilian Marine Mollusks Iconography.
Fund. Univ. R.S. Mus. Oceanogr. R.G.S. Brasil.
Turner, Ruth D. 1955. Scaphopods of the Atlantis dredgings in
the Western Atlantic, with a catalogue of the scaphopod
types in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Pap. Mar.
Biol. Oceanogr.: .309-320. Pergamon Press Ltd.
Watson. Robert B<x)g. 1879. Mollusca of the "Challenger" ex-
pedition 2. The solenoconchia, comprising the genus Den-
talium. Siphodentalium and Caduius. Jtmr. Linn. Soc. Lon-
don 14:.506-529.
1885. Report on the scaphopoda and gasteropoda
collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873-76.
Reptii. Sci. Res. Challenger Zool. 15:1-24, (pis. l-III, 1886).
Weisbord, Norman E. 1964. Late Cenozoic scaphopods and ser-
pulid Polychaetes from Northern Venezuela. Bull. Amer.
Paleo 47(214):111-141.
MUSSELS OF FLOYD'S FORK, A SMALL NORTHCENTRAL
KENTUCKY STREAM (UNIONIDAE)
Ralph W. Taylor
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Marshall University
Huntington, W. Va. 25701
ABSTRACT
A survey of the mussels of Floyd's Fork, a small northcentral Kentucky
tribiitary of the Salt River, was carried out during the summer of 1978. Six sta-
tions were collected in Floyd's Fork unth a seventh station being located on Salt
River near the confluence of the two streams. T\oenty-five species were collected.
Of these Quadrula nodulata, Lampsilis teres, and Corbicula leana are reported for
the first time as occurring in the Salt River drainage. Floyd's Fork appears to be a
stream of high water quality which supports a healthy, rather abundant, highly
diversified mussel fauna.
A number of surveys of the naiad faunas of
major streams in Kentucky have been effected
over the last fifty years. Ortmann (1926),
Stansbei-y (1965, 1969), Clench and van der
Schalie (1944), Isom (1969), Blankenship and
Crockett (1972) and Williams (1969) have looked
at such streams as the Ohio, Cumberland, Ten-
nessee, Green, Kentucky and Rockcastle Rivers.
Stansbery (1978) is at the present time working
on the Licking River in eastern Kentucky.
There is, however, a dearth of papers dealing
with faunas of smaller streams. Stansbery (1978)
implies that in this time of rapid extinction of
aquatic organisms, as a result of habitat destruc-
tion or modification, many species have been ex-
tirpated from the main waterways and may exist
only in isolated refugia well up into the head-
waters of smaller streams. These smaller tribu-
taries most often do not suffer from pollution
(urban sewage, industrial, mining, etc.) to as
great a degree as do larger streams.
This paper reports on work carried out in such
a stream, Floyd's Fork, located in northcentral
Kentucky. Floyd's Fork originates in north-
eastern Oldham County near the village of
Ballardsville and meanders for nearly 80 km
across the county, through adjacent Jefferson
County, and terminates in Bullitt County at its
confluence with the Salt River. Salt River is a
fairly large tributary of the Ohio River and joins
14 THE NAUTILUS
January 30. 1 980
Vol, 94(1)
with the Ohio approximately 30 km downstream
of Louisville, Ky. within the boundaries of the
Fort Knox Military Reservation (see map of
study area).
Throughout the summer of 1978 six sites were
collected along Floyd's Fork. In addition a
seventh site was located on Salt River just
upstream of the point of merger of Floyd's Fork
with Salt River. Clench and van der Schalie
(1944) and Rosewater (1959) have previously col-
lected in the Salt River. However their activities
were centered near Bardstovm, Nelson County,
Kentucky (approx. 50 km upstream and east of
the site reported here). I have been unable to find
an account of work having been done previously
on Floyd's Fork.
METHODS
All si)ecimens were hand-picked. Only live
specimens or fresh empty shells were retained.
Live specimens were obtained for all of the
species listed below except Lampsilis teres which
was found only as fairly old dead shells. Most of
the material collected is presently housed at Mar-
shall University with a series of voucher speci-
mens also having been deposited with the Ohio
State Museum of Zoology (OSUM #42269-42310).
Collecting stations
1. Floyd's Fork Creek at Aiken Rd. Bridge.
Aiken Rd. exits U. S. Highway 60 approxi-
mately 3 km E. of Middletown, Ky. (Jefferson
Co.)
2. Floyd's Fork Creek at Beckley Station Rd.
Beckley Sta. Rd. exits U.S. Highway 60 approx.
6 km East of Middletown and intersects Coun-
ty Rd. 1531 after fording Floyd's Fork. (Jeffer-
son Co.)
3. Floyd's Fork Creek at State Rd. 155 bridge, 1.5
km E. of Fisherville, Ky. (Jefferson Co.)
4. Floyd's Fork at County Rd. 1531 bridge, 300 m
South of intersection with State Rd. 155, 3 km
West of Fisherville. Ky. (Jefferson Co.)
5. Floyd's Fork at U.S." Highway 31-E bridge. 1
km North of Bullitt Co. line. (Jefferson Co.)
TABLE 1. List of species collected from Floyd's Fork Creek
and Salt River. Relative abundance indicated as follows: (C
= common, M = modenUely common. R = rare).
species najDc
Site Number
12 3 4 5 6 7
Fusconaia flava (Raf.)
Megalonaiag nervosa (Raf.)
Amblema plicata (Say)
Quadrula pustulosa (Lea)
Quadrula nodulata (Raf.)
Quailru)B quadrula (Raf.)
Tritugonia verrucosa (Raf.)
Pteurobeoa clava (Laa.)
Elliptio dilatatus Raf.
LasBigona costata (Raf.)
LasBigona complanata (Barnes)
Anodonta lobccillis (Say)
Anodonta grandis Say
A)asBidonta viridis
Stropliitua undu>atus (Say)
Ptychobranchus fasciolaria (Raf.)
Obliquaria reflexa Raf.
Truncilla truncata (Raf.)
Leptodea fragilis (Raf.)
Potaailua alatus (Say)
Toxolasna parvus (Barnes)
LaaipsDia ter«a (Raf.)
LaapBi)is r. luteola (Laa.)
lanpsilia ventricosa (Bamea)
Corbicula leana Prine
X X X X X
X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X
X X
X X X X X X
XXX
X X
X
X X X X X X X
XX X X X X
Vol. 91(1)
January 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS
6. Floyd's Fork at bridge on Seatonville Rd.
(County Rd. 1819) 1.6 km West of the village
of Seatonville. (Jefferson Co.)
7. Salt River, Off County Rd. KMiO at a)ntluence
of Goose Creek with Salt River. 3 km S.W. of
the village of Waterford, Ky. (Spencer Co.)
RESULTS AND REMARKS
A total of twenty-five species were collected
during this study. Of this number five species
(Megalonaias nervosa, Quadrula nodulata.
Quadrula quadrula. Obliquaria reJJexa. and
Lampsilis teres) were found only in the Salt
River. Quadrula nodulata^ Lampsilis teres, and
Corhicula leana [also called manilensis and
Jluminea — editor] are reported here for the first
time as occurring in the Salt River drainage.
The presence of Corbicula far upstream in
Floyd's Fork (Sta. #3) is another indication of
just how cosmopolitan this introduced Asian
species has become. Sinclair and Isom (1961)
reported the presence of Corbicula in the Ohio
River (for the first time) based on specimens col-
lected near Paducah, Ky. in 1957. Other authors
place the time of arrival of Corbicula in the area
of the confluence of Salt River with the Ohio at
around 1963. If one assumes a route of dispersal
from the Ohio River, to Salt River, to Floyd's
Fork Station #3, one must assume a fairly
remarkable rate of range expansion equal to 100
km/15 year period of time or approx. 6.6 km/
year.
The overall number of species, and large
numbers of individuals of each species present.
indicates a stream of rather high water quality
and a bivalve population that is both stable and
healthy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank Dr. David H. Stansbery of the
Ohio State University Museum for confirming
identifications for me.
LITERATURE CITED
Blankenship, Shaw, and D. R. Crockett. 1972. Changes in the
Freshwater Mussel Fauna of the Rockcastle River at Liv-
ingston, Kentucky. Trans. Ky. Acad. Sri. 33:.37-39.
Clench. Wm. and Henry van der Schalie. 1944. Notes on
Naiades from Green, Salt, and Tradewater Rivers in Ken-
tucky. Mich. Acad. Set. 29:223-229.
Isom, Billy G. 1969. The Mussel Resource of the Tennesse
River. Malacologia 7(2-3):397-425.
Ortmann. A. E. 1926. The Naiades of the Green River
Drainage in Kentucky. /Iren. Carnegie Mas. 17:167-188.
Rosewater. .Joseph. 19-59. Mollusks of the Salt River Kentucky.
ne Nautilm 73(2):57-63.
Sinclair. R. M. and Isom, B. G. 1961. A Preliminary Report on
the Introduced Asiatic Clam Corbicula in Tennessee.
Stream Poll. Bd. Tenn. Dept. of Pub. Health. 31 pp.
Stansbery, David H. 1965. The Naiad Fauna of the Green
River at Munfordville, Kentucky. Annual Reports for 1965
oftheAmer. Mai Union, pp. 13-14.
1969. Changes in the Naiad Fauna of the
Cumberland River at Cumberland Falls in Eastern Ken-
tucky. Ann. Reports for 1969 of the Amer. Mai. Union, pp.
16-17.
1978. Personal Communication at the Ohio State
Museum of Zoology.
Williams, John C. 1969. Mussel Fishery investigation Ten-
nessee. Ohio and Green Rivers Final Report. Ky. Dept. of
Fish and Wildlife Resources. 106 pp.
Specimen Shells
Offering microscopic and mmiature (to ': inch) shells from
the Florida Keys, with accurate locality data. Also unsorted
grunge: write for list.
Margaret Teskey
P. 0. Box 27.1
Big Pine Key. Fl. ^mi-l
■W^P-l
»<»»^^^^^l
Rare and Exotic Specimen Shells
for the discriminating collector
Free price list
Janowsky's
MAL DE MER ENTERPRISES
946 Ralph Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11236 USA
(212) iS5-S550
16 THE NAUTILUS
January :iU, 198U
Vol. 94(1)
A NEW FOSSIL RADIOCENTRUM (PULMONATA: OREOHELICIDAE)
FROM NORTHERN COAHUILA, MEXICO
Artie L. Metcaif
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, Texas 79968
ABSTRACT
A new species of oreohelwid land snail, Radiocentrum orientalis, is described
from the Serranias del Burro, a mountain range of northern Coahuila, Mexico.
Specimens are fossils from probable Pleistocene deposits. This is the easternmost
record of the genus. Distribution of the genus in Mexico is discussed.
Recognition of the taxon Radiocentrum as a
separate genus in the family Oreohelicidae was
recommended by Babrakzai, Miller and Ward
(1975) and was followed by Christensen and
Miller (1976). Formerly Radiocentrum had been
considered a subgenus of Oreohelix.
The present species is described from fossil
shells, probably of Pleistocene age (judging by the
massive canyon fill in which they occur and the
nature of the associated molluscan fauna). Speci-
mens were collected on an expedition arranged
by Mr. David H. Riskind, Texas Parks and Wild-
life Department, and Mr. Robert Burleson, Tem-
ple, Texas, to whom I am indebted.
Radiocentrum orientalis n. sp.
(Kigs. 1-3)
Diagnosis: Although poorly preserved,
specimens of this species exhibit (1) the riblets
(Fig. 3) that are characteristic of the embryonic
whorls of Radiocentrum and (2) the narrower,
more deeply impressed early whorls (Fig. 2) of
that genus as contrasted with Oreohelix. It differs
from most species of Radiocentmm in possessing
an elevated spire, a characteristic found,
elsewhere, only in species of the Chiricahua
Mountains, Arizona. However, kinds described
from the Chiricahua Mountains are variously
wider, thinner-shelled, more carinate or bear
spiral striae, in contrast to the species described
here.
Description of Holotype: Fossil shell, heavy
(thick-walled), 11.8 mm in diameter and 7.9 mm
high, elevated, with spire forming angle of 123°,
spire protrusion 2.1 mm: body whorl with upper
lip of aperture descending to immediately below
angularity; aperture subrounded, 4.7 mm wide
and 4.5 mm high (excluding walls), aperture
oriented obliquely at angle of 35° to vertical; um-
bilicus narrow, 1.7 mm wide, slightly overlapped
by lower lip, contained 6.9 times in shell
diameter; tightly coiled with 5.5 whorls; sutures
of early whorls deeply impressed; shell surface
has suffered loss of periostracum; radial ribs ap-
pear dimly on last 1/4 of embrj'onic whorl and
continue to 1.7 whorls; thereafter appear growth
wrinkles, these becoming increasingly coarser and
more irregular in occurrence on body whorl, dor-
sally; ventral surface of body whorl smoother
with a few low growth wrinkles; shell bleached,
mainly white except for some tannish color on
whorls 1.5 to 3 (no evidence of color bands).
FIGS. 1-3. Radiocentrum orientalis new species. 1 and 2,
ApertumI mtd dorsal ricics af haloti/pe (ll.fl mm, diameter;
USNM 7.'if<S20): 3, Apical whorh of a paralype (scanning elec-
tron micrograph, courtesy of I >r. W. R. Roser).
Vol. 91(1)
Januaiy 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 17
Pamt ifpes: Only eight paratypes were secured,
all smaller than the holotype and some damaged
by breakage. On some of these smaller shells the
riblets of the embryonic whorls, typical of the
genus, are better preserved (Fig. 3).
Etymology: L. oyientaiis. of the east, in
reference to the occurrence of this species farther
east than other known members of the genus
Radiocentmm.
Disposition of Types: Holotype, USNM 758820.
Paratypes: University of Arizona 6258; Universi-
ty of Texas at El Paso 5647, 5660.
Type Locality: MEXICO, Coahuila, Mcpo. de
Villa Acuna, Serranias del Burro, 29''00'30"N;
102°05'55"W. Upf)er end of Canon el Bonito at ca.
1680 m; 200 m up-canyon from a concrete stock
tank (pila): from sediments exposed on west wall
of canyon, 5-10 m above canyon floor. These
sediments underlie a fan of mixed alluvium and
colluvium, which has been dissected by the arroyo
in the floor of the canyon. A single shell was
found in sediments approximately 1.5 km up-
canyon, northward, from the type locality.
Associated Fauna: Fossils associated with R.
orientaUs at the two localities noted above were
the following (asterisk indicates species not found
living in the area): 'Cochlicopa lubrica (Miiller),
'Pupilla blandii Morse, 'Vallonia gracilicvsta
Reinhardt, a succineid, sp. indet., 'Rahdotus
dealbatus (Say), 'Disc^is cronkhitei (Newcomb),
Helicodiscus eigenmanni Pilsbry, Retinella
(Glyphyalinia) indentata paiicilirata (Morelet)
and Zonitoides arboreus (Say). The high propor-
tion of species not found at present in this and
nearby canyons suggests a markedly different
paleoenvironment. It seems likely that these
snails lived during a glacial age of the
Pleistocene. The present fauna has a marked af-
finity to that of the Sierra Madre Oriental of
Mexico, to the southeast, in contrast to the fossil
assemblage.
DISCUSSION
Reports of oreohelicids from Mexico have all
appertained to the genus Radiocentrum. These
records are exceptionally widely scattered. Two
species have been described from Baja California
Sur (Miller, 1973; Christensen and Miller, 1976),
two species from northwestern Chihuahua (Pils-
bry, 1948) and one species from southeastern
Chihuahua (Drake, 1949). The Serranias del
Burro of Coahuila are some 1000 km distant from
Baja California Sur and 380 km from the type
locality of R. almoloya (Drake), 1949, near
Salaices, Chihuahua. It is likely that lack of col-
lecting in the mountains of northern Mexico,
especially of Pleistocene fossil gastropods, may
account for this scattered distributional pattern.
It is also possible that this is a venerable genus
in Mexico and one in which rifting in the Gulf of
California and uplift of the Sierra Madre Oc-
cidental (and other ranges) may relate to disjunc-
tions in distribution.
Shells of R. almoloya, like those of R. orien-
talis. appear to me to be fossil. Possibly the genus
Radiocentrum may no longer exist in the former,
eastern part of its range. There seems a general
pattern of extirpation of oreohelicid snails in the
southeastern part of the range of the family.
Thus, fossil shells, only, are knovra from the
Sierra Rica, Tres Hermanas, Florida, Cooke,
Caballo and San Andres Mountains of southern
New Mexico and from the Franklin, Hueco and
Guadalupe Mountains of Texas. The Sacramento
Mountains of New Mexico are rich in fossil
oreohelicids but the only living species there,
Oreohelix strigosa nogalensds Pilsbry, 1939, is of
restricted occurrence. All this suggests inability
of these southeastern oreohelicids to adjust to
regional climatic changes.
LITERATURE CITED
Babrakzai, N., W. B. Miller and 0. G. Ward. 197.5. Cytotax-
onomy of some Arizona Oreohelicidae (Gastropoda: Pul-
monata). Bull Amer. Malaail. Union 40:4-11.
Christensen, C. C. and W. B. Miller. 1976. A new Radiucen-
trum (Pulmonata: Oreohelicidae) from Baja California,
Mexico. The Fe/iyer 18:378-380.
Drake, R. J. 1949. A new species of Oreohelix. subgenus
Radiocentrum. from southeastern Chihuahua. The Nautilus
62:109-112.
Miller. W. B. 1973. A Recent Oreohelix (Gastropoda:
Pulmonata) from Baja California Sur. Mexico. The Veliger
15:.332-:334.
Pilsbry, H. A. 1948. Inland mollusks of northern Mexico.— I.
The genera Humboldtiana, Sonorella. Oreohelix and
Afihmunella. Proc. Acad. Natur. Sci. Philadelphia
100:18.5-203.
18 THE NAITILUS
Januan- :30. 1980
Vol. 94(1)
OBSERVATIONS ON THE TERRESTRIAL GASTROPODS IN THE VICINITY OF
JASPER, ALBERTA (CANADA)
Thomas R. Piatt '
Department of Zoology
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9 Canada
ABSTRACT
Fourteen apecies of terrestrial gastropixh were collected in the mcinity of
Jasper, Alberta, from April through September. 1976: Zonitoides nitidus, Retinelia
electrina, Striatura ferrea and Pupisoma sp. are new locality records for the prov-
ince of Alberta.
There are few published records of terrestrial
molluscs in Alberta. The majority of these reports
(Taylor. 1895; Berry, 1922 and Mozley, 1926, 1931)
deal with the mollusc fauna of the Rocky Moun-
tain regions of the province. There are no recent
reports, to my knowledge, of terrestrial gastro-
pods from Alberta.
An intensive investigation designed to identify
the molluscan intermediate host(s) of Parelaph-
ostrongylus odocoilei (Nematoda: Metastrongy-
loidea), a parasite of mule deer (Odocoileus he-
mioniis hemioniLs), resulted in the collection and
identification of approximately 8,500 terrestrial
gastropods in the general vicinity of Jasper,
Alberta (Piatt, 1978). The majority of the
molluscs reported herein have been recorded in
previous investigations of the mollusc fauna of
the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. Several
gastropods found during the present study have
not previously been reported from Jasper.
METHODS
Molluscs were collected weekly from 23 April
to 24 August 1976, with the exception of the third
week in May and the second week in July. Two
additional collections were made on 7-8 and
21-22 September. Mollusc identifications were
made with the aid of Burch (1962) and Pilsbry
(1946, 1948). All collections were done by hand. A
variety of natural material (logs, rocks and leaf
litter) was examined for gastropods as well as
man-made debris.
' Now in the Department of Biology, University of Richmond,
Richmond. VA 23173.
STUDY AREAS
Jasper, Alberta (53°32'N, 113°36'W) is approx-
imately 400 km west of Edmonton, in the eastern
foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The townsite
(Fig. 1) is situated in the center of Jasper Na-
tional Park. Five collecting sites, all located
within 5 km of the townsite, were selected on the
basis of major vegetation types. Elevation of the
sites ranged from 1120 m (Areas I and H) on the
floor of the Athabasca Valley to 1500 m at area
V(Fig.l).
Area I (Fig. 1) is an open, grassy area adjacent
to the Highway 16 by-pass, east of the townsite.
This area was disturbed by the construction of
the highway and contains a number of large
rocks that are potential mollusc refuge sites.
Native and introduced grasses are the predomi-
nant vegetation. A few juniper (Junipenis sp.)
and bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) are pres-
ent, as well as lodgepole pine seedlings (Pimis
contorta).
Area II is a canopied region adjacent to Area I,
bordered on the east by the Athabasca River
(Fig. 1). The predominant vegetation is lodgepole
pine, interspersed with aspen (Populus
tremuloides). The predominant shrubs are
juniper, bearberry, and buffaloberry (Shephcrdia
canadensis). There is a large variety of material
(man made) for refuge sites, as well as an abun-
dance of natural material (aspen and lodgepole
pine logs).
Area III is a transition area between valley
and mountainous habitat, directly west of the
tovrasite (Fig. 1). There is a sharp transition and
Vol. 94(1)
.Ianuarv:?n, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 19
CN TRACKS
HIGHWAY 16-0- )J
PATRICIA I 1j
LAKE I A
AREA V^^f
,0/0
* AREA III
O JASPER ^^J
* TOWNSITI
FIG. 1. Diagrammatk representation of the Jasper Toumsite
(Jasper, Alberta), indicating the areas of mollusc collection.
a dramatic increase in elevation. The predomi-
nant vegetation is grass and an occasional
lodgepole pine. Buffaloberry, bearberry and
junif)er are common.
Area IV is situated northwest of the tovrasite
(Fig. 1). It is a marshy zone with sedge (Carex
sp.) as the predominant vegetation.
Area V consisted of two disjunct stands of
aspen, surrounded by and interspersed with
lodgepole pine. These sites are located north and
south of Area IV (Fig. 1). Bearberry, buffaloberry
and juniper are the most common shrubs.
MOLLUSCS
A summary of all molluscs collected, the area
of collection and previous reports in Alberta is
given in Table \.
Limacidae
Deroceras laeve (Miiller) has previously been
reported from Alberta as Ldmax hyperboreas by
Taylor (1895) and Agriolimax hyperboreas by
Mozley (1931). Pilsbry (1948) clearly regards A.
hyperboreas as a synonym of D. laeve.
Deroceras laeve, the only slug encountered, was
found in all areas examined. Individuals of this
species were most commonly encountered in the
open, grassy Area I, under rocks and, occasional-
ly, other material. Deroceras was also common in
Areas II and III, but scarce in Areas IV and V.
All the slugs collected were measured, while
alive and in an extended position, to the nearest
0.1 mm with precision calipers. The mean length
of D. laeve declined from 15.9 mm in April to
late June to 12.3 mm in late July (Fig. 2) (t =
4.112; t~ 0.001 = 3.291; P< O.(XJl) indicating a
change in the population structure at this time
and a single generation per year for D. laeve in
the Jasper area.
TABLE 1. Species and locatum of terrestrial gastropods co-
llected in Jasper, Alberta (1976) ivith premovs reports of
these species in Alberta
* see text for a description of the study areas.
" 1-Taylor (1893) Laggan (= Lake Louise); 2-Taylor (1895),
a-35 miles east of Red Deer. b-MacLeod, c-Olds: 3-Berry
(1922), a-Kanaskis, b-Morley, c-Waterton Lake. d-Bow River;
4-Mozley (1926) Jasper National Park; .'vMozley (1931) Jas-
per National Park.
20 THE NAUTILUS
Januar\'30, 1980
Vol. 94(1)
20
E
1 15
UJ
N
'■
10
A M J J A S
COLLECTION PERIODS (197^
FIG. 2. Mean lengths of Deroceras laeve collected in Jasper.
Alberta. Bar represents one standard deriation.
Zonitidae
Euconulus falvus (Miiller) was the most com-
monly encountered mollusc during this study.
This species was found in all areas, with the ex-
ception of Area IV. Euconulus was the most
abundant mollusc in Areas I and II, but was also
common in Areas III and V.
Mozley (1926, 1931) reported Euconulus cher-
sinus polygyratiis from a variety of locations in
Jasper National Park. Euconulus fulims differ
from E. chersinus, externally, in having fewer
number of whorls, 5 1/2 to 6 1/2-7 1/2 (Pilsbry
1946). All specimens collected in the present
study had 5 to 5 1/2 whorls and were un-
mistakably E. fulvus.
Zonitoides arboreus (Say) and Zonitoides
nitidus (Miiller) were collected in Areas I, II, III
and V. Zonitoides arboreus was common in Areas
I and II and more abundant than Z. nitidus in all
locales. Both species of this genus were rare in
Areas III and V.
This is the first report of Z. nitidus from
Jasper, although it is considered "commonly
distributed in the Canadian Zone" (Pilsbry, 1946).
TTiis species is widespread in the western United
States (Pilsbry, 1946).
Vitrina limpida Gould was common during the
latter half of the summer. The first individuals
were collected during 19-21 July. Prior to this
time the only evidence of Vitrina was the
presence of large numbers of shells encountered
while collecting.
Striatum ferrea Morse is a new record for
Jasper and Alberta. This species was encountered
infrequently (33 specimens) and it was restricted
to the aspen-dominated Area V.
Retinella electrina (Gould) has not previously
been reported from Alberta. Pilsbry (1946) in-
cludes Washington, British Columbia and Alaska
in the range of this species. Retinella was also
encountered infrequently (12 specimens) and was
restricted to Areas I and V.
Endodontidae
/)i.sn/,s cronkhitei (Newcomb) was present in
all areas with the exception of Area IV. This
species was commonly encountered in Areas I
and II, however, only a single specimen was
found in Area III. Discus cronkhitei replaced £!
fidvus as the most abundant mollusc in Area V.
Discus shimeki (Pilsbry) is a new record for
Jasper. This species has been reported from the
Kananaskis region (Berry, 1922). Discus
cronkhitei was encountered most frequently in
Area I, occasionally in Area II and a single
specimen was found in Area V.
Succineidae
Oxyloma retusa (Lea) was restricted to the
marsh (Area IV). This species was common and
has been reported from Jasper and other loca-
tions in Alberta (Table 1).
Pupillidae
Vertigo modesta (Say) was the most common of
the pupillids encountered during this study. It
was found in Areas I, II and V, but most com-
monly in Area II.
Verti-go ovata Say was represented by a single
specimen from Area V. Mozley (1931) reported V.
omta from very near the area examined during
the present study.
Columella edentula (Drapanaud) was repre-
sented by three specimens collected in Area II.
The range of C. edentula extends "across Canada"
(Pilsbry, 1948). Taylor (1895) listed Pnpa simplex
from Laggan Alberta ( = Lake Louise), which is
regarded as a synonym of C. endentida.
Single specimens, referred to the genus
Pttpisoma Stoliczka, were collected from Areas I
and II. The range of Pupisoma is restricted to the
Vol. 94(1)
January 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 21
southwestern United States (Pilsbry, 1948).
However, with the high influx of tourists into
Jasper, an accidental introduction is not unlikely.
DISCUSSION
The gastropod fauna in the areas examined is
relatively homogeneous (Table 1). Areas I, II and
V share 80% of the species that occur in any one
of those areas. Area I and II share all but two
species. Striatura ferrea, in the aspen-dominate
Area V, and Oxyloma retusa, in Area IV, are the
only specialists identified in the present study.
The pupillids. Vertigo ovata (Area V) and Col-
umella edentula (Area II) were encountered too
infrequently to be described in these terms.
Stands of coniferous forest are generally con-
sidered to be poor mollusc habitat (Walker, 1902;
van der Schalie, 1940). Recent reports (Clarke, et
al. 1968) in New Brunswick dispute these find-
ings and furnish evidence that a variety of ter-
restrial gastropods inhabit coniferous forests.
Area II in the present study is dominated by
lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), interspersed with
aspen. Ten species of molluscs, although not as
abundant as in Area I, were collected from this
stand. It is interesting to note that, although no
quantification was attempted, the majority of
molluscs collected were found in association with
aspen or aspen logs that had fallen or been
moved into the surrounding conifers. This is cor-
roborated by a similar observation (Mozley, 1937)
for terrestrial gastropods collected in nearby
areas. Therefore, more specific mollusc-plant
associations may provide "patches" for terrestrial
molluscs.
The terrestrial gastropod fauna of Jasper is
composed of generalists that have successfully
adapted to the boreal regions (Mozley, 1937). The
majority of these species have circumboreal
distributions or have closely related sister-species
in Eurasia (Likachev and Rammel'maier, 1952).
The fauna of the towmsite of Jasper lacks several
species (6) that have been previously reported
from the Park (Mozley 1926, 1931). These include
Vallonia cdbula, Cionella (formerly Cochliopa)
lubrica, Succinea avara and two species of
Oreohelix, all of which would be expected to in-
habit areas similar to those examined in this
study.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank Parks Canada for grant-
ing permission to collect snails in Jasper Na-
tional Park. Financial support for this research
was provided by Parks Canada, Alberta Fish and
Wildlife Division and a National Research Coun-
cil Operating Grant to Dr. W. M. Samuel (No.
A6603).
LITERATURE CITED
Berry, S. S. 1922. Land snails from the Canadian Rockies.
Mux. Bull. Ottawa 36:1-19.
Clarke, A. H., J. P. Kelsall and G. R. Parker. 1968. The land
snail fauna of Fundy National Park. New Brunswick. Nat.
Mtis. Catiada, Bull. No. 223, Cent. Zool. 5-22.
Likhachev, I. M. and E. S. Rammel'maier. 1952. Terrestrial
Mollusks of the Fauna of the USSR. Izdatel. Akad. Nauk
SSSR. Moscow. 511 p. Translated by the Israel Program for
Scientific Translations. Jerusalem.
Mozley, A. 1926. Preliminary lists of the moUusca of Jasper
Park, Alberta. The Nautilus 40:53-56.
1931. Reports of the Jasper Park Lakes investiga-
tions, 1925-1926. The moUusca of Jasper Park. TVans. Royal
Soc. Edinburgh 46:647-669.
1937. A biological study of the sub-Arctic
MoUusca. Proc. Amer. Phihsoph. Soc. 78:147-189.
Pilsbry, H. A. 1946. Land MoUusca of North America (North
of Mexico). Vol. IL Part 1. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia.
Monographs. No. 3. 520 p.; 1948, ibid, Vol. IL Part 2 and 3.
pp. 521-1113.
Piatt, T. R. 1978. The life cycle and systematics of
Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei (Nematoda: Metastron-
gyloidea), a parasite of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus he-
mionus). with special reference to the molluscan in-
termediate host. Ph. D. Thesis. Univ. of Alberta. Edmonton.
233 p.
Taylor. G. W. 1893. Land and freshwater shells in the Rocky
Mountains. The Nautilus 8:85-86.
1895. TYie land and freshwater shells of Alberta.
O^HMiaA'ar. 9:173-178.
van der Schalie. H. 1940. Larger land shells from pine woods
in northern Michigan. Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts and Let-
ters. 25:367-370.
Walker, B. 1902. Hints on collecting land and freshwater
mollusks. Jour AppL Microsc. Lab. Meth. 5:1954-1961.
22 THE NAUTILUS
January 30. 1980
Vol. 94(1)
BIVALVE MOLLUSCA OF THE YALOBUSHA RIVER, MISSISSIPPI'
Charles M. Cooper
USDA Sedimentation Laboratory
Oxford, Mississippi 38655
and
ABSTRACT
V. Wayne Johnson
Department of Biology
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi 38677
The bivalve fauna of the Yalobiisha River in north central Mississippi was ex-
amined from 1973 to 1976. Of the 15 species found, 8 were not reported by Hinkley
in 1906, whereas we did not firui 13 of the species that he collected. There are four
different types of habitat. Carunculina parva was the main inhabitant of the up-
per portion of the river with its sandy substrate and sluggish low flow; Sphaerium
rhomboideum was the dominant Molhtsca of the reservoir; while Quadrula
pustulosa, Proptera purpurata, and Lampsilis anodontoides composed the majority
of the bivalves in the swift waters below the reservoir spillway.
The bivalve fauna occupying the various aquat-
ic habitats of the Yalobusha River in north cen-
tral Mississippi was studied from 1973 through
1976. The river was sampled by Hinkley in 1906
during a study of Mollusca in selected streams in
Mississippi and Alabama. Since that time the
river's environment has been altered extensively
from its original state of a meandering, wooded
stream by channelization, the building of a
40-km^ flood control reservoir, and changes in
land use.
Although the molluscan fauna of most of the
Mississippi River Basin has been well-docu-
mented, Hinkley's study (1906) is the only one
from the northwest Mississippi area. He listed 34
species from Floating Creek, the Yalobusha,
Tallahatchie, Big Black and Tombigbee rivers in
Mississippi. Of those species, 16 were found in the
Yalobusha River. Ortmann (1924, 1925) studied
the molluscan fauna of the Duck and Tennessee
rivers, and the mollusks of Alabama were in-
vestigated by Goodrich (1930) and van der Schalie
(1938).
The objectives of the study were not only to
determine species composition changes since land
use and channelization have occurred but also to
add to the knowledge of the taxa of Mollusca in
Mississippi.
' Contribution of the U. S. Sedimentation Laboratory,
USDA -SEA -AR, with the University of Mississippi.
Habitats
The Yalobusha River (Fig. 1) flows in an east-
west direction through the sandy-loess hills of
Mississippi cutting through Eocene and Paleocene
formations forming a broad valley. Observations
indicated that Mollusca occupied 4 major aquatic
habitats: 1) river bottom; 2) reservoir littoral; 3)
reservoir profundal, and 4) tailwaters below the
reservoir spillway.
The river bottom substrate (Station 11) was
mainly sand and gravel with a ripple-shallow
pool combination along the dredged channel.
Pools contained some clay and silt deposits.
Water depths normally ranged from 0.05-0.2 m in
ripples and 0.5 to 1.5 m in pools. Because the
river and its immediate drainage has been chan-
nelized, runoff rates have increased and the
stream was subject to flash flooding after
moderate rainfall amounts. Thus the stream was
subject to molar activity as well as scouring and
redeposition of sediments.
The littoral zone of the reservoir was subject to
water-level fluctuations, wave action and draw-
down and had a substrate varying from sand or
sandy gravel to gumbo or hardpan clay (Cooper,
1977). The profundal zone had more stable mud-
muck bottom than the littoral zone and never ex-
perienced drawdovm.
The spillway and tailwaters area below the
dam (Station 13) created an artificial habitat of
swift, turbulent waters. The channel center was a
Vol. 94(1)
Januarv '^0. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 23
CALHOUN CITY
FIG. 1. Map of iitudy porium of the Yalobusha River, including Grenada Lake. Mississippi.
sand-gravel cenosis or mud-muck bottom, and the
sides were rock boulders laid by the U. S. Corps
of Engineers to control channel erosion.
Collecting Methods
We collected in shallow river reaches by hand
sampling and by dragging the bottom substrate
with a D-frame dip net and sampled in the
deeper water by Peterson and Ekman dredge
hauls. Mollusca were taken in the swift waters
below Grenada Reservoir by dredging and by
hand sampling when spillway gates were closed.
Lake samples were quantitative and taken in
transects; however, most river sites had so few
Mollusca that quantitative sampling was impossi-
ble. Turbidity levels made SCUBA sampling im-
practical in deeper areas. Representatives of all
species of clams were verified by Dr. Henry van
der Schalie of the University of Michigan.
Voucher specimens are on file at the Department
of Biology, University of Mississippi.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Representatives of 15 species of Mollusca were
TABLE 1. Taxonwnic list of Bivalvia identified during the
197S-1976 study of the Yalobusha River including Grenada
Reservoir with distribution by habitat, and those identified
byHinkky(1906).
Distribution Code: A = Yalobusha River above Grenada
Reservoir; B = Grenada Reservoir — littoral; C = Grenada
Reservoir — profunda!; D = Yalobusha River tail waters below
Grenada Dam.
24 THE NAUTILUS
Januan- 30, 1980
Vol. 94(1)
collected during the study (Table 1). Of the four
species found in the upper portion of the river
(Table 1), only Caninculina parva was found in
abundance and only Uniomerus tetralasmus was
recorded by Hinkley (1906). Carunculina parva
was not reported in the early studies of the
Mollusca of the Duck River in Tennessee (Ort-
mann, 1924) or the Cahaba River in Alabama
(van der Schalie, 1938). These mussels are the
smallest members of the Unionidae; our largest
specimen measured 40 X 27 mm.
In addition to two species of fingernail clams
from the family Pisidiidae (formerly Sphaeri-
idae), Eupera cubensis and Sphaerium rhom-
boideum, the profundal region also contained the
Asiatic clam Corbicula manilensis. This is the
first recorded sighting of Corbicula in the in-
terior reservoirs of Mississippi. An occasional S.
rhomboideum was found in the snag and debris
area occupying the larger portion of the littoral
zone. Sphaerium rhomboiderim was the only
bivalve found in any abundance in the reservoir.
Representatives were most common in sampling
areas 1, 2, and 6 (Fig. 1) in the deepest portion of
the profundal zone. At the end of the study, their
population densities ranged from 4 to 20
clams/m^. The only species able to withstand the
rigors of the fluctuating littoral zone was Pro-
ptera purpairata; a few were found in beach
areas.
The largest numbers of individuals and diversi-
ty was found in the swift waters below the spill-
way. Quadnda piistulosa, Proptera purpurata.
and Lampsilis anodontoides dominated the fauna.
Of the 8 species found in the swift-flowing
habitat, Hinkley (1906) recorded 6.
Summary
The habitat alterations in the Yalobusha River
account, at least in part, for the absence of 13
species reported by Hinkley and the appearance
of 9 other species new to this immediate area.
Significant also is the complete absence of three
other genera reported by Hinkley in 1906—
Obwaria, Plagiola. and Strophitus. The restricted
area below the spillway has created a habitat
showing the most diversity and one more favor-
able to species that already occupied the river.
TTius, we feel that habitat changes, especially im-
poundment and channelization of the Yalobusha
River, have had a detrimental effect on the
previously existing population of bivalve mol-
lusks. Although some replacement fauna has oc-
curred, the number of species has declined.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This paper is a contribution of the Sedimenta-
tion Laboratory, USDA SEA-AR. The research
was begun at the University of Mississippi's
Department of Biology where it was supported by
the Graduate School and the Mississippi Water
Resources Institute. It was concluded at the
UEDA Sedimentation Lab. The authors wish to
thank Jerry Hollis, John Steen, Stratford Kay, Y.
J. McGaha, and Dr. Henry van der Schalie for
assistance and Ms. Peggy Hamilton for manu-
script preparation.
LITERATURE CITED
Cooper, C. M. 1977. Abundance and production of littoral and
profundal benthic fauna in a flood control reservoir. Proc.
Mississippi Chapter of Amer. Pish. Soc. 1:25-3,3.
Goodrich, C. 1930. Goniobases of the vicinity of Muscle Shoals.
Occ Pap. Mils. Zool, Univ. Michigan, No. 209, 25 p.
Hinkley, A. A. 1906. Some shells from Mississippi and
Alabama. The Nautilus 20:52-55.
Ortmann, A. E. 1924. The naiad-fauna of Duck River in Ten-
nessee. Amer. Midland Nat. 9:18-62.
1925. The naiad-fauna of the Tennessee River
system below Walden Gorge. Amer. Midland Nat. 9:321-l?72.
van der Schalie, H. 1938. T^ie naiades (freshwater mussels) of
the Cahaba River in northern Alabama. Occ. Pap. Mus.
Zool, Univ. Michigan. No. 392, 29 p.
RESEARCH GRANTS AVAILABLE
Lerner Fund for Marine Research provides
modest financial assistance to scientists starting
careers in marine biology, exclusive of botany.
Awards are made primarily on the graduate
and postdoctoral level, and range from $200 to
$1000. In 1979, 45% of the applicants were
funded. Grants can be used for research any-
where in the world. Applications must be re-
ceived on prescribed forms by March 15th. Write
to: Lerner P^und for Marine Research, American
Museum of Natural History, Central Park West
;it 79th Street, New York, New York 10024.
Vol. 94(1)
.Januarv:^n, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 25
SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF AMNICOLA LIMOSA (HYDROBIIDAE) EGGS
AND INDIVIDUALS IN A RHODE ISLAND POND
David H. Kesler'
Division of Biological Sciences
The University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
ABSTRACT
The seasonal abundance of Amnicola limosa (Say) (Hydrobiidae) eggs was
observed in Nonquit Pond, Rhode Island. Recrtdtment did not appear to be related
to egg density.
In the course of investigating periphyton col-
onization of glass slides, eggs of the prosobranch
snail, Amnicola limosa (Say) were observed. The
abundance of these eggs was measured at 40 cm
and 1.0 m depths in Nonquit Pond, Rhode Island.
The slides were exposed for three week periods
with new slides being exposed every week. Only
eggs containing embryos were counted.
Nonquit Pond is a shallow reservoir (mean
depth 2.3 m) with stained, acidic water (pH
5.8-7.2) of low alkalinity (<5 mg CaCOs/l). The
littoral zone bottom ranges from small pebbles to
boulders and there are few emergent macro-
phytes. Nonquit Pond is located in Newport
County, Rhode Island.
The number of eggs/dm ^ are given in Figure 1.
Amnicola eggs were first observed on May 20 in
1977 when the water temperature was 9° C. In
1978 they were first observed on May 4 at 14.5°
C. The eggs were as Berry (1943) described them,
being single, lenticular in shape with a thin
laminated crest extending across the dorsal
margin and amber in color. They were slightly
smaller than those described by Berry, being 1.16
mm long and 0.80 mm wide at their base.
Maximum densities occurred in 1977 on July
14 at the shallow (40 cm) station and on June 28
at the deep (1.0 m) station. In 1978 maximum
densities occurred on June 29 at the shallow sta-
tion and on July 13 at the deep station. The
highest density of unhatched eggs observed was
110 eggs/dm^.
Eggs were last observed on August 3 and July
20 at the shallow and deep stations in 1977. In
1978 the last slides with eggs were collected on
August 22 at both stations. Berry (1943) cites
other works in which the spawning period of
Amnicola limosa was given as April-August.
Horst and Costa (1975) give data from D. R.
Post's 1971 M.S. Thesis in which Amnicola egg
' Present address; Division of Biologj' and Medicine. Brown
University, Box G, Providence, Rhode Island 02912.
FIG. 1. An\nicola limosa egg density (numher/dm') collected
on glass slides in Nonquit Pond, Rhode Island at iO cm
(shallow) and 1.0 m (deep) stations.
26 thp: nautilus
January m. 1980
Vol. 94(1)
FIG. 2. Amnicola limosa mean weight at iO cm and l.O m in
1977 in Nonquit Pond, Rhode Island.
FIG. 3. Amnicola limosa mean weight at J,0 cm and 1.0 m in
197S in Nonquit Pimd, Rhode Mand.
production and breeding period appear consistent
with the few published observations of this
species.
The seasonal variation in egg numbers was
similar in 1977 and 1978, although 1978 egg den-
sities were higher at the shallow station. If egg
density was tightly coupled with recruitment,
and survivorship remained constant between
years, there should have been more small snails
in August 1978 than 1977, Snails were collected
from the slide holder surfaces which provided a
larger sampling area (350 cm^ each) than the
slides. The mean snail densities in 1978 and 1977
in August at the shallow station were 10.4 and
64.5 snails/dm^ respectively, opposite the
predicted trend based on egg densities. The den-
sities at the deep station in 1978 and 1977 were
16.4 and 24.0 snails/dm^ respectively. These den-
sities were much higher than those reported by
Horst and Costa (1975) for Amnicola limosa in
McCargo Lake, New York.
The mean snail weights, an indication of the
proportion of small snails on the slide holders,
are given in Figures 2-3. The fairly constant
mean .snail weights in 1978 reflected the paucity
of small snails collected. Conversely, in 1977 the
mean snail weight clearly decreased as recruits
entered the population. If samples from the slide
holders are assumed to be equally biased between
years, these data indicate a higher mortality
following hatching in 1978. This period in their
life history has been suggested by Hunter (1961)
to be one in which snails suffer a high mortality
rate.
It is hoped that these data will stimulate
demographic investigations of Amnicola limosa
populations. This species is capable of exerting an
influence of periphyton species composition and
standing crop (Kesler, 1979), yet its basic ecology,
like many other freshwater snails is unknown.
LITERATURE CITED
Berry. E. G. 19413. The Amnicolidae of Michigan: distribution,
ecolog>'. and taxonomy. Misc. Pub. Mus. Zool.. Univ. Mich.
No. 57. 68 pp.
Horst, T. J. and R. R. Costa. 1975. Seasonal migration and
density patterns of the freshwater snail Amnicola limona.
77ip.V«i(h7».s89:56-.59.
Hunter. W. R. 1961. Annual variations in the growth and
density in natural populations of freshwater snails in the
west of Scotland. Pi'oc Zool. Soc Lond. 136:219-2.53.
Kesler. D. H. 1979 Ecological implications of grazing by Am-
nicola limosa (Say) (Hydrobiidae). In preparation.
Vol. 91(1)
January 30. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 27
MORPHOLOGICAL NOTES ON OREOHELIX AMARIRADIX PILSBRY, 1934
(PULMONATA: OREOHELICIDAE)
H. Lee Fairbanks'
Department of General Biology
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721
ABSTRACT
A population o/Oreohelix amariradix Pilsbry. 1934 was located near Lolo. Mon-
tana. The anatomy of the pallial region and the reproductive system is described.
Comparisons are made between 0. amariradix and the members of the 0. jugalis
complex.
Bleached shells of Oreohelix amariradix were
first collected by M. J. Elrod in the Bittei-root
Mountains near Lolo, Montana. Elrod (1902)
thought that these shells were a variety of
Pymniiihihi strigosn. Shell specimens sent to H.
A. Pilsbry were later described, tentatively, as a
new species, Oreohelix amariradix (Pilsbry, 1934).
The internal anatomy was not available to
Pilsbiy . thus the rank of species was not definite.
The type locality was given as follows: Bitter-
root Mountains, along bluffs of Lf)lo Creek at
5000 feet, approximately 16 or 17 miles southwest
of Missoula, Montana. Using data obtained from
the collection of M. L. Walton, a small population
of Oreohelix amariradix was located 4.5 miles
west of Lolo, Montana (approximately 16 miles
from Missoula) on the north side of U. S. High-
way 12 and Lolo Creek. The locality, taken from
a USGS topo map (Carlton Lake Quadrangle), is
SW> 4 of SE' 4 of section 36 Tr2N R21W Missoula
County, Montana, elevation approximately 3550
feet. Shell specimens have been sent to the
Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia,
ANSP 347820.
The site is located on a grassy south facing
slope overlooking Lolo Creek. The primary
vegetation, other than bunch grasses (Festnca
sp.), is composed of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus
ponderosa). Service Berr>' (Amelanchier canaden-
sis), and Nine Bark (Ph y.'<oca7^}us malvacconsj.
The snails were found in small rock slides scat-
tered along the face of the slope.
Specimens collected on 29 May 77 were com-
pared with three topotypes obtained from the
Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and
also with the description of the type specimen
(Pilsbry, 1934) (Table 1 and Figs. 1-6). Shell
sculpture and shape were similar, with no dis-
cernible discrepancies. These comparisons plus
the locality data lead to the conclusion that the
specimens collected at the above locality are
specimens of Oreohelix amariradix.
In March, 1978, three live specimens were
TABLE 1. Shell measurements of Oreohelix amariradix.
Measurements, in mm. are mean ± one std. dec. and the
range.
Type
Topotypes
(3)
Lolo, Mt.
Specimens
(21)
Height
Height,,--
-- Diameter
Diameter of
Umbilicus
14.5
8.5
.5862
' Present address: Pennsylvania State University, Beaver
Campus. Brodhead Rd., Monaca, PA 15061.
Number of
rniorls
Embryonic
Whorls
5.33
2.33
28 THE NAITILCS
January 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (1)
TABLE 2. Measuremeiiln of npniductive syatems (.1) nf
Oreohelix amariradix. LF2:il-l. 2. and .1 Measurements, in
mm. are the mean ± one aid. dev.. and the range.
Penis (total length)
pustulose portion
ridged portion
Epiphallus length
Penial retractor length
9.2 - 0.67
8.7 - 10.0
4.0 i 0.36
3.7 - 4.4
5.3 - 0.31
5.0 - 5.6
3.8
3.0
0.71
4.4
6.5 - 1.15
5.4 - 7.7
FKiS. 1-t). 1, 2, and 3 show a topotype of Oreohelix
amariradix Pilsbry, im, ANSP S.%291. 4, 5. and 6 i<how a
specimen ofO. amariradix, LF2.31-3, collected near Loin. Mon-
tana. X 2.
drowned and then dissected for anatomical
studies. No significant differences were found
between these three specimens.
The pallial region (Fig. 7) has a well developed
mantle gland without apparent vascularization
from the pulmonary vein. The kidney is tri-
angular, with its narrow end bent toward the
MG
-HV
FIG. 7. Pdlial region o/ Oreohelix amariradix, LF2,'il-.% col-
lected near Lolo. Montana (camera lurida drairing). Scale line
equals 1 mm. A = anus. H = heart. HG = hindgut. HV —
pulmonary vein, I = intestine. K = kidney. KD = closed
portion of ureter, KS = ureteric sulcus, KX = opening of
closed portion of ureter. MC = mantle collar. MG = mantle
gland.
Vol. 94(1)
January 30, 19«()
THE NAUTILUS 29
hindgut. The intestinal loop lies over the prox-
imal margin of the kidney. The closed portion of
the ui-eter begins in the curve formed by the
bending of the narrow end of the kidney, and ex-
tends approximately two thirds of the length of
the kidney. The long recurved ureteric sulcus is
bordered by a renal ridge on the hindgut and an
afferent vein. The heart is typical.
Data concerning the genitalia (Figs. 8 & 9 and
Table 2) are as follows: The lobes of the ovotestis
are angled to the shell axis, and the ovotestis
duct is relatively tightly coiled. The talon, taken
here to mean the receptaculum seminis and
fecundation pouch of Bayne (1973), albumen
gland, and prostate are typical. The spermatheca
is moderately swollen at the base, the sper-
matheca! duct is long and slender, and the head
is ovoid and bound to the area just proximal of
p
FIG. 8. Genitalia of Oreohelix amariradix. LF2S1-S, mllected
near Lolo. Montaiia (camera lucida drawing). Scale line
equals 1 mm. DG = prostate, E = epiphallm. G = ovotestis.
GD = ovotestis duct, GG = albumen gland, GT = talon. P
— penis. PR = penial retractor muscle, S = spermatheca.
UT = uterus. UV = free oviduct, V = vagina. VD = va.f
deferens.
HG. 9. Penial chamber of Oreohelix amariradix, LF2.11-S,
collected near Lolo, Montana (camera lucida drawing). Scale
line equals 1 mm. E = epiphalhis, P = penis. PP = penial
pilaster.1, PR = penial retractor muscle. PV = penial verge,
V = vagina, VD = vn.^defereu.'i.
the end of the uterus (spermoviduct of some
authors) by connective tissue. The vagina is about
equal in length to the free oviduct and has low
ribbing internally. The vas deferens is bound by
connective tissue to the peni-vaginal angle, and
the expansion of the vas deferens into the
epiphallus is abrupt. The epiphallus is con-
siderably shorter than the penis (Table 2). The
penial retractor muscle is inserted at the junction
of the penis and the epiphallus. The penis is
slender with the interior ridged portion more
than half the total length of the penis (Table 2
and Fig. 9). The penial verge is prominent, with
its opening at the tip of the verge.
The radula has 25-28 teeth per half row, and
the central tooth is tricuspid.
Ten newborn Oreohelix amariradix were found
in the terrarium in which the adults over-
wintered. The shells were transparent and ap-
30 THE NAUTILUS
January 30. 1980
Vol. 94(1)
peared to lack surface sculpture. Measurements
of the shells produced the following data: Mean
number of whorls = 2.18 (range 2-2.33), mean
diameter = 3.12 mm (range 2.7-3.4).
DISCUSSION
Piisbry (1939, p. 500) suggested that live
specimens of Oreahelix anidri radix and O. junalis
be compared. Solem (1975), in a discussion of the
0. jiiydlis complex, gave both .shell and anatom-
ical data that can be compared to the data pre-
sented here.
The shell of Oreohelix jugaiis (24 mm) is not
only larger than that of O. amuriradix (14.5 mm)
but is different in proportions as well. The data
for the genitalia also show significant differences.
For example, 0. jngalis has an epiphallus that is
more than half the length of the penis, but in 0.
amariradix the length of the epiphallus is only
41% of the penial length (Table 2). Also, the penis
of 0. jutjalk is shorter than that of 0.
(imarimdix. There are also ecological differences
between these two taxa; 0. jnyalif: is found in
"large boulder piles or cliff base talus within the
flood zone of the Salmon River" (Solem, 1975). 0.
amariradix is found in shallow talus on a south
facing slope, a much drier and less sheltered
habitat than that nfO.jiinalis.
According to Piisbry (1939), Oreohelix vortex.
0. intersum. and probably 0. junii are members
of the jnnnlis complex, thus comparisons of these
species with 0. amariradix seem pertinent.
The reproductive system of Oreohelix vortex
has the pustulose portion of the penis much
longer than the ridged portion (Solem, 1975). Tliis
is not true of 0. amariradix (Table 2). In addi-
tion, the position of the penial verge opening is
different in these two taxa.
The shell of Oreohelix internum is markedly
different from that of O. amariradix becau.se of
the radial striae found on the shell of O. iider-
siim. In addition, the reproductive system of O.
intersum is similar to that of O. vortex (see
above).
It is clear that Oreohelix amariradix is distinct
from O.JHiialix. O. vortex, and O. intemum.
Comparisons between Oreohelix amariradix
and 0. junii show that 0. junii has a shell that is
larger, has a more depressed form, and appears
smcx)ther than the shell of 0. amariradix. The
reproductive systems are quite similar: the only
notable differences are the folding of the vas
deferens and the somewhat shorter epiphallus
found in 0. junii. The localities of these two taxa
are approximately 275 miles apart and are eco-
logically different. These differences are probably
sufficient to indicate that the two ta.\a are dif-
ferent species. Thus, Pilsbr>''s designation of
Oreohelix amariradix as a species is confirmed.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank Dr. Walter B. Miller and Dr.
Carl C. Christensen, both of whom provided
valuable comments during the writing of this
paper. I also wish to thank the Academy of
Natural Sciences in Philadelphia for the loan of
the topotypes of Oreohelix amariradix. Tlianks
also go to Dr. Royal B. Brunson for initiating my
interest in 0. amariradix.
LITERATURE CITED
Bayne, C. .J. 197.3. Physiology of the pulmonale reproductive
tract: Location of spermatozrei in isolated, self-fertilizing
succinid snails. Vcliifir l6:Uii)-\7h.
F^lnid, M. .1. liXI'i. A biological rwonnais.sance in the vicinity
of Flathead Lake. Bull. Uiiii: Montana No. 10, pi. 27.
Piisbry, H. A. 1934. Notes on the anatomy of Oreohelix. IIL
With descriptions of new species and subspecies. Proc. Acad.
Nat. Sci. Phil. S5-::m-im.
1939. Land Molluura of North America (North of
Mexico). Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. Monographs No. -3. Vol. 1,
Part 1: .500.
Solem, A. 1975. Notes on Salmon River Valley oreohelicid
land snails with dp,scription of (hriihrti.r waltoni. Veliger
18:16-31.
Vol. 91(1)
January 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 31
CALIBRATION OF AMINO ACID RACEMIZATION IN LATE PLEISTOCENE
MOLLUSKS: RESULTS FROM MAGDALEN A BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA
SUR, MEXICO, WITH DATING APPLICATIONS AND
PALEOCLIMATIC IMPLICATIONS
John F. Wehmiller
Department of Geology
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19711
William K. Emerson
and Department of Invertebrates
American Museum of Natural History
New York, NY 10024
ABSTRACT
Amino add enantiomeric (D/L) ratios in late Pleistocene, marine mollusks from
three uranium-series dated localities (Cay^icos and the San Diego Nestor Terrace
in California and the Magdalena Terrace in Baja California Sur) provide calibra-
tion points for establishing a 120,000-year isochron for interpolation of amino acid
age estimates over a broad latitudinal range (35° N. to £4° N. lat.) of the Califor-
nia - Baja California continental borderland.
Leucine enantiomeric ratios in specimens of the bivcdve Chione from the
Magdalena Terrace, compared with ratios predicted by a kinetic model for
120.000-year samples with constant (modem) diagenetic temperature, indicate
slight paleotemperature reductions (r-2° C) at Magdalena Bay during late
Pleistocene glacial episodes in the northern hemisphere.
There has long been a need to date more pre-
cisely Quaternary marine deposits in order to
understand faunal composition and rates of tec-
tonic deformation. Though uranium-series dating
methods have been applied to such problems,
significant uncertainties have been encountered
when applied to mollusks, the most commonly
found macroinvertebrates in mid-latitude terrace
deposits (Kaufman, et al. 1971; Szabo and Ved-
der, 1971; Ku and Kern, 1974). Consequently,
other methods, particularly techniques suitable
for mollusk dating, have been sought for those
localities that lack corals, the most reliable
organisms for uranium -series dating.
Amino acid racemization methods have been
shown to serve as both a relative and semi-
quantitative dating tool for Quaternary mollusks
from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the
United States (Mitterer, 1974, 1975; Belknap, MS;
Wehmiller, et at. 1977, 1978; Kennedy, MS). It
has been shown that enantiomeric ratios (i.e..
ratios of the D- and L-enantiomers of individual
amino acids) increase with age in stratigraphic
sequences of Pleistocene samples from the
California continental borderland: Palos Verdes
Hills (Mitterer and Hare, 1967), San Nicolas
Island (Wehmiller, et al, 1977), San Francisco
Bay (Atwater, MS), the Los Angeles Basin
(Wehmiller et al, 1977), and the Ventura Basin
(Wehmiller et al, 1978). On the California coast
well-established 120,000 to 125,000 year U-series
dates on corals from Cayucos (35.3° N.) and the
Nestor Terrace on Point Loma (32.7° N.) permit
evaluation of latitude/temperature effects on
racemization kinetics (Wehmiller, et al, 1977;
Wehmiller and Belknap, 1978). Amino acid data
for localities with U-series absolute dates permit
the evaluation of kinetic models of molluscan
amino acid racemization (Wehmiller, et al.. 1977;
Wehmiller and Belknap, 1978). These models re-
quire comparisons of estimated late Pleistocene
temperature histories with available quantitative
paleoclimatic data for glacial-age temperature
reductions. Kinetic models are especially impor-
tant for age estimation in cases where local inter-
polations between calibrated results cannot be
made, owing to the lack of absolute dates for the
intermediate localities.
In this paper we report amino acid data for a
third uranium-series dated locality, at Magdalena
32 THK NAUTILUS
Januan-3n, 1980
Vol. 91(1)
Bay, on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur
(24.6° N. latitude). The combined results
presented here more than double the latitudinal
range for which calibrated amino acid data can
now be interpolated.
Localities, Samples, Analytical Results
Three samples of the venerid bivalve mollusk
Chione of. C. undatella (Sowerby, 1835) from the
Magdalena Terrace, Magdalena Bay, (Figure 1,
AMNH loc. F-6) Baja California Sur, have been
analyzed for amino acid enantiomeric ratios. U-
series coral analyses from this marine-cut terrace
(Omura, et al. 1979) indicate that this locality is
approximately 120,000 (120 ka) yrs. in age and
correlative with the early portion of isotopic
Stage 5 (substage 5e of Shackleton and Opdyke,
1973). This particular time is well-represented by
emergent terraces around the world (see Bloom,
et al, 1974, for example).
Amino acid analyses have been performed ac-
cording to procedures described elsewhere
(Wehmiller et al, 1977; Kvenvolden, et al., 1972;
Frank et al., 1977). Enantiomeric ratios have
been determined by capillary column gas chroma-
FIG. 1. Index map of the. Mmfdalena Bay-Aimejas Bay area uf
Baja California Sur. Mexico, showing fossil localities (AMNH
Iocs. F-5 to F-8) in the late Pleistocene Magdalena Terrace
described by Omura. et al.. (1979). U-series dated specimenx
(corals and echiwnds. Omura et al.. 1979) and amino acid
enantwmeric dated specimens Chione) form coexvitiny
samples collected at locality F-6. AMNH Loc. F-6. about 1.5
km mrrth of the village of Puerto Magdalena (ti'SlfN..
USOSf W.). Santa Magdalena peninsula. Baja California Sur;
fosidh collected by W. K. Emerson, March 17. 1957 ( =
California Academy of Scienees locality 75i: .lee Jordan. 1936.
tography of the isopropyl-NTFA derivatives of
the total amino acid mixture. The chromato-
graphic method employs a 25 m glass capillary
column similar to that used by Frank et al
(1977) and marketed under the name Chirasil-Val
(Applied Science Laboratories, State College, PA).
Gjlumn conditions were as follows: He carrier,
12.0 psi; program isothermal at 90° C. for 16',
r/min. to 135° C, 32' isothermal. A represen-
tative chromatogram is shown in Figure 2. This
analytical method represents an alternative to
the (-l-)-2-butyl-NTFA method used for most
previous gas chromatographic studies of fossil
amino acid enantiomeric ratios (Kvenvolden, et
al, 1972. 1973; Wehmiller, et al.. 1977). Com-
parison of the two methods shows a good agree-
ment (within 2 to 5%) for most amino acids
(Wehmiller, unpublished).'
Enantiomeric ratios for six amino acids for
samples from Magdalena Bay are given in Table
1. The data represent mean values of peak-height
determinations from at least two chromatograms
for each sample. The results (Table 1) demon-
strate good reproducibility and are consistent
with relative intrageneric racemization rates in
comparison with previous observations
(Wehmiller, et al, 1977; Lajoie, et al. in press),
thereby meeting the two available criteria for
data reliability.
DISCUSSION
'^or purposes of discussion, results for only one
amino acid, leucine, are considered here. Kinetic
models for leucine racemization have been most
' Current work at the University of Delaware on the com-
parison of these two analytical methods indicates the follow-
ing relationship for leucine:
D/L leucine (Butanol) = 1.029 [D/L leucine {isopropanoi)]
-I- 0.0 M
r = .993, n = 48 samples ( of 5 genera)
These comparisons have been made by splitting a single
sample hydrolyzate, after all desalting steps, into two aliquots
for esterifation with either the (-(-) -2— butanol or the
isopropanoi.
The only amino acid for which significant deviations be-
tween the two methods are observed is phenylalanine: D/L
values determined by the isopropanoi method are about 15-
20% less than those determined by the (-l-)-2-butanol
method.
Vol. HMD
January •'^0,1 9Sn
THK NAUTILUS -33
to
z
o
a.
<f)
UJ
q:
tr
o
O
"T"
15
-| —
30
45
60
-| —
75
TIME, min.
FIG. 2. Chromatogram of isopr<ypyl-NTFA derivatives of
amino acidg in Chione. (Magdalena Terrace Sample 79-33-2)
on 25 m Chirasil-val optically active column. Peak identifica-
tion as follows: 1, 2, D, L alanine: 3, i, D, L valine: ft D-
alloisoleucine: 7, L-isoleucine: 8, D + L proline: 9, 10 D. L
leucine: 11, 12, D. L aspartic acid: 13. 15 D, L phenylalanine:
14, 16, D, L glutamic add Program: 90', Iff isothermal;
I'/min. to 135°; 32! isothermal. He carrier gas pressure, 12
psi.
thoroughly evaluated (Wehmiller and Belknap,
1978), though such models can easily be developed
for other amino acids using observations of in-
trageneric relative racemization rates (Lajoie, et
al., in press).
In Figure 3, the leucine data for the Mag-
dalena Bay Chione are compared with leucine
data in the venerid bivalve Protothaca from the
Cayucos and Nestor Terrace calibration localities
in central and southern California. Available
evidence indicates that Protothaca and Chione
have leucine racemization kinetics that are iden-
tical within analytical uncertainties (Lajoie, et uL,
in press). The leucine data are plotted vs. pres-
ent mean annual air temperatures at each local-
ity, in order to demonstrate the latitude/tem-
perature effect on enantiomeric ratios in samples
of similar age. Plots of enantiomeric ratios
against latitude would have similar appearance
(Wehmiller, et al, 1977; Kennedy, MS). Also
shown in Figure 3 are the leucine D/L curves
predicted by the kinetic model of Wehmiller and
Belknap (1978) for samples with ages of 80, 120,
and 200 ka, for effective ground temperatures
that would be associated with the present mean
annual air temperatures shown on the abscissa of
Figure 3. Implicit in these model isochrons are
assumptions about the temperature dependence
of the racemization reaction and, more im-
portantly, about the relation between ground and
air temperatures at coastal localities. For pur-
poses of construction of model isochrons, it has
been assumed that these ground-air temperature
relationships are constant over latitude and
through time (Wehmiller, et al, 1977). Mean an-
nual air temperatures are used in Figure 3
because these data are more easily obtained than
ground temperature, though the actual ground
temperature at any site might be a few degrees
warmer (see Wehmiller, et al, 1977: 13-17, 52-54,
TABLE 1. Amino add enantiomeric (D/L) ratios' in Chione
samples from Magdalena Bay. Baja California Sur, Mexico.
All spedmens from AMNH locality F-6: sample numbers
79-33-2 and 79-33-2A from two articulated valves of the same
spedmen.
' Amino acid abbreviations:
LEU Leucine PHE Phenylalanine
GLU Glutamic acid ASP Aspartic acid
VAL Valine ILEU Isoleucine (D-alloisoleucine/
ALA Alanine L-isoleucine)
^n.m. not measured
■ Ratios are averages of peak height ratios determined from
at least two chromatograms of each sample. Precision of
multiple determinations is between 2% and 6%, depending on
amino acid.
34 THE NAUTILUS
January 30, 1980
Vol. 91(1)
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
PRESENT MEAN ANN TEMP, °C.
FIG. 3. Fiot of D/L leucine vs. mean annual air temperature
and latitude for three U-series dated (ca. 120 ka) calibration
localities: C. Cayucos: N, Nestor Terrace: MR Magdaletm
Bay. Data for Cayucos and Nestor Terrace are on Protothaca
(Wehmiller. et al., 1977y Data for Magdalena Bay are on
Chione, a genus thought to have racemizaiion kinetics iden-
tical urith those of Protothaca (Lajoie. et al., in press).
Leucine data for Chione have been factored upward by about
39/o (see equation in text) for direct comparison of different
analytical methods employed for these residts. Temperature
data from summary in Wehmiller. et al., (1977) and Hastings
(196U). Size of data points represents ± 5%, the typical uncer-
tainty expected for multiple aiudyses at a single locality (see)
Wehmiller et al., 1977t Table 5).
Solid line represents the U-series calibrated isochron, fixed
to actual analytical residts and assigned an age of 120 ka.
Dashed lines represent model isorhrons, drawn from the
kinetic model of Wehmiller and Belknap (1978) for constant
effective temperatures as indicated. The separation between
the model and actual i'iochroiui for 120 ka is interpreted as
the kinetic consequence of late Pleiitocene temperature reduc-
tions, which would have slowed the racemizalion reaction and
lowered the effective temperature for Pleistocene samples
compared with modem samples.
Table 2; Wehmiller, 1977). Uncertainties in
ground-air temperature relations are probably
minor for comparison of marine terrace amino
acid data from closely-spaced localities, but these
uncertainties become more important when con-
sidering results (such as those presented here) for
samples from a broad latitudinal range.
The solid line in P^igure 3 represents the
120,000 year U-series calibrated isochron. No
assumptions regarding kinetic models are needed
to interpret data that fall on this isochron, if it is
assumed that samples in this latitudinal range
have been exposed to similar fluctuations in
paleotemperature during late Pleistocene climatic
cycles.
The divergence between the 120 ka kinetic
model curve and the actual calibrated curve
demonstrates the effect of late Pleistocene
temperature reductions on the racemization proc-
ess (Wehmiller and Belknap, 1978). For example,
the Nestor Terrace data plot about 0.06 lower
than would be predicted by the kinetic model if
these samples had always been exposed to con-
stant (modem) effective temperatures (those
associated with the present mean annual air
temperature of 16° C). The Nestor (32.7° N.) data
would fall on the model 120 ka isochron for an ef-
fective Pleistocene temperature of about 13.5° C;
the 2.5° C. difference between the effective
Pleistocene temperature and the present effective
temperature is considered to be the kinetic effect
of full-glacial temperature (air and/or ground)
reductions of about 5° C. The timing of these
paleotemperature reductions is based on the
glacial minima-maxima model of Shackleton and
Opdyke (1973). For a given locality, the full
glacial temperature reduction would always be
greater than the effective Pleistocene tem-
perature reduction, because the latter represents
the average kinetic effect of all temperatures to
which the sample has been exposed during its
fossil history. A full discussion of the optional
temperature histories that would be consistent
with this effective temf)erature reduction is found
in Wehmiller, et al (1977, 61-66). The Cayucos
(35.3° N.) data suggest a similar temperature
reduction: the parellelism of the calibrated and
the model isochrons between 36° N. and 32° N. in-
dicates that reductions in effective temperature
(and possibly, therefore, of temperature itself)
have been similar over this latitudinal range dur-
ing the past 120,000 years.
The Magdalena Terrace (24.6° N.) data lie
much closer to the 120 ka model isochron than do
the Cayucos and Nestor data, and indicate effec-
tive paleotemperature reductions were about 1.0°
C, representing full glacial temperature reduc-
tions of no more than 2.0° C. The convergence of
U-series calibrated isochron and the model
isochron at more southerly latitudes indicates
that greater paleotemperature reductions have
occurred in southern California than in southern
Baja California. Though the magnitude of this
change in the paleotemperature gradient can be
only qualitatively estimated because of the broad
Vol. 94 (1)
January 30. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 35
latitudinal range over which the model isochrons
(with their assumptions of constant ground-air
temperature relations) are being extrapolated,
the paleotemperature estimates derived from
Figure 3 are reasonable in comparison with
paleoclimatic information for both coastal and
nearshore marine environments between 36° and
24° N. latitude (CLIMAP, 1976; Peterson, et a/.,
1979).
CONCLUSIONS
Amino acid enantiomeric ratios in mollusks
from three U-series dated marine terrace sites
between 36° and 24° N. latitude on the Pacific
coast provide a calibrated isochron for samples
approximately 120,000 years in age over a wide
range of modem mean annual temperatures (ap-
proximately 9° C). The availability of this
isochron should aid in the dating of late
Pleistocene terrace localities at intermediate
latitudes by interpolation of data between
calibration points.
Comparison of the U-series calibrated isochron
with kinetic model isochrons indicates that
greater paleotemperature reductions have oc-
curred in coastal California than in southern Ba-
ja California during some part of the past 120,000
years, probably during times of maximum glacial
advance. The consistency of the Magdalena Bay
results with independent paleoclimatic informa-
tion supports the kinetic models that are in use
for the quantification of age/temperature rela-
tionships of amino acid racemization data in
Quaternary mollusks from Pacific coast marine
terraces.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are indebted to George L. Kennedy, U. S.
Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, for
critically reading the manuscript and confirming
the identification of the specimens. Everly
Keenan, University of Delaware, ran the x-ray
analysis of the samples and reviewed the
manuscript. Laura Carpenter and Linda Ahem,
University of Delaware, and William E. Old, Jr.,
American Museum of Natural History, aided in
the preparation of the manuscript. Amino acid
research at the University of Delaware is sup-
ported by U. S. Geological Survey Grant No.
14-08-000 1-G592.
LITERATURE CITED
Atwater, B. F. MS. Attempts to correlate late Quaternary
climatic records between San Francisco Bay. the Sacra-
mento-San Joaq\iin Delta, and the Mokelumne River,
California. Dept. of Geology, Univ. Delaware, 1-240, (1980)
Belknap, D. F. MS. Application of amino acid geochronology
to stratigraphy of late Cenozoic marine units of the Atlan-
tic coastal plain. Ph.D. Lhssertation, Dept. Geology. Univ.
Delaware, 1-.5.32 (1979).
Bloom, A. L., W. S. Broecker. J. M. A. Chappell, R. K. Mat-
thews, and K. J. Mesolella. 1974. Quaternary sea level fluc-
tuations on a tectonic coast: New "Th/^'U dates from the
Huon Peninsula, New Guinea. Quat. Res. 4:185-205.
CLIMAP. 1976. The surface of the ice-age earth. Science
191:1131-1137.
Frank, H., G. J. Nicholson, and E. Bayer. 1977. Rapid gas
chromatographic separation of amino acid enantiomers
with a novel chiral stationary phase. Jnur. Chrom. Sci,
15:174-176.
Hastings, Jr. R. 1964. Climatological data for Baja California.
Univ. Arizona, Inst. Atmospheric Physics, Technical
Reports on the Climates of Arid Regions. No. 14:1-132.
Jordan, E. K. 1936. The Pleistocene fauna of Magdalena Bay,
Lower California. Contrib. Dept. Geol. Stanford Univ.
1:103-173.
Kaufman. A.. W. S. Broecker. T. L. Ku, and D. L. Thurber.
1971. The status of U-series methods of moUusk dating.
Georhim, Cosmochim. Acta 35:1155-1183.
Kennedy, G. L. MS. Pleistocene paleoecology, zoogeography,
and geochronology of marine invertebrate faunas of Pacific
northwest coast (San Francisco Bay to Puget Sound). Ph.D.
Dissertation Dept. Geology, Univ. California, Davis, p.
1-824, (1978).
Ku, T. L, and J. P. Kern. 1974. Uranium-series age of the up-
per Pleistocene Nestor Terrace, San Diego, California. Geol.
Soc.Amer. Bull. 85:1713-1716.
Kvenvolden, K. A., E. Peterson, and G. Pollock. 1972.
Geochemistry of amino acid enantiomers: gas
chromatography of their diastereoisomeric derivatives. In,
Adv. Organic Geochemistry for 1971: p. 387-401. H. R. von
Gaertnerand H. Wehner [eds.]. Pergamon Press.
J. F. Wehmiller, and P. E. Hare.
1973. Racemization of amino acids in marine sediments
determined by gas chromatography. Geochim. Cosmochim.
Acta 37:'2215-2225.
Lajoie, K. R.. J. F. Wehmiller, and G. L. Kennedy. In press.
Inter- and intrageneric trends in apparent racemization
kinetics of amino acids in Quaternary mollusks. In, Adv.
Biogeochemistry of Amino Acids. P. E. Hare, T. C. Hoering,
and K. King, Jr. [eds.]. John Wiley.
Mitterer, R. M. 1974. Pleistocene stratigraphy in southern
Florida based on amino acid diagenesis in fossil
Mercenaria. Geo/og;/ 2:425-428.
3fi THE NAUTILUS
January 30. 1980
Vol. 94(1)
1975. Ages and diagenetic temperatures of
Pleistocene deposits of Florida based upon isoleucine
epimerization in Mercenaria. Earth Planet Set. Letters
28:275-282.
and P. E. Hare. 1967. Diagenesis of amino acids
in fossil shells as a potential geochronometer [Abst.]. Ge<il.
Soc.Amer. Pr<K)mms. 196? Ann. Meeting, p. 152.
Omura, A., W. K. Emerson, and T. L. Ku. 1979. Uranium-
series ages of echinoids and corals from the upper
Pleistocene Magdalena Terrace, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
77ieiVa!i/i7».s- 93: 184-189.
Peterson, G. M.. T. Webb III. J. E. Kutzbach, T. van der Ham-
men, T. A. Wijmstra. and F. A. Street. 1979. The continen-
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initial evaluation. y!ra/. Rea. 12:47-82.
Shaekleton, N. J. and N. D. Opdyke. 1973. Oxygen isotope and
palaeomagnetic stratigraphy of equatorial Pacific core
V2.3-238: Oxygen isotope temperatures and ice volumes on a
10* year and 10* year scale. Qimt. Res. 3:.39-5.5.
Szabo, B. J., and J. G. Vedder. 1971. Uranium series dating of
some Pleistocene marine deposits in southern California.
Earth Planet. Sci. Letters 11:283-290.
Wehmiller, J. F. 1977. Amino acid analyses of shells from the
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Earth Planet^ Sci. Letters 37:184-196.
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, K. R. Lajoie, K. A. Kvenvolden, E. Peterson. D.
F. Belknap, G. L. Kennedy, W. 0. Addicott, J. G. Vedder,
and R. W. Wright. 1977. Correlation and chronology of
Pacific coast marine terraces of continental United States
by amino acid stereochemistry: technique evaluation,
relative ages, kinetic model ages, and geologic implications.
U. S. GeoL Stin: Open-Pile Rept. 77-680:1-191.
, A. M. Sama-Wojcicki, R. F. Yerkes,
G. L. Kennedy, T. A. Stephens, and R. F. Kohn. 1978.
Amino acid racemization dating of Quaternar}' mollusks.
Pacific coast United States. In. Short Papers of the Fourth
International Conference, Ge(x;hronolog>\ Cosmochronology,
Isotope Geology 1978, R. E. Zartman [ed.]. U. S. GeoL Sun:
Open-File Rept. 78-701:445-448.
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THE
NAUTILUS
Volume 94, number 2 — April 30, 1980
ISSN 0028 -1344
CONTENTS
John H. Himmelman
Reproductive Cycle Patterns in the Chiton Genus, Mopalia (Polyplacophora) 39
Douglas G. Smith
Goniobasis virginica (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae) in the Connecticut River 50
Harlan K. Dean
Microstructureof the Crystalline Style of Spisw/asoMtssiima (Bivalvia: Mactridae;) 54
R. N. Howard, B. Z. Lang, and R. L. Carr
A New Preparation for Obtaining Chromosome Smears in Hydrobia (Hydrobriidae) 58
Stephen A. Hall
Snails from Quaternary Valley Fill at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico 60
Elizabeth C. Dudley and E. Christopher Dudley
Drilling Predation on some Miocene Marine Mollusks 63
William K. Emerson
Invertebrate Faunules of Late Pleistocene Age, with Zoogeographic Implications, from Turtle Bay,
Baja California Sur, Mexico 67
Ralph W. Taylor
Freshwater Bivalves of Tygart Creek, northeastern Kentucky 89
Publications Received ii Obituary
Meetings 66
PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED
Evolutionary SystenuUics of Bivalve Molluscs (edited by C. M.
Yonge and T. E. "niompson). 1978. Philos. Trans. Royal S<x'.
London, sect. B, vol. 284, pp. 199-436. 18 papers of major
significance in the systematics, evolution and paleontology
of the Bivalvia by leading malacologists.
Sarasua, H. and J. Espinosa. 1978. Adiciones al Genero Murex
(Mollusca: Neogastropoda) Pneyana. no. 179, pp. 1-13. A
brief review of Cuban Murex without reference to recent
literature. Murex yiimurinus n. sp. bears close resemblance
to springeri Bullis, perelegans Yokes, and riboiwy Clench
and Farfante.
Venics. The Japanese Jnunxal <if Malacology. Special Publica-
tion, 1979, Tokyo. Check List of New Genera and Species
and Author Index to vols. 1-36 (50 years). A very useful and
necessary index to about 1000 new moUuscan names pro-
posed in this well-known journal. Crucial dates of publica-
tion are given for 36 volumes.
Howorth, Peter C. 1978. The Abahtw Boot 80 pp., illus, 8 col-
or pis. Paperback. Naturgraph Publ., Happy Camp, CA
96039. .$;3..50. A delightful popular book offering identifica-
tions, biology, recipes, and ethnology of the Pacific coast
Haliotis.
Bernard, F. R. 1979. Bivalve Mollusks of the Western
Beaufort Sea. Contributions in Science, no. 313, 80 pp. $9.25
postage paid. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
County, CA 90007. 58 species, including one new genus,
Boreacola (Montacutidae) and two new species, from the
Arctic are described and illustrated.
The Pariah, no. 6, 12 pp. P. 0. Box 42, Highstown, NJ 08520.
$1.00. Privately printed. Contains an article on Cypraea
thomasi and one on recently created synonyms in the genus
Conus.
Reproduction of Marine Invertebrates: Vol. 5, Molluscs:
Pelecypods [Bivalvia) and Lesser Classes [Aplacophora,
Polyplacophora, Monoplacophora, Scaphopoda]. Academic
Press, 1979. xvi -I- .369 pp. Edited by A. C. Giese and J. S.
Pearse. $45.50. Clothbound. An excellent, well-illustrated
review with good bibliographies. The chapter by A. N.
Sastry on Pelecypoda (excluding Ostreidae) is particularly
informative. Not unreasonably priced considering today's
publishing costs and the excellent contents.
Pathways in Malacology. 1979. 295 pp. Mited by S. van der
Spoel, A. C. van Bruggen, J. Lever. Eleven chapters, on
somewhat unrelated subjects, representing papers given at
the Sixth Congress of the Unitas Malacologica Europaea in
Amsterdam in 1977. Some of the papers are excellent and
stimulating, such as J. Lever's "On Torsion in Gastropods ",
"Cementation in the Bivalvia" by C. M. Yonge, "A Theory
of Land Snail Biogeographic Patterns Through Time" by
Alan Solem, and Fumestin's intriguing "Planktonic
Molluscs as Hydrological and E>x)logical Indicators".
Knudsen's "Deep-sea Bivalves" is an excellent, up-dated
review. Bohn. Scheltema and Holkema. Utrecht. Bound,
$72.00. An expensive way to publish a transient, albeit
valuable, symposium.
Proceedings First International Corbicula Symposium. 1979.
313 pp. Texas Christian Univ. Research Foundation. Edited
by .]. C Britton. 17 papers and a large bibliography of this
economically important, freshwater bivalve give new and
valuable information. The return to the species name of
flumima Muller, 1774, for this bivalve, variously called
manilensis and leana, is probably a very wise, expedient
decision.
Mathiak. Harold A. 1979. A River Survey of the Unionid
Mussels of Wisconsin. 1973-77. 76 pp.. 11 color pis., maps.
Paperbound. $15.00 (postpaid). Sand Shell Press. P. 0. Box
44. Horicon. WI .53032. A non-scientific over\'iew of the 45
species of freshwater clams found in 251 Wisconsin rivers.
Excellent color plates, and useful for identifications.
Bouchet. Philippe. 1979. (photography by F. Danrigal and C.
Huyghens). Sea Shells of Western Europe. 144 pp.,
Numerous color plates. American Malacologists. Inc.. P. 0.
Box 22.5.5, Melbourne. FL 32901. Hardbound. $8.95. A
beautifully illustrated ecological and life history account of
the marine shells of France, the Lowlands and southern
England.
Bulletin of the Institute of Malacology. Vol. 1, no. 1, 21 pp.
May 30. 1979. A new professional malacological publication
from Tokyo supported by the Coral Museum and several
foundations. Contains four articles by Kosuge with descrip-
tions of several new muricids and Laiiaiis. Subscribe or ex-
change publications vrith Dr. Sadao Kosuge. Institute of
Malacology. 6-36 Midoricho 3 chome. Tanashi City, Tokyo
188. .Japan.
Kandel. Eric. R. 1979. Behavioral Biology of Aplysia. A Con-
tribution to the Comparative Study of Opisthobranch
Molluscs, xiii + 463 pp., 93 illus. W. H. Freeman and Co.,
660 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94104. Paperbound,
$20.0(j; hardbound, $40.00. This remarkably well-done text-
book demonstrates how a mollusk can serve as a subject for
neurobiology, comparative behavior, and the evolution of
functional adaptation. Exquisite drawings and inspirational
text cover the physiology, life cycle, behavior, and learning
processes in the opisthobranchs. A well-produced book
worth its price.
Rajagopal, A. S. and H. P. Mookherjee. 1978. Contributions to
the Molluscan Fauna of India. Part 1: Gastropoda: Ar-
chaeogastropoda. Occasional Paper No. 12, pp. 1-48, 1 pi.
Records of the Zoological Survey of India, New Delhi
110-006. Paperback, $2.00 U. S. Keys and 60 years on k In-
dian locality records for 36 species.
Ornohorsky. Walter 0. 1979. Tropicxjl Pacific Marine Sheik.
Pacific Publications, Sydney and N. Y. 352 pp., 68 pis., 4
(Cones) in color. Approximately $28.30 U. S. This is a useful
continuation of the author's vols. 1 and 2 of Marine Shells
of the Pacific, and fills in with about 500 species not pre-
viously covered, Cieneral and regional bibliographies, a gloss-
ary and index are included. It would have helped had the
index included references to the first two volumes, for now
one has to consult three volumes when identifying any one
species.
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 39
REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE PATTERNS
IN THE CHITON GENUS MOPALIA (POLYPLACOPHORA)
John H. Himmelman
Departement de biologie
Universite Laval
Quebec, Canada G1K7P4
ABSTRACT
TTie reproductive cycles of the five most common species of the chiton genus
Mopalia on the British Columbia coast are examined in three locations in relation
to environmental factors over a 3 to i year period. A diversity of patterns is evi-
dent. Mopalia ciliata starts gonadal growth in the summer, while Mopalia laevior
starts gonadal growth in the autumn. Both patterns occur in different populations
o/ Mopalia hindsii. Photoperiod and temperatute may act as environmental cues in
controlling these patterns. Spawning in M. hindsii usually occurs during the period
when temperatures are near minimal, or just starting to rise, while M. ciliata and
M. laevior spawn in synchrony with the spring phytoplankton bloom. Mopalia
lignosa has a more irregular reproductive cycle, and gonadal growth may follow
spawning in the late winter and spring, as well as summer spawning activity.
There are no obvious factors correlated mth these periods of gonadal growth and
spawning. The most irregular reproductive pattern occurs in Mopalia muscosa and
animals in mature and spent condition are found throughout the year. This may
be an adaptation to life in the intertidal zone, where favourable conditions for
gamete production and spawning may be determined more by microhabitat condi-
tions than by general hydrographic and climatic factors.
INTRODUCTION
Members of the North Pacific genus Mopalia
are a characteristic part of the inter- and sub-
tidal faunas along the west coast of North
America, but little attention has been given to
their reproductive biology and general ecology. In
the present study, the reproductive cycles of the
five most common species in British Columbia
are examined. These species are Mopalia hindsii
(Reeve, 1847), Mopalia ciliata (Sowerby, 1840),
Mopalia laevior (Pilsbry, 1918), Mopalia lignosa
(Gould, 1846) and Mopalia muscosa (Gould, 1846).
All previous studies on this genus were conducted
in California. Bamawell (1954) observed the
gonadal condition of animals of three species in
San Francisco Bay over a period of a year, and
Thorpe (1962) presented a list of times when he
observed individuals spawning for eight species
over a six year period. Studies using the gonadal
index method were made by Giese et al. (1959) on
M. hindsii in Monterey Bay, and by Boolootian
(1964) and Monroe and Boolootian (1965) on M.
muscosa in Santa Monica Bay. These repwrts do
not give a clear understanding of the reproduc-
tive cycles of the various species. In the present
study, observations were made on reproductive
cycles and on environmental conditions in three
locations over a 3 to 4 year period, in order to
determine the extent to which there has been a
separation in the timing of reproductive events in
these closely related species, and to elucidate
possible factors controlling the reproductive
cycles.
The most northerly ranging of the species in
the present study is Mopalia ciliata, which is
known from Unalaska Island in the Aleutians
(Dall, 1921; M wosnessenkii = M. ciliata) to
Bahia Totos Santos, Baja California (Berry, 1922),
and Mopalia muscosa, which is known from the
Shumagin Islands on the Alaskan Peninsula
(Dall, 1878; M. ciliata = M. muscosa) to Isla
Cedros, Bahia California (Berry, 1922). The other
40 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
species range from southern Alaska southward.
Mopalia hindsii is the most southerly ranging
species, being reported from Sitka, Alaska, to the
Gulf of California (Dall, 1921). Mopalia lignusa is
known from Sitka to Bahia Magdalena, Baja
California (Dall, 1921). Mopalia laeinor has a
more restricted range, being reported only from
Sitka (Burghardt and Burghardt, 1969) to its type
locality at Olympia, Puget Sound (Pilsbry. 1918),
and more recently to central California (Rice,
1971).
On the British Columbia coast the different
species vary in their vertical distributions (Him-
melman, unpublished). Mopalia muscosa is an in-
tertidal species and occurs in greatest numbers in
the mid-intertidal region. Mopalia hindsii and
Mopalia ciliata are common in the subtidal com-
munity, as well as in the low intertidal zone, up
to the level of about 2 m above lowest water of
spring tides (LWST). M. ciliata is more often
found in tight crevices and under rubble than M.
hindsii, and in the intertidal area both species
are most common on vertical faces and under-
cuts. In contrast to the above species, Mopalia
laeinor is a subtidal species and rarely occurs
above LWST. Mtrpalia lignosa is most common at
126'
shallow depths in the subtidal zone, and in the
intertidal zone it can occur up to as high as 3 m
above LWST. It can be very common intertidally
in some quiet water places where there is much
organic debris (I. M. Cowan, personal communica-
tion).
STUDY AREAS AND METHODS
Most of the observations in the present study
were made at three locations in British Colum-
bia: in subtidal communities at First Narrows in
Vancouver and at Porteau in Howe Sound, and
in an intertidal community at Botanical Beach,
on the outer coast of Vancouver Island (Fig. 1). A
few collections were also made at Eagle Harbour,
11 km from First Narrows. Not all five species of
Mopalia were present in sufficient quantities for
regular collections at each site, and thus were
collected only where it was feasible to make
subsequent collections. I tried to collect 10 or
more adult animals of each species on each collec-
tion date, but this was often not possible for the
rarer species.
The gonadal index, defined as the percentage
wet weight of the gonad to total live body weight,
was determined for each animal, this providing a
FIG. 1. Southwestern British Columbia, shovnng where the animais and environmental data were collected.
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 41
16 T
12-
X
C
nj
c
O
O
0
Mopalia hindsii
First Narrows
7
j "^Botanical Beach
12 10
First Narrows ^
1/
H 1 1 1 ) 1 1 1 1 1-
Botanical Beach
FMAMJJAS
1974
AMJ J ASONDJ FMAMJ J
1972 I 1973
FIG. 2. Moiwlia hindsii. Mean gonadal index and 95% confidence limits for animals at Fitsl Narrows and Botanical Beach. The
iiumherassmated u-ith each bar is the sample size.
Personal communication.). A good record of
temperatures at Porteau during the spawning
period in 1973 was made with a thermograph
at the collection site.
quantitative value for its reproductive condition.
In the process of determining the gonadal index, I
made a standard practice of returning the
animals to fresh sea water after allowing them to
dry on paper towelling for 15 min for weighing
purposes. When spawning was imminent in the
field, this procedure sometimes induced spavm-
ing. A record was kept of animals which spawned
in this manner. The weight range of the animals
used for plots of the mean gonadal index against
time was 10-35 g for Mopalia hindsii, 4-20 g for
M. ciliata. 8-35 g for M. laevwr, 4-19 g for M.
lignosa, and 10-50 g for M. m^iscosa. Gonadal in-
dices within these ranges are relatively indepen-
dent of animal size (Himmelman, 1976).
To examine the relationship between tempera-
ture and reproductive events, for the population
at First Narrows I used measurements of
incoming water at the Vancouver Public Aquar-
ium. Tlie intake was located 1 km from and at
about the same depth as the collection site, and
provides a good record of the conditions to which
the animals were exposed (a graph of these data
is presented by Himmelman, 1976). For the
populations at Botanical Beach, I interpolated
values from daily surface temperature measure-
ments taken at lighthouses at Sherringham and
Amphitrite Points (Fig. 1; Hollister, 1971, 1972,
1974, Giovando and Hollister, 1974; Giovando,
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Reproductive Cycles
Mopalia hindsii A distinctly annual reproduc-
tive cycle was seen in both locations where M.
hindsii was studied. At Botanical Beach, spawn-
ing was completed by mid-June 1972, since every
animal collected at this time had small gonads
containing few or no gametes (Fig. 2). During the
following summer, there was little gonadal
enlargement, but after September the gonads
grew rapidly to a peak in early April 1973. In
1973, there was a complete spawning during
April and all animals collected in May, June and
July 1973 had depleted gonads. In 1974, only four
collections were made. On 27 April, the animals
collected had partly spawned or spent gonads,
suggesting that spawning was near completion,
and all animals collected in May and June were
in spent condition.
At First Narrows, animals in the first collec-
tion in April 1972 had completed spawning (Fig.
2). Gonadal grovrth commenced in the spring and
by late August the gonads were two-thirds mac-
imum size. This was in marked contrast to the
42 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
FIG. 3. Mopalia hindsii. Summary of spawning ubservations.
events at Botanical Beach, where gonadal growth
did not start until autumn. At First Narrows,
gonadal growth during the autumn and winter
was slower and a peak was reached in Januarj'
1973. Spawning at First Narrows in 1973 was a
slow process, lasting 2-3 months, in contrast to
the one month spawning at Botanical Beach in
that year. It was underway in early March, when
one spent animal and six with intermediate-sized
gonads were collected, and all animals did not
have spent gonads until 10 April. In 1974, M.
hindsii had an abrupt spawTiing at First Nar-
rows. A few partly spawned animals were first
collected on 4 April and spawning was completed
on 15 April. Gonadal growth during the summer
was again evident at First Narrows in 1974.
A list of spawning observations for M. hindsii
from the present and earlier studies is shown in
Figure 3. Barnawell (1954) observed a reproduc-
tive cycle in M. hindsii in San Francisco Bay
similar to that observed in my study. There was
a progressive increase in the proportion of
animals with large gonads from late August to
November 1952, and the majority of the animals
collected from January to April 1953 had large
gonads. Subsequently, spawning occurred, since
most animals collected in May had small gonads.
E^ release by M. hindsii from two locations in
Marin County, California, was seen during late
October by Thorpe (1962). In Monterey Bay, M.
hindsii showed gonadal growth starting in the
autumn in 1956, 1957 and 1958, and there was a
well defined spawning in March in 1956 and 1957,
but not in the following three years (Giese, 1959;
Giese et ai. 1959, Giese and Araki, 1962). A
gradual decline in the mean gonadal index oc-
curred from November 1957 to July 1958, and
three breeding periods were reported between
November 1959 and late spring 1960.
Mopalia ciliata
Botanical Beach
i 1 1 I — I 1 1 1 1 1 1 — I
MJJASONDJFMAMJ
1972 I 1973
FMAMJ J AS
1974
FIG. 4. Mopalia ciliata. Mean gonadal index and 95% confidence limits for animaU at F^rst Narrows and Botanical Beach.
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 43
In summary. Mopalia hindsii shows gonadal
growth starting in the summer in the subtidal
population at First Narrows, and starting in the
autumn in intertidal populations at Botanical
Beach and Monterey Bay. There is usually
spawning in March or April, but in California in
some years there may be spawning activity from
early winter to late spring.
Mopalia ciliata. The reproductive cycle of M
ciliata was studied in greatest detail at First
Narrows (Fig. 4). The data from 1972 and 1973
showed a regular cycle, even though only a few
animals were found on some collection dates.
Gonadal enlargement in 1972 proceeded gradually
after June and reached a peak in January 1973.
All animals collected in March 1973 had mature
gonads, and one male in each of the two March
collections discharged some sperm, suggesting
that spawning was imminent. The gonadal in-
dices dropped abruptly in early April 1973 and
every animal from the 14 April collection had
depleted gonads.
In 1974, there may have been some summer
spawning following the main spring spawning.
All animals collected on 20 April and earlier had
mature gonads, and one-half of the animals col-
lected on 24 April had spent gonads. It was unex-
pected to find four of five animals from 7 May
with large mature gonads. Possibly spawning was
delayed in some localized areas at First Narrows,
and the variation in the data was due to sam-
pling error. Most of the animals collected in June
and July had mature gonadal tissues, but many
of these animals had small- to intermediate- sized
gonads. By 18 September, 10 of the 13 animals
collected had sj^ent gonads.
On 20 April 1971, two M. ciliata with depleted
gonads were collected at First Narrows. On the
assumption that this species is mature during the
winter, as in 1972 and 1973, spawning in 1971
probably occurred in March or April.
At Eagle Harbour, two collections of M. ciliiiln
were made near the time of the 1973 spawning
season. The mean gonadal index decreased from
11.8 ±1.9 (95% confidence interval, n = 10) on 23
March to 10.2±2.8 (n = 9) on 4 April, and all
animals in both samples contained large quan-
tities of gametes. Here, spawning may have oc-
curred at about the same time as at Fii"st Nar-
rows.
FIG. .5. Mopalia ciliata. Summary of spawning observations.
At Botanical Beach, four collections of M.
ciliata were made in 1974 (Fig. 4). On 27 April,
all animals collected had large mature gonads.
The mean gonadal index dropped abruptly during
May and all animals from June and July were in
spent condition.
A summary of spavming observations for
Mopalia ciliata is shown in Figure 5. In British
Columbia spawning occurred from late March
through May, except at First Narrows in 1974,
when there was some delayed spawning activity.
In San Francisco Bay, Barnawell (1954) reported
that animals with large gonads were found in all
seasons, but his data show a decrease in the pro-
portion of animals with large gonads from April
to July, which suggests there was spawning ac-
tivity during this period. From various locations
in California, Thorpe (1962) reported 20 observa-
tions of individuals spawning: 12 were in the
period 21 February to 21 March, one was from 15
July, and seven were in the period 25 September
to 20 November.
TTius, Mopalia ciliata spawns from late winter
through spring in British Columbia, but in the
southern part of its range it may also spavm in
the summer and autumn. The timing of gonadal
growth is only known for First Narrows, where it
starts in the summer.
Mopalia laeinor. This species was only ex-
amined in the subtidal populations at Porteau
and First Narrows (Fig. 6). At Porteau, spawning
was in progress, but near completion, when the
first collection was made on 8 April 1971. The
mean gonadal index was low, but four animals
released gametes in the laboratory. In 1972,
spawning was delayed, since all animals collected
on 7 April, with the exception of one partly
44 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
FIG. 6. Mopal ia laevior. Mean gonadal index and 95% confidence limits for animals at First Narrows and Porteau.
spawned male, had large gonads. There was an
abrupt spawning at Porteau in 1973. On 27
March only one spent animal was collected, and
on 10 April all animals had nearly completed
spawning.
At First Narrows, there was no indication of
spawning in collections from March and April
1972, but one animal collected on 8 May was in
spent condition, as were all animals collected in
June and August (Fig. 6). The gonads enlarged
rapidly during the autumn of 1972 and reached
peak size by late January 1973. One animal with
a small gonad was found on 6 March and another
on 30 March. In the latter collection, four
animals spawned in response to being dried and
rewetted. There was an abrupt spawning in early
April 1973, and only small quantities of gametes
or none at all were seen in animals collected on
14 April. As in M. ciliata, the spawning period of
M. ku'inor at First Narrows in 1974 was poorly
defined. The mast .striking drop in the mean
gonadal index was during 10-24 April, but the
data were erratic and a high proportion of
unspawned animals was later collected on 30
April and 7 May. Animals collected on different
dates, and probably from slightly varied
localities, differed in the extent to which they
had spawned, suggesting that the population at
First Narrows did not spawn in synchrony in
1974. All animals from the 18 September 1974
collection had spent gonads.
One collection of M. laonor was made at Eagle
Harbour on 4 April 197.3. The mean gonadal in-
dex was 1.4±0.7 (n = .5) and all animals had
depleted gonads.
In summary, Mopalia laevior has a distinctly
annual reproductive cycle, with gonadal growth
starting in the autumn and usually an abrupt
spawning in the spring (Fig. 7). At First Nar-
rows, spawning always occurs in synchrony with
spawning in M. ciliata. TTiere are no data on
reproductive events in M. laevior in the
literature.
Mopalia lignosa. At Porteau, M. lifjnom ap-
peared to spawn twice in 1971 (Fig. 8). Spawning
was imminent on 8 April, when all animals had
large mature gonads and four males spawned in
the laboratory. One month later, seven of the 10
animals collected had intermediate- to small-sized
gonads. Subsequently some gonadal growth oc-
curred and there was additional spawning activi-
ty sometime between mid-June and late-August.
In 1972, one collection of four animals was made
on 7 April. TTiree males had gonadal indices of
1 5.-3- 19.5 and one female had an index of 7.5.
These four animals appeared mature, but could
not be induced to spawn in the laboratory. In
First Narrows
Eagle Harbour
FIG, 7, Miipalia \^e\mT. Summary of spautiing observations.
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30. 198n
THE NAUTILUS 45
A M J
J A S
1971
O N D J
F M A M J J A
1972
S O N D J
F M A
1973
FIG. 8. Mopalia lignosa. Mean gonadal index and 95% confidence limits for animals at Porteau, and gonadal index value for each
animal collected at First Narrows.
1973, animals with mature gonads were found in
February, and spawning occurred sometime prior
to 10 April, when the eight animals collected con-
tained only small quantities of gametes. The one
animal collected on 27 March 1973 was in spent
condition.
Interpretation of the reproductive cycle of M.
lignosa at First Narrows was complicated by both
the small size of many of the samples and the ir-
regular sequence of events (Fig. 8). In 1971,
spawning may have occurred in April, since one
animal from 20 April released sperm in the
laboratory. In 1972, three spent animals were
found in March. Animals with larger gonads were
found in April through June and some spawning
may have occurred in the summer, since in
August the animals collected contained smaller
quantities of gametes. There was no evidence of
spawning in November 1972 and January 1973,
but by late April 1973, the gonads were notably
smaller and contained only traces of gametes.
There are few data on spawning of M. lignosa
in the literature (Fig. 9). On the open coast near
San Francisco Bay, Thorpe (1962) observed
spawning by five animals between 27 February
and 13 March 1957. In a study during April and
May 1974, Watanabe and Cox (1975) induced
some animals to spawn in the laboratory by
keeping them in stale water. They were unable to
induce spawning by numerous other methods.
In summary, reproductive events in Mopalia
lignosa follow a less regular pattern than in M.
hindsii. M. ciliata and M laeinor. There can be
spawning during late winter, spring and summer,
and gonadal growth may occur in the spring as
well as in the winter.
Mopalia miiscosa. Midway in the study of M.
muscosa, I realized that the reproductive condi-
tion of animals varied greatly in different pools
at any one time. Since animals from different
pools on the same collection dates were not
FIG. 9. Mopalia lignosa. Summary ofspauming observations.
46 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
12
10
8
§ 6
MopaIJa muscosa
Botanical Beach
0' — ' 1 H-
FMAMJ JASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFN/AMJ JASON
1971 I 1972 I 1973
FIG. 10. Mopalia muscosa. GinuuM index values for indii'idnah collected at Botanical Beach.
separated, mean gonadal indices were not
calculated. Figure 10 shows the gonadal index
value of each animal collected on 15 dates at
Btjtanical Beach during 1971 through 1973. At all
times in the year, mature and spent animals
were found and no peak period of reproductive
activity was evident. However, animals within
any one pool tended to have similar gonadal in-
dices. For example, on 4 August 1973, five
animals from a pool at 2.6 m above LWST had in-
dices ranging from 1.9-4.2, whereas five animals
Botanical Beach
Monterey Bay, Calif.
Puget Sound, Wash.
Corona del Mar, Calif.
San Francisco Bay
Santa Monica Bay:
Flat Rock
Sunset Point
Latigo Point
Monterey, Calif.
from a pool at 1.8 m had values of 5.0-8.6. To
determine seasonal trends in Mopalia mmcosa, it
would probably be necessary to make collections
throughout the year from a .specific pool which
contained enough animals to sustain this amount
of sampling.
There are reports of observed spawnings or of
gonadal index decreases in M. muscosa in all
seasons of the year (Fig. 11). EJarnawell (19.54)
found a high proportion of individuals with large
gonads throughout the year in San Francisco
Boolootian, 1964;
Monroe &
Boolootian, 1965
FIG. 11. Mopalia muscosa. Summary of Spawning observations.
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 47
Bay. In Santa Monica Bay, California, Boolootian
(1964) and Boolootian and Monroe (1965) in-
dicated that in three different locations there
were major drops in the mean gonadal index dur-
ing the winter and spring, but their data also in-
dicate that animals with mature gametes were
present even when the mean gonadal index was
low.
In conclusion, in contrast to the other species,
in Mopcdia muscosa reproductive events are not
closely coordinated amongst animals in single
geographical locations. In any season, some
animals may be undergoing gonadal growth and
others may be spawning.
Control of Gonadal Growth
Thei-e are several patterns in the timing of
gonadal growth in the genus Mopalia. In Mopatin
ciiiata gonadal growth starts in the early
summer and continues until a peak is reached
in mid-winter. In contrast, in Mopalia laevior the
gonads remain small during the summer and
there is rapid gonadal development during the
autumn and early winter. Surprisingly, both pat-
terns occur in Mopalia hindsii: gonadal growth
starts in the summer in the subtidal population
at First Narrows, and in the autumn in the in-
tertidal populations at Botanical Beach and
Monterey Bay. These two patterns of gonadal
development are widespread in shallow water
marine invertebrates of temperate and polar seas.
For example, in concurrent studies in the same
study areas, gonadal growth started in the sum-
mer in the chitons, Tonicella lineata and
Tonicella insignis, and in the urchin,
Strongylocentrotiis droebachiensis (Himmelman,
1976). In the latter reference, I have already
discussed the possible environmental factors
which might be controlling these patterns. Brief-
ly, the initiation of gonadal growth in the sum-
mer may be influenced by high temperatures or
steadily decreasing photoperiod. Possibly ap-
propriate light sensitivities were shown by
laborator>' studies, in which I found significant
changes in the rate of movement of the Mopalias
in response to small changes in light intensity
(Himmelman, unpublished). The initiation of
gonadal growth in the autumn may be stimulated
by lowered or steadily declining temperatures.
The latter changes could also be important in the
coordination of intermediate gametogenic events,
such as vitellogenesis, in the species which begin
gametogenesis in the summer. The final matura-
tion phase of gametogenesis could be stimulated
by minimal annual temperatui-es, the change to
increasing temperatures, or the rapid change
from decreasing to increasing photoperiod. These
considerations are, of course, speculative and the
actual factors will not be elucidated until ex-
periments, in which one factor is varied at a
time, are performed.
The data on gonadal grovrth in Mopalia lignosa
is less clear. There appears to be gonadal growth
following spawning periods in late-winter to
early-spring, as well as in the autumn after sum-
mer spawning activity. There is no obvious
widespread environmental factor that is cor-
related with both these periods of gonadal
growth. Possible gonadal grovrth is stimulated by
some local factor, such as food availability.
Control of Spawning
Spawning times vary in different Mopalia
species and only M. ciiiata and M. laevior, which
spawn together in the spring, show the same pat-
tern. Temperature is most frequently considered
to govern spawning in marine invertebrates. At
First Narrows in the present study, the late
April spawning of M. laeuior in 1972 and the ear-
ly April spawning in 1973 can be related to
temperature, since both spawnings occurred when
temperatures reached 7.6°C. However,
temperatures at First Narrows were similar in
the spring of 1973 and 1974, and thus
temperature differences would not account for
the abrupt spawning of M. laevior and M. ciiiata
in 1973 compared to the poorly defined spawnings
in 1974 (Fig. 4. 6). In 1974, sea temperatures when
M. ciiiata spawned were warmer at Botanical
Beach (about 9°C) than at First Narrows. The
Botanical Beach population was in the intertidal
zone, and therefore subjected to more varying
temperatures than the subtidal population at
First Narrows. At Porteau, a thermogi'aph at the
collection site showed only a slow increase from
7.5 to 8.3°C during the two week period when M.
laevior spawned. Thus, it is apparent that the
relationship between temperature and spawning
48 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
in M. ciliata and M. laevwr varies in different
places and years.
In concurrent studies on other invertebrates,
including the chitons, Tonicella lineata and
Tonicelln insiyrm, and the urchin, StromjiiUicen-
tratui^ droehachiensui, I found similar inconsisten-
cies between temperature and spawning in the
field (Himmelman. 197f)). Also, attempts to induce
the above animals to spawn in the laboratory (us-
ing animals collected just prior to spawning in
the field) by exposing them to temperatures
warmer or colder than in the field, as well as to
sudden changes in temperature, were not suc-
cessful (Himmelman, 1975).
On the other hand, spawning in M. laevior. M.
ciliata, T. lineata, T. irmgnis and S. droebachien-
sis is closely correlated with the spring
phytoplankton bloom (Himmelman, 1975, 1976).
For example, the abrupt spawning of these
species at First Narrows and Porteau in 1973
coincided with a sudden outburet of diatoms. In
1974, the spring bloom was delayed and less well
defined, and this corresponded to the prolonged
and less well defined spawnings in that year.
Laboratory studies on T. lienata, T. insignia and
5. (Irorhnrhioiaia demonstrated that spawning
could, indeed, be induced by e.xposing ripe animals
to natural phytoplankton at approximately bloom
concentrations (Himmelman, 1975). There is no
experimental evidence that phytoplankton causes
spawning in M. ciliatu and M. laevior but the
coincidence is persuasive.
The cues for spawning in Mopalia lignom and
Mopalia hindsii are less clear. At Porteau in
1971, M. Uqnom appeared to spawn once in late
April and a second time in the summer, thus
under considerably different environmental con-
ditions. Also at F'irst Narrows, the three M.
lujnosa collected on 18 March 1972 were in sfx-nt
condition, suggesting that there has been spawn-
ing while temperatures were near the annual
minimum and prior to the spring phytoplankton
bloom. The data for 1973 are scant. One animal
collected at Porteau on 27 March, and two from
First Narrows on 30 March had depleted gonads,
suggesting that spawning in 1973 preceded the
bloom. Thus, neither temperature nor
phytoplankton appeal's to be imjx)rtant in the
spawning of Mopalia lignnm. and the actual
spawning stimulus remains elusive.
In the present study, Mopalia hiruLm had a
single annual spawning, but the timing of this
event preceded the spawning of M. riliatcu M.
laevior, and other species which spawn in syn-
chrony in the spring. At First Narrows, M. hind-
s-ii spawned in 1973 and 1974 during the period
when temperatures were near the annual
minimum, or just starting to increase. At
Botanical Beach, M himh-ii was in .spent condi-
tion before spawning was completed in M. ciliata,
T. lineata and the black leather chiton,
Kntharina tunicata (Himmelman, 1976). Collec-
tions at this location were not made frequently
enough to show whether the spawnings of M.
hindsii preceded those of S. droebnchiensis. Obser-
vations from earlier studies in Monterey Bay
(Fig. 3) can be compared to environmental data
for the same area (Bolin and Abbcjtt, 19(i3). As in
my study, there was a late winter spawning in
19.56 and 1957 coinciding with near minimal sea
temperatures. Surprisingly, the mean gonadal in-
dex showed a slow decline from November 1957
through spring 19.58. This unusual pattern may
be related to the unusually warm temperatures
in 1958. This was the warmest year in Monterey
Bay in a 40 year period and temperatures during
the winter of 1957-1958 were near normal sum-
mer levels. The spawning periods of M. hindsii in
Monterey Bay were not as,sociated with periods
of heavy phytoplankton abundance. In summary,
spawning in Mopalia hindsii is usually associated
with near minimum temperatures during late
winter, and is completed before the spring
ph\1oplank1on outburst.
In Mopalia nm.'^com reproductive events are
less coordinated, amongst animals in single loca-
tions, than in other species in the present study.
At Botanical Beach, seasonal trends in reproduc-
tive activity were not evident in the data from
animals collected from pools in various parts of
the mid-intertidal region. In an earlier study in
Santa Monica Bay, California, the mean gonadal
index followed an irregular pattern, although
some trends were suggested (Boolootian, 19(>1).
Tlie marked irregularity of reproductive events in
M. nniscoaa is probably related to its unique ver-
tical distribution. Unlike the other species, it is
re.stricted to the intertidal region, and at
B(Uanical Beach it was most abundant in pools at
1.8-3.0 m above LWST. The fact that animals
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 49
from specific pools were in similar condition, hut
not animals from different {:k)o1s, suppest that
reproduction in this species is controlled by en-
vironmental conditions in the immediate vicinity
of the animals, therefore, by such factors as iX)ol
size, intertidal height, and food conditions.
Widespread environmental conditions, such as
temi)erature. photoperiod. and phytoplankton
abundance, appear to be less important in con-
trolling reproduction in M. muscosa.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Early discussions on the indentification and
ecology of the Mopalias with Di'. Ian McTaggart
Cowan stimulated my interest in these animals. 1
am grateful to Drs. Helga Guderley, Tliomas
Carefoot and McTaggart Cowan for valuable com-
ments on the manuscript. Helga also contributed
with her unique ability at finding Mopalias at
Botanical Beach. Dr. Norman Wilimovsky was
generous in making the facilities at Botanical
Beach available to me. During this study, I was a
recepient of a National Research Council of
Canada scholarship, and was aided by a NRC
grant to T. Carefoot.
LITERATURE CITED
Barnawell, E. B. 1954. The biology of the genus Mopaliu in
San Francisco Bay. M. A. Thesis. University of California.
Berkeley.
Berry, S. S. 1922. Fossil chitons of western North America.
Proc. Calif. Acad. Sn. (ser. 4) ll:.399-526.
Bolin. R. L. and D. P. Abbott. 196.3. Studies on the marine
climate and phytoplankton of the central coastal area of
California, 1954-1960. Rep. Calif. Coiyp. Oceanic Pish. Invert.
9:23-45
Boolootian, R. A. 1964. On growth, feeding and reproduction
in the chiton Mopalia muscosa of Santa Monica Bay.
Helyiilander uiss. Meeresimters. 11:186-199.
Burghardt. G. E. and L. E. Burghardt. 1969. A collectors
guide to the west coast chitons. San Francisco Aquarium
Society. Special Publication No. 4:45 pp. -I- 4 pits.
Dall, W. H. 1878. Report on the limpets and chitons of the
Alaskan and Arctic regions, with descriptions of genera and
species believed to be new. Priic. U. S. Nal. Mus. 1:281-:M4
-f- 5 pits.
1921. Summary of the marine shellbearing
mollusks of the northwest coast of America, from .San
Diego. California, to the Polar Sea. mostly contained in the
collection of the United States National Museum, with il-
lustrations of hitherto unfigured species. Bull. U. S. Nat.
^Wm-s. 112:1-217 -I- 22 pits.
Giese, A. C. 19.59. Reproductive cycles of some west coast in-
vertebrates. In: Photoperiodism and related phenonema in
plants and animals. Amer. A.is. Adu. Set. Piil>i No. 55:
625-6:K K. H. Withrow, Ed.
Giese, A. C, J. S. Tucker and R. A. B(K)lootian. 19.59 Annual
reproductive cycles of the chitons, Kathanna tutiimtn and
Mopalia hindsil Biol. Bull. 117:81-88.
Giese, A. C. and G. Araki. 1962. Chemical changes with
reproductive activity of the chitons. Katharina lunicata and
Mopalia hindsii. J. Exp. Ziml. 151:2.59-267.
Giovando, L. F. and H. J. Hollister. 1974 Observations of
seawater temperature and salinity at British Columbia
shore stations. 197.'3. Environment Canada, Pacific Marine
Sciem-e Report 74-11:1-107.
Hewatt. W. G. 19:38. Notes on the breeding seasons of the
rocky beach fauna of Monterey Bay, California. Proc. Calif.
Acail. Sci (ser. 4) 23:283-288.
Himmelman, J. H. 1975. Phytoplankton as a stimulus for
spawning in three marine invertebrates. J. Erp. Mar. Biol.
&o^ 20:199-214.
1976. Factors regulating the reproductive cycles
iif some west coast invertebrates. Ph. D. Tlicsis. University
of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Hollister, H. J. 1971. Observations of seawater temperature
and salinity at British Columbia shore stations. 1970. Fish.
Res. Bd. Canada Manuscript Report Series 1156:l-i:i3.
1972. Observations of seawater temperature and
salinity at British Columbia shore stations. 1971. Marine
Science Directorate, Pacific Region, Pacific Marine Science
Report. 72-14:1-123.
1974. Observations of seawater temperature and
salinity at British Columbia shore stations. 1972. Environ-
ment Canada. Pacific Marine Science Report 74-1: 1-105.
MacGinitie, G. E. and N. MacGinitie. 1968. Natural Histoiy of
Marine Animals. 2nd. Ed., McGraw-Hill, N. Y. .523 pp.
Monroe, H. C. and R. A. Boolootian. 196.5. Reproductive
biology of the chiton Mopalia muscosa. Bull. South. Calif.
Acad.Sci. 64:223-228.
Pilsbry, H. A. 1918. Descriptions of new species of Mopalia
and Ti'achudermon. Tlie Nautdiis 31:125-127.
Rice, T. 1971. Marine ShelL^ of the Pacific Northwest. Ellison
Industires. Inc., Edmonds, Washington. 102 pp.
Ricketts, E. F. and .J. Calvin. 1966. Between Pacific Tides. 3rd.
Ed. Sranford University Press. Stanford. 516 pp.
Thorpe, S. R. 1962. A preliminary report on spawning and
related phenomena in California chitons. The Veliiirr
4:202-210.
Watanabe, J. M. and L. R. Cox. 1975. Spawning behavior and
larval development in Mopalia lignosa and Mopalia muscosa
(Mollusca; Polyplacophora) in central California. The
VcH9er(Suppl.) 18: 18-27.
50 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
GONIOBASIS VIRGINICA (GASTROPODA: PLEUROCERIDAE) IN THE
CONNECTICUT RIVER
Douglas G. Smith
Museum of Zoology
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
ABSTRACT
TTie Connecticut River in New England is the northeastern range limit of the
pleurocerid snail Goniobasis virginica (Gmelin) where smooth shells predominate
over spirally Urate shells, while color-banding is present only on younger
specimens. Individual occur only in areas where shallow rocky reefs are
developed. Oviposition probably commences in spring and continues through to at
least July. Range contraction over the last 80 years is believed to be the result of
pollution, especially downstream where high water temperature and pH create
adverse conditions.
The Virginia river snail, Goniobasis virginica
(Gmelin, 1791), although well-known to 19th cen-
tury naturalists as an inhabitant of large Atlan-
tic coast rivers, was not reported from the Con-
necticut River until the 20th century (Pilsbry,
1892; Winkley, 1901). Subsequent to these papers,
a number of small collections were made of this
species in the Connecticut River which eventually
were transferred to the Museum of Comparative
Zoology, Harvard University. Thereafter, the
lower Connecticut River was considered to be the
northeastern terminus of the total range of G.
virginica (Goodrich, 1942).
Like most major rivers in the United States,
the Connecticut River has been subjected to
various forms of pollution as well as dam con-
struction. Each has resulted in the general
degradation of the quality of the river's water.
The removal of a magnificent salmon, shad and
sturgeon fishery, chiefly through the erection of
dams, was well-documented by the 19th century
(Netboy, 1968). However, little information has
appeared regarding the fate of lesser esteemed
organisms in the Connecticut River, particularly
the benthic invertebrates.
The fortunate existence of early voucher collec-
tions of (i. ifirginica from the Connecticut River
in the Museum of Comparative Zoology has per-
mitted an assessment of the present status of the
snail in the Connecticut River. The present paper
attempts to provide some data on the present
distribution and population structure of G.
virginica in the Connecticut River as well as in-
formation regarding the snail's biology.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
To establish a permanent record of the con-
tinued presence of G. virginica in the Connecticut
River collections were made from August, 1978,
to June, 1979, in areas known to be inhabited by
this snail. Specimens were narcotized in mentho-
lated water, fixed in a 10% formalin solution and
stored in 70% alcohol. The collections (UMA Nos.
MO. 1065, 1105, 1107) have been deposited in the
Museum of Zoology, University of Massachusetts
at Amherst. Conchological material from the
same areas has been deposited in the Museum of
Comparative Zoology, Harvard University and
the American Museum of Natural History, New
York. Existing collections of G. virginica from the
Connecticut River were analyzed for historical
distributional information and for range deter-
minations. Measurements taken on all specimens
included only aperture height as shell height and
width were affected by erosion. However, five of
the largest specimens were measured for total
length to determine maximum shell size.
Live material was retained in a ten gallon
aquarium to monitor activity. Specimens were
successfully maintained for five weeks after
which they were released. Supplementing field
collections, water analyses at two stations, Suf-
field and Warehouse Point, Connecticut, were
performed on June 18, 1979, when the river level
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 51
was low. Free carbon dioxide (CO2), DO and pH
were determined in the field using a Hach CA-10
portable water chemistry kit. Additionally, water
samples were brought to laboratory facilities at
the University of Massachusetts. Total hardness
was ascertained by use of a Hach HA-4P hard-
ness kit while pH was checked for accuracy by a
calibrated Fisher Accumet pH meter. Individual
chemical analyses, including diagnosis of the
presence of heavy metals, were performed by the
Environmental Quality Engineering Facility,
Water Analysis Laboratory, University of
Massachusetts. Also, to estimate population den-
sity, meter square (M^) grids were established at
Suffield and Warehouse Point, Connecticut, on
June 18, 1979. Three grids ranging from .005 to
.650 meter in depth were sampled at Warehouse
Point while two grids ranging from .000 to .350
meter in depth were sampled at Suffield.
Finally, 14 specimens, collected on 24 June,
1979, were preserved in 10% formalin and serial-
ly sectioned for determination of gonadal activity.
Individual gonids were sectioned at eight
microns, dehydrated in an alcohol series and
stained with Delafield's hematoxylin and eosin or
fast green. Five slides were prepared for each
specimen.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Biology
Goniobasis virginica often expresses two shell
morphologies, a smooth form and a Urate form,
the latter historically given the nomen
"multilineata" (Tryon, 1873). Pilsbry (1892)
observed both forms in the Connecticut River.
Presently a lirate phenotype is found among Con-
necticut River shells of G. virginica, however, the
characteristically raised lines are best developed
only younger specimens with an aperture height
of about seven millimeters. Larger specimens
usually have recognizably raised spiral lines con-
fined to the lower third of the body whorl.
Among a large sample of dead shells, lirate forms
comprised 17 percent of the total sample (122
specimens). Pilsbry (1892) further noted that Con-
necticut River specimens of this species were
large. Harman and Berg (1971) gave maximum
lengths of 27.5 to 31.0 mm (aperture height, 9.0 to
11.0 mm) for material they collected in New
York. Recent Connecticut River animals are com-
paratively larger, ranging from 30.8 to 32.5 mm
total length (five largest specimens, X = 31.3
mm) and have aperture heights of 11.4 to 12.2
mm.
External color markings are subdued on recent
Connecticut River snails. Younger specimens (to
seven millimeters aperture height) often display
a single chestnut color band on only the body
whorl. Larger adults show no banding. Museum
specimens collected around 1900 from the Connec-
ticut River often show two similarly colored
parallel bands on the lower portion of the shell of
younger specimens.
Recognition of size classes and identification of
cohort structure was not possible due to complete
overlap of variously aged specimens. Dazo (1965),
summarizing the available data on egg laying
cycles in Goniobasis spp., showed that the season
generally begins in early spring and lasts through
the summer. The only reference specifically deal-
ing with G. inrginiea (Winsor, 1933) cites egg lay-
ing as occurring in June in Maryland. Connec-
ticut River G. virginica probably lays eggs from
spring to July. Histological inspection of the
gonads of 14 specimens showed that by June,
males were spent and females only occasionally
contained eggs in the ovary. Captive females held
in an aquarium continued to lay small clutches of
one to four eggs through July.
Harman (1972) has characterized G. virginica
as a slow current, "clean cobble" inhabiting
species. The present study supports Harman's
diagnosis as this snail predominantly favors firm,
clean substrates in the Connecticut River. The re-
maining micro-populations of G. virginica in the
Connecticut River are found only in areas where
the current continuously washes lithic surfaces.
Animals are totally absent from intervening silt
covered embayments and beaches. The three
localities surveyed supporting aggregations of G.
virginica were unique in that the accretion of
rocks and gravel, brought about by both natural
and artificial factors, has resulted in a "funnel-
ing" effect, thus concentrating river flow over
reduced area. One site is a rocky delta that was
built up at the mouth of a stream.
The other two sites exist underneath highway
bridges, where residual land fill combined with
accumulated rock debris has created a shoal be-
tween the shoreline and the nearest bridge sup-
port. Reefing in the above localities intensifies
the river's current and, hence, increases abrasion
52 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
FIG. 1. An adult specimen of Goniobasis virginica from the
Connecticut River fX 1.5). Note algal growth on shell
of the rock surfaces thereby providing a clean
substrate for habituation by snails.
Individuals of G. virginica in the Connecticut
River host a number of epizootics and parasites.
Dense growths of algae (Fig. 1) adorn the shells
of older specimens. Occasionally thick colonies of
the Entoproct (Bryozoan) UmateUa gracilis Leidy
also cover the shell of some specimens. Internally,
rediae and sporocysts of an undetermined species
of trematode are sometimes found in high num-
bers in reproductive tissues (Fig. 2).
^
,7--W^
FIG. 2. Photomiciiyiaph nj a sttiiun Ihiuiu/h the mcera of a
specimen of G. virginica ^X 100). GN-Gonadal tissue, SP-
sporocyKts ofparasit ic I re mat ode.
Spnngfiald
N
ma.
ct.
^ R*cord«. 1Ma-cs tOOO
\J No apcctmana loc*t«d;
I97S- lero
9 Known populolton:
1978- 1079.
FIG. 3. Map of the Connecticut River in southern New
England showing former and present distribution of G.
virginica. Shaded area indicates portion of river affected by
the salt wedge.
Distribution
Based on collections existing in the Museum of
Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, sup-
plemented by a few specific references (Pilsbry,
1892; Winkley, 1901), G. inrginica. at the turn of
the century, occupied a 60-mile range within the
Connecticut River. Recent search, however, has
revealed that G. virginica presently survives in
only a five mile stretch of the river between the
Enfield-Suffield area and Warehouse Point, Con-
necticut (Fig. 3). Massengill (1976) did not repwrt
it from Haddam, Connecticut, well within the
species historical range.
Since the early collections were made after the
larger dams were built, it is likely that the range
contraction experienced by G. mrginica resulted
from deterioration of water quality, although the
form of pollution responsible is unknown. Har-
man and Berg (1971) listed comparatively narrow
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 53
ranges of typical chemical characteristics in
which G. inrginica was found in New York, sug-
gesting that G. inrginica is intolerant of "dirty"
conditions. Water analyses were performed at
two sites on the Connecticut River on a day when
stressful conditions would be most apparent due
to very low water level and high atmospheric
temperature (25C). The first site at Suffield, Con-
necticut, suggested conditions comparable to
those in which G. inrginica is found in New York
(Harman and Berg. 1971) (Table 1). However, the
second site, Warehouse Point, revealed high pH
and water temperature (Table 1). Other para-
meters were within expected limits although
dissolved oxygen was high. Warehouse Point is
the farthest dovrastream G. virginica occurs in
the Connecticut River and is where the species
shows the greatest biological difficulty. Quali-
tative sampling during May at Warehouse Point
when water conditions were more ameliorable
turned up only seven living specimens. Quan-
titative sampling later in June, using M^ grids,
produced no living animals, an indication of
worsening conditions. The suffield cite contained
291 and 433 individuals per M' at two grids
respectively. Graphic analysis of survivorship of
adult animals utilizing aperture heights, was per-
formed for two micro-populations, Suffield and
Warehouse Point (Fig. 4). The contrast between
curves A and C is produced in part by differences
in sample size and shell size. Whereas curve A
was derived from an adequately large sample
(62 specimens) Curve C was generated by the
only seven living specimens collected. Curve B,
representing museum specimens collected around
TABLE 1. Chemical characteristics of environments support-
irig populations of G. virginica. All concentrations in parts
per million (ppm). D0= dissolved oxygen, CaCO, = hardness
as calcium carbonate. Cft = free carbon dioxide.
e 8 10 12
Apertuf* h«lght(mm)
FIG. 4. Distribution of shell -mes. based on aperture heights,
of specimens in three collections ofG. virginica /ro/T! the Con-
necticut Ri^'er: (A) Suffield, Ct.. recent: (B) Springfield. Ma.
to Hartford, Ct, about 1900; (C) Warehouse Point. Ct.. recent.
Curves were fitted to a scatter plots which can be furnished
upon request.
1900 between Hartford, Connecticut and Spring-
field, Massachusetts, is also representative of a
small sample (10 specimens) and is included only
for comparative purposes. Despite the conditions
alluded to above, it is evident that Suffield snails
are as large as, or larger than, snails found at the
beginning of the present century in similar
localities. Warehouse Point snails, however, do
not achieve the same sizes of the other samples
suggesting that, at Warehouse Point, either
growth is curtailed or death preceeds maximum
development.
Additional chemical analyses were performed
on Warehouse Point and Suffield water samples
in hopes to pinpoint the cause of mortality
among G. virginica at Warehouse Point.
Although heavy metal content was low, both sites
showed high ammonia (NH3) levels (.10 ppm, Suf-
field; .14 ppm. Warehouse Point). Alone these
values do not answer why differential survival
rates exist at each site, however, the high water
tem'perature and alkalinity at Warehouse Point,
the source of which is unknown, may enhance
ammonia toxicity (Hynes, 1960; Harman, 1974).
During warmer months, toxic ammonia probably
eliminates those specimens that gain a foot hold
at Warehouse Point during cooler periods.
The future holds an uncertain prognosis for the
continued existence of G. virginica in the Connec-
ticut River. Dispersal by snails, either up or
downstream is controlled by the snail's ability to
find suitable substrate to establish self-sustaining
M THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
populations as found at Suffield and Enfield.
Furthermore, downstream movement, which
would seem the direction of least resistance, is
blocked by adverse water conditions as
demonstrated at Warehouse Point. Although the
surviving pockets of snails at Enfield and Suffield
appear healthy, inability to disperse combined
with short term fluctuations of water levels,
caused by human activity, which periodically
strand large numbers of snails out of water, place
excessive pressure on a few reduced gene pools to
maintain sufficient viability and adaptability to
ensure the species survival in the Connecticut
River.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I should like to thank William Nutting,
Richard Johnson, Diane Romeo, Eugenia Zavras,
Richard Gillerman and Stuart Ludlam for their
assistance during the preparation of this
manuscript. Financial assistance was provided in
part by a grant from the Connecticut River
Watershed Council.
LITERATURE CITED
Dazo, B. C. 196.5. The morphology and natural history of
Pleuroca unita and (iariinhnsi,'; livescens (Gastropoda;
Cerithiacea: Pleuroceridae). Mducolugia 3(l):l-80.
Goodrich, C. 1942. The pleuroceridae of the Atlantic Coastal
Plain. Mu.seum Zoology. University Michigan. Orrasionnl
/'fipr/>-4.')6:l-fi.
Harman. W. N. 1972. Benthic .substrates their effect on fresh-
water MoUusca. EcoLigy 53(2): 271-277.
. 1974. Snails (MoUu.sca: Gastropoda) In: Pdllutinn
ErnUtgy of Freshwater Invertebrates. Editors: C. W. Hart,
.Jr. and S. L. H. Fuller. Academic Press, Inc., New York, pp.
27.5-312.
Harman, W. N. and C. 0. Berg. 1971. The freshwater snails of
Central New York. N.Y. State Agric. Exper. Sta.. Search:
Entomology 1(4): 1-68.
Hynes, H. B. N. 1960. TTip Biology of PoUrUed Waters. Univer-
sity of Toronto Press, Toronto. 2f)2 pp.
Ma.ssengill, R. R. 1976. Benthic fauna: 196.5-1967 versus
1968-1972. In: The Connecticut River Ecological Study, Eds.
D. Merriman and L. M. Thorpe. Americdii fisheries Sorie-
ty. Monograph l:.39-.53.
Netboy. A. 1968. The Atlantic Salmon. Houghton Mifflin Co.,
Boston. 4.57 pp.
Pilsbry. H. A. 1892. Goniobasis virginica in Connecticut. The
Nnutihiis6C3y.3&.
Tryon. G. W. 1873. Land and Freshwater Shells of North
America. Part IV. Strepomatidae (American Melanians).
Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collec-
tions 253:l-ii5.
Winkley, H. W. 1901. Goniobasis in Massachusetts. TTie
Nautihts 15{lY.m.
Winsor. C. P. 1933. The eggs of Goniobasis virginica Gmelin
and Anculosa carinata Brugiere. Journal Washington
Academy Science 9:243-259.
MICROSTRUCTURE OF THE CRYSTALLINE STYLE OF
SPISULA SOLIDISSIMA (BIVALVIA: MACTRIDAE)>
Harlan K. Dean
112 Pollution-Ecology Laboratory
College of Marine Studies
University of Delaware
Lewes, Delaware 19958
ABSTRACT
A method of fixation is introdueed which allows light and scanning electron
microscopy to be used in the stwdy of the molluscan digestive style iLsing the
bivalve, Spisula solidissima Dillwyn. Energy dispersive x^ray analyse of this style
supports the hypothesis of internal liquification of older style material.
The crystalline style is a relatively large
mucoid rod present in several prosobranch gas-
tropods and in all bivalves save the protobranchs
(Purchon, 1968). This structure occupies the style
'University of Delaware College of Marine Studies Contribu-
tion No. 78101
sac which is completely separate in some species
and continuous for all or part of its length with
the midgut in others. The anterior end of the
style projects into the stomach cavity and the en-
tire structure is believed to be rotated by the
cilia of the epithelium lining the style sac. Rub-
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 55
bing of the stomach epithelium by the style tip is
avoided by the presence of a protective gastric
shield.
The style is approximately 80% water and is
composed mainly of mucoproteins (Bailey and
Warboys, 1960; Doyle, 1966). Bailey and Warboys
(1960) found that although 67% of the dry weight
of the style of Pinna mobilis was protein, much
of this protein was associated with carbo-
hydrates; there were only negligible amounts of
enzymatic proteins. The most common sugars
making up the carbohydrate fraction are hex-
osamine, galactose, and fucose (Hashimoto and
Sato. 1955; Bailey and Warboys, 1960; Doyle,
1966).
Mechanical functions attributed to the style in-
clude the stirring of stomach contents, trituration
of particles against the gastric shield, retrieval of
food from the midgut and coating of abrasive
particles with mucous (Bernard,. 1973). Physio-
logical functions include use as a source of
digestive enzymes and as a buffering agent (Ber-
nard, 1973).
The enzymes reported present in style material
are primarily carbohydrases (Kristensen, 1972;
Wojtowicz, 1972). Most commonly present are
amylase (Bailey and Warboys, 1960; Mathers,
1973; Langton and Gabbott, 1974) and laminarase
(Sova et ai. 1970; Wojtowicz, 1972). Shallenberger
et ai (1974) found laminarase to be the major
style enzyme in Spisula solidissma. Other
enzymes reported from bivalve styles are lipase
(Mathers, 1973), maltase, and cellulase (Kris-
tensen, 1972).
Study of the structure and mechanical function
of the crystalline style has been hampered by its
transitory nature. Morton (1970) and later
Langton and Gabbott (1974) reported that many
bivalves dissolve their styles during low tide and
reform them at high tide. Kristensen (1972)
demonstrated that formation of style material
occurred only when animals were actively
feeding. Yonge (1923) noted that the styles of
bivalves possessing a separate style sac and
midgut were always present and fairly persis-
tant. Those bivalves whose style sac and midgut
communicate were often found to lack a style or
to possess one which dissolves rapidly upon
removal from the style sac.
Because of the high water content of the style
and its transitory nature few techniques for
rigorous examination of its structure have been
demonstrated. Some work using transmission
electron microscopy has been accomplished
through standard plastic embedding techniques
(Wourms, 1970; Ghiselin, de Man, and Wourms,
1975).
This paper describes for the first time a
method of fixation of crystalline styles which
allows its examination by light or scanning elec-
tron microscopy. Due to the large size and high
stability after dissection, the style of the clam,
Spisula mlidissima Dillwyn, (family: Mactridae)
was used to demonstrate this method. This
species has a gastropemptan stomach (type V ac-
cording to the classification of Purchon (I960))
with a completely separated sac and midgut.
METHODS
Styles were collected from specimens of Spuula
solidissima maintained in a running seawater
table. Valves were cracked open and a lateral in-
cision made into the stomach cavity. Styles were
fixed in 10% Sorenson's phosphate buffered for-
malin with a small amount of acetic acid (0.06 ml
acetic acid per 10 ml formalin) for approximately
24 hours. Dehydration was carried out by 8-12
hour changes in 30%, 50%, 70%, 85%, and 95%
ethanol at 0°C. The material was then slowly
warmed to room temperature and transferred to
absolute ethanol. Transfer from 70% to 85%
resulted in approximately twenty percent
shrinkage. After dehydration, styles were
critical-point dried (a Denton DCP-1) and
mounted on stubs. Specimens to be viewed with
the scanning electron microscope were coated
with carbon and gold and viewed with a Cam-
bridge Stereoscan Mark H and a Phillips SEM-
501. Portions of styles used for elemental
analysis were coated with carbon and examined
qualitatively by energy dispersive x-ray analysis.
RESULTS
The style of SpKula solidvarimn possesses an
extended anterior tip and is drawn out to an
elongate point posteriorly (Fig. 1). The major
length of the style is composed of numerous con-
centric longitudinally oriented lamellae. When
viewed with light microscopy these lamellae sur-
round an inner core of granular material. In a
56 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
^ ?
FIG. 1. Drawing of the crystalline style o/Spisula solidissima. Scale bar equals 1 cm. A - anterior tip of the style. B -food bolus, C -
head of the style. D - cotuitricted zone. E - lamellae of the style. F- central core of granular material.
scanning electron microscopy this granular
material seemed to be very similar to the
lamellar material (Fig. 2). Elemental analysis of
these two zones by energy dispersive x-ray
analysis also indicated that these two zones are
identical in composition with reference to the two
major elements detected, calcium and sulphur.
The constricted area posterior to the bulbous
head of the style lacks a core of granular
material. Under the light microscope this con-
stricted zone possesses several rings on the ex-
terior surface. These are similar to the impres-
sions noted by Kristensen (1972) in styles of
Macoma balthica (Linn^). Scanning electron
microscopy revealed that these rings actually con-
sist of terraced layers of exterior lamellae (Fig. 3
and 4).
The bulbous head of the style is composed
mainly of granular material with only a few
lamellae present at the exterior surface. The nar-
row anterior tip extends from the head of the
style and is pressed against the gastric shield at
the left anterior wall of the stomach. This portion
of the style is also composed of terraced lamellae
similar to those of the constricted area (Fig. 5).
Much of this tip is surrounded by a food bolus of
amorphous material interspersed with occasional
diatoms (Fig. 6).
DISCUSSION
The style had been thought to be secreted in
the posterior end of the style sac replacing
material lost to dissolution in the stomach. Using
in vivo staining on styles of Macoma balthica and
Abra nitida of European seas Kristensen (1972)
found that new style material is added along the
entire length of the style sac. This discovery was
later substantiated by Bernard (1973) by labeling
the style with barium. On the basis of his stain-
ing experiments Kristensen hypothesized that
older style material moves inward to the central
axis of the style, undergoes liquification and col-
lapse, and is then forced anteriorly toward the
stomach.
Examination of the structure of the style of
Spii^ula .s'o/rrfmiwa tends to support the
hypothesis of internal collapse and liquification
of old style material described by Kristensen
(1972). Both the lamellar and granular style
material were similar in composition in respect
to the two elements detected with energy disper-
sive x-ray analysis. Material from both regions of
the style was also quite similar in appearance,
although the granular material seemed more
loosely organized. The similarity of these two
regions also tends to refute independent secretion
of lamellar and granular material hypothesized
by Alexander and Rae (1974).
The present study suggests that formation of
the style occurs entirely within the style sac.
Rings described by Kristensen (1973, Fig. 1) on
the collar of the style of Macoma balthica are
similar in appearance to the terraced lamellae
found on the style of Spisula solidissima (Fig. 3
and 4). The edge of each ring represents the effec-
tive anterior limit of the style sac during secre-
tion of each lamella. This suggests that the style
decreases in diameter and is shifted incremental-
ly in an anterior direction prior to the laying
down of new lamellae in the style sac.
The lack of f(X)d material on the exterior sur-
face of the style of Spisula solidvisima fails to
support Bernard's (1973) hypothesis that the style
sac epithelium is a digestive surface. Histo-
chemical studies by Mathers (1973) of Ostrea
pdidis and Cmssostrea ang}tlata have demon-
strated that the style sac epithelium does not
show reactions typical of an area of absorption
while the stomach and midgut epithelium do.
Evidently the major portion of the style sac
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 57
FIG. 2-6. Scanning electron micrographs of the crystalline style uf Spisula solidissima. 2, Cross section at the approximate
midlength of the style. Scale bar equals 100 urn. CC - central core of granular material, L - lamellae. 3, Exterior surface at the con-
stricted area of the style. Scale bar eqiuds 50 urn. TL - teiraced lamella. 4, Longitudinal section of the constricted area of the style.
Scale bar equals lOO urn. TL - terraced lamella. 5, Anterior tip of the style imth the encircling food bolus paiiially removed. Scale
bar equals 50 urn. A - anterior tip of the style. 6, Teiraced organization of the lamellae at the anterior tip. Scale bar equals 100
um.
epithelium function mainly in ciliary rotation
and forward movement of the crystalline style.
In addition to the style of Spisula solidissima
that of the Mahogany Clam, Arctica islandica
(Linne) was also fixed successfully in the present
study using this same procedure. This success
suggests that this method may be employed with
a wide range of gastropod and bivalve species to
compare styles from a broad range of stomach
and feeding types. Changes in style morphology
during tidal cycles and in response to varying en-
vironmental factors, subjects of considerable cur-
58 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
rent interest (Reid and Reid, 1969; Morton, 1970;
Kristensen, 1972; Bernard, 1973; Lanpton and
Gabbott, 1974), can also be explored with this
method.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
All phases of this study benefited greatly from
the direction and aid generously provided by Dr.
Melbourne R. Carriker, College of Marine
Studies, University of Delaware. Specimens of
Spisula solidissima were kindly provided by Ms.
Mary Gibbons also of the College of Marine
Studies. Preliminary examination with scanning
electron microscopy was made with Ms. Takako
Nagasi on a Cambridge Stereoscan Mark II in the
Department of Geology, University of Delaware.
A Phillips SEM-501 was used for final examina-
tion in the Department of Mechanical Engineer-
ing, University of Delaware with the aid of
Mr.Walter Denny. I am indebted to these people
for their help during this work.
This research was supported in part by an In-
dustrial Partners grant from the University of
Delaware's College of Marine Studies.
LITERATURE CITED
Alexander, C. G. and J. C. Rae. 1974. The structure and for-
mation of the crystalline style of Telescnphim telescopiuni
(Linnaeus), l/c/ii/cr 17:56-60.
Bailey. K. and B. D. Warboys. UMjO. The Lamellibranch
crystalline style. Biochem. Jour. 76:487-491.
Bernard, F. R. 1973. Crystalline style formation and function
in the oyster Crfutsostrea gigas (Thunberg, 179.5). Ophelia
12:159-170.
Doyle, J. 1966. Studies on the chemical nature of the
crystalline style. In H. Barnes (ed.): Some contemporary
sUtdies in Marine Scieiice. pp. 2.5'?-26.3. G. Allen and Unwin
Ltd.. London.
Ghiselin, M. T. E. de Man, and J. P. Wourms. 1975. An
anomalous style in the gut of Megatebennus bimaculatus. a
carnivorous prosobranch gastropod. Veliger 18:40-43.
Hashimoto. Y. and T. Sato. 19.5.5. Studies on the crystalline
style of molluscs. II Chemical constitutents of the style of
Mai-tm siilcatarin Reeve (Part 2). Bull. Jap. Sue. Seient.
Fish. 21:a52-356.
Kristensen, J. H. 1972. Structure and function of crystalline
styles of bivalves. Op/ie/iVi 10:91-108.
Langton, R. W. and P. A. Gabbott. 1974. The tidal rhythm of
extracellular digestion and the response to feeding in
Ostrea edidis. Marine fljofoj 1/24:181-187.
Mathers, N. F. 1973. A comparative histochemical survey of
enzymes associated in Ostrea edulix and Crassostrea
angnlutn (Mollusca: Bivalvia). Jour Zooi. London 169:
169-179.
Morton, B. 1970. The tidal rhythm and rhythm of feeding
and digestion in Cardium edule. Jour. Mar. Bio. Ass. U. K.
50:499-512.
Purchon, R. D. 1960. The stomach in the eulamellibranchis;
stomach types IV and V. Proc. ZooL Soc. London
135:431-489.
. 1968. The Biology of the Molhisca. Pergamon
Press, N. Y. 225-243.
Reid, R. G. B. and A. Reid. 1969. Feeding processes of
members of the genus Macoma (Mollusca: Bivalvia). Can.
Jour Zool. 47:649-6.57.
Shallenberger, R. S., C. Searles, and B. A. Lewis. 1974.
Laminaranase activity in the crystalline style of the surf
clam (Spissula [sic] soUdisstma). Experientia 15:597-598.
Sova. V. v.. L. A. Elyakova. and V. E. Vasdovsky. 1970. The
distribution of laminarinases in marine invertebrates.
Comp Biochem. Physiol. 32:4.59-464.
Wojtowicz. M. B. 1972. Carbohydrases of the digestive gland
and the crystalline style of the Atlantic deep-sea scallop
(Placopecten magellanicus, Gmelin). Comp. Biochem.
Phyml 32:131-141.
Wourms, J. P. 1970. Towards a characterization of the ex-
tracellular tubular components of the moUuscan crystalline
style. Journal o.fCell Etiology 47:232a.
Yonge, C. M. 1923. Studies on the comparative physiolog>' of
digestion. The mechanism of feeding digestion, and
assimilation in the lamellibranch Mya. Brit. Jour. Eip.
fiio/. 1:15-63.
A NEW PREPARATION FOR OBTAINING
CHROMOSOME SMEARS IN HYDROBIA
(HYDROBIIDAE)
R. N. Howard, B. Z. Lang, and R. L. Carr
Department of Biology
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington 99004
Hydrobia sp., probably hemphilli (Pilsbry,
1933), is found in numerous cold springs of
eastern Washington. Comparative morphological,
ecological, and cytogenetic studies have been in-
itiated on selected populations of this snail to
determine what biological variations occur within
its eastern Washington range. This report is con-
cerned with a new technique for obtaining
chromosome spreads from Hydrobia.
Few techniques have been described for obtain-
ing chromosome spreads in snails. Burch (1968)
treated tissue-cultured ovatestes cells with a col-
chicine solution and demonstrated metaphase
chromosome spreads in land snails. Babrakzai
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 59
and Miller (1974) used a similar colchicine squash
technique on pulmonale land snails. Patterson
(1971) treated freshwater embryos with an iso-
tonic velban solution and demonstrated mitotic
metaphase chromosome spreads. Stern (1974) used
a similar velban technique on snails of the family
Oleacinidae. The success of these techniques re-
quires complex equipment and lengthy pro-
cedures. The method described in this paper re-
quires little apparatus and is completed with
minimal time and effort. The technique described
has been applied only to Hydrobia sp. but may
have application in other molluscan groups.
Large numbers of Hydrobia sp. were collected
from five populations in eastern Washington. A
small hole was made in the second body whorl of
the shell using a small probe. This was to allow
passage of a micropipette into the body mass of
the snail. The snails were injected with 2.67 ul of
10"' colchicine using a Prior England
micropipette injection system and placed in
finger bowls containing distilled water for two
hours. The shell of the snail was gently crushed
and the gonads removed, placed on a glass slide
and stained in 1 percent iron-aceto-carmine for
seven minutes. The tissue was completely covered
with the stain. A coverslip was added and gently
tapped with a metal forceps to effect spreading of
the tissue. Excess stain was removed with a
paper towel and the slide was placed between
two sheets of paper toweling and slowly com-
pressed by thumb pressure.
Figure 1 shows metaphase chromosomes of
Hydrobia sp. (2n = 36). Chromosome spreads be-
tween the various populations were numerically
identical. Spermatogenesis occurred in all popula-
tions during the summer months. One population,
sampled through November, showed an apparent
increase in spermatogonia! activity. Egg produc-
tion was initiated in October in this population.
Representative shells of Hydrobia sp. are showi
in Figure 2.
LITERATURE CITED
Babrakzai, N. and W. B. Miller. 1974. A colchicine hypotonic
squash technique for chromozome spreads of pulmonale
land snails. Malucol. Rev. 7:.37-38.
Burch, J. B. 1968. A tissue culture technique for karyotjise
analysis of pulmonate land snails. Vettiis 27:20-27.
FIG. 1. Mtt<ii)lM.st: chiiiinu.siitni sjjreud nj Hydri/bia sp. Scdle
line = 25 micra.
FIG. 2. Shells of Kydroh'vd sp. Smle line = 1 mm.
Patterson, C. M. 1971. A karyotj-pe technique using
freshwater snail embryos. Malacol. Rei: 4:27.
Pilsbry. H. A. 1933. Amnicolidae from Wyoming and Oregon.
The Nautilus i7:9-l2.
Stem. E. M. 1974. The chromosome number of Euglandina
rosea (Stylommatophora: Oleacinidae). The Nautilus
88:29-30.
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60 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
SNAILS FROM QUATERNARY VALLEY FILL AT
CHACO CANYON, NEW MEXICO
Stephen A. Hall
Department of Geography
North Texas State University
Denton, Texas 76203
ABSTRACT
Nine species of land and aquatic snaih occur in prehistoric alluvium at Chcuco
Canyon, New Mexico. Shells o/Stagnicola cockerelli in the main valley fill indicate
the presence of intermittent pools on the undissected canyon floor during Basket-
maker and Puebloan occupation. Erosion of the post-Bonito channel eliminated the
aquatic snails by destroying their habitats. The drift snail fauna reported by
Drake (19Jt8) may be reworked from the prehistoric alluvium.
In northwestern New Mexico the Chaco River
has cut an SO-meter deep canyon through thick-
bedded sandstone. The canyon is called Chaco
Canyon, probably a Spanish variant of Navajo
words and an old name which was in use before
American contact (McNitt, 1964). During the late
Quaternary, Chaco Canyon was filled with thick
deposits of mud, sand, and gravel of which over 6
meters are now exposed in the banks of the
Chaco River arroyo. In the 1920's, during the Na-
tional Geographical Society's excavation of
Pueblo Bonito, one of the large number of aban-
doned pueblos for which Chaco Canyon was
named a national monument. Kirk Bryan investi-
gated the geology of the alluvial valley fill and
reported the occurrence of snail shells, including
an aquatic form now known to be Stagnicola
cockerelli (Pilsbry) (see Bryan, 1954). Later, dur-
ing archeological surveys and excavations at
Chaco in 1946 and 1947 by the University of New
Mexico, a major effort was made to document the
modem molluscan fauna (Drake, 1948). Although
no living snails were discovered, shells of fifteen
species and subspecies of land and freshwater
forms were found in drift, around ruins, on ant-
hills, and around seeps and springs in the sand-
stone cliffs.
During 1972 and 1973 the valley fill at Chaco
Canyon was again investigated, this time to
refine and radiocarbon date the stratigraphy
reported by Bryan and to analyze the pollen con-
tent of the alluvium (Hall, 1977). During inspec-
tion of the arroyo walls twelve localities were
discovered that yielded a total of 289 fossil shells
of land and freshwater snails. Shells were
recovered from each of the alluvial units des-
cribed from Chaco Canyon. The units are Fajada
(late Pleistocene), Gallo (about 7,000 to 2,400
years ago), Chaco (2,200 to 850 years ago), Post-
Bonito (600 years ago to 1860 A.D.), and Historic
(1935 to present). Details of these stratigraphic
units are presented elsewhere (Hall, 1977). The
snail species are listed in Table 1 by alluvial unit
and by numbers of individuals recovered.
Most of the shells found in the canyon fill are
from the Chaco unit, probably because it is the
principal fill unit in the canyon and more of it is
exposed in arroyo walls. The most abundant shell,
and the only form found in all five units, is a
succineid, probably Succinea. Drake (1948) iden-
tified S. ymsvenorii from Chaco Canyon, and the
fossil succineid shells are probably the same
form. Other abundant terrestrial species are
Pupoides hordaceus (Fig. 1), VaUonia cycU)-
phorella, and Hawaiia minuscula. Two freshwater
snails were recovered from the canyon fill:
Stagnicola cockerelli (Fig. 1) and Gyraidus sp.
Drake (1948) reported G. circumstriatus from
Chaco Canyon. However, the single fossil
Gyraidus shell recovered from the Chaco unit is
broken and cannot be identified to species.
Overall, seven of the eleven land forms and two
of the four freshwater forms reported by Drake
were recovered as fossils from the alluvium.
Paleoecology
The deposition of the main valley fill (Chaco
unit of Hall, 1977) coincides with the Basket-
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 61
TABLE 1. Fossil ami living gastropods from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.
' The species listed by Drake (1948) are duplicated here without alteration except for Stagnicola bidimoides cockerelli.
Mn general, identifications of the family Succineidae are reliable only through anatomical studies of the animal itself; shells alone
are of little value for species determination (Taylor. 1960. p. 77; Patterson, 1971).
maker and Puebloan occupation of the area be-
tween about 600 and 1200 A.D. and, accordingly,
the environmental reconstruction of the alluvium
applies to the prehistoric human ecology of Chaco
Canyon. The presence of aquatic snails and the
FIG. 1 (left) Stagnicola cockerelli /rom Chaco unit alluvium, 7.2
mm in height: (right) Pupoides hordaceus from Chaco unit
alluvium. 3.5 mm in height: .shells not to same scale.
impressions of rushes in the main valley fill were
cited by Bryan (1954, p. 50-51) as evidence for
more moist climate at Chaco Canyon. Bryan also
pointed out that the aquatic shells were found in
the post-Bonito channel fill as well (Post-Bonito
unit of Hall, 1977) but concluded that the
evidence for environmental conditions during the
time of prehistoric occupation was sparse.
A pollen analytical study of the Chaco Canyon
valley fill suggests that the pinyon (Pinus edulis)
and ponderosa (P. ponderosa) pine forests in the
region were less abundant during Basketmaker-
Puebloan occupation of the canyon than today
and that, accordingly, the climate was drier then
than it is today (Hall, 1977). A question that
arises is: how does a drier climate reconcile with
the occurrence of the aquatic snail Stagnicola
cockerellil The explanation probably lies with the
geomorphology of the canyon floor. During the
prehistoric occupation of the canyon and the
deposition of the Chaco unit, a deep arroyo chan-
nel such as exists today was not present. Sedi-
mentary structures in the Chaco unit indicates
that runoff from storms spread over the valley
62 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol, 94 (2)
floor, perhaps in a network of shallow channels
no deeper than 20 to 30 cm. Due to the imper-
viousness of the clayey Chaco alluvium (Judd,
1964, p. 230-231) it is likely that water collected
in intermittent pools after each heavy rainstorm
and formed a suitable habitat for S. cockerelli.
This species ranges throughout the region today
(A. B. Leonard, 1959; Pilsbry and Ferriss, 1906;
Bequaert and Miller, 1973) where it has been col-
lected from ponds and ditches that are seasonally
dr>' (A. E. Leonard, 1943; Henderson, 1924). With
the trenching of the canyon floor by the post-
Bonito channel, the intermittent pool habitats
were eliminated. Subsequent filling of the old ar-
royo channel may have reestablished conditions
favorable for S cockerelli. The few fossils of S.
cockerelli in the later alluvium (Post-Bonito unit)
may reflect the presence of another series of in-
termittent pools or the shells may be reworked
from the older Chaco unit. At present a 10-meter
deep arroyo channel bisects the floor of Chaco
Canyon, and two summers of field work (1972
and 1973) produced no evidence of S. cockerelli or
any other species alive there today.
The Chaco Canyon snail record illustrates the
paleoecologic principle that snails, although ex-
cellent indicators of microhabitats, may be
misleading as guides to regional climatic condi-
tions. The record at Chaco Canyon suggests that
Stagnicola cockerelli and perhaps the other
aquatic species could inhabit the canyon floor as
long as intermittent pools were present. When
the canyon was trenched by the post-Bon ito chan-
nel, the pools and the snails were eliminated. The
fX)llen sequence indicates the climate became wet-
ter during the post-Bonito channel cutting. The
destruction of the aquatic snail's microhabitat,
however, resulted in the elimination of the
aquatic species from the canyon regardless
whether the climate became wetter or drier. The
presence of S. cockerelli in the Chaco unit
alluvium means only that water was available in
intermittent pools and does not necessarily mean
that the climate was more moist then than it is
now.
observed living snails at Chaco Canyon. TTiere is
a strong possibility that at least some and
perhaps all of the shells Drake collected from
drift were fossil shells eroded from the pre-
historic alluvium. The shells collected from ant-
hills could also be fossil, each one removed by
ants during nest excavation into deeply buried
alluvium and transported to the surface mound
along with small gravels. Although shells found
around seeps and springs in the cliffs could also
be fossil, they are more likely recent. Drake does
not mention which specimens were collected from
the springs and which came from drift.
Modern Fauna
The writer discovered three possible colonies of
a succineid, probably Siiccinea, and apparently
the same species that occurs as a fossil in the
canyon fill. The shells, all dead and bleached by
the sun, occur loose in surface duff at topo-
graphically depressed places that are periodically
inundated by runoff. The sites are (1) in Gallo
Wash canyon just north of the Camf)ground
(center sec. 22, T. 21 N., R. 10 W.), (2) in a small
area of the abandoned canyon floor northwest of
the U. S. National Park Service Visitor Center
(NW '/4 sec. 20, T. 21 N., R. 10 W.), and (3) in a
small mud flat covered by sunflowers south of
South Gap about 2 miles beyond the monument
boundar\' (center sec. 27, t" 21 N., R. 11 W.).
Isolated succineid shells also occur commonly in
the present-day dry floor of Chaco River arroyo.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I thank Richard Hardin, Superintendent of
Chaco Canyon National Mounument during the
1972 field season, and Walter P. Herriman,
Superintendent during the 1973 season, for their
permission to work within monument boundaries.
I also thank Karoly Kutasi, Museum of Paleon-
tology, University of Michigan, who assisted with
photographing the shells and Carolyn Smith for
typing the manuscript.
Fossils Reworked in Drift
Nine of the twelve species reported by Drake
(1948) occur as well-preserved fossils in canyon
fill (Table 1). Neither Drake nor this writer
LITERATURE CITED
Bequaert. J. C. and Miller, W. B. 1973. The Molliisks of the
Arid Sduthwest with an Arizona Checklist. Tucson, Univ. of
Arizona Press, 271 p.
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 63
Bryan. K. 1954. The geology of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, in
relation to the life and remains of the prehistoric peoples at
Pueblo Bomto. Smithsonian Misc. Colin. 122(7):l-65.
Drake, R. J. 1948. Mollusca of the eastern basin of the Chaco
River, New Mexico. The Nautilus 62:5-8.
Hall, S. A. 1977. Late Quaternary sedimentation and
paleoecologic history of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. (!poI.
Sx. Amer. Bull. 88:1593-1618.
Henderson, Junius. 1924. Mollusca of Colorado, Utah, Mon-
tana. Idaho, and Wyoming. The Univ. of Colorado Studies
13(2): 65-223.
Judd, N. M. 1964. The architecture of Pueblo Bonito. Smithso-
nian Misc. Colin. 147(l):l-349.
Leonard, A. B. 1959. Handbook of gastropods in Kansas. Univ.
of Kansas, Museum Natural History. Misc. Pnbl. no. 20, 224
P-
Leonard, A. E. 1943. The Mcjllusca of Meade and Clark coun-
ties, Kansas. Trans. Kans(u< Acad. Sci. 46:226-240.
McNitt, F. 1964. Navaho expedition. Journal of a military
reconnaissance from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to the Navaho
country made in 181,9 by Lieutenant James H. Simpson.
Norman, Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 296 p.
Patterson, C. M. 1971. Taxonomic -studies of the land snail
family Succineidae. Malacological Review 4: 131-202.
Pilsbry, H. A. and Ferriss. J. H. 1906. Mollusca of the
Southwestern states. IL Proc. Acad. Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia 5S:l23-n5.
Taylor, D. S. 1960. Late Cenozoic molluscan faunas from the
High Plains. U. S. Geol. Survey Professional Paper 337, 94
P-
DRILLING PREDATION ON SOME MIOCENE MARINE MOLLUSKS
Elizabeth C. Dudley
Department of Z(iology
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742
and
E. Christopher Dudley
Queen Anne School
Upper Marlboro
Maryland 20870
ABSTRACT
Drilling rates and stereotypy of drill hole position were examined on two
bivalves and a gastropod from a middle Miocene assemblage in Maryland. The
bivalves. Anadara elevata Conrad and Astarte thisphila Glenn, show a reduction in
predation rate mth an increase in size. The gastropod. Turritella plebeia Say. does
not appear to attain a size refuge against drilling. These results coirelate well
mth other reports of drilling predation throughout the fossil record.
The record of drilling by predatory snails and
other organisms is often clearly preserved in
fossil material. Paleozoic mollusks and brach-
iopods occasionally have drill holes which have
been attributed to molluscan predators (Fenton
and Fenton. 1931: Bucher. 1938; Cameron 1967).
It is now generally agreed, however, that the.se
holes were caused by non-molluscan borers
(Fischer, 1962, 1966; Carriker and Yochelson,
1968), and that mollusks did not develop the bor-
ing habit to an appreciable degree until mid- to
late-Cretaceous times with the appearance of the
naticid subfamily Polinicinae and the muricacean
genus M///fp.s(Sohl. 1969).
By the early Tertiary, drilling by naticids and
muricids (as well as by other organisms such as
octopods) had become quite widespread. A num-
ber of authors have described the drilling they
obser\'ed in various fossil assemblages. See, for
e.xample; Fischer (1962, 1966), Siler (1965), Taylor
(1970), and Adegoke and Tevesz (1974) for Eocene
assemblages; Hoffman et al. (1974), Kojumdjieva
(1974), and Thomas (1976) for Miocene assem-
blies; Thomas (1976), and Robba and Ostinelli
(1975) for the Pliocene; and Berg and Nishenko
(1975) for the Pleistocene.
As far as we can determine, with the probable
exception of Taylor's 1970 discussion of drilling in
an assemblage from the Paris basin, the above
authors examined materials from previously
sorted collections, rather than starting with the
fossil material in situ in the surrounding
64 THE NAUTILUS
April 30. 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
substrate. This paper reports on drilling in prey
species that were sorted from a single large block
of substrate in an attempt to eliminate any bias
arising from collecting techniques (such as the
discarding of broken shells, for example). Also, as
shown by Kojumdjieva's (1974) extensive data on
a Bulgarian Miocene formation, drilling frequen-
cy can vary considerably in local populations of a
prey species. Such variance can be obscured in
museum collections. We feel that our data on
three carefully sorted species accurately reflect
the predation rates sustained by the local popu-
lations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In the autumn of 1976 a very large cliff fall
occurred near St. Leonards, Calvert County,
Maryland, U.S.A., in the famous middle Miocene
outcroppings knovra as Calvert Cliffs. (See Clark
et al. (1904) for a complete review of these
deposits.) The authors were present the day of
the cliff fall, and determined that it came from
Zone 17 of the Choptank formation. This is an ex-
ceptionally fossiliferous zone, consisting of a
yellowish sand substrate embedded with an abun-
dant and diverse fauna.
Our analysis was carried out on an eighteen
kg. section from this fall. The material was
allowed to air dry for two months, and then in-
dividual shells were carefully removed. Most
gastropods and many bivalves did not fossilize
sufficiently well to be useful for the analysis.
However, three sf)ecies fossilized well, and we
sorted out all the specimens. Two bivalves and
one gastropod were used: Anodara elevata Con-
rad, Astmie thisphiln Glenn, and Tumtella
plebeia Say. Each specimen was measured to the
nearest millimeter with Vernier calipers. The
species were then divided into size classes, and
drilling frequency and position were examined.
For the bivalves, we made the assumption also
made by other workers, that the drilling frequen-
cy in a population is double that observed on
disarticulated valves.
The borers involved in this study were of the
family Naticidae. The Muricidae are known from
other formations in these Miocene beds, but are
extremely rare in the Choptank formation: we
did not see any in our sample. The most abun-
dant naticid was Lunatia heron (Say), a very
common species in the Choptank. Also present,
though less abundant, was Neverita duplicata
(Say). Those drill holes that were well preserved
were of the truncated parabaloid nature charac-
teristic of naticids (Carriker and Yochelson,
1968).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Drilling frequencies for each of the three
species are recorded in Table 1. It is immediately
evident that Anadara elevata and AMarte
thii^phila. the two bivalves, exhibit a similar
reduction in the rate of predation with an in-
crease in size, whereas Turritella pleheki has a
higher rate of predation at the larger sizes. The
bivalves have relatively thick shells at their lar-
ger sizes, whereas T. plebeia is always a thin and
delicate shell. This perhaps explains why this
species does not appear to attain a size refuge, at
least in this population.
The rates of predation observed for these three
species are similar to those reported for another
Miocene assemblage (lower Tortonian) from the
Korytnica clays of Poland (Hoffman et ai. 1974).
For Anadara diluvii (Lamarck) 7% of the 656
specimens were attacked, which is close to the 9%
obsen'ed in the larger size class of A. elevata
(Hoffman et al. do not give size classes). The
three Tumtella species listed, T. bademis Sacco,
T. hicarinata Eichwald and T. envnea Cossmann
had predation rates of 17%, 28%, and 25% respec-
tively. Other authors cited in our introduction
have found similar rates in Eocene material,
although rates have also been recorded as high as
6.W0 in Mesalia. a turritellid genus (Fischer.
1962).
A striking feature of the drilling in these shells
is the degree of stereotypy of borehole position
(Fig. 1). In Anadara elevata 100% of the sue-
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 65
FIGS. 1-3. Chaixuieristic Miocene naticid drill holes ui 1, Astarte thisphila. 2, Anadara elevata,
find 3. Turritella plebeia.
cessfu! drill holes were central and high on the
umbo. Interestingly, two of the three incomplete
holes noted were on other parts of the valve. The
holes in Asta7ie thisphila exhibited a broader
scatter, but all were contained within the upper
one third of the valve. In neither of these species
was there any indication that one valve was
drilled preferentially over the other. The drill
holes were exactly evenly distributed between left
and right valves in Astarte thisphila. and in
Anadara elevata there was a very slight and not
significant preference for the right valve.
Tunitella plebeia also exhibited stereotypy in
drill hole position. 98% of the holes were in the
penultimate and third from last whorls, and 7.5%
of all holes were on the apertural side of the
shell.
Such stereotypy of drill hole position has been
reported on all through the Tertiary and into the
Recent. Fischer (1960) looked at 1,222 valves of
Pectunculus (now Glycymeris) pulinnatns Lk.
from the Lutetian of Grignon, and found most
holes to be in the central region of the shell. Sohl
(1969) found naticid borings preferentially located
in the umbonal area of Crassatellites undulata
Say, of the Miocene Yorktown formation; and
Kojumdjieva (1974) reported a similar location
for drill holes in Anadara diluvii. Thomas (1976),
looking at Glycymeris americana (Defrance),
reported a shift in preferred boring site from the
middle to late Miocene. Stump (1975) found very
localized borings in naticid gastropod prey of a
Mexican Pleistocene assemblage, and Berg and
Nishenko (1975) found stereotyped drilling by
both Pleistocene and Recent naticids.
Thus stereotypy of drill hole position seems to
be a common phenomenon, one that varies be-
tween species, and also at different times within
the same species. Most authors seem to agree that
this stereotypy reflects both prey size and shape,
and the behavior of the predator. However, Boet-
tger (1930) pointed out other factors to be con-
sidered. He found that the degree of stereotypy
was affected by both naticid density and the
depth of the substrate. Fewer predators and a
deeper layer of substrate resulted in lessened
stereotypy in his work, and these factors may
play a role in other cases as well.
In conclusion, the data given here form the
first report on drilling predation in moUusks
from the Choptank formation of Maryland. They
are in substantial agreement with much of the
data from other locations and times, indicating
that drilling rates and stereotypy of drill hole
position have been remarkably consistent at least
since the Eocene. Since local variations in drilling
rates have been documented in the literature, we
feel that it is most useful to analyze data from
material collected from a single location in the
table opposite.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to express their grateful
thanks to Geerat J. Vermeij for his considerable
66 THE NAUTILUS
April 30. 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
assistance, and their appreciation to Larry and
Connie Smith for making possible the collection
of the materials examined.
LITERATURE CITED
Adegoke. 0. S. and M. J. S. Tevesz. 1974. Gastropod predation
patterns in the Eocene of Nigeria. Lethaia 7:17-24.
Berg. C. J. Jr. and S. Nishenko. 1975. Stereot>T).v of predatory
boring behavior of Pleistocene naticid gastropods.
Paleobiology 1:258-260.
Boettger, C. R. 19:30. Die Lage der Bohrstelle beim Angriff der
Raubschnecken aus der Familie Naticidae. Zeitschrifi
H'kspn.sr/i. Z„(l 136; Heft ' .:454-463.
Bucher, W. H. 19:?8. A shell-boring gastropod in a Dalmanella
bed of upper Cincinnatian age. Amcr. Jour. Sci. 5th Series,
36:1-7.
Cameron. B. 1967. Oldest carnivorous gastropod borings, found
in Trentonian (Middle Ordovician) Brachiopods. ./. Paleon-
toloyijil{\Y.W-\50.
Carriker, M. R. and E. L. Yochelson. 1968. Recent gastropod
boreholes and Ordovician cylindrical borings. U. S. Geoi
Sum. Prof. Paper 593-8:1-26.
Clark, W. B., G. B. Shattuck and W. H. Dall. 1904. The
Miocene Deposits of Man/land. Maryland Geological Sun^ey.
543 pp. The .Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore.
Fenton, C. L. and M. A. Fenton. 1931. Some snail borings of
Paleozoic age. .4wpn Mid. Nat. 12:.522-528.
Fischer, P. H. 1960. Action des gaste'ropodes perceurs sur un
MEETINGS
Symposia on feeding mechanisms of pre-
datory mollusks and on the functional mor-
phology of cephalopods, as well as field trips, an
auction of shell literature, and a cruise on the
Belle of Louisville will highlight the Annual
Meeting of the A. M. U., July 19-25, 1980. at
Lcjuisville, Kentucky. A cash prize will be
offered for the best student paper. For further
information write Dr. C. F. E. Roper, Division of
Mollusks, National Museum of Natural History,
Washington, DC 20560.
The Western Society of Malacologists will
meet (with the AAAS) at the University of Cali-
fornia at Davis, June 23-25, 1980. Pre-registra-
tion forms, due May 23, are obtainable from Dr.
Vida C. Kenk, Dept. Biological Sciences. San
Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95192.
The Conchologists of America, an organiza-
tion mainly for amateur conchologists. will hold
their annual meetings in Key West, Florida,
August 6 through 9. 1980, with headquarters at
the Ca.sa Marina. This is three days after the
Jacksonville Shell Show. For further informa-
tion write Margaret Teskey. P.O. Box 273. Big
Pine Key, FL 33043.
bivalve de i'e'tage lutetian. Jour, de Conchyl. 100:129-131.
1962. Action des gasteropodes perceurs sur des
Mesalia de I'e'tage lutetien. Jour, de Conch yl. 102:95-98.
1966. Perforations de fossiles Tertiares par des
gaste'ropodes predateurs. Jour, de Conchyl. 105:66-96.
Hoffman, A.. A. Pisera and M. Ryszkiewicz. 1974. Predation
by muricid and naticid gastropods on the Lower Tortonian
mollusks from the Korytnica clays. Acta Geologica Polonica
24:249-260.
Kojumdjieva, E. 1974 Les Gaste'ropodes perceurs et leurs vic-
times du Miocene de Bulgarie du Nord-Ouest. Bulgarian
Acad. Sci.. Bull. Geol. Inst.. Ser Paleont. 13:5-24.
Robba. E. and F. Ostinelli. 197.5. .Studi Palecjecologici sul
Pliocene ligure I. Testimonianze di predazione sui molluschi
Pliocenici di Albenga. Rir. Itat. Paleont. 81:309-372.
Siler, W. L. 1965. Feeding habits of some ExK'ene carnivorous
gastropods. Texas Jour. Sci. 17:213-218.
Sohl, N. F. 1969. The fossil record of shell boring by snails
Am. ZooloyiKt 9:725-734.
Stump, T. E. 1975. Pleistocene mollustan paleoecolog>- and
community structure of the Puerto Libertad r^ion, Sonora.
Mexico. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatol.. Palaeoecol.
17:177-226.
Taylor. J. D. 1970. Feeding habits of predatory gastropods in a
Tertiaiy (Eocene) molluscan assemblage from the Paris
Basin. Palaeontology 13, part i254-260.
Thomas, R. D. K. 1976. Gastropod predation on sv-mpatric
Neogene species of Glycytneris (Bivalvia) from the eastern
United States. Jour. Paleont. 50:488-499.
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Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 67
INVERTEBRATE FAUNULES OF LATE PLEISTOCENE AGE,
WITH ZOOGEOGRAPHIC IMPLICATIONS, FROM TURTLE BAY,
BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO
William K. Emerson
Department of Invertebrates
American Museum of Natural History
New York, New York 10024
ABSTRACT
Metazoan invertebrates representing 138 species, mostly mollnsks, are
enumerated and recorded quantitatively from six localities in ynarine terrace
deposits of the TwHle Bay region on the Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur, Mex-
ico. Faunules from two of the localities (B-302Jt and (B-3025) contain warmwater
(subtropical and tropical) elements and are refeyred to the late Pleistocene
Magdalean Province of western Baja California on the basis offaunal comparisons
unth regional assemblages. The two Turtle Bay assemblages with warmwater in-
dicators are probably correlative with an early phase of the Sangamon Interglacial
Stage (isotopic Substage 5e). More pi-ecise dating of the faunules from these
localities and reliable correlation of the four other faunules (localities B-3027.
B-30(i7. 8-33050. and B-30It8). which apparently lack warm-water elements, must
await absolute dating of the fossils.
This paper is dedicated to the memory of my esteemed colleague. Edwin C.
Allison (1926-1971), who collected the fossils in 1956.
Edwin C. Allison (1926-1971)
Introduction
Turtle Bay ' (Figure 1) is a small, protected em-
bajTiient on the southwestern side of the Vizcaino
Peninsula, Baja California Sur, Mexico (latitude
27° 41'N., longitude 114''52'W.: see Figure 1). In
the summer of 1956, the late Edwin C. Allison,
then of the Department of Geology, San Diego
State University, amassed large numbers of
Pleistocene marine invertebrates from several
highly fossiliferous terrace deposits in the vicini-
ty of Turtle Bay. Because of his primary interest
in the older rocks of the area (cf. Allison, 1957;
1964), he asked me to join him in co-authoring a
report on the terrace fossils of this paleon-
tologically poorly known region of western Baja
California Sur.
The identification of the megafossils was com-
pleted by me in 1960. Commitments to a heavy
teaching schedule and to other research projects,
however, prevented Dr. Allison from undertaking
the writing of the sections pertaining to the
' .Mso known as Bahia Tortugas (the port of which is called
San Bartolome or Puerto San Bartolome), and henceforth
cited as Turtle Bay.
68 THE NAUTILUS
April 30. 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
FIG. 1. Iwiex map of Baja Califnmia and the adjoining mainland nf Mexico and the United States, showing the general location
of Pleistocene localities (numbered 1-9) and the geographic localities representing the modem endpoint-s of range of some com-
ponents of the Turtle Bay Pleistocene faunules (see text).
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 69
Table 1 . Pleistocene Faurral Lift, Turtle Boy
Symbols: F = frogmental preservotion; J = juvenile ipecimeni; M == many specimens; P= plate; PV = paired volves;
S = spine; V = single valves; x = presence of one or more specimens
Collecting Stations
Mollusca ^ g
Gastropoda A tt
Acanthina lugubris (Sowerby, 1822) -
Acteocino cf . A. corinota (Corpenter, 1857) - 1
Alio carinato (Hinds, 1844) - J
Anochis coronata forma honnana Hertlein and * -
Strong, 1951
Astroeo undoso (Wood, 1828)
Bittium quodrifilatum Corpenter, 1864
Bullo punctuloto A. Adorns, 1850
Bursa califomico (Hinds, 1843)
Coecum crebricinctum Carpenter, 1864
Caecum dolli Bartsch, 1920
Concellorio cassidiformis Sowerby , 1 832
Conthorus elegons (Griffith and Pidgeon, 1834)
Cerittilum moculosum Klener, 1841
Collisella llmotulo (Carpenter, 1864)
Columbello mojor Sowerby, 1832
Conus colifbmicus Hinds, 1844
Conus fergusoni Sowerby, 1873
Conus perplexus Sowerby, 1857
Conus purpura scens Sowerby, 1833
C6nus reguloris Sowerby , 1 833
Crepidulo onyx Sowerby , 1 824
Crucibulum scutel latum (Wood, 1828)
Cfucibulum spinosum (Sowerby, 1824)
Cypraeo onnettoe onnettae Doll, 1909
Cyproeo orobiculo (Lamarck, 1811)
IF
2F
2F
IF
IF
M
12
2
3
4
1
4
4
7
4F
7(1 THE NAUTILUS
April 30. 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
Cyprgeo spodicea Swainson, 1823
Diodoro digueH (Mobille, 1895)
Elephontulum corgenteri (Bortsch, 1920)
Eupleuro muricifofmii (Broderip. 1833)
Fortulum occidentale Borfsch, 1920
FisjureMo volcano Reeve, 1849
Haliotis fulgens Pt^tllppi, 1845
Hipponix gntiquofus (Linn^, 1767)
Hipponix fumens Carpenter, 1865
Homiospira moculoso (Sowerby, 1834)
KelleHo kellerii (Forbes, 1852)
LotHo gigontea (Sov/erby, 1834)
Mocron aefhiopi (Reeve, 1847)
Megasurcula carpenteriono (Gobb, 1865)
Mi fro idae Melville, 1893
Nossorius tegulo (Reeve, 1853)
Nerito scabricosta Lamarik, 1822
Neverito reclusiana (Deshoyes, 1839)
Norrisio norrisi (Sowerby, 1838)
Oliva incrassato Lightfoot, 1786
Oliva cf. O^. polpostg Dodos, 1833
Oliva polpasta forma davisae Durham, 1950
Oliva sp. indet.
Olivella biplicoto (Sowerby, 1825)
Pedipes cf . P. unisulcotus G>oper, 1866
Phyllonotus erythrostomus (Swoinson, 1831)
"Polinlces" sp. indef.
Pieudomelatomo penicillato (Gjrpenfer, 1865)
Pteroporpuro fesHvo (Hinds, 1844)
Seila cf. S. montereyensis Bortsch, 1907
3
5
3J
2
1
MF
IF
8
2F
R
o
2J
IF
3F
3
2
2
5
1
6
3
5
IJ
M X
2
2 22 X
M
1
2
2
4
IF
IF
11
IF
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 71
Serpulorbis squamigerus (Corpenter, 1857)
StTombus graciliof Sowerby, 1825
Sfrombus granulahjs Swainson, 1822
Tegula aureotincta (Forbes, 1852)
Tegula eiseni Jordan, 1936
Tegula gollina (Forbes, 1852)
Teinostoma cf. T. gallegosi Jordan, 1936
Terebra armillato Hinds, 1844
Thais bi serial is (Blainville, 1832]
Triphoro cf. T^. pedroana (BarHch, 1907)
Trivia solondri (Sowerby , 1 832)
Trigonostoma goniostomo (Sowerby, 1832)
Truncgtellg californico Pfei ffer, 1 857
Turbcnillo sp. indef.
Turbo fluctuosus Wood , 1 828
Vitulorio salebrosa (Kingand Broderip, 1832)
Scaphopodo
Dentolium neohexagonum Sharp and Pilsbry, 1897
Bivolvia
Amiontis calloso (Ganrad, 1837)
Anomia peruviana d'Orbigny, 1846
Arcopsis solido (Sowerby, 1833)
Argopecten circularis circularis (Sowerby, 1835)
Barbotia gradotg (Broderip and Sowerby, 1829)
Borbofia reeveana (d'Orbigny, 1846)
Choceia ovoldeo (Gould, 1851)
Oioma sp. indet.
Chione calJforntensis (Broderip, 1835)
Chione cortezi (Gprpenter, 1864)
Chione gnidia (Broderip and Sowerby, 1829)
!
8
CO
8
o
2F
IF
6
3
1P\4 2V
IV
1 PV, 1 V
3V
IV
2V
4PV
IF
13
30
1
13
17
1
1
1
1
1
17
1FV
MV
14V
8PV
8V
I
O
S
IF
72 THE NAUTILUS April 30. 1980 Vol. 94 (2)
Cryptomyg colifofnica (ConrcxJ, 1837)
R
S
Oione pic>o Willed, 1944 - - - IV
Oione undotello (Sowerby, 1835) 2V - - -
Corbulo luteolo Girpenter, 1864 - 2V - 4V
Crossinello pocifico (C. B. Adorns, 1852) - - - 12V
8V - 2V
Diplodonto orbellus (Gould, 1851) - IV -
Donox colifomicus Conrad, 1837 - - - 1 PV
DosinJQ ponderosQ (Groy, 1838) - - - W
Epilucino califomico (Conrad, 1837) - IV
Felaniella sericoto (Reeve, 1850) _ . . 25V
Glons subquodrota (Carpenter, 1864) - 2V
Here excovoto (Carpenter, 1837)
Hinnites gigonteus (Groy, 1825)
Leporimetis obeso (Deshayes, 1855)
Lucinisco nottolii Conrad, 1837
Macomo indentato Carpenter, 1864
Mocomo nasuto (Conrad, 1837)
Macomo nasuto forma kelseyi Doll, 1900
Moctra cf. M. colifornica Conrad, 1837
Megopitoria squolido (Sowerby, 1835) - - .- 4y ^ - -
Milnerio minimo (Doll, 1871) - IV - - - - -
Mytilus cf . M. colifornionosConrod, 1837 - - - - - - ] py
Nuttallia nuttalii forma orcutti (Doll, 1921) - - IV - - - -
Ostrea angelica Rochebrune, 1895 . _ _ 23V x IV
Porvilucino opproximata (Doll, 1901) - IV - - - » _
Penitella fitchi Turner, 1955 . - - - _ ^^ _ _
Penitello penito (Conrod, 1837) IV IV -
Petricolo corditoides (Conrod, 1837) 2PV ------
Protothoco groto (Soy, 1831) 3V 2V - 15V x - 4V
Pseudochamo ponomensis (? formo dolli Bernard, 1976) - - - 2PV x - -
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 73
Saxidomus nuttall] fConrod, 1837)
Semele deciso (Conrad, 1837)
Semele flavescens (Gould, 1851)
Togelus colifomianus (Conrad, 1837)
Tellina bodegensis Hinds, 1845
Tellinc simulons C. B. Adams, 1852
Tivela sKiltorum (Mawe, 1823)
Trochycardium ponomense (Sowerby, 1833)
Trochycardium quadragenorium (Conrod, 1837)
Transennella tantilla (Gould, 1853)
Tresus nuttolMi (Conrod, 1837)
Zirfoeo pllsbryi Lowe, 1931
8
7
3V
2V
6V
IFV
IV
2V
22V
2V
IV
4V
2JV
IPV
IV
IV
2PV,2V
2V
15V
O
IV
IFV
2FV
IV
IV
2FV
Polyplacophora
Stenoplox mogdalenensis (Hinds, 1845)
Bryozoa
Couloromphus spiniferum (Johnson, 1838)
Ganopeum commensoie Kiikpatriclc and Metzelaar, 1923
Logenipora punctulata (Gabb and Horn), 1862
Pgrosmining crosslondi (HosHngs, 1930)
Scrupocellaria bertholefti tenuirostris Osbum, 1950
TTialamoporelio califomiea (Levinsen, 1909)
Watersipora cucullato (Busk, 1854)
Echinodermata
Echinoidea
Dendrosfer vizcainoensis Grant and Hertlein, 1938
Eucidaris thouarsi (Valenciennes, 1846)
IP
IS
unidenfified echinoid spines
14
74 THE NAUTILUS
April 30. 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
Arthropoda
Cirripedia
Balanus sp, indef.
Te^^aclito squamoso rubescens (Darwin, 1854)
Ostracoda
Bairdio verdesensis LeRoy, 1943
Brodleyg ourifa (Skogsberg, 1928)
Cyprideis (Cypridets) sp. indef,
Cythereis glauca Skogsberg, 1928
Legumir>ocythereis corrugoto Benson, 1959
Loxoconcho lenticulato LeRoy, 1943
Monocerotino sp. indet,
Pgrocypris pocifico LeRoy, 1943
8
o
S
2Pv,2V
IPV, IV
)PV.2V,?
8PV,8VJ
IV
2V
2Pv,2V
IV
IV
Chordato (Fish)
Clevelandia cf. C. ios (Jordan and Gilbert, 1882)
(Otoliths)
Footnotes for Table 1
1. Identified as Eupleuro triquetro (Reeve) by Choce (1956, p. 179).
2. Identified as Ostrea cumingiona Dunker by Chace (1956, p. f78).
3. Identified OS "Pholadsp. (a fragment) " by Oiace (1956, p. 178)= Penlteiio fitchi Turner, 1955, fide Kennedy (1974, p. 45).
4. Identified os Trgchycordium procerum (Sowerby) by Chace (1956, p. 178).
5. Identified by E. C. Allison.
6. Present in C.A.S. loc. 34312 = 0624.
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 75
geology and collecting stations before his tragic
and untimely death while on a geological recon-
naissance in Sonora, Mexico, on January 1, 1971.
I have attempted to complete these remaining
sections largely on the basis of brief notes he had
prepared for an outline of the manuscript, which
were kindly forwarded to me by his wife,
Eleanor. I would like to dedicate this paper,
despite its obligated briefness, to the memory of
Ned Allison, a close friend and a most valued col-
league, for sadly Ned was not able to complete
many of the projected studies which he had pur-
sued with his characteristic vigor and en-
thusiasm.
Previous Work
Jordan and Hertlein (1926) briefly described
the stratigraphy of the region and noted the
presence of fossiliferous Pleistocene sands and
gravels overlying the Tertiary beds of the area.
They also recorded and described Pliocene
megafossils, largely mollusks, from five localities
in the general vicinity of Turtle Bay. Most of
these collections were made by G Dallas Hanna
in 1922, and by Hanna and Eric K. Jordan in
1925. Some of the Pliocene pectinids had been
described in an earlier paper by Hertlein (1925).
Hertlein (1933) later listed additional species of
Pliocene mollusks and echinoids and reported the
presence of Miocene diatomaceous shale, resulting
from his field work at Turtle Bay in 1932.
Beal (1948, p. 80), in a geological recon-
naissance of Baja California, cited Pliocene
fossils, including mollusks, echinoids, and bar-
nacles, from several localities near the bay, as
well as listing the species previously reported by
Jordan and Hertlein (1926). Chace (1956) recorded
Pliocene and Pleistocene invertebrates, mostly
mollusks, obtained by him in 1954, during a brief
visit to Turtle Bay. He was the first to identify
specifically Pleistocene metazoan fossils from this
area and his records are included herein (Table
1). Minch, et al. (1976), in a review of the geology
of the Vizcaino Peninsula, briefly described the
terraces of the region and listed the Pleistocene
fossils reported by Chace (1956) from Turtle Bay.
Ortlieb (1979) summarized the status of his
studies on the Quaternary marine terraces along
the southwestern coast of Vizcaino Peninsula. He
recorded the presence of fossiliferous terrace
deposits of late Pleistocene age at elevations of
approximately 5 and 12 meters in the vicinity of
Turtle Bay. The fossils described herein were col-
lected from some of these terrace deposits.
Topography
Turtle Bay (Figure 2) is nearly circular in
shape with a diameter of about 2.5 miles (4 km.).
Capelike rocky headlands with high bluffs border
the entrance to the bay and they are separated
by approximately a mile (1.6 km.) of mostly open
water. Kelp Point (Punta Sargazo), with an eleva-
tion of 9 meters, forms the northwestern entrance
to the bay and rises steeply towards Mount Bar-
tolome (Monte Bartolome', elevation 27 meters) to
form a prominent headland to the west. Cape
Tortolo (Cabo Tortolo), a narrow promontory, at-
taining 127 meters in elevation, terminates as a
rocky point about 6 meters high to form the
southeastern entrance of the bay. A low reef ex-
tends from this peninsula northwesterly for a
distance of nearly a mile (1.6 km.) to form a
natural breakwater against the open sea.
Southeast from Cape Tortolo, a rocky highland
(Monte Belcher) borders the coast with sea cliffs
of 8 to 15 meters in elevation and terminates two
and one third miles (3.75 km.) southeastward of
Sebastian Vizcaino Bay
B 3046 (6 M) located 5: 9 7 Km
souihwesi o( Turtle Bay
Thurloe Head
FIG. 2. Sketch (not drawn to scale) showing the approximate
location of the lowest emergent terrace remnants in the Tur-
tle Bay area from which the Pleistocetu; fossils were collected
(E. C. Allison ms.).
76 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
the cape to form a bold headland known as
Thurloe Head.
Northwest of the entrance of the bay, the
coastline consists of rocky bluffs below the
highland forming Mount Bartolome, to about
27°42'N. Here the cliffs give way to a sandy
beach backed by a low plateau with an elevation
of 5 to 7 meters that runs inland to the base of
low hills.
Within the bay, the western shore fronting the
highlands consists of high bluffs, whereas the
northern and eastern sides of the bay possess low
shingle and gravelly sand beaches, which gradual-
ly rise to higher broken country. The bay is
shallow with depths at the entrance of 10 to 12
fathoms (18 to 22 m.) and shoals gradually
toward the inner shore, where the three-fathom
curve (5 m.) is about Vi mile (0.16 km.) distant
from the beach on the northeastern side. The bot-
tom is composed largely of sand, but rocky
substrates occur near the entrance of the bay.
Beds of giant kelp (Macrocystis) are found along
the open coast and within the entrance of the bay
especially off Mount Bartolome (U. S. Navy
Hydrographic chart 21081).
Geological Setting
In the region of the Vizcaino Peninsula, at
elevations of a few meters to 250 meters, marine
terraces mantle coastal rocks and are locally
represented by eight or more separate deposi-
tional levels, ranging in age from late Pliocene to
Pleistocene (Minch et at, 1976). Faulted marine
Pliocene (Almeja Formation), marine Miocene
(Tortuga Formation) and late Cretaceous to late
Jurassic rocks (Valle and Eugenia Formations)
(see: Mina, 1957; Minch et ai, 1976) form the
bedrock platform on which the terrace sediments
were deposited (formational nomenclature after
Kilmer, 1977). Regionally, the fossiliferous terrace
sediments vary in thickness from thin veneers to
beds of 7 or more meters and commonly include
medium to coarse grained, olive-gray litharenite,
interbedded with pebble and cobble conglomerate
(Minch et ai, 1976).
In the vicinity of Turtle Bay, the marine
Pleistocene is distributed in a series of
fossiliferous shoreline deposits preserved as rem-
nants on platforms representing the lowest
emergent terrace in the region. The terrace
deposits are mostly horizontally bedded, but some
terraces are deformed by folding or are tilted by
faulting (Mclntyre and Sheldon, 1957; Minch et
(i/..1976.)
Dr. Allison believed (personal communication)
the shoreline deposits from which the fossils were
collected to represent a single high-stand of the
sea. Post-depositional episodes of deformation
were assumed by him to account largely for the
present differences in the elevations of the ter-
race remnants. Reliable correlation of these
deposits, however, is not likely to be achieved by
traditional stratigraphical methods, owing to the
fragmental preservation of the terraces and the
complex tectonic history of the local area.
Terrace Faunules
More than 140 species of metazoan in-
vertebrates, mostly mollusks, and one fish were
collected by Dr. Allison from six localities in the
vicinity of Turtle Bay (Figure 2). Of these, 129
were identified to the species-level. The species
are listed quantitatively for each collecting sta-
tion (UCMP localities B-3027; B-3007; B-3050;
B-3024; B-3025; B-3048) in Table 1. The fossils are
deposited in the Museum of Paleontology, Univer-
sity of California, Berkeley.
Additionally, the fossils reported from Turtle
Bay by Chace (1956), totaling 54 species of meta-
zoan invertebrates, are included in the faunal
tabulation (Table 1, SDNHM locality 0624
[ = UCMP locality B-3024]). Mr. Chace divided the
collection he made at Turtle Bay in 1954 between
the San Diego Natural History Museum and the
California Academy of Sciences (SDNHM locality
0624 = CAS locality 34312; teste Barry Roth,
1977). Chace 's published report (1956) apparently
was based solely on the SDNHM collection.
The combined collections of Allison and Chace
from the terrace sediments total 139 identified
taxa, as follows: 122 mollusks, 7 bryozoans, 6
ostracods, 2echinoids, 1 cirripedian and 1 fish.
The following review of species diversity of the
collected samples and interpretations of the
depositional ecology of the faunules is based
largely on the molluscan constituents of the
fauna. TTie six collecting stations are indicated on
Figure 2 and the fossils are listed in Table 1 by
stations.
Terrace sediments preserved at an elevation of
4.5 to 6 meters along the bluff facing the sandy
beach on the southwest side of the peninsula
Vol. 91 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 77
northwest of Turtle Bay yielded 30 identified
molluscan taxa (B-3027). This essentially open
coast assemblage suggests a mixture of shallow
water, sand dwellers (Olivella, Neverita, Macoma.
Tiveku Tellina, etc.) and rock dwellers (PissureUa.
Lottia, Tegula, Thais, Hinnites, etc.), together
with a deeper water element (Dentalium.
Megasurcula. Astraea. Bursa, etc.). To the
southeast on Kelp Point, the headland forming
the northern entrance to Turtle Bay, fossils were
collected from terrace sediments (B-3007) at an
elevation of about 12 meters. The collection, total-
ing 39 species, includes shallow water and off-
shore elements of rocky substrates (Astraea,
Cypraea, Tegula, Fissurella, Hinnites, Norrisia-an
algal associate, etc.) and sandy substrates (Oliva,
Olivella. Cryptomya, Trachycardium, etc.). This
locality was only partially sheltered from the
open sea on the southwestern coast of an ap-
parently insular Mount Bartolome at the time of
deposition. These assemblages (localities B-3027
and B-3007) contain only temperate-water in-
dicators, as would be expected from largely un-
protected coastal sites.
Along, the northeast side of Turtle Bay, a ter-
race is preserved at an elevation of 4.5 to 6
meters (B-3050). Only 12 species, all temperate
water indicators, were collected from these
"back-bay" sediments. These taxa are mostly
shallow water inhabitants of sandy substrates
(Neverita, Amiantis, Chione, Leporimetis,
Macoma, Protothaca. Trachycardium, lucinids,
etc.), with minor elements of boring (Zirfaea) and
of attaching forms (Anomia). At the time of
deposition, this locality received protection from
a probable insular Mount Bartolome to the west
and from the high land to the northeast (see
Figure 2). The absence of warm-water indicators
may reflect the small size of the sample, a
restricted facies, or possible chronological dif-
ferences.
A terrace extends for several hundred meters,
at an elevation of 24 to 27 meters, along the in-
ner bay side to Cape Tortolo, the peninsula form-
ing the southern entrance to Turtle Bay. These
sediments (B-3024 = 0624) are richly fossiliferous
and yielded 84 species of mollusks and 1 echinoid,
including nearly all of the species (Table 2, Pt. 1)
now confined largely to subtropical and tropical
waters. This assemblage is a mixture of sand
dwellers (Neverita, Nassarius, Terebra,
Phiilhnwtus. Caneellaria, Argopecten, Chione,
Felanielhu Leporimetis Protothaca, Trachycar-
dium., lucinids, etc.) and rocky and sandy rubble
dwellers (Acanthina, Cypraea, Fissurella,
HaliotL% Hipponix, Lottia, Columella, Conus,
Crucibulum, Tegula, Thai% Turbo, Vitularia.
Ostrea), and includes some offshore inhabitants.
On the southeastern side of Cape Tortolo, a ter-
race (B-3025) is preserved at an elevation of 6 to
9 meters from which 12 species were collected, in-
cluding several warm-water indicators. These
molluscan taxa largely represent sandy botton in-
habitants (Oliva, Olivella, Leporimetis, Tivela,
Tresus, etc.) and some rock-gravel dwellers
(Kelletia, Lottia, Tegula, etc.). Dr. Allison noted
that this terrace appears to be tilted upward to
the northwest in the direction of the Cape Tortolo
locality (B-3024), and he suggested that these ter-
races may be coeval depositional features. Both of
these localities at the time of deposition were
situated along the protected shoreline of an in-
sular Cape Tortolo and were partially sheltered
from heavy seas by an insular Mount Bartolome
to the northwest and a most likely insular Mount
Belcher to the southeast.
Approximately six miles (9.7 km.) southwest of
Turtle Bay, another terrace (B-3048), at an eleva-
tion of about 6 meters, extends along the
coastline and faces a long sandy beach. From
these terrace sediments, 12 species were collected
(Astraea, Bursa, Fissurella, Crepidula, Tegula,
Thais, Protothaca, Tivela, Dendraster, etc.), sug-
gesting sandy and rocky habitats in shallow
water to offshore depths. All are temperate in-
dicators, as would be expected from an exposed
coastal site.
Inasmuch as nearly all of the warmer water
indicators occur in the tilted, higher terraces
(B-3024 - B-3025), these assemblages may have
been deposited by an earlier high stand of the sea
than those on the other, lower terrace remnants.
The available paleontological evidence can not be
used with confidence to establish the chronology
of these depositional features.
Modern Biota of Turtle Bay
During the winter of 1974, Brusca (1975)
undertook a survey of the marine biota of Turtle
Bay based on 13 collecting stations representing
78 THE NAUTILUS
April :iU, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
Toble 2, Part 1 , Southern Founal Element of Turtle Bo/
Speciei who*e modem endpointi of ronge He mainly to the south of Turtle Bay with occurrence* in other lote
Pleiltocene foimoj of Colifomia ond Pacific Baja California ond with present geographic ronge* indicated.
Mollusca
Gastropoda
" Acanthino lugubris
"Anochis coronoto (♦
fonno ha n nana)
Bulla punctulotg
Cancel laria cauidiforrni]
Conthorus e I egons
Cerithium moculosum
California
Los Angeles Boiin San Diego Area
•• «
s ^
B J
V o
t— a.
J
s
_ "E
s >
S 8
^1
t-5
C 3
,7,33
3,4,5,7,33
,12,23
.8,9,10
Mc«ico
West Coast of &ajo Colifofnio
I J
6 6
8" "? o
_J _0 .-
I - "°
I 2 -
i
Modem Geographic Ror^e After
Keen, 1971, unleu otKerwiie noted
*= Modern Range includes loiitude
of Turtle Bay
J6
X Todoj Sontos Boy to Mogdoleno Boy, Bojo
42
California
X Scommon Lagoon, Bojo Colifomia to Ecuodor
X Mogdoleno Boy, Bojo Calrfomio to Ecuodor
X Baltenoi Bay, Elojo Colifomio to Penj
X Punfo Abreojoi, Bojo Colifomia to Peru
X Mogdoleno Boy, Bojo Catifomia to Santo Elena,
Ecuodor^S
Columbella major
* Conus fergusoni
Conus perplexus
Conus purpuroscens
Conua reguloris
'Oucibulum scutel latum
Cyproco onnettoe s.s.
Cyproeo arabicula
Diodoro digueti
"Eupleuro muric iformii
HorTT>ospiro maculoso
*Ma<;ron aethJops
Nerito scobrlcosto
Oliyg inc rosso ta
Olivo polposto (*- forma
dovlioe)
,3 .3,7 3,9,10,11
X Santo Morio Boy, Baja California to Peru
25
X Turtle Boy, Bojo California to Peru
45 25
X Punto Pequena, Bojo Colifornio to Peru
X Santo Morro Boy, Bojo Colifomia to Peru^^
Mogdoleno Boy, Boja Colifomia to Ecuador
X Cedros Island, Bojo California to Peru
X Los Froiles, baia Colifomia to Puerto Penosco,
Sonoro^
X Punto San HipoHto, Bojo California to Peru
? Scammon Lagoon, Boja Californ!a^° to Ecuodor
X Cedros Island, Boja California to Peru
27
45 ,
.,27
Santo Mario Boy, Bajo Colifomia to Ecuodoi
I 5 mi . N . of San Qui nti n Boy to Punto Pequena ,
Bojo Colifomio
Punto Pequena, Bojo Colifomio to Ecuodor
Son Ignacio Logoon, Bajo Colifornio to Peru
Mogdoleno Boy, Bojo California to Peru
Phylloootus eryfhroitomus
Strotnbus grocllJof
S trombus gronulotus
*Terebro ormillota
'Thols biterlolis
Trigonostoma gonJostotno
'Turbo fluctuotus
J .1,5,7,33
X 10 mi. NE of Cope Son Lucas, Bojo Colifornio
to Peru
45 29
X Mogdoleno Bay, Elojo Colifornio to Peru
29
X Mogdoleno Boy, Bojo Colifornio to Ecuodor
X off Scammon Lagoon, Boja California to Peru
X Sonto Morio Bay, Bojo California to Chile
X Puerto Ponosco, Sonoro to Panomo
X Cedros lilarnJ, Bojo California to Peru
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 79
s>
s s
*VIt\jloria tolebroso
-------X Ajuncion lilond, Bojo Gilifornia to Peru
^8,9,10 _ ___ .7 7 7 Cedros Island, Bojo Gilifofnia to Peru
-------x Scommon Lagoon, Bojo Coltfomia to Peru
-------- Manuela Lagoon, Bojo Colifomio to Peru
X ?--- ?- ?? near Magdalene Boy, fiaja Gilifomia to Go/omas,
Sorroro
^8,9,I0,n _ ___ _. J, ^ Cedros Island, Boja California to Peru
x^-* X - - x^^ - - X X Mogdoleno Boy, Bojo G)lifomio^^ to Peru"*^
^l,3^n,14, _ _ _ ^49 _ _ _ ^49 Logypg Beach, Gjlifornio^' to Peru
X ' - --X -- - X Scommon Logoon, Bojo California to Penj
---xx-xx Scammon Lagoon, Bojo California to Peru
X _____--? Son Ignocio Logoon, Bojo California to Peru
-------X Cope Colnett, Baja California to Chile
32
-------X Mogdoleno Boy, Bojo California to Peru
------XX Scammon Lagoon, Baja California to Peru
X ' ---??- ?? San Ignocio Lagoon, Boja California to Costa Rico
x' X------X Cedros Island, Bojo CoMfomia to Guaymos,
Sinoloo^S
-28
? off Scammon Logoon , to ? Punta Eugenia,
Baja Catifornio
Cape Son Lucas, Bojo Colifomio to Ecuador^ ;
Guodolupe lslar>d, 6a|o California^
intertidal and subtidal habitats. He reports
(Brusca, in litt.. 1978) the coldest water
temperatures near the mouth of the bay, where
isolated stands of giant kelp (Macrocystis) occur,
together with algal associations characteristic of
cool water. He found temperatures to increase
gradually within the bay, with warm temperate
and tropical organisms (Panamic species) living
in the warmer backwaters. In a summary of his
study, Brusca (1975) concluded that "tropical
species" (39%) outnumbered "temperate species"
(21%) in the samples, although he noted (in litt..
1978) that the temperate organisms dominated
tropical ones in terms of total biomass (see also
Brusca and Wallerstein, 1979, p. 76).
The mollusks, on the other hand, are
predominately wide-ranging eurytopic species,
with the Panamic element represented by a
minor constituency. The presence of severe
coastal upwelling of cold water in the area
80 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
Toblf* 2. Part 2. NortKem Foimal Element of Turtle Boy
Spociei wfxrte modem endpoinlj of ror^ge He moinly ro the north of Turtle Boy with occurrenceJ in other lo'e
Pleiitocene founos of California and Pacific Bojo California and with present geographic rongei irvdicoted.
Mollusco
Gastropoda
• Alio corinato
• Astroeo undoso
•Biftium quodrifilotum
Colifornio
Los Angeles Basin Son Diego Areo
<^ '2 _ 'E 'E -"
s > s > > ^
s s Bo o .^1
£ £ S
.1,3 .XiJ,33, ','1,14
.,3^7,
U 7,33,4S I2,U,23
x3 .3.7
Mexico
West Coost of Bojo Colifornio
Si S ~ '^
O V
cS 6 a i §
B p £ O I 9 ^ -6
cccco^cg*
35
NVxJem Geogrophic Ronge After
McLeon, 1976, unle» otherwise noted
'= Modern Range includes latitude
of Turtle Bay
Boranof Ulond, Alaska to Son Francisco Island
(Gulf of Colifomio)*5
Avilo Beach, Colifornio to Punta Pequena, Bojo
Californio*5
San Pedro, Colifornio to Sonto Morlo Bay, Bojo
California
•Coecum doj_M [ =*■ C.
licotufn Bortsch,
*Coecum crebicinchjm
'ColHsello lintotulo
* Corpus colifomicus
Cypraeo tpodiceo
•partulum occidentole [= •■
FT^efi Bortsch, 1920]
*Fiuurfl1la volcano
* Holiotii fulgens
*Hipponix tumens
*Kallefio kelleHi
•Lottlo gigonteo
'Magosurculo corpenteriono
"Mitro idoe {= ^M .
cotoTlfw 17011,1919)
*f4assarius tegulo
^1,3
1,2 1,3 3,4,7,
X X X 46
12 1,3 7,44
1,2 1
,10
,10,12
9,11,12,14
X
14,23
X XX
5,7,33,46 ,11,14
,1,2 ,3 ,3,7 ,3,6,12,23
3 7 3, 1 1
- X X X '
2 1 3,7,33 ,3,6,9,12,23
1,3 3,5,6,7,33 3,14,23
- X X X
7 9,11
- - X X
,3 ,5,7,33 ^,11,14
1,2 3 7,33,46 12,14
1,3 3,4,5.6,7, 8,11
« « 3l)
2 3 3,6,7,33, 3,10,11,12,
*Olrvello biplicotQ
* PMudomelatoma
pflnicillolx]
* Ptafoputpwfo faitivo
1,2 2,3 3,4.5.6,7, 9,11,12,14
« « « 33,46 » ' ' '
^3 ,5,7,33
.' x''3 ^*if- .11.'^
XX X
X X
X - X
37
7 ?
SE of Forollon IslorxJs, Colifornio to Asuncion
IslorxJ, Bojo Colifornio
Hesketh Island, Alosko to Los Oucei, Bojo
Colifornio (Gulf of Colifornio)*^
Newport, Oregon to Punto Abreojoi, Bojo
,45
Cnlifomia
X Forolton Islands, California to Mogdaleno Bay, Bojo
California
Monterey Bay to Cedros Island, Bojo Colifornio
X Yukon Island, Alaska to Mogdaleno Boy, Bojo
Colifornia^^
X Oesent City, Colifornio to Mogdoleno Bay, Bojo
Califomio
X Point Conception, California to Mogdaleno Boy,
E^jo California
X Oesconf Gly, Colifornio to Mogdolerw Boy,
Bojo Colifornio
X TojigoM, Sonto Borbaro Co., Colifornio ■*, to
Asuncion IslorxJ, Bojo Colifornio
Neoh Bay, Washington to Turtle Boy,Baja California
34 ,
X Bodego Bay, Califomio to San Oiitobol, Bojo
Colifornio
34
Oescent Cty, Colifornia to Punto Son Pablo,
Bojo Colifornio 45
X X Long Beach, Colifornio to San Ignocio Logoon,
Bojo Colifornio^
X Point Conception , Colifornio to Asuncion Islorxj,
Bojo Cotifomio
X Voncouver lslor>d, Canada to Turtle Boy, Ekijo
Colifornio
X X Sonta Borbaro, California to Migdoleno Boy,
Bojo Colifornio
- X SE Po^nt Conception, Califomio to Mogdoleno Boy,
Bojo Colifornio
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 81
s a,,
0| § £l
5l ^Jl
I _8 Bo S^\
'Scrip montereyentit
'Tegulo oureofincto
*Tegulo eiieni (- T.
Hgulato ouct. no*
M*nke,t850)
'Tegulo gollino
'Triphoro pedfoong
'Truncotello colifomico
1
.5,7,33 JM*
S -o
'6 6 1
- s s ^ ~ ^
.' x'.3 .5jJ33, ,n. 12,14
.2 ,1,3 .3,4.5,7, ,10,11,14,23 .
1,3 3,5,7,33 3,23
X ' X ' ' ' X X
2 1 7,33 10
' K X X X
n
SE Forollon Islonds, Catifornio, to Punia Son Pablo,
Boja Colifofnio**'
K X Rincon Point, Santo Barboro Co., Colifornio to
Mogdoleno Bay, Bojo Colifornio
- X SE Point Mugu, Ventura Co., California to Magdaleno
bay. Boja Colifornio
X Sonto Cruz Islond, California to ? Magdolena Boy,
Bajo California's
X Pacific Grove, Colifornio to Mogdoleno Bay, Bajo
Califofnio'5
Polos Verdes Peninsula, Colifornio to Mogdoleno
Boy, Boja Colifornio"
Bi vol via
• Amiontis collosa
•Chaceia ovoidao
'Cofbulo luteolo
*Donax callfomicus
'Epili
ucing colifomico
Glons subquodrotq
•Hinoitw gigonteui
*Mocomo nosuto (^-for^T»a
Milrwrio minimo
•Nuttolio nuttolii (+
formo orcutti)
• PenihsMo fjtchi
•Penitello penito
Soxidomus nuttol li
*S«inele deciio
' Tallino bodeganiis
•Tivela stullorum
• Troc^ycord i um
quodrggenorii
'Troniennello tonlillo
1 pilsbryi
1,3 3,4,5.6, 3,11
x39 ^39,46 ^39
J x3 ,3,5,7, ,8,9,10,
x' X X ' ^3' X ,,^^4
3 .4,5,6, ^9,10,11
X X 1^ X
x'.2 x1.3 ,3.\l- ''■'W'
1,2 1,3 5,6,7 .11,12,14,
X X • X '"23
x2 ,3 ,3,4,5^6, x'2
of^ - -
3 3,4,7
X X
x39
.39 ^39 ^39
,3 ,3,4.5.7, ,3,12,14
X X -jj X
,3 ,3A5A ii.liH
" " ^.33 "* 33
3 3,4,5,7 3,11,14,23
,3 ,3,5,33 ,8.11.14,46
^3,39 ^3,7,39 ^^10. 14,39
XX X
X Sonto Borbora, Colifornio to Cope Son Lucas,
Boja Colifornio
Sonto Cruz, Colifornio to Turtle Bay, Boja
Colifornio
X Monterey, Colifornio to La P02, Boja California
X Goleto, California to Mogdalena Boy, Ekijo
California^
Oesenf Gty, Colifornio to Son Ignoclo Logoon,
Bojo Califomio'O
X Queen Oiorlotte Islands, Conodo to Punto
Rompiente, Bojo Colifornio"'*
X Aleution Islonds, Alaska to Magdolena Bay, Bojo
Colifornia*^
X Kodiok Island, Alosko to Cape Son Lucas, Bojo
Colifornio38
Monterey, California to Notividad Island, Bojo
California 36
X Bodego Boy, Colifornio to Mogdoleno Boy, Bajo
California
Monterey Boy, ColifornLo to Punto Pequeno,
Bojo Colifornio
Gulf of Alosko to Punto Pequeno, Bojo Colifornio
X Humboldt Boy, California to San Geronimo Island,
Bojo California
X Sonto Barboro, Colifornio to Cope Son Lucas,
Bajo California
X Queen Charlotte Islands, Conodo to Cope Son
Lucas, Bojo Colifornio^
X Stinson Beoch, Marin County, California to
Mogdoleno Boy, Bojo Colifornio
Monterey, Colifornio to Cope Son Lucas,
Bojo Colifornio-'^
Sirko Horbor, Alosko to Boio Colifornio (L.27° N)**^
Arctic Alaska to Mogdoleno Boy, Bojo Colifornio 3'
82 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
I . Woodring, ei^ ol^. , 1944
2. MarincovicK, 1976
3. Arnold. 1903
4. Dclong, 1941
5. Willeti, 1937
6. twil. 1946
7. Kanokoff and Emefiofi, 1959
8. Kerr, 1971
9. Kern, et ol^. , 1971
1 0 . Emcrion ond Oioce , 1 959
II . Herllelnond Grant, 1944
12. Webb, 1937
13. Volenllne, 1961
14. Emerjoo ond Addicotr, 1953
15. Volenline, 1957
16. Emenon. 1956b
17. Addicort ond Emerjon, 1959
18. Jordon. 1926
19. Jordon, 1924
20. Hertleln, 1934
21. Jordon, 1936
22. Keen, 1971
23. Volentine, 1960o
Foornorei to Toble 2
24. Berry, 1922
25. Honno, 1963
26. Collection of the American Muieum of Noturol
Hiftory
27. Herttein ond Strong, 1955
28. Grontond Hertlein, 1936
29. Emenon and Old, 1963
30. Hertlein and Strong, 1943
31. Hertlein ond Strong, 1949
32. Olsion, 1961
33. Volentine, 1956
34. McLeon. 1978
35. Volentine ond Meode, 1961
36. Coon, 1977
37. Monger, 1934
38. Filch, 1953
39. Kennedy, 1974
40. Hertlein ond Gront, 1972
41. Honno, 1963, p. 26, recordi two speciinens
identified os Contn grodotui (which irtay be
refereoble to the present speciesl from the
Pleistocene ot Punta Sonto Rosalia, about
60 miles northeoit of Scommon Lagoon.
42. Closely related, if not conspccific loxo (A.
ongelico ond A . tyrionthina ) , occur in the
Gulf of Cblifotnio OS for soutti os Son Corlos
0. ^ <5
isoy, Ouaymos .
43. Replaced southword and within the Gulf of
Galifornio by N. tiorulg (Kiener, 18411, which
some workers consider to be southern populotions
of this species .
44 . This toxon is opporently conspecific with T,
boirdiono C. B. Adoms, 1852, for which two
lots ore known from the noftfsem part of the
Gulf of Colifomio otxl ofse lot from Tabogo
Island, Ponomo, teste J. H. McLeon.
45. teste J. H. McLeon, bcsed on the collection
of the Los Arsgeles County Museum of Noturol
History .
46. Addicolt, 1964
47. Valentine, 1960b
48. Hoderlie, 1979
49. Coon, 1979
50. Fitch, 1962
(seasonally, from April through July, according to
Blackburn, 1969) accounts for the shallow water
occurrences of temf)erate organisms, including
the luxuriant growth of kelp beds in this region
(Dawson, et al, 1960). The diverse thermal regime
of the hydroclimate of this coast is also sup-
portive of subtropical and tropical organisms,
especially in protected habitats such as shallow
bays and lagoons, where the effects of solar radia-
tion and sluggish circulation locally influence
water temperatures (Emerson, 1956, a, b; Brusca
and Wallerstein, 1979). Within the confines of
Turtle Bay, these contrasting faunal elements are
represented by mollusks associated with kelp
beds (Astraea undosa. Norrisia norrisi, Haliotis
spp., and other temperate species) and by sub-
tropical and tropical species {Bursa caelata.
Pterin sterna. Crepidula i^trudata, and others) liv-
ing together with the more numerous ubiquitous
species, some of which range from Alaska to
Peru.
The ranges of the shelled mollusks living on
the continental shelf of the northeastern Pacific
Ocean have been investigated by computer tech-
niques and other numerical methods in an at-
tempt to define zoogeographic provinces on the
basis of the latitudinal distribution of this major
faunal constituent (Stanton and Dodd, 1970; Ad-
dicott, 1966; Valentine, 1961, 1966; Hall, 1964; for
a general summary .see Brusca and Wallerstein.
1979:72-77). Distributional boundaries are defined
as provincial boundaries and apparently reflect
the regional hydroclimatic patterns controlling
temperature regimes and governing other
hydrographic conditions on the shelf.
Turtle Bay (27°14'N.) is geographically situated
near the northern limit of the subtropical Surian
Province, which extends southward along the
western coast of Baja California from Punta
Eugenia (28°15'N.) to Cape San Lucas (22°52'N.).
In the region of the Cape, this province borders
on the extensive, tropical Panamic Province,
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 83
which includes the Gulf of California and ter-
minates in northern Peru. The Surian Province
borders on the north with the warm temperate,
Californian Province, which ends near Point Con-
ception, California (34°50'N.), the southern boun-
dary of the temperate Oregonian Province, which
extends northward to Dixon Entrance, British
Columbia (54°25'N.), where it is replaced by the
cool temperate Aleutian Province.
Late Pleistocene faunal provinces also have
been defined for the molluscan assemblages
preserved in sediments on the lowest emergent
marine terraces of western Baja California to
Washington (Valentine, 1961; Addicott, 1966;
Kennedy, M. S. ). Valentine (1961, p. 393) pro-
posed the Magdalenan Province, extending
southward from Punta Eugenia to Cape San
Lucas on the west coast of Baja California, as a
late Pleistocene province characterized by faunas
chiefly Panamanian in aspect. The northern
boundary of the late Pleistocene Magdalenan Pro-
vince was questionably placed by Addicott (1966)
to coincide with the northern limits of the
modern Surian Province (Punta Eugenia), owing
to the meager documentation of the Pleistocene
terrace fauna of this region of Baja California.
The faunistic data recorded in this report for the
Turtle Bay Pleistocene assemblages, therefore,
provide additional paleodistributional evidence
for more adequately defining this provincial
boundary.
The presence of a prominent Panamic faunal
component in two of the Turtle Bay faunules
(UCMP localities B-3024; B-3025) confirms the
assignment of these assemblages to the
Magdalenan Province. A reliable provincial
assignment of the remaining Turtle Bay
assemblages requires a better understanding of
the late Pleistocene chronology of the terrace se-
quence in the Turtle Bay area.
Faunal Composition and Comparisons
All of the identified fossils from the seven
localities (Table 1) represent living species. The
composition of the mollusk and echinoid collec-
tion is dominated by taxa whose modern end-
points of range lie mainly to the north or to the
south of Turtle Bay. These predominantly
southern and northern faunal components are
enumerated in Table 2, Parts 1 and 2, respective-
ly, together with the known modem geographic
ranges and the reported occurrences in selected
late Pleistocene faunas of southern California
and western Baja California. Of the identified
mollusks (122 species) and echinoids (2 species),
the southern and northern elements are about
equally represented (38 and 39% respectively)
and they constitute slightly more than three
quarters (77%) of the mollusk-«chinoid collected
fauna. The remaining molluscan taxa (23%)
represent a mostly eurythermal element, whose
components now range widely, living to the north
in boreal or cool temperate waters and extending
southward, commonly at increasing depths, into
subtropical or tropical waters. The modern ranges
of 97 percent of the eurythermal and northern
elements include the latitude of Turtle Bay. The
present northern endpoints of range of 53 percent
of the southern element, however, occur to the
south of this latitude, but nearly all of these
species (92%) now live south of Turtle Bay along
Pacific Baja California, or in the region of Cape
San Lucas. Most of the species of the southern
element also occur in the Gulf of California and
many range as far south as northern Peru. The
two species (Cypraea annettae and Phyllonot'iis
erythrostomus) not knovm to occur at the present
time on the west coast of Baja California live in
the Gulf of California and range southward to
Panama or Peru. Only two species in the collec-
tion {Macron aethiops and Dendraster mzcainoen-
sis), both members of the southern element, are
restricted now in distribution to the west coast of
Baja California, including the latitude of Turtle
Bay, but they are known from late Pleistocene
deposits as far north as the Los Angeles Basin
(Table 2, Part 1).
Although all of the faunas cited in Table 2 are
apparently late Pleistocene in age, absolute dates
based on radiometric ages are available for only
a few Pacific Coast terraces (summary in Ku and
Kern, 1974). Faunistic interpretations, therefore,
are limited largely to comparisons with
physiographically similar deposits. Literature
references (Table 2) to the geographic occurrences
of terrace sediments in the Los Angeles and San
Diego areas require elucidation. Woodring, et al.
(1946) restricted the Palos Verdes Sand to the
marine deposits on the lowest emergent terrace
of the Palos Verdes Peninsula where they
recognized 12 other higher terraces (numbered 2
84 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
to 13 in ascending order). Accordingly, the
records of fossils from the older terraces (2 to 13)
of the Palos Verdes Hills are listed separately
from those of the lowest terrace, identified as
"Terrace 1, Palos Verdes Sand." Records for other
deposits in the Los Angeles Basin tentatively
assigned to the Palos Verdes Sand (Kanakoff and
Emerson, 1959) are listed under the heading,
"Palos Verdes Sand, Setuiu Lato." Records for the
San Diego area include fossils presumed to be
from sediments correlative with the Bay Point
Formation (Valentine, 1959; Emerson and Chace,
1959; Kern, 1971; Kern, et at, 1971). Kern (1977)
recently demonstrated the presence of more than
one marine terrace level at elevations previously
thought to represent the abrasion platform cut
during the high stand of the sea responsible for
the Bay Point sediments. On the basis of
available faunistic and physiographic evidence,
however, all of these deposits are apparently
referable to the late Pleistocene, and thus invite
faunistic comparison within this limited temporal
framework. In this context, the following
paleogeographic interpretations of the Turtle Bay
fauna are undertaken.
When the faunal elements of the Turtle Bay
assemblages are compared with the constituents
of most of the well-documented, late Pleistocene
molluscan and echinoid faunas recorded from
western Baja California and southern California,
the southern element (subtropical and tropical
sf)ecies) is found to be well represented in the
Magdalena Bay fauna (with 94 percent of the
taxa definitely and questionably identified) and
the northern element (temperate species) is also
abundantly represented in the Los Angeles Basin
(100%) and in the San Diego area (88%), see
Table 2. In contrast, the southern element in the
Magdalena faunules is less well represented in
the Los Angeles Basin (36%) and in the San
Diego area (26%), whereas the northern element
in the Magdalena faunules is more completely
represented in the longitudinally intermediate
Pleistocene sites listed in Table 2, but most of
these faunas represent open-coast depositional
sites from which constituents of the southern
faunal element would not be expected (Emerson,
1956b; Addicott and Emerson, 1959; Valentine,
19(51; Addicott, 1966).
This is a late Pleistocene regional pattern of
distribution in which the southern element
(subtropical and tropical species) becomes pro-
gressively less prominent in deposits at increas-
ingly higher latitudes. For the northern element
(b(jreal and temperate species) this latitudinal
trend is reversed (but not to the same
magnitude). This distributional pattern is also
reflected in the composition of the regional
modem fauna, but with a diminution in the
ratio of Panamic elements to Californian
elements especially noticeable north of the Viz-
caino Peninsula. The coexistence of numerous
locally extinct southern and northern modem
species in Pleistocene sediments, however, con-
tinues to be an enigma to the student of
biogeography.
The terrace associations in which the ex-
tralimital southem and northem species coexist
are termed "thermally anomalous," because ther-
mal changes in the hydroclimate are presumed to
be largely responsible for the shifting of ranges of
taxa that have become geographically separated.
The paleoclimatic significance of the thermally
anomalous associations have been discussed by
numerous workers, including Woodring, et al.
(1946, p. 86-90), Emereon (1956 a; b, p. 326-327).
Valentine (1955, p. 465-468; 1961, p. 393-400), Ad-
dicott (1966, p. C16-19), Kern (1971, p. 819-820;
1973, p. 26-33) and Zinsmeister (1974, 84-94). The
generally accepted explanation of climatic expan-
sion, in which isothermal shifts permit the local
coexistence of thermally anomalous species by
producing warmer "summer" water temperatures
and at the same time intensifying upwelling of
cooler coastal waters has been questioned by
some workers. Kem et al. (1971, p. 337) succinctly
summarized the major objections to climatic ex-
pansion: "The geographic ranges of these
[northern species] and the extralimital [southem]
species must involve more complex changes than
simple warming or cooling. It must also be
recognized that some of these species may have
changed physiologically and ecologically since
late Pleistocene times and some of these may be
limited geographically by factors other than
water temperature." Zinsmeister (1974, p. 84) of-
fered a modified expansion hypothesis stating
"... that some of these anomalies resulted from
periodic local and temporary current changes
that permitted the introduction of larvae of
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 85
tropical moUusks into areas of cooler water
temperatures." He documented his thesis with
records of incursions of subtropical and tropical
elements into the waters of southern California
during historical times. Such periodic incursions
during warm years are of a brief duration
(generally 2-3 years) and the short-term, surviv-
ing populations are not believed to be reproduc-
tively viable (Hubbs, 1948). This distributional
mechanism alone seemingly would not account
for the diversity of the tropical extralimital
species (Kanakoff and Emerson, 1959, Table 2;
Valentine and Meade, 1961, Table 10) found in
the Pleistocene sediments, and could not account
for the presence of most non -pelagic organisms.
However, as Kern (1973) and others have
pointed out, the possibility of physiological and
ecological adaptive changes in species can not be
discounted, but such alterations of tolerances are
difficult to document. An example of ecologically
adaptive changes interpreted on the basis of shell
morphology is inferred by Campbell and Valen-
tine (1979) as a response to differing terrestrial
temperatures during tidal exposures in
Pleistocene Nucella lamellosa. Changes in
temperature-distribution relationships in
molluscan species in which shell morphology is
not seemingly altered are more difficult to
substantiate (Woodring, 1951). Stanton and Dodd
(1970) and Kern (1973), for example, concluded
that the bivalve genus Dosinia, long recognized as
a warm-water indicator in the west coast Ter-
tiary owing to its presence in the modern Surian
and Panamic faunal provinces, had undergone a
change in thermal requirements since the early
Pliocene, where it occurs in assemblages
dominated by cooler water indicators. Valentine
and Meade (1961, p. 35) found isotopic
temp)eratures yielded by Pleistocene specimens of
D. ponderosa to be somewhat lower than expected
for its modern thermal regime, and suggested
that temperatures at which this species can
deposit shell material were lower than those
". . . necessary at some other time in its life for
some other function." In a study of the Pliocene
San Diego Formation, Hertlein and Grant (1972,
p. 38) described D. ponderosa diegoana as a new
"subspecies" intermediate in shell characters be-
tween the early Pliocene D. jacalitosana and the
living D. ponderosa, on which Kern (1973) based
his interpretations of the thermal requirements
of D. jacalitosana from the Pliocene of the Ven-
tura Basin of California. Dosinia ponderosa is
recorded from warmer late Pleistocene
assemblages in the Los Angeles and San Diego
area and southward (Table 2, Pt. 1), but is not
known from the early Pleistocene assemblages of
the Los Angeles Basin, which are generally inter-
preted as cool water faunas (Woodring, et ai,
1946). For this example, the evidence, though not
complete, suggests that some species-groups
within a genus may have higher thermal re-
quirements for critical functions other than shell
deposition, or the presence of discrete, but not
easily detected morphological differences in shell
charactei-s, may reflect species-level evolution
within temporally isolated populations of a
lineage, rather than physiologically divergent
species.
Occurrences of some extralimital species un-
doubtedly have resulted from factors other than
climatic influences, but such inferences require
rigid documentation. The recent discoveries of
wide-ranging fluctuations of the Pleistocene
marine climates during geologically brief periods
of time, determined by isotopic records preserved
in oceanic cores (see Shackleton and Opdyke,
1973; 1976), provides stronger support for the role
of climatic expansion in explaining the ex-
tralimital species associations.
The available paleontological data suggests that
a northward latitudinal shift of about 3 degrees
of the modern hydroclimate of Baja California,
together with a concurrent increase in seasonably
induced upwelling,^ would appear to be sufficient
to support a gradual, attenuated distribution of
the thermally anomalous southern and northern
species within, respectively, increasing or decreas-
ing latitudinal gradients.^ Unfortunately, the
composition of the modern and Pleistocene
faunas of critical areas of Baja California must
be better known before such a distributional
' The occurrence of regional upwelling during interglacial
phases of the Sangamon is supported by oxygen-isotope com-
position of Mytiliis shells from an open-coast site on the
Nestor Terrace. (Killingley and Berger. 1979).
' Indirect paleontological evidence supports regional episodes
of hydoclimatic latitudinal shifts of this magnitude during
the Pleistocene. For example, a compari.son of the U-series
calibrated isochron with kinetic model isochrons suggests that
86 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
model can be realistically evaluated. Additional-
ly, absolute dates of the regional terrace
sediments are needed to provide a more precise
geochronological context. The only radiometric
dates available for the Magdalenan provincial
faunas are 116,5(X) ± 6,(X)0 years for the
Magdalena Terrace in Magdalena Bay (Omura,
Emerson, and Ku, 1979). These values suggest this
terrace is correlative with the Nester Terrace in
the San Diego area and other regional terraces
which apparently were formed by a high stand of
the sea about 120,(X)0 - r25,00(J years ago (Ku
and Kern, 1974) during a warm water stage of
the Sangamon (isotopic stage 5e of Shackleton
and Opdyke, 1973). The assemblages from Turtle
Bay in which the warm-water indicators occur
(localities B-3024 and B-3025) are probably
referable to this early stage of the Sangamon.
More precise dating of these assemblages and
reliable correlation of the assemblages which ap-
parently lack warm-water elements (localities
B-3027, B-3007, B-3050, and B-3048) must await
absolute dating of the fossils.
Register of Localities
Pleistocene, Tuiile Bay area.
Baja California Sur, Mexico
California Academy of Sciences
C. A. S. loc. 34312. Between south end of Turtle
Bay and the ocean. Fossil exposure about .4
kilometers from the shore line and the upper part
of exposure about 15 meters above the high tide
line. Shells mostly picked from a soft clay matrix,
some picked up lower down in the slope. Col-
lected by E. P. Chace, July 16, 1954. [S. D. S. N.
H. loc. 0624 and U. C. M. P. loc. B-3024].
San Diego Natural History Museum
S. D. N. H. M. loc. 0624 . Southwest corner of
Turtle Bay, at south end of hills on the peninsula
between the bay and the Pacific Ocean. Top of ex-
posure at an elevation of about 15 meters. Col-
greater air and/or ground paleotemperature reductions have
occurred in coastal southern California (-4°C. for the Nestor
Terrace) than in southern B;tja California (-!' to -2°C. for the
Magdalena Terrace) during glacial phase.s of the past 120.(XK)
years (Wehmillerand Emerson, 1980).
lected by E. P. Chace. July 16, 1954. [= U. C. M.
P. loc. B-3024 and C. A. S. loc. 34312].
University of California Museum of
Paleontology: E. C. Allison, collector
U. C. M. P. loc. B-3027. Terrace immediately
behind long sandy beach along southwest portion
of peninsula northwest of Turtle Bay. Elevation
4.5 to 6 meters. June 27, 1956.
U. C. M. P. loc. B-3007. Terrace deposit at
aljout 12 meters elevation N. 30°E. of peak on
south side of entrance to Turtle Bay. Jume 18,
19.56.
U. C. M. P. loc. B-3050. Terrace along the north-
east side of Turtle Bay. Elevation 4.5 to 6
meters. July 3, 1956.
U. C. M. P. loc. B-3024. Terrace, traceable for
several hundred yards, at an elevation of 24 to 27
meters, southwest portion of Turtle Bay in back
and south of small fishing camp. June 26, 1956.
U. C. M. P. loc. B-3025. Terrace at an elevation
of 6 to 9 meters southwest of B-3024, and possibly
equivalent to B-3024, as the terrace appears to be
tilted in that direction. June 26, 1956.
U. C. M. P. loc. B-3048. Terrace at an elevation
of approximately 6 meters that extends along the
open coast adjacent to a long sand-gravel beach,
about 9.7 kilometers southeast of Turtle Bay. Ju-
ly 2, 1956.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Dr. Allison was provided trasportation by ship
to Turtle Bay through the ciniperation of the
University of California, Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, La Jolla. California. Facilities in
the field were made available to him by Donald
B. Mclntyre and John S. Shelton of Pomona Col-
lege, Claremont. California, who were conducting
a field class as part of a continuing investigation
of the gefjlogy of the Vizcaino Peninsula and the
adjacent offshore islands.
J. Wyatt Durham and Joseph H. Peck, Jr., of
the Museum of Paleontology, University of
California, Berkeley (U. C. M. P. ), Peter U.
Rodda and Barry Roth of the California
Academy of Sciences (C. A. S.), and Arnold Ross
and Emery P. Chace of the San Diego Natural
History Museum (S. D. N. H. M.) kindly lent me
fossils and/or permitted access to collections in
their respective institutions.
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 87
The following colleagues generously indentified
fossils representing their respective specialties:
John E. Fitch, California Department of Fish and
Game Marine Resources Agency, fish otoliths;
Leo G. Hertlein and Allyn G. Smith, California
Academy of Sciences, echinoids and chitons; John
D. Soule, Allan Hancock Foundation; University
of Southern California, bryozoans; and George L.
Kennedy, pholadid bivalves. Richard C. Brusca,
Allan Hancock Foundation; James H. McLean
Patrick I. LaFollette, and Helen DuShane, Los
Angeles County Museum of Natural History; and
Frank R. Bernard, Fisheries and Marine Service
of Canada, also contributed data of various kinds.
William E. Old, Jr. of the American Museum of
Natural History provided technical service and
Cristina L. Ordonez typed the final draft of the
manuscript.
George L. Kennedy, Frank H. Kilmer and Leslie
F. Marcus critically read a draft of the manuscript,
for which we thank them.
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33(4):685-688.
1960a. Habitats and sources of Pleistocene
mollusks at Torrey Pines Park. California. Ecology.
41(1):161-16.5.
. 1960b. Pleistocene molluscan notes, 3. rocky coast
feunule, Bahia San Quintin. Me.xico. Vie Natitibis
74(l):18-23.
. 1961. Paleoecologic molluscan geography of the
Californian Pleistocene. Univ. Calif. Pzibs. Geol. Sci
34(7):309-442. 16 figs.
. 1966. Numerical analysis of marine molluscan
ranges on the extratropical northeastern Pacific Shelf. Lim-
noL and Oceanng. 11(2): 198-211.
Valentine, J. W., and R. F. Meade. 1961. Californian
Pleistocene paleotemperatures. Univ. Calif. Pubx. Geol. Sci.
40(1): 1-46.
Webb, R. W. 1937. Paleontology of the Pleistocene of Point
Loma, Siin Diego County, California. San THeyo Soc. Nat.
Hist. Trans. 8(24):a37-.348.
Wehmiller, J. F., and W. K. Emerson. 1980. Calibration of
amino acid racemization in late Pleistocene mollusks:
results from Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
with dating applications and paleoclimatic implications.
TheNautUus9i{m\-:i6.
Willett, G. 19.37. An upper Pleistocene fauna from the
Baldwin Hills. Los Angeles County. California. San Diego
Soc. Nat. Hist. Trans. 8(30):.379-406.
Woodring. W. P. 19.51. Basic assumption underlying
paleoecologj\ Science 1 13(29.39): 482-483.
Woodring, W. P., M. N. Bramlette, and W. S. W. Kew. 1946.
Geology and paleontology of Palos Verdes Hills, California.
U S. Geol. Sun'. Prof Paper 207, v + 145 p.
Zinsmeister, W. J. 1974. A new interpretation of the thermal-
ly anomalous molluscan assemblages of the California
Pleistocene.. /o;(r. Paleont. 48(l):84-94.
FRESHWATER BIVALVES OF TYGART CREEK, NORTHEASTERN KENTUCKY
Ralph W. Taylor
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Marshall University
Huntington. W.VA 2.5701
ABSTRACT
A survey of the freshwater bivalves of a small northeastern Kentucky stream
revealed twenty one species of unionacean and three species of sphaeriacean clams,
all reported for the first time from this area.
Several investigators have studied Kentucky
bivalve mollusks. Isom reported on the clams of
the Tennessee River (1969) and the Green River
(1974), both of which are located in vi'estern Ken-
tucky. Stansbery also collected in the Green River
(1965) and did additional work on the Cumber-
land River (1969) which is located in southcentral
Kentucky. Blankenship and Crocker (1972) sur-
veyed the Rockcastle River in southeastern Ken-
tucky and Branson and Batch (1971) collected
throughout much of the state with most of their
efforts concentrated in eastern Kentucky. Much
of this work was concerned with land and aquatic
snails, and the only bivalves reported were
sphaeriacean clams. Williams (1969) comprehen-
sive survey of the lower Ohio River basin con-
tributed significantly to the knowledge of the
molluscan fauna of Kentucky's largest major
waterway.
Little work has been done in smaller streams
of this area and I find no mention in the liter-
ature of any work carried out in the northeastern
sector of Kentucky. The intent of this paper is to
report on the occurrence and specific location of
21 species of unionacean clams and 3 species of
sphaeriacean clams in a small Ohio River Tribu-
tary near the Kentucky-Ohio-West Virginia state
lines.
Collecting area
The Tygart Creek basin is located in Carter and
Greenup Counties in northeastern Kentucky. The
direction of flow is southwest to northeast begin-
ning in Carter County and terminating at its
confluence with the Ohio River near South
Shores. Greenup County. Kentucky. The stream
falls 187 m in its 143 km length for an average
fall of 1.3 m per km (USAGE. 1977). The head-
9(1 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (2)
TABLE I. A checklist of Mussels of Tytimi
Creek. Numbers in parentheses represent total
n u m her ofspecim e )ui collected.
Species collected
Unionacean Clams
Copbicula manilensis (6 )
Quadnila £. pustulosa (2)
Amblema £. pi icata (25)
Epioblasma tnquetra (13)
Tritogonia verrucosa (10)
Potamilus alatus (2 )
EUiptio dilatatus (11)
Obovaria subrotunda ( 5)
Lampsilis radiata luteola (69)
Strophitus u. undulatus (17)
Leptodea fragilis ( 5 )
Lampsilis ventncosa (19)
Cyprogenia irrorata ( 1 )
Lasmigona costata (7)
Ptychobranchus fasciolare (44)
An^donta g. grandis (2)
Villosa iris (2)
Fusconia (22)
Lasmigona compressa ( 1 )
Sphaeriacean Clams
Sphaerium simile (1 )
Sphaeriom striatinum (6 )
Musculium transversum (IS)
Station No.
12 3 4
water area of Tygart Creek is characterized by
narrow valleys with steep wooded hillsides. Only
near the mouth is there a flood-plain of any ap-
preciable size. The stream proper consists of a
series of riffles and pools with a maximum depth
along its course of just under 2 m at summer
pool.
T>'gart Creek is one of rather high water quali-
ty with pollution of the area being limited to
that which results from local agricultural prac-
tices and to a minimal degree from input by
residential human waste. There are no city sewer
or industrial waste disposal systems that empty
directly into the creek.
METHODS
During the period of 27 June-21 October 1977
mu.ssels were collected in Tygart Creek. The
bivalves were hand picked from the water and
along the bank as dead shells. In one instance a
raccoon midden provided a good cross section col-
lection of the mussel fauna in that area. In this
report no distinction is made between specimens
collected as live animals or dead shells. All dead
shells showed little erosion and appeared to have
been recently vacated. Many sites were visited
during the collecting phase but only five localities
were productive. Scientific names are in accord-
ance with Dr. David H. Stansbery of the Ohio
State Univei-sity Museum of Zoology where
voucher specimens have been placed.
Collecting stations
Station (1) Located along St. Rt. 7, 200 m
north of a covered bridge which connects Co.
Rd. 1215 with St. Rt. 7., Greenup Co. A 100
m long shallow riffle with a rather swift cur-
rent flowing over large rocky rubble
characterize this site. The stream width is
approx. 20 m.
v/Ki
Study Ar<
Vol. 94 (2)
April 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 91
Station (2) Located alonj,' Co. Rd. 121.S, 1.12
km S. E. of a covered bridge which connects
Co. Rd. 1215 with St. Rt. 7, Greenup Co. A
50 m long slow moving pool followed by a
short swiftly flowing riffle and associated
gravel bar characterize this site. The bottom
of the pool is covered by a 15 cm layer of
mud with a dense algal mat. The stream
width is approx. 10 ni.
Station (-3) Tygart Creek northwest of the in-
tersection of St. Rt. 7 and Co. Rd. 2070
(locally knovm as White Oak Road), Greenup
Co. A long shallow riffle with a shaley rub-
ble substrate is characteristic of this site.
The stream width is approx. 10 m.
Station (4) A small unnamed tributary of
Tygart Creek that originates in Cascade
Cave. The collection site is located 300 m
northeast of the Cascade Caves Park In-
formation Center off Co. Rd. 209. (Carter
Co.) This site is located in a swiftly flowing
steep gradient brook with alternating riffles
and pools. The substrate varies from sand
bars to large boulders. The greatest stream
width is 5 m.
Station (5) Tygart Creek under 1-64 overpass,
0.8 km west of U. S. 60 and 1-64 interchange.
(Carter Co.) The stream here is relatively
small and composed mostly of shallow riffles
with an occasional deeper pool usually of
less than 1 m depth. The substrate in-
corporates alternately sand bars and fine
pebbles.
DISCUSSION
A total of 21 species of clams were found to be
resident to this small stream. This relatively
large number of species for such a small stream
indicates that the water quality and habitat are
conducive to habitation by a wide diversity of
bivalves. All species reported herein have been
previously reported ft-om Kentucky in one or
more of the papers in the introduction. None of
the clams appears on Stansbery's list of rare and
endangered species (1971).
From the wide diversity of types and sizes of
the specimens collected it seems that the popula-
tion is healthy, stable and replenishing itself
while suffering little if any as a result of the pro-
gress of man.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank the following for their help in
the collecting of specimens: Dwight ('hal'fee, Jim
Ditty, Kerry Bledsoe, Steve Lawton, Marion Mal-
lory, and John Stephen Morris. I al.so wish to
thank Dr. David H. Stansbery of the Ohio State
University for his kind help in identifying the
specimens.
LITERATURE CITED
Bates, J. M. \%2. The impart of impoundment on the mus.sel
fauna of Kentucky Reservoir, Tennessee River. Amcr. Mid.
M((. 68(l):232-2;36.
Blankenship, S., and D. P. Crockett. 1972. Changes in the
freshwater mussel fauna of the Rockcastle River at Liv-
ingston, Kentucky. Trans. Kentucky Acad. Sci 33:.37-.39.
Branson, B., and D. L. Batch. 1971. Annotated distribution
records for Kentucky Mollusca. Sterkiana 43: 1-9.
Burch, .J. B. 197.5. Freshwater Unionacean Clams (Mollusca:
Pelecypoda) of North America. Malacological Publications,
Hamburg, Michigan 204 p.
Isom, B. 1969. The mussel Resources of the Tennessee River.
Malacohgiu 7(2-3):397-42.5.
. 1974. Mussels of the Green River Kentucky.
Trans. Kentucky Acad. Sci. 35(102):55-57.
Stansbery, D. H. 1965. The Naiad fauna of the Green River at
Munfordville, Kentucky. Anmud Reports nf the Am.
Malacological Union for 1965. pp. 13-14.
. 1969. Changes in the Naiad fauna of the
Cumberland River at Cumberland Falls in eastern Ken-
tucky. Annual Report for 1969 of the Am. Mai. Union, pp.
16-17.
1971. Rare and endangered freshwater moUusks
in the eastern United States. In; Jorgensen, S. E. and R. W.
Sharp (Ms.), Proceddings of a symposium on rare and en-
dangered mollusks (naiads) of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Serv., U. S. Dept. Interior. 79 p.
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1977. Kehoe Reservoir
preliminary report Design Memorandum Append. 1,
Hydrology and Hydraulics Huntington, W. Va. District pp.
11-18.
Williams, .J. C. 1969. Mussel fishery investigation Tennessee,
Ohio, and Green Rivers Final Report. Kentucky Dept. of
Fish and Wildlife Resources 107 p.
Specimen Shells
Offering microscopic and miniature (to ' 2 inch) shells from
the Florida Keys, with accurate locality data. Also unsorted
grunge; write for list.
Margaret Teskey
P 0. Box JTJ
Bni Pne Key. R. .i-iOi-l
92 THE NAUTILUS
April 30, 1980
OBITUARY
Vol. 94 (2)
Wendell Oliver Gregg
1898 - 1979
Wendell 0. Gregg passed away on 25
November, 1979, after months of illness and
disability as a result of a series of strokes. He
had been in the Huntington Park Convalescent
Center since May, 1978. Born 27 April, 1898, in
Pomona, Michigan, he obtained his B.A. at An-
drews University, Michigan, in 1918 and then
went to California where he obtained an M.D.
degree at Loma Linda University in 1922.
Doc Gregg practiced medicine as a vocation,
but his heart was in malacology. He was an avid
and productive researcher and collector of West
American land snails, particularly those of
California, Nevada, and Arizona. In later years,
he also became interested in the freshwater
hydrobiids of southern California and Nevada.
He described several new species of Oreahelix.
Sonorella, Helminthoglif})ta. Ashmunella, and,
together with Dwight Taylor, the hydrobiid genus
Fontelkella. He was a meticulous anatomist, and
he perfected a method of making small stained
whole mounts of reproductive anatomies which is
used to this day by many of our professional ter-
restrial malacologists. He has had several species
of snails named after him, notably Helmin-
thofilifi^td gregyi Willett, Sonorella urcfigi W. B.
Miller, and the Baja California genus (h-cijiicUx
W. B. Miller. In August 197.'^ Doc's landlady,
Mrs. Greene, died, and he was forced to move to a
smaller house that he owned in Huntington Park.
This move was a traumatic experience and a
tremendous psychological shock from which he
never recovered. In late 1973, he donated his col-
lection of shells to the Los Angeles County
Museum of Natural History, and in January
1974, he donated his collection of whole mounts
and his many lots of undescribed land snails to
me.
During his last years in Huntington Park, Doc
was tenderly cared for by Catherine Mays, an old
friend, who lived with him and looked after him.
She was at his bedside every day of his year-
and-a -half stay at the Convalescent Center.
Doc Gregg introduced me to desert collecting in
1956 and was my constant companion and mentor
for eight years of camping and collecting trips.
He painstakingly taught me his techniques for
dissecting, staining, and mounting anatomies. He
provided the inspiration and confidence which led
me to a second career as a terrestrial
malacologist and professor of biology.
In the peace and solitude of the desert arroyos,
when twilight falls and the evening breeze rustles
the creosote bush, I will remember Doc and the
countless campfires we shared together.
Walter B. Miller
Professor of Biology
and Curator of In vertebrates
University of Arizorm, Tucson, Arizona
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CONSULTING EDITORS
Dr. Arthur H. Clarke, Jr.
Division of Mollusks
National Museum of Natural History
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Dr. William J. Clench
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Museum of Comparative Zoology
Cambridge, Mass. 02138
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Department of Living Invertebrates
The American Museum of Natural History
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The American Museum of Natural History
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The Ohio State University
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Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
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U. S. National Museum
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Department of Invertebrates
Field Museum of Natural History
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Museum of Zoology
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THE
NAUTILUS
Volume 94, number 3 — July 30, 1980
ISSN 0028 - 1344
CONTENTS
Paul W. Parmalee, Walter E. Klippel and Arthur E. Bogan
Notes on the Prehistoric and Present Status of the Naiad Fauna of the
Middle Cumberland River, Smith County, Tennessee 93
Anders H. Warren
The Systematic Position of Cauthouyella (Gastropoda: Epitonudae) iuo
Robert Dudley
Crab-crushing of Periwinkle Shells, Littorina littorea,
from Two Adjacent Geographical Provinces
Emile A. Malek and Frank B. Cogswell
Lijmnaea (Pseiidosucdnea) columella in Colombia ^^"
Edward J. Petuch
A New Falsihjria (Volutidae) and a New Con?/,? (Conidae) from
Roatan Island, Honduras (Atlantic)
Dee Sanders Dundee
Laevicaulis haroldi a New Veronicellid Slug from Natal
South Africa (Gastropoda; Pulmonata)
Mark E. Gordon, Gerry L. Mackie and Arthur V. Brown
Pisidium fallax (Bivalvia : Pisidiidae) in the Southwestern
Ozark Plateaus
M. G. Harasewych and Edward J. Petuch
Sassia lewisi A New Cymatiid Gastropod from the Caribbean Sea ^-^
Geerat J. Vermeij
Drilling Predation in a Population of the Edible Bivalve,
Anadara granosa (Arcidae)
William Miller, III and Samuel I. Fuerst
A Note on Encapsulation of Detrital Grains within the
Skeletons of Fossil MoUusks
BookReview 127 Deaths 107
News
114
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 93
NOTES ON THE PREHISTORIC AND PRESENT STATUS OF THE
NAIAD FAUNA OF THE MIDDLE CUMBERLAND RIVER,
SMITH COUNTY, TENNESSEE
Paul W. Parmalee, Walter E. Klippel, and Arthur E. Bogan
Department of Anthropology
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916
ABSTRACT
Examination of cull atui stock piles of naiads taken by commercial musselers
working the Cumberland River, Smith County. Tennessee, during the years
1977-1979 has provided significant data on the abundance, growth, reproduction,
and survival status of W species still inhabiting this section of the river. Brail
samples taken 6 September 1979 supplements these data urith specific information
on species diversity and popidation densities in the three largest mussel beds
fished commercially. Populations of at least U extant species are low and five of
these, Plethobasus cooperianus, Epioblasma sulcata, E. brevidens, Cyprogenia ir-
rorata, atid. Dromus dromas are comprised of a few relix- individuals. Samples of
archaeological shell collected from two prehistoric rock shelter deposits near two of
the existing mussel beds contained valves of Jf2 species, of which seven are now ex-
tinct and six no longer inhabit the middle Cumberland River.
The entire course of the Cumberland River
flowing through north-central Tennessee has been
altered as a result of the construction of several
electric power dams by the United States Corps
of Engineers. Certain stretches of the river be-
tween Dale Hollow Reservoir on the east, Old
Hickory Lake above Nashville, and Barkley Lake
on the west near its confluence with the Ohio
River still maintain some characteristics of an
unimpounded stream. However, increased depth,
fluctuating water levels, and elimination of most
of the former shoals and riffles have greatly af-
fected the original biota, especially the mollusks.
Prior to impoundment, the Cumberland River
contained an abundant and diversified naiad
fauna, but with the establishment of existing con-
ditions the number of mussel species inhabiting
the river was reduced and, for the most part,
restricted to a few major beds. While some
species such as Megalonaias gigantea. Pleurobema
cordatum. Quadnda pustulosa. and Plagiola
lineolata, have adjusted to impoundment and are
maintaining viable populations, others exist as
relic individuals or in very limited numbers. The
study by Wilson and Clark (1914) provides the
most comprehensive record of the naiad fauna of
the entire Cumberland River and its tributaries
prior to impoundment. Neel and Allen (1964)
reported the mussel fauna of the upper Cum-
berland River (in Kentucky) before impound-
ment, while Stansbery (1969) reported on the
changes that took place in the naiad fauna of this
section of the river after impoundment.
Our interest in the naiad fauna of the section
of the Cumberland River that flows through
Smith County was stimulated by searching for
study specimens through cull and stock piles of
freshly caught mussels taken by commercial
shellers operating out of Rome, Tennessee. Ex-
amination of these shell piles periodically during
the summers of 1977, 1978, and 1979 revealed
noteworthy information on the extant mussel
populations and the species composition compris-
ing the three major beds that were being worked
consistently by commercial shellers. The for-
tuitous discovery in 1976 of specimens of
94 THE NAUTILUS
.Iulv3n, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
Epioblasma (formerly Dysnomia) sulcata in
sheller's cull piles, a species that had been pre-
sumed extinct (Stansbery, 1970) or reduced to a
single population in the Green River, Kentucky
(Stansbery, 1971), was reported by Isom, Gooch,
and Dennis (1979) and resulted in a mussel sur-
vey of the Cumberland River between CRM 284.3
and CRM 305.3 by TVA biologists (TVA. 1976).
This latter unpublished in-house report provides
pertinent distribution and abundance data on
mussel populations in this 33.6 km stretch of the
river. Our contribution (this paper) supplements
this study with additional quantitative popula-
tion data, records of species previously unre-
ported in the recent literature, and an evaluation
of species adjustment to present river conditions.
The mean and maximum depth, current flow
and width at any given point of the Cumberland
River flowing through Smith County is controlled
by power generating activities of Cordell Hull
Dam, located approximately 33.6 km upstream
from Rome. Water levels may fluctuate as much
as two meters during a 24-hour period. These
almost daily extremes in the water level and the
minimum depth of the main channel which has
increased 3 to 4.5 m since impoundment have
resulted in adverse conditions affecting popula-
tion and individual growth and the reproductive
potential for numerous naiad species still in-
habiting the river. Heavy commercial harvesting
of shell (usually April through September) in the
Cumberland River in Smith County during 1975-
1979 has provided an excellent opportunity to
supplement recent mussel population surveys (e.g.
TVA, 1976) and to evaluate the present occur-
rence, relative abundance, and physical condition
of extant naiad species.
Naiad Species Composition
Although some commercial shellers retain only
those few species that com.mand the highest price
(e.g. M. gigantea, P. cordatum), others keep all
specimens taken with the brail, regardless of
species, size, and nacre color. "Pinks" such as
Elliptio dilatatun. Eiliptio crassidens, and
Cyclonaias tubercidata are sold separately at a
minimal price, while the variety of other small
species— occasionally termed "grinders"— are sold
together as a separate category. Examination of
cull and stock piles that represent total catches
have proved especially useful in determining the
presence and relative abundance of mussel
species in this stretch of the Cumberland River.
To supplement this resource, however, it was felt
that a systematic collection/survey of the three
major mussel beds would provide more exact data
on relative abundance and species composition.
On 6 September 1979, approximately eight hours
were spent with a commercial sheller; using two
4.8 m brails, four-to-six 450 m drags were made
over the beds at Rome Island (CRM 291.0),
Plunkett Creek (CRM 293.0), and Bartletts Bar
(CRM 296.8). A total of 1,100 specimens, repre-
senting 27 species, was taken; a list of the species
collected and the numbers of each and their
percentage for each bed are presented in Table 1.
Four species, M. gigantea, P. cordatum. Q.
pustuloses and P. lineolata comprised 82 percent
of the catch, while specimens of 16 species
amounted to less than one percent each of the
total. Differences in the occurrence and/or abun-
dance of most species among the three beds was
quite apparent. Although the bottom strata, con-
sisting of a gravel-sand mixture, is relatively
uniform at CRM 291 and 296.8, the mean depth
of the main channel increases from about 4.5 m
at Bartletts Bar to about 7.5 m at Rome Island.
A few species such as P. lineolata occurred in
about equal numbers in all three beds, but most
exhibited considerable variation in abundance
between beds, as evidenced from an admittedly
limited brail sample taken during a single eight-
hour period. However, these limited data suggest
that Bartletts Bar, which is shallower and has a
somewhat swifter current than the other two
downstream beds, provides more suitable habitat
conditions for a greater number of species. Such
beds and/or small isolated bars appear to still
serve as a refugium for many species which once
occurred commonly in the shoals and riffles but
that now have all but disappeared from the
former Cumberland River naiad fauna. As the
river current slows and siltation begins on ap-
proach to Old Hickory Reservoir, only a few
typically deep water naiads, or those that have
adapted to impoundment conditions, can survive.
In addition to the 27 species collected by brail
on 6 September 1979, shells of 11 additional
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 95
TABLE 1. Mussels obtained from three beds in the Cumberland River. Smith Cmmty. Tennessee. Specimens collected from a com-
mercial shelter's boat by brail. September 6. 1979.
MUSSEL BED
e
6 E ^7 a s a
1/1 J^ rS.2 f-^ A
*j **i "O c
01 ^ 01
cu u cz: 0
Species
No. of
specimens
No. of
% specimens
tn i-t -D C
0) OJ
B s: > -o
o 2 .n 0)
a: u rt ea
No. of
specimens
Total
No. of
specimens
Amblema pllcata (Say, 1817).
Fusconala ebena (Lea, 1831).
Fusconaia subrotunda (Lea, 1831).
Fusconala undata (Barnes, 1823).
Quadrula metanevra (Raf., 1820).
Quadmila pustulosa (Lea, 1831).
TritoRonla verrucosa (Raf., 1820).
Mesalonaias sJRantea (Barnes ,1823) .
Cvclonaias tuberculata (Raf., 1820).
Elliptio crassidens (Lamarck, 1819).
Elllptio dilatatus (Raf., 1820).
Truncilla truncata (Raf., 1820).
Plechobasus cooperlanus (Lea, i83A).
Plethobasus cyphvus (Raf., 1820).
?leurobema cordatum (Raf., 1820).
Pleurobema coccineum (Conrad, 1836) .
Lasmlsona complanata (Barnes, 1823).
Lasmigona cos tata (Raf., 1820).
Actinonaias ligamentina (Lamarck, 1819) .
Epioblasma sulcata (Lea, 1829).
Lampsilis orbiculata (Hlldreth, 1828).
Ligumia recta (Lamarck, 1819).
Obliquarla reflexa (Raf., 1820).
Plasiola llneolaca (Raf., 1820).
Dromus dromas (Lea, 1834).
Ptychobranchus fasclolarls (Raf., 1820).
Potamllus alatus (Say, 1817).
7
37
3
104
25
3
A
124
3
1
6
1
2
1
4
29
1
14
3
2.09
1.83 2
9.66 13
.78 3
27.15 239
6.53 2
.78 16
1.04 2
1
.78
32.88
.78
.26
1.57
.26
.52
.26
1.04
7.57
.26
3.66
.78
1
60
5
5
23
2
13
1.26
5.79
.50
3.27
.76 1
2
2
.50 2
3.27 24
.76 2
60.20 133
.50 1
4.03 13
.50
.25
.25
15.11 101
1.26 3
1.01 2
.76 4
1
11
25
2
1
.30
.61
.61
.61
7.27
.61
40.30
.30
3.94
30.61
.91
.61
1.21
.30
3.33
7.58
.61
.30
4
2
8
2
11
74
8
476
28
32
6
1
3
1
285
11
6
1
13
1
2
2
20
77
1
18
17
Z
of all
specimens
.36
.18
.72
.18
.99
6.67
.72
42.88
2.52
2.88
.54
.09
.27
.09
25.68
.99
.54
.09
1.17
.09
.18
.18
1.80
6.94
.09
1.62
1.53
383
99.98 397
99.98 330
100.01
1,110
99.99
species have been recovered from sheller's cull
an(i stock piles that were obtained from Cum-
berland River beds in Smith County in the sum-
mers of 1977-1979. These species are as follows:
Anodonta grandis (Say, 1829). Floater
Qiiadruln quadnda (Raf., 1820). Maple-Leaf
Pleurobema plenum (Lea, 1840). Rough Pigtoe
Pleurobema pyramidatum (Lea, 1829).
Cyprogenia irrorata (Lea, 1829). Fan Shell
Quadrula cylindrica (Say, 1817). Rabbits-Foot
Obovaria olivaria (Raf., 1880). Hickory-Nut
Lampsilis teres teres (Raf., 1820). Yellow Sand
Shell
LaynpsUis teres fallaciosa (Smith, 1899). Slough
Sand Shell
Lampsilis ovata (Say, 1817). Pocketbook
96 THE NAUTILUS
July 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
Epiohlasma triquetra (Raf., 1820). Snuffbox
EpiobUusmn breindens (Lea, 1831).
Compared with M. gigantea or P. cordaturn. all
11 of these species may be arbitrarily classified
as uncommon or rare (less than one percent of a
sample of l.(XX) specimens). Although the relative
abundance of species listed in Table 1 that com-
prised less than two or three percent of the total
implies a similar classification, there are excep-
tions judging from estimated numbers observed
in sheller's cull and stock piles. E crassidens. C.
tuberculata, Ptychobram:hus fasdolaris, Actino-
naias ligamentina, and Lampsilis orhiculata, for
example, are taken in considerable numbers by
shellers during a season's operation. Nevertheless,
of the approximately 40 naiad species recorded
from the middle Cumberland River, Smith Coun-
ty, during this three year period, about half may
be arbitrarily classified as uncommon to rare in
occurrence.
In spite of atypical habitat conditions brought
about through impoundment and the reduction in
individual numbers as a result of intensive shell-
ing operations during the last two decades, sev-
eral species have been able to successfully repro-
duce and maintain viable populations. In addi-
tion to the primary commercial species, others,
including Lttsmigona complanata. Tritogonia ver-
rucosa, Elliptio dilatatiis. Amblema plicata, Qtia-
dnda metanevra. Pleurnbema coccineum, and P.
foRciolaris. appear to be reproducing, as evidenced
from the taking of occasional juvenile or young
individuals, to the extent of at least maintaining
low but stable populations. Occasional mature or
old specimens of a few species such as Fnsconaia
ebena and Plethobasus cyjihifta^ are taken by the
shellers; we have not seen juveniles from this sec-
tion of the river, but if these and a few other un-
common to rare species are reproducing, the rate
is extremely slow.
Endangered and Relic Species
Three species, Lampsilis orbkulata. Dromus
dromns, and Plethobasus cooperiamis that are
listed in the Federal Register of Ekdangered and
Threatened Wildlife and Plants still inhabit the
middle Cumberland River. Although L. orbiculata
is classified as endangered, probably 150-200 in-
dividuals, both males and females, have been
noted in sheller's cull piles. Tennessee Valley
Authority biologists (TVA, 1976) found the Pink
Mucket distributed throughout the section of
river they sampled in September 1976 (CRM
284.3-305.3) that includes both fast water (Bart-
letts Bar) and impounded habitat at Hartsville
and downstream. No juvenile specimens of L. or-
bicidata were noted in our survey, but consider-
ing the abundance and distribution of this species
in the river and its continual appearance in com-
mercial catches, some reproduction may be taking
place.
On the other hand, both D. dromas and P.
cooperiamis are rare and, judging by their
estimated age (>20 years), hea\y valves, and ob-
vious maturity, the populations of these species
are comprised of non-reproducing relic individ-
uals. In addition to the one specimen taken 6
September 1979, only five individuals and two
single valves of D. dromas were observed in
sheller's cull and stock piles during the summers
of 1977-1979. A right valve of P. coopenanus was
found in a cull pile at Rome in June 1979 and
three old individuals (Mean: shell gram weight,
1.58.4; shell mm length, 79.5; height, 68.8; width,
43.5) were taken at Bartletts Bar 6 September
1979. Wilson and Clark (1914:28) reported the
Cumberland Pigtoe, P. cooperiamts. and the
Mucket, A. ligamentina, second only in abun-
dance to the Pigtoe, P. cordaturn. in a large
sheller's cull pile near Celina, Tennessee on the
lower Cumberland River. P. cooperiamts has not
been previously reported from any area of the
Cumberland River since its impoundment; Neel
and Allen (1964:436) commented that it was
"Also rare in the upper Cumberland in the late
1940's . . ." and Stansbery (1969) failed to en-
counter P. cooperiamis in his 1961 survey of the
river at Cumberland Falls, Kentucky.
The fact that the Cumberland and Tennessee
River systems form of the Cats Claw, Epioblasma
(=Dysomia) sulcata sulcata (Lea, 1829), was con-
sidered probably extinct (Stansbery, 1970:19)
precluded its inclusion in the Federal Register of
endangered species. It is, however, endangered
and, as Isom, Gooch, and Dennis (1979:84) pointed
out, ". . . is believed to be confined to this portion
[c. CRM 291-297] of the Cumberland River in
Tennessee." Their report (Isom, CJooch, and Den-
nis, 1979) provided a record of the significant
Vol. 94 (3) July 30, 1980 THE NAUTILUS 97
TABLE 2. SfeeM measurements o/Epioblasma sulcata sulcata /ro»n the Cumberland River, Smith County, Tennessee.
discovery of this species as a member of the pres-
ent middle Cumberland River naiad fauna, but
specific data for recovered specimens were lack-
ing. During our 1977-1979 surveys, a total of .56
complete specimens (paired valves) and eight
right and five left valves of E s. sulcata were ob-
tained as discards from commercial shellers;
these individuals were taken by brail within the
CRM 291-297 stretch of the river. Of special note
is the fact that, of the 80 individuals (including
unpaired valves of 13 males, 1 female) repre-
sented in the sample, 74 (or 92 percent) were
males. Observed range and mean measurements
of 5 females and 51 males presented in Table 2
provides heretofore unavailable data on the big
river form E s. sulcata. Although the annual rest
lines on all specimens were crowded and often in-
distinct, no individual appeared to be less than 20
years old. The degree of shell erosion varied from
slight on a few individuals to extensive in most
(in many specimens the entire umbo and dorsal
surfaces were eroded away: see Figure 1). Al-
though this naiad was repwrted to have been ". . .
pretty well distributed along a considerable
stretch of the river . . ." and was ". . . common
enough to be pretty well known to the clammers
. . ." (Wilson and Clark, 1914:46), the remaining
numbers of E .s. sulcata almost certainly repre-
sent non-reproducing relics.
Wilson and Clark (1914:53) commented that
the Fan Shell, Cifprogenia irrorata. was ". . . of
rather infrequent occurrence in the Cumberland"
and that it ". . . seems to inhabit rather deep
water." We recovered seven complete specimens
and one single valve during our survey. Meas-
urements of these specimens, compared vnth
those of three mature individuals from the Clinch
River, Hancock (^unty, Tennessee are presented
in Table 3. Although dovrastream (big river)
specimens normally exhibit a greater degree of
shell inflation, these seven individuals represent
extremes in shell inflation and weight (see Figure
1, Table 3). The mean weight of the Cumberland
River forms is over twice that of the Clinch River
specimens and one-fourth greater in width. C. ir-
rorata is presently a rare species in the
Cumberland River and the population is com-
prised of old relic individuals.
Two other species of Epioblasma, E triquetra
and E brerndens. still inhabit sections of the mid-
dle Cumberland River and are as rare as E
sulcata, or perhaps even of greater rarity, judging
by the few individuals recovered. Shellers report
taking both "once in a while"; we obtained only
eight specimens of the former species and one of
the latter during searches of cull and stock piles
in 1977-1979. Although Wilson and Clark (1914:
45) stated that the Snuffbox occurred only in the
upper part of the river, apparently small popula-
tions of E triquetra once inhabited suitable shoal
areas downstream as far as Smith County. Valves
of the eight Cumberland River specimens of E
triquetra were thick and considerably inflated,
but none, like the specimens of D. dromaa. ex-
ceeded in size large individuals collected in unim-
pounded stretches of the upper Clinch or Powell
98 THE NAUTILUS
July 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
FKi. 1. KsiiiiiiiliK ii/ Epiobhisma sulcata sulcata A, frmii tin ('imiberland Rivrr. TN Imalr.-:. tnji: fi niahs. hnttnm). Comparison
between adult female Epiobliisma brevidens B, from the Powell (top) and Cumberland (bottom) rii'ers. and between adult
specimens o/Cyprngenia irrorata Cfrom the Tennessee (top) and Cumberland (bottom) rivers. TN.
rivers, Hancock County. In contrast, however, the
one female specimen of E. brcvidem that we ob-
tained exhibits a tremendous degree of shell in-
flation, thickness, and weight (see Table 3, Figure
1). Obviously an extremelv old individual with
considerable shell erosion, the weight of this
specimen exceeded the Mean weight of four adult
females from the Powell river by nearly four
(110.0 grams vs. Mean of 29.6) and a width of
slightly less than twice (40.0 mm vs. Mean of
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 99
TABLE 3. Comparative shell measurements o/Cyprogenia irrorata atul Epioblasma brevidens ^rom the Cumberland River, Smith
Omiity with a series of each species from the (linch and Powell rivers. Hancock County, Tennessee.
1. Cyprogenia Irrorata
River
No. of
Specimens
Weight
gm
Observed Range
(Mean)
Length
mm
Height Width
mm mm
Cumberland
Clinch
2. Epioblasma brevidens
Cumberland
Powell
78.6-163.1
(110.5)
43.7-51.7
(48.9)
110.9
27.0-33.0
(29.6)
53.6-66.7
(59.9)
47.8-52.5
(50.0)
72.0
54.0-57.3
(55.2)
47.5-58.2
(51.9)
45.3-46.2
(45.7)
36.5-46.9
(41.1)
30.5-32.0
(31.4)
45.8
40.0
35.3-38.0 22.3-26.6
(36.5) (24.0)
24.0). As is the case with individuals of numerous
species comprising the naiad fauna of this stretch
of the river, these two typically small river or
shoal forms are surviving as old adults but are no
longer able to propagate as a result of habitat
changes brought about by impoundment. Elimi-
nation of the fish species that sei^ves as host to
the glochidia is another possibility.
During their 1976 mussel survey of the middle
Cumberland River, TVA biologists reported
(TVA, 1976; Appendix I, Table IX) finding
"relics" of Cumberlandia monodonta (Say, 1829)
and a specimen or specimens of Obovaria retusa
(Lamarck, 1819) at a cook out area used by
musselers. However, no location of the finds or
number of specimens observed were given. Al-
though C. monodonta was apparently of only "oc-
casional" occurrence in the Cumberland River
(Wilson and Clark, 1914:52), remaining popula-
tions must be comprised of extremely few relic
individuals. TVA biologists (TVA. 1976:8) also
mention finding two specimens of Quadrula spar-
sa (Lea, 1841) at a cook out station at CRM 270,
and commented that these individuals of this en-
dangered species were probably taken near this
point. The presence of Q. sparsa. a typically small
stream or shallow riffle species, in an impounded
section of the Cumberland River (Old Hickory
Reservoir) is unusual since neither Wilson and
Clark (1914) nor Neel and Allen (1964) mention
its occurrence anywhere in the river. In actuality,
these specimens are probably Q. metanevra lack-
ing pustules.
TVA biologists recorded a single specimen of
Obovaria olivaria taken at c. CRM 277.0 below
Hartsville Island (TVA, 1976: Table XII), but
none from any of the other river sections sur-
veyed. We obtained a total of 19 mature in-
dividuals (13 complete specimens, 2 left and 4
right valves) that had been taken between CRM
291 and 297. Although reported from the Clarks-
ville area by Wilson and Clark (1914:52). its
former status upstream is unknovm. Presently it
appears to be an uncommon to rare species in the
middle Cumberland River.
The population status of several other middle
i<«» thp: nautilus
Julv 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
Cumberland River naiads including Uismigona
costata, Truneilla tnincatn. Lnm/jsilis teres, and
Plethobasus cyphyus is questionable, but all ap-
pear to be uncommon to rare in occurrence. G)m-
mercial shellers report taking L. costata. a
species more typical of small streams, and L.
teres only occasionally; we recovered less than
five specimens of each species during our sui-vey.
Specimens of 7"! truncata are rarely taken and
although P. cyphyus and Lampsilis ovata appear
not infrequently in cull and stock piles, existing
populations must be low. The fact that many of
the species typical of small-to-medium size rivers
and/or a riffle habitat have been able to survive
in the middle Cumberland River under the atypi-
cal conditions brought about by impoundment is
remarkable.
Archaelogical Naiad Samples
Published data dealing with the prehistoric
distribution and species composition of mussels of
the middle Cumberland River are lacking. For
this reason, and as a useful comparison between
prehistoric and modern naiad faunas, rock
shelters containing primarily Woodland Period
(c. 1000 BC-AD 1000) middens near the surface,
located adjacent to beds currently being worked
by commercial shellers, were sampled (Table 4).
The Plunkett Creek shelter (40SM74; c. CRM 293)
is immediately west of the confluence of Plunkett
Creek and the Cumberland River; Rome Island
shelter (40SM75; c. CRM 291) is situated against
the Cumberland River bluff opposite the NW end
of Rome Island. The surface deposits at both sites
had been disturbed by relic collectors and the
samples of valves identified and recorded in
Table 4 were obtained from the disturbed areas
and back dirt piles. Although the quantity of
specimens obtained was not great (c. 1550 valves),
the species represented in these archaeological
samples provide noteworthy records of prehistoric
distribution, relative abundance, and species com-
position of mussels formerly inhabiting this
stretch of the Cumberland River.
Seven species of the genus Epioblasma (ar-
caeformi% haysuma, Jlexuosa, leimsi, propinqiui,
torulosa, stewardscmi) that once occurred in this
section of the river are now extinct, two ifloren-
tina, capsaeformis) no longer inhabit the im-
pounded sections, and two species (brevidens,
sulcata) survive as relic pf)pulations of old, ap-
parently non-reproducing individuals. The status
of E. triquetra is uncertain; on rare occasion
specimens, most of which are thick shelled and
greatly inflated compared with their length, are
taken with a brail. If the species is still prop-
agating, the rate must be slow as evidenced by
the extremely few individuals encountered. Judg-
ing from these two archaeological samples, at
least 11 species of Epioblasma inhabited the mid-
dle Cumberland River prehistorically; popula-
tions of propinqua, arcaeformis, and stewardsoni
appear to have been the most numerous of this
complex. As Stansbery (1971:8) has pointed out,
"All species in this genus [Epiobhu^ma] are
characteristic riffle or shoal species inhabiting
those parts of streams which are shallow with
sandy-gravel substrate and rapid currents." This
habitat type in the Cumberland River was large-
ly eliminated with impoundment and with it
most populations of naiad species that had
adapted to it.
Similarities in shell morphology among several
species of Epioblasma, especially in the case of
males, present identification problems with ar-
chaeological specimens that are especially dif-
ficult if not impossible to resolve. This has proved
to be especially true with the propin-
qua/torulosa/sulcata complex and the flex-
uosa/leurisi/stewardscmi complex. Disintegration
of the periostracum, loss of nacre color, and the
often fragmentary condition of valves compound
the problem. In addition, resolving taxonomic
status, i.e., does a particular specimen represent a
distinct species, an ecotype, or a special habitat
or clinal variation, is important in arriving at ac-
curate interpretations. Ortmann (1925:364), for
example, comments that "D. propinqua is merely
a torulosa with the tubercles very poorly or not
all developed, and the two forms actually in-
tergrade in this respect." Other malacologists (e.g.
Stansbery, 1971; Johnson, 1978) consider these
"forms" as valid species. In contrast, Johnson
(1978) synomyzes Plagiola (=Epioblmma) levnsi
with flexuosa, regarding leunsi as merely an
ecophenotypic variant. For this particular study,
we have chosen to follow Stansbery 's view that
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 101
the 12 species of Epioblasma discussed in th^ Epioblasma in the Cumberland River from the
preceding paragraph are valid. beginnings of systematic scientific collecting in
There appears to be some question as to the the river system to the period of dam construc-
historic occurrence of several species of tion. To illustrate, neither Wilson and Clark
TABLE 4. Naiad samples from two prehistoric rock shelter deposits along the Cumberland River, Smith County, Tennessee.
Species
Plunkett Creek Shelter
40SM74
No. of 7.
valves of total
Amblema pllcata (Say, 1817). Three-Ridge
Fusconaia subrotunda (Lea, 1831). Long Solid
Fusconaia undata (Barnes, 1823). Pig- Toe
Quadrnla cyllndrlca (Say, 1817). Rabbits-Foot
Quadrula metanevra (Raf., 1820). Monkey-Face
Quadrula pustulosa (Lea, 1831). Warty-Back
Cyclonaias tuberculata (Raf., 1820). Purple Warty-Back
Elllptio crasstdens (Lamarck, 1819) . Elephant Ear
Elliptic dilatatus (Raf., 1820). Spike
Lexingtonia dolabelloides (Lea, 1840) . Slab-Sided Mussel
Plethobasus cooperianus (Lea, 1834). Cumberland Pig-Toe
Plethobasus cicatricosuj (Say, 1829). White Warty-Back
Plethobasus cyphyus (Raf., 1820). Sheepnose
Pleurobema clava (Lamarck, 1819).
Pleurobema cordatum (Raf., 1820). Ohio River Pig- Toe
Pleurobema plenum (Lea, 1840). Rough Pig-Toe
Pleurobema pyramidatum (Lea, 1834).
Pluerobema coccineum (Conrad, 1836).
Pleurobema spp.
Lasmigona costata (Raf., 1820). Fluted Shell
.^ctinonaias ligamentina (Lamarck, 1819). Mucket
Epioblasma arcaefonais (Lea, 1831). Sugar Spoon
Epioblasma brevidens (Lea, 1831).
Epioblasma f lorentina (Lea, 1857) . Yellow-Blossom Mussel
Epioblasma capsaeformis (Lea, 1834). Oyster Shell
Epioblasma haysiana (Lea, 1834). Acorn
Epioblasma stevardsoni (Lea, 1852).
Epioblasma sulcata (Lea, 1829). Cats Clav/t. torulosa (Raf.
Green-Blossom/E_^ propinqua (Lea, 1857)
Epioblasma flexuosa (Raf., 1820).
Epioblasma cf. lewis i (Walker, 1910). Leaf Shell
Lampsilis fasciola (Raf., 1820).
Lampsilis orbiculata (Hlldreth, 1828). Pink Mucket
Lampsilis ovata (Say, 1817). Pocketbook
Lisuaia recta (Lamarck, 1819). Black Sand Shell
Obovaria retusa (Lamarck, 1819). Ring Pink
Obovarta subrotunda (Raf., 1820).
Potamilus alatus (Say, 1817). Purple Heel-Splitter
Villosa Iris (Lea, 1829). Rainbow Shell
Villosa taeniata (Lea, 1865).
Cyproqenia irrorata (Lea, 1829). Fan Shell
Obliquarla reflexa (Raf., 1820) Three-Horned Warty-Back
Dromus droma3(Lea, 1334). Camel Shell
Ptychobranchus fasciolaris (Raf., 1820). Kidney Shell
1820).
2
20
5
3
7
25
21
155
4
3
2
39
3
19
24
3
16
1
82
11
4
2
2
1
8
53
12
3
3
3
1
1
6
5
1
147
12
.28
2. SO
.70
.42
.98
3.50
2.94
21.68
.56
.42
.28
5.45
.42
2.66
3.36
.42
2.24
.14
11.47
1.54
.56
.28
.28
.14
1.12
7.41
1.68
.42
.42
.42
.14
.14
.84
.70
.14
20.56
1.68
100.03
Rome Island Shelter
40SM75
No. of
valves
of total
99.97
102 THE NAUTILUS
July 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
(1914) nor Neel and Allen (1964) recorded E pro-
pinqua, E. torulosa, E. stewardsoni, E. Jlexiwsa,
and E leunsi from any stretch of the Cumberland
River flowing through Tennessee. Neel and Allen
(1964:450) did collect one specimen of E leunsi at
each of two locations in the upper Cumberland
River in Kentucky; these records have been plot-
ted on the distribution map by Johnson (1978:300,
plate 5) as Plagiola (=Epioblasma) flexuusa. Ort-
mann (1926:182) provides an interesting comment
as to the possible former occurrence of E
torulosa in the Cumberland River: "I have not
been able to find any published record for this
species from the Cumberland ... yet Walker has
informed me that he has specimens of tondom
from the Cumberland . . . probably were collected
at Nashville by Dr. Lindsey in 1877. This seems
to establish the presence of tondosa in the
Cumberland River, although the information is
subject to doubt, and it is remarkable that this
species never again has been found in the
Cumberland."
The two archaeological samples that we ob-
tained contained several examples of distinct E
utewardsoni one valve of a male E flexuosa, and
two valves of females that closely approach E
leunsi (see Table 4, Figure 2). The problems of
distinguishing subfossil valves of propin-
qua/sulcata/torulosa have been discussed;
although many of the archaeological specimens
compare closely with one or the other of these
species, their condition and a lack of recent com-
parative material from the middle Cumberland
River makes species determinations less than cer-
tain. The archaeological samples do, however,
establish without question the former occurrence
of prehistoric populations of E propinqua and/or
E torulosa, as well as E stewardsoni and E Jlex-
uosa, in the middle Cumberland River. In 1978,
Klippel recovered a small sample of naiads from
two shell middens along the Cumberland River at
Nashville (Davidson County) that included, in ad-
dition to 38 valves morphologically closest to pro-
pinqua and/or sulcata, two specimens of E
tondosa (Figure 2). These shells resemble the
species or form cincinnatiensis, recently
synomyzed with tondosa by Johnson (1978:262).
Emanuel Breitburg, previously with the Ten-
nessee Division of Archaeology. Department of
Conservation, Nashville, identified a large sample
of naiads from an archaeological site (Late Ar-
chaic) in Jackson County (40JK25) that was ex-
cavated in 1976 by Ms. Patricia Cridlebaugh, De-
partment of Anthropology, University of Ten-
nessee, Knoxville. In addition to c. 600 valves of
E propinqua/E. sulcata, he identified (un-
published list on file. Division of Archaeology) 10
specimens as E t. cincinnatiensis. From these ar-
chaeological records, therefore, it is apparent that
five previously unreported (or unverified) species
of EpiobUtsma from the middle Cumberland
River in Tennessee were present in prehistoric
times. Until additional and larger archaeological
samples are collected and studied, however, more
exact relationships among the species cannot be
realized.
At least six other species represented in the ar-
chaeological samples that are now extirpated
from the middle and lower Cumberland River,
directly or indirectly as a result of impoundment,
also occur typically in shallow, fast-flowing riffles
and shoals. These species include Lexingtonia
dolabelloides, Pleurobema clava, Lampsilis
fasciola, Obovaria subrotiinda. Villosa iris, and V.
taeniata. The former occurrence of P. clava in
this stretch of the river is noteworthy; valves of
this species comprised slightly more than five
percent of the total shells collected at the
Plunkett Creek shelter and four percent at the
Rome Island shelter which suggest the species
had been well established at these locales.
Because of the lack of well -documented speci-
mens, Ortmann (1925:340) concluded that ". . . the
presence of clava in the Cumberland remains
doubtful." Wilson and Clark (1914:57) stated that
it was "Generally rare, and not found at all
below Burnside." The other five species, although
now extirpated from the main Cumberland River,
still occur as local populations in unimpounded
sections of Tennessee rivers such as the Duck and
the upper Clinch and Powell.
It should be pointed out that some specimens
recorded in Table 4 as .4. ligamentina may be L.
orbicidata. Except for the greatly inflated
posterior section of shells of female L. orbicidata.
valves of these two species from an archaeological
context are impossible to differentiate.
The fact that populations of several other in-
Vol. 91 (;^)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 103
FIG. 2. Examples of naiads from Cumberland River archaeological shelters ^G-J, Epioblasma torulosa/'propinqua/sulcata com-
plex; K, E. stewardsoni ; L, E. flexuosa; M, E. cf lewisi) compared with fresh specimens of E. torulasa gubernaculum A, E. t.
torulosa B, E. propinqua C, E. sulcata D, E. stewardsoni E, E. flexuosa. F.
habitants of the middle Cumberland River,
species such as P. cooperianus, 0. retusa, C. ir-
rorata, and D. dromas, have been reduced to a
few relic individuals has been discussed. Al-
though Wilson and Clark (1914:60) mention P.
cooperianus as "Not rare in the Cumberland", on-
ly 10 valves were recovered at the two archaeo-
logical sites. The same authors comment that C.
104 THE NAUTILUS
Julv30. 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
irrornta was of infrequent occurrence in the
Cumberland, and our limited archaeological sam-
ples seem to bear out this observation, at least
for this locality. On the other hand, Wilson and
Clark (1914;53) noted that Obliquaria rejlexa was
"One of the most common shells of the river, and
found throughout its entire length"; we obtained
only one valve at the Plunkett Creek shelter. In
the main river, the population status of D.
dramas was recorded as "... of occasional oc-
currence" by Wilson and Clark (1914:53), yet
valves of the Camel shell comprised 20 percent of
the shell sample from the Plunkett Creek shelter
and 13 p)ercent at the Rome Island shelter. Dif-
ferences in the species composition among mussel
beds is not unusual and may well account for cer-
tain apparent discrepancies between prehistoric
naiad populations and those recorded by early
workers such as Ortmann and Wilson and Clark.
Selective collecting or gathering by the Indian
may also have been a factor, as well as changes
in mussel habitat brought about by flooding and
other natural factors through time. Additional
collections of shells from archaeological middens
along the Cumberland River are needed in order
to obtain a more accurate record of the abun-
dance and species composition of the naiads dur-
ing prehistoric times.
Impoundment of the middle Cumberland River
has, by increasing water depth and altering the
substrate, apparently proved beneficial for the
establishment and/or increase of a few naiad
species. To illustrate, no specimens of Megalo-
yiaias gigantea were recovered in the aboriginal
midden deposits, but it is a common species in
the river today and individuals comprised be-
tween 27 and 60 p)ercent of the specimens taken
from the three beds sampled with a brail (see
Table 1). The percent of individuals of Pleuro-
bema cordntum taken in these same beds varied
from 15 to 32, while only five specimens (<1 per-
cent) were recovered in the archaeological sites.
Plagioln lincolntn is presently a common species
in the middle and lower Cumberland River reser-
voirs (5 to 7 percent of the brail samples), yet no
valves of this mussel were found in the two rock
shelter sites. Of the three species of Qtiadnda
that inhabited the shoal and riffle areas in
prehistoric times, two (Q. ifiistulosa. Q. metanevra)
appear to have adjusted to and are thriving
under impoundment conditions. Specimens of Q.
rylindrica are rarely taken by the commercial
shellers and although individuals of Q. qiuidnda
are occasionally encountered, populations of this
species appear to be low and/or localized. Al-
though impoundment has proved favorable for
several naiad species, populations of at least 25
other species were eliminated or reduced to a few
remaining relic individuals as a probable result
of the destruction of former riffle and shoal
habitat.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to express our appreciation to
Mr. Baxter Napier, Rome, Tennessee, for his
kindness in allowing us the use of his John boat
and brail for sampling the Cumberland River
beds in Smith County, providing information
relative to mussel species abundance and shelling
operations, and for his generosity in permitting
us to select specimens from his catches. We are
indebted to Dr. David H. Stansbery, Director, The
Ohio State University Museum, Columbus, for his
time and expertise in providing species deter-
minations and verifications of several of the ar-
chaeological specimens. A special note of thanks
is extended to Miles Wright, Frank H. McClung
Museum, University of Tennessee, for photo-
graphing the specimens in Figures 1 and 2, and
to Mrs. Betty Creech for t>'ping the manuscript.
Specimens obtained during this study are
housed in the collections of the Zooarchaeology
Section, Department of Anthropology, the Uni-
versity of Tennessee, Knoxville. Voucher speci-
mens of L. orbicidata and E sulcata have been
deposited in The Ohio State University Museum,
Columbus, and (E. sulcata) in the Museum of
Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cam-
bridge.
LITERATURE CITED
Isom. Billy C... Charles G<x)ch and Sally D. Dennis. 1979.
Redistwery of a presumed extinct river mussel, Dysnomia
giilrata (Unionidae). TTie Nautilus 93(2-3):84.
Johnson, Richard I. 1978. Systematics and zoogeography of
Plagioln (=[)y!t)iomia=Epioblasma). an almost extinct genus
of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) from middle
North America. Bulletin of the Mitseiim nf Comparative
Zoology. Harvard University 148(6):239-320.
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 105
Neel. Joe K. and William R. Allen. 1964. The mussel fauna of
the upper Cumberland Basin before its impoundment.
Afo/ofo/ogw 1(3): 427-459.
Ortmann, A. E. 1925. The naiad-fauna of the Tennessee River
system below Walden Gorge. The Ameriran Midland
Naturalist 9{7Y.3Z\-2n2.
1926. The Naiades of the Green River drainage in
Kentucky. '4rina/so/Mf Carnegie Museum 17:167-188.
Stansbery. David H. 1969. Changes in the naiad fauna of the
Cumberland River at Cumberland Falls in eastern Ken-
tucky. The American Malacological Union Annual Reports
/crises, pp. 16-17.
1970. Eastern freshwater mollusks (1) the
Mississippi and St. Lawrence River systems. In: Pro-
ceedings of the American Malacological Union Sjfmposium
on Rare and Endangered Mollusks. Malacologia 10(l):9-22.
1971. Rare and endangered freshwater mollusks
in eastern United States. In: Rare and Endangered
Mollusks (Naiadsj of the U.S.. S. E. Jorgensen and R. W.
Sharp, eds. U.S. Dept. of Interior, Region 3. pp. 5-18.
Tennessee Valley Authority. 1976. Mussel fauna of the
Cumberland River in Tennessee. Report prepared by Divi-
sion of Environmental Planning and Division of Forestry,
Fisheries, and Wildlife Development. 14 pp.. 2 maps. 18
tables.
Wilson, Charles B. and H. Walton Clark. 1914. The mussels of
the Cumberland River and its tributaries. Department of
Commerce. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 781. 63 pp.
THE SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF COUTHOUYELLA
(GASTROPODA: EPITONIIDAE)
Anders H. Waren
Department of Zoology
University of Goteborg
S-40033 Goteborg, Sweden
ARSTRACT
The gross muiyhulogy of Couthouyella striatula (CoiUhouy. 1838) is examined. It
has a broad short proboscis-sheath, several tubular glands surrounding both the
hi) real mass and anterior oesophagus, and a ptenoglossate ra/lula equipped with a
pliiugh-shaped central tooth. No peiiis was found. It i.s therefore concluded that C.
striatula should be placed in family Epitoniidae, instead of Eulimidae or
Pyramidellidae, where it ha'> been placed previously.
During a revision of the genera of the family
Eulimidae, the anatomy of Couthouyella stnatula
(Couthouy, 1838) was examined. Results of this
examination make it impossible to retain
Couthouyella in any of the families where it has
been placed previously.
Couthouy (1838) described C. striatula in the
genus Pyramis Brown, 1827 (non Schumacher.
1817) a genus that presently is considered a
synonym of Cerithiopsis Forbes and Hanley, 1849.
The type locality of his material was: Fish
stomachs, off Cape Ann, Massachusetts and the
types are in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
(no. 125.507).
Bartsch (1909) described the genus Couthou-
yella for the single species Pyramis stiiotuln and
stated that it had no radula. He placed the new p,p,s ^..^ ,_ ^„^^,^ Couthouyella striatula, ..hell, u.5 mm.
genus in Pyramidellidae. Maine. 2, (left) C. striatula. operculum.
106 THE NAUTILUS
Julv 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
FIG. 3. CouthouyeWasiriatyA&.egg capsule, diameter 0.9 mm.
Thiele (1931) transferred the genus to the fami-
ly Eulimidae, without explanation, a position
that has been accepted by later authors.
Material examined: The anatomical investiga-
tion was carried out on a sample containing some
dried animals, from Massachusetts. The sample
originated from the Henderson collection in U.S.
National Museum of Natural History. The speci-
mens had never been fixed, only dried, so the up-
per part of the animals was completely rotten,
but the body whorl had evidently dried before
starting to rot. A hole was made on the back side
of the body whorl and the specimens were soaked
in water and detergent for a day. The animals
were taken out from the shell and stained with
carm alum and differentiated in 1% hydrochloric
acid. They were then dissected under a binocular
microscope.
Rpfiults: The operculum is thin, transparent
and light-brown. It has a curved rib running
more or less parallel with the edge (Fig. 1). The
foot is short and broad. The head is broad and
the tentacles are widely-spaced. Two large black
eyes are present. No penis was found in any of
the six specimens (4 - 10 mm high) examined.
Numerous gill lamellae could be seen on the
mantle, which had been discolored purplish, by
the hypobranchial gland (a characteristic of the
Epitoniidae). A female gonoduct is present in
KICS. l-.S. 4, C'«utliiiuyell;i striatula. ixtrt of Ihr mduUi. D.l.'ift mm hnmd. 5, C. strialula. dclml of the rentml teeth- fi. .Vii-sa
eschrichti (MollerJ f=A. costulata (Mvjheh & Adams) (not Turritella costulata Borsnn)). Detail of teeth. 7, A. eschrichti, radida
(fnu/mentfini). 8, Opalia wmblew.>ikii (Minrh). Half the mduhu Breadth l.I mm.
Vol. 91 (;^)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 107
specimens higher than 6 mm. Tlie alimentary
canal consists of a proboscis sheath, buccal mass,
oesophagus and a stomach. The proboscis sheath
is short, muscular and broad. It is not easily dif-
ferentiated from the buccal mass, probably be-
cause it was not possible to remove the tubular
salivary glands winding around it. These also
cover the buccal mass and the foremost part of
the oesophagus. It was not possible to see where
these glands opened into the canal, because the
tissues were so brittle that they broke as soon as
I tried to disentangle the coils. Nor was it possi-
ble to see any ganglia. The radula is figured in
figs. 4-6. The oesophagus is lined by a thin cuti-
cle. In front of the radula, there are two rodlike
stylets that are shorter and broader than those
showed by Fretter & Graham (1962, Fig. 101). The
oesophagus leads to a rather voluminous stomach,
that has strongly folded walls. The oesophagus
and stomach were examined for contents, but no-
thing was found. Numerous egg capsules were at-
tached to the shell (Fig. 3). Each capsule contains
a single, shell-less embryo of 0.7 mm diameter,
which agrees with the diameter of the larval shell
of Couthouyella. These are possibly Couthouyella
egg capsules. I am not aware that similar egg
capsules have been described.
Discussion: Most details of the anatomy
agree with what is known about the family
Epitoniidae (Fretter & Graham 1962, Taki 1956,
1957, Thiele 1928). The only exception is the
radula. The shape of the teeth and the presence
of a central tooth are different from previously
known epitoniids. I give figures of the two main
types of radulae in Epitoniidae (Figs. 6-8) for
comparison. There is no doubt that the radula of
Couthouyella is ptenoglossate. The presence of a
central tooth is probably a primitive trait re-
tained in this genus. Therefore I do not hesitate
to place Couthouyella in the family Epitoniidae.
Although the egg capsules believed to belong to
Couthiitiyella differ considerably from those
known of other epitoniids (Fretter & Graham
1962), it should be remembered that Couthouyella
has direct development, (judging from the larval
shell), while the epitoniids from which the spawn
is known have planktotrophic development and
much smaller larvae.
C. stnatula resembles some fossil epitoniids,
e.g. "Scalana" pusilla v. Koenen, 1891 and
Acirsella inermis (Deshayes, 1861) from the Ger-
man Lower Oligocene and the French Eocene.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I want to direct my thanks to Drs. Richard S.
Houbrick and Joseph Rosewater, Division of
Mollusks, U.S. National Museum of Natural
History, for making the collections there avail-
able to me and for providing me with working
facilities during several stays there.
LITERATURE CITED
Bartsch, P. 1909. Pyramidellidae of New England and the ad-
jacent region. Pmc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 34:67-113.
Couthouy. J. P. 1838. Descriptions of new species of Mollusca
and shells and remarks on several species of polypi found in
Massachusetts Bay. Boston J. Nat. Hist. 2:53-111.
Fretter. V. and A. Graham. 1962. British Prosobramh
Molluscs. Ray Soc. 755 pp.
Taki. I. 1956. Anatomical study of Japanese Epitoniidae. (1)
Epitonium. Amaea and Papyriscala. Bull. Natn. Sei. Miis.
Tokyo 3:71-72.
1957. Anatomical study of Japanese Epitoniidae.
(2) Gifroscala and Acutiscala. Bull. Natn. Sci. Miis. Tokyo
3:176-182.
Thiele, J. 1928. Uber ptenoglosse Schnecken. Z. Wiss. Zool.
132:71-94.
1931. Handbuck der systematischen Weichtier-
kunde. G. Fischer, Stuttgart. Vol. 1. VI + TIS pp.
MOLLUSK REPRINTS
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American amateur and professional malacolo-
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Rhode Island. His wife, Elsie Margaret (Herbst)
was also an ardent conchologist, and died in 1975.
108 THE NAUTILUS
Julv.SO. 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
CRAB-CRUSHING OF PERIWINKLE SHELLS. Lmr)RINA LITTOREA
FROM TWO ADJACENT GEOGRAPHICAL PROVINCES
Robert Dudley
Department of Physics
Duke University
Durham, N. C. 27706
ARSTRACT
Vulnerability to crab-cru.shhig of shells i,f Littorina littorea from two adjacent
geographical provinces was examined. Shelh from north of Cape Cod are more
vulnerable to crushing by Cancer borealis than those of a similar size from south
of Cape Cod. Northern shelli^ mr considerably thinner than sontherii shelL\ and
are aho weaker. A more widespi-ead cinrelation between geographical position and
shell thickness is also observed. I hypothesize that the difference in thickness and
strength is responsible for the observed difference in vuhiernbility to ctvushing. A
negative correlation between water temperature and shell thickness is a probable
reason for the difference in thickness between northern and southern shells.
In recent years, much attention has been given
to the effects of predation in marine ecosystems.
One interesting aspect is the predation on mol-
lusks by crabs. Much experimental work has been
done in this field. For example, British resear-
chers (Ebling et al. 1964; Kitching et ai. 1966;
Muntz et ai. 1965) have described predation by
Cancer pagurus (L), Carcinus maenas (L.), and
Macropipus puber (L.) on Thais lapillus L.,
Mytilus edulis L., and other mollusks. Hamilton
(1976) describes predation by Callinectes sapidus
Rathbun on Littorina irrorata (Say, 1822), in
Florida. Rossi and Parisi (1973) describe preda-
tion by Eriphia verrucosa (Forskal) on six species
of mollusks in Italy. A more complete review of
the literature pertaining to crab predation on
mollusks can be found in Vermeij (1977).
Vermeij (1976) has shown that the latitudinal
gradient in gastropod shell shape is correlated
with the shell's vulnerability to crab predation;
specifically, there is in the tropics a greater em-
phasis on antipredatory features. Additionally,
Caribbean shells were found to be more vulner-
able to crushing by Indo-Pacific crabs than were
Indo-Pacific shells, (see also Zipser and Vermeij,
1978).
The present study, a specific example of the
above correlation, examines the vulnerability of
Littorina littorea (L.) shells from two adjacent
geographical provinces to crushing by Cancer
borealis (Stimpson, 1859). Cancer borealis com-
monly occurs with Littorina littorea throughout
New England, and is expected to feed on the
snail in the field (G. J. Vermeij, pers. comm.).
Other predators of L. littorea include Carrimis
maenas (L.) (Pettitt, 1975; Lubchenco, 1978),
Homarus americanus (Squires, 1970), Thais
lapillus. the fish Tautogolabrus. and the gull
Larus argentatiis. In this study, C. borealis is be-
ing used as a "model" predator.
The two geographical provinces considered here
are the boreal province (northern), and the Vir-
ginian sub-province (southern). These two pro-
vinces form a geographical boundary at Cape
Cod, Massachusetts. It is hypothesized that the
southern shells are less vulnerable to predatory
crushing than are the northern shells, because of
the previously mentioned correlation between
latitudinal gradient of the shape of a gastropod
shell and the shell's vulnerability to crab preda-
tion. (see also Vermeij, 1978).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Three specimens of Cancer borealis were netted
in approximately 18 meters of water in the
Minemsha area of Martha's Vineyard Island. The
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 109
weight, size, and sex of each crab were recorded
(Table 1). Individual crabs were maintained in
separate tanks of approximately 15 liters capaci-
ty that were continuously aerated. The bottoms
of the tanks were covered with approximately 5
centimeters of gravel to provide the crabs with a
natural habitat.
Littonna littorea shells inhabited by hermit
crabs of the species Pagurus longicarpus (Say,
1817) were collected from two localities; Woods
Hole on the south side of Cape Cxid, and Barn-
stable Marsh on Cape Cod Bay, on the north side
of Cape Cod. Shells collected from Woods Hole
were taken from rocky substrates, while shells
taken from Barnstable Marsh were taken from
clusters of rock surrounded by sand. An effort
was made to take only shells in good condition.
The hermit-inhabited shells were maintained in
tanks of approximately 10 liters capacity that
were continuously aerated. The size of each shell
was measured with Vernier calipers before ex-
perimentation.
Prior to e.xperimentation, the crabs (Cancer
borealis) were acclimatized to their new environ-
ment for two days. After this time, the prey,
composed of six hermited shells from either Barn-
stable Marsh or Woods Hole, were added to each
of the tanks. Shells were placed in the tanks at
three in the afternoon, and at eight the following
morning shell fragments and any remaining prey
were removed from the tanks. The afternoon of
the following day, the experiment was repeated.
A total of six experiments was performed, three
in which six southern hermited shells were given
to each of the crabs, and three experiments in
which six northern hermited shells were given to
each of the crabs. Thus, each crab was offered a
total of thirty -six hermited shells.
RESULTS
Results of the six experiments are given in
Table 2. Observations of the crab attacks on the
shells showed that, in many cases, the crab
started crushing the shell by breaking the lip of
the shell, and continued crushing along the body
whorl. Because of this method of attack, in some
cases the hermit crab was small enough to re-
treat farther back into the shell. Therefore, in the
following analysis, the binomial distribution test
was performed twice, once considering as crushed
all shells attacked by the crabs, and once con-
sidering as crushed only shells in which the her-
mit crab was eaten.
Overall, more northern shells were attacked
than southern shells. Assuming as null hypothesis
that the probability is equal for northern or
southern shells to be crushed, a binomial distri-
bution test considering all shells attacked as suc-
cessfully crash gives a set of three significance
levels, one associated with each crab's ability to
crush northern shells; these levels are 0.4119,
0.0898, and 0.0929. When these levels are com-
bined by Fisher's combination of significance
method (Birnbaum, 1954), the overall level of
significance associated with rejecting the null
hypothesis is less than 0.07. The same binomial
test considering as crushed only shells in which
the hermit crab was eaten again gives a set of
three significance levels (0.0112; 0.125; and
0.2112), which when combined as before give an
overall significance level associated with rejecting
the null hypothesis of less than 0.02.
These results of the binomial distribution tests
show that there is indeed a significant statistical
TABLE 2. Lengths of sheik of Littorina littorea offered to
the irabs. An asterisk indicates that the shell was attacked.
Erpenment
Lemjthi of Shells Offered fmmj
Ongin of Shells
16.2, 16.6, 19.0, 20.0, 22.0
15.9, 17.7M8.0, 18.1,18.1
17..5, 18.4, 19.6. 22.5, 2,5.0
■, 19.2*. 19.3*. 19.8*. 20.1*. 23.3*
■,19.1, 19.9, 20.0,20.1', 20.1*
',19.6M9.8*,20.0-, 21.0*, 21.7*
', 18.1M8.2M8.8M9.5, 23.3*
',17.8M9.r, 20.9. 21.0. 24.5*
,16.5M6.6M8.6', 22.7*. 25.6*
20. 4*, 21.5, 22.0'. 22.2*. 22.8
, 18.4, 20.2, 23..5, 23.,5, 2,5.7
14.8M5.8, 17.3-,20.4*,21.r
, 15.4*, 17.3', 18.5', 21.8", 24.0*
18..5. 18.6. 20.4. 23.5, 24.5
. 17.0M7.3M8.0'. 20.0*. 21.0*
16.9.17.8,17.9,19.1.24.7
16..5, 17.1, 17.3. 18.4, 18.4
, 18.2M9.0M9.5',21.0',21.r
Woods Hole
Woods Hole
W(X)ds Hole
Barnstable Marsh
Barnstable Marsh
Barnstable Marsh
Banistable Marsh
Barnstable Marsh
Barnstable Marsh
Woods Hole
Woods Hole
Woods Hole
Woods Hole
Woods Hole
Woods Hole
Barnstable Marsh
Barnstable Marsh
Barnstable Marsh
no THE NAUTILUS
July 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
difference in the vulnerability of hermited shells
from the two localities studied to crab crushing.
Shells from Barnstable Marsh were more vulner-
able to crushing than were shells from Woods
Hole. This difference in vulnerability could be
due to many factors.
One possible factor is shell length. Wilcoxon's
rank sum test was used to examine this possibili-
ty. Application of this test showed that the crabs
generally tended to attack smaller shells regard-
less of the geographical origin of the shells
(P<0.14). There was no substantial difference in
the mean size of the overall sample of shells of-
fered from the two localities.
Another jjossible factor is shell thickness.
Shells from both geographical localities that had
been attacked but not completely destroyed in
the experiments were measured for thickness
with Vernier calipers. Points at which meas-
urements were taken were similar for all shells,
the farthest point back on the crushed lip.
Twenty-five attacked specimens from each geo-
graphical locality were measured. The mean
thickness of the crushed lip of the northern shells
was 0.59 mm, and that for the southern shells
was 0.70 mm. Shells from Barnstable Marsh were,
on the average, 16 percent thinner than shells
from W(x)ds Hole.
An effort was made to determine whether the
observed variation in shell thickness was a more
widespread geographical phenomenon, reflecting
a north to south trend. The length and thickness
of shell specimens from twenty-one additional
Littdrina littarea populations along the Atlantic
seaboard were measured, using the collections of
Geerat Vermeij and the United States National
Museum. Points of measurement of shell thick-
ness were at the midpoint of the lip as far into
the shell as the calipers could reach. Wilcoxon's
rank sum test was then applied to these data. In
the 18-19 mm size range, shells from populations
north of Cape Cod were significantly thinner
than shells from populations south of Cape Cod
(P<0.(K)1). A second application of the test in the
22-23 mm size range gave similar results
(0.(J0KP<0.W.5).
Professor J. D. Currey has measured the
strength of shells of Liftoriud littoren collected
alive from Ikirnstable Marsh and from Woods
Hole. He measured the load that is required to
break a shell between two smooth metal plates.
The shells were oriented so that the aperture
faced down on the lower plate. The upper plate
touched the dorsal portion of the body whorl.
Shells from Barnstable Marsh were found to be
significantly weaker than shells from Woods Hole
(P<0.0.5). Currey also found that shells from
Barnstable Marsh have a significantly higher
volume/mass ratio; that is, they are thinner
(P<0.02). These data are in accordance with the
geographical pattern observed in shell thickness.
DISCUSSION
It is apparent that shells from Barnstable
Marsh are more vulnerable to crab crushing than
are shells from Woods Hole. This is probably due
to the fact that the northern shells are con-
siderably thinner than the southern shells, as
shown by Currey 's data and the data on shell lip
thickness. Because shell strength is directly pro-
portional to the square of the shell thickness
(Wainwright et al. 1976), the 16 percent dif-
ference in thickness between the northern and
southern shells will translate into a much greater
difference in strength.
A basic assumption of the experiments was
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 111
that shells inhabited by hermit crabs are not in-
trinsically different than living shells. (Living
shells were not used in the experiments because
of the mollusk's tendency to crawl out of the
aquaria.) This assumption is substantiated by the
fact that only shells in good condition were used
in the experiments, and by the results obtained
by Currey demonstrating that the differences be-
tween northern and southern shells in maximum
sustainable load to crushing are not artifacts of
differential erosion or other processes that oc-
curred after the death of the snail. There is also
no difference in shape between living shells and
shells inhabited by hermit crabs. All indica-
tions are that there is indeed a difference in shell
strength between the two populations. The north-
ern shells are structurally weaker than are the
southern shells, and are thus more vulnerable to
crushing.
There are several possible reasons for the dif-
ference in thickness between the northern shells
and the southern shells. One is that epizooid
growth, which is more pronounced on shells from
Barnstable Marsh, might inhibit shell .secretion
by the mollusk, and thus cause the shell to be
thinner. Epizooid growth might also decrease
shell strength through destruction of the shell.
Secondly, it is possible that the difference in
shell thickness is due to a difference in habitat.
Shells from two different habitats were used in
the experiments, rock and sand. At present, in-
sufficient collections are available to resolve this
question.
Results from the measurements of shell
thickness and length of additional Littorina lit-
torea populations along the Atlantic seaboard in-
dicate that there is a significant relation between
geographical position and shell thickness. This
relation is a north to south trend, with shells in-
creasing in thickness as populations move farther
south. The observed variation in thickness be-
tween shells from Barnstable Marsh and shells
from Woods Hole is consistent with this trend.
The probable reason for this is that Barnstable
Marsh is farther north and in a different current
regime than Woods Hole, and is therefore colder.
Colder waters appear to inhibit calcification in
mollusks and other skeletonized invertebrates
(Vermeij, 1977; Vermeij, 1978).
This inhibition of calcification may be reflected
in Littiirina Uttorea by a decrease in the amount
of shell secretion. Thus, shells inhabiting Barn-
stable Marsh, existing in a colder environment
than shells in Woods Hole, exhibit the negative
correlation between water temperature and shell
thickness, and are thinner than the Woods Hole
shells. It is important to realize that this may
reflect a temperature dependence of biochemical
processes, and does not necessarily imply a
genetic difference between the northern and
southern populations. This is especially true in
light of the fact that LitUviina Uttorea is a
relative newcomer to the east coast of the United
States (Bequaert, 1943), and may not have had
time to undergo genetic differentiation between
populations.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I thank Geerat J. Vemieij for many in-
formative discussions about the research idea, for
invaluable technical assistance, and for reading
the manuscript. I also thank J. D. Currey of the
University of York for determining the strength
of shells. Pierre Sprey gave valuable aid in the
statistical analysis, and Elizabeth C. Dudley
helped in the editing of the final paper.
LITERATURE CITED
Bequaert. J. 1943. The genus Littorina in the Western Atlan-
tic. Jo/'tn-sr/ma l(7):l-28.
Birnbaum, A. 19.54. Qjmbining independent tests of
significance. Jour. Amer. Stat. Assoc. 49:5.59-,574.
Ebling. F. J.. Kitching, J. A., L. Muntz and C M. Taylor. 1964.
The ecology of Lough Ine. XIII. Experimental observations
of the destruction of Mytihtg edulis and Nucella lapillns by
crabs. Jour. Anim. Eeol 33:73-78.
Hamilton, P. V. 1976. Predation on Littorina irrorata
(Mollusca; Gastropoda) by CaUinectes sapidus (Crustacea:
Portunidae). Bull. Mar Sci. 26:403-409.
Kitching, J. A.. L. Muntz and F. J. Ebling. 1966. The ecology
of Lough Ine. XV. The ecological significance of shell and
body forms in Nucella. Jour. Anim. Ecol. 35:113-126.
Lubchenco, J. 1978. Plant species diversity in a marine inter-
tidal community: importance of herbivore food preference
and algal competitive abilities. Amer. Naturalist
112:23-29.
Muntz, L.. F. J. Ebling and J. A. Kitching. 1965. The ecology
of Lough Ine. XIV. Predatory activity of large crabs. Jour
Anim. Ecol. U:315-32S.
Pettit. C. 1975. A review of the predators of Littorina
especially those of L. saxatilis (Olivi) (Gastropoda: Pro-
sobranchia). Jour. Conchol. 28:343-357.
112 THE NAITTILUS
July 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
Rossi, A. (' and V. Parisi. 1973. Ekperimental studies of
predation by the crab Eriphia vemicosa on both snail and
hermit crab occupants of conspecific gastropod shells. Bull
21,(.U0:U7 ia5.
Vermeij, G. J. 1976. Interoceanic differences in vulnerability
of shelled prey to crab predation. Nature. London.
260:135-136.
1977. Patterns in crab claw size; the geography of
crushing. S!/.sr Zaul. 26:138-151.
1978. Biogengniphy and Adaption: patterns of
marine life Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Mass.
Wainwright, S. A., W. D. Briggs, J. D. Currey and J. M.
Gosline. 1976. Mechanical Design in Organisms. Edward Ar-
nold Press, 423 pp.
Zipser, E. and G. J. Vermeij. 1978. Crushing behavior of
tropical and temperate crabs, ./our Erp. Mar. Binl Ecvl. 31:
LYMNAEA (PSEUDOSITCCINEA) COLUMELLA IN COLOMBIA'
Emile A. Maiek and Frank B. Cogswell
Department of Tropical Medicine
Tulane Medical Onter
New Orleans, I>)uisiana 70112
ABSTOACT
Lijmnaeid fumila collected from several localities in Colombia confonned icith
the North American Lymnaea (Pseudosuccinea) columella. They differ from the
South American Lymnaea cousini, but Ljinnaea bogotensis and L. pereprina are
regarded as si/nonyms. The present geographical distribution ofL. (P,) columella is
discussed, as well as the disease vector capacity of the snails from Colombia.
Information is scanty about lymnaeid snails in
South America. From the few rep^jrts it is
realized that there is a great need for the
stabilization of the systematics of this group.
Recently, the authors had the opportunity to col-
lect and examine hannaeid snails from several
localities in Colombia, and to compare them to
other reported lymnaeids in South. Central and
North America, On the basis of the morphology
of the shell and soft parts of the snails from Co-
lombia we regard them as Lymnaea (Pseudosuc-
cinea) columella (Say). Biochemical and
serological methods in taxonomy may reveal dif-
ferences not evident in morphological studies.
The snails from Colombia have a succinidform
shell with a short spire and four whorls. These
are well-rounded and rapidly enlarging, the body
whorl l)eing about three times the size of the rest
of the shell. The shell is thin, horn color and is
shinv on the surface. The axial sculpture is
' Supported in part by the Tulane University—
COLCIENCIAS International Center for Medical Research,
Grant AMon.50 from the NIAID, NIH, U.S. Public Health
Service.
coarse and the spiral sculpture is fine and
microscopic. The large, ovate aperture is ex-
panded at its lower portion. The peristome is thin
and sharp. The inner lip adheres to the body
whorl and is reflected over the umbilicus, either
completely closing it or leaving a small chink.
The animal is black in field-collected specimens
but is light and mottled with a few black dots in
laboratory-reared specimens. The lateral teeth of
the radula are tricuspid and the marginal are
serrated. The length of the vergic sac is only
about one third or le.ss of the length of the
preputium. The penis is simple, .short and is
elongate pyriform. The preputium has thick walls
and a large sarcobelum. The prcstate is long and
cylindrical with the proximal end s<imewhat en-
larged. Tlie albumin gland is large and kidney-
shaped. The oviduct is large and is almost round.
The sj)ermatheca is .small, globular, and its duct
is long and thin.
The snails from Colombia are evidently widely
distributed at least in the Departments of Valle.
Cauca. Meta and Narino They were located in
the following localities: Department of Valle;
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 113
Gorgona swamp, 20 km northeast of Call; Vijes.
40 km north of Call; Ponce; beyond Ponce; 10 km
east-northeast of Palmira; Lake Calima about 50
km north of Call; Bugalagrande, and Buga.
Department of Cauca: Road to Popayan, about 40
km south of Call. Department of Meta: at
Villavicencio. Department of Narino: Laguna de
la Cocha, and El-Mira about 40 km east of
Tumaco.
Geographical Range
The type locality of L. (P.) columella (Say,
1817) is probably near Philadelphia, U.S.A. Ac-
cording to Baker (1928), its general distribution
extends over the eastern and midwestem states,
ranging from Nova Scotia westward to Minneso-
ta, Kansas and Te.xas, and from Manitoba and
Quebec southward to Texas, Mississippi and
Florida. In addition, the senior author has col-
lected this snail in Michigan, North Carolina and
Louisiana, and Panama, and has specimens from
Costa Rica.
In tropical America the general distribution of
L. (P.) columella seems to be in various countries
of Central America and in Venezuela, Paraguay
and Argentina in South America. According to
the present report it occurs in Colombia. Lym-
naea peregrina Clessin, 1882, whose type locality
is Taguara del Mundo Novo, Brazil, has been
found to have shell and animal characteristics
identical with those of L. (P.) columella (Huben-
dick, 1951). Moreover, L. peregrina collected by
the senior author from several localities in Minas
Gerais, Brazil, were examined morphologically
and found to be similar to L. (P.) columella. The
distribution of L (P.) columella (syn. L.
peregrina) in South America according to Huben-
dick (1951) is as follows: Villarica in Paraguay,
Rio Chico in southern Argentina (identified as L.
andeana Pilsbry), and Rio Camaguam in Rio
Grande do Sul, Brazil. There have been no rec-
ords of lymnaeids from the northern part of
Brazil or from the Guianas.
The senior author (Malek and Chrosciechowski,
1964) recorded L. (P.) columella from Venezuela.
The habitat of these snails is an aqueduct near
Maracay, State of Aragua, attached to the con-
crete lining at the water surface and to floating
sticks and debris.
As to the l>Tnnaeids of Colombia Pilsbry (1935)
reported two lymnaeid snails from Bogota viz.
Lymnaea bogotevsis (as a new species) and L.
nelli (Preston). The brief description of L.
hogoten.-^i'i and the photograph (Plate 6, Fig. 9)
agree in the main with that of L. columella (Say).
Brumpt et al. (1939-1940) relying on Pilsbry's
report found L. bogotensis naturally infected
with Fasciola hepatica in the Bogota savannah
area of Colombia. Hubendick (1951) based on the
snail photographs included in Brumpt et al. (loc.
cit.) believed that their snail L. bogotensis was
Lymnaea cousini Jousseaume 1887.
Hubendick (1951) dealt with the morphology
and geographical distribution of Lymnaea cousini
Jousseame 1887 (type locality, Chanchu-Yacu,
Chilogallo. Quito, Ecuador), and its synonym L.
ubaquensis Piaget, 1914 (type locality Laguna
Ubaque, Cundinamarca, Colombia). He stated
that L. cousini seems to extend from Valdivia in
southern Chile to the region of Bogota in Colom-
bia. The genitalia of L. cousini as described by
Hubendick differ from those of our Colombian
specimens. In L. cou^ni the preputium has dark
spots. The velum and sarcobelum are small and
the vergic sac is long; is only slightly shorter
than the preputium.
L. (P.) columella is believed to have been in-
troduced by human agency, probably with aquat-
ic plants into Puerto Rico, South Africa, Aus-
tralia, New Zealand, and many European coun-
tries. In Europe L. (P.) columella has been
reported only in botanical hothouses, but in
South Africa it occurs in many natural and ar-
tificial habitats, throughout the Republic from
the Eastern Transvaal to Western Cape Province.
It appears that L. columella is particularly com-
mon in the neighborhood of all the major ports.
In South Africa L. columella has in many
areas become one of the most abundant fresh-
water mollusks, (van Eeden and Brown, 1966).
The latter authors believe that one factor con-
tributing to its success after being introduced
may be the ability of the snails to exist on moist
mud often several centimeters away from free
water. It can also lead a submerged existence
together with several other indigenous species in-
cluding Lymnaea natalcTUiis Krauss. Its introduc-
tion in South Africa is of veterinary significance
114 TOE NAUTILUS
July 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
because L. columella from Durban has already
been successfully infected with South African
strains of both Fasciola hepatica Linn, and F.
gigantka Cobbold and cercariae recovered (Swart,
in van Eeden and Brown, 1966). In New Zealand
Lymnaea (Pseudosuccinea) columella is con-
sidered as a rapidly colonizing species and
fascioliasis became more widespread following its
introduction (Pullan, 1969, Pullan et al., 1972).
In Australia L. (P.) columella has been found
during the last few years in Sydney, Brisbane,
Melbourne, and Perth either in parks, aquaria,
and aquatic plant nurseries or creeks in the
metropolitan areas (Boray, 1978; Ponder, 1975;
Salisbury et al., 1976). Boray (1978) found that L.
(P.) columella is susceptible to the Australian F.
hepatica and produces relatively large numters
of metacercariae. He is of the opinion that L. (P.)
columella could have a substantial role as an in-
termediate host in irrigation districts of Aus-
tralia. The distribution of this and other aquatic
Lijmnaea spp. could be of great importance in
Australia in areas where the semiamphibious L.
tomentosa does not occur at present, such as in
apparently suitable habitats in some districts of
Western Australia.
Vector Capacity
Using miracidia of the liver fluke Fasciola
hepatica from Louisiana laboratory-reared speci-
mens of L. (P.) columella from Colombia became
infected with this fluke. The results indicate that
they are the hosts, or one of the hosts, of this
fasciolid in Colombia. Another group of snails
also became readily infected with Heterobilhania
americamu a mammalian schistosome in southern
United States. The degree of their infection was
similar to that of L. (P.) columella from Loui-
siana. In a third group of snails from Colombia
double infections were obtained of F. hepatica,
and H. americana.
The high susceptibility of the snails from (Co-
lombia to F. hepatica and H. americana supports
the morphological similarities between them and
L. (P.) columella from Louisiana.
LITERATURE CITED
Baker, F. C. 1928. The freshwater Mothisca of Wisconxin. Part
I. Gastropoda Wise. Acad. Sci., Arts & Letters. Monograph.
Boray, .J. C. 1978. The potential impact of exotic Lymnaea spp.
on fascioliasis in Australasia. Veterinary- Parasitology. 4:
127-141.
Brumpt, E., Velasquez, J., Ueroz, H. and Brumpt, L Ch.
1939-1940. Decouverte doe ITiote intermediaire Limnaea
b(X)(itensis Pilsbry de la grande douve Fasciola hepatica, en
Colombie. Ann Parasit. Hum. Comp. Paris. 17:,563-.579.
Hubendick. B. 19.51. Recent Lymnaeidae, their variation, mor-
phology, taxonomy, nomenclature and distribution. Kungl.
Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar Fjarde Serien.
Band .3, No. 1,223 pp.
Malek, Emile, A. and Chrosciechowski. P. 1964. Li/mnaea
(Psevdomiccinea) columella from Venezuela, and notes on
distribution of Pseudosuccinea. Nautilus 78:54-56.
Pilsbry, H. A. 1935. South American land and freshwater
mollusks. IX.— Colombian species. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philadelphia, 87: 83-88.
Ponder. W. F. 1975. The occurrence of Lymnaea (Pseudosuc-
cinea) columella, and intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica
in Australia, Aust. Vet. J.. 51: 494-49.5.
Pullan, N. B. 1969. The first report in New Zealand of Lym-
naea columella Say (MoUusca: Gastropoda) an intermediate
host of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica L. N. Z. Vet. J., 17:
255-256.
Pullan. N. B., Climo, F. M. and Mansfield. C. B. 1972. Studies
on the distribution and ecology of the family Lymnaeidae
(Mollusca: Ga.stropoda) in New Zealand. J. R. Soc. N. Z., 2:
393-405
Salisbury. J. R.. Harkin. .J. T.. and Smith. R J. 1976. Lymnaea
columella in aquariums. Aust. Vet. J.. 52: 487.
Van Eeden, .J. A. and Brown, D. S. 1966. Colonization of fresh
waters in the Republic of South Africa by Lymnaea col-
umella Say. Nature (London). 210: 1172-1173.
NEWS
Dr. Tadashige Habe, well-known Japanese mal-
acologist, has retired from his curatorial position
at the National Science Museum in Tokyo, after
many years of distinguished service. He continues
his editorship of Venu£ and is now active as a
Professor of Zoology at Tokai University.
Dr. Takashi Okutani has been promoted to
Senior Curator, and will carry on Dr. Habe's
traditions in the Department of Zoologj', Na-
tional Science Museum, Tokyo. Dr. Okutani
graduated from the Tokyo University of Fisheries
in 1954, and did research at the Tokai Regional
Fisheries Research Laboratory on the taxonomy
and life-history of deep sea mollusks, especially
cephalopods. He spent two years doing research
at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in 1961
and 1970-71.
Vol. 94 (3)
July 8(1, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 115
A NEW FALSILYRIA (VOLUTIDAE) AND A NEW CONUS
(CONIDAE) FROM ROATAN ISLAND, HONDURAS (ATLANTIC)
Edward J. Petuch
Department of Zijology
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742
Recent increased collecting off the coast of
Roatan Island, Honduras, (approximately
16°20'N, 86°15'W) has brought to light a number
of unusual and atypical Caribbean gastropods.
Tlie fauna of this area, containing such species as
Fnlsiiyria demarcoi (Olsson, 1965), Pleioptygma
helenne (Radwin and Bibbey, 1977), and Tiir-
binella scolimoides (Dall, 1890) (E. Yokes. 1966),
more closely resembles the fauna of the Pliocene
Caloosahatchee Formation of Florida than it does
the modern Caribbean Molluscan Province (E.
Yokes, 1966:63). In essence, the molluscan
assemblages of the Recent Bay of Honduras most
probably represent pockets of Pliocene relicts
that, in turn, derived from the Tertiary faunas of
the southeastern United States.
The archaic nature of the Roatan Island fauna
is further reinforced by the recent discoveries of
the second known living species of Falsilyiia and
an unusual new species of shallow water Conns.
These interesting new Caribbean gastropods are
herein described.
FAMILY Yolutidae
Genus FdsUipia Pilsbry and Olsson, 1954
Falsilyria morrisoni new species
(Figs. 1-6)
Shell description: Shiny, highly polished; body
heavy, thickened, with 4 to 5 whorls; body whorl
with 7 to 12 rounded major axial ribs and 30 to
60 sharply defined minor axial ribs; spire ele-
vated, turriculate; shoulder angled with blunt
coronations; spire whorls with 3 or 4 raised,
beaded spiral cords; protoconch large, with 3 bul-
bous, smooth whorls; aperture elongate, roughly
^/3 of total shell length; columella with 8 or 9 ma-
jor plications and 3 to 6 minor plications; plica-
tions heavily beaded; outer lip thickened and
flaring in adults; color of base of shell salmon-
pink to rose-red with 6 to 8 evenly-spaced revolv-
ing bands of alternating black and white spots;
base color overlaid with numerous fine red-brown
specklings and scattered large dark brown
blotches; protoconch salmon -(j range; interior of
aperture pale pinkish white turning white toward
outer lip; columellar region and plications
salmon-pink; outer lip white with 11 to 14 raised
black denticulations; operculum unknown.
Type locality: 60 m depth off north coast of
Roatan Island, Honduras.
Distribution: At present, known only from off
Roatan Island.
Material examined: Holotype— Length 73.4
mm, width 31.5 mm, 60 m depth off north coast
of Roatan Island, Honduras, January, 1979, U.S.
National Mus. Nat. Hist. No. 784485. Paratj^e-
Length 45.4 mm, same depth, locality, and date
as holotype, USNM 784486; Length 42 mm, same
depth and locality as holotype, collection of Dr.
Emilio F. Garcia, Lafayette, Louisiana.
Associated mollusks: Commonly taken with
this species, in both lobster pots and shrimper's
nets, are the following large gastropods; Phalium
granulatum (Born, 1778), Fusinus dowianus
Olsson, 1954, Pleioptygma helenae, Falsilyria
demarcoi Conus cingulatus Lamarck, 1810, C.
lorenzianus Dillwyn, 1817, C. spurius Gmelin,
1791, and a large undescribed Hindsiclava.
Etymology: Named for Robert Morrison of
Sarasota, Florida, who first recognized the species
as new and who kindly donated the type ma-
terial.
DiscussioJi: The new volute is the second
knovm living Falsilyria and is sympatric with
the other living species, F. demarcoi (Figures 9
and 10) (S. Hoerle and E. Yokes, 1978; 107). Fal-
silyyia morrisoni differs from F demarcoi by
having a higher spire, more acutely angled shoul-
der, less numerous and heavily beaded columellar
plications, and by having a larger protoconch.
116 THE NAUTILUS
July 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
FIGS. 1-10. 1, Falsi lyria morrisoni n. sp. Dorsal aspect of
holotj/pe. USNM TKUKx 2, Falsilyria morrisoni ti. sp. Ventral
aspect of holott/pp. I'SNM 7>iUS5. 3, Falsilyria morrisoni n.
sp. Diimat axpect of pamtifpe. USNM 7SUf>f> 4, Falsilyria
morrisoni n. sp. Ventral aspect of p(miti/pe. USNM 78W6.
5, Falsilyria morrisoni, detail of columellar plications of
hohttype. 6, Falsilyria morrisoni, detail of spire sculpture of
holotype. 7, Voluta musica Linnaem. 1758. 5i mm specimen
from CairiacMt, Grenadines. 8, Voluta musica. Ventral aspect
of same specimen. 9, Falsilyria demarcoi (Ols.ion. 1965). 70
mm specimen from Rootan Island. Honduras. 10, Falsilyria
demarcoi. Ventral aspect of same specimen.
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 117
TTie new species lacks the bright orange or peach
base color that is characteristic of F. demarcoi
(Olsson, 1965:663). The raised, beaded cords on
the spire of F. morrisoni (Figure 6) also separate
the new species from the smooth -spired F. demar-
coi. The beaded columellar plications of F. mor-
risoni (Figure 5) more closely resemble the
beaded plications of the fossil F maiisfieldi (Dall,
1916) (S. Hoerle and E. Yokes, 1978: pi. 4, figs. 4a,
5) than they do those of the living F. demarcoi.
Conversely, the smoothly plicated F. demarcoi is
closer to the fossil F. anoptos S. Hoerle and E.
Yokes, 1978 than it is to the new species.
The genus Falsilyria. though resembling the
genus Voluta, differs in having m.ore numerous
columellar plications, and in the case of F. mor-
risoni beaded plications. As pointed out by
Hoerle and Yokes (1978:107), the two genera
represent parallel evolution from a common
ancestral stock. Voluta s.s. is restricted to the
southern Caribbean, both in Recent and fossil
assemblages, while Falsilyria is knovra primarily
ft-om fossil deposits in the southeastern United
States. The latter is now restricted to the north-
ernmost Caribbean, specifically the Yucatan
Peninsula and Gulf of Honduras areas. For com-
parison of the two genera, a typical specimen of
Voluta musica Linnaeus, 1758 from Carriacou,
Grenadines, Lesser Antilles, is showm in Figures
7 and 8.
FAMILY Conidae
Genus Conn.'i Linnaeus, 1758
Conus kulkulcan new species
(Figs, n- 1.5)
Shell description: Squat, shiny, with strongly
coronated shoulder; body with 6 whorls; shell
sculptured with 15 to 20 raised, pustulated spiral
cords, becoming coarser on anterior end; spire
smooth; shell color blue-gray with two wide dark
gray-brown bands, one above shell midline, one
below; raised spiral cords whit.e with fine brown
dots and dashes; body midline with pale blue-
gray band; anterior tip dark blackish brown;
spire and early whorls bright pink; spire pure
white with numerous red-brovro radiating hair-
lines; early spire whorls with large black-brovm
blotches; aperture deep blue-purple, becoming
paler in interior; periostracum smooth, translu-
cent yellow.
Type locality: 2 m depth on north side of
Roatan Island, Honduras.
Distribution: At present, known only from
shallow water near Roatan Island.
Material examined: Holotype— Length 21.3
mm, width 12.2 mm, 2 m depth, north coast of
FIGS. 11-1.5. 11, Conus kulkulcan n. .sp. Lhrsal aspect of
holotype- USNM TSU8?. 12, Conu.s kulkulcan n. sja Ventral
aspect of holotype. USNM 7SU8~- 13, Conus kulkulcan, detail
of spire color pattern of holoti/pe. 14, Conus kulkulcan n. sp.
Dorsal a.'ij)ect of paratype. 15, Conus kulkulcan n. sp. Ventral
aspect ufparalype.
118 THE NAUTILUS
July 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
Roatan Island, Honduras, January, 1979. U.S. Na-
tional Mus. Nat. Hist. No. 784487; Paratype-
Length 22 mm, same depth, locality, and date as
holot>T)e, in my collection.
Ecology: The new species was found in sand
underneath large coral boulders in 2 m of water
near the shoreline. Other mollusks found with
Coniis kulkulcan included the gastropods Monun
(miscvs (Linnaeus, 1767), Muricopsis schrammi
(Crosse, 1863), and Vexillum dermestrnnm
(Lamarck, 1811), and the spinose polyplacophoran
Craspedochiton kemphilli (Pilsbry, 1893).
Etymology: Named for Kulkulcan, feathered
snake god of the Mayans. Like his nautical
equivalent, Quetzalcoatl, Kulkulcan was often
associated with the sea. Since Roatan was a
Mayan trading center in precolumbian times, the
taxon honors the Indian sea god.
Discussion: At first glance, Comts kvlkulcan
would not be taken for a Caribbean sjiecies, so
unusual is the color pattern. With the white cor-
onated shoulder, blue-gray body color, black
anterior tip, and deep blue aperture, the new
species very closely resembles Conw-s parvulus
Link, 1807 and C. imperator Woolacott, 19-56
from the Indo-Pacific region. Small specimens of
C. bilioms Roding, 1798 from India also resemble
C. kulkulcnn.
In the western Atlantic, only Conus mus
Hwass, 1792, could possibly be confused with C.
kulkulcan. The dark hairline flammules on the
spire (Figure 13) and the purple-blue aperture,
however, easily separate the new species from the
well-known and similarly colored C. mus. Conus
bdkulcan appears to be related to the West In-
dian Conus magellaniaLS Hwass, 1792— C. car-
dinalis Hwass, 1792, species complex and is the
only known Central American representative of
this group of small, rock-dwelling cones.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank Mr. Robert Morrison,
Sarasota, Florida, and Mr. Gary Magnotte, Pom-
pano, Florida, for the generous donation of the
tjT)e material of the new species. Special thanks
are given to Mrs. Sally D. Kaicher, St. Peters-
burg, Florida, and Mr. (jonzalo Cruzat, Miami,
Florida, for the excellent photographs.
LITERATURE CITED
Hoerle. Shirley E. and EJnily H. Yokes. 1978. A Review of the
Volutid Genera Lifna and Falsilj/ria (Mollusca: Gastropoda)
in the Tertiary of the Western Atlantic, Tidane Studies
Geol. and Paleo. 14(3):107, 120-128, pi. 4. figs. 4a. 5.
Olsson, Axel A. 1965. A Review of the Genus Voluia and the
Description of a New Species. Bidl. Amer. Paleo.
49(224): 663.
Yokes. Emily H. 1966. Observations on Titrbinflla scoli/moide.^
Dall. with Description of a New Species of TurbineUa.
Tidane Studies Geol 4(2):63-68.
LAEVICAULIS HAROLDl A NEW VERONICELLID SLUG FROM NATAL,
SOUTH AFRICA (GASTROPODA: PULMONATA)
Dee Saunders Dundee
Department of Biological Sciences
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana 70122
While collecting amphibians on December 23,
1977, in Durban, Natal Province, South Africa,
Dr. Harold A. Dundee found some strange-look-
ing organisms on living Typha leaves in an empty
lot. He and a local herpetologist, Mr. L\Tin Raw,
originally thought they were lepidopteran larvae.
Only after being collected did they extend the
body and tentacles so as to be recognizable by me
as veronicellid slugs. I have worked with Veroni-
cellidae for years and these are the most bizarre
ones I have ever seen. Only six specimens could
be found despite an intensive effort by all three
of us. This author is indebted to Mr. Raw for tak-
ing us to that locality in the course of the day's
collecting.
Pictures of the living slugs were taken im-
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 119
mediately. Upon return to the United States, I
searched the literature but could not find any
description of these veronicellids. Dissection
revealed significant differences from other known
species. Pictures were sent to Dr. A. C. van Brug-
gen now of the University of Leiden who had
long worked in South Africa. He also had not
seen slugs like them before. Therefore I have
elected to describe these herein and name them
in honor of their discoverer, Dr. Harold A.
Dundee. T>T)e specimens were deposited in the
IL S. National Museum of Natural History in
Washington, D. C.
External description: Laevicaulis haroldi n. sp.
(Figs. 1: a, b, c, d). Four color phases were found.
This mollusk can change to any of these phases.
The most distinctive one is that seen in Fig. Ic.
When the animal is contracted, it looks most like
a lepidopteran larva. The other 3 color phases
(Fig. 1, a, b, d) seem to be a part of a transition
from dark-brown to cream color. Even when the
organism is in the cream stage, the anterior end,
including the tentacles and the posterior, remain
dark as seen in Fig. la. In all color phases the
animal retains a "wrinkled," finely banded, ap-
pearance. Upper tentacles are light-brown with
dark-brown eyes in all phases. The lower ones ap-
pear grey. The hyponotum is smooth and cream
colored in all. The sole is the same except that it
tends to be somewhat transparent.
When contracted the hyponotum takes on a
mottled appearance (cream and tan) and the sole
remains as in the stretched condition thus mak-
ing it much more evident. The foot is typical
veronicellid.
The measurements of the six specimens were
these:
FIG. 1. Laevicaulis haroldi, a new specus uf rprmiii; llni slmi
from South Afiita. a. cream color phase: b. darkest brown
phase: c. intermediate phase: d. tan phase.
Internal Description: A dorsal incision
revealed the anatomical arrangement shown to be
that of Laevicaulis Simroth (see Forcart, Plate V,
Fig. 8a, 1953). Diagnostic characteristics of this
genus include a rounded anus situated submedial-
ly and the female genital pore located in the
posterior half of the hyponotum. Also the anter-
ior delimitation of the intestines is formed by a
fold of the intestinal tract.
Two species of Laevicaulis are known from
Durban: Laevicaulis natalensis natalensis
(Krauss), L. natalensis brauni (Simroth) and
Laevicaulis saxicolus (Cockerell). The difference
between the two subspecies of L natalensis is in
the width of the sole as opposed to the hypo-
notum (wider in L. n. natalensis and narrower in
L. n. brauni). The main difference between L.
natalousis and L. saxicolus is that L. natalensis
has one subdistal annular swelling on the verge
(one of the most important diagnostic features of
veronicellids) and L saxicolus does not. It merely
has a distal glans (Forcart, 1953).
Fig. 2a shows the penial complex of L. haroldi
as it is seen through a dorsal incision after lifting
the buccal mass up and to the left. The arrow on
Fig. 2a shows the point at which the penial com-
plex was lifted and flipped over to the left thus
revealing the arrangement as shown in Fig. 2b.
One can grasp the functional morphology easier
in this view. The verge is housed in the sac and
extends anteriorly through the genital opening
during mating. Fig. 2c shows a dissected view of
the verge in a contracted state inside of the pe-
nial sac. Fig. 2d shows the verge lifted from the
sac.
Discussion: These new animals are unlike
120 THE NAUTILUS
July 30. 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
VAS DEFERENS
PENIAL SAC
_ PENIAL GLAND
REThACTOR
4 mm
FIG. 2. Reproductive structures, a. permd complex as seen in
(kfTsal incmon after lifting the buccal mass up and to the left.
b. penial complex after lifting up and to the left at the point
shown by an arrow in Pig. 2a. c. dissected view of verge in
penial sac. d. verge lifted fi-om sac.
either of the two species known from the Durban
area. External appearance is totally different,
L/W index in adults is much greater than in
either of them, and this new species seems to be
longer overall (although not enough specimens of
any of the three species have been measured to
validate that statement). Hyponotum-sole meas-
urements are closer to those of L. natalensis.
Dissection as shown in Fig. 2 reveals the
reproductive anatomy to be closer to L. natalen-
sis in that the verge appears essentially similar
except it does not have the annular swelling.
I believe, therefore, that these specimens are
members of a species heretofore unknown.
Type locality: The type locality of these slugs
is a Typha marsh on Stamford Hill, Durban,
Natal, South Africa. It is bounded by Walter Gil-
bert Road on the south, Unrgeni Road on the
west, Athlone Drive on the north, and Snell
Parade on the east. At the time of collection in
December 1977 this was an empty lot which was
used in part as a dump. The Typha marsh was on
the north end. Recent correspondence (January
1979) from Mr. Lynn Raw indicated that the ac-
tual site where the slugs were found has now
been bulldozed for a road. He further indicated
that he has checked the type locality several
times throughout the past year and has been
unable to find any more slugs. The slugs were
found about 1.5 m up on the Typha leaves and all
appeared to be inactive. Air temperature was 30°
C; wind was estimated at 25K.
LITERATURE CITED
Forcart, L. 1953. The Veronioellidae of Africa. Ann du Musee
Royal du Congo Beige 23: 1 10 p.
PISIDIUM FALLAX (BIVALVIA: PISIDIIDAE) IN THE
SOUTHWESTERN OZARK PLATEAUS
Mark E. Gordon
Department of Zoology
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
Gerry L. Mackie
Department of Zoology
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1
Arthur V. Brown
Department of Zoology
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
ABSTRACT
The freshwater fingernail dam, Pisidium fallax Sterki, is reported for the first
timefiom the Inteiior Highlands of Arkansas and Missouri.
Pisidium fallax Sterki (18%) has recently been
identified from several drainages of the south-
western Ozark Plateaus. These collections repre-
sent a new regional record for this species. With
the exception of a record from Alabama (Her-
rington, 1962), it had not been reported south of
the extent of maximum glaciation. West of the
Mississippi River, it had not been collected south
of Iowa (Herrington, 1962).
Numerous specimens have been recently col-
lected from the basins of the Illinois and White
rivers in Washington County, Arkansas, and the
Vol. 94 (3)
July 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 121
Elk River in McDonald and Newton counties,
Missouri and Benton County, Arkansas. Seven of
these specimens from Little Sugar Creek, Bella
Vista, Benton County (R30W, T20N, section 7),
Arkansas, collected August 26, 1978, have been
deposited in the University of Arkansas at Fay-
etteville Museum (UAFM no. 80-1-1), and nine
specimens from Little Sugar Creek, Jane, Mc-
Donald County (R31W, T21N, section 10 and 15),
Missouri, collected September 2, 1978, are in the
University of Colorado Museum (UCM no. 29542).
Previous records for Pisidium from the
southwestern Ozarks include P. abditum (Halde-
man, 1841), P. friersoni Sterki (1906), P. tieglec-
tum Sterki (1906), P. noveboracense (Prime, 1854)
(all synonyms of P. casertanum (Poll, 1791)), P.
sargenti Sterki (1901), (now P. adamsi Stimpson,
1851), P. virginicum Prime (1865) (now P. dubium
(Say, 1816)), P. pimctatum Sterki (1895), P.
fraudulentum Sterki (1912), (now P. compressum
Prime, 1852), and P. compressum (Sampson, 1894,
1913; Hinkley, 1916; synonymies from Burch,
1975).
The specimens collected fi'om the drainages of
the southwestern Ozark Plateaus have flattened
beaks, some so flattened that incipient ridges are
often present and specimens may be confused
with P. compressum. Herrington (1962) also
documented this similarity as well as similarities
in shell outline between P. fallax and P. caser-
tanum. These similarities may have caused some
misidentifications in the past and additional
study may be necessary to detemiine the actual
occurrence and distribution of sphaeriids in the
Interior Highlands. Pisidium fallax probably oc-
curs in the downstream basins of the Illinois and
Elk rivers in Oklahoma and may also be present
in the Kansas portion of the Spring River drain-
age. This assumption is based on the similarities
of the molluscan faunal assemblages found among
streams on the western slope of the Ozark Pla-
teaus. Considering the above observations and the
Alabama record, this species may have a more
extensive distribution than previously recognized.
LITERATURE CITED
Burch, .J. B. 1975. Freshwater sphaeriacean clams (Molhisca:
Pelecifpodci) of North America^ Malacological Publications,
Hamburg, Michigan. 96 pp.
Herrington. H. B. 1962. A revision of the Sphaeriidae of
North America (Mollusca: Pelecypoda). Misc. Publ. Mm.
Zuol. Univ. Mich. 118: 74 pp.
Hinkley, A. A. 1916. New fresh-water shells from the Ozark
Mountains. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 49: 587-589.
Sampson. F. A. 1894. A preliminary list of the Mollusca of
Arkansas (exclusive of the Unionidae). Ann. Rept. Ark.
State Geologist 1891: 181-199.
Sampson, F. A. 1913. A preliminary list of the Mollusca of
Missouri (exclusive of the Unionidae). Trans. Acad. Sci. St.
Louis 22: 67-108.
Sterki, V. 1896. Descriptions of new pisidia. The Nautilus 10:
20-21.
SASSIA LEWIS!. A NEW CYMATIID GASTROPOD
FROM THE CARIBBEAN SEA
M. G. Harasewych
College of Marine Studies
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware 19711
Recent exploratory work on the lower shelf
faunas of the Caribbean region has uncovered
large numbers of new and unusual gastropods.
One of these new species represents the first
record of the cymatiid genus Sassia Bellardi,
1872, in the Recent fauna of the Atlantic Ocean,
and is described herein.
Sassia (Sassia) lewisi new species
Figs. 1 and 2
Description: Shell to 28 mm; spire angle 43°-
E. J. Petuch
and Department of Zoology
University of Maryland
College Park", Mainland 20740
46°; protoconch with 2 whorls, pitted, glassy;
teleoconch with 6-7 rounded whorls; varices cord-
ed, sharply shouldered, repeating every 270°; shell
cancellate, axial ribs more prominent than spiral
cords; spiral sculpture of 7 cords on body whorl,
and 4 or 5 cords on the siphonal canal, with 3-5
fine spiral threads between adjacent cords; 3 or 4
spiral cords visible on each of the preceding
whorls; axial sculpture of 12-16 ribs; shell color
golden-tan, with dark-brown blotches on and
behind varices interrupted by a white spot at the
122 THE NAUTILUS
Julv3(). 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
FIGS. 1-3. Sassia lewisi new speHea. 1, Hulnttfiie. ANSP -152235. dredged mirth uf Cuntny. Yumtan Peninsula. Mptxch. in 60 tu 80
meters (1..5H 2, Paratype. USNM 806061. trawled off St. Jamex. Barbado/!. >n UO meters ^i.5x/ 3, Sassia semitorta Kuroda and
Habe. USNMS06062. nffTosa. Japan, in 100 meters (1..5x).
shoulder of each varix, a white band around the
4th spiral cord and white areas at the base and
tip of the siphonal canal; aperture roughly cir-
cular; outer lip with 6 strong denticles which
form between spiral cords; inner lip appressed
posteriorly, with 2 or 3 denticles posteriorly and
3 or 4 denticles anteriorly; siphonal canal open,
moderate in length, slightly recurved.
Type material: Holotype— Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP 352235), length
27.9 mm; dredged north of Contoy, Yucatan
Peninsula, Mexico (2r30' N, 87°45' W) in 60 to
80 meters. Paratypes— United States National
Museum, Washington, D.C. (USNM 806061),
lengths 26.8 mm, and 13.8 mm; dredged off St.
James, Barbados in 140 meters.
Type locality: Off Contoy Island, Quintana
Roo, Mexico, in 60-80 meters.
Range: Known from off the Yucatan Peninsula
and Barbados.
Discussion: Sassia lewisi most closelv resem-
bles the Japonic S. semitorta (Kuroda and Habe,
1952) (Kuroda, Habe and Oyama, 1971: 128-129.
pi. 28, fig. 1), from which it may be distinguished
by its smaller overall size, smaller, less inflated
protoconch, and finer, more regular sculpture.
Sassia semitorta differs further by having a more
lenticular aperture, mottled base coloration, and
brown bands on the spiral cords.
This new ta.xon honors Hal Lewis, of the
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, in
recognition of his contributions to the systematics
of theCvinatiidae.
We thank Dr. Finn Sander, Bellairs Marine
Laboratory of McGill University, St. James,
Barbados, for providing the paratypes.
LITERATURE CITED
Kuroda, T., T. Habe and K. Oyama. 1971. Seashells of Sagami
Bay. Maruzen Co., Ltd.. Tokyo. Japan.
Specimen Shells
Offering microscopic and miniature (to '/» inch) .s7if//.v
from the Florida Keys, mth accurate locality data. Al.fo
mvsurted grunge: write for list.
Margaret Teskey
P.O. Box 27:1
Bill Pine Key. Ft. .im:l
Rare and Exotic Specimen Shells
for the discriminating oollector
Free price list
Janowaky's
MAL DE MER ENTERPRISES
946 Ralph Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11236 USA
(Hi) iSS-SSSO
Vol.94 (3)
July 30. 1980
THE NAUTILUS 123
DRILLING PREDATION IN A POPULATION OF THE EDIBLE BIVALVE
ANADARA GRANOSA (ARCIDAE)
Geerat J. Vermeij
Department of Zoology
University of Maryland
College Park, Md. 20742. U.S.A.
ARSTRACT
Thilling by the mmicid Bedeva blosvillei (Deshayes) accounts for 8fl% of the
mortality of the arcid bivalve Anadara granosa (L.) at Dodinga Bay, Halmahera,
Indonema The high incidence is afisociated ivith a large number of incomplete
drill-holeR (.32 per indimdual). Right valves are attacked significantly more often
than left valves. Tliere is no difference in placement of complete and incomplete
holes on the valves.
As part of a survey of the shell architecture
and causes of death of shelled marine molluscs in
the tropical Indo-West-Pacific region, a collection
of living molluscs and empty shells was made on
14 July, 1979. at Dodinga Bay on the west coast
of Halmahera Island, Maluku, Indonesia (0° 50
min N, 127° 37 min E). The area is an extensive
shallow-water mud-flat with stands of the grass,
Enhalus acoroides. wide expanses of silt and san-
dy mud, and shoreward mangroves. One of the
commonest molluscs in the very rich assemblage
at Dodinga Bay was the edible arcid bivalve
Anadara (Tegillarca) granosa (L.). A large
number of empty valves of this species appeared
to have been drilled by gastropods.
In order to draw attention to several unusual
features about these drilled valves, I shall con-
sider the following three questions in this note.
(1) What proportion of the population of A.
granosa at Dodinga Bay was killed by drilling
predators? (2) Is there a difference in placement
of complete and incomplete drill-holes on the
valves? (3) How widespread is drilling predation
in other populations oiA. granosa?
A total of 27 right valves and 25 left valves,
ranging in length from 24.2 to 55.1 mm, was col-
lected at Dodinga Bay; most were still hinged
together, and many were found in life position.
Two individuals were drilled through the hinge-
line between the valves. In the remaining 48
valves, complete drill-holes were found in 6 of 23
left valves (26%) and in 15 of 25 right valves
(60%). Because no individual with more than one
complete drill-hole was found, the mortality at-
tributable to drilling predation is thus
2.x(2+6+15)/52.or88%.
In addition to empty valves, 21 living indi-
viduals, ranging in length from 18.7 to 48.3 mm,
were collected at Dodinga Bay. A total of 16 in-
complete drill-holes was encountered on the
valves of living and dead individuals (Table 1);
the number of incomplete drill-holes per in-
dividual is thus 16/47, or .32. Two individuals
(an empty right valve 55.1 mm long, and the
right valve of a living clam 30.5 mm long) had
two incomplete drill-holes each. As Table 1 shows,
the frequency of unsuccessful drilling generally
increases in the larger size classes.
When the number of complete and incomplete
drill-holes is summed for right and left valves, it
is seen that right valves are attacked about twice
as often (25 holes in 48 valves) as are left valves
TABLE 1. The occurreiice of ineomplclc dnll-holes iyi relation
to shell length in Anadara granosa from Dodinga Bay. N =
number of valves of living and dead indiindimh.
124 THE NAUTILUS
July 30. 1980
Vol. (11(8)
(12 holes in 46 valves); this difference is signifi-
cant at the 0,05 level (chi-scjuare test). No signifi-
cant difference between right and left valves is
evident when complete and incomplete holes are
treated separately.
Of a total of 37 complete and incomplete drill-
holes made through either the right or the left
valve (thus excluding the two made through the
hinge-line), 32 (86%) are confined to the smoothly
ribbed posterodorsal portion of the valve; only 5
drill-holes (of which 2 are incomplete, both on left
valves), were found on the sector of the valve
where the radial ribs are tuberculated (about
90% of the valve surface). All holes were made
between the ribs. The proportion of unsuccessful
holes made in the tuberculated portion of the
shell (12.5%) is nearly identical to that of suc-
cessful holes (14%). There is no obvious difference
in the placement of complete and incomplete
drill-holes.
The agent of drilling appears to be the muricid
gastropod Bedeva bloavillei (Deshayes), an
unusually high-spired species with a distinct anal
notch and a slender open siphonal canal. Several
individuals of this species (2 of 10 collected) were
found to be drilling A. gramittn at Dodinga Bay;
in the laboratory, Bedeva avidly drilled several
tellinid and venerid bivalves. All the drill-holes
in A. granom were of the typical muricid type
described by Carriker and Yochelson (1968). No
other mollusc collected at Dodinga Bay showed
signs of drilling by Bedeva; the few drill-holes
that were found in Cerithmm coralium Kiener
and Nassaritis spp. are attributable to naticids.
No other soft -bottom muricids were seen at
Dodinga Bay.
The localization of drill-holes in the posterodor-
sal portion of the shell is presumably the conse-
quence of the essentially epifaunal habit of
Bedeva and of the shallowly infaunal mode of life
of A. granoaa. Unlike most naticids, Bedeva
(maximum length 40 mm) is relatively small com-
pared to its prey, and has a small foot that is in-
capable of enveloping the clam. The only portion
of the prey available for drilling is thus the
relatively exposed posterodorsal region. I do not
know why the right valve is attacked more fre-
quently than the left.
Three small samples of A. granosa in the U. S.
National Museum (Washington. D. C.) were ex-
amined for signs of drilling. No complete or in-
complete drill-holes were found in 18 individuals
from Haigo. Japan; 10 individuals from near
Cebu. Philippines; or 10 individuals from
Singapore. Although B. hloftvillei is distributed
from Japan to northeast Australia (Radwin and
d'Attilio, 1976). it may be only locally abundant
and effective as a predator.
Several authors have commented that, whereas
incomplete naticid drill-holes are rarely met
with, unsuccessful predation by drilling muricids
is often observed (Taylor. 1970; Adegoke and
Tevesz, 1974; Kojumdjieva, 1974; see Vermeij et
ai, in preparation, for examples of unsuccessful
naticid predation). It is curious that the very
high incidence of unsuccessful predation by
Bedeva on A. granosa at Dodinga Bay is
associated with an extraordinarily high propor-
tion of individuals that were killed by drilling
(88%). In no other population of Recent or fossil
tropical or subtropical bivalves is the importance
of drilling as a cause of death so great (Vermeij,
1980). The highest previously recorded value of
drilling was 84% for Periploma margaritacea
(Lamarck) from Texas (calculated from Rose-
water, 1980). Although the importance of drilling
varies greatly from population to population
(Vermeij, 1980), drilling is a form of predation to
be reckoned with in attempts to culture such edi-
ble clams as A nadara gratwsa.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank Exlith Zipser and the crew and
scientists of the R. V. Alpha Helix for field
assistance; and Elizabeth Dudley for assistance
in the laboratory. This work was supported by a
grant from the Program of Biological Oceanog-
raphy, National Science Foundation.
LITERATURE CITED
Adegoke. 0. S.. and M. J. S. Tevesz. 1974. Gastropod predation
patterns in the Eocene of Nigeria. /.c^/io?;; 7: 17-24.
("arril<er, M, R.. and E. L Yochels(m. 1968. Recent gastropod
boreholes and Ordovician cyhndrical borings. U.S. Geol.
Sun: Prof. Paper 593-B: B1-B23.
Kojumdjieva. E. 1974. I^es gasteropodes perceurs et leurs vie-
times du Miocene de Bulgarie du nord-ouest. Buly. Acad.
Sc}. Bull Geol Inst. (Srr. Paleonl.125: 5-24.
Radwin. G. E.. and A. D'Attilio. 1976. Murei Shells of the
World. Stanford University Press. Palo Alto: 284 p.
Vol. 94 (3)
JulvRO. 191
THE NAUTILUS 125
Rosewater, J. 1980. Predator boreholes in Peripbma
margaritarea, with a brief survey of other Periplomatidae
(Bilvalvia: Anomalodesmata). Veliger22: 248-251.
Taylor, J. D. 1970. Feeding habits of predatory gastrop<xls in a
Tertiary (Eocene) molluscan assemblage from the Paris
Basin. Palaeontology 13: 255-260.
Vermeij, G. J 1980. Drilling predation in bivalves from
Guam: some paleoecological implications. Malacologin 19: in
press.
Vermeij. G. J.. E. Zipser, and E. C. Dudley. 1981. Predation in
time and space: peeling and drilling in terebrid gastropods.
Paleobiology, submitted.
A NOTE ON ENCAPSULATION OF DETRITAL GRAINS WITHIN THE
SKELETONS OF FOSSIL MOLLUSKS
William Miller, III
Department of Geology
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee 37235
and
Samuel I. Fuerst
Department of Geology
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina 27708
The microscopic examination of bivalves, gas-
tropods, and scaphopods reveals that certain mor-
phologic elements of fossil skeletons have acted as
traps that either become packed with mud or
plugged with larger, sand-sized grains that are
nearly the same size as the traps. For purposes of
description and emphasis we distinguish between
simple in-filling, or the partial to complete stuff-
ing of the vacant interior space of a shell (form-
ing steinkernen), and encapsulation, or the
physical lodging of sand grains within cavities
either between skeletal walls or behind a rigid
skeletal element (compare Figs 1 and 2). The pur-
pose of our note is to describe the taphonomic
phenomenon of encapsulation, and to outline the
paleoecologic and sedimentologic significance of
this pre-diagenetic feature of sandy, fossiliferous
Cenozoic deposits.
We have observed examples of encapsulation in
sandy deposits from a wide range of depositional
environments, from backbarrier lagoon to abyssal
plain. Examples of encapsulation are shown in
Figs. 2 through 6. Skeletons probably encapsulate
detrital grains in any environment where grains
and empty shells are mixed together by current
and wave action, and where grains and skeletons
frequently collide resulting in the jamming of
mobile particles into skeletal cavities. The
skeletal traps most often observed in our samples
included: 1) gastropod apertures, 2) broken apices
and punctured whorls of gastropods, 3) siphonal
canals of gastropods, 4) cardinal and lateral
sockets of bivalves, 5) pits or troughs between
plicate, costate, or reticulate exterior surface or-
namentation of bivalves, and 6) scaphopod aper-
tures. We also have observed encapsulated grains
in: 1) zooecial openings in bryozoan zoaria, 2)
openings in broken tubiferous side plates of ba-
lanids, 3) interseptal areas in scleractinian coral-
lites, and 4) borings in various types of calcified
skeletons (e.g., Figs. 5 and 6). Sand-sized grains of
quartz, garnet, opaque heavy minerals, and skele-
tal fragments are involved typically in encapsula-
tion.
Perhaps the most important aspect of en-
capsulation is that the physical and hydro-
dynamic properties of skeletons are altered con-
siderably by addition of weight during the en-
capsulation event. Shells with encapsulated
grains are heavier than other shells of similar
size, and are less likely to be rolled about by cur-
rents and waves. Thus, encapsulation probably in-
creases the preservation potential of mollusk
shells. When shell openings are plugged with a
detrital grain, the weight of the shell increases
substantially and the likelihood of transport into
a foreign depositional environment diminishes
significantly. Therefore, fossil mollusk shells,
especially smaller specimens, with encapsulated
grains are likely to have been entombed near the
area in which the original mollusk lived.
The properties of the encapsulated detrital
grains and the entombing sediment layer in
general also are affected by encapsulation. We
have observed encapsulated grains in skeletons
from turbidite deposits and submarine canyon
1
126 THE NAUTILUS
July 30. 1980
Vol. 94 (3)
FIG. 1-6. 1, Scaniiitig fUrtrun mirrmjraph of apetiure of Truncatella pulchella Pfciffer showing carbonate mud in-fiUing.
Specimen from Holocene deposits. Craw Key. Florida Bay. U.S.A. (Scale bar represents 2(X) fi) 2, Scanning electron mierograph
of aperture w/Odostomia impressa (Say) shourinfi well-rounded qxuirtz grain encapsulated between columellar fold and shell wail.
Specimen from late Plei.it < ice ne barkbaiTier deposits. Dare County. Notih Carolina, U.S.A. (Scale bar represents 200 ^1 3, Sran-
ning electron micrograph nf opaque heavy mineral grain encap.wla.ted within lateral socket o/Mulinia lateralis (Say). Specimen
from late Pleistocene inner shelf deposits. Dare County, North (^arolina, U.S.A. (Scale bar represents 25 jjl) 4, Scanning electron
micrograph of broken Caecum insularum D. R. Moore with encapsidated quartz gtmn. Specimen .from Holocene channel depikfits
within Iai Plata Submarine Canyon, Piierio Rico. (Scale bar represents 100 ij.) 5, Scanning electron micrograph o/ Discoporella
sp. showing zooecial openings plugged with encapsulated quartz, garnet, and opaque heavy mineral grains. Specimen from late
Pleistocene inner shelf deposits Dare County, North Carolina, U.S.A. (Scale bar represents 50 \l) 6, Scanning electron
micrograph of side plate o/Balanus .sp. showing basal edge mth encapsidated quartz grai>is. Specimen from late Pleistocene tur-
bidite deposits, Hatterax Abyssal Plain offsouthea-ttern U.S.A. (Scale bar represeyits 200 fi)
channel deposits (Fips. 4 and 6). If the grains
were trapped prior to transport, they may have a
potential utility in the identification of the
source areas of density flow deposits. The lon-
gevities of unstable detrital minerals, such as
hornblende, may be slightly prolonged by encap-
sulation; fragile fossils are protected from frag-
mentation during entombment by encapsulation
Vol. 1)4(3)
July 30, IM)
THE NAUTILUS 127
within more durable skeletons. Because a de-
crease in interstitial volume accompanies en-
capsulation within shells, cementation may pro-
ceed faster between calcified mollusk skeletons
and encapsulated grains than in the surrounding
sediment giving rise to irregular patterns of
Lithisication and induration within the resultant
rock (see Taylor and lUing, 1969, p. 79-80).
Skeletons with encapsulated grains occur typical-
ly in sediment samples that are used in grain
size analyses, and the effects of dissolving the
carbonate fraction and liberation of the insoluble
grains during sample preparation has a previous-
ly unassessed impact on the measured textural
parameters of the sediments, such as mean grain
size (Pilkey, 1964). This aspect of encapsulation
needs more study.
The importance of encapsulation in anchoring
shells in place, in preventing prolonged episodes
of hydraulic reworking of shells before final en-
tombment, and in modifying the lithologic prop-
erties of sedimentary rocks are all unexploited
areas of research in taphonomy and physical sed-
imentology. Our illustrations and descriptions of
the encapsulation of detrital grains within the
skeletons of fossil mollusks, and our brief account
of the significance of encapsulated grains, are in-
tended to focus attention on this interesting, un-
studied characteristic of sediments comprised of
sand and shells.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We extend our thanks to Dr. Ronald D. Per-
kins for his advice and suggestions during the
preparation of this note. Mr. Parrish Erwin
assisted us with the operation of the Duke
Univesity Department of Geologj' scanning elec-
tron microscope (supported by N. S. F. Grant
OCE74-12555A01).
LITERATURE CITED
Pilkey, 0. H. 1964. The size distribution and mineralogj- of
the carbonate fraction of United States south Atlantic shelf
and upper slope sediments. Marine Geology 2: 121-136.
Taylor, J. C. M.. and Dling, L V. 1969. Holocene intertidal
calcium carbonate cementation, Qatar. Persian Gulf.
Sedimentology 12^ 69-107 .
BOOK REVIEW
Hawaiian Maiine Shells by E. Alison Kay. 1979.
654 pp., 195 figs. (33 in color). Section 4, Mol-
lusca. Reef and Shore Fauna of Hawaii. Bishop
Museum Press. Honolulu, HI 96816. $30.00.
This is one of the better faunal treatments of
marine mollusks to have appeared in recent
years, and certainly will adequately serve both
professional marine zoologists and amateur
malacologists interested in Hawaiian mollusks.
Most of the estimated 1,000 species of marine
mollusks of the Hawaiian Chain are well-il-
lustrated, described in detail, their habitat and
relative abundance noted, and their overall
distributions recorded. The taxonomy is well-
done, with both author and date given with each
taxon.
The introduction does justice to the general
geography and marine zoology of Hawaii, the
types of marine habitats, fossil history,
endemism, larval forms, economic aspects, and
the history of malacology from Captain Cook's
first visit to the modern activities of the Bishop
Museum and Hawaiian Malaco logical Society.
This well-bound book has an excellent
bibliography and index, and it certainly is
reasonably priced for a book of this size and ex-
cellent nature. If any criticism were to be leveled,
it is at the unwise and unfair practice of
publishing quite a few new species in a semi-
popular, expensive book. The book was in
preparation for years and there certainly must
have been an opportunity to have described new
species in more normal, scientific channels. Stan-
ford University Press was resoundingly censured
when they published "Sea Shells of Tropical West
America" in 1971, with thirteen new species.
Research workers are obliged to obtain a copy of
a large book when it has new taxa. This practice
sells more copies of a layman's book, and evident-
ly is one that non-profit university or museum
presses cannot resist.
-R. Tiicker Abbott,
Melbourne, Florida
Freshwater Snails of Africa and their Medical Importance
by David S. Brown
For the first time:
A comprehensive account of freshwater snails
in Africa and neighbouring islands.
An exhaustive guide to species
of medical and veterinary importance.
An invaluable reference work for malacologists,
epidemiologists, parasitologists, freshwater
biologists and biogeographers.
Published by TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, LONDON.
Distributed in the Americas by AMERICAN MALACOLOGISTS. INC. FLORIDA.
SPECIAL PRE-PUBLICATION OFFER:
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Regular price on order placed alter publication:
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Publication ; Fall 1980
450 pp. 230 X 152mm (9" x 6")
0 85066 145 5 Cloth
153 Figs.
The knowledge resulting from intensive study in recent years is
brought together for the fu^t time in this book. Dr. Brown presents
a systematic synopsis of nearly 400 species, most of them
illustrated, together with chapters on host/parasite relations, snail
control, ecology, distribution and biogeography, accompanied by
many maps, photographs of shells and drawings.
Dr. David S. Brown is a senior scientist on the staff of the Medical
Research Council of Great Britain and has been based for 20 years
at the British Museum (Natural History) working with a team on
research into host/parasite relations. During long periods of field-
work in Africa, he has studied the entire gastropod fauna of fresh
and brackish waters over large areas of the continent.
Awarded the highest honor and special prize in the field of philatelic literature at the 1979
Japan Philatelic E.xhibition.
WT^rrttiii limn mm HI
■Awnu* «MW**MLW*
: mtutaTxI ccc.^sl.k^
SHELLS ON STAMPS OF THE WORLD
A Bilingual, Illustrated Catalog of Mollusca on Postage Stamps
by Kohman Y. Arakawa, D. Sc.
Bilingual book in Japanese and English 16 color
plates, 234 pp., 11 tsxt-figs. Hardbound $15.95
• Contains a descriptive listing of over 1,500 kinds of shell stamps
from 150 countries and protectorates from 1840 to 1978.
• Catalog of stamps by countries showang primary and secondary
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of origin and date of issue
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• Guide to books, monographs and catalogs for malacophilatelists.
SE.ASHEL1>: OF WESTERN EUROPE bv Dr F li.uchet 1.% pp.. hardcover
Numerous excellent photos of living animals; ecolog\'; habitats. 200 species. $8.%.
THE BF..ST OF THE NAUTILU.S. edited by R. T Abbott, 288 pp., illus. OriRinal
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LIVING MARINE MOLLUSCS, by C M. Yonge and T E. Tlwmpson. 288 pp., 16 color
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OCTOBER 30, 1980
THE
%0>^
NAUTILUS
ISSN 0028-1344
Vol. 94
No. 4
A quarterly
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conchologists
Founded 1889 by Henry A. Pilsbry. Continued by H. Burrington Baker.
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CONSULTING EDITORS
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Division of Mollusks
National Museum of Natural History
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Museum of Comparative Zoology
Cambridge, Mass. 02138
Dr. William K. Einerson
Department of Living Invertebrates
The American Museum of Natural History
New York, New York 10024
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Department of Living Invertebrates
The American Museum of Natural History
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Department of Geology
The Ohio State University
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Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
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Woods Hole Biological Laboratory
National Marine Fisheries Service
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Division of Mollusks
U. S. National Museum
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Department of Invertebrates
Field Museum of Natural History
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Museum of Zoology
The Ohio State University
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THE
NAUTILUS
Volume 94, number 4 - October 30, 1980
ISSN 0028-1344
CONTENTS
Morris Karl Jacobson (1906-1980)
An Obituary 129
Robert L. Graney, Donald S. Cherry, John H. Rodgers, Jr. and John Cairns, Jr.
The Intluence of Thermal Discharges and Substrate Composition on the Population
Structure and Distribution of the Asiatic Clam, Corbicula fluminea,
in the New River, Virginia 130
David H. Kesler and Christophe A. G. Tulou
Cellulase Activity in the Freshwater Gastropod, Amnicola limosa 135
G. L. Mackie
A Modified Slide Rule for Measuring Shells . 137
M. G. Harasewych
On the Identity of the Gastropod, Murex heros Fulton, 1936 141
David Strayer
The Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) of the Clinton River, Michigan,
with Comments on Man's Impact on the Fauna, 1870-1978 142
James F. Quinn, Jr.
A New Genus, Species and Subspecies of Oocorjrthidae (Gastropoda: Tonnacea)
from the Western Atlantic 149
Joseph Rosewater
Subspecies of the Gastropod, Littorina scabra 158
Elizabeth C. Dudley
Crab Predation on Two Small Marine Gastropods (Cerithiacea) 162
Notices; Positions; Deaths 165
GUIDE TO THE NUDIBRANCHS OF CALIFORNIA
INCLUDING MOST SPECIES FOUND FROM ALASKA TO OREGON
By Gary R. McDonald and James W. Nybakken
lEdtted By R. Tucker Abbott)
Destined to be the "bible" tor tidepool and s.cuba biologists, the
Guide to the Nudibranchi of California will equally serve those
researchers from Alaska and Pacific Canada to Oregon. The extensive
information on the specialized foods and habitats of each species will
aid not only in identification but also in ecological analyses.
Unique among similar guides, this book has the advantage of ex-,
tensive keys, authoritative information and convenient phylogenetic
organization. This book will be welcomed by marine biologists,
amateur naturalists, marine aquarium enthusiasts, and students of
oceanography.
Years in the making, this compact account gives the scientific
essentials to all the known nudibranchs snails of California, including
the higher classification and descriptions of each genus with their
type-species. With top quality in photography and understandable,
concise morphological descriptions, identifications of species are
made much easier.
About the Authors
Gary R. McDonald wrote his masters thesis on Pacific coast
nudibranchs, and was the Curator of Invertebrates at the
Moss Landing Marine Laboratory. He now carries out his
work at the University of California at Santa Cruz. He con-
tributed the section on the nudibranchs in Light's classic
Manual of Intertidal Invertebrates, and has written several
papers on California nudibranchs.
Professor Nybakken is a well-known marine ecologist,
well-versed in malacology, who received his Ph.D. at the
University of Wisconsin, in 1965, and has been teaching at
the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, a consortium of the
California State Universities and Colleges, since 1966. He is
co-author of two textbooks published by McGraw-Hill and
one by Harper and Row. Two dozen of his scientific papers
on mollusks have appeared in Science, Marine Biology and
The Veliger. He was President of the Western Society of
Malacologists in 1975, and has made several trips to the
Tropical Pacific in pursuit of his research interests in
mollusks.
• BIOLOGY
• KEY TO SPECIES
• GENERIC DESCRIPTIONS
• SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS
• 1 12 COLOR PLATES OF LIVING ANIMALS
• COLLECTING TECHNIQUES
• PHOTOGRAPHING TECHNIQUES
• ANATOMY
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
112 color plates, 64 pages
Softcover: $13.50
POSTAGE FREE IF ORDERED NOW!
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■nil american malacologists
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Vol. 94 (4)
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THE NAUTILUS 129
FIG. 1. Morri.^ K .hu:,l,s,ni ,il .1 ^h, II club gathering (1979)
Morris Karl Jacobson
(1906-1980)
Although a scholar in linguistics and an edu-
cator by profession, Karl Jacobson became a
leading participant in American malacology. His
sudden death from a heart attack, at age 73, on
July 21, 1980, was a personal loss to his many
friends and to our field. Known for his unbound-
ed energy and good humor, Karl made many
scientific contributions to malacology and wrote
nine popular books on mollusks and other inver-
tebrates, some in collaboration with William K.
Emerson and David R. Franz.
Born December 29, 1906, in Memel, East
Prussia (now Lithuania), he came with his family
to America at the age of one. He was educated
in New York, and received his B.S. and Masters
degrees from Columbia University. He taught
foreign languages in Queens, New York, High
Schools until his retirement in 1969. He could
speak Spanish and German fluently, and in re-
cent years mastered the translation of Russian
malacological literature.
He championed the malacological education of
the layman, founded the New York Shell Club in
1949, and was elected President of the Amer-
ican Malacological Union in 1954. He was of-
ficially connected with two museums specializ-
ing in mollusks, the American Museum of Nat-
ural History in New York City, and the Museum
of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. Although
primarily interested in land mollusks, he delved
into marine and freshwater forms as well. His
field trips, taken during school vacations, in-
cluded several to Cuba from 1946-1955,
Nicaragua, 1964, Jamaica, 1949, and northern
FIG. 2. Karl coUectiny in Cuba in 1955.
Canada, 1968. He wrote over 65 scientific
papers, including several for The Nautilus, and
produced nine popular works, the best known
being co-authored with William K. Emerson on
the marine and non-marine mollusks of the east
coast of the United States.
Karl became a resident of Palm Bay, on the
east coast of Florida, upon his retirement. He is
survived by his wife, Lena Schechter Jacobson,
a son and two grandchildren. By hapchance, a
few days before he died, he was made an hon-
orary life member of both the American Mala-
cological Union and the Astronaut Trail Shell
Club in Melbourne. Further bibliographical data
are available in American Malacologists, p. 316,
and the New York Shell Club Notes, no. 264,
Sept. and no. 265, Oct. 1980. - R. Tucker
Abbott, Melbourne, Florida.
FIG. 3. A formal portrait of Morris Karl Jacobson (1976).
130 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
THE INFLUENCE OF THERMAL DISCHARGES AND SUBSTRATE
COMPOSITION ON THE POPULATION STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION
OF THE ASIATIC CLAM, CORBICULA FLUMINEA,
IN THE NEW RIVER, VIRGINIA*
Robert L. Graney', Donald S. Cherry',
John H. Rodgers, Jr.% and John Cairns, Jr.'
ABSTRACT
By the summer of 1977, the Asiatic clam, Corbicula fluminea, was successfully
established in the confines of the thermal effluent of the Glen Lyn Power Plant,
heated along the New River in southwestern Virginia. Numbers were either
greatly reduced or eliminated outside the thermal inflv£nce during severe winter
conditions (lowest water temperature was 0°C for about a two-week period) in
1976 hut inhibited to a lesser extent in winters of 1977-1978 (minimum
temperatures of about 3-Jf°C). Clam density and sediment composition, sampled
from six stations established above, below, and within the thermal discharge, in-
dicated that Corbicula numbers within and outside the effluent are generally in-
dependent of sediment composition. In the sediment (clay, silt, sand, pebble, cob-
ble) from heated versus unhealed stations, pebble constituted the greatest amount
(59.0 versus 71.8%, respectively) followed by sand (32.7 and 23.7%). Heated water
appeared to be most influential on clam survivorship and size distribution. Peak
densities reached about 11,522/m} (station 4) in the thermal discharge in
February, 1978 while highest densities in unhealed areas (station 1) reached about
2,286/m^ in November, 1978. The diversification of size classes (shell length <7.5,
7.5-13.5, 13.6-18.5, 18.6-28.0, >28.0 mm) was higher in heated stations with more
uniform distribution occurring in summer to fall of 1978. Small clam sizes (<7.5,
7.5-13.5 mm) were consistently greater in February and November in the ther-
mally influenced stations and only during September and November in unhealed
areas. The ecological impax^t of these density changes and subsequent migration
tendencies are discussed.
INTRODUCTION
Since its introduction to the Pacific coast of
the United States in 1938 (Sinclair, 1971), the
Asiatic clam, Corbicula fluminea (Miiller), has
methodically invaded many river systems in the
Mississippi and Ohio River drainage basins. The
'Department of Biology and University Center for En-
vironmental Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University. Blacksburg, Virginia 24061.
'Department of Biology and Institute of Applied Sciences.
North Texas State University, Denton, Texas 76203.
*This research was supported in part liy funds provided by
the United States Department of the Interior. Office of
Water Research and Technology', as authorized by the Water
Research and Development Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-467), and
by the Department of Energy, Contract No. E-(40-l)-4939.
organism has become widely established in the
southern and western states but appears less
successful in the colonization of colder, northern
states. The potential as a biological pest to a
variety of industries (power generating, agri-
cultural, sand and gravel industries) has been
well documented (Ingram, 1959; Sinclair, 1964;
Prokopovich, 1965; Goss and Cain, 1977). The
development of effective control procedures
may be enhanced by the elucidation of factors
that influence population dynamics and disper-
sal mechanisms. After its appearance in the
New River within the thermally enriched con-
fines of the Glen Lyn Power Plant in 1975
(Rodgers et al., 1977), population maintenance
has been augmented by the elevated tempera-
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 131
tures with further upstream migration being in-
hibited by unusually severe winter conditions
(water temperature of about 0°C).
Unlike the freshwater unionid mussels, Cor-
bicula possess no glochidial larval stage
(Sinclair, 1963), with its natural dispersal being
restricted to a nonswimming planktotrophic ve-
liger. This restriction has prompted several
theories which were largely based on anthro-
pogenic dispersal mechanisms. Convincing evi-
dence supporting any of these theories is absent,
although Thompson and Sparks (1977) did not
find evidence to support the hypothesis that
clams may be dispersed through guts of water-
fowl. Other suggested mechanisms include 1)
transfer of clams in river gravel located on
barges; 2) dispersal in bait buckets or by
aquarium enthusiasts; and 3) transfer of larvae
in the bilge waters of ships. Although the
mechanism of dispersal is unknown, factors
which may influence habitat preference and
geographic distribution are better understood.
The potential tolerance to stressed ecosystems
(Burress and Chandler, 1976), reproductive
capacity, and precocious development has ena-
bled the Asiatic clams to exploit a wide variety
of habitats. Successful colonization of cobble,
pebble, sand, silt and mud substrates has been
reported for both lentic and lotic habitats
(Sinclair, 1953; Ingram, 1959; Rinne, 1974;
Sickel, 1974; Aldridge, 1976). An apparent lack
of preference in colonization by Corbicula, along
with a rapid growth and reproductive develop-
ment, may have important ecological implica-
tions. Other abiotic factors (e.g., water quality,
temperature), which may influence geographic
distribution, have not been fully investigated.
Both potassium and water hardness have been
documented as possible limiting factors in the
distribution of other molluscs (Hunter, 1964; Im-
lay, 1973), but such influence on the distribution
of Corbicula is unknown. Temperature, how-
ever, appears to be a major influential factor in
the geographic distribution of Corbicula.
Laboratory determined upper and lower ther-
mal tolerances of the Asiatic clam have been
reported (Mattice and Dye, 1976), although ex-
trapolation of these values to field conditions is
difficult (i.e., interstitial water temperatures
may differ from ambient temperature [Martens
and Berner, 1977]). The objectives of this study
were to evaluate the influence of thermally en-
riched w aste water from power production and
substrate composition upon the distribution and
population structure of the Asiatic clam in the
New River.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Asiatic clams and substrate were collected
from the New River (mean depth approximately
1.2 m, average width of 500 m) in the vicinity of
a coal-fired generating plant (APCo-AEP) lo-
cated at Glen Lyn, Giles County, Virginia (River
Mile 95). Water is withdrawn from the New
River for condenser cooling, and maximal plant
cooling flow rates of 535 cfs can represent up to
45% of the total river flow during low flow peri-
ods. The hot water discharge is initially split and
released into two areas (Fig. 1). Approximately
half of the water is returned to the river just
downstream from the intake and the rest is re-
leased into a dredged canal that passes into the
East River.
Six sampling stations were established above,
below and within the thermal effluent of the
Glen Lyn plant (Fig. 1). Stations 1 and 2 in the
New River, which were uninfluenced by heated
water, were respectively located 140 and 45 m
above the water intake facility situated adjacent
to the power plant. Stations 3 and 4, which were
1
Virginia
West Virginia
FIG. 1. Location of the six sampling stations in the New
River located above, mthin, and below the thermal effluent of
the Glen Lyn Plant from October. 1976 to November. 1978.
132 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
thermally influenced, were located approxi-
mately 50 m below the discharge pipe in the
New River and 200 m from a dredged canal at
the confluence of the East River, respectively.
Station 5 was found approximately 260 m above
Station 4 in the East River and received no
heated discharge. The final site (Station 6) was
established ~2,450 m downstream from the
plant in the New River where elevated tempera-
tures from waste heat were reduced by ~50%.
River water, after passing through the plant,
was heated to a maximum of 8°C (Station 3)
above ambient temperature (Stations 1 and 2) in
the New River with the AT being even higher in
the East River between ambient (Station 5) and
thermal conditions (Station 4).
Weather permitting, clams and sediment
were collected monthly to bimonthly (October,
1976 through December, 1978) with five sam-
ples being collected at each station using a 0.25
m^ quadrat with a plankton net attachment
(mesh size =1.0 mm). The large mesh size of the
plankton net allowed passage of a large percen-
tage of the larval stage clams. The substrate
was shoveled to a depth of '^'15 cm with clams
and river sediment carried directly into the net
by river current. Samples were returned within
two hours to the laboratory for size class parti-
tioning and density determinations. Clam size
classes and sediment from each station were
partitioned using a Rotop Testing Sieve Shaker
(Tyler Industrial Products, Mentor, Ohio). Bas-
ed on Gardner et al. (1976), clams were separat-
ed into five general classes: <7.5 mm (2.0 mm
sieve), 7.5-13.5 mm (4.75 mm sieve), 13.6-18.5
mm (9.5 mm sieve), 18.6-28.0 mm (12.5 mm
sieve), >28.0 mm (19.0 mm sieve). Sediment
samples were separated (#10 sieve) into pebbles
(2-64 mm) and cobble (64-256 mm) components.
The smaller fractions, sand (0.02-2.0 mm), silt
(0.002-0.02 mm), and clay (<0.002 mm), were
partitioned according to the hydrometer method
(Bouyoucos, 1962). In this procedure, soil char-
acteristics were obtained by mechanical disper-
sion and hydrometer readout after the sedimen-
tation process. To provide supportive informa-
tion, monthly water samples were taken for
analysis at the six sampling stations described
earlier.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The effects of thermal discharges on the
Asiatic clam were twofold: 1) an alteration in
the dynamics of clam populations residing in the
thermal effluent, and 2) increased survivorship
of clam populations during colder weather. Peak
densities of clams within the effluent (8°C > am-
bient temperature) were considerably higher
than those from ambient stations of the New
River (Figs. 2 and 3). Densities in the thermally
influenced East River (Station 4) were approx-
imately 1,020/m^ in September, 1977 and in-
creased to 11,522/m' by February, 1978. In the
uninfluenced area of the New River (Station 1),
densities were 94/m^ in February, 1978 and had
increased to 2,286/m^ by November of the same
year. In comparison (Fig. 2), peak densities in
the thermal discharge occurred between Janu-
ary and February, 1978, with highest densities
Shell lengths retained by
sieves
sieve size shell length retained
4
MAt MAT JUl SiPT
Size Clasies Il978l
FIG. 2. Clam densities partitioned into several shell lengths
(< 7.5 to 28.0 mm) by sieve sizes 2.0 to 19.0 mm in thermally
influenced and unhealed regions of the New River. Data are
presented as the overall mean between thermal and unhealed
stations from February through November, 1978.
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 133
10,000;
n 1.000
_D<
^ 100
M
z
yi
O
10,
A density above plont
• density in thermal discharge
A ambient temperature above power plant
O temperature In thermal discharge
|-40
30
r20
o -
ONDJ FMAMJ JASONDJ FMAMJ JASON D
1976 1977 1978
MONTHS OF SAMPLE
FIG. 3. Maximum density o/Corbicula clams sampled and water temperature in ambient (Station 1) and thermally inflv£nced
(Station i) locations of the New River from October, 1976 through December, 1978.
in the New River occurring in late fall of the
same year.
Sediment characteristics of the six stations in
which the Asiatic clam was sampled included
clay, silt, sand, pebble and cobble with pebble be-
ing predominant followed by sand (Table_ 1).
Pebble was higher in unheated stations (X =
71.8%) than in thermally influenced ones (X =
59.0%), with sand forming a greater percentage
in heated stations (X = 32.7%) than in unin-
fluenced ones (X = 23.7%). On a seasonal basis,
trends in sediment composition were difficult to
evaluate. Substantial seasonal shifts in the per-
cent composition were observed, with the major
changes occurring between the sand and pebble
fractions. These shifts were greatest in the
spring, most likely resulting from the increased
flow caused by runoff from snow thaw. How-
ever, due to compounding variables, it was not
possible to determine whether these shifts in
substrate composition had any impact on clam
survival or distribution.
From the literature (Aldridge, 1976; Gardner
et al., 1976), the age of clams retained by the 2
mm sieve (clams < 7.5 mm) was estimated to be
about 4-6 months. In the influenced and uninflu-
enced stations, clams in the < 7.5 mm size class
first showed a substantial increase by Septem-
ber, 1978, although the density of small clams in
the heated region was first highest in February
of that year (Fig. 2). This corresponded fairly
well with the beginning of the spawning season,
which generally occurred in this area between
April and May. During winter, a major portion
of the effluent clam population also consisted of
the 7.5 mm size class, while in the unheated
areas of the New River, few clams of this size
class were found. The predominant composition
of clam sizes was < 7.5 and 7.5-13.5 mm espe-
cially in September-November of 1978 in all sta-
tions and also earlier in February in the ther-
mally influenced stations. Two possible explana-
tions for the difference in age structure observ-
ed in the heated and unheated areas of the river
were plausible. First, the colder temperatures at
TABLE 1. Percent composition by weight of sediment
samples for 1978 in thermally influenced (3, U, and 6) and
unheated (1, 2, and 5) stations in the New River.
134 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
the ambient stations of the New River may have
enhanced mortality among the younger clams
and also contributed to the simultaneous reduc-
tion in the density of older clams. Secondly, the
occurrence of immature clams through May of
1978 may have resulted from a longer spawning
season for clams residing in the thermal ef-
fluent. Elevated temperature may have extend-
ed the spawning season further into the winter.
Confirmation of this thermal effect will require
a continued comprehensive study of Corbicula
population dynamics.
The maintenance of clam populations in
heated discharges during winter periods may
enable the organism to extend its northern
distribution. The extremely cold winter of 1977
virtually eliminated the Asiatic clam from the
unheated sampling stations in the New River
(Fig. 3). This effect was not as evident in the
milder winter of 1978, although a reduction in
clam densities was observed. In the uninfluenc-
ed stations, the seasonal temperature cycles
generally corresponded with clam population
fluctuations, especially during the 1976-1977
winter season. This trend agreed with other
authors (Horning and Keup, 1964) who reported
a major population decline following severe
winter conditions.
By examining the initial western to southern
distribution of Corbicula throughout the United
States (Sinclair, 1971; Fuller et al, 1973;
Echblad, 1975), it appears that temperature
may be a primary limiting factor restricting ex-
tensive northern migration. Mattice and Dye
(1975) reported a lower ultimate incipient lethal
temperature of about 2°C for Corbicula. This
may have important implications concerning the
ultimate northern distribution of the Asiatic
clam. These power plant thermal effluents may
provide protective habitats in the "temperature
controlled" northern distribution. Clams in-
habiting the thermal discharge may survive ex-
tremely cold northern winters, thus providing a
source of propagules for further northern mi-
gration during the warmer months. By 1975,
the northern migration of Corbicula had extend-
ed to Lansing, Iowa, where the clam occupied
the thermal discharge of a generating power
plant (Echblad, 1975). Generally, each thermally
influenced area of a river may serve as a "step-
ping stone" to facilitate further northern expan-
sion and establishment.
Biofouling of condenser pipes is another area
of concern in areas where thermal effluents may
promote clam maintenance followed by rapid
density increases. The heated discharge will 1)
eliminate the colder ambient water temperature
as a controlling factor and 2) increase the densi-
ty of clams present in the effluent, thus increas-
ing the probability of fouling. Both factors may
add to the difficulty in developing effective con-
trol procedures.
In summary, the influence of substrate compo-
sition and heated waste water discharge on the
population dynamics and distribution of the
Asiatic clam was investigated and found to be
independent of sediment substrate composition.
No relationship was found between clam season-
al density cycles and possible seasonal shifts in
substrate composition. The thermal discharge
from the power plant, however, exerted a defi-
nite influence upon clam population dynamics
and distribution. A substantial increase in clam
density occurred in the heated effluent which
may facilitate further expansion of northern
riverine habitats and augment biofouling prob-
lems associated with steam generating power
plants.
LITERATURE CITED
Aldridge, D. W. 1976. Growth, reproduction and bioener-
getics in a natural population of the Asiatic freshwater
clam Corbieula manilensis Philippi. Master's Thesis,
University of Texas.
Bouyoucos. G. J. 1962. Hydrometer method improved for
making particle size analysis of soils. Jour. Agronomy
5:101-115.
Burress, R, M. and J. H. Chandler, Jr. 1976. Use of the
Asiatic clam Corbicula leana Prime, in toxicity tests. The
Progressive FIsh-Culturist 38:10.
Echblad, .1. W. 1975. The Asiatic clam Corbicula in the up-
per Mississippi River. The Nautilus 89:4.
Fuller, S. L. H. and C. E. Powell. 1973. Range e.\tensions of
Corbicula manilensis (Philippi) in the Atlantic drainage of
the United States. The Nautihus 87:59.
Gardner, J. A., Jr., W. R. Woodall, Jr., A. A. Stoats, Jr. and
F'. J. Napoli. 1976. The invasion of the Asiatic clam (Cor-
bicula manilensui Philippi) in the Altamaha River, Geor-
gia. The Nautilus 90: 1 1 7- 1 25.
Goss, L. B. and C. Cain. Jr. 1977. Power plant condenser and
service water system fouling by Corbicula, the Asiatic
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 135
clam. In L. D. Jenson (editor) Biofouling Control Pro-
cedures. Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York. p. 11-17.
Horning, W. B. and L. Keup. 1964. Decline of Asiatic clam
in Ohio River. Thf Nautilus 78:29-30.
Hunter, R. W. 1964. Physiological aspects of ecology in non-
marine molluscs. In K. M. Wilbur and C. M. Yonge (edi-
tors) Physiology ofMollusca. Vol. I, p. 83-127.
Imlay, M. J. 1973. Effects of potassium on survival and dis-
tribution of freshwater mussels. Malacologia 12:97-113.
Ingram, W. M. 1959. Asiatic clams as potential pests in Cal-
ifornia water supplies. Jour. Amer. Water Works Assoc.
51:363-367.
Martens, C. S. and R. A. Berner. 1977. Interstitial water
chemistry of anoxic Long Island Sound. Limnology and
Oceanography 22:10-25.
Mattice, J. S. and L. L. Dye. 1976. Thermal tolerance of the
adult Asiatic clam. In G. W. Esch and R. W. McFarlane
(editors) Thermal Ecology. Vol. II. p. 130-135.
Prokopovich, N. P. and D. J. Hebert. 1965. Sedimentation
in the Delta-Mendota Canal. Jour. Amer. Water Works
Assoc. 57:375-382.
Rinne, J. N. 1974. The introduced Asiatic clam Corbicula in
central Arizona reservoirs. The Nautilus 88:56-61.
Rodgers, J. H., Jr., D. S. Cherry, J. R. Clark, K. L. Dickson
and J. Cairns, Jr. 1977. The invasion of Asiatic clam, Cor-
hicula manilensis in the New River, Virginia. The Nauti-
lus 91:43-46.
Sickel, J. B. and W. B. Burbanck. 1974. Bottom substratum
preference of Corbicula manilensis (Pelecypoda) in the
Altamaha River, Georgia. A.S.B. Bull. 21:84.
Sinclair, R. M. and B. G. Isom. 1963. Further studies on the
introduced Asiatic clam (Corbicula) in Tennessee. Ten-
nessee Stream Pollution Control Board, Tennessee De-
partment of Public Health.
Sinclair, R. M. 1964. Clam pests in Tennessee water sup-
plies. Jour. Amer. Water Works Assoc. 56:592-599.
Sinclair, R. J. 1971. Annotated bibliography on the exotic
bivalve Corbicula in North America. Stfrkiana 43:11-18.
Thompson, C. M. and R. E. Sparks. 1977. Improbability of
dispersal of adult Asiatic clams, Corbicula manilensis, via
the intestinal tract of migratory waterfowl. The American
Midland Naturalist 98:219-223.
CELLULASE ACTIVITY IN THE FRESHWATER GASTROPOD
AMNICOLA LIMOSA
David H. Kesler
Department of Biology
Southwestern at Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee 38112
and
Christophe A. G. Tulou
Department of Zoology
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
ABSTRACT
Cellulose activity was measured in whole animal homogenates of the pro-
sobranch gastropod Amnicola limosa (Say). A modified viscoTnetric assay yielded
an activity of 500 Hultin Units • mg protein~\ A reducing sugar assay yielded an
activity of 13.6 ng glucose • min'^ • mg protein' \ Highest activities were observed
at the two lowest pH valties tested, pH 5.6 & 6.6 for both assay techniques.
The freshwater gastropod Amnicola limosa
(Say) can quantitatively and qualitatively influ-
ence epilithic periphyton communities (Kesler,
1979, 1980). Removal of ingested material was
assumed (Calow, 1975). Some of the ingested
algal species possess cellulose cell walls which
may decrease their value to grazers. In order for
A. limosa to completely digest the cell walls, and
thereby increase assimilation efficiency, these
snails would require cellulase enzymes. The ori-
gin of these enzymes is immaterial, being either
bacterial or endogenous (Parnas, 1961). Calow
and Calow (1975) demonstrated a significant
correlation between snail cellulase activity and
the ability of various species to digest the alga
Scenedesmus which has a thick cellulose cell
wall.
The present study was undertaken to deter-
mine A. limosa cellulase activity and to compare
this activity with cellulase activities published
for other species. Possession of high cellulase
activity by A. limosa would support the assump-
tion that ingested cellulose-containing cells
were at least partially assimilated, and that
these cells compose part of A. limosa's natural
diet.
METHODS
Amnicola limosa specimens were collected
136 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
from Nonquit Pond, Rhode Island, a soft water,
highly stained lake. The snails were kept with-
out food at 18-20°C for at least 24 hours before
use. Whole animals were homogenized because
A. limosa's small size (2-3 mm high) made
dissection of the crystalline styles impractical.
Homogenization was performed with a mortar
and pestle in ice. The homogenate was cen-
trifuged for 30 minutes at 10,000 g's and 3°C.
The supernatant was used as the enzyme
source.
Cellulase activity was determined by a modi-
fied viscometric procedure of Parnas (1961) and
by the reducing sugar assay of Bernfeld (1951).
A modified Cannon-Fenske viscometer (Fisher,
1959) was used in the viscometric assay, main-
tained at 29°C. Medium viscosity carboxy-
methylcellulose (CMC) was obtained from Sig-
ma Chemical Company. The reaction mixture
consisted of 2 ml phosphate buffer and 5 ml 1%
CMC solution. A rubber tube attached to the
receiving arm of the viscometer allowed the
mixture to be returned to its original level by
blowing. After the initial rate of flow was deter-
mined, 0.1 ml of enzyme was added to the reac-
tion mixture and the flow rate determined.
The reducing sugar assay determined cellu-
lase activity by estimating the amount of
glucose liberated from CMC. The reaction mix-
ture consisted of 5 ml 1% CMC solution, 4.5 ml
0.2M phosphate buffer (of varying pH) and 0.5
ml of enzyme extract, maintained at 29°C. Upon
addition of the enzyme to the reaction mixture
(time 0) and at 2 minute intervals thereafter, 1
ml of the reaction mixture was added to 1 ml of
dinitrosalicylic acid solution, stopping the reac-
tion. Absorbances of these samples were deter-
mined at 540 nm.
The total protein content of the whole animal
homogenate was determined using the method
of Lowry et al. (1951). Bovine serum albumin
was used as the protein standard.
RESULTS
Cellulase activity was observed using both
techniques. The highest cellulase activities, us-
ing the viscometric technique, were observed at
the two lowest pH values tested, pH 5.6 and 6.6.
The cellulase activity at pH 5.6 was approx-
imately 500 Hultin Units (H.U.) • mg protein"'
(Hultin and Wanntorp, 1966).
Results of the reducing sugar assay also indi-
cated cellulase activity. Maximum activity was
13.6 Mg glucose • min"' • mg protein"' at pH 5.6.
The total protein content of the whole animal
homogenate was 2.45 ± 0.44 (1 standard devia-
tion) mg protein • ml"'. This was equivalent to
0.114 g protein • g snail"', or 11.4% by wet
weight.
DISCUSSION
Our value of 500 H.U. • mg protein"', deter-
mined by the viscometric technique, was lower
than four of the five values reported by
Elyakova (1972) for marine gastropods. Our
data, however, were obtained using whole
animals, while Elyakova measured cellulase ac-
tivity of isolated hepatopancreas tissue.
A. limosa's maximum cellulase activity at pH
5.6 was consistent with observations made by
Parnas (1961) on hepatopancreas cellulolytic ac-
tivity in the pulmonale Levantina hierosolyma.
Our cellulase activity value, determined from
the reducing sugar method, was similar to fresh-
water prosobranch cellulase activities reported
by Calow and Calow (1975) for whole animal
homogenates. Their activities were converted to
the units used in this paper, assuming their reac-
tion rates were linear. These activities were 15,
18, and 19 ^g glucose • min"' • mg protein"'.
They incubated their solutions at 4°C for 6
hours, a lower temperature and longer time
period than used by us. Our assay was perform-
ed near field temperature. Determinations of
temperature optima and seasonal changes in
cellulase activity of Lymnaea (Pseudosiiccinea)
columella are in progress.
The high cellulase activity measured in A.
limosa suggests that this species normally in-
gests cellulose-containing foodstuffs. If the rela-
tionship between A. limosa cellulase activity
and assimilation efficiency is similar to that
reported for other species by Calow and Calow
(1975), A. limosa is expected to digest
Scenedesmus with an assimilation efficiency
greater than 50%.
A. limosa grazes upon filamentous green
algae possessing cellulose cell walls (Kesler,
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 137
1979, 1980). A. Ihnosa grazing pressure in Non-
quit Pond, Rhode Island was seen to increase as
these algal species decreased in abundance
(Kesler, 1979). The data presented in this paper
indicate that A. limosa is able to assimilate
these algae with high efficiency, and may there-
fore normally select these species as food items.
LITERATURE CITED
Bernfeld, P. 1951. Enzymes of starch degredation and
synthesis. In Nord, F.F. (ed.). Adt^mices in Emymology,
Vol. XII. 570 pp.
Calow, P. 1973. The food oi Ancylus fluviatilis Miill., a lit-
toral stone-dwelling, herbivore. OecoLogia (Berl.) 13:113-
133.
1975. The feeding strategies of two freshwater
gastropods, Ancylus fluviatilis Miill. and Planorfris con-
tori.us Linn. (Pulmonata), in terms of ingestion rates
and absorption efficiencies. Oecologia (Berl.) 20:33-49.
Calow, P. and L. J. Calow. 1975. Cellulase activity and niche
separation in freshwater gastropods. Nature 255: 478-
480.
Elyakova, L. A. 1972. Distribution of cellulases and chi-
tinases in marine invertebrates. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.
438:67-70.
Fisher, W. D., N. G. Anderson and K. M. Wilbur. 1959. Stud-
ies on nuclei. I. Physical properties of deoxyribonucleo-
protein from rat thymus in 1 M sodium chloride. Exp. Cell.
Res. 18:100-111.
Hultin, E. and E. Wanntorp. 1966. Viscosimetric determina-
tion of cellulase activity in the intestine of the sea urchin;
reaction mechanism and eijuilibrium constant for cellulase
stabilization with calcium. Acta. Chem. Scand. 20:2667-
2677.
Kesler, D. H. 1979. Interaction of periphyton, the grazers
Amnij^ola linwsa (Gastropoda) and Corynoneura scutel-
lata (Diptera) and nutrients in a New England lake. Ph.D.
Thesis. The University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, Michigan.
156 pp.
1980. Grazing by Amnicola limosa: An enclo-
sure-exclosure experiment. In Jour. Freshwater Ecol. Vol.
1, in press.
Lowry, O. H., N. J. Rosenbrough, A. L. Farr and R. J. Ran-
dall. 1951. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol
reagent. J. Biol. Chem.. 217:959-966.
Parnas, I. 1961. The cellulolytic activity in the snail Levan-
tina hierosolyma (Boiss). J. Cell. Comp. Physiol. 58:195-
201.
A MODIFIED SLIDE RULE FOR MEASURING SHELLS
G. L. Mackie
Department of Zoology
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, Canada NIG 2W1
ABSTRACT
A modification of an inexpensive slide rule is given for measuring accurately to
one decimal place, fragile mollusk shells. Measurements with the shell slide-meter
can be made mu£h quicker than with conventional ocular micrometers or vernier
micrometers and calipers.
A plethora of tools are available for measuring
various dimensions of mollusk shells but all are
awkward, expensive and/or cumbersome to use.
Also, vernier calipers may damage fragile shells
if not used carefully.
A device that is easily transported and han-
dled, inexpensive, and accurate to within one
decimal place was needed to measure sphaeriid
clams in the field. To meet these requirements,
an inexpensive slide rule was modified and
tested for accuracy and ease of use. The device
is called a shell slide-meter.
Construction of Shell Slide-meter
Obtain an inexpensive plastic slide rule (ours
cost $2.65) and a 15.2 cm (6 in) long x 1.5 cm
(0.59 in) wide stainless steel ruler with at least
0.5 mm divisions. Our ruler has 0.5 mm divisions
for the first 5 cm and 1 mm divisions for the
next 10 cm (cost = $2.25). A strip of acrylic
plastic, 8 cm long x 1.5 cm high x 0.5 cm thick
is also required (cost about 20 cents).
Remove the cursor from the slide rule by filing
the stops (if present) on the bottom of one end of
138 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
SLIDE
STAINLESS STEEL
RULER
FIG. 1. Assembly of shell slide-meter, (a) Assembled slide-meter, (h) Dimensions ofacrylix- stop and guide pieces, (cj Method of
measuring large shells (i.e. pull slide-stop past guide), (d) Cross-sectional mew of slide-meter. Alt measurements are in milli-
meters.
the slide rule. Sand one end of the cursor square
and smooth (Fig. la). Keeping the slide in place,
evenly sand the surface of the slide rule with no.
80 sandpaper (wrapped around a block of wood)
until all numbers and scales are removed. Using
a router mounted on a table and a 1.27 cm (0.5
in) dia. rabbet bit, plane about 0.5 mm (or the
thickness of the steel ruler) off the thickness of
the slide and about 1 mm wide off the slide rule
(keeping the 0.5 mm depth) on each side of the
slide (i.e. the steel ruler must fit loosely in the
planed portion). Plastic filings or burrs may get
in the groove of the slide rule that guides the
slide and impede movement of the slide. If so,
remove the slide and rid the groove of any fil-
ings or burrs until the slide moves freely in the
grooves (Hg. Id).
The last step before assembly is to cut the
strip of acrylic plastic into three pieces, as
shown in Fig. lb. It is extremely important that
the edges of the acrylic to be glued to the slide
rule be perfectly square with the faces of the
acrylic pieces.
The slide-meter is now ready to assemble.
With contact cement, glue the stainless steel
ruler to the slide so that the "0" line of the ruler
is about 3 cm from the end of the slide rule (Fig.
la). Replace the cursor and slide it to the zero
end of the ruler so that the cursor line is exactly
over the "0" mark of the ruler. Tape or clamp the
cursor firmly in place. With epoxy cement, or
any appropriate glue (we used Krazy Glue), glue
the acrylic slide-stop piece (A, Fig. lb) to the
slide so that it touches (but is not glued to) the
front edge of the cursor. Next glue the acrylic
cursor-stop piece (C, Fig. lb) to the front end of
the cursor so that it lies perfectly flush and
square against the slide-stop piece (A) (i.e. you
should not be able to see any space between the
two stop pieces). Before glueing the two stop
pieces, it is wise to make sure that they both sit
squarely on the slide and cursor. Next, glue the
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 139
acrylic guide (B, Fig. lb) to the top side of the
slide rule, near the slide and about 3 cm from the
end. Before the glue has dried thoroughly,
remove the tape or clamp holding the cursor and
test the slide-meter for accuracy (see below). If
the cursor does not move easily, remove it from
the slide and adjust the spring tension until the
cursor will move with only the slightest touch.
Free movement of the cursor is necessary to
prevent crushing of fragile shells when the two
stops are brought together (with the shell be-
tween). Finally, a 0.5 mm thick piece of acetate
(or any plastic) should be cut and glued to fit the
area of slide between the slide-stop and the end
of the steel ruler (Fig. la).
Accuracy of Shell Slide-meter
The accuracy of the shell slide-meter is most
easily determined by checking against gauges of
known thickness (e.g. automotive ignition feeler
gauges). If the slide-meter measurement does
not correspond to the gauge size, either a cor-
rection factor must be applied to all slide-meter
values, or the steel ruler must be removed and
adjusted (if glue has not yet set too firmly).
However, if all edges of the acrylic pieces are
square, the slide-meter will measure accurately
and there will be no need for adjustments or cor-
rection factors.
Use of Shell Slide-meter
To measure length, place the shell lengthwise
between the slide- and cursor-stops. Make cer-
tain shell is properly oriented for maximum
length, then pull the slide-stop toward the
cursor-stop until the cursor moves. Read the
length and record. The height of shells is
measured in the same manner, but care is need-
ed to ensure the shell is oriented properly (i.e. is
horizontal and not tilted) for maximum height.
If the slide-meter is held nearly vertical, widths
are especially easy to measure because the two
stops, when brought together, tend to orient the
shell automatically for maximum width.
The guide of the slide-meter serves only to
keep the shells between the two stops. For large
shells (e.g. unionid clams), the slide-stop is pull-
ed beyond the guide, and then the shell is placed
between the slide- and cursor-stops for measure-
ments (Fig. Ic).
Comparison with Other Devices
The reproducibility and ease of use of the shell
slide-meter were tested against conventional
measuring devices, including an ocular micro-
meter (in M8, Wild Stereomicroscope), a vernier
microscope (No. 12, Precision Tool and Instru-
ment Co., Thornton Health Surrey, England),
and a vernier caliper (L.S. Starret Co., Athol,
Massachusetts). Three different people meas-
ured ten sphaeriid clams (Sphaerium rhom-
boideum) for length (maximum anterior to
posterior distance), width (maximum width lat-
erally) and height (maximum ventral to dorsal
distance) with each of the measuring devices.
The total time to measure all ten clams for each
dimension was also recorded.
The results (Table 1) show that the readability
of the shell-slide meter (0.2 mm) is less than that
of the other devices (up to 0.01 mm) but the re-
producibility was as good (within 0.3 mm) or bet-
ter than other devices, especially for widths of
the clams. This resulted from the difficulty in
getting the clams to stay oriented properly for
maximum width using conventional devices,
particularly microscopes. The greatest advan-
tage of the shell slide-meter is the time it saves
in making measurements, up to nearly one
quarter of the time for lengths and heights and
one sixth of the time for widths compared to
microscopes. The vernier microscope is very ac-
curate but takes considerable time to use
because, like the microscope with the ocular
grid, the specimens first have to be placed on a
zero line; the widths are especially hard to
measure because the clams must be balanced on
the umbones using cotton as a base. The ocular
grid has a further disadvantage in that the
measurements are in ocular units which later
must be converted back to millimeters. The ad-
ditional time needed for this calculation is in-
cluded in the Table 1 values.
The shell slide-meter also has been used with
similar ease and readability for measuring
freshwater snails and unionid clams. One limita-
tion of the slide-meter, however, is it cannot be
used to measure shells less than 0.5 mm wide
because they tend to slip under the cursor when
measuring for lengths and heights. The smallest
S. rhomboideum that we are able to measure is
140 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
O C
01 E
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Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 141
about 2.5 mm long, (H = 2.0 mm, W = 1.0 mm)
which is a larval stage.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Materials for the prototype of the slide-meter
were purchased from a grant (No. RA-0-5)
awarded to the author by Environment Canada.
The author is grateful to Miss Linda Flippance
and Mr. Mark Servos for participating in the
test for comparing the slide-meter to other
measuring devices.
ON THE IDENTITY OF THE GASTROPOD, MUREX HEROS FULTON, 1936
M. G. Harasewych
College of Marine Studies
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware 19711
In the course of dredging operations in the
Solomon Islands, several specimens of an
unusual Murex were brought to light. Robert
Morrison of Sarasota, Florida, sent me a spec-
imen for identification. Additional specimens
were provided by Brian Bailey.
A search of the literature showed these spec-
imens to be referable to Murex heros Fulton,
1936. This identification was confirmed by com-
parison of these specimens with the holotype
[British Museum (Natural History) Reg. No.
1936.5.26.1].
Murex heros was originally described from a
single broken specimen which lacked locality
data. Yokes (1971, p. 57) recognized this taxon
as valid, but subsequent workers (Fair, 1976, p.
48; Radwin and D'Attilio, 1976, p. 74) synony-
mized this species with M. troscheli Lischke,
1868. Fulton (1936, p. 10) stated that M. heros
"is allied to troscheli Lischke, but is more solid
and readily separated by its much more numer-
ous and finer spirals. The varices are not in a
straight axial line but are nearer so than in
troscheli."
FIGS. 1-8. Murex heros Fulton. l9-ii). Drnlged m lt<0-MO m. oJjRu-.'jtfirl hliutd. Solomon /.'i/u/«/,s. an fine sand and rubble bot-
tom (0.6 x). 3, Murex troscheli Lischke. 1968. Dredged in 60 m, off An Ping Island. Taiwan (O.J, x).
142 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
Examination of a series of specimens of each
taxon showed that M. heron is indeed more solid
than M. trosckeli, but neither the number of
spiral threads nor the arrangement of the
varices vary significantly between the species.
Murex heros does differ from M. troscheli by
having more pronounced axial sculpture, and by
lacking the uninterrupted dark brown coloration
on the spiral cords which is characteristic of M.
troHcheli.
The distribution of M. troscheli has been
reported as ranging from S.E. Japan to the Cen-
tral Philippines (Radwin and D'Attilio, 1976, p.
74). Hinton (1972, p. 34) reports M. troscheli
from New Guinea. The type locality for M. heros
is here designated as Russel Island, Solomon
Islands.
As more material comes to light, M. heros may
prove to be a subspecies of M. troscheli.
LITERATURE CITED
Fair, R. H. 1976. The Murex Book: An illustrated catalogue
of Recent Muricidae (Muricinae. Muricopsinae, Ocene-
brinae). Ruth H. Fair, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Fulton, H. C. 1936. Descriptions of Five New Species and
Varieties. Proc. Malac. Soc. London. 22:9-10, pi. 2.
Hinton. A. 1972. Shells of New Guinea and the Central
IndihPacific. .lacaranda Press Pty. Ltd. Milton. Queens-
land.
Radwin, G. E. and A. D'Attilio. 1976. Murex Sheila of the
World: An illustrated Guide to the Muricidae. Stanford
University Press, Stanford, California.
Yokes, E. H. 1971. Catalogue of the Genus Murex Linne
(Mollusca: Gastropoda): Muricinae, Ocenebrinae. Paleon-
tological Research bistitution. Ithaca, New York.
THE FRESHWATER MUSSELS (BIVALVIA: UNIONIDAE) OF THE
CLINTON RIVER, MICHIGAN, WITH COMMENTS ON MAN'S
IMPACT ON THE FAUNA, 1870-1978
Dave Strayer
Department of Ecology and Systematics
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14850
ABSTRACT
Collections taken from 1870 to 1933 in Michigan's Clinton River system are com-
pared with the results of a 1977-78 suri'ey. Since 1933, the drainage basin on the
edge of metropolitan Detroit has undergone extensive development and urbaniza-
tion. Although urban pollution has destroyed the mussel fauna in parts of the
basin, most streams with rural watersheds still contain healthy mussel popula-
tions. Of the original fauna of 31 species, 26 species of mussels remained in 1978,
including four species on Michigan's rare and endangered species list. Especially
notable is the continued presence o/Carunculina glans, which, has not been found
alive anywhere since 19^8.
Studies prior to World War II showed western
Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and their tributaries
to have a rich mussel fauna (Walker, 1892; Clark
and Wilson, 1912; Goodrich, 1914, 1932; LaRoc-
que and Oughton, 1937; van der Schalie, 1938a;
Brown et al, 1938; Clark, 1944). In the last few
years, man's activities in the surrounding areas
of the watershed have caused locally severe wa-
ter quality problems for aquatic life (e.g., van
der Schalie, 1938b, 1958; Trautman, 1957; Carr
and Hiltunen, 1965; Grant, 1973). Recent survey
work (SUinsbery, 1960; van der Schalie, 1970;
Clarke, 1973; Clark, 1977; Strayer, 1979) has
not been sufficient to define the present state of
mussel populations in the area.
One river system in the area, the Clinton
River, was intensively surveyed in 1977-78 in
order to determine the present status of mussel
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 143
populations there. Special attention was given
to the species considered by the state of
Michigan to be rare or endangered (van der
Schalie, 1975; Michigan Department of Natural
Resources, 1976). In this paper, I present the
results of that survey, and compare them where
possible to earlier collections made in the Clin-
ton. Another paper (Strayer, in preparation)
treats some ecological aspects of the survey
results.
THE STUDY AREA
The Clinton River, a tributary of Lake St.
Clair, drains 1977 km^ just north of metropoli-
tan Detroit, Michigan (Fig. 1). For the purposes
of this paper, the stream and its tributaries may
be conveniently divided into a number of sec-
tions. The upper mainstem, from Pontiac up-
stream, is a small (< 10 m wide), clear stream
flowing across a flat outwash plain. Its course is
interruped by a number of lakes and marshy
areas. Flowing across a series of end moraines
from Pontiac to the Macomb County line, the
middle mainstem has a relatively high gradient
(ca. 2.7 m/km), resulting in a predominance of
gravelly substrata. It receives two major tribu-
taries: Paint Creek and Stony Creek. These
creeks are clear, swift streams of fairly high
gradient (2-4 m/km). Below the Macomb County
line, the lower mainstem runs across the flat
plain left by a postglacial predecessor to the
Great Lakes. This stream is 15-70 m wide, and
is often muddy, especially below the confluence
of Red Run. Red Run and its tributaries have
been greatly altered by human activities, so I
cannot describe their original natural condition.
A large tributary stream, the North Branch,
FIG. 1. The Clinton River system, southeastern Michigan. Black circles (Nos. 101-126) are sites collected prior to 1935, open
circles (Nos. 1-76) were visited in 1977-78. and half-filled circles were collected in both periods. Station numbers and locations
correspond to those given in Tables 1 and 2. Modified from Nowlin (1973).
144 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
enters the lower mainstem at Mt. Clemens. The
upper North Branch, from its source to station
27, is a small clear stream of low gradient. East
Pond Creek is its only major tributary. Because
the latter stream drains end moraines, it is
markedly different than others of the North
Branch drainage, which all drain lake plain, and
it resembles Stony Creek, both physically and
faunistically. The lower North Branch receives a
number of tributaries, the most important of
which are Coon Creek, Deer Creek, and the Mid-
dle Branch. The Middle Branch, equal in name
only to the North Branch and main branch, is
merely a large muddy creek, even at its lower
reaches. Coon Creek is an extreme example of a
stream draining clay soils of low infiltration
capacities. Although it has very high flows
(50-75 mVsec) in the spring, it is reduced in late
summer to a series of stagnant pools. Below its
confluence with Coon Creek, the North Branch
is a small (6-12 m wide), muddy river, in which
riffles separate long slow pools. All of the
streams here are slightly alkaline hardwater
streams. A report by Nowlin (1973) contains fur-
ther details on the chemistry, hydrology, and
drainage basins of these streams.
All of the streams have been more or less af-
fected by man. Pontiac Creek, an extreme case,
has been straightened and paved in concrete.
Considerable amounts of domestic and indus-
trial wastes have been discharged into the Clin-
ton River, especially at Pontiac (population of
85,279), Rochester (pop. 7,054) and Mt. Clemens
(pop. 20,476), and into Red Run from Detroit's
northern suburbs. Red Run has, in addition,
been straightened and leveed. The North
Branch has a largely agricultural watershed,
and receives the silt, fertilizers, and agricultural
chemicals associated with farming. There are
two fairly large reservoirs (40 and 200 ha) on
Stony Creek, and dams pond smaller portions of
many of the other streams here. Moreover, it
should be kept in mind that all streams have
received the general disturbances associated
with intensive human use of their watersheds
(from land clearing, domestic sewage, road
salts, construction activities, etc.).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
There are no previous publications on the
mussel fauna of the Clinton River, although it is
discussed peripherally in Goodrich (1932) and
van der Schalie (1938a). Most of the previous
work on the Clinton consists of a series of un-
published collections housed in the University of
Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ). These
include scattered collections from the period ca.
1870-1925, as well as rather thorough collec-
tions of 11 sites taken by Dr. Henry van der
Schalie on 22-23 June 1933. All of these records
are summarized in my Table 1.
We visited 76 sites in the Clinton River basin
during periods of low, clear water in 1977-78
(Fig. 1), handpicking mussels at each site until
we felt that all species had been found. At eight
stations (10, 16, 17, 21, 22, 24, 31 and 53) prob-
lems such as access, depth, turbidity and time
prevented us from making complete collections.
Voucher specimens from the 1977-78 survey are
in the UMMZ.
The lower North Branch (stations 22-24) pre-
sented special problems, for it was turbid when
we collected it. Here, we felt for mussels with
our hands and feet, and the slowness of this pro-
cedure prevented us from getting the large col-
lections that we desired. As a result, we may
have missed some rare species in this stretch.
For a rough measure of the abundance of a
species at a site, divide the number of living
specimens found by the approximate area
searched.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The Clinton River mussel fauna included 31
species (Tables 1 and 2). This is a large number
of species, even for a stream in the Erie-St.
Clair Basin (cf. van der Schalie, 1938a; Clarke,
1973; Clark, 1977), and appears to be greater
than that of any other stream in the Great Lakes
drainage, the Maumee River excepted. The
North Branch drainage alone had 26 species, an
exceptionally large number for so small a
stream (drainage area of 731 km^). Other parts
of the basin were very rich as well (e.g., stations
9 and 102).
Seven members of the Clinton basin mussel
fauna are listed as rare, threatened, or en-
dangered by the state of Michigan (van der
Schalie, 1975; Michigan Department of Natural
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 145
TABLE 1. Locality records of mvsseh from the Clinton River, Michigan prior to 19S5.
From collections at the Univ. Michigan Mus. Zoology.
Resources, 1976). Foremost among these is
CaruncMlina glans (listed as "rare"), which is
said by Stansbery (1970) to be "on the verge of
extinction". The single colony at Pontiac (sta-
tion 9) has been known since well before
Walker's (1892) publication, although it seems to
have been ignored by later authors. C. glans is
known from Michigan only from this colony, a
single shell from the Cass River (UMMZ re-
cords), and a single old valve from Macon Creek
(Strayer, 1979). The record of C. glans from Ot-
ter Creek, Michigan (Goodrich, 1932; van der
Schalie, 1975; Clark, 1977) is based upon a
misidentified lot of Carunculina parva (UMMZ
#99303) and cannot be regarded as valid. Recent
records from other parts of its range are lack-
ing; the most recent record of which I am aware
is Clark's (1977) collection of a single specimen
from Fish Creek, Indiana, in 1948.
C. glans is presently restricted to an 80 m long
stretch of stream in a residential-commercial
section of Pontiac (a four-lane highway bridge
bisects at site!), although it is quite abundant
there. It is unclear to me why the species is so
146 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
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Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 147
restricted; ecological conditions at several sites
in the upper mainstem appear to be suitable for
its propagation. If C. glans is as rare as it ap-
pears to be, it might be well worth finding out
more about its ecology and fish host relations in
order to establish colonies at other sites.
Dysnamia torulosa rangiana ("rare") was
found by earlier collectors in a section of stream
at Pontiac that today contains more shopping
carts than mussels (stations 6-8). It may persist
in low numbers in another part of the basin,
though, for Dr. Carol Stein of Ohio State Uni-
versity (personal communication) found this
mussel at station 23 in 1965, although I found no
trace of it there in 1978. Its original range in the
Great Lakes area included the basins of Lakes
Erie and St. Clair, where it was always rare,
and it is very scarce today (Stansbery, 1970;
Clarke, 1973). Records from the Lake Michigan
basin (Johnson, 1978) are erroneous; D. t.
rangiana is a species of the Wabash and Erie-
St. Clair basins and never reached drainages
further west. Johnson's single record is from
"Grand Rapids, Michigan", a locality known for
its unreliability (cf. Heard, 1962, p. 142).
Dysnomia triqtcetra ("threatened") still lives
in the upper mainstem and, perhaps, the lower
North Branch, but has been eliminated from the
lower mainstem. It is found in scattered local-
ities in the Great Lakes basin, but is charac-
teristically uncommon (van der Schalie, 1936,
1938a; Brown et al., 1938; Robertson and
Blakeslee, 1948; Clarke, 1973; Strayer, 1979).
Villosa fahalis ("rare") has a distribution
similar to that of Dysnomia triquetra in the
Clinton, and is likewise uncommon. It has rarely
been found alive in the Great Lakes system re-
cently (Clarke, 1973).
Although Lampsilis fasciola ("threatened")
was uncommon and restricted in the Clinton in
1977-78, it is still met with regularly in other
streams of the Erie-St. Clair basin (Clarke,
1973; Clark, 1977; Strayer, 1979). L. fasciola
was more common and widespread in the Clin-
ton basin before 1935.
Both Cyclonaias tuberculata ("threatened")
and Obovaria svhrotunda ("endangered") are
now apparently extinct in the Clinton, having
been restricted to the lower mainstem. C. tuber-
culata is still scattered in streams of the Great
Lakes basin (van der Schalie, 1970; Clarke,
1973; Clark, 1977; Strayer, 1979). In the Erie-
St. Clair system, 0. svhrotunda has been
eliminated from most of its former range (but
see Clarke, 1973; Clark, 1977). The Lake
Michigan drainage is sometimes included as
part of the range of 0. subrotunda (Burch, 1975;
van der Schalie, 1975) on the strength of a single
lot (UMMZ #25) from Grand Rapids, but consid-
erations similar to those discussed under Dysno-
mia torulosa rangiana suggest that this record
should be rejected.
Two other species (Ligumia recta and Li-
gumia nasuta) found by earlier workers were
not collected in 1977-78. Both species were
most abundant in the lower mainstem and were
probably eliminated from that stretch with the
gross pollution there after 1933.
We found two species (Anodonta imbecilis and
Quadrula quadrula) that were not found by
earlier collectors, but it is likely that this reflects
the incompleteness of earlier work rather than
any range extensions of these species.
The entire fauna of the mainstem from Pon-
tiac downstream was destroyed in the period
1933-1977; the amount of weathering of the few
shells found there in 1977-78 suggests that this
occurred early in the period. A similar situation
was found in Red Run and lower Paint Creek in
1977-78. The only living mollusks found in these
streams were the gastropods Physa s-p. and Fer-
rissia sp. Red Run and the mainstem have re-
ceived considerable domestic and industrial pol-
lution: Grant (1973) documents problems with
low dissolved oxygen, high ammonia, and heavy
metals, and these streams have doubtless re-
ceived other substances capable of killing mus-
sels over the years.
The situation in Paint Creek is more puzzling.
It is managed for trout, and casual observations
in 1978 showed it to have good water quality and
a rich fauna of aquatic arthropods. It is not clear
to me what destroyed the mussel fauna there
and what is preventing its return from Trout
Creek and upper Paint Creek.
The faunas of two other stream stretches ap-
pear to have been affected by man. In 1978, sta-
tions 55-56 in lower Stony Creek were littered
with dead shells of Elliptio dilatata, but I found
no live specimens there. Other mussel species
148 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
were fairly abundant, so it appears that Ellipfio
was selectively extirpated there. I have not been
able to locate any sources of pollution or distur-
bance between stations 56 and 57, although it is
possible that the building of the Stony Creek
reservoirs in 1961 and 1963 had something to do
with the conditions there.
Two stations (27 and 28) in the North Branch
contained very few living mussels, all of which
were younger than four years old in 1978. Large
numbers of weathered shells in this stretch
point to the existence of a diverse fauna in
earlier years. It seems likely that some pollutant
(originating from Romeo, most likely) destroyed
the fauna some years ago, and the mussels are
only now beginning to return with the abate-
ment of the pollution. I have been unsuccessful
in locating such a source in Romeo, however.
Clearly, man's activities have had a devas-
tating effect on some mussel populations in this
area. On the other hand, many sites visited in
1977-78 (most of the North Branch, Stony
Creek, and upper mainstem drainages) still had
healthy mussel assemblages, both in terms of
mussel densities and species diversities. It ap-
pears that these sites have retained their
original faunas. Furthermore, at those stations
for which previous collections are available for
comparison, I usually found that in 1977-78
mussel species were present in roughly the same
proportions as in the years prior to 1935. This
parallels the findings of Larimore and Smith
(1963), who said of their collections of Illinois
fishes:
In view of the great changes in land use, in the stream
courses, and in the stream habitats ... it is indeed astound-
ing that many of our species were still present in the same
streams . . . and probably in approximately the same num-
bers . . . as . . . previously.
The factor determining the present state of a
mussel fauna is the degree to which urban pollu-
tion has affected the stream stretch. All stream
stretches subjected to urban pollution in the
Clinton system have lost their mussel faunas,
whereas most of the streams free of urban pollu-
tion still contain dense and diverse mussel beds,
in spite of disturbances from other sources
there.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am grateful to Sam Pett and Judy Bondus
for their help in the field. I am indebted to the
earlier workers who collected the Clinton, and
to Bob Hanley, Dr. Alex Tompa, and the Univer-
sity of Michigan Museum of Zoology for making
these collections available to me. The Endan-
gered Species Section of the Michigan Depart-
ment of Natural Resources (DNR) funded most
of the field work. In addition, several people at
the DNR have been most helpful. I wish to ac-
knowledge with special thanks the encourage-
ment of Dr. Henry van der Schalie. Beth
Hedlund-Marks kindly prepared the tables.
LITERATURE CITED
Bonham, M. D. 1968. Chemical rehabilitation report. Unpub-
lished report to the Mich. Dept. Nat. Resources.
Brown, C. J. D., Clark, C, and B. Gleissner. 1938. The size
of certain naiades from western Lake Erie in relation to
shoal exposure. Amer. Midi. Nat. 19:682-701.
Burch, J. B. 1975. Freshwater Unionacean Clams (Mollusca:
Pelecypoda) of North America. Malacological Publications,
Hamburg, Mich. 204 pp.
Carr, J. F. and J. K. Hiltunen. 1965. Changes in the bottom
fauna of western Lake Erie from 1930 to 1961. Limnol.
Ocearwgr. 10:551-569.
Clark, C. F. 1944. The freshwater naiades of Auglaize Coun-
ty, Ohio. Ohio Jour. Sci. 44:167-176.
1977. The freshwater naiads of Ohio, Part I: St.
Joseph River of the Maumee. Sterkiana 65-66:14-36.
Clark, H. W. and C. B. Wilson. 1912. The mussel fauna of
the Maumee River. U.S. Bur. Fish. Doc. 757:72 pp.
Clarke, A. H. 1973. On the distribution of Unionidae in the
Sydenham River, southern Ontairo. Malacological Rev.
6:63-64.
Goodrich, C. 1914. Union of the Maumee and Wabash drain-
age systems. The Nautilus 27:31-32.
1932. The Mollusca of Michigan. Univ. Mich.
Mus. Zool. Handbook Series 5:120 pp.
Grant, J. 1973. Biological survey of the Clinton River, Pon-
tiac to mouth. Mich. Water Resources Commission, Dept.
Nat. Resources. 118 pp.
Heard, W. H. 1962. Distribution of Sphaeriidae (Pelecypoda)
in Michigan, U.S.A. Malacologia 1:139-161.
1970. 3. Eastern freshwater mollusks. (II). The
south Atlantic and Gulf drainages, pp. 23-27 In: Clarke,
A. H. (ed.) Papers on the rare and endangered mollusks of
North America. Malacologia 10:1-56.
Johnson, R. I. 1978. Systematics and zoogeography oi Pla-
giola (= Dysnomia = Epioblasma), an almost extinct
genus of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) from
middle North America. Bull. Mus. Camp. Zool. 148:239-
320.
Larimore, R. W. and P. W. Smith. 1963. The fishes of Cham-
paign County, Illinois, as affected by 60 years of stream
changes. Bull. III. Nat. HL^t. Sun'. 28:299-382.
LaRocque. A. and J. Oughton. 1937. Preliminary account of
the Unionidae of Ontario. Can. Jour. Res. D. 15:147-155.
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 149
Matteson, M. R. 1948. The taxonomic and distributional his-
tory of the freshwater mussel EUiptio complanat^ts (Dill-
wyn, 1817). The Nautihis 61:i27-n2: 62:13-17.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 1976. Michi-
gan's endangered and threatened species program.
Nowlin, J. 0. 1973. Water resources of the Clinton River
basin, southeastern Michigan. U.S. GeoL. Surv. Hydrol.
Invest. Atlas HA-469.
Robertson, I. C. S. and C. L. Blakeslee. 1948. The Mollusca
of the Niagara Frontier Region. Bull. Buffalo Soc. Natur.
Sci. 19:191 pp.
Spider, R. 1971, 1974. Chemical rehabilitation treatment re-
ports. Unpublished reports to the Mich. Dept. Nat. Re-
sources.
Stansbery, D. H. 1960. The Unioninae (Mollusca, Pelecy-
poda, Naiadacea) of Fishery Bay, South Bass Island, Lake
Erie. Dissertation Abstracts 21.
1970. 2. Eastern freshwater moUusks. (I). The
Mississippi and St. Lawrence River systems, pp. 9-21 In:
Clarke, A. H. (ed.) Papers on the rare and endangered mol-
lusks of North America. Malacologia 10:1-56.
Strayer, D. 1979. Some recent collections of mussels from
southeastern Michigan. MaUwological Rev. In press.
Trautman, M. B. 1957. The Fi.'ihes of Ohio. Ohio State Univ.
Press, Columbus, Ohio. 682 pp.
van der Schalie, H. 1936. The naiad fauna of the St. .Joseph
River drainage of southwestern Michigan. Amer. Midi
Nat. 17:523-527.
1938a. The naiad fauna of the Huron River, in
southeastern Michigan. Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool. Misc. Puhl.
40:83 pp.
1938b. Contributing factors in the depletion of
naiades in the eastern United States. Basteria 3:51-57.
1958. The effects of thirty years of "progress"
on the Huron River in Michigan. The Biologist 40:7-10.
1970. Mussels in the Huron River above Ann
Arbor in 1969. Sterkiana 39:17-22.
1975. An ecological approach to the rare and en-
dangered species in the Great Lakes region. Mich. Aca-
demician 8:7-22.
Walker, B. 1892. The shell-bearing Mollusca of Michigan.
The Nautilus 6:42-47.
A NEW GENUS, SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF OOCORYTHIDAE
(GASTROPODA: TONNACEA) FROM THE WESTERN ATLANTIC
James F. Quinn, Jr.
Florida Department of Natural Resources
Marine Research Laboratory
100 Eighth Avenue, S. E.
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
ABSTRACT
Relationships within the Tonnacea are discussed briejly; the Oocorythidae are
confirmed at fiill family status. Oocorys umbilicata and 0. bartschi clericus are
described as new. The gross anatomy ofO. umbilicata is described. Oocorys bart-
schi bartschi is now known fi^om throughout the Gulf of Mexico and noHheast
Florida, and the range of 0. caribbaea is extended from south of Cuba to the
Bahamas. Hadroocorys, new genu^, is proposed for 0. verrilli and 0. tosaensis.
The deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Carib-
bean Sea and Bahama Islands have been well
sampled by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
(now National Marine Fisheries Service) and the
University of Miami. Among the molluscan
specimens obtained, the genus Oocorys Fischer,
1883, is well represented. Notable among these
collections are those from the Tongue of the
Ocean (TOTO), Bahamas, in which three species
(two new) are represented, two in surprising
numbers. This allows more extensive examina-
tion and assessment of intraspecific variations
and suprageneric relationships of Oocorys than
was possible when Turner (1948) published her
monograph of the group.
Collections on which this report is based are
housed primarily in the U.S. National Museum
of Natural History, Washington, D.C., and the
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric
Science, University of Miami. Institutional ab-
breviations used herein are: National Museum
of Natural History (USNM); Rosenstiel School
150 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University
of Miami (UMML); Museum of Comparative
Zoology, Harvard University (MCZ); Academy
of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (ANSP);
Marine Research Laboratory, Florida Depart-
ment of Natural Resources (FSBC I). Holotypes
of the new taxa are deposited in the USNM.
Oocorythidae Fischer, 1885
The systematic position of Oocorys within the
Tonnacea has been unsettled for many years.
Fischer (1885), in proposing the family name
Oocorythidae, allied Oocorys to the Tritonidae
(= Cymatiidae), mainly on the basis of opercular
characters. Several subsequent authors (Tryon,
1885; Schepman, 1909; Tomlin, 1927; Thiele,
1929; Wenz, 1941; Kuroda and Habe, 1957;
Kilias, 1962; Bayer, 1971) have also considered
the Oocor?/s-group a valid family, usually placing
it near the Cassidae. Watson (1886) allocated
Oocorys to the Doliidae (= Tonnidae) and was
followed by Turner (1948), Keen (1971), and
Abbott (1974). Dall (1909) discussed at length
the relationships of the Cassidae and concluded
that Oocorys and Galeodea Link, 1807, could not
be separated from the true cassids. Turner
(1948) concluded that neither the presence or
absence of an operculum nor difference in rad-
ular tooth morphology was sufficient to distin-
guish groups at the family level, and that shell
morphology was the most reliable character for
inferring relationships within the Tonnacea.
Consequently, she assigned Oocorys to the
Oocorythinae in the Tonnidae because of the
superficial resemblance of some Oocorys to
Eudolium Dall, 1889.
Of all the proposed classifications, that of
Thiele (1929) is probably most correct at the
family level. He used six families: Oocorythidae,
Cassididae ( = Cassidae), Cymatiidae, Bursidae,
Doliidae (= Tonnidae), and Piruiidae(= Ficidae).
The distinctive saddle-shaped rhachidian teeth
of the Tonnidae (Fig. IF) and Bursidae (Fig. 10)
immediately separate these two families from
the others. Radulae of the other four tonnacean
families have less striking but still diagnostic
characters. The Ficidae (Fig. ID) have a sub-
quadrate rhachidian, a large lateral with den-
ticles along both sides of the cusp, and a large
marginal which is serrate on the outer edge. The
Cymatiidae (Fig. IE) have a laterally excavated,
subquadrate rhachidian, a large lateral with the
cusp serrate on the outer side and two strong
but simple marginals (inner marginal occasion-
ally with denticles). The Cassidae (Fig. IH) and
the Oocorythidae (Fig. lA-C) have similar rad-
ulae, but the cassids have marginals which are
denticulate at the tip while the Oocorythidae
have simple marginals, the innermost of which
may or may not have 1-3 small denticles along
its inner side.
In the Oocorythidae there appear to be four or
five genera: Oocorys, Hadroocorys n. gen.,
Dalium Dall, 1889, Galeoocorys Kuroda and
Habe, 1957, and perhaps Galeodea. I have not
seen a radula of Galeodea, but if the figure in
Thiele (1929) (see Fig. II is accurate, the genus
is best assigned to the Oocorythidae.
Genus Oocorys Fischer, 1883
Diagnosis- Shell medium to large in size (35
to over 120 mm in length), thin but strong, im-
perforate or umbilicate. Sculpture of strong
spiral ridges; axial sculpture reduced or absent.
Aperture large, broadly lanceolate to ovate;
outer lip thin, usually reflected, occasionally
weakly crenulate; parietal area with a thin cal-
lus, often with spiral sculpture showing
through. Operculum corneous, paucispiral. Rad-
ula taenioglossate; rhachidian quadrangular;
lateral large, denticulate; marginals strong, ar-
cuate, with or without denticles. Eyes absent.
Type-species -Oocorys sulcata Fischer, 1883;
by monotypy.
Remarks-Smce Turner's (1948) monograph
of the western Atlantic species of Oocorys, some
material with soft parts has been obtained. An
examination of the gross anatomy (see 0. um-
hilicata) reveals a typically tonnacean organiza-
tion, agreeing very closely with the arrange-
ment exhibited by the other families (Amaudrut,
1898; Weber, 1927; Houbrick and Fretter,
1969). The operculum of Oocorys may be of
value in distinguishing between species. Besides
the general size and shape, both of which are
somewhat variable, the size and shape of the
muscle attachment scar may be of specific value.
I have illustrated the opercula of those species
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 151
1^ C
FIG. 1. Tonnacean radulae: A) Oocorys bartschi clericus Quinn, subsp. nov. (P-781. UMML 30-8259); B)
Oocorys caribbaea Clench andAguayo. 1939 (CI-382. UMML 30-8252); C) Oocorys umbilicata Quinn, sp. nov.
(CI-S06. UMML 30-8176); D) Fwidae. Ficus reticulata LaTJiarcfc 1816( = Ficus communis Roding, 1798); E)
Cymatiidae, Cymatium muricinum (Roding, 1798); F) Tonnidae. Tonna perdix (Linnaeus, 1758); G) Bur-
sidae, Bursa crumena (Lamarck, 1816); H) Cassidae, Cassis cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758); I) Oocorythidae (?),
Galeodea echinophora (Linnaeus, 1758). Figs. D, F, G, H, and I, from Thiele. 1929; Fig. Efrom Cemohor-
sky, 1967. Not to scale.
available to me which were not illustrated by
Turner (1948) or Bayer (1971) (see Fig. 2).
Turner (1948) discussed or listed 18 species
and subspecies of Oocorys s.l. which she con-
sidered valid (there were 22 nominal species-
group taxa). Of these, nine were described from
the North Atlantic, three from the eastern
Pacific, and the other six from Indonesia and
the eastern Indian Ocean. Subsequently, a
species was described from Japan (0. tosaensis
Habe and Azuma, 1959), but that species and 0.
verriUi (Dall, 1889) are here treated as
generically separate. With the addition of the
new species and subspecies described in this
paper, there are 19 species and subspecies of
Oocorys, of which ten are known from the North
Atlantic. Benthodolium Verrill and Smith, 1884,
has been used as a monotypic subgenus of
Oocorys. The primary distinguishing character,
the presence of an umbilicus, is useful only at
the species level. Benthodolium is here con-
sidered a synonym of Oocorys.
Oocorys umbilicata sp. nov.
Figs. IC; 2A, B; 3; 4.
Description- Shell length to about 55 mm.
ovate, inflated, umbilicata, with numerous spiral
cords; color white under thin brown perios-
tracum. Protoconch whorls 2-2V2, small,
smooth. Teleoconch whorls weakly shouldered,
with numerous strong, rounded spiral cords,
28-33 on last whorl, 10-14 on penultimate
whorl, somewhat more widely spaced at
shoulder and near umbilicus, weak or absent
near suture. Aperture broadly lanceolate; col-
umella twisted to left anteriorly; parietal area
with fairly thick glaze through which spiral
sculpture often shows; outer lip flared, thicken-
ed, usually weakly crenulate; siphonal canal
short, broad. Operculum ovate, subspiral, cor-
neous, brown.
Animal (in alcohol) uniformly cream-colored.
Foot truncate anteriorly, tapering gradually to
broadly rounded posterior margin. Cephalic ten-
tacles large, stout, evenly tapered to bluntly
rounded tips, bases close-set; eyes absent.
Osphradium large, broad, brown, bipectinate,
lying at base of short siphon. Ctenidium large,
whitish. Hypobranchial gland inconspicuous.
Pallial sperm duct closed, thin-walled, becoming
dorsally open groove distally, continued along
anteroventral surface of penis; penis large,
152 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
FIG. 2. Opercula o/Oocorys species: A, B) Oocorys umbilicata Quinn. sp. nov. (paratype, CI-306); C, D) Oocorys bartschi
clericus subsp. nov. (paratype, P-781, UMML 30-8259); E, F) Oocorys bartschi bartschi Rehder. 19i3 (ANTILLAS sta., UMML
S0-J,81); G, H) Oocorys sulcata Fischer. 1883 (P-18. UMML 30-8287): I, J) Oocorys caribbaea Clench and Aguayo, 1939
(CI-382, UMML 30-8252). Scale lines are 10 mm.
somewhat spatulate, with area of low (glan-
dular?) folds on distal 'A, abutting sperm groove
(Fig. 3). Organization of cephalic cavity typically
tonnacean. Proboscis pleurembolic, long, with
small buccal mass at tip; in fully contracted
state, mouth lies just inside opening of proboscis
sheath. Odontophore very small; pair of chi-
tinous jaws present, each roughly triangular in
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 153
FIG. 3. Peyiis o/Oocorys umbilicata Quinn, sp. nov., as seen
from right side of body. Note open sperm groove and glan-
dular (?) area near tip. Enlarged by approximately 10 x.
shape, covered by numerous scales. Salivary
glands very large, occupying most of cephalic
cavity, covering mid-esophagus dorsally and
laterally; left salivary gland larger than and
mostly lying posterior to right; salivary ducts
prominent, attached to anterior esophagus,
passing through nerve ring and entering respec-
tive glands subterminally. Esophagus lying
along floor of proboscis, passing through nerve
ring and along floor of cephalic cavity to
posterior end; mid-esophagus with large
esophageal gland along right side; gland brown,
transversely folded internally. Organs of
visceral mass not examined due to poor preser-
vation.
Holotype -USNM 784592. Height 48.8 mm;
maximum width 33.5 mm.
Type locality -COLUMBUS ISELIN sta. CI-
306, 24°06.2'N, 77°17.9'W to 24°07.2'N,
77°18.2'W, 1379-1408 m, 4-5 Apr. 1975.
(Tongue of the Ocean, east of Andros Island,
Bahamas).
Paratypes -COMBAT sta. 356, 33°31'N,
76°35'W, 366 m, 1 spec, USNM 715016.-
COLUMBUS ISELIN sta. CI-306 with same
data as holotype, 2 spec, USNM 795646; 1
spec, MCZ 288820; 1 spec, ANSP A8345; 20
spec, UMML 30-8176. -COLUMBUS ISELIN
sta. CI-14, 23°35'N, 77°irW to 23°33'N,
77°09'W, 1246 m, 2 spec, FSBC I 23779; 19
spec, UMML 30-8177. -TOTO, Northeast
Providence Channel and Exuma Sound, 1234-
2780 m, 55 lots, 223 spec, UMML 30-8178 to
30-8233.
Distribution -This species is known from off
Charleston, South Carolina, and the deep-water
basins of the northern Bahamas; depth range is
from 366 m (off Charleston, South Carolina) to
2780 m in the Northeast Providence Channel,
Bahamas. 0. umbilicata appears from our col-
lecting records to be most abundant in depths of
1300-1400 m.
i^emarfcs- Superficially, 0. umbilicata resem-
bles 0. sulcata Fischer, 1883, and 0. abyssorum
(Verrill and Smith, 1884). 0. umbilicata is more
strongly shouldered than either 0. sulcata or 0.
abyssorum. 0. sulcata is not umbilicate, and 0.
abyssorum has a much thinner shell with much
narrower spiral cords. 0. umbilicata is the most
common species of prosobranch in the TOTO
collections. Most of the specimens obtained
were dead shells, but at least 25-30 were col-
lected with soft parts. The gross anatomy shows
the species to be typically tonnacean. The feed-
ing habits of 0. umbilicata may be similar to
those of species in other tonnacean families
which feed on echinoderms, polychaetes, sipun-
culans, or other mollusks (see Houbrick and
Fretter, 1969). Although all of these food types
were available, 0. umbilicata was most often
collected with sabellariid and onuphid (Hyali-
noecia sp.) polychaetes and a large sipunculan
which inhabited dead Oocorys shells (pers.
observations), suggesting that Oocorys eats
worms. Unlike species of Bursa, which are ver-
mivores (Houbrick and Fretter, 1969), species of
Oocorys possess a pair of strong jaws and prob-
ably bite off pieces of the prey rather than
swallowing the whole animal.
Oocorys caribbaea Clench and Aguayo, 1939
Figs. IB; 21, J; 5.
Oocorys sulcata caribbaea Clench and Aguayo, 1939: 192,
pi. 29, fig. 3.
Oocorys (Oocorys) caribbaea: Turner, 1948; 184, pi. 83, figs.
3, 4; Abbott, 1974: 169, fig. 1791.
Description -See Clench and Aguayo (1939)
and Turner (1948).
Material examiyied - Tongue of the Ocean, Ba-
hamas, (TOTO), COLUMBUS ISELIN stations:
154 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
CI-309, 23°45.1'N, 76°46.7'W, 1319-1313 m, 1
spec, UMML 30-8234.
CI-368, 23°43.2'N, 76°50.5'W, 1352-1342 m, 2
spec, UMML 30-8235.
CI-307, 23°30.5'N, 76°55.5'W, 1321-1307 m, 2
spec, UMML 30-8236.
CI-14, 23°33'N, 77°09'W, 1246 m, 3 spec,
UMML 30-8237.
CI-311, 23°39.2'N, 77°34.4'W, 1353-1360 m, 2
spec, UMML 30-8238.
CI-314, 23°46.5'N, 77°18.8'W, 1374-1360 m, 2
spec, UMML 30-8239.
CI-40, 23°46'N, 76°58'W, 1317 m, 1 spec,
UMML 30-8240.
CI-9, 23°50TSf, 77°04'W, 1318 m, 2 spec,
UMML 30-8241.
CI-326, 23°53.8'N, 76°16.8'W, 1383 m, 2 spec,
UMML 30-8242.
CI-306, 24°07.2'N, 77°18.2'W, 1379-1408 m, 1
spec, UMML 30-8243.
CI-61, 24°33'N, 77°28'W, 1463 m, 2 spec, 30-
8244.
Exuma Sound, Bahamas:
CI-275, 24°38.8'N, 76°23.8'W, 1632-1637 m, 9
spec, UMML 30-8245.
CL68, 24°25'N, 76°09'W, 1664 m, 14 spec,
UMML 30-8246.
CI-70, 24°27'N, 76° 16^, 1673 m, 3 spec,
UMML 30-8247.
CI-274, 24°30.8'N, 76°18.8'W, 1701 m, 1 spec,
UMML 30-8248.
CI-192, 24°20.8'N, 76°21'W, 1760 m, 1 spec,
UMML 30-8249.
CI-278, 23°54.6'N, 75°57.3'W, 1779-1771 m, 3
spec, UMML 30-8250.
CI-284, 23°54.3'N, 75°57.8'W, 1781-1772 m, 3
spec, UMML 30-8251.
CI-382, 23°55.4'N, 75°59.3'W, 1763 m, 1 spec,
UMML 30-8252.
CI-338, 24°00.8'N, 75°49.5'W, 1899-1880 m, 2
spec, UMML 30-8253.
CI-383, 23°49.8'N, 75°51'W, 1844-1817 m, 1
spec, UMML 30-8254.
CI-381, 24°22.1'N, 76°10.5'W, 1758-1767 m, 2
spec, UMML 30-8255.
RemnrkK -¥r\or to the University of Miami
expeditions to the Bahamas, 0. caribbaea was
known only from six specimens collected at
three localities off the southern coast of Cuba
(Turner, 1948). The collections from the
Bahamas contain 60 specimens from 22 local-
ities making it one of the more common species
in TOTO and Exuma Sound, occurring at depths
of 1300-1800 meters. These specimens exhibit
remarkably little variation in shell characters,
varying slightly in spire height, strength of axial
sculpture and number of spiral cords. The ovate
operculum (Fig. 2L J) is rather thin and flexible,
with a muscle scar of the same general size and
shape as those of 0. sulcata (Fig. 2G, H) and an
Oocorys species from the Caribbean tentatively
identified by Bayer as 0. sulcata (Baker, 1971:
p. 42, figs. 18, 22B). One live-collected specimen
retained the periostracum on the 3-whorled pro-
toconch, exhibiting fairly strong axial riblets
and weak spiral threads.
Oocorys bartschi bartschi Rehder, 1943
Figs. 2E, F; 6.
Oocorys bartschi Rehder, 1943: 197, pi. 10, fig. 16; 1954:
472.
Oocorys (Oocorys) bartschi: Turner, 1948: 182, pi. 82, figs. 1 ,
2; Abbott, 1974: 168, fig. 1789.
Material examined -Gulf of Mexico: W. L.
Schmidt coll., S. of Tortugas, Florida, 144-256
m, 1 spec, USNM 535689 (holotype).
Henderson coll., Florida, 1 spec, USNM 417859
(paratype).
W. L. Schmidt coll., Tortugas, Florida, 238-205
m, 1 spec, USNM 709509.
ANTILLAS sta., upper Gulf of Mexico, 1 spec,
UMML 30-481.
OREGON sta. 4945, 29°39'N, 86°48'W, 219 m, 1
spec, USNM 751945.
OREGON n sta. 11195, 29°20'N, 86°52'W, 662
m, 2 spec, USNM 751944.
OREGON II sta. 10404, 29°17'N, 87°03'W, 755
m, 1 spec, USNM 751936.
OREGON II sta. 13474, 29°33'N, 87°09'W,
327 m, 1 spec, USNM 751939.
OREGON sta. 281, 29°38'N, 87°16'W, 205 m, 1
spec, USNM 637429.
OREGON sta. 1450, 29°17'N, 87°41'W, 439 m,
1 spec, USNM 714929.
OREGON II sta. 11580, 29°11'N, 87°55'W, 640
m, 1 spec, USNM 751938.
OREGON sta. 3652, 29°13'N, 87°57'W, 457 m,
1 spec, USNM 758937.
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 155
FIGS. 4-8. Shells of Oocorys and Hadroocorys: 4) Oocorys umbilicata Qidnn. sp. nor. (Cl-snu. USNM 781,592,
holotype); 5) Oocorys caribbaea Clench and Aguayo. 1939 (CI-309, UMML 30-8234); 6) Oocorys bartschi bartschi
Rehder, 19J,3 (South of Tortugas, Florida, USNM 535689. holotype): 7) Oocorys bartschi clericus Quinn. .sMftsp. nov.
(OREGON sta. 3601, USNM 751953, holotype); 8) Hadroocorys verrilli (Dall. 1889) (ALBATROSS sta. 2120, USNM
87208, holotype). All figures life size.
OREGON sta. 1571, 29°10'N, 88°07'W, 457 m,
1 spec, USNM 751932.
OREGON II sta. 11202, 29°12'N, 88°08'W, 356
m, 1 spec, USNM 751933.
OREGON sta. 4157, 29°10'N, 88°12'W, 347 m,
1 spec, USNM 751931.
OREGON sta. 3221, 29°09'N, 88°11'W, 466 m,
1 spec, USNM 751940.
OREGON sta. 482, 28°57'N, 88°42.5'W, 384 m,
1 spec, USNM 637431.
OREGON II sta. 10441, 26°05'N, 96°14'W, 137
m, 4 spec, USNM 751947.
OREGON sta. 4807, 23°30'N, 97°irW, 731 m,
4 spec, USNM 751952.
East Florida:
156 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
COMBAT sta. 190, 29°55'N, 80°11'W, 329 m, 1
spec, USNM 714995.
/2e7?iarA;s - Collections made by the Bureau of
Commercial Fisheries over the last twenty years
contain many specimens of this species. This
new material shows that 0. bartschi bartschi is
found throughout the Gulf of Mexico, in the
Straits of Florida, and off northeast Florida,
usually in about 200-500 meters. It attains a
length of over 130 mm and varies considerably
in the elevation of the spire, inflation of the
whorls, and number of spiral cords on the last
whorl (36-46). (See Remarks under 0. bartschi
clericus).
Oocorys bartschi clericus subsp. nov.
Figs. lA; 2C, D; 7.
Description -SheW large, to 91.9 mm, thin but
solid, moderately inflated, non-umbilicate,
sculptured by numerous spiral cords; color white
under moderately thick, brown periostracum.
Protoconch small, smooth, about 2 whorls.
Teleoconch of about 6-6V2 weakly shouldered
whorls; last whorl with 32-41 strong spiral
cords, strongest near shoulder; subsutural area
constricted and appressed to preceding whorl,
slightly concave, with 1-4 weak cords. Aperture
ovate, weakly lirate within; columella arcuate,
rather strongly twisted to left anteriorly;
parietal area with thin wash of callus. Outer lip
flared, slightly thickened, weakly crenulate.
Siphonal canal short, broad, open. Operculum
ovate, subspiral, muscle-attachment scar fairly
large.
Holotype -USNM 751953. Height 69.3 mm,
maximum width 43.4 mm.
Type locality -OREGON sta. 3601, off Santa
Catalina, Panama, 9°07'N, 81°10'W, 731 m, 31
May 1962, 40' otter trawl.
Paratypes -TOTO:
COLUMBUS ISELIN sta. CM6, 23°37'N, 77°
18'W, 732 m, 2 spec, UMML 30-8256.
COLUMBUS ISELIN sta. CI-21, 24°28'N, 77°
25'W, 1554 m, 1 spec, UMML 30-8257.
COLUMBUS ISELIN sta. CI-309, 23°45.1'N,
76°46.7'W, 1319-1313 m, 1 spec, UMML 30-
8258.
Southwestern Caribbean Sea:
PILLSBURY sta. P-781, 11°34.5'N, 73°20'W,
567-531 m, 2 spec, UMML 30-8259.
OREGON sta. 4859, ir09'N, 74°27'W, 329-
356 m, 2 spec, USNM 751955.
OREGON sta. 4841. ITIO'N, 74°29'W, 411 m,
9 spec, USNM 751954.
OREGON sta. 4854, 11°11'N, 74°29W, 548 m,
2 spec, USNM 751957.
OREGON II sta. 10260, 11°03'N, 75°18'W, 366
m, 1 spec, USNM 751956.
OREGON sta. 4880, 10°24'N, 75°50'W, 347-356
m, 3 spec, USNM 751958.
PILLSBURY sta. P-445, 9°02'N, 81°24'W, 342-
346 m, 2 spec, UMML 30-3667.
Distribution -This subspecies occurs in the
Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas, and the south-
western Caribbean from off Santa Marta, Col-
ombia, westward to Golfo de los Mosquitos,
Panama.
Remarks - The shell of 0. bartschi clericus is
very similar to that of the nominate subspecies,
but is generally smaller, less inflated, has fewer
spiral cords, and has the subsutural "collar".
However, since there are specimens intermedi-
ate between the two taxa {e.g.. 0. bartschi bart-
schi, USNM 751944; 0. bartschi clericus,
UMML 30-3667) and there is apparent geo-
graphical segregation, I am treating clericus as
a subspecies of 0. bartschi. There appear to be
some differences in the relative size and shape
of the muscle scar of the operculum between the
subspecies, but too few examples of opercula are
known (three of each) to draw strong conclu-
sions (see Fig. 2). The published figure of the
radula of 0. bartschi s.s. (Turner, 1948) does not
correspond to that of 0. b. clericus (Fig. 1 A), dif-
fering in having a rhachidian with a rounded
base, laterals denticulate on the inner edge of
the cusp, and marginals lacking denticles. A
future investigation with more live-collected
specimens may well prove that 0. bartschi
clericus is a separate species, but such separa-
tion is not warranted by the present material.
Hadroocorys gen. nov.
Eudolium: Dall, 1889: 233 {partim); Kilias. 1962: 16 (par-
tim).
Oocorys: Turner, 1948: ISf) (partim); Habe and Azuma,
1959: 116; Abbott, 1974: 169 (jMrtim).
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 157
Diagmosis - Oocorythidae with thick, heavy
shell; outer lip varicose, denticulate; columellar
lip with heavy, strongly ridged callus; aperture
constricted posteriorly to form "anal notch";
anterior canal short, narrow, constricted by
callus.
Type-species - Dolium (Eudolium) Verrilli
Dall, 1889; herein designated.
GewZer- Feminine.
ReTnarks -In view of the overall conservatism
of the Oocorythidae, Hadroocorys is a very
distinctive group. Although the spiral sculpture
is typically oocorythid, the heavy shell and aper-
tural crenulation separate it from all other
genera of Oocorythidae. Hadroocorys is rep-
resented by only two known species, //. verrilli
(Dall, 1889) and H. tosaensis (Habe and Azuma,
1959).
visits to the museum and kindly loaned types
and extensive material from the USNM collec-
tions. I thank Sally D. Kaicher for providing the
photographs and William G. Lyons and David K.
Camp for reading and commenting on the manu-
script.
Some of the specimens examined were obtain-
ed by the RA^ JOHN ELLIOTT PILLSBURY
while engaged in the National Geographic
Society-University of Miami Deep-Sea Biology
Program under the direction of Drs. G. L. Voss
and F. M. Bayer. This paper constitutes con-
tribution number 134 of that series. Cruises of
the R/V COLUMBUS ISELIN to TOTO were
funded by a grant from the National Science
Foundation, OCE-73-06639-A02, to Dr. C.
Richard Robins.
Hadroocorys verrilli (Dall, 1889)
Fig. 8.
Dolium (Eudolium) verrillii Dall, 1889: 233, pi. 35, fig. 12.
Oocorys (Oocorys) verrillii: Turner, 1948: 185, pi. 84, figs.
1, 2; Abbott, 1974: 169, fig. 1792.
Tonna (Eudolium) verrillii: Kilias, 1962: 16, fig. 12-2.
Description -See Dall (1889) and Turner
(1948).
Material examined- ALBATROSS sta. 2120,
11°07'N, 62°14'30"W, 133 m, 1 spec, USNM
87208 (holotype).
Hadroocorys tosaensis (Habe and Azuma, 1959)
Oocorys tosaensis Habe and Azuma, 1959: 116, pi. 12, fig. 3;
Habe, 1964: 67, pi. 20, fig. 2.
Description- See Habe and Azuma (1959).
Remarks -The holotype is presumably in the
National Science Museum, Tokyo, Japan. To my
knowledge, it is the only specimen of this
species. H. tosaensis is very similar to H. ver-
rilli, differing only in having a distinct um-
bilicus.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am grateful to Dr. Gilbert L. Voss of the
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric
Science, University of Miami, for access to the
collections under his supervision. Drs. Richard
S. Houbrick and Joseph Rosewater of the
USNM provided many courtesies during my
LITERATURE CITED
Abbott, R. T. 1974. AmeHcan Seashells. 2nd Ed. Van
Nostrand Reinhold, New York. 663 pp.
Amaudrut, A. 1898. La partie anterieure du tube digestif et
la torsion chez les Mollusques Gasteropodes. Ann. Sci.
NaL.Zool. (8)7:1-291.
Bayer, F. M. 1971, New and unusual mollusks collected by
RyV JOHN ELLIOTT PILLSBURY and RyV GERDA in
the tropical western Atlantic. Bull. Mar. Sci. 21(1):111-
236.
Cernohorsky, W. 0. 1967. The Bursidae, Cymatiidae and
Colubrariidae of Fiji. Veli^er 9(3):310-329.
Clench, W. J. and C. G. Aguayo. 1939. Notes and descrip-
tions of new deep-water Mollusca obtained by the Har-
vard-Havana Expedition off the coast of Cuba. II.
Mem. Soc. Cub. Hist. Nat. 13(3): 189- 197.
Dall, W. H. 1889. Report on the Mollusca. Part II. Gastro-
poda and Scaphopoda. Reports on the results of dredging
... in the Gulf of Mexico (1877-78) and in the Caribbean
Sea (1878-80), by the U.S. Coast Survey steamer
"Blake" . . . Bull. Mus. Crnnp. ZooL. Harv. 18:1-492.
1909. Contributions to the Tertiary paleontol-
ogy of the Pacific Coast. I. The Miocene of Astoria and
Coos Bay, Oregon. U.S. Geol. Surv., Prof. Pap. 59:3-278.
Fischer, P. 1883. Diagnoses d'especes nouvelles de mollus-
ques recueillis dans le cours de I'expedition scientifique
de Talisman (1883). Jmim. Conchyl. 31:391-394.
1885. Manuel de Conchyliologie et de Paleontol-
ogie conchyliologique . . . F. Savy, Paris, pp. 689-896.
Habe, T. 1964. Shells of the Western Pacific in Color. Vol. II.
Hoikusha Publ. Co., Osaka, vii + 233 pp.
Habe, T. and M. Azuma. 1959. A new Oocorys from Japan.
The Nautilus 72(4): 116.
Houbrick, J. R. and V. Fretter. 1969. Some aspects of the
functional anatomy and biology of Cymalium. and Bursa.
Proc. Malacol. Soc. Land. 38:415-429.
158 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
Keen, A. M. 1971. Sea ShelLs of Tn/pkal West America.
2nd Ed. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, xiv + 1064 pp.
Kilias, R. 1962. Gastropoda/Prosobranchia. Tonnidae. Das
Tierreich 77:1-63.
Kuroda, T. and T. Habe. 1957. On a new genus of the family
Oocoryidae. Puhl. Seto Mar. Biol. Lab. 6(l):27-29.
Link, H. F. 1807. Beschreibung der Naturalien-Sammlung
der Univenritdt zu Rostok. Vol. 1, pts. 2-4, 160 + 23 pp.
Rehder, H. A. 1943. New marine mollusks from the An-
tillean region. Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus. 93(3161):187-203.
1954. Mollusks. In: Galtsoff, P. S. (ed.). Gulf
of Mexico, its origin, waters, and marine life. U.S. Fish
WUdl. Seni. Fish. Bull. 55(89):469-474.
Schepman, M. M. 1909. The Prosobranchia of the Siboga
Expedition, Part II. Taenioglossa and Ptenoglossa. Result.
Explor. Siboga. Monogr. 49'b:109-231.
Thiele, J. 1929. Handbuch der Systematischen Weichtier-
kunde. Gustav Fischer, Jena, pp. 1-376.
Tomlin, J. R. le B. 1927. Reports on the marine Mollusca
in the collections of the South African Museum. II. Abys-
sochrysidae, Oocorythidae, Tonnidae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus.
25:77-83.
Tryon, G. W. 1885. Terebridae, Cancellariidae, Strombidae,
Cypraeidae, Ovulidae, Cassididae, Doliidae, Manual of
Concholoffy. Ser. 1, Vol. 7, Philadelphia, 309 pp.
Turner, R. D. 1948. The family Tonnidae in the western
Atlantic. Johnsonia 2(26): 165-192.
Verrill, A. E. and S. Smith. 1884. In: Verrill, A. E., Second
catalogue of Mollusca recently added to the fauna of the
New England coast and the adjacent parts of the Atlantic,
consisting mostly of deep-sea species, with notes on others
previously recorded. Trans. Conn. Acad. Sci. 6:139-294.
Watson, R. B. 1886. Report on the Scaphopoda and Gastero-
poda collected by H. M. S. CHALLENGER during the
Years 1873-76. Rep. Sci. Res. Challenger Exp., ZooL
15:1-680.
Weber, H. 1927. Der Darm von Dolium galea L. Fine ver-
gleichend antatomische Untersuchung unter besonderer
Berucksichtigung der Tritonium - Arten. Zeit. Morphol.
Okol. Tiere 8:663-804.
Wenz, W. 1941. Gastropoda. Handbuch der Paldozoologie,
Band 6, Tiel 1, Leif 5:961-1200.
SUBSPECIES OF THE GASTROPOD, LITTORINA SCABRA
Joseph Rosewater
Department of Invertebrate Zoology
National Museum of Natural History
Washington, D.C. 20560
Although the subspecies concept presents a
number of problems which must be overcome by
the systematist in arriving at a defensible classi-
fication, it may be very useful in expressing the
characteristics of a polytypic species (Mayr,
1969). It was with that objective in mind that I
suggested that Littorina scabra (Linne, 1758) is
a pantropical, polytypic species consisting of 3
subspecies: L. scabra scabra, (Indo-Pacific), L.
scabra aberrans (Philippi, 1846) (east Pacific),
and L. scabra angulifera (Lamarck, 1822) (east
and west Atlantic) (Rosewater, 1963, 1967,
1970, 1972a, 1972b, 1978, 1979 and 2 papers in
press). The three subspecies are very close in
morphology, ecology, and in what is known of
their life history, and I believe there is little
doubt they are, in fact, related specifically.
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 159
One has little difficulty separating L. scabra
aberrans from the other two, but L. scabra sca-
bra and L. scabra angulifera are so close that it
is difficult to distinguish them satisfactorily (see
Figs. 1-6). They are all geographically isolated,
except for the reported introduction of L. scabra
angulifera into the east Pacific (Bequaert,
1943), which appears not to have resulted in its
establishment there. Their morphological differ-
ences were pointed out by Rosewater (1970, pp.
456, 458). All three subspecies live on mangrove
(personal observations), although both L. scabra
scabra and L. scabra angulifera may be found
living on wharf pilings or on seawalls above the
water line. Littorina scabra angulifera is also
reported to occur on Spartina by Gallagher and
Reid (1974). The latter two subspecies are ovovi-
viparous and release young in the swimming
FIGS. 1-6. Subspecies of the Littorina scabra species group. 1 and 4, L. scabra scabra (Linne. 1758) from.
Madras, India (USNM 701961,; 33 mm length). 2 and 5, L. scabra angulifera (Lamarck. 1822) from Isle of
Capri, Collier County. Florida- (USNM 637271; 25.9 mm length). 3 and 6, L. scabra aberrans Philippi, 18J,6,
from Farfan Beach. Panama (USNM 380675; 18.7 mm length).
160 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
stage. It is not known how L. scnbni (iberrans
reproduces. The considerable morphoiog^ical
variation present within both L. scabra scahra
and L. scabra angidifera probably accounts for
the large number of synonyms each has accumu-
lated during its nomenclatorial history (see Be-
quaert, 1943, p. 23 and Rosewater, 1970, pp.
459, 460). According to Gaines, et al. (1974)
there is much genetic variation in the subspecies
angulifera. He attributes this in part to its
ecology and life history and it may account for
the observed morphological variation as well. In
spite of these individual differences I consider
the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic subspecies to
be extremely closely related.
It is somewhat surprising to me, therefore, to
read in the detailed and interesting paper by
Gallagher and Reid (1979) that they had decided
to consider L. angulifera not to be a subspecies
of L. scabra! Their main reason for this change
was because Bandel (1974) stated that radular
differences between the two indicated specific
separation. Their decision to accord them full
species status also was strengthened because
Abbott (1974) did so and because they were so
designated in most of the literature (although
see Rosewater's 9 references cited herein). On
checking Handel's precise reasons for the sep-
aration I found that they were based on a com-
parison of his Scanning Electron Microscope ex-
amination of the radula of L. scabra angulifera
(his Figs. 30, 31) with my line drawing of the
radula of L. scabra scabra (Rosewater, 1970,
Fig. 353). I feel that such a comparison may
have yielded an erroneous impression because of
deficiencies in my drawing which was based on
the examination of a radula preparation of L.
scabra scabra. with an ordinary light microscope.
Therefore, I have subjected radulae from speci-
mens of all 3 subspecies to examination with the
S.E.M. (see Figs. 7-12).
Bandel commented, "The denticles bordering
the central cusps of the rachidian tooth of L.
angulifera are absent in L. scabra." Although
not detailed in my line drawing, they are indeed
present as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Bandel fur-
ther remarked, "The frontal plate of the central
tooth is straight in L. scabra and curved in L.
angulifera. " This difference would appear to be
present in a comparison of my S.E.M. photos of
the rachidian teeth (Figs. 7 and 9), but in the up-
per portion of my illustrations of several rows in
the radula ribbons (Figs. 8 and 10) the differ-
ences appear to be attributable to orientation of
the teeth rather than actual differences in their
structure. I believe other differences pointed
out by Bandel in the lateral and marginal teeth
of the two subspecies may be due to difficulties
in comparing his S.E.M. photos with my draw-
ings, and also may possibly be due to some de-
gree of variability between individuals of the
same and different subspecies. It is unfortunate
that Bandel (1974) based his decision on the
radula alone, as these subspecies are so similar
in a number of other characteristics.
Included for comparison with the other two
subspecies are S.E.M. photos of the radula of L.
scabra aberrans (Figs. 11, 12). From these il-
lustrations it will be noted that the radula of this
subspecies is similar in many details to the other
subspecies. It is, however, usually of a smaller
size (both shell and radula -see magnifications).
I consider it to have developed more differences,
due to isolation, from L. scabra scabra and L.
scahra angulifera, than the latter have from
each other.
The modern systematist has an admirable rep-
ertoire of sophisticated devices with which to
classify taxa and these are nowhere better
detailed than in the recent volume edited by
Fretter and Peake (1978). In all likelihood some
of these techniques could prove useful in fur-
thering arguments concerning the subspecies of
L. scabra, although Dains (in Fretter and Peake
ibid., pp. 117-118, 133, 152) stressed that these
techniques are sometimes controversial at the
infraspecific level. Mayr (1969) emphasized that
. . . "No nonarbitrary criterion is available to
define the category subspecies". The main at-
tributes he mentioned are that the individuals
forming a subspecies group be phenol ypically
similar, that they inhabit a geographic subdivi-
sion of the range of the species of which they are
a part, and that they differ taxonomically from
other populations of the species. Since the three
entities I have assigned to the L. scabra group
appear to me to satisfy these criteria, I suggest
that they continue to be considered subspecies.
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 161
FIGS. 7-12. Scanning e,lectrun micrographs of radulae 0/ Littorina scabra subspecws. 7 and 8, Littorina
scabra scabra., female from Madras. Iruiia lUSNM 701961,). 7, rachidian; bar = 10 /jm, 700 x . 8, several trans-
verse rows; bar = 50 pan, 200x. 9 and 10, Littorina scabra angahiera, female from Isle of Capri, Collier Co.,
Florida (USNM 637271). 9, rachidian; bar = lOfim., 900x. 10, se^ieral transverse rows, bar = 55jim, 300x. 11
a7id 12, Littorina scabra aberrans./emo/e /rom San Jose Island, Pearl Islands, Panama (USNM 588870). 11,
rachidian; bar = Sym, 2000 x. 12, several transverse rows; bar = lOiim. 750 x.
162 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
H. A. Rehder and R. S. Houbrick kindly com-
mented on the manuscript. P. R. Greenhail, S.
Braden and M. Mann facilitated the Scanning
Electron micrographs of radulae.
LITERATURE CITED
Abbott, R. Tucker. 1974. American Seashells. Second Edi-
tion. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 663 pp.
Bandel, Klaus. 1974. Studies on Littorinidae from the Atlan-
tic. Th£ Veliger. Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 92-114.
Bequaert, Joseph C. 1943. The Genus Littorina in the
Western Atlantic. Johnsonia, Vol. 1, No. 7, pp. 1-27.
Fretter, Vera and J. Peake. 1978. Pulmonates, Vol. 2A, Sys-
tematics, Evolution and Ecology. Academic Press, New
York, xi + 540 pp.
Gaines, M. S., J. Caldwell and A. M. Vivas. 1974. Genetic
Variation in the Mangrove Periwinkle, Littorina angtdi-
fera. Marine Bilogy, Vol. 27, pp. 327-332.
Gallagher, Susan B. and George K. Reid. 1974. Reproduc-
tive Behavior and Early Development in Littorina scabra
angulifera and Littorina irrorata (Gastropoda: Proso-
branchia) in the Tampa Bay Region of Florida. Malacolo-
gieal Review, Vol. 7, pp. 105-125.
1979. Population Dynamics and Zonation in the
Periwinkle Snail, Littorina angulifera, of the Tampa
Bay, Florida, Region. The Nautilus, Vol. 94, No. 4, pp.
162-178.
Mayr. Ernst. 1969. Principles of Systematic Zoology. Mc-
Graw-Hill, New York, xi + 428 pp.
Rosewater, Joseph. 1963. Problems of Species Analogues in
World Littorinidae. Annual Reports American Malacolo-
gical Union for 1963, Bulletin 30, pp. 5-6.
1967. Indo-West Pacific Littorinidae. Annual
Reports American Malacological Union for 1966, Bulletin
33, p. 27.
1970. The Family Littorinidae in The Indo-Paci-
fic. Part 1. The Subfamily Littorininae. Indo-Pacific MoU
lusca. Vol. 2, No, 11, pp. 417-506, index. No. 12, pp. 531-
533, 1972.
1972a. Teratological Littorina scabra anguli-
fera. The Nautilus, Vol. 86 (2-4), pp. 70-71.
1972b. The Amphi-atlantic Distribution of Lit-
torina meleagris. The Nautilus, Vol. 86, Nos. 2-4, pp.
67-69.
1978. The Zoogeography of West African Lit-
torinidae. Bulletin of the American Malacological Union
for 1977, pp. 31-34.
1979. A Reconnaissance of West American Lit-
torinidae Bulletin of the Ameji^an Malacological Union
for 1978, p. 55.
[In Press]. The Family Littorinidae in Tropical West Africa.
Atlantide Report, Copenhagen.
[In Press]. A Close Look at Littorina Radulae. Bulletin of
the American Malacological Union for 1979.
CRAB PREDATION ON TWO SMALL MARINE GASTROPODS
(CERITHIACEA)
Elizabeth C. Dudley
Department of Zoology
University of Maryland
College Park, Md. 20742
ABSTRACT
The freqv£ncies of repaired crab-induced injuries were compared between lit-
toral populations of Batillaria minima and Cerithium lutosum. Habitat dif-
ferences rather than shell morphology appear to be responsible for the large dif-
ferences observed. Small, abundant gastropods may prove to be a previously un-
recognized useful tool in analyses ofpredation.
Crab predation on living bivalves of a wide
size range, and on gastropods longer than a few
centimeters has been convincingly demon-
strated in the literature. (See, as examples:
Landers, 1954; Menzel and Hopkins, 1955;
Menzel and Nichy, 1958; Powell and Gunter,
1968; Hamilton, 1976; Menzel et al., 1976;
Vermeij, 1976, 1977, 1979; Vermeij et al., 1980;
Dudley, 1980.) To the knowledge of this author,
however, no analysis has been done of crab
predation on the small, abundant and ubiquitous
gastropod species found on virtually all soft-
bottom coastlines. This paper reports on two
such snails from Florida.
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 163
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Collections of Batillaria minima (Gmelin,
1791) were made in March, 1979, at Matheson
Hammock, Coral Gables, Florida. In March,
1980, collections of Cerithium lutosum Menke,
1828, were made at Frank Key in Florida Bay
offshore from Flamingo. Both species are locally
extremely abundant; the Batillaria were living
in dense clusters on the sandy substrate of a
widely exposed tidal flat, and the Cerithium
were similarly clustered on the mud substrate
between the roots of the mangrove (Rhizophora
mangle L.) fringing the key. Each shell was
measured to the nearest .01 mm with Vernier
calipers, and the samples were divided into size
classes. The presence or absence of repaired in-
juries was scored for each shell with the aid of a
dissecting microscope. All injuries were of the
kind that occur when a predator attacks a snail
by chipping back the outer lip until either it is
successful in capturing the snail or abandons the
attempt. An unsuccessful attack is recorded as a
healed injury (analogous to a jagged scar on
human skin) that runs the entire length of the
whorl on more or less the same plane as the lip
of the shell. This type of lip-peeling injury is
most typically induced by a number of brachyu-
ran crabs (see Vermeij, 1978 for a review) which
can manipulate their prey and direct attention
to the lip. Arcsin transformations were perform-
ed on the data for the Chi-Square tests compar-
ing repairs within size classes between species.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows repair frequencies within size
classes for the two species. It is immediately evi-
dent that all size classes of Cerithium lutosum
have a much higher frequency of repair per shell
than do those oi Batillaria minima. For the two
size classes that can be compared directly, 5-10
mm and 10-15 mm, p is <.005 (Chi-Square test)
in both cases.
Table 2 tabulates the number of repairs per
shell for each species, without regard to size
classes, and again the contrast is striking. Most
B. minima (85%) in the sample have never been
attacked at all, and of those that have been at-
tacked only 8% received more than one injury.
TABLE 1. Repair frequencies tuithin size classes of the two
gastropod species.
Species
N
No. of
Repairs
Repairs/
Shell
Batillaria minima
0 - 5 mm
5 - 10 mm
10 - 15 mm
Totals
Cerithium lutosum
5 - 10 mm
10 - 15 mm
15 - 20 mm
Totals
TABLE 2. Number of repairs per shell for each species.
No. of % of
Species N Repairs Sample
By contrast, 67.4% of the C. lutosum sustained
injury; of these 39% received more than one.
When such differences in repaired injuries be-
tween species are observed two plausible rea-
sons come to mind: 1) there are differences in
shell morphology that confer differential protec-
tion against similar predation pressures, and 2)
there are differences in the intensity of the
predation pressure itself. It seems clear that the
first reason has no relevance in this particular
study. Batillaria minima and Cerithium
lutosum are so similar morphologically (even
though in different families) that Abbott (1974)
makes a special point of cautioning against con-
fusing the two.
The second reason, however, seems relevant:
the predation intensity on this sample of C
lutosum was greater than that on B. minima.
164 THE NAUTILUS
October 30, 1980
Vol. 94 (4)
Florida waters in general are well known to sus-
tain large numbers of brachyuran predators
(Menzel et al., 1976; Kent, pers. comm.), in-
cluding Menippe mercenaria (Say) and numer-
ous other xanthid species, plus portunids, such
as Callinectes sapidius Rathbun. However, the
exposed tidal flats of Matheson Hammock may
well offer little or no protection to the juveniles
of these probable unsuccessful predators of the
small snails. As the tide advances and recedes
the entire flat is systematically worked over by
numerous species of wading birds searching for
any edible prey. By contrast, the arching man-
grove roots around Frank Key offer numerous
refuges from avian predators. Similarly, though
I made no direct observations, it seems likely
that fish predators would have greater access to
small crabs on the tidal flats than among the
mangrove roots.
In passing, let me note that these predators
could, of course, also attack small snails.
However, such attacks would not result in the
type of injury under consideration in this paper.
Bird predators would be likely to swallow snails
whole, leaving no evidence of their attack; fish
predators would either swallow the snail whole,
or crush it completely.
In addition to the probable greater protection
afforded brachyuran predators around Frank
Key, which permits the presence of greater
numbers of lip-peeling predators, is another fac-
tor to consider. Florida Bay, a remarkably shal-
low expanse of water, is in all probability con-
siderably warmer during the winter months
than is the Atlantic-facing Matheson Hammock.
Predators in the Florida Bay may well be more
active in the cooler seasons; that is, they may
have more time in which to inflict injuries on
their prey.
In my opinion habitat differences like the two
discussed here ultimately account for the dif-
ferences in repair between these two snail spe-
cies by affecting both the numbers and the
feeding intensity of juvenile crab predators.
This study demonstrates that small snail spe-
cies suffer unsuccessful predation by crabs to a
far greater degree than many researchers have
previously suspected. Consequently, they can be
used to compare predation between populations
and/or between habitats. Because these locally
abundant species are so readily available they
have considerable potential as a research tool.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author wishes to thank Janet Reno and
Alan Poole for their hospitality that made possi-
ble the collections here discussed.
LITERATURE CITED
Abbott, R. T. 1974. American SeaaheLLs. Van Nostrand
Reinhold Co., N. Y. 663 pp.
IXidley, R. 1980. Crab-crushing of littorinid .shells from two
geographical provinces. The Naidilus 94(3):108-112.
Hamilton, P. V. 1976. Predation on Littorina irrorata
(Mollusca: Gastropoda) by Callirwctes sapidns (Crustacea:
Portunidae). Bull Mar. Sri. 26(3):403-409.
Landers, W. S. 1954. Notes on the predation of the hard
clam, Venus mercenaria, by the mud crab, Neopanope
texana. Ecology 35(3):422.
Menzel, R. W, and S. H. Hopkins. 1955. Crabs as predators
of oysters in Louisiana. Proc. Nat. Shellfish. Assoc. 46:
177-184.
Menzel, R. W. and F. E. Nichy. 1958. Studies of the distribu-
tion and feeding habits of some oyster predators in Alli-
gator Harbor, Florida. Bull. Mar. Sci. Gulf and Caribbean
8:129-145.
Menzel, R. W., E. W. Cake, M. L. Haines. R. E. Martin and
L. A. Olsen. 1976. Clam mariculture in Northwest Florida:
field study on predation. Proc. Nat. Shellfish. Assoc. 65:
59-62.
Powell, E. H., Jr. and G. Gunter. 1968. Observations on the
Stone Crab Menippe mercenaria Say, in the vicinity of
Port Aransas, Texas. Gulf Res. Rep. 2(3):285-299.
Vermeij, G. J. 1976. Interoceanic differences in vulnerabil-
ity of shelled prey to crab predation. Nature 260(5547):
135-136.
1977. Patterns in crab claw size; the geography
of crushing. Syst. Zool. 26(2):138-151.
1978. Biogeography and Adaptation. Patterns
of Marine Life. Harvard University Press, Cambridge.
332 pp.
1979. Shell architecture and causes of death of
Micronesian reef snails. Erolution 33(2):686-696.
Vermeij, G. J., E. Zipser and E. C. Dudley. 1980. Predation
in time and space: peeling and drilling in terebrid gastro-
pods. Paleobiology 6(3):352-364.
Vol. 94 (4)
October 30, 1980
THE NAUTILUS 165
EXTENSIVE FLORIDA LIGUUS
COLLECTION AVAILABLE
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