mrt 2009
Ecuadorian snails
31-03-2009 19:25
Recently I received a mail from a French bird watcher
who had been to Ecuador. I know that bird watchers
can be ardent ‘snail watchers’ and vice versa. He
took some pictures at Rio Silanche Reserve, a patch
of tropical lowland forest at 500 m elevation on the
west side of the Andes.
It is always difficult to make an identification from a photograph only, especially if there only dorso-lateral views of the shell obscuring any details of the umbilicus, the shape of the aperture, possible dentition, etc. On the other hand, it is extremely nice to have pictures of living snails. There can’t be enough.
With all the reservations you can expect from a scientist, the final judgement is that this is most probably Strophocheilus popelarianus (Nyst, 1845).
The other picture is from some pleurodontid species. Most likely it is an Isomeria, possibly I. kolbergi (Miller).
Thanks to Vincent Mouret for the pictures and to Francisco Borrero for help with identifications.
It is always difficult to make an identification from a photograph only, especially if there only dorso-lateral views of the shell obscuring any details of the umbilicus, the shape of the aperture, possible dentition, etc. On the other hand, it is extremely nice to have pictures of living snails. There can’t be enough.
With all the reservations you can expect from a scientist, the final judgement is that this is most probably Strophocheilus popelarianus (Nyst, 1845).
The other picture is from some pleurodontid species. Most likely it is an Isomeria, possibly I. kolbergi (Miller).
Thanks to Vincent Mouret for the pictures and to Francisco Borrero for help with identifications.
Photo of the day (43): Drymaeus
30-03-2009 21:01
Valentín Mogollón sent me some pictures of
Drymaeus
(D.)
expansus
(Pfeiffer, 1848). The animal was spotted in Peru,
Dept. Madre de Dios, near Puerto Maldonado on the
leaves of a shrub.
Many thanks to Valentín and to Grace Montalván who took the pictures.
Many thanks to Valentín and to Grace Montalván who took the pictures.
A vicious circle?
27-03-2009 07:29
“In general they don’t trust foreigners and therefore
they do not cooperate”. Are we talking about
indigenous people on an island in the 16th century?
No. Perhaps people living in a remote village,
difficult to reach? Neither. It’s about scientists in
a decent country, somewhere on this globe. No, I
don’t disclose where, in fact it could be anywhere.
Due to the ever-growing competition, scientists are reluctant to share data and - in the case of taxonomists - specimens, even when they know that elsewhere a specialist could benefit from studying them. Jealousy may be another factor that plays a role. This week a colleague of mine casually referred to a discussion on internet about ‘malacologists as pirates’. Although I haven’t seen the actual site (yet), this blog is being referred to. I presume it is because of this post. Much later than I had the blog posted, I heard some rumors about “stealing taxa that had been worked on for years”, etc.etc. No doubt, an awful story. But can’t you expect these things to happen? Personally I promote cooperation rather than competition. With the ever-growing scarcity of human resources in taxonomy, I feel that one should strive for synenergy rather than to pick ideas from and compete with others. The biodiversity crisis means too much work for too few taxonomists. But I also realize that humans are part of the ecosystem and if the same niches are to be filled, inevitably some will turn out to act as predators.
A rather philosophical entry, amidst a pile of work (several deadlines closing soon). Next time, it will be real malacology. I promise.
Due to the ever-growing competition, scientists are reluctant to share data and - in the case of taxonomists - specimens, even when they know that elsewhere a specialist could benefit from studying them. Jealousy may be another factor that plays a role. This week a colleague of mine casually referred to a discussion on internet about ‘malacologists as pirates’. Although I haven’t seen the actual site (yet), this blog is being referred to. I presume it is because of this post. Much later than I had the blog posted, I heard some rumors about “stealing taxa that had been worked on for years”, etc.etc. No doubt, an awful story. But can’t you expect these things to happen? Personally I promote cooperation rather than competition. With the ever-growing scarcity of human resources in taxonomy, I feel that one should strive for synenergy rather than to pick ideas from and compete with others. The biodiversity crisis means too much work for too few taxonomists. But I also realize that humans are part of the ecosystem and if the same niches are to be filled, inevitably some will turn out to act as predators.
A rather philosophical entry, amidst a pile of work (several deadlines closing soon). Next time, it will be real malacology. I promise.
Photo of the day (42): Corona
19-03-2009 22:04
Time again for a living snail. It is a species
of
Corona
from Peru. The picture was taken by Carlos Rivera in
2006, in a rainforest in Dept. Amazonas.
Although it is clearly a left-coiled specimen, I’m not entirely sure about the specific identity as this is - so far - the only picture I got. However, it shows what beautiful creatures living land snails can be.
Thanks to Valentín and Grace for sending this picture.
Although it is clearly a left-coiled specimen, I’m not entirely sure about the specific identity as this is - so far - the only picture I got. However, it shows what beautiful creatures living land snails can be.
Thanks to Valentín and Grace for sending this picture.
New taxa (10): Araucocharopa
18-03-2009 20:14
Minute snails are the Cinderellas of every
malacofauna. Often hard to find and poorly known.
In the Neotropical family Charopidae doubtless many new species are to be described. Recently such a new species was described, for which also a new genus was erected: Araucocharopa gallardoi Miquel & Cádiz Lorca.
It is perhaps merely coincidental that this novelty is described from Chile, like the species mentioned in this post and this one. The type locality is Chile, XIV Région, provincia de Valdivia, Reserva Costera Valdiviana. The holotype is in the collection of the Natural History Museum in Santiago.
There is a useful discussion included in the paper, describing the relations with several other genera of Charopidae, Helicodiscidae and Endodontidae.
Although the paper has a header indicating it was published in 2008, the authors sent me a PDF named “Miquel-CádizLorca2009” which leads me to believe that it was only just published.
Reference
Miquel, S.E. & Cádiz Lorca, F.J., 2008 [2009]. Araucocharopa gallardoi gen. et sp. n. de Charopidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) del sur de Chile. - Revista Museo Argentino Ciencias Naturales, n.s., 10: 329-340.
In the Neotropical family Charopidae doubtless many new species are to be described. Recently such a new species was described, for which also a new genus was erected: Araucocharopa gallardoi Miquel & Cádiz Lorca.
It is perhaps merely coincidental that this novelty is described from Chile, like the species mentioned in this post and this one. The type locality is Chile, XIV Région, provincia de Valdivia, Reserva Costera Valdiviana. The holotype is in the collection of the Natural History Museum in Santiago.
There is a useful discussion included in the paper, describing the relations with several other genera of Charopidae, Helicodiscidae and Endodontidae.
Although the paper has a header indicating it was published in 2008, the authors sent me a PDF named “Miquel-CádizLorca2009” which leads me to believe that it was only just published.
Reference
Miquel, S.E. & Cádiz Lorca, F.J., 2008 [2009]. Araucocharopa gallardoi gen. et sp. n. de Charopidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) del sur de Chile. - Revista Museo Argentino Ciencias Naturales, n.s., 10: 329-340.
Dominican snails (2)
16-03-2009 07:25
Some live snails that were encountered by Ad
Hovestadt during his recent trip to this island.
From above to below: Amphicyclotulus amethystinus (Guppy, 1868) near bridge Rosalie River; ibidem, Emerald Pool; Veronicella spec. near Brandy Manor, east of Porthsmouth; ibidem, Emerald Pool; Helicina rhodostoma Gray, 1824, Emerald Pool.
As often seen, one has to have sharp eyes and be a keen malacologist to spot these creatures in the field. Note that some of these pictures have been magnified and are selections. Snail hunting can be like solving a puzzle picture.
From above to below: Amphicyclotulus amethystinus (Guppy, 1868) near bridge Rosalie River; ibidem, Emerald Pool; Veronicella spec. near Brandy Manor, east of Porthsmouth; ibidem, Emerald Pool; Helicina rhodostoma Gray, 1824, Emerald Pool.
As often seen, one has to have sharp eyes and be a keen malacologist to spot these creatures in the field. Note that some of these pictures have been magnified and are selections. Snail hunting can be like solving a puzzle picture.
Australian beauties
13-03-2009 22:02
You may wonder why Australian snails are mentioned in
a blog on Neotropical ones. And not being
Bothriembryon
- then at least there was a family relation - the
sole reason is that I received some stunning photos
from Frank Köhler.
Pictured are (in vertical order) two Amplirhagada species, two Torresitrachia species and an as yet unnamed one.
All originate from the Kimberley region in Western Australia, said to be “Australia’s last true wilderness”.
Should you find nothing that interests you anymore in the Neotropics, this seems the place to be!
Many thanks to Frank for sending and to Vince Kessner who made these beautiful pictures of these Australian beauties.
Pictured are (in vertical order) two Amplirhagada species, two Torresitrachia species and an as yet unnamed one.
All originate from the Kimberley region in Western Australia, said to be “Australia’s last true wilderness”.
Should you find nothing that interests you anymore in the Neotropics, this seems the place to be!
Many thanks to Frank for sending and to Vince Kessner who made these beautiful pictures of these Australian beauties.