Dear Dan,

Anodonta nuttalliana I. Lea, 1838 (Transactions of the American
Philosophical Society 6: 77, pl. 20, fig. 62).  A good reference for
summary authorship and date for any valid American mollusk species-;evel
name is Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn, Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G.
Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, P. M. Mikkelsen, R. J. Neves, C. F. E. Roper, G.
Rosenberg, B. Roth, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, M. Vecchione and J. D.
Williams, 1998.  Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from
the United States and Canada: mollusks, 2nd edition. American Fisheries
Society, Special Publication 26, Bethesda, Maryland. ($45.50 ppd. from the
American Fisheries Society, 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 110
Bethesda, MD 20814 and well worth it.)

Thomas Nuttall (note two double consonants) was an eclectic naturalist, who
was born (and died) in England.  He made his mark, however, in America,
becoming well-known as an ornithologist (Nuttall's Woodpecker, etc.) and
conchologist (a dozen patronymic taxa).  He collected this mussel in Oregon
from the Willamette (note two double consonants) R., just above its
confluence with the Columbia, while serving on the Wyeth Expedition
(1834-35).  Gary R. can tell you about the Wyeth family - but we are
already a bit off-topic.

The Clear Lake record is interesting.  I recall finding that place devoid
of mussels in 1971.  Seems there was an ill-contrived insecticide campaign
against the "Clear Lake Midge" which caused a heck of a lot of collateral
damage to the lake's biota.  Records such as Talmadge's are invaluable and
underscore the importance of your volunteer resuscitation of his fine
collection.

Harry


At 11:24 PM 9/5/99 -0700, you wrote:
>To all Conch-Lers,
>        The College of the Redwoods has a collection of shells that were
>donated, over 20 years ago, by Robert Talmadge.  After two years as
>volunteer coordinator of the collection, we have almost finished with the
>labeling of the material.  There are  although, several specimens that I
>have no idea of their validity.  As there are no references in the
>collection or library, I have decided to try my friends at Conch-L.  Can
>anyone tell me if the species Anadonta nutalliana nutalliana is a valid
>species and who was the author and his date?  The specimen was collected in
>the 60's in Clear Lake, Lake Co., California.
>        Thank you for your help,
>Dan Yoshimoto
>Volunteer Curator of the Talmadge Collection
>College of the Redwoods
>Eureka, California
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>Dan & Hiromi Yoshimoto
>1164 Vista Dr.
>Eureka, California
>        95503-6018
>E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
>