Dear Carole and other shellers,
Just got back from a great shell collecting trip to Guaymas/San Carlos in
Sonora in Mexico on the Gulf of Mexico, so missed the first series of
comments on this subject.  For those interested in molluscs that
bioluminescence, there are over 90 cephalopods which do so, the best known
is the animal of Spirula spirula Linnaeus, 1758.  The best known bivalve is
the European angel wing Phalas dactylus Linnaeus, 1758. A single land shell
Quantula striata (Gray, 1834), the freshwater New Zealand limpet already
mentioned Latia neritoides Gray, 1850 and six or so Planaxaidae also have
animals that bioluminescence.  For more information see: Ponder, W.F.
"Bioluminescence in Hinea braziliana (Lamarck) (Gasteropoda:Planaxidae)"
Journal of Malacological Studies (1988) 54:361;  Tsuji, Frederick I.
"Molluscan Bioluminescence" in The Mollusca.  Karl M. Wilbur, ed. NY: 1983
Academic Press 2. 257-273; and  Gettleman, Alan "Blinded by the Light or The
Strange Case of Bioluminescence in Non-Cephalopod Molluscs" Central Florida
Shell News, October, 1994, p.3.

Alan Gettleman
in snowy (yes snowy) Merritt Island, Florida
----- Original Message -----
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Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 10:34 AM
Subject: U.V.question


> Dear Conch-L ers,
> I have had a question from someone and thought I would refer to higher
powers
> than my own knowledge.
>   I was giving a program on fluorescence in mollusks and was asked if any
> mollusks are known to chemiluminesce. In other words, glow without any
> interference from man. Is there any one out there in conch-l land who
knows
> this? Also, for those of you keeping lists of shells that fluoresce, add
> Dentalium aprinum to the list. It glows a really beautiful red under U.V.
>    Thanks,
>        Carole Marshall