Hello Folks.

   I have to admit to haveing something of a fascination with this species
(Cymatium parthenopeum) being as it is global in distrubution thanks to its
plantonic veliger stage.  It seems remarkable to me that a species would
adopt a life cycle that so dramatically cast its larve in so wide a
dispersion.  Obviously the vast majority of larve would end up maturing in
the deep sea and being lost. It would also seem for example that specimens
found in, say, the Cape Verde or the Hawaiian islands, would have likely
orginated OUTSIDE the location that they were found in because larve would
have been transported away from coast before they matured, or am I missing
something?  Perhaps I am because there are at lease two subspecies, C.p.
keenae (Eastern Pacific) and C.p. echo (Japan) which would suggest that
sub-populations exist of this Cymatium species.

   I have a friend who uses microsatelight DNA to study relatedness within
lizard species, I was wondering if similar studies are undertaken in any of
these globe-trotting Cymatiums.  If anyone can direct me toward any
literature on the subject I would deeply appreciate their assistance.

   Thanks for your help!

Doug

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