Dear Ross,

Thanks! A case of switcheroo confusion syndrome. I like the Margarites
striatus Leach solution.

Just to show how much more confusing it could get, Abbott said that
Margarites striatus Broderip & Sowerby is a synonym of M. costalis.

Feeling Canadian outside this evening in NC,
David


----------
>From: Ross Mayhew <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Margarites "groenlandicus" - example of Slow-motion taxonomic correction!!
>Date: Thu, Sep 28, 2000, 2:18 AM
>

>Sometimes news takes a long time to get around!! - In 1990, H. A. Rehder (The
>Nautalis 103(4): pp 117 - 123: Clarification of the identity of the snail
>Margarites groenlandicus (Gmelin, 1791)) set the record straight on this
>species, but for some reason, there is still a LOT of confusion in the
>Conchological Community.  If i recall the details correctly, it seems that
>someone (can't remember who - anybody know??) got it confounded (ie, switched)
>with M. striatus (Leach, 1819) about 100 years ago, in a paper that others used
>as a reference.  As a result, M. striatus became little-used, with the name
>groenlandicus being commonly used for this species.  Meanwhile, the REAL
>groenlandicus became known as umbilicalus Sowerby I, 1829, which was sometimes
>recognized as a distinct species, and sometimes placed as a subspecies or
>variety of groenlandicus.
>
>SO, for the record, here are the two species:
>
>Margarites striatus Leach, 1819: a boreal/sub-arctic and northern temperate
>species, circumboreal, with a few Arctic "outposts" (such as the Axel-Heiburg
>Shelf at 81 degrees North in Canada - not published).  It is the species found
>in Iceland that Mr. Kirsch has - with distinct spiral groves on the body whorl.
>It is the species meant by 99.9 references to "M. groenlandicus Gmelin".
>
>Margarites groenlandicus Gmelin, 1791 is an arctic species (again, circumboreal)
>with sub-arctic outposts.  It is very seldom seen in private collections, and
>occurs in deeper water than striatus, which gets into the subtidal zone
>sometimes. It has a smooth body whorl.
>
>I hope this clears up the confusion, at least amongst the folks who read
>this posting.
>
>-Ross.