>On another subject, David Campbell wrote,
>"Incidentally, a Pliocene Eucrassatella (E. virginica) from Virginia seems to be the first figured (Lister, before the Chesapecten jeffersonius and Ecphora quadricostata) and first described (Gmelin) fossil mollusk for the U.S."
>
>This is intriguing. Is this based on prior publication, or simultaneous publication on subsequent pages of one paper ("page priority")? Agreeing with the ICZN, I don't recognize page priority as a valid principle, but it's still neat to know about the first U.S. fossil mollusks to be figured.

It is based on prior publication.  The publication of Lister spanned nearly a century, as some plates were not published until substantially posthumously.  If I remember correctly, the Ecphora plate turns out to be in this category and was actually published in the mid-1700's.  Even the plates published during Lister's lifetime were published over a span of several years.  The Eucrassatella figure is on the cover of L. Campbell. 1993. Pliocene molluscs from the Yorktown and Chowan River Formations in Virginia. Virginia Division of Mineral Resources pub. 127.  This also discusses the other American fossil mollusks in Lister.

Lister's figure of Chesapecten jeffersonius also shows resting scars similar to those attributed to hipponicid gastropods.  I'm not sure if that counts as an additional molluscan fossil figure.


    Dr. David Campbell
    "Old Seashells"
    Biology Department
    Saint Mary's College of Maryland
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"Mollusks murmured 'Morning!'.  And salmon chanted 'Evening!'."-Frank Muir, Oh My Word!