Hi folks,

I've visited the Philippines just recently (during Christmas holidays),
and have found a lot of shells (of course). Coming home, I thought I'd
be able to identify just about everything I had in my bag, with the book
"Shells of the Philippines". I had no problems with Gastropoda, but to
my surprise, this book is very poor in its overview of Bivalves, and
that is a remark I have to repeat for almost every shell-book I know of
(and I know a lot of shell books as a marine librarian, believe me!).
The only families that are treated with reasonable respect  are
Pectinidae, Spondylidae, and to a lesser degree Veneridae, and the only
title which is sufficiently complete in it's overview is Bivalve of
Australia (the 2 volumes together), by Lamprell & Whitehead.

Now I'd like to know if this is a real problem to collectors or that I'm
missing some publications that I'm not aware of? I do know I can find
sufficient information in scientific literature, but these sources are
of no use to amateur collectors, interested in the odd bivalve shell
they are likely to find on any tropical beach around the world. Any
comments?

Best greetings,

Jan


Jan Haspeslagh
bibliothecaris/librarian VLIZ

email : [log in to unmask]

VLIZ
Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee vzw
Flanders Marine Institute
Victorialaan 3 - B-8400 Oostende, Belgium
Tel. +32-(0)59-34 21 30
Fax +32-(0)59-34 21 31
http :www.vliz.be