> On a shell-related note, does anyone know if the range of Provocator
> pulcher Watson has been enlarged from the tiny domain around the
> Kerguelen/Heard Island area shown in Poppe & Goto?  Also, why is it that
> so many volutes have such limited ranges? - their larval stages must not
> travel all that far before settling, i am guessing - but are there other
> contributing factors?

I don't think anyone with more experience than I has answered this yet,
so...

The large protoconch of most volutes is a clue that they do not have a
veliger stage but crawl directly from the egg, thereby limiting the range.

Didn't I read something some time back about a Cymbium species that was
observed disgorging live young direct from the mother (I think she was
brooding the eggs). If so, I'd like the reference to review it.

Peggy
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