Dear Emilio,
 
While your records from Louisiana may indicate the forms are sympatric,
several lots from one area does not a general conclusion warrant.
My experience with literally hundreds of lots between Cape Romano and
Pensacola is that they are not. Try finding N. duplicata in a West Florida
bay.
If your high-spired forms have the distinctive umbilicus, these records
might be extensions of the known range of N. fossata. Please let us know.
Thanks.
 
Phil P.----------
> From: Emilio F Garcia <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: AW: Neverita
> Date: Wednesday, March 25, 1998 2:50 PM
>
> I have collected both forms of Neverita duplicata off Louisiana. The
> low-spired form was collected off Cameron Parish in 2 fathoms and the
> high-spired form off Vermilion Parish, also in two fathoms. This makes
them
> basically sympatric, since the two parishes are side by side. Obviously,
> neither depth nor habitat have to do with their differences, although my
> high-spired form has rust stains and the flat form is perfectly clean.
> Which reminds me of many other species that are collected sympatrically
but
> a specific species may have stains and the others are clean.  I assume
this
> happens because they are embedded in different strata? Could this also be
a
> <specific> characteristic
>
> Emilio F. Garcia
> 115 Oak Crest Dr.
> Lafayette, LA 70503
> USA