Following on the thread by Edu Moreira and R. Gianuzzi-Savelli on the
apparent confusion between Odontocymbiola and Adelomelon, I want to mention
that these two genera belong to two different subfamilies (Odontocymbiolinae
and Zidoninae) in the family Volutidae. Adding new data to Pilsbry &
Olsson's (1954) paper about volutid classification, Clench & Turner (1964)
introduced, among other taxa, the new subfamily Odontocymbiolinae, and the
new genus Odontocymbiola. The reasons for this separation at the subfamily
level have been well presented by several authors (see below), and include
the presence of unisserial (central) radular teeth with broad base and three
very narrow, very long cusps, plus several other anatomical differences. All
these were not taken into account in the relatively recent book by Poppe &
Goto on volutids, where an arrangement "pre-Johnsonia", excluding
Odontocymbiola and its subfamily, was presented without any further comments.
 
Clench WJ & RD Turner. 1964. The subfamilies Volutinae, Odontocymbiolinae,
Zidoninae and Calliotectinae in the western Atlantic. Johnsonia 4 (43):
129-180;
 
Leal JH & P Bouchet. 1989. New deep-water Volutidae from off southeastern
Brazil. The Nautilus 103 (1): 1-12;
 
Weaver CS & JE du Pont. 1970. Living Volutes. Delaware Museum of Natural
History, Greenville.
 
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Jose H. Leal, Ph.D.
Director-The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Editor-THE NAUTILUS
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