>Date:    Fri, 3 Oct 2003 09:52:35 -0500
>From:    Andy Rindsberg <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: freshwater oysters?- Tanzania
>
>Well, I think it's been established that there is any number of
>research projects that can be done on these bivalves, pelecypods, or
>lamellibranchs in India, Africa, and South America. David obviously
>would not turn down some fresh, frozen specimens for DNA analysis to
>determine their evolutionary history. Their natural history
>(distribution, predators, etc.) obviously needs work, if Ethiopian
>scholars were entirely unaware of their existence a few decades ago.
>The interesting shells aren't all in the sea. Of course, the curious
>conchologist should ascertain whether these species are endangered
>or threatened before collecting them, freshwater habitats being as
>limited as they are.=20
>
>Cheers,
>Andy
>
>Andrew K. Rindsberg
>Geological Survey of Alabama


Just an FYI, but Dan Graf of the Academy of Nat. Sci in Philadelphia
and I are working on an NSF project on Southern Hemisphere freshwater
mussels, naiades, naiads, nayades, clams, or bivalves (take your pick
on names or endings). see: The Mussel Database Project
http://clade.acnatsci.org/mussel/ for more details.  We wouldn't
object to a few fresh specimens either!  For a look at Etheria or
Acostea (South American equivalent) see
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~ksc/MusselGenera.html

Kevin

--
Kevin S. Cummings
Illinois Natural History Survey
607 E. Peabody Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
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http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html


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