Dear Tom,
 
Have you used Russell (1940)?  It works for me (Abbott doesn't).  Kurt
Auffenberg has the taxonomy down nicely.
 
He taught me, and I think my collection includes all named W. Atlantic
Neritid species.  I am, moreover, satisfied with the identifications.  Among
West Indian records in the collection are Neritilia succinea from St. Thomas
and from Dominica; Neritina punctulata from Guadeloupe (2 lots), Grenada,
and Tobago; N. piratica from Cuba; and N. clenchi from Dominica.
 
From what I understand, Montserrat doesn't lay claim to a ecologically
friendly freshwater supply.
 
Didn't you mean N. usnea (+ reclivata)?
 
N. virginea, N. piratica, and N. meleagris are not found in (pure) fresh
water (brackish at best).
 
I wish I could give you a verbal differential on these dianoses, but I would
need more time than I can spare (to reacquaint).  May I send synoptic
samples or photocopy the Russell paper?
 
Harry
 
 
At 08:39 AM 9/28/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Can anyone give me a good way to differentiate Neritina usnea [=reclivata],
>N. clenchi, and N. virginea? Where does N. piratica fit in? The
>characteristics in Abbott (1974) don't seem to hold up to inspection. Also,
>does anyone know of a freshwater Neritina from Montserrat, or literature
>that may help?
>
>*  G Thomas Watters               *
Harry G. Lee
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