Dear Ross & Olivier,

As far as I know all the specimens are from the Gulf of Guinea, around Sao
Thome, and were discovered in the late seventeeths and early eighteeths. I
do have some (up to 150 mm) in my pectinoid reference collection. The
specimens are morphologically similar to Nodipecten nodosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
from the Brazilian region. It is impossible, that this species can reach in
a larval stage the West African coast. Therefore, I think it should be
introduced there.

Best wishes,

Henk

***********************************************
Henk H. Dijkstra (Hon. Res. Ass.)
c/o Zoological Museum, Dept. Malacology, University of Amsterdam
PO Box 94766, 1090 GT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
-----------------------------
Private address:
Gravinneweg 12, 8604 CA Sneek, The Netherlands
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
***********************************************


> Van: Ross Mayhew <[log in to unmask]>
> Beantwoord: Conchologists of America List <[log in to unmask]>
> Datum: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 01:19:50 +0000
> Aan: [log in to unmask]
> Onderwerp: nodipecten nodosus gabonensis - a bit of a mystery
>
> Thanks M. Caro!   Given the species' extreme variability, it is
> hazardous, based upon just one specimen, to venture where this
> population might have come from if it is indeed recently introduced, but
> it certainly seems to be the South American population and not the Gulf
> of Mexico one.  But, it is not typical for the SA form either, although
> similar specimens do occur in Columbia and Venezuela.  Can anyone
> venture a method of figuring out approximately how long ago this
> population may have been established?  Are specimens available that were
> collected decades ago?  Who else on the list has specimens they know
> came from NW Africa?  This is an interesting mystery!!!
>
> -Still all wet in New Scotland,
> JR.
>
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