Abbott (1974) says "This is a rare species in the Atlantic, but is more frequently encountered on the west coast of Central America." Evidently, it is not rare in Brazil (http://www.conchasbrasil.org.br/english/conchology/descricao.asp?id=808); I found one live and one dead in the intertidal zone in Bahia. Is this really the same species as in the Pacific? Malacolog doesn't address Pacific occurrence.

Redfern (2001) prefers Bursa corrugata ponderosa (Reeve, 1844) as does the above Brazilian website and cites Beu (1985) as saying this is a "subspecies of B. corrugata (Perry, 1811) from the Pacific." However, the jaxshells.org site uses B. corrugata (http://www.jaxshells.org/corub.htm).

Is use of subspecies labeling a matter of taste?

David Kirsh
Durham, NC

"When you're chewing on life's gristle, DON'T grumble. Give a whistle!" --from Life of Brian

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