Beste Patty (=dear Patty) and others,

Bedankt voor je bijdrage (Thanks for your contribution)
I will quote some of Kantor's words:
Species of the genus Olivella (...) are highly modified  and specialized
for a burrowing mode of life and possess many autapomorphies. At the same
time, they have a few rather primitive characters, the presence of marginal
teeth among them. (...).

Charactres shared by Olividae and Olivellidae are (among others):
-channelled suture
-formation of parapodia on te foot
-formation of matle appendages
Autamorphies of Olivellidae:
-loss of spiral morphology of visceral maas (already mentioned by Patty)
-loss of head
-loss of accessory salivary glands, gland of Leiblein

Autamorphies of Olividae:
-odontophore retractor not passing through nerve ring
-loss of marinal teeth
-elongation of buccal cavity
-buccal mass at proboscis tip
(Kantor, 1996: 226)

I consider these differences large enough to follow Kantor in his
recognition of Olivellidae as a seperate family.

As being Dutch by birth, you are able to pronounce my name without any
problem. Some years ago I tried to explain it to some Americans while being
in San Diego. This attempt unfortunately failed. The best one I have heard
(from an English speaking person) was by Alan Beu. Frankly, I have given up
trying. If an English speaking person would say "Guy", that would be good
enough for me.
Maybe you have the trick?

Gijs

----------
> Van: Patty Jansen <[log in to unmask]>
> Aan: [log in to unmask]
> Onderwerp: Olivella and Oliva
> Datum: zondag 29 augustus 1999 9:29
>
> Dear All,
>
> Yuri Kantor was so kind to send me a reprint of his paper a while back.
>
> One of the most comprehendable (by amateurs that is) characters he states
> as different between the Olivellidae and Olividae is the complete
> resorption of the inner shell walls in the Olivellidae. the animal has
> evolved likewise and the visceral mass (the brown stuff that is in the
top
> of the shells, that is so hard to get out) above the stomach has lost the
> spiral shape. I would agree with Gijs that Kantor has indeed done a very
> detailed study, and it really isn't up to amateurs like us to say that
> 'because it looks similar it can't be different'.
>
> My two bob's worth
>
> Patty
>
> P.S. I wish Gijs the best of luck in explaining in writing to this list
how
> his name is pronounced ;-)
> WWW: http://www.capricornica.com
>
> Capricornica Publications               on-line natural history bookshop
> P.O. Box 345
> Lindfield NSW 2070
>
> phone/fax: 02 9415 8098 international: +61 2 9415 8098
>
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]