World Congress of Malacology Antwerp ... - Unitas Malacologica

awaiting description. The bulk of the new lucinid species are larger than 20 mm (mean 26 mm,
largest 150 mm), with numerous small species less well studied. Shell characters remain the mainstay
of species-level systematics in lucinids but increased attention to detail, improved microscopy, larger
samples and regional comparisons have refined species discrimination. Groups of closely similar,
“cryptic” species have been recognised from previously widespread “species” exemplified by the
Anodontia, Lamellolucina and Austriella groups; others are suspected but uninvestigated in any
detail. Some forms previously regarded as ontogenetic stages of larger species are now recognized as
separate taxa. So far molecular analysis has largely served to corroborate and add confidence to
taxonomic decisions made on morphological characters and importantly, to establish relationships
between species groups.
Is anything left to be discovered in the malacofauna of Western Europe?
Gofas, Serge
Departamento Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071 Málaga,
Spain,
Email: sgofas@uma.es
With a history of nearly 250 years of taxonomic publications, the seas surrounding Europe are still a
source for new findings of molluscs. For the past ten years (1997-2006 inclusive), the records in the
CLEMAM (Check List of European Marine Mollusca) and in the EU-funded ERMS2 (European
Register of Marine Species) databases show an average of thirty species (range: 16-54) described as
new every year. Reports of species previously undetected in the geographic scope account for an
average of eight more new entries each year in the European catalogues, and species rescued from
synonymy and newly recognized as valid contribute two more. Conversely, an average of four
species entries were removed each year from the catalogues, either placed in synonymy or because
records were dismissed.
This brings a net increase of 360 species over the past ten years. There is no sign that the trend is
slowing down, considering the average of 27 (range 11-40) new descriptions per year in the decade
1987-1996, and 29 (range 10-71) in the decade 1977-1986.
Most of new findings are Gastropods, followed by Bivalves and Solenogastres. The latter account for
as much as 10% of additions, in a group that is hardly 3% of the total fauna.
From the geographical viewpoint, Macaronesian archipelagos and the surrounding seamounts are
clearly the cutting edge of European malacology, accounting for about half of the additions. The next
largest source is the deep (bathyal and abyssal) Atlantic, with 25%. The Eastern Mediterranean, with
its share of new findings of Indo-Pacific immigrants, contributes about 16% of novelties, less than
the Central and Western Mediterranean (20%). The negligible contribution (about 2%) of the
Western European mainland reflects stability, whereas the near-zero contribution of the Moroccan
Atlantic coastline would rather be an artefact due to the lack of malacological activity.
Collecting micromolluscs – the key to a good survey
Gofas, Serge
Departamento Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071 Málaga,
Spain,
Email: sgofas@uma.es
The informal size class called “micromolluscs” includes all those species which escape visual
collecting in the field due to their small size, and require bulk collection of samples. They usually
account for the largest number of individuals and species; therefore no faunal survey should ignore
them.
Sampling techniques appropriate for hard bottoms include brushing surfaces of various substrates
into a fine meshed net or into a bucket, and the air-lift pump. Care must be taken to include as many
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