Publication

Monograph of the Living Zoila

Felix Lorenz · published 2001

A systematic-taxonomic and iconographic revision of the genus.

3 + 187 pp., 28 text-figures, 9 (8 coloured) maps, 54 colour-plates, with a foreword by Lindsey Groves, and with the description of a new subspecies by Felix Lorenz & Hugh Morrison. Size 170 x 240 mm, hardcover. Published 2001. Price: 45,00 Euro

This volume deals with the 19 recent species and subspecies of the genus Zoila, a fascinating group of endemic Cowries from West Australia. All of the more than 60 names used in the past are clarified, one subspecies is described new to science. There is a chapter on the fossil history of the genus, another covers the biology, morphology and reproduction and also discussed the lumper - splitter debate, trying to give answers applying modern species - concepts. All taxa are illustrated in colour, accompained by a full synonymy, a conchological description, information on the type and type locality data, geographic and vertical distribution, rarity, size-range, habitat, and so on. A book that is indispensable for every cowry-collector, and of highest interest as well for all conchologists and malacologists.

Out of print.

News, additions and corrections

The research on the living things means keeping up with a never-ending row of new insights, discoveries and changes. Luckily, no more new Zoila have been described in the meantime, the color plates came out really well (depicting black shells on a black background was admittedly risky and experimental), and no fundamental mistakes seem to have occurred.

On my trip to the Abrolhos Islands and Shark Bay I had the opportunity to cross-check the information given in my book with the knowledge of several experienced Zoila-divers who could confirm that what I wrote was basically correct. However, on arriving at some of the sites described as being the home of some species of Zoila, we realized that in the past years, many populations seem to have vanished.

The data given in the maps give those locations in which the shells used to be found about ten years ago. The row of extinction has affected the areas around Gnaraloo, Point Quobba, Exmouth, Bernier Island, and Dirk Hartog Island (according to Andrew Edinger and Gary Wilson). This means that the following species, subspecies and formae are probably close to extinction or already extinct:

Zoila eludens and e. delicatura, jeaniana sherylae, rosselli satiata, r. edingeri, ketyana (shallow water superba-form), k. hypermarginata and k. lutea.

An interesting range extension was discovered by Mike Claydon, who collected a typical specimen of friendii near Kalbarri, far north of the known range just reaching the Abrolhos. Also a slender but otherwise typical jeaniana jeaniana was found on the same dive. These two occurring sympatrically (but on different host-sponges) supports my interpretation as them being separate species.

In my book, the range given for decipiens is interrupted between the northern range and Onslow. Actually, the species is sporadically found all along the coast, from Broome to Exmouth, reaching into the eludens-range.

Corrections

The following errors have been found so far (please report any errors you find, so they can be corrected in the second edition):

p. 35, 36, 38: “Geodea” read “Geodia”. Both ways of writing the name of this sponge are found in literature, but Geodia appears to be the correct one (the case is under study).

p. 36, 37, 126: The holotype of k. bataviensis is deposited in the Western Australian Museum, not South Australian Museum.

p. 67: The line of Sorrento Beach should point 4 mm down, closer to Perth.

p. 112 Platebox: “7” (bottom right) read “5”.

p. 116 Caption: “1 - 5” read “1 - 6”, “6” read “7” and “7” read “8”.

p. 136 Caption: “Zoila obettiana” read “Zoila lobettiana”.

p. 172 Caption: the locality given for No. 5 should be in parenthesis.

p. 178 Caption: “5 - 6” read “4 - 5”.

sorry, nobody is perfect. A printable repair-kit (to glue in) can be downloaded here.