Original Articles
Mayor Lischke and the Japanese marine shells A bio-bibliography of Carl Emil Lischke and a brief history of marine malacology in Japan with bibliography
Rudo VON COSEL
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Abstract A sketch of the life of Carl Emil Lischke, one of the pioneers of Japanese marine malacology, is given, as well as a brief history of marine malacology in Japan and its links to malacology outside Japan, chiefly European. A selected bibliography is provided. |
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Key words: Carl Emil Lischke, biography, malacological history, Mollusca, bibliography, Japan |
Stranding of Janthina prolongata (Caenogastropoda) on Yoshimo Beach, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
Shunshiro UENO, Mikio NODA and Masaru AMIO
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Abstract Thirty-five janthinid snails, Janthina prolongata, including several living specimens, were stranded together with many pleustonic hydrozoan Porpita pacifica on Yoshimo Beach, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on 20 August 1995. These stranded snails were relatively large (shell height 18.6 - 34.9 mm, shell width 17.0 - 33.1 mm). Five snails had air bubble rafts and seven air rafts were collected separately without snails. About three hundred egg capsules were hanging below each air bubble raft. Egg capsules below distal half of the raft contained 10 - 70 veliger larvae. The surface temperature of sea water south of Japan in August 1995 was the highest recorded in the past 45 years. In the eastern East China Sea, the surface water temperature was above 30 ºC and southerly winds prevailed in mid-August. The surface water temperature off Yoshimo Beach was also above 29 ºC and westerly winds prevailed for several days before the stranding. J. prolongata distribution seemed to have spread to the Tsushima Strait, coinciding with the record-breaking high temperatures of the sea surface, and the stranding on Yoshimo Beach may have been strongly influenced by the preceding westerly winds. |
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Key words: Janthina prolongata, Tsushima Current, Kuroshio, stranding, water temperature, wind |
Letters to the Editor
Is Buccinum distributed in the southernmost East China Sea?
Taiji KUROZUMI
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Abstract Recently, Buccinum opisthoplectum Dall was reported from off the Senkaku Islands, in the southern East China Sea. However, distribution of the genus Buccinum has hitherto never been known in the southern rim of the East China Sea. Buccinum species of southern Japan are found only on muddy bottoms in the bathyal zone. Judging by the depths and habitats of the other species reported together with B. opisthoplectum from the Senkakus, it is hard to conclude that Buccinum species lives in this area. B. opisthoplectum from the Senkakus is here regarded as an erroneous record, and the specimen might come from other source. |
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Key words: Buccinum opisthoplectum, erroneous record, East China Sea |