Original Articles
Discovery of a live population of the rare bivalve Pitar (Pitarina) japonicus Kuroda & Kawamoto (Bivalvia: Veneridae) in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
Yoshiharu KAWACHINO
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Abstract Several live individuals and fresh empty shells of the venerid bivalve Pitar (Pitarina) japonicus Kuroda & Kawamoto were found on a sandy tidal-flat at Nagaura in Asago-chô, Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. There have been few records of this species in Japan. This is the first reliable record of the live individuals of this species from the intertidal zone in Japan. The significance of the population in terms of biodiversity conservation is discussed. |
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Key words: Pitar (Pitarina) japonicus, endangered species, conservation, biodiversity, habitat, sandy tidal-flat, Kyûshû |
New records of rare species of three bivalves and one crab from the estuary of the Tagori River, Saga Prefecture, Ariake Inland Sea, Japan
Tsunenori KOGA, Kiyoshi SATAKE, Tôru YABE, Seiichi NOHARA, Ryûhei UENO, Hirokatsu UTAGAWA, Mikiya HIROKI, Masanobu KAWACHI and Makoto WATANABE
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Abstract On a soft mud tidal-flat on the Tagori River estuary in Saga Prefecture, facing the Ariake Inland Sea, the following three bivalve and one crab species were collected: one Tellina (Serratina) capsoides, four T. (Moerella) iridescens, three Tegillarca granosa and seven Camptandrium sexdentatum. Live populations of all except T. (S.) capsoides are assumed to exist at the present locality because multiple live individuals were found. There have been few records of these four species in recent years and they are regarded as endangered. Tellina (Serratina) capsoides and Tegillarca granosa prefer the innermost parts of large bays and live specimens are here recorded for the first time from the present tidal-flat. Tellina (Moerella) iridescens and Camptandrium sexdentatum have been previously cited as inhabiting sandy mud bottoms, but they live mainly on the soft mud substratum of inner bays. Follow-up surveys of the occurrences of these species are needed. |
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Key words: Tegillarca granosa, Tellina (Serratina) capsoides, Tellina (Moerella) iridescens, Camptandrium sexdentatum, soft mud substratum, endangered species, biodiversity, conservation, Ariake Inland Sea, Kyûshû |
A new locality of Onchidium hongkongense Britton, 1984 (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Onchidiidae) on the southwestern coast of Shikoku, Japan
Hideo SUGA, Hiroshi ISHIKAWA and Kôki MIZUNO
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Abstract Numerous individuals of Onchidium hongkongense Britton, 1984, a marine pulmonate slug previously regarded as extinct in mainland Japan, were recently discovered at Mishô Bay in southwestern Shikoku. This species was found alive at three sites from the central to inner parts of the Bay. Density at one site was considerable (8.5 individuals /m2). This species lurks in gaps in stone walls or under stones at full tide. It crawls out and feeds on organic matter in mud at low tide. The present localities adjoin human habitation, which threatens them via water pollution and coastal development. A conservation strategy is therefore needed for the present populations. |
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Key words: Onchidium hongkongense, Onchidiidae, biodiversity, conservation, mud tidal-flat, Mishô Bay, Ehime Prefecture |