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Bulletins of American paleontology. Ithaca, N.Y.,Paleontological Research Institution [etc.] http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/39837

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THE LINNAEAN OLIVES

Axel A. Olsson^ and S. Peter Dance^

INTRODUCTION

The current identifications of the three Linnaean Olives, assigned originally to Vohita, have long been in dispute because of their brief des- cription and confused synonymy cited in both the 10th (1758) and 12th

(1767) editions of the Systenia Naturae. A proper understanding of these is important, as each species is the of a group at the generic or subgeneric level, the Vohita oliva of the genus Oliva itself. The purpose of this note is to establish the identification of these three species through a more critical study of the specimens in the Linnaean collection and the selection of a lectotype for each. As discussed by Hanley (1855), the Linnaean collection of shells did not pass directly into the possession of

The Linnean Society of London but remained for some time in the hands of

Sir James Smith, the noted botanist, who purchased the collection from

Linnaeus's heirs in Sweden. During this period, the zoological part of the collection suffered from neglect while some specimens may have been misplaced and others added. The criteria adopted for the recognition of original or authentic material or its association with other pertinent data will be discussed by the junior author in a separate paper dealing with the whole Linnaean collection. Of primary consideration in the determination of original specimens are the shells marked in ink with the number cor- responding to their enumeration in the Systema or in boxes so marked with the provision that the marked specimens fit the species description in the

10th or 12th edition of the Systema with sufficient accuracy.

In both editions of the Systema, Linnaeus often supplemented his description of a species with references to figures in the works of earlier and contemporary authors; illustrations which in many cases depicted shells of more than one species. Reliance on these figures offer a choice of inter- pretation and, therefore, the only sure guide in the identification of such

Linnaean species are the original specimens in the collection and an understanding interpretation of their description in the 10th edition.

It should be understood, that the Latin of Linnaeus is that of a botanist, and the meaning of some words and phrases should be translated with that

•'n mind.

^ Honorary Research Associate, Smithsonian Institution; Research Associate, Pal- eontological Research Institution and of the Academy of Natural Sciences of

Philadelphia.

2 Zoology Department, British Museum ().

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216 Bulletin 227

The first review of the shells of Linnaeus was made by Sylvanus

Hanley, pubhshed in book form in 1855, and bears the title "Ipsa Linnaei

Conchylia or Shells of Linnaeus determined from his manuscripts and col- lection". This work by an eminent conchologist served to establish the identification of most of the Linnaean species but some have remained un- certain for one reason or other. For any worker dealing with Linnaean species, this work of Hanley is indispensable. Of more recent date, the

Linnaean mollusks were again reviewed by Henry Dodge in a series of papers published by the American Museum of Natural History in New

York. This later work remains incomplete and was based on film and photographs furnished by The Linnean Society and not on any direct ex- amination of the shells by the author.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The senior author is grateful to the authorities of the British Museum

(Natural History) for extensive privileges in working with their collec- tions and especially to Mr. N. Tebble in charge of Recent Mollusks, and to Mr. C. P. Nuttall of the Paleontological Department. We are also indebted in this instance to Dr. J. P. E. Morrison of the United States

National Museum for help and skill in comparing our photographs of

Oliva oUva (Linnaeus) with the Recent species of Oliva in the National

Museum collection. The Linnean Society of London kindly allowed us to examine and photograph the material on which this paper is based.

SYSTEMATICS

(1) Voluta porphyria Linnaeus PI. 19, figs. 1, la

1758. , ed. 10, p. 729, No, 349

1767. " " , ed. 12, p. 1187, No. 398

Concerning this species, Hanley noted that the Oliva porphyria and

O. erjthrostoDia of Lamarck and later authors are confused in the synonymy of Linnaeus. The figures in Rumphius (1705, 1741) and Regenfuss

(1758) are illustrations of O. erythrostoma: the figures in Gualtieri (1742) and D'Argenville (1742) of O. porphyria. It is well to note that the name "Porphyre" had been given to the Panama Tent Olive long before

Linnaeus's time, the shell because of its beautiful markings and size being a marked favorite amongst collectors. The term "Porphyria" is commonly translated to signify a purple color as for instance stated in Favanne's edition of Dezallier d'Argenville (1780, vol. 2, p. 821), "c'est sans doute

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LiNNAEAN Olives: Olsson and Dance 217

a ses vives couleurs marron qu'elle doit celui de Porphyrc". There is also the possibihty that the name was given first in allusion to the tentlike markings bearing a resemblance to the angular outlines of crystals in the polished surface of an igneous rock such as porphyry, graphic granite.'^

The description of Vol //fa porphyr'/a in the 10th edition of the

Systema, although brief and concise, is fully sufficient for an accurate identification of the species. In this description, we have the significant expression, "lahro n/ed'/n ret//so" which refers to a curious inswing or curvature of the margin of the outer lip so that in a profile view its edge is seen to be slightly concave in its middle section (fig. 1, PI. 19). This feature of the outer lip of the Panama Tent Olive is especially characteristic and is seen in no other species of the genus. In his mention of this feature,

Linnaeus set this species apart from all others, and it further attests to his remarkable gift of observation and close discrimination of characters of im- portance. To our knowledge, no other author dealing with this species noticed this important differential character. The term "ret//so" in Lin- naeus's description must be translated with its usual meaning in botany as a notch or inflexion in the middle (as a retuse leaf illustrated well by the terminal lobe of the leaf of L/r'/odendron) . In the 12th edition the description of V. porphyr/d is further enlarged with the term "in forma castrori/in' which directly refers to the surface pattern of triangular or peaked markings resembling the tents of an armed camp or fortification.

In Panama, the OUva porphyr'/a is largely restricted to the waters around the Pearl Islands in the Gulf of Panama, although the species has a general distribution throughout the whole of the Panamic-Pacific faunal province from the Galapagos Islands to the Gulf of California. To con- solidate the identification of the species we have selected as lectotype the largest of the three specimens segregated by Hanley (1855). We also designate Isla Pedro Gonzales in the Pearl Islands as type locality for the species.

(II) Voluta oliva Linnaeus PI. 19, figs. 2, 2a

1758. Systema Naturae, ed. 10, p. 729, No. 350

1767. " " , ed. 12, p. 1188, No. 399

The tray of Vol//ta ol/ra has five specimens. Four of them represent the species commonly known as O/h'a ///a//ra Lamarck showing glossy lus-

^ From Webster's Dictionary. "Porphyry, a rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark red or purple groundmass. It is found in Egypt and was much used by the Romans".

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218 Bulletin 227

ter and good color ; it is assumed that these four specimens are not originals but had been added to the collection before it was acquired by The Lin- nean Society as suggested by Hanley. The remaining or fourth specimen is marked with the number 350 on the back and is considered as original and as such, we have selected it as the lectotype of Voliita oliva Linnaeus. Its description follows: The shell is relatively small for the genus (length

29 mm.), narrowly cylindrical in form and of uniform diameter through- out, except at the ends, the outer lip straight, with no angulation at the shoulder level. Sutures are grooved or channelled and terminate at the aperture in simple, unthickened margins. The color of the surface is a dull white with a few blotches of black in no fixed arrangement. The plaits and lirations along the parietal wall and pillar are similar to those seen on most species of Oliva.

The salient characters of the shell are as follows:

1. Its small size as compared to the average in the genus.

2. Its low, conic spire (different from that of O. niaiira which has a de- pressed or sunken spire).

3. Its simple sutures throughout (again different from O. nnu/ya in which the sutural margins at the lip termination are raised and thickened).

4. Form and spacing of the pillar plaits (in close agreement with Oliva ispidula of authors) .

5. White color with a few black blotches following no set pattern.

A careful study of the large series of Oliva in the collection of the

United States National Museum at Washington, D. C, led to the identifi- cation of the Linnaean shell with the small form of Oliva ispidula of authors common in the Philippines, and it seems likely that the Linnaean shell came from that general region. For this comparative study, the senior author is indebted to Dr. J. P. E. Morrison of the National Museum for his help and interest in this problem. We, therefore, designate; Zamboanga,

Mindanao, Philippines, as the type locality for Oliva oliva (Linnaeus).

(Ill) Voluta ispidula Linnaeus Pl. 19, fig. 3

1758. Systema Naturae, ed. 10, p. 730, No. 351

1767. " " , ed. 12, p. 1158, No. 400

In the box of Voluta ispidula, there are three specimens which had been glued on the same tablet. The smallest specimens, originally placed on the left side, is a small Olivella of unknown affinity; the second or middle specimen is a poorly preserved Agaronia (either testacea or

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LiNNAEAN Olives: Olsson and Dance 219

hialula) ; the third and largest specimen is a fossil Agaroiua and is marked on the back with the number 351. All three specimens are considered as original; the larger one, marked with the Linnaean number 351, we have selected as the lectotype of Voliita hpidiila Linnaeus.

The original description of V . npidiila in the 10th edition of the

Systenia Naturae, by itself, hardly permits a positive identification of the species, but it does mention "spira proni'meiite" which fits the marked specimen. In this connection, Hanley's remarks are worth quoting — "for a fossil, which has much the general aspect of O. hiatiila (which species has the most prominent spire . . .), but which the late Mr. G. B. Sowerby informed me was the O. plicaria of Lamarck, is marked for the species in the collection". Sowerby had, therefore, recognized the marked speci- men in the Linnaean collection as the fossil species O. plicaria.

Positive identification of the marked specimen depended upon the re- moval of the glue covering the aperture so that the pillar plaits could be seen. After removal of the glue, the shell was easily identified as Oliva plicaria of Lamarck (1811), a common fossil in the Burdigalian Miocene of southwestern France. For assistance in this identification, we wish to thank Mr. C. P. Nuttall. We desiginate, as type locality, Burdigalian

Miocene, Saucats, Gironde, France.

SUMMARY

L Volnta porphyria Linnaeus Oliva porphyria (Linnaeus)

The original description m the 10th edition, and somewhat further supplemented in the 12th edition, is fully sufficient for a definite identifica- tion of Voh/ta porphyria with the Panama Tent Olive along tradional lines.

For type locality, we select Isla Pedro Gonzales in the Archipielago de las

Perlas (Pearl Islands) in the Gulf of Panama.

II. Voh/ta oliva Linnaeus Oliva oliva (Linnaeus)

(Syn. Oliva ispiJ/da of authors not of Linnaeus)

Oliva oliva is the type of the genus Oliva Bruguiere, 1789, by tauto- nomy and monotypy. At first a genus without mention of species, estab- hshed fully by Lamarck, 1799.

The name Oliva oliva (Linnaeus) replaces that of Oliva ispicJ/da of most authors, not of Linnaeus, a common Indo-Pacific species.

For type locality we select Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.

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220 Bulletin 227

III. Voh/ta ispidi/Ia Linnaeus Agaronia isp/J//la (Linnaeus)

(syn. Ol/i'ci plicaria Lamarck, 181 1) A Miocene fossil.

Ispidula Gray, 1847 becomes a direct synonym of Agaronia Gray,

1839.

For type locality we select, Burdigalian Miocene; Saucats, Gironde,

France.

REFERENCES CITED

d'Argenville, Antoine Joseph Dezallier d' (Dezallier d'Argenville)

1742. L'histnire ndturelle . . . la Conchyliologie. Pp. 492, 33 pis.

Bruguiere, Jean Guillaume

1789. Histoive naturelle des Vers. Eucyclopedie Methodique. Vol. 1, pp.

344.

Dodge, Henry

1952- A historical review of the ?nollusks of Linnaeus. Pts. 1-7. Amer.

1959. Mus. Nat. Hist., Bull., vol. 100, 263 pp.; vol. 103, 134 pp.; vol. 107,

157 pp.; vol. Ill, pp. 155-312; vol. 113, pp. 75-224; vol. 116, pp. 155-

223; vol. 118, 209-255.

Favanne de Montcervelle, J. de and G. J. de

1780. La Conchyliologie . . . Third ed., 2 vols., atlas.

Gray, John Edward

1839. The zoology of Capt. Beechey's voyage . . . to the Pacific and Beh-

ring's Straits . . '. 1825-28 ... Pp. XII, 186, 44 pis.

1847. A list of the genera of Recent Moll u sea, their synonyma and types.

Zool. Soc. London, Proc. for 1847, pt. XV, pp. 129-219.

Gualtieri, Niccolo

1742. Index Testariun Conchyliorum . . . , XXIII pp. + 110 pis.

Hanley, Sylvanus Charles T.

1855. Ipsa Liivijci Conchyl/a. . . Pp. 556, 5 pis.

Lamarck, Jean Baptiste P. A. de Monet de

1799. Prodrome d'line nouvelle classification dts Coquilles. . . Soc. d hist.

nat. Paris, Mem., pp. 63-85.

1801. Systeme des animaux sans Vertebres, . . . Pp. VIII, 432

1811. Suite de la determination des especes de mollusques testaces. Con- tinuation du genre Porcellaine et des genres Ovula, Tarriere, Ancillaire, et

Olive. Ann. Mus. Hist. nat. Paris, vol. 16, pp. 89-114, 300-328.

Linnaeus, Carl

1758. Systema Naturae . . . Tenth ed., 2 vols., ii, 1384 pp.

1767. Systema Naturae . . . Twelfth ed., 3 vols.; vol. 1, 1327 [36} pp.

Regenfuss, Franz Michael

1758. Auserlesne Schnecken Muscheln und andre Schaalthiere . . . Pp XIV

LXXXVII, 12 pis.

Rumphius [Rumpfl, Georg E.

1705. D'Amboinsche Rariteitkamer, ... Pp. XXXVII, 340 [43], 60 pis.

1741. Same. Later edition, XX, 340 [43] pp., 60 pis.

[Begin Page: Plates, Page [221]]

PLATES

[Begin Page: Expl. of Plate 19, Page 222]

222 Bulletin 227

Explanation of Plate 19

Linnaean Olives

Figure Page

1, la. Voluta porphyria Linnaeus 216

[Oliva porphyria (Linnaeus)]

L Side view of lectotype showing the concave curvature of the middle section of the outer lip {"labro medio retuso"). la. Dorsal view of same specimen. Height

76.5 mm., diameter 36.8 mm, Lectotype, The Linnean

Society of London.

2, 2a. Voluta oliva Linnaeus 217

[Oliva olira (Linnaeus)]

Dorsal and ventral views of lectotype. Height 29 mm., diameter 12.5 mm. Lectotype, The Linnean Society of

London.

3. Voluta ispidula Linnaeus 218

'iAgaro)iia ispidula (Linnaeus)]

Apertural view. Height 32.8 mm., diameter 11.5 mm.

Lectotype, The Linnean Society of London.

[Begin Page: Plate 19]

Bull. Amer. Paleont., Vol. 50

Plate 19

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