http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Bulletins of American paleontology. Ithaca, N.Y.,Paleontological Research Institution [etc.] http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/39837 v.50, no.225-230 (1966): http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/40442 Page(s): Page [215], Page 216, Page 217, Page 218, Page 219, Page 220, Plates, Page [221], Expl. of Plate 19, Page 222, Plate 19 Contributed by: Harvard University, MCZ, Ernst Mayr Library Sponsored by: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library Generated 30 May 2012 1:39 AM http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/pdf3/010991000040442 This page intentionally left blank. The following text is generated from uncorrected OCR. [Begin Page: Page [215]] 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 species is important, as each species is the type 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 (Natural History). [Begin Page: Page 216] 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. Systema Naturae, 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 [Begin Page: Page 217] 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". [Begin Page: Page 218] 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).