Taxonomic Split 10164 (Committed on 2015-01-23)

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Nucella. This happens when we can't automatically assign an identification to one of the output taxa. Review identifications of Nucella emarginata 117640

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Taxonomic Split 10164 (Committed on 2015-01-23)

N. emarginata was split by Marko et al. 2003 based on morphology, mtDNA, and cross-breeding, and WoRMS seems to support this split. There's an extensive description of the differences at http://www.asnailsodyssey.com/LEARNABOUT/WHELK/whelNuce.php.

The shell of either species can be smooth or ribbed, however, in ribbed specimens, N. ostrina possesses smooth ribs without knobs, whereas N. emarginata has ribs that are knobbly.

N. ostrina is the more northerly species, ranging from Yakutat, AK to Point Conception, CA.

N. emarginata sensu stricto ranges from San Francisco, CA down through Baja. Both species occur in central CA, where the two ranges overlap.

In Central California, N. emarginata is found in slightly more sheltered situations such as coastal embayments, and is not found on the most exposed parts of the coastline.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) (Citation)

Added by kueda on January 22, 2015 07:24 PM | Committed by kueda on January 23, 2015

Nucella emarginata 117640
2 observations Inactive

Covered by a taxon framework for Phylum Mollusca Sourced to MolluscaBase

Relationship: Unknown

split into

Nucella ostrina 122704
2910 observations Active Not Atlased

Covered by a taxon framework for Phylum Mollusca Sourced to MolluscaBase

Relationship: match
Nucella emarginata 429195
382 observations Active Not Atlased

Covered by a taxon framework for Phylum Mollusca Sourced to MolluscaBase

Relationship: match