Date:         Thu, 21 Oct 2004 20:21:47 +0200
Reply-To:     Conchologists of America List <CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sender:       Conchologists of America List <CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         mienis <mienis@NETZER.ORG.IL>
Subject:      Nerita argus and Nerita ocellata
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I have considered Nerita argus Recluz, 1841 and Nerita ocellata Le Guillou, 1841 for a long time as two different species. However, after studying numerous samples from Okinawa, throughout the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa and the Toamotu Islands, I reached the conclusion that they are one and the same species. In a large sample from Java, Indonesia, I encountered shells showing the whole range of variation mentioned by Tom as characters for argus and ocellata with all kinds of intergrades. Since that moment I have lumped them together. Since argus has page priority over ocellata, both were described in the Revue Zoologie in 1841, I am using argus for this Nerite.

Henk K. Mienis
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