Snails on rocky sea shores (Naturalists' Handbook Series): 30 - Softcover

John Crothers

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1907807152 ISBN 13: 9781907807152

Publisher: Pelagic Publishing, 2012

Synopsis

The snails found living on rocky sea shores are among the most rewarding invertebrate animals to study. Species such as dog-whelks, topshells and winkles are easy to find, capture, identify, measure and mark. This book provides a key to common species, background ecology, an overview of rocky shore habitats and the techniques required for anyone to study this fascinating and accessible fauna.

About this title

Review:

It s 18 years since The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd issued Animals of sandy shores by Peter Hayward as No 21 in the series of Naturalists Handbooks. Companion volumes have long been awaited. So John Crothers Snails on rocky sea shores is specially welcome. Its much narrower focus allows the author to condense wide experience into an accessible handbook that will hopefully stimulate a new generation to study this fascinating area of our natural history. Cautioning against the search for rarities, the book offers a wealth of information to back up its claim that it is the most common species of snails that are the most interesting. Aiming to be useful to a wide range of readers, the book provides two keys to assist the identification of species. The first is the traditional dichotomous approach but this is supplemented by inclusion of a pictorial key, a format now familiar to very many by its use in the popular folders issued by the Field Studies Council. The author does not claim more than he delivers. To assist those who will use the book as an aid when first becoming interested in our coastal marine life, coverage is limited to species whose nominal size is over 6mm. This reduces the number covered, with under 40 species being keyed out. That, perhaps, is as many species as a beginner can handle but it is likely that tinies will turn up very quickly, especially if sifting through shell sand from the bottom of rock pools and runnels among the outcrops. While species such as the former (Haliotosis tuberculata and Gibbula pennanti), which are limited in distribution t o the Channel Islands, do key out in both formats, it is somewhat surprising that the American slipper limpet (Crepidula fornicata) with its association with mussel beds is not mentioned at all. Molluscan nonclomenture has been subject to considerable change since Warne s published Shell Life by Edward Step (updated in a new format as British Shells by Nora F. Macmillan). To assist those who wish to cross reference with the older volumes, the author helpfully tabulates the earlier names with those currently in use. Unfortunately, one of the works mentioned to assist identification of the smaller species is out of print and when re-issued will probably be at a cost that will limit its usefulness to all but the most ardent. The other is at a price that will deter most people and may not readily be available through local libraries. A follow up volume by this author to cover the smaller snails on rocky sea shores would be a valuable addition to the series. Some links are given to the two main societies devoted to molluscs. The Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland is misnamed as the Conchological Society of London, and the references to both societies would have been strengthened by inclusion of the necessary contact details. Nearly half a century ago, I was rock-pooling one afternoon on the north Devon coast when asked by two elderly Londoners what I was doing. It emerged that this was their first real seaside holiday and they had never encountered rock pools on any of their previous outings to the coast. They knew about cockles, whelks and winkles from promenade stalls but had no idea at all where the creatures came from, other than out of the sea. They spent nearly an hour with me as I led them across the rocks to show them the range of wildlife held in even quite small pools. They asked a lot of questions. How long do snails live? Why are limpets flat? What do they eat? How do they get about? Their interest was infectious and, when they had to go, they said it was the best day at the seaside they had ever had. The answers I gave would have been a lot better informed if I d had the benefit of this book that much earlier. --Graham Long, British Naturalists' Association

About the Author:

John Crothers was educated at Solihull School and at St Catharine s College, Cambridge. After graduating BA in 1962, he gained a post-graduate Certificate in Education a year later. In July 1963, he joined the staff of the Field Studies Council as Assistant Warden of Dale Fort Field Centre under the redoutable John Barrett. In 1967, John was appointed Warden of the Leonard Wills Field Centre at Nettlecombe Court in Somerset and remained in post until he retired at the end of 1999. Academic staff at Field Centres have endless opportunities for research and John published more than 75 scientific papers; those relating to the geographical patterns of shell shape variation in dog-whelks earning him a PhD degree from Cambridge University under the Special Regulations in 1985. In 1977, he succeeded John Barrett as the Editor of Field Studies, the Journal of the Field Studies Council and continued in that role until 2003 when the journal ceased publication. Since 1991, he has edited The Synopses of the British Fauna for the Linnean Society of London. He reached the rank of Major (Royal Signals) in the Territotial Army, served ten years as an Appointed Member of the Exmoor National Park Committee and sat on the Councils of the British Ecological Society, The Linnean Society and the Malacological Society. He met his wife, Marilyn, whilst at Cambridge and they married in 1964; they have a son and a daughter.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pelagic Publishing
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1907807152
• ISBN 13: 9781907807152
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 120