Submarine Cave Bivalvia from the Ryukyu Islands: Systematics and Evolutionary Significance

Kase, Tomoki,Hayami, Itaru

ISBN 10: 4130682075 / ISBN 13: 9784130682077

Published by Univ of Tokyo Pr, 1994

About this Item

Very Good - Crisp, clean, unread book with some shelfwear/edgewear, may have a remainder mark - NICE Standard-sized.

Seller Inventory # M4130682075Z2

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Submarine Cave Bivalvia from the Ryukyu Islands: Systematics and Evolutionary Significance
• Publisher: Univ of Tokyo Pr
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 4130682075
• ISBN 13: 9784130682077
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

Submarine sheltered caves in and around coral reefs are often inhabited by characteristic and interesting organisms. As they are very local and semi-closed, intensive studies of their biota can provide information about the adaptive strategy of marine organisms in a particular environment.
A number of nearly or totally lightless sublittoral limestone caves open to the forereef slopes of three islets in the Ryukyu and Miyako Islands of southern Japan are home to a number of these cryptic organisms.
This volume describes and documents, using scanning electron micrography (SEM), 48 cavernicolous bivalves from these caves, 31 of which were found alive. They include numerous previously undescribed bivalves and gastropods in addition to some benthic foraminifers, soft sponges, sclerosponges, ahermatypic corals, bryozoans, articulate brachiopods, polychaetes, a chiton, crustaceans, and echinoids. Some of these are "living fossils," and a large number are unfamiliar species with archaic appearance.
The abundant SEM plates in this volume illustrate in sharp detail the common characteristic features of these molluscs, which give clues useful in testing theories of evolutionary ecology and marine biogeography.