Adriatic molluscs of the Split area
Abstract
Eighty-eight species are presented in this paper, 48 Bivalvia, 39 Gastropoda, and 1 Cephalopoda. Of the above total, eighty species were present in the samples taken in the places of their origin, and of the remaining eight species only their empty shells were found. As to their way of life, the species can be distributed as follows: 1 supratidal, 28 rock-dwellers (19 sessile, 9 vagile), 18 algae-dwellers, 35 sand-dwellers. No sharp limit can be drawn on the basis of their way of life, however, since the rocks in the investigated area were partly covered with algae, and the sand-dwellers had to put up with gravelled-sandy substrata. As to the fauna, it certainly is the characteristic fauna of the rocky coast represented mostly by rock-dwellers. The modern nomenclature has been applied in this paper to the species collected along the Dalmatian coast. The species had earlier been identified by Brusina. So far, however, the modern nomenclature is still incomplete, and differences are still encountered even in recent publications. The list of species enumerated in this paper will certainly be extended as a result of investigations still to follow. In my opinion, it is both important and interesting to continue the investigations in the neighbourhood of Split as these animals, owing to their enormous quantities, play a significant part in ’’nature’s household" and are, consequently, in practical correlation with life. Every research work brings forth new problems requiring further investigation. Owing to the shortness of its duration, my own work - which meant a real pleasure to me - will certainly leave a great deal still to be researched.
