Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1970, Qupperneq 63

NÁTTÚRUFRÆÐINGURINN
57
SUMMARY
Deep-water mollusks off the north coast of Iceland
by 7. Óskarsson,
Marine Research Institute, Reykjavík.
The author discusses 5 species of mollusks (Mollusca) collected in deep
waters off the north coast of Iceland during a Marine Research Instilute cruise.
The specimens were caught in a prawn trawl at position 67°04'N, 19° 15'W,
it 470 m depth. Bottom temperature was 2.3°C.
The following species were collected:
1. Cuspidaria glacialis (G. O. Sars).
2. Buccinum hydrophanum (Hancock).
3. Turrisipho lachesis (Mörch).
4. Colus togatus (Mörch).
5. Colus islandicus (Chemn.).
The last species is rather common in Icelandic waters, but the other four
are rare.
The author looked for possible varieties among the specimens and measured
their size.
Two specimens of C. glacialis were caught, equal in size — 34 mm long and
22 mm wide — but both specimens dead.
All specimens of B. hydrophanum were, on the other hand, alive and ciuite
typical. The biggest one was 67 mm high and 35 mm wide.
Three dead specimens of T. lachesis were found, but the shell looked very
fresh. These were all mature, typical specimens witli ten whorls. The biggest
shell was 58 mm high and 19 mm wide.
Ten living specimens were caught of C. logatus, the largest being 68 mm
high and 30 mm wide. Only four of the specimens had more or less hairy
periostracum. From tliis fact the author concludes tiiat this characteristic is
unreliable when determining the species. In addition, the flexion of the canal
and its width are quite variable.
Ten living specimens of C. islandicus were collected. They were of varying
age. The biggest specimen was 103 mm high and 43 mm wide. The author
draws attention to the fact that in all specimens the canal was turned somc-
what to the left, a feature common for this species in Icelandic waters.
Most of the specimens lacked sonte of tlie uppcrmost whorls of tlie spire.