Barry Wilson e Peter Clarkson, Australia’s Spectacular Cowries. A review and field study of two endemic genera: Zoila and Umbilia, Ed. Odissey, 2004

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his comprehensive volume is designed as a practical handbook for marine biologists, divers, shell collectors, students and naturalists. Covering 10 species of the endemic Australian genera Zoila and Umbilia, Australia’s Spectacular Cowries offers an impressive collation of information on the variation, distribution, habitats, living and fossil history of these popular and beautiful marine animals. Most of the species in these groups are characterised by extreme variability in shell form and colour pattern.

With photographs of over 600 shell specimens, each of the known variations of every species is illustrated in full colour. The book also includes detailed distribution maps and more than 250 photographs of the animals in their natural habitats. Australia’s Spectacular Cowries is a concise, easy-to-read guide to these endemic Australiah cowries.

Contents:

• Introduction
• History of Cowry Collection and Study in Australia
  • Classification of the Cowries
  • Higher Classification of Cowries
• Classification within the Cypraeidae
• Modern Marine Biogeography of the Australian Coast
• Origins of the Australian Endemic Cowry Genera
• Direct Development in the Australian Endemic Genera
• Some Views About Cowry Taxonomy
• The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature [ICZN]
• Morphology of Cowry Animals and their Shells
• Shell Defects
• Predation on Cowries
• Collecting Cowries
• Photographing Cowries in their Natural Environments
• Taxonomy
  • Genus Zoila
    • Zoila friendii
      • friendii friendii
      • friendii jeaniana
      • friendii thersites
    • Zoila marginata
      • marginata marginata
      • marginata ketyana
      • marginata orientalis
    • Zoila rosselli
    • Zoila venusta
    • Zoila decipiens
    • Zoila mariellae
    • Zoila perlae
      • perlae perlae
      • perlae eludens
      • perlae delicatura
  • Genus Umbilia
    • Umbilia hesitata
    • Umbilia armeniaca
    • Umbilia capricornica
• Bibliography
• Glossary
• Abbreviations
• Acknowledgements
• About the Authors
• About the Contributors
• Taxonomic Index of Cowries
• Taxonomic Index of Sponges
• General Index

Prima Edizione del 2004, a copertina rigida fotografica a colori, con titoli al piatto e al dorso; rilegata a filo; stampata su carta semi-lucida di buona qualità e grammatura, con layout a due colonne; corredata da numerosissime fotografie e disegni a colori, anche a tutta pagina; dotata di segnalibro editoriale in seta azzurra.

Non facile da procurare, soprattutto in Italia, e quasi mai a quotazioni “popolari”.

Come Nuovo [il volume non mostra danni strutturali, strappi, segni, mancanze o usure gravi che vadano evidenziate; legatura snodata e robusta; copertine rigide pressoché intatte; con leggerissime opacità da sfregamento; coste ancora luminose; segnalibro ben conservato; ingiallimento delle pagine quasi assente].