Vol. 34, pp. 25-32 March 31, 1921 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE SHIPWORMS AND 



DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW WOOD 



BORING MOLLUSKS. 



BY PAUL BARTSCH.i 



In the preparation of a monograph on the American ship- 

 worms a lot of interesting facts have come to light, among which 

 are points pertaining to classification. These are deemed of 

 sufficient importance to merit this preliminary paper, which 

 furnishes a simple key to the generic and subgeneric groups of 

 the shipworms. I have also added descriptions o*" a number of 

 new forms, the latter having attracted considerable attention of 

 late on account of the economic problems associated therewith. 

 All these forms will be fully illustrated in the monograph which 

 is almost ready for the press. It has been deemed unnecessary 

 to cite the rather extensive, involved synonymy in the synopsis. 

 This also will be done in the monograph. 



A Key to the Genera and Subgenera of the Family Teredidae. 



Pallettes consisting of a series of cone-in-cone structures Bankia. 



Cone-in-cone elements entirely free at their distal end. 

 Distal ends of the cones terminating in a thin membrane. 

 Membrane of the cones fimbriated distally. 



Lateral fimbriations developed into long awnlike projections 



Bankia. 

 Lateral fimbriations not developed into long awnlike projections. 

 Membrane of the cones not fimbriated distally. 



Membrane of the cones denticulated distally .... Neobankia. 

 Membrane of the cones not denticulated distally. 



Membrane of the cones entire distally Bankiella. 



Cone-in-cone elements not entirely free at their distal end. 



Cones almost fused on the outside where they are covered by a thick 

 periostracum Nausitora. 



1 Published by permission of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



3— Pkoc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 34, 1921. (25) 



