Marine Species 



Busycon contrarium (Conrad) 



Illustration: Plate 9,3,fla. 



Modern distribution: Rare on east coast at Isla 

 Mujeres and Isla Contoy. Common on north coast 

 from Isla Holbox to Sisal. Rarer on northwest 

 and west coasts from Sisal to Isla Carmen, where 

 it is largely replaced by B. perversum. Collected 

 at Alacran Reef. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



DZIBILCHALTUN: ii8 unworked, largely 

 from Formative (see Table 2); 9 worked frag- 

 ments, 8 from Formative and Copo complex 

 deposits, where it was used in the manufacture 

 of jewelry. 



MAYAPAN: 2 specimens, probably Decadent 

 period, unworked (P, p. 387, fig. 47,0, listed as 

 B. perversus but clearly from photograph it is this 

 species). 



GRUTA DE OXKINTOK: i unworked, in de- 

 posits dated by Brainerd as Florescent (identified 

 by Mercer as "Fulgur perversum Linne var. co- 

 arctatum Sowerby"; photograph shows this sin- 

 estral shell is B. contrarium whereas coarctatum 

 is dextral. Cf. Mercer, 1896, pp. 47, 53, 173-74, 

 figs. 17, 18; Hatt and others, 1953, p. m). 

 ISLA CANCUN MIDDEN: 581 unworked. 

 Formative. 



TIKAL: 2 unworked (M, p. 67, also listed as 

 perversum; she also lists "about 105, tiny, imma- 

 ture, unmodified" as Busycon sp., which may be 

 this shell); 2 cut fragments, one of which is late 

 Classic (M-MS). 



UAXACTUN: I unworked, in Chicanel deposit 

 (K, p. 61, as perversum^. 



Busycon perversum (Linne) 



Illustration: F\ateC),b,bb. 



Modern distribution: Common from Progreso on 

 western north coast to Isla Carmen, Camp. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



DZIBILCHALTUN: i unworked, Formative. 



Comment: B. contrarium and perversum are dif- 

 ferent species on the peninsula, the former the 

 "normal" form, the latter characterized by a much 

 heavier shell and a strong swollen ridge about the 

 middle of the body whorl in semimature to mature 

 specimens. This difference cannot be detected in 

 juveniles, which are much commoner than the adult 

 shell, and is often impossible to distinguish in smal- 



15 



ler fragments. These doubtful specimens have been 

 assigned to the locally common species contrarium 

 in the above tabulations. We have followed the 

 taxonomy of Abbott (1954, p. 236). 



Busycon spiratum (Lamarck) 



Illustration: 'P\iiXe.<),d,dd. ~ 



Modern distribution: Common on all three coasts, 

 from Isla Mujeres, Q.R., to Isla Carmen, Camp. 

 Also at Cayo Areas. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



DZIBILCHALTUN: 12, unworked, in most 

 periods (see Table 2); one found in Late Early 

 period cache. 



MAYAPAN: i unworked, probably Decadent 

 period (P, p. 387, fig. 47, p, as B. pyrum Dillwyn, 



which is this species). 

 LABNA: I, pierced near base for suspension, 

 otherwise unworked, probably Pure Florescent 

 (E. H. Thompson, 1897b, pi. X, 18, illustrated 

 but not identified). 



ISLA CANCUN MIDDEN: 19 unworked. For- 

 mative. 



Family: NASSARIIDAE (mud snails) 



Nassarius vibex (Say) 



Illustration: Plate 6,//. 



Modern distribution: In or near swamp areas on 

 all three coasts, from Turneffe Islands, B.H., to 

 Chencan, Camp., and Cayo Areas. 



Archaeological occurrence: 



UAXACTUN: I, drilled with single hole for 

 suspension, Tepeu; found with lot of Prunum 

 apicinum virgineum and a single Oliva reticularis, 

 also with a single perforation (K, p. 61, as "Nassa 

 vibex"). 



Family: FASCIOLARIIDAE (tulips, horse conchs, 

 latirus) 



Fasciolaria hunteria (Perry) 



Illustration: Plate t.o, c,cc. 



Modern distribution: Collected only on north coast 

 of Yucatan, Celestun, and the Alacran Reef. 



Archaeological occurrence (the following occurrence 

 is outside modern known habitat, although Can- 

 cun was very heavily collected): 

 ISLA CANCUN MIDDEN: i unworked. For- 

 mative. 

 UAXACTUN: The Ricketsons report one "Fasci- 



