

yew YORK SHELL CLUB NOTES No. 2 February 1978 Page 7 

Fossil exposure, Tillman Canal Close-up with knife sheath to 
at Minton St., Malabar, Brevard indicate size. 
County, Florida, November 1977 Photographs by M. K. Jacobson 
I was surprised to see that there was a complete lack of other fos- 
sils: no sharks' teeth, no fish bones or skulls, nothing but mollus- 
can shells. In a later report I propose to offer a complete list of 
the shells I found. For the moment I will only say that the most 
prominent species were numerous large, heavy specimens of Mercenaria 
campechiensis Gmelin, huge numbers of Laevicardium mortoni Conrad, 
and Lucina oridana Conrad. The most numerous small shells were 
Parastarte triquestris Conrad and Gemma gemma Totten. Gastropods, 
as stated, were few in species and specimens. I found only a hand-, 
ful, including Marginella, Cerithium, Oliva, Busycon perversum Linne 
(= B. contrarium Conrad) and Melongena corona Gmelin. 
As far as living marine shells are concerned, I can only point out 
that most of the lengthy ocean shore of Brevard County is a long,» 
straight beach, such as is not particularly favorable for supporting 
a rich molluscan fauna. However, the Indian and Banana Rivers (ac- 
tually extended estuaries) present somewhat more favorable condi- 
tions, but only to the strainer or dredger. Sebastian Inlet, on the 
border between Brevard and Indian River Counties, is a delightful 
exception. It has a variety of habitat niches and consequently a 
very rich and varied shell fauna. It is one of the best collecting 
places on Florida's east coast. Unfortunately it may soon be sub- 
ject to change. At the moment the local shell collectors are ex~ 
cited because the state is undertaking extensive dredging activities 
to deepen the channel and to widen the beaches. Such circumstances 
always promise particularly good and easy shell collecting, but 
along with it comes the inevitable silting and consequent destruc- 
tion of habitat niches. 
(To be continued) 
eS 
is one of 20 snail species 
THE i fasciatus 
FLORIDA TREE SNAIL, Liguus tened status by the U.S. 
eral Tennessee River system pleuroce- 
ids, including the AMU's symbolic species Io fluvialis, and five 
Q in the proposal. 
alifornia snail taxa are included in prop (AMU NEWSLETTER) 
