British Prosobranch Molluscs: Their functional anatomy and ecology (revised and updated edition)

The publication in 1962 of the first edition of British Prosobranch Molluscs marked a milestone in molluscan literature. Covering all prosobranchs (marine, freshwater and terrestrial) it provided the most comprehensive synthesis on the subject, much of which was based on the authors' own research. Vera Fretter's beautiful drawings were then and still are a valuable asset in the study of molluscan anatomy. For 30 years it has remained a standard textbook for all students of Mollusca from zoology undergraduates to professional malacologists.

Advances in recent years with the increased popularity of the Mollusca as a vehicle for research has meant that a proportion of the information in the 1962 work is incomplete and in some cases out-of-date. The decision to publish a new updated edition is therefore welcome. Although Vera Fretter died in October 1992, the bulk of the revisionary work had been done and the book was in the galley proof stage.

The result is a mixture of old and new. It now comprises 2 parts: Part I which is essentially the 1962 edition with a few minor changes. The original chapter on the excretory system has been deleted along with data on shell secretion, parasites and the appendices. Part II contains new chapters. The book is prefaced with notes on preparation and use of the book and nomenclature. The latter is necessary because the nomenclature in Part I has not been updated to equate with that used in Part II. For readers familiar with the changes in nomenclature in recent years this will not present too many problems (although many of the names in Part II do not concur with any one of the recent checklists). For those less familiar, the differences may well give rise to confusion. This is further compounded with aggregates such as the littorinids; in 1962 only 4 species were recognised whereas the extension chapter in Part II now refers to 8 species.

The Introduction to the revised edition has been completely rewritten and is based on the current concepts of evolution and classification. This is a very useful and readable summary of the evolution, phylogeny and adaptive radiation of the gastropods and their higher classification. Much of this is based on the work of the Austrian malacologists Salvini-Plawen and Haszprunar.

In Part II the new material is presented in 14 chapters. These chapters represent extensions of, or replacements for, several of the chapters in Part I taking into account new facts and ideas. These refer to alimentary anatomy and feeding; the endocrine, excretory and vascular systems; ecology, classification and relationships. At the end of each chapter there are cross-references to other chapters in Part II (see below). There is much of interest within these chapters particularly those for individual prosobranch families or species. There are separate accounts for littorinids, limpets, trochids and calyptraeids, hydrobiids, naticids and Nucella lapillus. All of these data may be found elsewhere but the presentation in this summary form with full referencing is very useful. In the Nuceila section, for example, in addition to new anatomical information there is an account of all the recent studies on the effect of tributylin (TBT).

The References spanning some 75 pages are invaluable yet it has been decided to split them into 2; those for Part I and those for Part II. If the References for Part II were all published after 1962 then this would appear logical, but as this is not the case then it would have been more appropriate to amalgamate them.

I have had a copy of the first edition for many years and although I refer to it often, it is an infuriatingly difficult book to use. The problem is that the information is difficult to access in spite of a subject index and a systematic index. My main use for the book is usually to obtain information on a particular species. However, the systematic index merely lists the page numbers for each species and the reader has to consult most of these pages to find the required information. Unfortunately much of the information contained in the new edition is even less accessible. In the new edition there is a general index only, which covers Parts I and II. The lack of systematic entries means that there is no easy way of getting information on a particular species. Similarly, the cross referencing in Part II only cross refers within Part II and not also with Part I. Notes in parentheses have been inserted in Part I to draw attention to chapters in Part II. Thus, to ensure that no information is missed, it is advisable to consult the relevant chapters in Part II before consulting Part I!

I regard the absence of detailed indexes in such a large volume as a major impediment to retrieving information and the revision to Part I is inadequate. This is a great pity and a little more editorial imagination could have foreseen and addressed these problems. There are several software packages available nowadays that would have enabled computer production of a comprehensive index and cross-referencing system which would have made this work much more user-friendly.

It would be easy to allow irritation with the production to detract from what is an indispensable malacological work that is likely to remain the standard for many years. Many members of the Conchological Society tend to be more interested in biogeography and taxonomy rather than physiology and it should be stressed that it is not the intention of this work to provide information on the former. However, if you only intend to have one reference work on the functional anatomy and ecology of this country's fauna, then British Prosobranch Molluscs is recommended for you. At £83 it is far from cheap and it is, therefore, a great incentive to join the Ray Society who offer it to Members for around half the price.