Smith, B.J. (1992). In: Houston, W.W.K. (ed) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Canberra: AGPS Vol 8, xii 405 pp. ISBN 0 644 14598 6
Originally reviewed by D.C. Long in 1992.
Published in Journal of Conchology (1992), Vol.34
This formatted catalogue by Dr. Brian Smith is a major summation (and the first since Iredales's 1930s lists) of the state of knowledge of Australia's non-marine mollusc fauna. It is essentially a print out of a concise computer data base which gives the current (to 31 December 1990) state of taxonomic and biological knowledge of the Australian fauna - in this case Bivalvia, Gastropoda: Prosobranchia and Gastropoda: Pulmonata including the introductions. Since the catalogue provides a complete Australian synonymy for each valid genus-group and species group it is an essential reference work for any zoologist, but especially taxonomists, concerned not only with the Australian fauna but also with the fauna of the globe as a whole.
For easy location Families are listed in alphabetical order within each Class or sub- Class, but Family relationships are summarized in the Introduction. Generic and species names are also treated alphabetically. It might have been helpful to tabulate generic relationships in the more heavily represented families, such as the Camaenidae, but this is a nit-pick. Each entry at genus and species level gives essential references and other data such as type locality and location of types, brief, standardized, information on distribution (including extra-limital distribution, where applicable, for genera) and, for species, ecological preference.
There are clear statements of which families are in need of revision and lists of species of uncertain status; these features enhance the value of this work. There is a taxonomic index and the appendices include a listing of the taxonomic decisions made in this work.
As far as the indigenous fauna is concerned it is interesting that, despite justified criticisms, the work of the late Tom Iredale laid the groundwork for this catalogue. There were however some slight surprises over the introductions: the inclusion of Euconulus in the Helicarionidae (p. 229), the use of Cionellidae for Cochlicopidae (p. 208), and the acceptance of a tentative 1952 record of Ena montana from Sydney (p. 221).
The volume is very well produced with eminently readable type, and I was unable to find any typographical errors.
Dr. Brian Smith is to be congratulated on the fine result of his major project. It will remain a standard reference work for many years - thoroughly recommended.