The status of Littorina aestuarii Jeffreys an approach using morphology and biochemical genetics

As a contribution towards rationalizing the taxonomy of the genus Littorina and to demonstrate the use of the technique of enzyme electrophoresis in molluscan taxonomy, a reassessment was made of Littorina aestuarii Jeffreys 1869. Certain morphological features of specimens from the type locality showed strong differences from L. mariae but their distinction from L. obtusata was less marked. Enzyme studies corroborated these findings and demonstrated that L. aestuarii is genetically similar to, and therefore should be regarded, we suggest, as a junior synonym of L. obtusata.