Murex brandaris
Dear readers
I am interested in the sea snail Murex (now Bolinus) brandaris. In biblical times it was used as a source of purple dye used in religious garments and was very expensive for many years. It was later that purple dye was produced chemically by William Perkin and in Victorian times became a fashionable colour. The name Brandaris is also used for the powerful lighthouse on the Friesian island of Terschelling where my husband's family came from and so we called our house "Brandaris" here in Hertfordshire.
It would be interesting to know how this mollusc got its name. Was it perhaps discovered or identified by a Dutchman? Can any reader of Mollusc World help me answer this question?
Sincerely, Patricia Klijn.
Contacts and help with molluscs in Pakistan
Mr Pervaiz Iqbal, a PhD student at the University of Karachi who is working on marine molluscs for his research and also as a hobby, recently contacted the Society asking for help with identification - the literature available to him is limited.
I have sent him details of various websites that might be useful, and have also suggested that he might find Conch-L helpful.
He would welcome any contacts from CS members interested in marine shells from Pakistan and neighbouring areas, and would be very grateful for any spare books or pdfs of relevant publications. His contact details are:
PERVAIZ IQBAL
Research Fellow
Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology,
University of Karachi
Pakistan 75270
pvza_mb@hotmail.com