Dolomena
A genus of true conchs with unresolved authorship.
Dolomena is a genus of sea snails, specifically marine gastropod mollusks that belong to the family Strombidae, commonly known as the true conchs. The genus name was first put forward by Iredale in 1931, but because he failed to include a description, he is not recognized as the genus's author under Article 13.1 of the ICZN Code.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Dolomena
- Type Species
- Strombus pulchellus
- Type Species Authority
- Reeve, 1851
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The genus Dolomena was originally introduced by Iredale in 1931, but because no description accompanied the name, Iredale is not accepted as the author under the ICZN Code. The genus includes both extant and fossil species, with a total of 18 living species and 2 fossil species listed. Among the living species are Dolomena columba, Dolomena dilatata, Dolomena eloiseae, Dolomena epidromis, Dolomena hickeyi, Dolomena marginata, Dolomena orosminus, Dolomena plicata, Dolomena pulchella, Dolomena robusta, Dolomena sibbaldii, Dolomena succincta, Dolomena swainsoni, Dolomena taeniata, Dolomena tasminae, Dolomena turturella, Dolomena vanikorensis, Dolomena vittata, and Dolomena yerburyi. The fossil species are Dolomena rutteni and Dolomena togopiensis. Several names once placed in Dolomena have since been moved to other genera, such as Dominus, Laevispira, Ministrombus, and Margistrombus, reflecting ongoing taxonomic revisions within the Strombidae.
Reader's Guide
Dolomena holds significance as a genus within the true conchs, Strombidae, despite the nomenclatural irregularity surrounding its original introduction. The lack of a description by Iredale in 1931 means the authorship remains unresolved under the ICZN Code, a point of interest for taxonomists. The genus encompasses a diverse array of species, many of which were originally described under other genera by authors such as Linnaeus, Lamarck, and Swainson, indicating a long history of taxonomic reassignment. The synonymy list shows that several species once attributed to Dolomena have been transferred to other genera, including Dominus, Laevispira, Ministrombus, and Margistrombus, reflecting ongoing refinement of strombid classification. The inclusion of both extant and fossil species, such as Dolomena rutteni and Dolomena togopiensis, gives the genus a temporal dimension spanning from the fossil record to modern seas. The work of Liverani in 2014 on the superfamily Stromboidea provides a key reference for understanding the genus's place within the group. Overall, Dolomena exemplifies the dynamic nature of gastropod taxonomy, where historical names and modern phylogenetic insights continue to shape our understanding of conch diversity.
Did You Know?
- The name Dolomena was introduced by Iredale in 1931 without a description, so he is not accepted as the author under ICZN Article 13.1.
- The genus includes two fossil species: Dolomena rutteni and Dolomena togopiensis.
- Dolomena is a genus of true conchs in the family Strombidae.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dolomena?
Dolomena is a genus of marine gastropod mollusks — essentially sea snails — that falls under the family Strombidae, the group commonly referred to as true conchs. It contains 18 living species along with 2 that are known only from the fossil record.
Who is credited with naming Dolomena?
The genus name was first proposed by Iredale back in 1931, but because he never attached a formal description to his proposal, the ICZN Code (Article 13.1) does not recognize him as the valid author of the name. This leaves the genus in a somewhat unusual state of unresolved authorship.
What family does Dolomena belong to?
Dolomena is placed within Strombidae, the family of true conchs. All 18 extant species in the genus are therefore classified as conch-type sea snails rather than, say, ceriths or nassas.
How many species are in the genus Dolomena?
There are currently 18 recognized living species and 2 fossil species assigned to Dolomena, giving the genus a total of 20 known species across its history.
Why is Dolomena's authorship considered unresolved?
Under the rules set out in Article 13.1 of the ICZN Code, a taxonomic name requires both a valid proposal and an accompanying description to be considered properly established. Since Iredale's 1931 introduction of the name lacked that description, the genus technically has no recognized author, making it one of the few conch genera with this peculiar taxonomic gap.
More in Marine Snails: Ceriths, Nassas and Conchs, Part 2 1-24
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