Abyssal diversity: integrative taxonomy of deep-sea Sole- nogastres from the KuramBio Cruise

on Page 8 Page 2 The Malacologist Number 66 (February 2016) It is always a pleasure to edit the February issue of The Malacologist because it is the issue which reports on the Malacologists Forum. One is always guaranteed an eclectic mix of presentations, the abstracts of which are presented here. The Forum was divided into symposia on a range of topics including “Palaeomalacology and behaviour”, “Systematics and phylogeny” “Environment & Ecology” and “Conservation & Physiology”. This exciting set of presentations ranged from the development of tools to investigate the population biology of economically important whelks (presented by Phil Hollyman who won a presentation award at the Forum—see page 12) to Jurassic bivalves to Nautilus being bored by Octopus (sic). The latter presentation included a piece of video explaining how the work was done. In a new development for The Malacologist, the presenter AukeFlorian Hiemstra agreed to make his video available on U tube (see the bottom of page 5). On the theme of video and in the interests of molluscs and education (one of the Objects of the Society), I have included a link below (in Malacological Miscellany) that some readers might find entertaining. Another new development in this issue comprises two articles under the heading of Malacological Backgrounds (pages 26-29). We all operate within our own specialities and this means that there are bound to be areas in which we lack knowledge or expertise. To this end, based on Forum presentations, I commissioned two short review articles each divided into two sections (1) What are .....and (2) What is the relevance of ..... for malacology. Future possible topics which spring to mind are (i) the Tethys, (ii) antecedents of Molluscs, (iii) the coral triangle, (iv) Bayesian statistics, (v) cellular defence mechanisms (vi) ocean anoxia and (vii) Hennigian cladistics. I am open to offers for these or other articles with this structure. Hopefully these short pieces might be picked up during digital searches by students who might then take an interest in malacology for its own sake. Prof. Georges Dussart Canterbury Christ Church University North Holmes Rd., Canterbury Kent CT1 1QU U.K. 07732 30 70 71 georges.dussart@canterbury.ac.uk TAXONOMIC/NOMENCLATURAL DISCLAIMER This publication is not deemed to be valid for taxonomic/nomenclatural purposes [see Article 8b in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature 3 Edition (1985), edited by W.D. Ride et al.]. EDITORIAL Follow the link below if you would like to see the performance of two rather sweet songs about snails..... https://youtu.be/q67Rmcew9D0 MALACOLOGICAL MISCELLANY