Triphorids are (mostly) sinistral gastropods occurring worldwide, but with their highest diversity in the tropics and in the Indo-Pacific biogeographic province. In cooperation with colleagues worldwide and with Hannco Bakker from Naturalis in particular, I am revising their taxonomy. The subtle morphological differences among species, the high diversity (estimated in the several hundred species) and small size caused the introduction of hundreds of names whose meaning is often not clear due to poor original descriptions and illustrations. Our strategy addresses the problem by:
revising available names of fossil and extant species (see here our Nomenclator!)
revising the broad diversity of species by genus or species-group
Taxonomy of Mediterranean native and non-indigenous molluscs
Despite the Mediterranean is one of the best known basins for its molluscan fauna, still new species are routinely discovered, especially in small-sized families and in cryptic groups. Additionally, the wave of non-indigenous species from temperate and tropical oceans adds species from often poorly known taxonomic groups. By deploying integrative taxonomy methods (morphological and molecular approaches combined), we aim at revising the taxonomy of Mediterranean species-groups and families and correctly distinguish and identify non-indigenous molluscs. We also love imaging and consider excellent illustrations a must of any faunistic and taxonomic work. See here one of our examples!