The Egg Masses of the Naticidae (Gastropoda)

Abstract

The process of egg collar formation by naticid whelks is described in detail, with an account of the structure of the egg masses of 9 spp. of Naticidae. The collars of 5 .American and 2 European spp. are described together with 3 unidentified egg masses re-covered from Canadian Atlantic waters. These are compared with the egg masses of other spp., previously described in the literature, and a scheme of classification for the egg collars of the Naticidae is presented on the basis of these descriptions and comparisons.