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Vol. XXXIX: Supplement THE FESTIVUS Page 1
THE RECENT MOLLUSCAN FAUNA OF ÎLE CLIPPERTON
(TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC)
KIRSTIE L. KAISER 1
Research Associate, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History,
2559 Puesta del Sol Road, Santa Barbara, California 93105, USA
E-mail: kirstie.kaiser@gmail.com
Abstract:
Scientific expeditions to Île Clipperton were undertaken in 1994, 1998, 2005 and 2007 to investigate community
compositions both on and around this uninhabited coral atoll. These studies have allowed a reevaluation of the
molluscan biodiversity of the most isolated oceanic island of the tropical eastern Pacific (TEP). Prior to this current
work, the last complete study (Emerson, 1994) listed a total of 92 mollusk species at Clipperton. The known molluscan
taxa are herein significantly increased 210%, for a total of 285 species. This is assuredly an underestimate, especially
for species inhabiting deeper water which has yet to be adequately sampled.
The majority of taxa are illustrated by photography and scanning electron microscopy. An inter-oceanic island
biogeographic comparison and an annotated species list are included.
Figure 1. Aerial view of Île Clipperton from the southeast, taken from a commercial tuna seiner helicopter, January 2005.
Photo: C. Fresser.
Introduction
Île Clipperton (Figures 1,2) is considered one of the
five groups of remote oceanic islands of the tropical
eastern Pacific (TEP) which are of particular
biogeographic interest. These islands pose questions
relating to dispersal and endemism in comparison to the
other island groups of the TEP and tropical west
American mainland fauna. To better understand the
Mailing address: Paseo de las Conchas Chinas #115, dept. 4, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, C.P. 48390. México. E-mail: kirstie.kaiser@gmail.com