Catalogue of brachiopod and phoronid specimens of the Department of Zoology, the University Museum, the University of Tokyo
Michiko Saito1) and Kazuyoshi Endo2)
1)Marine Biosystems Research Center, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage, Chiba, 263-8522 Japan
2)Institute of Geoscience, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8572 Japan
Summary
Recent brachiopod and phoronid samples stored in the Department of Zoology of the University Museum, consist of 74 specimens of brachiopods (22 Lingulata; 1 Craniata; 51 Rhynchonellata) and one phoronid, and constitute a historically important collection. The provenance of specimens can be traced back more than a hundred years ago (1888 to 1911), in the Meiji era, when university education just started in Japan. Leading professors of the former Zoological Institute, University of Tokyo, such as Kakichi Mitsukuri, Isao Ijima, Shigeho Tanaka collected many of those specimens.
The specimens do not include a type specimen of any kind, and, as far as known, have not been described or figured in publication. Unfortunately, some of the material were found in bad condition: alcohol had been dried out and/or the labels missing. However, the collection is precious in that they include specimens collected from localities that have been destroyed and do no exist at the present time. Above all, population samples of Lingula anatina from the Seto Inland Sea are particularly important because the brachiopod population in this area is extinct now. Specimens collected from Misaki show a different species composition from that observed today: Terebratulina crossei has never been collected during recent surveys for more than 20 years. Large samples of Lingula anatina, which is rare in Misaki now, also tell us that a rich population existed at that time.
This database has been written using the software FileMaker Pro. ver. 4 (FileMaker, Inc.). The output data shown in this paper are arranged in a current taxonomic order and include the following pieces of information: 1) number of individuals included in the jar, 2) condition of the specimens, 3) label information, and 4) remarks. When the jar contains several labels, a summary is shown. Detailed data are given in the original database files that will be made open to the public in the home page of the University Museum, University of Tokyo.
