AN ANALYSIS OF SHELL SHAPE VARIATION IN THE PAINTED TOPSHELL CALLIOSTOMA ZIZYPHINUM (L.) (PROSOBRANCHIA: TROCHIDAE

Littoral and sublittoral Calliostoma zizyphinum (L.) from fourteensites around Ireland are compared by a new method of shell shapeanalysis. The apparatus used is described and results show clearvariation between populations. It is also used to show similaritybetween the variegated and white morphs found in StrangfordLough. Patterns of growth are shown to be largely in responseto the habitat conditions encountered at each site. The meanapical angle of each population is shown to be of great importancein distinguishing populations of topshells, as it varies withthe relative exposure of each site. (Received 30 July 1986;