Instructions for authors wishing to submit papers to the Journal of Conchology

GENERAL

The Conchological Society endeavours to publish the Journal of Conchology in the most efficient and cost effective means possible while maintaining high standards of production. Consequently, from volume 36 onwards we have moved to maximise the use of electronic page make up.

Contributors are asked to follow these instructions closely. Failure to comply will cause delay and may lead to the return of the manuscript. All papers should be written in clear, concise English. Much material appropriate in doctoral theses is unacceptable for publication. Papers are considered on the understanding that their substance is not already published or offered for publication elsewhere.

    Two copies of the manuscript should be submitted, typed double spaced throughout (including references, tables and legends) and authors should retain a copy of the complete manuscript. Authors are also encouraged to submit manuscripts on 3.5”diskettes in any common word processing format, noting that the Journal uses Word for Macintosh and Quark Xpress but can translate most PC files. Transfer of manuscript text via E-mail is also available.

COPYRIGHT

It is a condition of publication in the Journal that authors assign copyright to the Journal of Conchology. This ensures that requests from third parties to reproduce articles or figures are handled consistently and will also allow the article to be as widely disseminated as possible. In assigning copyright Authors may use their own material in other publications provided that the Journal is acknowledged as the original place of publication.

FORMAT OF MANUSCRIPT

If Small Caps are unavailable, type in upper and lower case rather than all uppercase.

Taxonomic descriptions should follow the special instructions outlined below.

NB The Journal will not accept descriptions of new species or subspecific taxa unless the primary type material is deposited in a public or institutional museum and carries a unique identity number. Descriptions of new taxa and taxonomic revisions must comply with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

SEQUENCE FOR SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS IN THE JOURNAL OF CONCHOLOGY

SUPERFAMILY (or FAMILY as appropriate)
SUBFAMILY
Genus Semele Schumacher, 1817
Type species Semele reticulata Schumacher, 1817

Definition Text
Comparisons or Remarks Text

Semele semele Brown, 1890

    (Reference to original description)
Semele semele Brown, 1890: 341, pl. 1, fig. 1
    (References to subsequent citations and synonymy)
Tellina vulgaris Smith, 1910:23
Semele semele Brown-Jones 1940: 87
Semele communis non Green, 1915- Black 1950: 45
     (Data on type material)
Holotype 1 sh, off Cape Beach, Cape County, Cape Country 230N330E, 5m, ex. coll Brown, 23 xi 1997, Museum number 1950.12.12.
Paratype As Holotype
Type locality Text
Material examined Text
     Authors are reminded that large quantities of data here may be curtailed and should therefore be summarised. Sequence of data should follow sequence given for holotype as appropriate. Live collected specimens as sp, complete dead shells as sh, single valves of bivalves as v, and fragments as fg.
Measurements Text
     Except for type material measurements of other material examined should be summarised noting number of specimens measured, mean and range.
Diagnosis Text (If appropriate)
Description Text
Derivation of name     crassicosta from the Latin crassus, thick and costa, rib; referring to the heavy radial ribs.
Habitat Text
Geographic range Text
Comparisons Text
Remarks Text

REFERENCE STYLE

Authors should note that the Journal is using full citations of journal titles.
References are listed alphabetically.
BERNARD E.R., CAI Y.Y.& MORTON B. 1993 Catalogue of the Living Marine Bivalve Molluscs of China Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong, l46pp.
OLIVER P.G. 1995 Bivalvia In S.P. Dance (ed) Seashells of Eastern Arabia 194—281 Motivate, Dubai.
OLIVER P.G. & CHESNEY H.C.G. 1994 New species of shells from Oman Journal of Conchology 35: 56—75.
RUNNEGAR B. & POJETA J. 1985 Origin and diversification of the Mollusca In E.R. Trueman & M.R. Clarke (eds) The Mollusca 10: Evolution 1—57 Academic Press, London.

In text references should take one of the following forms: ‘Oliver (1995) said...’ or (Oliver, 1995)...’ or ’... (Runnegar & Pojeta, 1985; Oliver, 1995)...’. Avoid loc cit. The first time a paper with multiple authorship is referred to give all the authors’ names, thereafter use the form of X et al. References are listed alphabetically.

TABLES & ART WORK

Tables invariably have to be type set in order to fit Journal page size. Authors are asked to submit these with their word processed document or in Tab delineated text format. Tables are numbered sequentially and legends should be appended.

    Line art should be submitted as high quality originals and care should be taken with dimensions so that reductions are proportionate to the Journal page size which is 175 x 245 mm. Text on the art work should be in a sans serif font preferably Helvetica and should be of a size proportionate for the final reduction.

    Maps and graphs can be difficult to scan and should be of fine quality. If these are made electronically on mapping or graphing software these should also be submitted on diskette.

    Production of plates is normally in halftone but colour can be published if supported by a grant from the authors. Halftone plates should be of high quality with evenly toned backgrounds. They should be proportionate to the page size and lettering should be in a sans serif font preferably Helvetica. Colour work can be submitted for halftone production.

    All line art and halftones are numbered sequentially using either numbers alone or a combination of numbers and letters Fig. I or Figs 1—3 or Figs la—f. Legends should be appended with the text.

PROOFS

The text of the paper must be ready for publication when submitted. One set of proofs will be sent; it is assumed that only printer’s errors and factual mistakes will be corrected. More extensive alterations will be charged to the author.

REPRINTS

The Journal offers the senior author 25 reprints free of charge, additional copies are charged on a per page basis. Costs at time of press are listed below but these are dependant on printers charges and should be confirmed before placing an order. Reprints are only available for full papers and not communications.

SCALE OF REPRINT CHARGES

Scale of charges for reprints

FORMAT OF COMMUNICATIONS

Manuscripts submitted to this section of the Journal are intended to be short, informative notes of an original nature which do not merit the treatment of a full paper. Contributions which enhance knowledge of the British Isles fauna, distributions and habitats, or those from students and members are especially welcome. Communications may only exceptionally contain tables, line art or half-tones. Reference style is in the form of superscript numbers within the text and short titles as a list at the end of the text. For example:
  ¹Boycott A.E. 19341. Ecol. 22: 1—38.
  ²Cameron R.A.D. 1973 Malacologia 14: 355—370.