Richard Dell
Encyclopedia
Dr Richard Kenneth Dell was a New Zealand
malacologist
.
He was born in Auckland
. As a young boy, he took an interest in shells, collecting them from the shores of Waitemata Harbour
. He even managed to start a "museum" in his backyard. He also helped curate the Auckland War Memorial Museum
shell collection.
Dell went to Mount Albert Grammar School
and later to the Auckland University College. He took a teacher’s course at Auckland Teachers' College
, but World War II
delayed his plans of becoming a teacher. He joined the New Zealand Artillery, serving on Nissan Island
, the Solomon Islands
, in the Middle East
, Egypt
, and Italy
.
He later published several papers on the land snail
s he had collected in the Solomon Islands.
After the war, Dell was offered a job as malacologist at the Dominion Museum
, where he started to standardise the cabinets and built up a collection of more than 30,000 specimens. In the meantime, he took a Masters degree in Science at Victoria University of Wellington
, with a pioneering thesis on octopus
es and squid
.
His breakthrough came with the Chatham Islands
Expedition of 1954. The results were published in 1956 as The Archibenthal Mollusca of New Zealand, which was a major contribution to the knowledge of molluscan fauna in the bathyal zone
of New Zealand waters. This publication earned him a Doctorate in Science in 1956.
Soon after, he started to work on Antarctic collections, with among others Alan Beu and Winston Ponder
. In 1964 he published a major monograph
on the Antarctic bivalves, chiton
s and scaphopods.
Dell became first Assistant Director in 1961 and later in 1966, Director of the Dominion Museum, that would become the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
.
He retired in 1980, and started writing again. In 1990 he published his standard work Antarctic Mollusca with special reference to the Fauna of the Ross Sea.
Dell published more than 150 papers on Mollusca
(marine, terrestrial and freshwater), crab
s and bird
s. He also made a major contribution to the Antarctic biogeography
.
He was an honoured member of many scientific societies and committees. He won prizes and medals in New Zealand and abroad. He has named many new species of molluscs and several new crustacean
s.
Dell was the last of his generation of important New Zealand malacologists, but was an example to younger scientists.
He died, after a long illness, in Wellington
.
Other publications:
and some in the Crustacea, he has has also established a number of new genera :
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
malacologist
Malacology
Malacology is the branch of invertebrate zoology which deals with the study of the Mollusca , the second-largest phylum of animals in terms of described species after the arthropods. Mollusks include snails and slugs, clams, octopus and squid, and numerous other kinds, many of which have shells...
.
He was born in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. As a young boy, he took an interest in shells, collecting them from the shores of Waitemata Harbour
Waitemata Harbour
The quite famous Waitemata Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. For this reason it is often referred to as Auckland Harbour, despite the fact that it is only one of two harbours surrounding the city, and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Waitemata forms the north...
. He even managed to start a "museum" in his backyard. He also helped curate the Auckland War Memorial Museum
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history , natural history, as well as military history.The museum is also one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the neo-classicist...
shell collection.
Dell went to Mount Albert Grammar School
Mount Albert Grammar School
Mount Albert Grammar School, or MAGS, is a co-educational secondary school in Central Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches from year 9 to year 13. Mount Albert Grammar is one of the largest secondary schools in the country...
and later to the Auckland University College. He took a teacher’s course at Auckland Teachers' College
Auckland College of Education
Auckland College of Education was a college of education located in Auckland, New Zealand. On 1 September 2004 it amalgamated with the University of Auckland and formed a new Faculty of Education with the university’s School of Education.-History:...
, but World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
delayed his plans of becoming a teacher. He joined the New Zealand Artillery, serving on Nissan Island
Nissan Island
Nissan Island is the largest of the Green Islands of Papua New Guinea. It is located at , about 200 km east of Rabaul on New Britain and about 200 km northwest of Bougainville....
, the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
He later published several papers on the land snail
Land snail
A land snail is any of the many species of snail that live on land, as opposed to those that live in salt water and fresh water. Land snails are terrestrial gastropod mollusks that have shells, It is not always an easy matter to say which species are terrestrial, because some are more or less...
s he had collected in the Solomon Islands.
After the war, Dell was offered a job as malacologist at the Dominion Museum
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
, where he started to standardise the cabinets and built up a collection of more than 30,000 specimens. In the meantime, he took a Masters degree in Science at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, with a pioneering thesis on octopus
Octopus
The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms, and like other cephalopods they are bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms...
es and squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
.
His breakthrough came with the Chatham Islands
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
Expedition of 1954. The results were published in 1956 as The Archibenthal Mollusca of New Zealand, which was a major contribution to the knowledge of molluscan fauna in the bathyal zone
Bathyal zone
The bathyal zone or bathypelagic – from Greek βαθύς , deep – is that part of the pelagic zone that extends from a depth of 1000 to 4000 metres below the ocean surface. It lies between the mesopelagic above, and the abyssopelagic below. The average temperature hovers at about 39°F...
of New Zealand waters. This publication earned him a Doctorate in Science in 1956.
Soon after, he started to work on Antarctic collections, with among others Alan Beu and Winston Ponder
Winston Ponder
Winston F. Ponder B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D, D.Sc. is a noted malacologist from New Zealand who has named and described many marine animals, especially micromolluscs. He is a graduate of the University of Auckland, New Zealand....
. In 1964 he published a major monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
on the Antarctic bivalves, chiton
Chiton
Chitons are small to large, primitive marine molluscs in the class Polyplacophora.There are 900 to 1,000 extant species of chitons in the class, which was formerly known as Amphineura....
s and scaphopods.
Dell became first Assistant Director in 1961 and later in 1966, Director of the Dominion Museum, that would become the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
.
He retired in 1980, and started writing again. In 1990 he published his standard work Antarctic Mollusca with special reference to the Fauna of the Ross Sea.
Dell published more than 150 papers on Mollusca
Mollusca
The Mollusca , common name molluscs or mollusksSpelled mollusks in the USA, see reasons given in Rosenberg's ; for the spelling mollusc see the reasons given by , is a large phylum of invertebrate animals. There are around 85,000 recognized extant species of molluscs. Mollusca is the largest...
(marine, terrestrial and freshwater), crab
Crab
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax...
s and bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s. He also made a major contribution to the Antarctic biogeography
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
.
He was an honoured member of many scientific societies and committees. He won prizes and medals in New Zealand and abroad. He has named many new species of molluscs and several new crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s.
Dell was the last of his generation of important New Zealand malacologists, but was an example to younger scientists.
He died, after a long illness, in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
.
Selected publications
In scientific journals :- Dell, R.K. (1950) A Tertiary molluscan fauna from Waikowhai, Manukau Harbour, Auckland. Dominion Museum Records in Zoology, 1, 29–37.
- Dell, R.K. (1952) A revision of the molluscan fauna of the Hurupi beds, southern Wairarapa. Dominion Museum Records in Zoology, 1, 71–86.
- Dell, R.K. (1953) A molluscan fauna from the Chatham Rise, New Zealand. Dominion Museum Records in Zoology, 2, 37–50.
- Dell, R.K. (1955) Nature in New Zealand Native Shells. A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, 64 pp.
- Dell, R.K. (1956) The archibenthal Mollusca of New Zealand. Dominion Museum Bulletin, 18, 1–235.
- Dell, R.K. (1956) Some new off-shore Mollusca from New Zealand. Dominion Museum Records in Zoology, 3, 27–59.
- Dell, R.K. (1962) Additional archibenthal Mollusca from New Zealand. Dominion Museum Records in Zoology, 4, 67–76.
- Dell, R.K. (1963) Notes on some New Zealand Mollusca in the British Museum. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Zoology, 3, 171–177.
- Dell, R.K. (1963) Archibenthal Mollusca from northern New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Zoology, 3, 205–216.
- Dell, R.K. (1972) Notes on nomenclature of some Mollusca from Antarctica and southern South America. Records of the Dominion Museum, 8, 21–42.
- Dell, R.K. (1990) Antarctic Mollusca with special reference to the fauna of the Ross Sea. The Royal Society of New Zealand Bulletin, 27, 1–311.
Other publications:
- The New Zealand Cephalopoda (1952)
- The fresh-water Mollusca of New Zealand, 3 parts (1953 - 1956)
- The position of systematics in the biological sciences (1953)
- Cephalopoda (1959)
- Antarctic and Subantarctic Mollusca, Bivalvia, Amphineura and Scaphopoda (1964)
Taxa named by R.K. Dell
Apart from having named numerous species in the MolluscaMollusca
The Mollusca , common name molluscs or mollusksSpelled mollusks in the USA, see reasons given in Rosenberg's ; for the spelling mollusc see the reasons given by , is a large phylum of invertebrate animals. There are around 85,000 recognized extant species of molluscs. Mollusca is the largest...
and some in the Crustacea, he has has also established a number of new genera :
- Alertalex Dell, 1956 (Calliostomatidae)
- AntarctodomusAntarctodomusAntarctodomus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.-Species:Species within the genus Antarctodomus include:* Antarctodomus okutanii Numanami, 1996...
Dell, 1972 (Buccinidae) - Benthomodiolus Dell, 1987 (Mytilidae )
- Cavellioropa Dell, 1952 (Charopidae)
- Chathamidia Dell, 1956 : synonym of ExiliaExiliaExilia is an Italian nu metal band. They combine elements of alternative metal, rock, and hard rock in their music.-History:Exilia formed in 1993 in Milan, Italy, when Masha met guitarist Elio Alien....
Conrad, 1860 (Ptychatractidae ) - FalsitrominaFalsitrominaFalsitromina is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.-Species:Species within the genus Falsitromina include:* Falsitromina bella...
Dell, 1990 (Buccinidae) - Flammoconcha Dell, 1952 (Charopidae)
- Maoriconcha Dell, 1952 (Charopidae)
- MaoricraterMaoricraterMaoricrater is a genus of true limpets, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Lepetidae, the true limpets. This genus is endemic to New Zealand.-Species:Species within the genus Maoricrater include:...
Dell, 1956 (Lepetidae) - Maoriscaphander Dell, 1950 (Cylichnidae)
- Obanella Dell, 1952 (Charopidae)
- Pseudegestula Dell, 1954 (Charopidae)
- family Rhizoridae Dell, 1952 (superfamily Philinoidea) [originally regarded as a synonym of RetusidaeRetusidaeRetusidae is a family of small sea snails, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks. They are headshield slugs, in the clade Cephalaspidea.-Genera:Genera within the family Retusidae include:* Coleophysis* Cylichnina Monterosato, 1884...
by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) but reinstated as valid by Malaquias et al. (2009) ] - RissopsetiaRissopsetiaRissopsetia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Rissopsetia include:* Rissopsetia hummelincki Faber, 1984...
Dell, 1956 (Pyramidellidae) - Ruapukea Dell, 1952 (Aclididae)
- TasmaliraTasmaliraTasmalira is a genus of marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cerithiidae, the cerithids.-Species:Species within the genus Tasmalira include:* Tasmalira vitrea * Tasmalira wellingtonensis Dell, 1956- Further reading :...
Dell, 1956 (Cerithiopsidae) - Tasmocrossea Dell, 1952 (Skeneidae)
- TecticraterTecticraterTecticrater is a genus of very small deepwater limpets, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Lepetellidae.-Species:Species in the genus Tecticrater include:* Tecticrater cervae * Tecticrater compressa...
Dell, 1956 (Lepetellidae) - (Crustacea) Pteropeltarion Dell, 1972 (Trichopeltariidae)
Taxa named after R.K. Dell
- Brookula delliBrookula delliBrookula delli is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Liotiidae....
Numanami, 1996 - Calliotropis delliCalliotropis delliCalliotropis delli is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliotropidae....
Marshall, 1979 - Carditella delli Crozier, 1966
- Cuspidaria delli Knudsen, 1970
- Cyclochlamys delli Dijkstra & Marshall, 2008
- Cymonomus delli Griffin & Brown, 1975
- Gasparia delli (Forster, 1955)
- Limatula delli Fleming, 1978
- Neilo delli B.A. Marshall, 1978
- Nereis delli Knox, 1960
- Nuculana delliana Huber, 2010
- Ogyrides delli Yaldwyn, 1971
- Otukaia delli McLean & Andrade, 1982
- Penion benthicola delli Powell, 1971
- Platypodia delli Takeda & Webber, 2006
- Podocatactes delli (Guinot, 1989) (basionym: Trachycarcinus delli Guinot, 1989)
- Tractolira delliTractolira delliTractolira delli is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes....
Leal & Harasewych, 2005 - Zeacolpus delli Marwick, 1957 : synonym of Stiracolpus pagodaStiracolpus pagodaStiracolpus pagoda, common name : the pagoda turret, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turritellidae.-References:...
(Reeve, 1849) )