Mattheus Marinus Schepman (17 August 1847 – 19 November 1919) Dautzenberg P. (1920). "Nécrologie. M. M. Schepman". Journal de Conchyliologie 64(4): 345. was a Dutch malacologist. He was one of the foremost collectors of mollusc shells in the Netherlands, and was also high on the overall list of European collectors.
Dutch collectors developed an interest in natural history specimens that were collected on worldwide expeditions since the 16th century. An interest in conchology led to numerous shell publications. In 1934 the Nederlandse Malacologische Vereniging (Netherlands Malacological Society) was founded. In commemoration of its 75th anniversary, a book honoring in detail the work of Mattheus Schepman was published.
His research Schepman was both a collector and a methodical scientist, which combination "made his collection of great value to the entire malacological community." He was given the opportunity to study a collection by Max Carl Wilhelm Weber, Director of the Zoölogisch Museum Amsterdam (ZMA). Many of the specimens he studied and collected were gathered by the Siboga Expedition. The expedition went to the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago and investigated 322 sites.
Schepman's most significant work is reported in "The Prosobranchia of the Siboga expedition". HM Siboga was the transport ship for the eponymous "Siboga Expedition". Published over five years and consisting of 494 pages, it covers 212 genera and 1,467 species. Eduard von Martens was involved in mollusk identification from the first expedition, and he "probably recommended Schepman for the work on the second." In any event, Schepman published seven volumes which described 2,500 specimens, and 1,235 shelled mollusc species, "many new to science."
An important aspect of his work was his scientific collection of shells, a collection which was almost unprecedented in scope and breadth. Eventually sold in 1920 to the Zoological Museum Amsterdam for ƒ7,205, the collection consisted of 9,000 species and 1,250 genera of shelled freshwater, marine, and land molluscs.
Published works
Schepman wrote over 62 malacological works. They include: (incomplete) Horst R. & Schepman M. M. (1908). Catalogue systématique des mollusques (gastropodes prosobranches et polyplacophores). Tome XIII. Leiden. Schepman M. M. & Nierstrasz H. F. (1913). "Parasitische und kommensalistische Mollusken aus Holothurien". Stuttgart.
The Prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition Schepman M. M. (1908). "The Prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition. Part I, Rhipidoglossa and Docoglossa, with an appendix by R. Bergh". Uitkomsten op zoologisch, botanisch, oceanografisch en geologisch gebied verzameld in Nederlandsch Oost-Indië 1899–1900 aan boord H. M. Siboga, Monographie, E. J. Brill, Leyden, 49a: 107 pp., 9 plates. Schepman M. M. (1908). "The Prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition. Part II, Taenioglossa and Ptenoglossa". 49b: 108–231, 7 plates. Schepman M. M. (1908). "The Prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition. Part III, Gymnoglossa". 49c: 233–246, 1 plate. Schepman M. M. & Nierstrasz H. F. (1909). "Parasitische prosobranchier der Siboga-expedition". 49(2): 1–28, 2 plates. Schepman M. M. (1911). The Prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition. "Part IV. Rachiglossa". 49d: 247–364, 7 plates. Schepman M. M. (1913). "The Prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition. Part V Toxoglossa." 49e: 365–452, 6 plates. Schepman M. M. (1913). "The Prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition. Part VI, Pulmonata and Opisthobranhia Tectibranchiata, tribe Bullomorpha." 49f: 453–494, 2 plates.
Taxa Schepman described and named a large number of taxa of molluscs, mostly species, especially species of marine gastropods. For example, in November 2012, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) listed 182 valid marine taxa (181 marine gastropods, 1 marine bivalve) that were described by Schepman.WoRMS Taxon search Scientific name contains Schepman, Limit to accepted taxa, accessed 1 November 2012.
Schepman originally described about 450 taxa, including many turrids. Examples of the numerous taxa he named and described are in the following list (synonyms are not included):
Families Freshwater and marine cave snails: Neritiliidae Schepman, 1908
Genera Sea snails (sorted chronologically): Guttula Schepman, 1908 Pseudococculina Schepman, 1908 Clavosurcula Schepman, 1913 Daphnellopsis Schepman, 1913 Meloscaphander Schepman, 1913 Volvulopsis Schepman, 1913
Species Land snails: Amphidromus reflexilahris Schepman Helicarion sumatrensis Schepman, 1886Schepman M. M. (1886). "Mollusca". In: Veth P. (ed.) Midden-Sumatra. Reizen en onderzoekingen der Sumatra-expeditie, 4: 1-18, plates 1-3. Asperitas bimaensis (Schepman, 1892) Dyakia densestriata Schepman, 1896 Hemiplecta butikkoferi Schepman, 1896 Euplecta costellifera Schepman, 1918Schepman M. M. (1918). "On a collection of Land-, Freshwater- and Marine Mollusca from Northern New Guinea". Zoologische Mededelingen 4: 1–21. PDF. Euplecta imperforata Schepman, 1918 Macrochlamys imperforata Schepman, 1918 Sitala crenocarinata Schepman, 1918 Planispira planissima Schepman, 1918 Cyclotus subcanaliculatus Schepman, 1918
Land slugs: Parmarion goedhuisi Schepman, 1896 Microparmarion litteratus Schepman, 1896Schepman M. M. (1896). "Zoological results of the Dutch Scientific Expedition to Central Borneo. The Mollusca of the Dutch Scientific Borneo-Expedition, with description of the new species". Notes from the Leyden Museum 17: 145-162, plate 2-4. Hemicarion semicalcareus Schepman, 1896
Freshwater snails: Melania subplicata Schepman, 1886 Melania snellemanni Schepman, 1886 Bellamya liberiana (Schepman, 1888)Schepman M. M. (1888). "Zoological researches in Liberia. List of Mollusca, with descriptions of new species". Notes from the Leyden Museum 10: 245-252, plate 10. Potadoma buttikoferi (Schepman, 1888) Potadoma liberiensis (Schepman, 1888)
Melania glandiformis Schepman, 1896Schepman M. M. (1896). "Descriptions of new Melanidae". Notes from the Leyden Museum 18: 135-139, plate 2. Melania schwaneri Schepman, 1896 Brotia borneensis (Schepman, 1896)Köhler F. & Glaubrecht M. (2006). "A systematic revision of the Southeast Asian freshwater gastropod Brotia (Cerithioidea: Pachychilidae)". Malacologia 48: 159-251, page 230 Melania mülleri Schepman, 1896 Melania subpunctata Schepman, 1896
Neritina (Clithon) subocellata Schepman, 1884Schepman M. M. (1884). Neritina (Clithon) subocellata v. Martens, MS.". Notes from the Leyden Museum, VII: 49-50, plate 4, fig. 3. - a synonym of Clithon diadema Melania subcostellaris Schepman, 1918 Melania sentaniensis Schepman, 1918 Melania kampeni Schepman, 1918
Freshwater bivalves: Hyridella misoolensis (Schepman, 1897)Schepman M. M. (1897). "Descriptions of a new species of Unio". Notes from the Leyden Museum 18: 259-260. Schepmania nieuwenhuisi (Schepman, 1898) Nausitora hedleyi Schepman, 1919 – brackish water species
Sea snails (sorted chronologically):
1870s and 1890s Entemnotrochus rumphii (Schepman, 1879) Nassarius javanus (Schepman, 1891) Oliva semmelinki Schepman, 1891 Ergalatax martensi (Schepman, 1892)
1903 Astralium provisorium (Schepman, 1903)
1904 Oliva dubia Schepman, 1904Schepman M. M. (1904). "Descriptions of three new species of Oliva from the Siboga-expedition". Tijdschr. Ned. Dierk. Ver. 8: 67–69. Oliva rufofulgurata Schepman, 1904
1907 Cerithium claviforme Schepman, 1907 Cerithium koperbergi Schepman, 1907 Nassarius celebensis (Schepman, 1907) Notadusta martini (Schepman, 1907)
1908 Anatoma exquisita (Schepman, 1908) Anatoma maxima (Schepman, 1908) Ancistrobasis monodon (Schepman, 1908) Bathyfautor multispinosus (Schepman, 1908) Bathymophila callomphala (Schepman, 1908) Calliostoma crassicostatum Schepman, 1908 Calliostoma quadricolor Schepman, 1908 Calliostoma rufomaculatum Schepman, 1908 Calliostoma simplex Schepman, 1908 Calliostoma virgo Schepman, 1908 Calliotropis bicarinata (Schepman, 1908) Calliotropis calcarata (Schepman, 1908) Calliotropis concavospira (Schepman, 1908) Calliotropis limbifera (Schepman, 1908) Calliotropis multisquamosa (Schepman, 1908) Calliotropis muricata (Schepman, 1908) Calliotropis pagodiformis (Schepman, 1908) Calliotropis pulchra (Schepman, 1908) Calliotropis spinulosa (Schepman, 1908) Danilia weberi Schepman, 1908 Emarginella sibogae (Schepman, 1908) Emarginula foveolata Schepman, 1908 Guttula sibogae Schepman, 1908 Hadroconus sibogae (Schepman, 1908) Herpetopoma ringens (Schepman, 1908) Pectinodonta alta Schepman, 1908 Pectinodonta orientalis Schepman, 1908 Perrinia cancellata (Schepman, 1908) Perrinia nigromaculata (Schepman, 1908) Perrinia plicifera (Schepman, 1908) Perrinia squamicarinata (Schepman, 1908) Phenacolepas radiata Schepman, 1908 Pseudococculina granulata Schepman, 1908 Pseudococculina rugosoplicata Schepman, 1908 Solariella ornatissima (Schepman, 1908) Tibatrochus incertus (Schepman, 1908) Tugalina plana (Schepman, 1908)
1909
Abyssochrysos melvilli (Schepman, 1909) Akibumia orientalis (Schepman, 1909) Biplex aculeata (Schepman, 1909) Carenzia melvillii (Schepman, 1909) Cylindriscala humerosa (Schepman, 1909) Cylindriscala sibogae (Schepman, 1909) Eccliseogyra fragilissima (Schepman, 1909) Epitonium abyssicola (Schepman, 1909) Epitonium melvilli (Schepman, 1909) Fluxinella marginata (Schepman, 1909) Fluxinella trochiformis (Schepman, 1909) Goodingia varicosa (Schepman, 1909) Granosolarium mirabile (Schepman, 1909) Gregorioiscala nierstraszi (Schepman, 1909) Heliacus costatus (Schepman, 1909) Heliacus madurensis (Schepman, 1909) Inella verluysi (Schepman, 1909) Niso smithi Schepman, 1909 Pelseneeria sibogae (Schepman & Nierstrasz, 1909) Primovula roseomaculata (Schepman, 1909) Quinnia sykesi (Schepman, 1909) Seguenzia costulifera Schepman, 1909 Seguenzia dautzenbergi Schepman, 1909 Seila versluysi (Schepman, 1909) Stellaria gigantea (Schepman, 1909) Stilapex eburnea (Schepman & Nierstrasz, 1909) Stilapex parva (Schepman, 1909) Subularia circumstriata Schepman, 1909 Triphora schmidti Schepman, 1909 Trivellona abyssicola (Schepman, 1909) Trivellona paucicostata (Schepman, 1909) Trivellona sibogae (Schepman, 1909)
1911 Amalda abyssicola Schepman, 1911 Amalda edgariana Schepman, 1911 Antillophos minutus (Schepman, 1911) Babelomurex ricinuloides (Schepman, 1911) Chryseofusus chrysodomoides (Schepman, 1911) Cyllene sibogae Schepman, 1911 Eosipho smithi (Schepman, 1911) Chryseofusus chrysodomoides (Schepman, 1911) Fusinus thielei (Schepman, 1911) Manaria brevicaudata (Schepman, 1911) Mitrella circumstriata (Schepman, 1911) Mitrella simplex (Schepman, 1911) Mitrella undulata (Schepman, 1911) Nassarius crebricostatus (Schepman, 1911) Nassarius macrocephalus (Schepman, 1911) Nassarius multipunctatus (Schepman, 1911) Pagodula obtuselirata (Schepman, 1911) Pagodula pulchella (Schepman, 1911) Pazinotus sibogae (Schepman, 1911) Pazinotus smithi (Schepman, 1911) Peristernia incerta Schepman, 1911 Preangeria dentata (Schepman, 1911) Turrilatirus melvilli (Schepman, 1911) Ziba abyssicola (Schepman, 1911)
1913 Acamptodaphne biconica (Schepman, 1913) Anticlinura biconica (Schepman, 1913) Asperdaphne elegantissima (Schepman, 1913) Asperdaphne suluensis (Schepman, 1913) Belomitra brachytoma (Schepman, 1913) Benthomangelia celebensis (Schepman, 1913) Benthomangelia trophonoidea (Schepman, 1913) Borsonia smithi Schepman, 1913 Borsonia timorensis (Schepman, 1913) Brachytoma rufolineata (Schepman, 1913) Buccinaria abbreviata (Schepman, 1913) Clavosurcula sibogae Schepman, 1913 Cochlespira pulchella (Schepman, 1913) Comitas melvilli (Schepman, 1913) Comitas obtusigemmata (Schepman, 1913) Comitas pagodaeformis (Schepman, 1913) Crassispira aesopus (Schepman, 1913) Crassispira rubidofusca (Schepman, 1913) Cryptodaphne affinis (Schepman, 1913) Cryptodaphne gradata (Schepman, 1913)