Malacology
Malacology is the study of Mollusks. Malacology differs from Conchology which is the study of shells only. There are over 100,000 described living mollusk species and it has been estimated that another 100,000 are undescribed and await formal description. Mollusks are a diverse group consisting of the familiar clams (Bivalvia), snails and slugs (Gastropoda) and octopuses (Cephalopoda) and the not so familiar chitons (Polyplacophora), tusk shells (Scaphopoda), solenogasters (Aplacophora), Monoplacophorans, and Caudofoveatans. Man has used mollusks for various reasons including money, jewelry, decorations, and as tools. Many species are commercially important. The commercial harvest of freshwater mussels is a multi-million dollar industry in North America where shells are harvested and exported to Asia where they are made into nuclei for insertion into oysters to create cultured pearls. Many species of freshwater mussels and snails are threatened or endangered throughout the world which has sparked renewed interest in their study. If trends are not reversed and stream degradation and loss of habitat continues we will lose many of the interesting and beautiful shells from our nations waters.
- List of Illinois Mollusks
- Illinois Endangered and Threatened Mollusks - Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board
- Field Guide to the Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest
INHS Malacologist Kevin S. Cummings has additional information about mollusks.
- INHS mollusk-related research and projects are listed in our Annual Reports.
- See our Publications Catalog for mollusk-related material published at INHS.
Some past articles published in INHS Reports:
- The freshwater mussels of Illinois (The Mississippi, Illinois, Wabash, and Ohio rivers). Spring 2002
- INHS Mollusk Collection. March-April 1999
- Zebra Mussel/Unionid Interaction: Remediation Strategies. November-December 1998
- Predation May (or May Not) Work to Control Zebra Mussels . November-December 1998
- The Decline of Freshwater Mussels in Illinois. May-June 1996
- Long-term Monitoring of Freshwater Mussels. January-February 1995
- Unio Gallery by M.C. Barnhart.
- INHS Mollusk Collection