# Conchology

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Study of mollusc shells

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[Shell](/source/Gastropod_shell) of *[Maurea tigris](/source/Maurea_tigris)*, the tiger top snail

Shell of *[Lobatus gigas](/source/Lobatus_gigas)*, the queen conch

**Conchology** (from [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek_language) [κόγχος](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%B3%CF%87%CE%BF%CF%82#Ancient_Greek)*(*kónkhos*)* '[cockle](/source/Cockle_(bivalve))' and [-λογία](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/-%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AF%CE%B1#Ancient_Greek)*(*[-logía](/source/-logy)*)* 'study of') is the study of [mollusc shells](/source/Mollusc_shell). Conchology is one aspect of [malacology](/source/Malacology), the study of [molluscs](/source/Mollusca); however, malacology is the study of molluscs as whole organisms, whereas conchology is confined to the study of their shells. It includes the study of terrestrial and freshwater mollusc shells, as well as [seashells](/source/Seashell) and extends to the study of a [gastropod](/source/Gastropod)'s [operculum](/source/Operculum_(gastropod)).

Conchology is now sometimes seen as an archaic study, because relying on only one aspect of an organism's [morphology](/source/Morphology_(biology)) can be misleading. However, a shell often gives at least some insight into molluscan [taxonomy](/source/Taxonomy_(biology)), and historically the shell was often the only part of exotic species that was available for study. Even in current museum collections it is common for the dry material (shells) to greatly exceed the amount of material that is preserved whole in alcohol.

Conchologists mainly deal with four molluscan classes: [Gastropoda](/source/Gastropoda) ([snails](/source/Snail) only), [Bivalvia](/source/Bivalvia) (e.g. [clams](/source/Clam)), [Polyplacophora](/source/Chiton) (the chitons), and [Scaphopoda](/source/Tusk_shell) (the tusk shells). [Cephalopods](/source/Cephalopod) only have small internal shells, with the exception of the [Nautiloidea](/source/Nautiloidea). Some groups, such as the sea slug [nudibranchs](/source/Nudibranch), have lost their shells altogether, while in others it has been replaced by a [protein](/source/Protein) support structure.

## Versus shell collecting

A vendor in [Tanzania](/source/Tanzania) with a variety of large [seashells](/source/Seashell) for sale

The terms *shell collector* and *conchologist* can be regarded as two distinct categories. Not all shell collectors are conchologists; some are primarily concerned with the [aesthetic](/source/Aesthetic) value of shells instead of their scientific study. It is also true that not all conchologists are shell collectors; this type of research only requires access to private or institutional shell collections. There is some debate in the conchological community, with some people regarding all shell collectors (regardless of motivation) as conchologists.

## History

Shell collecting, the precursor of conchology, dates back thousands of years. Archaeologists have sometimes uncovered [Stone Age](/source/Stone_Age) oceanic seashell necklaces in areas far from the ocean, indicating that they were traded, and shell jewellery has been found at archaeological sites around the world.

 Sea shells from *Recreatione dell'occhio e della mente* by Filippo Bonanni

During the [Renaissance](/source/Renaissance) people began collecting natural objects of beauty for private [cabinets of curiosities](/source/Cabinet_of_curiosities). Because of their attractiveness, variety, durability and ubiquity, shells frequently became a large part of such collections. Scientific interest began to develop towards the end of the 17th century, and in 1681 The Jesuit priest [Filippo Bonanni](/source/Filippo_Bonanni) published the two-volume atlas *Ricreazione dell'occhio et della mente nell'osservazione delle chiocciole* ("Recreation of the eye and of the mind in the observation of molluscs"), the first treatise devoted entirely to mollusc shells.[1] In 1692 [Martin Lister](/source/Martin_Lister) published *[Historia Conchyliorum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Historia_Conchyliorum&action=edit&redlink=1)*, a comprehensive conchological text with more than 1,000 [engraved plates](/source/Intaglio_(printmaking)).

A plate from Lister's book, showing what he calls *[buccinis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buccinis&action=edit&redlink=1) shells*

[George Rumpf](/source/Georg_Eberhard_Rumphius), or "Rumphius", (1627–1702) published the first genuine mollusc taxonomy. He suggested the categories "single shelled ones" (modern [Polyplacophora](/source/Polyplacophora), [limpets](/source/Limpet), and [abalone](/source/Abalone)), "snails or whelks" ([Gastropoda](/source/Gastropoda)), and "two-shelled ones" ([Bivalvia](/source/Bivalvia)). He did not include the tusk shells or the internal shells of the cephalopods.

Many of Rumpf's terms were later adopted by [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus). The study of [zoology](/source/Zoology), including conchology, was revolutionized by Linnaeus and his system of [binomial nomenclature](/source/Binomial_nomenclature). Six hundred eighty three of the approximately 4,000 animal species Linnaeus described are now considered to be molluscs, although Linnaeus placed them in several different [phyla](/source/Phylum) at the time.[2] The English word "conchology" was coined in the 1770s by the British Sephardi naturalist [Emanuel Mendes da Costa](/source/Emanuel_Mendes_da_Costa), who published [*The Elements of Conchology: or, an Introduction to the Knowledge of Shells*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/46649#page/7/mode/1up/) in London in 1776.[3]

Since 1700 a number of prominent conchologists have published their studies of shells. [John Mawe](/source/John_Mawe) (1764–1829) produced arguably the first conchology guidebook, *The Voyager's Companion or Shell-Collector's Pilot*, as well as *The Linnæan System of Conchology*. [Hugh Cuming](/source/Hugh_Cuming) (1791–1865) is famous for his huge collection and numerous discoveries of new species.[4] [Thomas Say](/source/Thomas_Say) wrote the fundamental work *American Conchology, or Descriptions of the Shells of North America, Illustrated From Coloured Figures From Original Drawings, Executed from Nature* in six volumes (1830–1834).

[R. Tucker Abbott](/source/R._Tucker_Abbott) was arguably the most prominent conchologist of the 20th century, authoring dozens of books and working as museum director of the [Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum](/source/Bailey-Matthews_Shell_Museum). His best-known works are *American Seashells*, *Seashells of the World*, and *The Kingdom of the Seashell*. [John DuPont](/source/John_DuPont) is also known for his extensive collection which he donated to the [Delaware Museum of Natural History](/source/Delaware_Museum_of_Natural_History) in 1984. The Japanese emperor [Hirohito](/source/Hirohito) also amassed a huge collection, and was a competent and respected amateur conchologist.

In 1950, [Joyce Allan](/source/Joyce_Allan), an Australian conchologist working as curator of shells at the [Australian Museum](/source/Australian_Museum), authored *Australian Shells.* This was the first book to catalogue the majority of Australian molluscs in detail and was highly regarded within the scientific community and mollusc collectors.[5]

## Museums

Many museums worldwide contain very large and scientifically important shell collections. However, in most cases these are research collections not as readily accessible to the general public as exhibits.

As of 2020[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Conchology&action=edit) the world's largest assemblage of mollusc shells was held by the [Smithsonian Institution](/source/Smithsonian_Institution), which has c. 1 million lots[6] representing perhaps 50,000 species.[7] The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture also has a large collection which was donated by Dr. Phil Nudelman in 2013. It includes about 100,000 specimens and 24,000 species, mostly from the Indo-Pacific region, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.

### United States

- [Academy of Natural Sciences](/source/Academy_of_Natural_Sciences), [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia)

- [American Museum of Natural History](/source/American_Museum_of_Natural_History), [New York City](/source/New_York_City)

- [Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum](/source/Bailey-Matthews_Shell_Museum) in [Sanibel Island](/source/Sanibel_Island), [Florida](/source/Florida): the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to shells.

- Charleston Marine Life Center, [Oregon Institute of Marine Biology](/source/Oregon_Institute_of_Marine_Biology) in Charleston [Oregon](/source/Oregon)

- [Denver Museum of Nature & Science](/source/Denver_Museum_of_Nature_%26_Science), [Denver](/source/Denver), [Colorado](/source/Colorado): approximately 17,500 shell lots.

- [Museum of Comparative Zoology](/source/Museum_of_Comparative_Zoology) at [Cambridge](/source/Cambridge%2C_Massachusetts), [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts)[8]

- [National Museum of Natural History](/source/National_Museum_of_Natural_History), [Washington D.C.](/source/Washington_D.C.) – The Smithsonian has c. 1 million lots, the largest worldwide[6]

### Europe

- [Austria](/source/Austria), [Vienna](/source/Vienna) – [Naturhistorisches Museum](/source/Naturhistorisches_Museum)

- [Belgium](/source/Belgium), [Brussels](/source/Brussels) – [Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences](/source/Royal_Belgian_Institute_of_Natural_Sciences), one of the three largest collections

- [France](/source/France), [Paris](/source/Paris) – [Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle](/source/National_Museum_of_Natural_History_(France)) 900,000 lots, 5 million specimens[9]

- [Germany](/source/Germany) - [Frankfurt](/source/Frankfurt) – [Naturmuseum Senckenberg](/source/Naturmuseum_Senckenberg), 700,000 lots (33,000 living taxa, 12,000 fossil taxa)[10] - [Berlin](/source/Berlin) – [Berlin's Natural History Museum](/source/Natural_History_Museum%2C_Berlin)

- [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands), [Leiden](/source/Leiden) – [Natural History Museum, Leiden](/source/Natural_History_Museum%2C_Leiden)

- [Sweden](/source/Sweden), [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm) – [Swedish Museum of Natural History](/source/Swedish_Museum_of_Natural_History)

### United Kingdom

Source:[11]

- [London](/source/London) – [Natural History Museum](/source/Natural_History_Museum%2C_London) 8 million specimens, 60,000 type specimens[11]

- [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff) – [National Museum Cardiff](/source/National_Museum_Cardiff), second largest UK collection, over 2 million specimens[12]

- [Manchester](/source/Manchester) – [Manchester Museum](/source/Manchester_Museum), fourth largest UK collection; 166,000 lots.[13]

- [Cambridge](/source/Cambridge) – [Cambridge University Museum of Zoology](/source/Cambridge_University_Museum_of_Zoology), over 100,000 lots[14]

## Organizations

Like other scientific fields, conchologists have a number of local, national, and international organizations. There are also many organizations specializing in specific subareas.

- Association Française de Conchyliologie

- [Belgian Society for Conchology](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Belgian_Society_for_Conchology&action=edit&redlink=1)[15]

- [Club Conchylia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Club_Conchylia&action=edit&redlink=1), the German/Austrian Society for Shell Collecting[16]

- [Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland](/source/Conchological_Society_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland)[17]

- [Conchologists of America](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Conchologists_of_America&action=edit&redlink=1)[18]

- [Conquiliologistas do Brasil](/source/Conquiliologistas_do_Brasil)

- [Nederlandse Malacologische Vereniging](/source/Nederlandse_Malacologische_Vereniging)[19]

- [Unitas Malacologica](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unitas_Malacologica&action=edit&redlink=1)

## Depictions of shells on stamps and coins

Shells have been featured on over 5,000 [postage stamps](/source/Postage_stamp) worldwide, and have been featured on many coins including the [Bahamian dollar](/source/Bahamian_dollar) (1974), the [Cuban peso](/source/Cuban_peso) (1981), the [Haitian gourde](/source/Haitian_gourde) (1973), the [Nepalese rupee](/source/Nepalese_rupee) (1989) and [Philippine peso](/source/Philippine_peso) (1993).

## See also

- [Category:Conchologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Conchologists)

- [Midden](/source/Midden)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Karin Leonhard (2007). "Shell Collecting. On 17th-Century Conchology, Curiosity Cabinets And Still Life Painting". *Early Modern Zoology: The Construction of Animals in Science, Literature and the Visual Arts*. Brill: 192–196. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1163/ej.9789004131880.i-657.52](https://doi.org/10.1163%2Fej.9789004131880.i-657.52). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9789047422365](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789047422365).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ref_2-0)** ["Jacksonville Shells – WWW.JAXSHELLS.ORG"](http://www.jaxshells.org/). *jaxshells.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170802090848/http://www.jaxshells.org/) from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2008-09-28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["*Oxford English Dictionary*, s.v. conchology"](http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/38225/).[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** J. Cosmo Melville (Jan 1890). ["British Pioneers in Recent Conchological Science. 1662–1858"](https://books.google.com/books?id=h-4KAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA190). *Journal of Conchology*. **6**: 190–223.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Joyce Allan, Conchologist"](https://australian.museum/about/history/people/joyce-allan-conchologist/). *The Australian Museum*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161222075032/http://australianmuseum.net.au/joyce-allan-conchologist) from the original on 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2022-10-25.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sierwald2018_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sierwald2018_6-1) Sierwald, P.; Bieler, R.; Shea, E.K.; Rosenberg, G. (1 December 2018). ["Mobilizing Mollusks: Status Update on Mollusk Collections in the U.S.A. and Canada"](https://doi.org/10.4003%2F006.036.0202). *American Malacological Bulletin*. **36** (2): 177. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2018AMalB..36..177S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018AMalB..36..177S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.4003/006.036.0202](https://doi.org/10.4003%2F006.036.0202).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["A one-of-a-kind shell collection"](https://www.burkemuseum.org/news/one-kind-shell-collection). *Burke Museum*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201018222150/https://www.burkemuseum.org/news/one-kind-shell-collection) from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2020-11-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Research Collection"](https://mcz.harvard.edu/malacology-research-collection). *mcz.harvard.edu*. Retrieved 2024-02-21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Marine, terrestrial, and freshwater molluscs"](https://www.mnhn.fr/en/collections/collection-groups/marine-invertebrates/marine-terrestrial-and-freshwater-molluscs). Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200918150740/https://www.mnhn.fr/en/collections/collection-groups/marine-invertebrates/marine-terrestrial-and-freshwater-molluscs) from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Malacology Collection"](https://www.senckenberg.de/en/institutes/senckenberg-research-institute-natural-history-museum-frankfurt/division-marine-zoology/section-malakologie-2/malacology-collection/). Senckenberg. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200908005419/https://www.senckenberg.de/en/institutes/senckenberg-research-institute-natural-history-museum-frankfurt/division-marine-zoology/section-malakologie-2/malacology-collection/) from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GBcollections_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GBcollections_11-1) ["The collections"](https://gbmolluscatypes.ac.uk/collections). Mollusca types in Great Britain. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211127045119/https://gbmolluscatypes.ac.uk/collections) from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Mollusca"](https://museum.wales/curatorial/natural-sciences/mollusca/). National Museum Wales. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200814234638/https://museum.wales/curatorial/natural-sciences/mollusca/) from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** McGhie, Henry A. (17 December 2008). ["Catalogue of type specimens of molluscs in the collection of The Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester, UK"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090727231254/http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/article/view/32). *[ZooKeys](/source/ZooKeys)* (4): 1–46. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2008ZooK....4....1M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008ZooK....4....1M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3897/zookeys.4.32](https://doi.org/10.3897%2Fzookeys.4.32). Archived from [the original](http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/article/view/32) on 27 July 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Molluscs"](https://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/collections-research/collections-archives/molluscs). University of Cambridge. 24 March 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201023122953/https://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/collections-research/collections-archives/molluscs) from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["BVC"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090518154554/http://www.bvc-gloriamaris.be/). *bvc-gloriamaris.be*. Archived from [the original](http://www.bvc-gloriamaris.be/) on 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2006-02-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["German Shell Collector's Club"](http://www.club-conchylia.de/). *club-conchylia.de*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170810052536/http://www.club-conchylia.de/) from the original on 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2006-12-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Home page – The Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland"](http://www.conchsoc.org/). *conchsoc.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180809162700/http://conchsoc.org/) from the original on 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2006-12-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["conchologistsofamerica.org"](http://www.conchologistsofamerica.org/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170812024340/http://www.conchologistsofamerica.org/) from the original on 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2006-12-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["spirula.nl"](http://www/spirula.nl). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200919163617/http://www/spirula.nl) from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2012-08-15.

## Sources

- [National Geographic Magazine](/source/National_Geographic_Magazine), March 1969, "The Magic Lure of Sea Shells", Paul A. Zahl

- Seashells of the Northern Hemisphere, 1990, [Surrey](/source/Surrey), R. Tucker Abbott

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Conchology](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Conchology).

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- [The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum](http://www.shellmuseum.org/) in [Sanibel Island](/source/Sanibel_Island)

- [A site for amateurs](http://www.worldwideconchology.com/MainFrames.shtml)

- *[Beautiful Shells](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/74207)* (1856) by [H. G. Adams](/source/Henry_Gardiner_Adams)

### Conchological organizations

- [Association Française de Conchyliologie](http://www.xenophora.org/index.php)

- [Conchologists of America](https://web.archive.org/web/20060206223251/http://www.conchologistsofamerica.org/home/)

- [Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland](http://www.conchsoc.org/)

- [Club Conchylia, the German/Austrian Society for Shell Collecting](http://www.club-conchylia.de/)

- [Belgian Society for Conchology](https://web.archive.org/web/20090518154554/http://www.bvc-gloriamaris.be/)

- [Conquiliologistas do Brasil](https://web.archive.org/web/20061208113430/http://www.conchasbrasil.org.br/default2.asp)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Conchology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conchology) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conchology?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.