Malacology

{{short description|Study of molluscs}} [[File:Squid komodo.jpg|thumb|A bigfin reef squid displaying considerably developed ocular, locomotive, and bioluminescent organs, all particularly of interest to the malacological study of its class Cephalopoda]]

'''Malacology''',{{efn|From the French {{lang|fr|malacologie}}, contraction of {{lang|fr|malacozoologie}}; from the Neo-Latin {{lang|la|Malacozoa}}, 'zoological group including soft-bodied animals'; {{etymology|grc|{{wikt-lang|grc|μαλακός}} ({{grc-transl|μαλακός}})|soft||{{wikt-lang|grc|ζῷον}} ({{grc-transl|ζῷον}})|animal}}.}} from Ancient Greek μαλακός (''malakós''), meaning "soft", and λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study", is the branch of invertebrate zoology that deals with the study of the Mollusca (molluscs or mollusks), the second-largest phylum of animals in terms of described species<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/malacology/|title=Home – Division of Invertebrate Zoology|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208135845/http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/malacology/|archive-date=2007-02-08|access-date=2007-02-08}}</ref> after the arthropods. Mollusks include snails and slugs, clams, and cephalopods, along with numerous other kinds, many of which have shells.

Fields within malacological research include studies of mollusk taxonomy, ecology and evolution. Several subdivisions of malacology exist, including conchology, devoted to the study of mollusk shells, limacology, the study of gastropods, and teuthology, the study of cephalopods such as octopus, squid, and cuttlefish. '''Applied malacology''' studies medical, veterinary, and agricultural applications, for example the study of mollusks as vectors of schistosomiasis and other diseases.

Zoological methods are used in malacological research. Malacological field methods and laboratory methods (such as collecting, documenting and archiving, and molecular techniques) were summarized by Sturm et al. (2006).<ref name="Dillon R. T.">{{cite book| author = Charles F. Sturm| author2 = Timothy A. Pearce| author3 = Ángel Valdés| title = The mollusks| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-NbmHx93s8gC| date = July 2006| publisher = Universal-Publishers| isbn = 978-1-58112-930-4| access-date = 2022-08-22| archive-date = 2022-10-22| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221022170122/https://books.google.com/books?id=-NbmHx93s8gC| url-status = live}}</ref>

== History == The study of mollusks long predates the modern field of malacology. Aristotle included what we now call mollusks in his ''Historia animalium'' as two separate groups: testaceans (Ostracoderma) and mollusks (Malakia). In 1758, Linneaus included modern mollusks in the class Vermes, under the orders Intestina, Mollusca, and Testacea. At this time, taxonomy was largely based on shells, as examining internal anatomy was thought to be too challenging due to lack of specimens.<ref name="Vinarski2014">{{cite journal |last1=Vinarski |first1=Maxim V. |title=The birth of malacology. When and how? |journal=Zoosystematics and Evolution |date=28 March 2014 |volume=90 |issue=1 |pages=1–5 |doi=10.3897/zse.90.7008|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In 1795, French naturalist Georges Cuvier described a combined taxon of both shelled and non-shelled mollusks as a distinct group based on internal characteristics of "oviparous reproduction, white blood, existence of heart, blood vessels and gills, liver" and external characteristics of "mantle and tentacles." However, he retained conchological methods for separating genera.<ref name="Vinarski2014" />

The term "malacology" was invented by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz in 1814 and, probably independently, by Ducrotay de Blainville in 1825.<ref name="Vinarski2014" />

== Malacologists == {{main|List of malacologists}} Those who study malacology are known as malacologists. Those who study primarily or exclusively the shells of mollusks are known as conchologists, while those who study mollusks of the class Cephalopoda are teuthologists.

==Societies== * {{ill|Argentine Malacological Society|es|Asociación Argentina de Malacología}} (''Asociación Argentina de Malacología'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://malacoargentina.com.ar/blog/malaco-argentina/ |title=Malaco Argentina }}</ref> * American Malacological Society * Association of Polish Malacologists ({{lang|pl|Stowarzyszenie Malakologów Polskich}}) * Belgian Malacological Society ({{lang|fr|Société Belge de Malacologie}}) – French speaking * {{ill|Belgian Society for Conchology|nl|Belgische Vereniging voor Conchyliologie}} – Dutch speaking * Brazilian Malacological Society ({{lang|pt|Sociedade Brasileira de Malacologia}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sbmalacologia.com.br/#a|title=Sociedade Brasileira de Malacologia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414151937/http://sbmalacologia.com.br/#a|archive-date=2015-04-14}}</ref> * Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland * Conchologists of America * Dutch Malacological Society * Estonian Malacological Society * European Quaternary Malacologists * Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society * German Malacological Society ({{lang|de|Deutsche Malakozoologische Gesellschaft}}) * Hungarian Malacological Society ({{lang|hu|Magyar Malakológiai Társaság}}) * Italian Malacological Society ({{lang|it|Società Italiana di Malacologia}}) * Malacological Society of Australasia * Malacological Society of London * Malacological Society of the Philippines, Inc. * Mexican Malacological Society ({{lang|es|Sociedad Mexicana de Malacología y Conquiliología}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smmac.org.mx/|title=Sociedad de Malacolología de México A.C.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326015039/http://www.smmac.org.mx/|archive-date=2012-03-26}}</ref> * Spanish Malacological Society ({{lang|es|Sociedad Española de Malacología}}) * Western Society of Malacologists

==Journals== More than 150 journals within the field of malacology are being published from more than 30 countries, producing an overwhelming amount of scientific articles.<ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ruediger_Bieler/publication/259177036_Malacological_journals_and_newsletters_1773-1990/links/0deec53398d0069d6f000000.pdf Bieler & Kabat, ''Malacological Journals and Newsletters, 1773–1990''; The Nautilus 105(2):39–61, 1991] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509181800/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ruediger_Bieler/publication/259177036_Malacological_journals_and_newsletters_1773-1990/links/0deec53398d0069d6f000000.pdf |date=2018-05-09 }}</ref> They include:

* ''American Journal of Conchology'' (1865–1872)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/15900|title=Details – American journal of conchology. – Biodiversity Heritage Library|author=Tryon, George Washington, 1838–1888|date=1865 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930022555/http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/15900|archive-date=2017-09-30}}</ref> * ''American Malacological Bulletin''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malacological.org/publications/amb.php|title=American Malacological Society|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203023500/http://www.malacological.org/publications/amb.php|archive-date=2010-12-03}}</ref> * {{Lang|de|Archiv für Molluskenkunde}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schweizerbart.de/journals/archmoll|title=Archiv für Molluskenkunde (ISSN 1869-0963, e-ISSN 2367-0622), Optional Open Access)|access-date=2012-07-03|archive-date=2013-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129071226/http://www.schweizerbart.de/journals/archmoll|url-status=live}}</ref> * ''Basteria''<ref>[http://www.spirula.nl/publicaties/e_basteria.htm Basteria] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717023402/http://www.spirula.nl/publicaties/e_basteria.htm |date=2015-07-17 }}</ref> * ''Bulletin of Russian Far East Malacological Society''<ref>[http://rfems.dvo.ru/bulletin/e_main.htm The Bulletin of the Russian Far East Malacological Society] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826040030/http://rfems.dvo.ru/bulletin/e_main.htm |date=2011-08-26 }}</ref> * ''Fish & Shellfish Immunology''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622832/description#description|title=Fish and Shellfish Immunology|author=Elsevier|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112050500/http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622832/description#description|archive-date=2010-01-12}}</ref> * ''Folia conchyliologica''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cernuelle.com/download.php?lng=fr|title=Cernuelle – Folia Conchyliologica|author=GuppY|language=fr|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110127201702/http://cernuelle.com/download.php?lng=fr|archive-date=2011-01-27}}</ref> * ''Folia Malacologica''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foliamalacologica.com/|title=Editorial SMP|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922010756/http://www.foliamalacologica.com/|archive-date=2008-09-22}}</ref><ref>[http://www.staff.amu.edu.pl/~polmal/folia/folia.htm Folia Malacologica] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201043235/http://www.staff.amu.edu.pl/~polmal/folia/folia.htm |date=2009-02-01 }}</ref> * ''Heldia''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conchbooks.de/contents/en-us/p342.html |title=Heldia – Münchner malakologische Mitteilungen |access-date=2011-07-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718214454/http://www.conchbooks.de/contents/en-us/p342.html |archive-date=2011-07-18 }}</ref> * ''Johnsonia'' * ''Journal de Conchyliologie'' – volumes 1850–1922<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/14924|title=Details – Journal de conchyliologie. – Biodiversity Heritage Library|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027181322/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/14924|archive-date=2017-10-27}}</ref> at Biodiversity Heritage Library; volumes 1850–1938<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb343487782/date.r=Architecture.langEN|title=Journal de conchyliologie – 77 années disponibles – Gallica|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216171447/http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb343487782/date.r=Architecture.langEN|archive-date=2016-02-16}}</ref> at Bibliothèque nationale de France * ''Journal of Conchology''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conchsoc.org/resources/journal.php|title=Journal of Conchology – The Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland|access-date=2009-09-07|archive-date=2010-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317190046/http://www.conchsoc.org/resources/journal.php|url-status=live}}</ref> * ''Journal of Medical and Applied Malacology''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mologis/MedAplMa.html|title=Journal of Medical and Applied Malacology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729044546/http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mologis/MedAplMa.html|archive-date=2010-07-29}}</ref> * ''Journal of Molluscan Studies'' * ''Malacologia'' * ''Malacologica Bohemoslovaca''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mollusca.sav.sk/|title=Malacologica Bohemoslovaca|language=en, cs|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420060802/http://www.mollusca.sav.sk/|archive-date=2008-04-20}}</ref> * ''Malacological Review'' – volume 1 (1968) – today,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mologis/MalaRevi.html|title=Malacological Review|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703053923/http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mologis/MalaRevi.html|archive-date=2012-07-03}}</ref> contents of volume 27 (1996) – volume 40 (2009)<ref>[http://runners.ritsumei.ac.jp/cgi-bin/swets/volume-query-e?mode=1&key=&issn=00763004&tr=Malacological+Review] {{dead link|date=May 2018|bot=SheriffIsInTown|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> * ''Soosiana'' * ''Zeitschrift für Malakozoologie'' (1844–1853)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/16292|title=Details – Zeitschrift für Malakozoologie. – Biodiversity Heritage Library|author=Menke, Karl Theodor, 1791–1861|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717021740/http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/16292|archive-date=2017-07-17}}</ref> → ''Malakozoologische Blätter'' (1854–1878)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/15800|title=Details – Malakozoologische Blätter. – Biodiversity Heritage Library|author=Clessin, Steph., 1833–|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715150217/http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/15800|archive-date=2017-07-15}}</ref> * ''Miscellanea Malacologica'' * ''Mollusca''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mollusca-journal.de|title=Mollusca Journal – 2007 to 2009 – The Last Issue – Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011094523/http://www.mollusca-journal.de/|archive-date=2008-10-11}}</ref> * ''Molluscan Research''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mapress.com/mr/content.htm|title=Molluscan Research – online contents|access-date=2010-12-06|archive-date=2010-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210232632/http://www.mapress.com/mr/content.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> – impact factor: 0.606 (2007)<ref>[http://www.mapress.com/mr/about.htm General Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112100936/http://www.mapress.com/mr/about.htm |date=2011-01-12 }}. accessed 6 December 2010].</ref> * ''Mitteilungen der Deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dmg.mollusca.de/mitteilungen.htm |title=Mollusca in Deutschland – Malakozoologische Zeitschriften |access-date=2017-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329045616/http://www.dmg.mollusca.de/mitteilungen.htm |archive-date=2017-03-29 }}</ref> * ''Occasional Molluscan Papers'' (since 2008)<ref>[http://www.molluscan.com/omp/index.html "Occasional Molluscan Papers"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822105442/http://www.molluscan.com/omp/index.html |date=2015-08-22 }}. last change 2 December 2014, accessed 23 August 2016.</ref> * ''Occasional Papers on Mollusks'' (1945–1989), 5 volumes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/5384|title=Details – Occasional papers on mollusks. – Biodiversity Heritage Library|author=Harvard University. Museum of Comparative Zoology.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720041359/http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/5384|archive-date=2017-07-20}}</ref> * ''Ruthenica''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ruthenica.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-04-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207173741/http://ruthenica.com/ |archive-date=2011-02-07 }}</ref> * ''Strombus''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conchasbrasil.org.br/strombus/online.asp|title=Strombus online|website=www.conchasbrasil.org.br|access-date=5 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026034849/http://conchasbrasil.org.br/strombus/online.asp|archive-date=26 October 2012}}</ref> * ''Tentacle'' – The Newsletter of the Mollusc Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hawaii.edu/cowielab/Tentacle.htm|title=TENTACLE|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603125325/http://www.hawaii.edu/cowielab/Tentacle.htm|archive-date=2010-06-03}}</ref> * ''The Conchologist'' (1891–1894)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/16143#/summary|title=Details – The Conchologist. – Biodiversity Heritage Library|website=www.biodiversitylibrary.org|date=1891 |access-date=5 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120220453/http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/16143#/summary|archive-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> → ''The Journal of Malacology'' (1894–1905)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/16176#/summary|title=Details – The Journal of malacology. – Biodiversity Heritage Library|website=www.biodiversitylibrary.org|date=1894 |access-date=5 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112193505/http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/16176#/summary|archive-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> * ''The Festivus'' – a journal which started as a club newsletter in 1970, published by the San Diego Shell Club<ref>[http://www.sandiegoshellclub.com/PracFestivus.html Official site of The Festivus] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026053807/http://sandiegoshellclub.com/PracFestivus.html |date=2009-10-26 }}</ref> * ''The Nautilus'' – since 1886 published by Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. First two volumes were published under name ''The Conchologists’ Exchange''. Impact factor: 0.500 (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shellmuseum.org/nautilus/index.html|title=THE NAUTILUS. A Quarterly Devoted to Malacology|work=shellmuseum.org|access-date=6 December 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130091620/http://shellmuseum.org/nautilus/index.html|archive-date=30 November 2010}}</ref> * ''The Veliger''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theveliger.org/|title=THE VELIGER|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501150346/http://www.theveliger.org/|archive-date=2008-05-01|access-date=2008-04-21}}</ref> – impact factor: 0.606 (2003)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciencegateway.org/impact/if03sz.htm|title=Journal Impact Factor 2003|work=sciencegateway.org|access-date=6 December 2010|archive-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728004407/http://www.sciencegateway.org/impact/if03sz.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> * 貝類学雑誌 ''Venus'' (Japanese Journal of Malacology)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/vol_issue/nels/AN00410236_en.html|title=CiNii Articles – 貝類学雑誌Venus : the Japanese journal of malacology|language=ja|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226172956/http://ci.nii.ac.jp/vol_issue/nels/AN00410236_en.html|archive-date=2009-12-26}}</ref> * ''Vita Malacologica'' a Dutch journal published in English – one themed issue a year * ''Vita Marina''<ref>{{cite book|title=Vita marina. Stichting Biologia Maritima (Netherlands). 'S Gravenhage|oclc = 13862636}}</ref> (discontinued in May 2001)

== Museums == [[File:Malakološki muzej Makarska.jpg|thumb|Malacological Museum in Makarska, Croatia (entrance)]]

Museums that have either exceptional malacological research collections (behind the scenes) and/or exceptional public exhibits of mollusks:

* Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia * American Museum of Natural History * Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum * Cau del Cargol Shell Museum * Maria Mitchell Association * Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard * National Museum of Natural History, France * Natural History Museum, London * Rinay * Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels: with a collection of more than 9 million shells (mainly from the collection of Philippe Dautzenberg) * Smithsonian Institution

== See also == * Invertebrate paleontology * History of invertebrate paleozoology *'' Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology''

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== * Cox L. R. & Peake J. F. (eds.). ''Proceedings of the First European Malacological Congress''. September 17–21, 1962. Text in English with black-and-white photographic reproductions, also maps and diagrams. Published by the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland and the Malacological Society of London in 1965 with no ISBN. * Heppel D. (1995). "The long dawn of Malacology: a brief history of malacology from prehistory to the year 1800." ''Archives of Natural History'' '''22'''(3): 301–319.

== External links == * {{commons category-inline}} * [http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=su%3AMollusks+Periodicals.&qt=hot_subject Periodicals about molluscs] at WorldCat

{{Zoology}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Malacology Category:Subfields of zoology Category:Marine biology