Malacology Section
Malcology is the study of shelled organisms. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History boasts between 75,000 and 100,000 specimens, more than half of which have been computer databased.
Much of the Museum's malacological collection was collected before 1970, and therefore represents an important historical record of shelled organisms prior to wide-spread depletion of naturally occurring populations. Many mollusks, especially freshwater mussels, have been placed on lists of threatened and endangered species due to overharvesting and habitat loss or alteration.
CMNH Freshwater Bivalves
CMNH Marine Malacology
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| A zonitid land snail (~4 mm diam.). Photo by Yezid Gutierrez, CMNH |
Marine malacology volunteer Dr. Pete Schrier. |
Malacology
The CMNH shell collection is represented by clams, mussels, snails, limpets, and other organisms that secrete calcium carbonate shells to protect their soft bodies.
The largest we have is a giant clam from the Great Barrier Reef of Australia that weighs some 75 pounds!