1. Books for the identification of British marine molluscs
  2. Books for the identification of British marine molluscs

Books for the identification of British marine molluscs

Two important recent volumes are:

  • Alf, A., Brenzinger, B., Haszprunar, G., Schrödl, M., & Schwabe, E. 2020. A Guide to Marine Molluscs of Europe. ConchBooks, 803pp.

  • Picton, B.E. & Morrow C.C. 2023. Nudibranchs of Britain and Northwest Europe.  (Second Edition) Princeton University Press, 360pp.

 

Some older volumes that are still useful are listed below.  Note that some of these are out of print but copies may be available from good second hand book sellers.

 

  • Graham, A. 1988. Molluscs: Prosobranch and pyramidellid gastropods. Synopses of the British fauna (NS) no. 2 (2nd edition). E.J. Brill, Leiden. Comprehensive, and each species is figured with a line drawing.
  • Jones, A.M. & Baxter, J.M. 1987. Mollusca: Caudofoveata, Solenogastres, Polyplacophora and Scaphopoda. Synopses of the British fauna (NS) no. 37. Academic Press, London. Best source available: each species is figured with a line drawing
  • Nordsieck, F. 1968. Die Europäischen Meeres-Gehäusesschnecken (Prosobranchia). Gustav Fischer Verlag. Stuttgart. 273pp.
  • Nordsieck, F. 1969. Die Europäischen Meeresmuscheln (Bivalvia). Gustav Fischer Verlag. Stuttgart. 256pp
  • Nordsieck, F. 1972. Die Europäischen Meeresschnecken (Opisthobranchia mit Pyramidellidae, Rissoacea). Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart. 327pp.
  • Nordsieck, F. 1982. Die Europäischen Meeres-Gehäusesschnecken. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart. 539pp.
  • Poppe, G.T. & Goto, Y. 1991. European Seashells Volume I (Polyplacophora, Caudofoveata, Solenogastra, Gastropoda). Verlag Christa Hemmen. 221pp. Species illustrated on coloured and few monochrome plates.
  • Poppe, G.T. & Goto, Y. 1993. European Seashells Volume II (Scaphopoda, Bivalvia, Cephalopoda). Verlag Christa Hemmen. 352 pp. Species illustrated on coloured and few monochrome plates.
  • Reid, D.G. 1996. Systematics and evolution of Littorina. Monograph no. 164. The Ray Society, London. 463pp.  A comprehensive Monograph, one of the best ever written.
  • Tebble, N. 1966. British Bivalve Seashells. British Museum (Natural History). 212pp. Contains line drawings, monochrome and colour plates.
  • Thompson, T.E. 1976. Biology of Opisthobranch Molluscs Volume I. The Ray Society, London. 207pp.
  • Thompson, T.E. & Brown, G.H. 1984. Biology of Opisthobranch Molluscs Volume II. The Ray Society, London. 229pp. This, and the above, authoritative works are lavishly illustrated with line drawings and colour plates.
  • Thomson, T.E. 1988. Molluscs: benthic Opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Synopses of the British fauna (NS) no. 8 (2nd edition). E.J. Brill, Leiden 356pp. Each species is figured with a line drawing and there are coloured plates of selected species.