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Freshwater Mollusks of the World

A Distribution Atlas

edited by Charles Lydeard and Kevin S. Cummings

Publication Date
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The definitive resource on the biology and evolution of freshwater mollusks.

There are more species of freshwater mollusks—well over 5,000—than all the mammal species of the world. Freshwater mollusks are also arguably the most endangered fauna on the planet. Yet few references exist for researchers, shell enthusiasts, and general readers who are interested in learning more about these fascinating creatures. In Freshwater Mollusks of the World, Charles Lydeard and Kevin S. Cummings fill that void with contributions from dozens of renowned mollusk experts.

Touching on 34 families of freshwater...

The definitive resource on the biology and evolution of freshwater mollusks.

There are more species of freshwater mollusks—well over 5,000—than all the mammal species of the world. Freshwater mollusks are also arguably the most endangered fauna on the planet. Yet few references exist for researchers, shell enthusiasts, and general readers who are interested in learning more about these fascinating creatures. In Freshwater Mollusks of the World, Charles Lydeard and Kevin S. Cummings fill that void with contributions from dozens of renowned mollusk experts.

Touching on 34 families of freshwater gastropods (snails) and 9 families of freshwater bivalves (mussels and clams), each chapter provides a synthesis of the latest research on the diversity and evolutionary relationships of the family. The book also includes

• a look at how evolving DNA sequencing data techniques help shed light on mollusk taxonomy
• distribution maps of each family's biogeographic locales
• a representative photo and distribution map for each of the freshwater mollusk families
• the latest information on each family's conservation status—and how to reverse the habitat destruction, modification, and pollution that threatens it
• a discussion of the ecological and economic damages caused by invasive mollusk species, as well as their role as disease vectors

Mollusks provide us with amazing biogeographical insights: their ancient fossil record goes back over 500 million years, and their distribution patterns are a reflection of past continental and climate changes. The only comprehensive summary of systematic and biodiversity information on freshwater mollusk families throughout the world, this reference is a must for malacologists, limnologists, ichthyologists, stream ecologists, biogeographers, and conservation biologists.

Contributors: Christian Albrecht, Rüdiger Bieler, Bert Van Bocxlaer, David C. Campbell, Stephanie A. Clark, Catharina Clewing, Robert H. Cowie, Kevin S. Cummings, Diana Delicado, Hiroshi Fukuda, Hiroaki Fukumori, Matthias Glaubrecht, Daniel L. Graf, Diego E. Gutiérrez Gregoric, Kenneth A. Hayes, Yasunori Kano, Taehwan Lee, Charles Lydeard, Nathaniel T. Marshall, Paula M. Mikkelsen, Marco T. Neiber, Timea P. Neusser, Winston Ponder, Michael Schrödl, Alena A. Shirokaya, Björn Stelbrink, Carol A. Stepien, Ellen E. Strong, Maxim V. Vinarski, Amy R. Wethington, Thomas Wilke

Reviews

Reviews

A necessary work for anyone interested in taxonomy and ecology of [freshwater mollusks], whether an amateur eager to know more about that snail or bivalve found in a local river or lake, or the professional who needs a point of departure to deepen the evolutionary study of the great diversity of freshwater mollusks... an indispensable book.

An excellent guide documenting distribution of the 42 freshwater mollusk families found throughout the world. The family accounts represent a succinct distillation of extensively published literature for each group. Highly recommended for students and professionals interested in freshwater malacology and biogeography.

This book is a must-have for all of us interested in mollusks, in limnic environments, and in any aspect having to do with the biology of this important group of animals.

About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
7
x
10
Pages
256
ISBN
9781421427317
Illustration Description
41 color photos, 43 color illus.
Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
1. Introduction and Overview
Charles Lydeard and Kevin S. Cummings
2. Neritiliidae Schepman, 1908
Yasunori Kano
3. Neritidae Rafinesque, 1815
Yasunori Kano and Hiroaki Fukumori
4

Acknowledgments
1. Introduction and Overview
Charles Lydeard and Kevin S. Cummings
2. Neritiliidae Schepman, 1908
Yasunori Kano
3. Neritidae Rafinesque, 1815
Yasunori Kano and Hiroaki Fukumori
4. Ampullariidae Gray, 1824
Robert H. Cowie and Kenneth A. Hayes
5. Viviparidae Gray, 1847
Bert Van Bocxlaer and Ellen E. Strong
6. Hemisinidae Fischer & Crosse, 1891
Matthias Glaubrecht and Marco T. Neiber
7. Melanopsidae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854
Marco T. Neiber and Matthias Glaubrecht
8. Pachychilidae Fischer & Crosse, 1892
Marco T. Neiber and Matthias Glaubrecht
9. Paludomidae Stoliczka, 1868
Marco T. Neiber and Matthias Glaubrecht
10. Pleuroceridae P. Fischer, 1885
Ellen E. Strong and Charles Lydeard
11. Semisulcospiridae Morrison, 1952
David C. Campbell
12. Thiaridae Gill, 1871 (1823)
Matthias Glaubrecht and Marco T. Neiber
13. Amnicolidae Tryon, 1863
Stephanie A. Clark
14. Assimineidae H. & A. Adams, 1856
Hiroshi Fukuda
15. Bithyniidae Gray, 1857
Winston Ponder
16. Cochliopidae Tryon, 1866
Stephanie A. Clark
17. Helicostoidae Pruvot-Fol, 1937
Thomas Wilke
18. Hydrobiidae Stimpson, 1865
Thomas Wilke and Diana Delicado
19. Lithoglyphidae Tryon, 1866
Stephanie A. Clark
20. Moitessieriidae Bourguignat, 1863
Thomas Wilke
21. Pomatiopsidae Stimpson, 1865
Thomas Wilke
22. Stenothyridae Tryon, 1866
Stephanie A. Clark
23. Tateidae Thiele, 1925
Winston Ponder
24. Valvatidae Gray, 1840
Catharina Clewing and Christian Albrecht
25. Glacidorbidae Ponder, 1986
Winston Ponder
26. Tantulidae Rankin, 1979, and Acochlidiidae Küthe, 1935
Timea P. Neusser and Michael Schrödl
27. Chilinidae Dall, 1870
Diego E. Gutiérrez Gregoric
28. Latiidae Hutton, 1882
Christian Albrecht
29. Lymnaeidae Rafinesque, 1815
Maxim V. Vinarski, Catharina Clewing, and Christian Albrecht
30. Acroloxidae Thiele, 1931
Björn Stelbrink, Alena A. Shirokaya, and Christian Albrecht
31. Bulinidae P. Fischer & Crosse, 1880
Christian Albrecht, Björn Stelbrink, and Catharina Clewing
32. Burnupiidae Albrecht, 2017
Christian Albrecht and Catharina Clewing
33. Physidae Fitzinger, 1833
Amy R. Wethington and Charles Lydeard
34. Planorbidae Rafinesque, 1815
Christian Albrecht, Björn Stelbrink, and Catharina Clewing
35. Cyrenidae Gray, 1840
Rüdiger Bieler and Paula M. Mikkelsen
36. Dreissenidae Gray, 1840
Nathaniel T. Marshall and Carol A. Stepien
37. Sphaeriidae Deshayes, 1855 (1820)
Taehwan Lee
38. Unionidae Rafinesque, 1820, and the General Unionida
Daniel L. Graf and Kevin S. Cummings
39. Margaritiferidae Henderson, 1929
Daniel L. Graf and Kevin S. Cummings
40. Hyriidae Swainson, 1840
Daniel L. Graf and Kevin S. Cummings
41. Etheriidae Deshayes, 1832
Daniel L. Graf and Kevin S. Cummings
42. Mycetopodidae Gray, 1840
Daniel L. Graf and Kevin S. Cummings
43. Iridinidae Swainson, 1840
Daniel L. Graf and Kevin S. Cummings
Glossary of Systematic Terms
Contributors
Index

Author Bios
Featured Contributor

Charles Lydeard

Charles Lydeard is a professor and the chair of biology at Morehead State University. He is the editor-in-chief of Malacologia and a coeditor of Molecular Systematics and Phylogeography of Mollusks.
Featured Contributor

Kevin S. Cummings

Kevin S. Cummings is a senior research scientist and the curator of mollusks at the Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a coauthor of Field Guide to Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest.