What Is Malacology? What Is A Mollusc? What Is Conchology?
As a shell collector you will often hear the following terms used interchangeably.
We often have a habit of using these terms in conversation without fully comprehending their true meanings.
Terms such as:
To be more specific, it is the branch of invertebrate zoology which deals with the study of the mollusks (molluscs).
If you remember your biology lessons, an invertebrate is an animal without a backbone.
So if you are a Malacologist your study will focus upon Molluscs.
But What is A Mollusc? Mollusks include snails and slugs, members of the octopus family, bivalves (paired shells like scallops, clams, cockles etc.
) and numerous other kinds.
Many of these (but by no means all) have shells.
Remember, a Mollusc is the living animal and not the shell! If you are a seashell collector it would be incorrect to call yourself a Malacologist.
True, seashells used to contain live molluscs but they are only one part of the study of Malacology.
What is Conchology? Conchology is the scientific study of mollusc shells.
Note the difference between Malacology and Conchology.
the former is the study of all aspects of the living animal, the latter is focused upon the shell which was once the home for the living mollusc.
Who is a Seashell Collector? Obviously a person who collects seashells is a seashell collector but note that you may or may not be a Conchologist depending upon how scientific your approach is to your seashell collection, There are many Conchologists working out there, specializing in one or another family, documenting scientific aspects of particular species and advancing our knowledge of seashells.
There are also many (hundreds if not thousands) who are ascetic seashell collectors but have no scientific approach to their hobby and hence should not be called Conchologists.
Who is a Shell Collector? If you have understood what I have written about seashell collectors then just expand that to include all of the different mollusc shells...
Terrestrial ( land and tree) and Marine.
You may think there are too many technical terms and wonder if it really matters which area you fall into...
Maybe it is not that important but just think how intellectual you can sound by being able to tell people what a Mollusc is, What is Malacology and What is Conchology.
We often have a habit of using these terms in conversation without fully comprehending their true meanings.
Terms such as:
- Malacology
- Conchology,
- Seashell Collector,
- Shell Collector
- Mollusc Collector
To be more specific, it is the branch of invertebrate zoology which deals with the study of the mollusks (molluscs).
If you remember your biology lessons, an invertebrate is an animal without a backbone.
So if you are a Malacologist your study will focus upon Molluscs.
But What is A Mollusc? Mollusks include snails and slugs, members of the octopus family, bivalves (paired shells like scallops, clams, cockles etc.
) and numerous other kinds.
Many of these (but by no means all) have shells.
Remember, a Mollusc is the living animal and not the shell! If you are a seashell collector it would be incorrect to call yourself a Malacologist.
True, seashells used to contain live molluscs but they are only one part of the study of Malacology.
What is Conchology? Conchology is the scientific study of mollusc shells.
Note the difference between Malacology and Conchology.
the former is the study of all aspects of the living animal, the latter is focused upon the shell which was once the home for the living mollusc.
Who is a Seashell Collector? Obviously a person who collects seashells is a seashell collector but note that you may or may not be a Conchologist depending upon how scientific your approach is to your seashell collection, There are many Conchologists working out there, specializing in one or another family, documenting scientific aspects of particular species and advancing our knowledge of seashells.
There are also many (hundreds if not thousands) who are ascetic seashell collectors but have no scientific approach to their hobby and hence should not be called Conchologists.
Who is a Shell Collector? If you have understood what I have written about seashell collectors then just expand that to include all of the different mollusc shells...
Terrestrial ( land and tree) and Marine.
You may think there are too many technical terms and wonder if it really matters which area you fall into...
Maybe it is not that important but just think how intellectual you can sound by being able to tell people what a Mollusc is, What is Malacology and What is Conchology.