Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

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(NOTE: Illinois specific lists are marked with )

CURATOR & STAFF

Kevin S. Cummings, Mollusk Curator - homepage
Christine A. Mayer, Collection Manager
Jeremy Tiemann, Malacology Staff
Sarah Bales, Malacology Staff
Alison Price Stodola, Malacology Staff
Diane Shasteen, Malacology Staff
Chris Phillips, Terrestrial Gastropods

ABOUT THE MOLLUSK COLLECTION

The Illinois Natural History Survey Mollusk Collection contains over 144,000 catalogued specimens, most of which were collected in Illinois and the southeastern United States. The collection is 90% freshwater species (mussels, fingernail clams, and snails) and 10% terrestrial species (snails). Most of the specimens were collected as a result of various faunal surveys conducted by INHS biologists from the late 1800's until the present. The early collections were made by such naturalists as John W. Powell, Robert Kennicott, Richard E. Call, William A. Nason, Frank C. Baker, Robert E. Richardson, and Charles A. Hart.

The snails are divided between terrestrial (13%) and freshwater (5%) species, most of which were collected more than 50 years ago. The largest and best documented collection of snails at the Survey was compiled by Thural D. Foster and organized by Frank C. Baker as part of his study on the "Landsnails of Illinois" published in 1939. The Baker snail collection numbers 1632 lots containing 11,970 specimens.

SPECIES LISTS, DATABASES & DISTRIBUTIONS

• INHS Mollusk Collection Database
•  Mollusca of Illinois
• Phylogentic Relationships of the Mollusca
• Freshwater Mollusk Bibliography
• Mussel Researchers
• Systematic Research Collections
• Freshwater Mussels of Venezuela
•  Field Guide to Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest

RESEARCH

• The MUSSEL Project
• Freshwater Mollusk Projects at INHS
• Investigating Mussel Communities in Illinois

OUTREACH

Please contact the Outreach group at outreach@inhs.illinois.edu for more information.

LINKS

•  Threatened & Endangered Species in IL
• Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society