MolluscaBase is a taxonomically oriented database which aims to provide an authoritative, permanently updated account of all molluscan species. more
Mollusca are the second largest animal phylum on Earth after arthropods. The number of valid Recent species is currently estimated around 50,000 to 55,000 marine, 25,000 to 30,000 terrestrial and 6,000 to 7,000 freshwater. The number of fossil species is not known accurately, but is in the same order of magnitude and may range between 60,000 (a conservative guess, Taylor & Lewis, 2007) and more than 100,000 species.
Subject to availability, the following information is provided for taxa included in MolluscaBase:
Accepted (valid) name
Classification (presented with a parent/child hierarchy)
Synonyms
Reference of original description and other relevant literature sources
Type locality and distribution
Stratigraphic range
Traits (environment, feeding type, host/parasite relationship) and notes
Images
The recent, marine component coincides with the Mollusca entries in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), whereas the continental and fossil components are not displayed in the WoRMS interface.
