There are more species of freshwater mollusks'well over 5,000'than all the mammal species of the world. Mollusks are also arguably the most endangered freshwater 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, R++diger 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. Guti+¬rrez 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 Schr+¦dl, Alena A. Shirokaya, Bj+¦rn Stelbrink, Carol A. Stepien, Ellen E. Strong, Maxim V. Vinarski, Amy R. Wethington, Thomas Wilke
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
""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.""
