British Seashells A Guide for Collectors and Beachcombers

About this book

Using original Victorian prints by collectable artist George Sowerby, marine biologist and author Paul Chambers has produced the first comprehensive guide to shells for over a century. The original prints are intricately detailed and are complemented by informative but accessible text that includes details of families and distribution alongside further useful information.

Contents

Introduction 7
Acknowledgements 8
British seashells 9
A brief history of British conchology 13
Collection, preservation and identification techniques 17
About this book 21

Part one: the gastropods and scaphopoda 25
Chapter 1: Achaeogastropods 26
Chapter 2: Patellograstropods 38
Chapter 3: Mesogastropods 43
Chapter 4: Neogastropods 84
Chapter 5: Heterostrophans 97
Chapter 6: Opisthobranchs 111
Chapter 7: Tusk shells 117

Part two: bivalves 119
Chapter 8: Nut shells 121
Chapter 9: Ark shells and dog cockles 123
Chapter 10: Mussels 126
Chapter 11: File shells 134
Chapter 12: Oysters and scallops 137
Chapter 13: Venus shells 145
Chapter 14: Gape, basket and flask shells 185
Chapter 15: Piddocks and shipworms 189
Chapter 16: Lanterns and Pandora shells 195
Chapter 17: Other molluscs of interest 201

A checklist of British seashells 205
Appendix 1: A glossary of terms 217
Appendix 2: A list of useful associations and institutions 221
Bibliography 223
Index of species names 225
Index of common (vernacular) names 230

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