United States
£ GBP
Language: English, part of the introduction is bilingual in English and German
European Non-marine Molluscs features 2150 species of European non-marine molluscs (land snails, freshwater snails and mussels). For each species a brief description is given, size, habitat, a distribution map, and if known, data on reproduction, biology and threat. Most species are equipped with photos of about 4-8 shells.
This book allows reliable determination of a large part of Europe's living mollusc species (Europe includes western Turkey). It is suitable for student field trips, zoological determination exercises indoors and outdoors, ecological or archaeological research projects, scientific research, and for administrative matters in nature, especially when it comes to a reliable determination of endangered species.
European Non-marine Molluscs is written in easily understood English and can be regarded as a successor of the well-known field guide of Kerney & Cameron from (1979/1983) (A field guide to the landsnails of Britain and North-west Europe). That book has not been reprinted any more since 2000. It was used for years as a field guide for student field trips, teaching and zoological research. After this extremely important book was out of print and the rights (Parey, later at Wiley) have not been released, Kerney/Cameron could no longer be updated or reprinted.
On the internet there is no way to determine molluscs reliably. Therefore the decision was taken to elaborate a new identification guide. More comprehensive, up to date, practical, more efficient, and promoting a faster scientific work, this book also includes southern Europe, for which no identification guide has been available before.
The highlight of European Non-marine Molluscs is a special 78-page insert (quick identification guide). This so-called "Swiss brochure" is bound separately into the book, opposite of the spine. The Quick ID consists of maps and photos, and allows very rapid pre-determination of the species. In 70-80% of cases the species may already here be well recognized. The Quick ID can be opened separately (you can always have 3 pages open simultaneously, and put a left-hand page of the Quick ID onto the right-hand page section of the main book, or even hide some Quick ID pages underneath).
The Quick ID has been specifically designed to enable faster work. Working quickly and efficiently is essential in today's scientific community. With more than 2000 species it is very difficult to keep track. Even in difficult groups the Quick ID allows a rapid narrowing down of possible options, after which the species accounts can be looked up in the main part. The Quick ID was even tested by non-experts without any previous knowledge of snails. They succeeded in a relatively short time to identify on species level a number of simple species like Ena montana or Cochlicella acuta. This book does not work with identification keys. Mollusks can be determined most quickly with concise compilations of images and distribution maps.
European Non-marine Molluscs is a guide for the general student as well as for the scientist. For the next 2-3 decades this book should not be missed at any university which offers education in biological siences.
