Fossil mollusc collection

Naticopsis sp., a fossil gastropod — *Naticopsis* sp., an extinct genus of gastropod from the Late Carboniferous

Specimens

5,000,000

Type specimens

20,000

The Museum's collection of fossil molluscs is among the world’s most systematically, stratigraphically and geographically comprehensive. It includes more than 20,000 type and figured specimens.

The fossil records show molluscs have been systematically diverse and common throughout much of their 530 million year history. Many groups are also excellent indicators of past environmental conditions.

Strengths

The mollusc collection is one of the largest in the Museum, with more than five million specimens.

Our collection contains specimens belonging to the seven shell-bearing molluscan classes from across their entire geological range.

Geological range

Bivalvia: Early Cambrian to Recent
Gastropoda: Early Cambrian to Recent
Monoplacophora: Early Cambrian to Recent
Polyplacophora: Late Cambrian to Recent
Rostroconchia: Early Cambrian to Permian
Scaphopoda: Early Carboniferous to Recent

The collections also include:

Hyolitha (of probable molluscan affinity): Early Cambrian to Permian
Tentaculitida (uncertain affinity): Early Ordovician to Late Devonian
Cornulitida (uncertain affinity): Middle Ordovician to Early Carboniferous

Major collections

The fossil mollusc collection comprises three major groups of material:

Benthic molluscs, comprising the classes:

Bivalvia (mussels, clams)
Gastropoda (snails)

Cephalopoda, a class comprising the subclasses:

Ammonoidea (ammonites and relatives)
Coleoidea (belemnites, cuttlefishes, octopuses, squids and paper nautiluses)
Nautiloidea (nautiloids and their Palaeozoic relatives)

Minor groups, consisting of the:

Hyolitha
Monoplacophora
Polyplacophora (chitons)
Rostroconchia
Scaphopoda (tusk shells)
and the enigmatic Cornulitida and Tentaculitida

Most of these groups are arranged systematically using traditional or current classifications. The Bivalvia, Cephalopoda and Minor groups are arranged according to the Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology.

In addition to the systematically arranged material we have the following collections:

Cenozoic and Quaternary non-marine molluscs: arranged by fauna and locality
Faunal assemblages and samples
Historic collections: by noted palaeontologists

Looking for a specimen?

The mollusca collection is being digitised

Curator

Dr Jon Todd

Any questions ?

If you would like to use any specimens for research

Countries of origin

The collection has a worldwide scope including Antarctica and oceanic islands.

In addition to extensive British holdings, Western European countries and former British colonies are particularly well represented.

Specialist reference libraries

Cox Library: benthic molluscs
Buckman Library: cephalopods

Important historical collections

Sowerby Collection: specimens illustrated in the Mineral Conchology
William Smith Collection: specimens associated with his pioneering mapping of Britain
FE Edwards Collection: formed the basis for the study British Tertiary, and includes Palaeontographical Society Monograph specimens
Solander Collection: contains some of the first British fossils to be named and described
Sir Charles Lyell Collection: specimens collected from Atlantic Ocean Islands by one of the world’s most celebrated geologists
Sir Charles Darwin Collection: specimens collected from South America during the voyage of HMS Beagle

Specimen of the large marine gastropod Voluta muricana showing an ornate, spiralling shell with a large aperture.

An Eocene shell of Volutospina measuring 5cm and showing prominent spines on the shoulders of the whorls.

The distinctive shells of the bivalve Trigonia and its close relatives are common in Jurassic rocks. This example from Gloucestershire, England, measures a little over 4cm in width.