The Mollusk Collection
Our mollusk collection is the tenth largest in North America with more than 2 million specimens.
The 234,000 lots represent more than 18,000 species. Worldwide in scope and covering all seven living classes of mollusks, our holdings include marine Gastropoda (50%), land and freshwater Gastropoda (25%), marine Bivalvia (15%), and freshwater Bivalvia (5%).
The museum’s mollusk collection is primarily dry shells, with some alcohol preserved cephalopod specimens. Most specimens are recent; however, there is some Cenozoic fossil material. Our type collection contains more than 1,200 lots. Type catalogs listing all molluscan type specimens (except Pulmonata) are available in Nemouria issues 36 and 41.
The collections are publicly accessible online via several data aggregators. Our institution code is DMNH. The mollusk collection is digitized on iDigBio, InvertEBase, and GBIF. The collection continues to grow through research activities of staff and donations of scientifically significant specimens.
Elizabeth Shea, Ph.D.
Research Director & Curator, Mollusk Collection
Liz joined the Collections and Research division as Curator of Mollusks in 2006 and was promoted to Director of Collections in 2022, and Research Director & Curator, Mollusk Collection in 2026. She is interested in all aspects of cephalopod biology, especially their ecology, taxonomy and systematics.
What is a mollusk?
In general, mollusks are soft bodied animals living in many different environments: from the depths of the oceans to the heat of the desert, and from small backyard ponds to the tops of mountains. They are one of the most diverse groups of organisms on the planet.
The Phylum Mollusca is estimated to include 100,000 species. The study of mollusks is called malacology which means “the study of animals with soft bodies.”
Stories from the Mollusk Department
- World Ocean Day
Dr. Liz Shea talks about the importance of the oceans on World Ocean Day - A World of Shells
Hidden right in Wilmington, Delaware, the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science houses a trueRead More A World of Shells - Expedition at Sea
Museum scientist Liz Shea, Ph.D. is at sea on the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster onRead More Expedition at Sea - Explore the Scientific Collections in Our Newest Museum Display
A new exhibit in the Bill & Denise Spence Discovery Gallery features birds and marineRead More Explore the Scientific Collections in Our Newest Museum Display - Preserving the Past, One Shell at a Time
The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science is partnering with the University of Delaware toRead More Preserving the Past, One Shell at a Time - Explore the Collections
The Delaware Museum of Nature and Science is an active, growing, mid-Atlantic repository for specimensRead More Explore the Collections - Dimming Giants
You may be familiar with the Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) in the lobby of theRead More Dimming Giants - Science at Sea!
Dr. Liz Shea, Director of Collections and Curator of Mollusks at the Delaware Museum ofRead More Science at Sea! - Conserving the Collections
Our extensive scientific collections are used by scientists and researchers all around the world. Use of these collections needs to be balanced with conservation efforts to ensure they exist for future generations. - Vouchering for Science
Our scientific collections provide a baseline of biodiversity for research projects. Vouchering physical specimens into permanent and managed collections like those at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science ensures a proper documentation of biodiversity and consistency of research. - Thousands of Mollusks added to the museum’s scientific collections in 2023
Mollusk collections often stem from exploration, whether on a global or local scale. Personal collections frequently find their way to museums, especially when accompanied by available data. Our holdings have recently expanded with two significant acquisitions. - The du Pont Trophy
Connecting art with science: the du Pont Trophy original paintings by artist Lauren J. Sweeney - New species discovered using museum’s online collection data
Introducing Bourciera ovata In the summer of 2020 — the first year of the pandemicRead More New species discovered using museum’s online collection data - Mobilizing Millions of Marine Mollusks
The museum has teamed up with scientists at several major museums and universities for aRead More Mobilizing Millions of Marine Mollusks
The du Pont Trophy
On the edge of science, collections and art: the du Pont Trophy paintings, original works by artist Lauren Sweeney, honor outstanding exhibits at shell shows.
The specimens found in natural history collections straddle the edge between art and science. Collectors may be inspired to pick up a shell and put it in their pocket because it strikes them as beautiful. But with the addition of some simple data such as date and location, the shells become a record of biodiversity and an essential scientific resource.
Shells in the research collection are the artistic inspiration for the du Pont Trophy, an award given at shell shows for the overall outstanding exhibit.
