Molluscan Diversity Research Articles

Diversity of benthic marine mollusks of the Strait of Magellan, Chile (Polyplacophora, Gastropoda, Bivalvia): a historical review of natural history.

An increase in richness of benthic marine mollusks towards high latitudes has been described on the Pacific coast of Chile in recent decades. This considerable increase in diversity occurs specifically at the beginning of the Magellanic Biogeographic Province. Within this province lies the Strait of Magellan, considered the most important channel because it connects the South Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. These characteristics make it an interesting area for marine research; thus, the Strait of Magellan has historically been the area with the greatest research effort within the province. However, despite efforts there is no comprehensive and updated list of the diversity of mollusks within the Strait of Magellan up to now. This study consisted of a complete bibliographic review of all available literature that included samples of mollusks in the Strait of Magellan. More than 300 articles were reviewed, covering 200 years of scientific knowledge. There were 2579 records belonging to 412 taxa, of which 347 are valid species. Of the total valid species, 44 (~13%) are considered of doubtful presence in the Strait. This work increases the known richness of mollusks of the Strait of Magellan by 228%; it is also the first report that integrates all available diversity studies of the three most speciose classes of benthic mollusks (Gastropoda, Bivalvia and Polyplacophora) from the Strait of Magellan.

Selective extinction against redundant species buffers functional diversity.

The extinction of species can destabilize ecological processes. A way to assess the ecological consequences of species loss is by examining changes in functional diversity. The preservation of functional diversity depends on the range of ecological roles performed by species, or functional richness, and the number of species per role, or functional redundancy. However, current knowledge is based on short timescales and an understanding of how functional diversity responds to long-term biodiversity dynamics has been limited by the availability of deep-time, trait-based data. Here, we compile an exceptional trait dataset of fossil molluscs from a 23-million-year interval in the Caribbean Sea (34 011 records, 4422 species) and develop a novel Bayesian model of multi-trait-dependent diversification to reconstruct mollusc (i) diversity dynamics, (ii) changes in functional diversity, and (iii) extinction selectivity over the last 23 Myr. Our results identify high diversification between 23–5 Mya, leading to increases in both functional richness and redundancy. Conversely, over the last three million years, a period of high extinction rates resulted in the loss of 49% of species but only 3% of functional richness. Extinction rates were significantly higher in small, functionally redundant species suggesting that competition mediated the response of species to environmental change. Taken together, our results identify long-term diversification and selective extinction against redundant species that allowed functional diversity to grow over time, ultimately buffering the ecological functions of biological communities against extinction.

New records of bivalves in the Mexican Pacific Transitional Zone

ABSTRACT The marine ecoregion known as the Mexican Pacific Transitional Zone (MPT) is a rich environment consisting of diverse coastal ecosystems with a great diversity of species, including bivalves, which have high ecological importance and perform a wide variety of environmental functions. Our objective was to document new records of bivalve species in the MPT and their geographic distribution. The study was conducted at 26 sites with rocky intertidal areas located in the Mexican states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Oaxaca. Semele (S.) californica, Petricola (P.) botula and Parapholas acuminata are new records for the MPT; Crassostrea columbiensis is a new record for the coasts of Michoacan and Oaxaca. Plicatula spondylopsis, Chama corrugata, Diplodonta orbella, Sphenia fragilis, Juliacorbula bicarinata, Paraphola calva, Gastrochaena ovata and Lamychaena truncata are new records for the state of Guerrero. These new records demonstrate the need for more concentrated research efforts in the study of marine diversity, in particular to examine specific clades in this important biodiverse zone. Key policy insights Obtained results highlight the great variety of mollusc species that inhabit the Mexican Pacific Transitional Zone (MPT); however, they need further research. Knowledge of the diversity of mollusc in (MPT) allows us to enrich and update the taxonomic database for the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The taxonomic knowledge of bivalves will serve as the basis for the conservation and management of fishery resources occurring in the MPT.

Functional diversity of reef molluscs along a tropical-to-temperate gradient

Global warming is leading to range shifts of marine species, threatening the structure and functioning of ecological communities and human populations that rely on them. The largest changes are seen in biogeographic transition zones, such as subtropical reef communities, where species range shifts are already causing substantial community reorganisation. This causes functional changes in communities over subtropical latitudes, though a baseline functional understanding remains elusive for many taxa. One key marine taxon are molluscs, which provide many ecosystem services, are important prey for fishes and are also fisheries targets themselves, but remain largely unstudied. Here, we examine the trait composition, functional diversity, and functional redundancy of mollusc assemblages along the tropical-to-temperate transition in Japan (25° to 35° Northern latitude). Specifically, we use a trait database of 88 mollusc species from 31 subtropical reefs along the Pacific coast of Japan to show that trait composition of mollusc assemblages changes continuously along the latitudinal gradient. We discover that functional diversity of mollusc assemblages decreases with increasing latitude, a pattern associated with declines in functional dispersion. Moreover, we find a clear distinction between tropical and subtropical mollusc assemblages, with substrate-attached, suspension feeding bivalves more abundant in the tropics and free-living gastropod grazers more prevalent at higher latitudes. Our trait-based evidence in this study shows a contraction and almost complete shift in the functioning of marine mollusc assemblages at biogeographic transition zones and our trait database facilitates further study. Our findings provide evidence of the changing taxonomic and functional composition of extant mollusc communities with latitude, pointing to potential pertinent changes and tropicalisation of these communities with rapid ocean warming.

Diversity of Aquatic and Terrestrial Molluscs from Simeulue Island, with Notes on Their Distribution and Some New Records

Faunistic study on the malacofauna of Simeulue Island was carried out in 2017 after 104 years from the last collection in 1913. 3 locations with 13 stations were observed. 20 families and 50 species of aquatic and terrestrial molluscs were identified. The occurrences of 4 local endemic species were still found and 19 new distributional records were added to the previous list. However, 5 previously listed species were not found in the present study. Through the present study, the accumulative number of malacofauna from Simeulue Island will be around 54 species. 19 species were reported for the first time, including 3 introduced species and 1 new records for Indonesia. 4 local endemic species were still found there after 104 years gone by.

Fiocruz Biological Collections: strengthening Brazil's biodiversity knowledge and scientific applications opportunities.

Biological collections are central in understanding and preserving life on Earth. In Brazil, the most representative collections are kept by natural history museums, whose primary focus is in invertebrates, vertebrates and vascular plants. Only a few institutions keep repositories in different kingdoms. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), established in 1900, is a strategic public health institution of the Ministry of Health of Brazil. As such, Fiocruz is responsible for a wide range of activities, from basic research to the development and production of vaccines, drugs, reagents and diagnostic kits. Its biological collections were soon established in the expeditions made by naturalists and physicians seeking integrated knowledge of the fauna, flora and tropical diseases. Since then, they have been part of the institutional policy. In a few decades, those collections were already in the forefront of basic and applied research on tropical parasitic and infectious diseases. Currently, they comprise thirty-three repositories representing part of the Brazilian diversity of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, arthropods, molluscs and plants of medical and environmental importance. Different methods of long-term preservation are applied for the conservation of this wide range of organisms represented by about 6 million specimens. Herein, we describe this range of collections and discuss their complementary role as repositories of groups not represented in other biological collections in Brazil. These valuable biological materials have been used in public health and medical research, as well as for technological development and innovation in Brazil. Parallel to this specific usage, Fiocruz biological collections have played and continue to play a unique and important role in understanding and conserving part of Brazil’s biodiversity that is currently under-represented in other biological and natural history collections in Brazil and South America.

Taxonomy, palaeoecology and stratigraphy of the middle Miocene mollusk fauna from the Gračanica coal pit near Bugojno in Bosnia and Herzegovina

During the early and middle Miocene, the Dinarides Lake System (DLS) was a major hotspot of freshwater mollusk diversity in southeastern Europe. The numerous intramontane lake basins, originating by combined effects of tectonic subsidence and humid climate, accumulated thick lacustrine successions. Diagenetic overprint and leaching of these carbonate-rich deposits have facilitated insights to faunal contents for only a few basins up to the present. We contribute to filling this gap by documenting for the first time a mollusk fauna from the Bugojno Basin in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The fauna originates from a coal-bearing succession representing a gradual flooding of the coastal wetlands followed upwards by the establishment of perennial lacustrine settings in the basin. Our taxonomic analyses documents 17 gastropod and two bivalve species. New to science are IIllyricocongeria forcakovici nov. sp., Prososthenia krijgsmani nov. sp. and Bania goehlichae nov. sp. The palaeoecological analysis based on quantified samples shows distinct shifts in mollusk composition and abundance. The terrestrial taxa are restricted to the coal-bearing interval of the section; melanopsids, neritids and hydrobiids are abundant in deltaic and littoral settings, whereas bivalves are frequent in littoral and sublittoral environments. In line with previous results, which have evidenced a high degree of intralacustrine radiation in the DLS, the Lake Bugojno fauna shows a low to moderate level of similarity to other DLS faunas. The dissimilarity may partly also result from its younger age as suggested by the presence or absence of regional biostratigraphic marker species.

Freshwater Mollusca of the Circumpolar Arctic: a review on their taxonomy, diversity and biogeography

Since the end of the 19th century, the circumpolar fauna of freshwater Mollusca has not been reviewed despite the substantial increase of knowledge on this subject. A review of the freshwater mollusks of the Arctic based on an analysis of published data, own results and examination of museum collections is presented. 104 species of Mollusca have been registered, which constitutes less than 2% of the global diversity. The actual diversity of the Circumpolar freshwater molluscs may lie between 100 and 120 species. No endemic taxa are found in the Arctic. The most species-rich Arctic subregion is Siberia, whereas the North America maintains the poorest fauna. The aquatic malacofauna of Beringia is similar to that of North America, and Beringia as a biogeographic region constitutes a part of the Nearctic. The ways of formation of the Circumpolar malacofauna are discussed, with evaluation of dispersal, adaptation, and environmental filtering as the faunogenesis factors. The number of non-alien species in the Circumpolar freshwater malacofauna remains very low, and only one reliable occurrence of an alien species is known. Among the Arctic molluscs only three have a conservation status other than ‘least concern’ or ‘data deficient’, whereas most resident species are widespread and abundant.

Molluscs Combing on The Coast of Karang Hawu, West Java

Karang Hawu Beach faces the Indian Ocean, so the presence of mollusks in the area varies widely and can increase in variety due to natural phenomena, such as earthquakes and tsunami outbreaks. The research objective was to obtain gastropods and bivalves (mollusks) by sweeping the Karang Hawu beach, West Java. Samples were collected from the coastal waters of Karang Hawu, West Java using the coastal sweeping method, then the samples were identified. The results showed that there were 3 classes of mollusks, namely: Cephalopod class, Bivalvia class, and Gastropod class with 42 families and 146 species of mollusks. Mollusks, with the highest gastropod class (38 families, 140 species), Bilavia class (3 families, 5 species), and Cephalopod class (1 family, 1 species). Results of the study concluded that based on the Molluscs sweeping the coast of Karang Hawu, West Java, it has a diversity of Molluscs, namely 146 species of mollusks from 3 classes, which were Gastropods, Bivalves, and Cephalopods.

Keanekaragaman Moluska di Pantai Pasir Putih Lampung Selatan

Pantai Pasir Putih is an area with a variety of coastal substrates that store much diversity of Molluscs species. The diversity of Molluscs in the waters of Lampung is still little known, therefore research conducted at Pasir Putih Beach, South Lampung aims to determine the density and diversity of Molluscs, as well as to determine water quality. The sampling method used is line transect combined with the square method. Molluscs were found in 48 individuals from nine families (Cerithiidae, Neritidae, Throchidae, Conidae, Muricidae, Nassaridae, Columbariidae, Columbellidae, Buccinidae, and Mactridae). Based on the calculation of Molluscs density (10.33 Ind/m 2 ; 5 Ind/m 2 ; 0.67 Ind/m 2 .) The Shannon-Wiener Molluscs index on the Pasir Putih Beach was included in the low category (H value: 0 - 0.152). The results of the analysis of environmental factors show that the waters of the Pasir Putih Beach have not been polluted and are still good enough for Molluscs life.

Distribution and diversity of mollusca at migratory bird visiting and non-visiting lakes of Jahngirnagar University, Savar

This study was conducted to compare mollusc diversity in migratory bird visiting and non-visiting lakes of Jahangirnagar University campus, Savar, Bangladesh from July, 2016 to June, 2017. A total of 13 species belonging to 6 families under 2 classes of Mollusca were encountered. The class Gastropoda dominated the faunal composition (91%) with 11 species under 5 families and the class Bivalvia constituting (9%) with 2 species under single family. Among them Bellamya bengalensis, Lymnaea accuminata, Indoplnorbis exeutus, Gyraulus convexiusculus, Melanoides tuberculata and Lamellidens marginalis were the most dominating taxa. The highest number of molluscan taxa was from the family Viviparidae (3 spp.) 29% followed by Planorbidae (2 spp.) 27%, Lymnaedae (3 spp.) 23%, Unionidae (2 spp.) 9%, Thiaridae (1 sp.) 8% and lowest from Piladae (2 spp.) 4%. Seasonal variation showed maximum density in the summer and minimum in the monsoon. Correlation (p> 0.05) indicate that B. bengalensis, L. accuminata, I. exustus, L. marginalis had close dependency to soil pH, soil organic Carbon, Soil organic matter and sand particle whereas M. tuberculata and G. convexiusculus show significant positive correlation with silt and clay particle. Biodiversity indices indicating low species diversity and richness of molluscs in both migratory bird visiting and non-visiting lakes. These findings emphasized the importance of protection and management of molluscs fauna in the lakes for supporting the food for the migratory birds.
 Bangladesh J. Zool. 47(2): 355-366, 2019

Biogeographic and bathymetric patterns of benthic molluscs in the Gulf of Mexico

The Biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico (BioGoMx) database, which contains occurrence information of extant species in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), allows for the analysis of benthic mollusc diversity and distribution across the entire basin. For analyses, the GOM was split in 4 geographic sectors (NE, NW, SE, and SW) and 6 depth classes (inshore, upper shelf, lower shelf, upper slope, lower slope, and abyssal plain) for a total of 24 geographic-depth polygons. The northern GOM contained higher species richness than the south, the east more than the west. Species richness decreased with depth with maxima occurring on the upper shelf. Bivalves and gastropods dominated each geographic sector and depth class, together comprising >90% of the molluscan species richness. Assemblages were structured by depth more than by geographic sector. GOM molluscs fell into 3 broad depth-based assemblages: the inshore and continental shelf, the continental slope, and the abyssal plain species combined with the western lower slope. Geographically, taxonomic distinctness analysis indicated most NE depths fell below average distinctness and by depth polygons above and below the continental shelf break were frequently distinct. Cluster analysis based on taxonomic dissimilarity agreed with the analyses based on the species occurrence data. Mollusc feeding strategies largely followed estimated proportions for the larger Atlantic. Carnivory and suspension feeding were the most common with grazing, herbivory, and parasitism following behind. Chemosymbiotic species were also prevalent due to the widespread occurrence of cold seep habitats. Further taxonomic research and more sampling are needed to determine patterns at finer scales.

Uncovering the relative influences of space and environment in shaping the biogeographic patterns of mangrove mollusk diversity

AbstractDetermining the relative importance of ecological processes regulating the biogeographic patterns of marine species, especially with respect to α- and β-diversity in multi-habitat communities, is a central goal in marine ecology. We explored the relative contribution of spatial (stochastic processes) and environmental factors (deterministic processes) to the biogeographic patterns of the α- and β-diversity of mangrove mollusks. A total of 16 mangrove areas were sampled in southeast coast China from 18°N to 28°N latitude. The highest mean α-diversity was found at 20°N and that of β-diversity was at 21°N. Both spatial and environmental factors had significant effects on the α- and β-diversity patterns. The environments had greater effects than the spaces on shaping the α-diversity pattern, while the spaces were relatively more important in governing the β-diversity patterns than the environments. Our results suggest that the α-diversity pattern was mainly controlled by deterministic processes (environmental filtering), while β-diversity was primarily shaped by stochastic processes (dispersal-related), although both processes had significant impacts on α- and β-diversity patterns. Identifying the ecological variables and mechanisms that drive variations in α- and β-diversity may help guide the conservation for biodiversity in endangered mangrove ecosystems under anthropogenic and global changes.

Struktur Komunitas Moluska Bentik di Perairan Sekitar PLTU Grati, Pasuruan, Jawa Timur

Observation on marine benthic molluscs around PLTU Grati waters in Pasuruan was conducted on May and December 2004. The aim of this study was to determine condition and community structure of benthic molluscs living in those areas. Samples were collected using Eckmann grab and sieved through 0.5 mm mesh-sized. The number of molluscs species is 28 species, consisting of 16 species class of gastropoda and 12 species class of pelecypoda. A diversity index (H) ranged 0.845 to 1.158, an evenness index (J) was 0.856 to 1 and a richness index (D) was 19.562 to 31.949. Littorina undulata (Littorinidae) was a dominant species and was relatively widely distributed. In general, this result showed that around PLTU Grati waters had a relatively low benthic molluscs diversity.

Community structure and functional traits of mollusks associated with coastal reef macroalgae in Northeastern Brazil

AbstractThis study investigated the community structure and functional traits of the mollusk fauna associated with macroalgae with different thallus morphologies in a reef environment in Northeastern Brazil. A total of 15 individuals of each species of macroalgae adhered to natural substrate and 15 individuals of Padina gymnospora detached from the substrate were collected. The structural complexity of algal habitats was measured and the associated malacofauna screened and identified. All three macroalgae differed significantly in the complexity of their habitat, with Sargassum polyceratium being the most complex. A total of 823 specimens of mollusks belonging to 22 species and 11 families were recorded, of which Columbellidae was the most represented with six species. The functional trait “size” revealed that micromollusks smaller than 10 millimeters were predominant in the community; however, individuals of larger sizes (up to 24.54 millimeters) belonging to young stages of other species were also present. Eight functional trophic groups were identified, of which “carnivorous” stood out with seven species. Six functional groups of microhabitats were identified, with intra‐specific variation in habitats, while habitat expansion was documented for species not yet recorded in association with macroalgae. The structure of the molluskan community differed among the three algae species with the greatest richness, abundance, and diversity of mollusks and functional traits occurring with S. polyceratium. Community structure differed between algae adhered to natural substrate and detached algae, with the latter having lower mollusk richness and diversity, but with greater abundance of some species that remained on algal fronds after release from the reef environment. This study reinforces the importance of algal habitat for marine invertebrate fauna, especially for micromollusks that spend their entire life cycle, or part of it, in association with macroalgae.

Situation and Cercarial Infection of Freshwater Mollusk from Sirindhorn Reservoir, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand

Most of trematodes need snails to complete their life cycles. Consequently freshwater snails are served as intermediate hosts of many parasites worldwide. There is a lack of report on snail diversity and parasitic infection in snails in Sirindhorn Reservoir, Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand. Mollusk diversity and trematode cercariae infections were investigated in snails from 120 sampling sites surround Sirindhorn Reservoir from April 2018 to June 2018. Mollusk species were identified based on their shell morphology. The presence of cercariae infections in snails was examined by cercarial shedding methods. The interaction between snail species was analyzed by the correlation method. Overall, 2076 mollusks were collected which comprised six species of snails and two species of bivalves. Snail species were identified as Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos, Anentome helena, Filopaludina sumatrensis spiciosa, F. martensi martensi, F. martensi munensis and Pomacea canaliculata. The overall rate of trematode cercariae infection was 1.69% (35/2,076). The cercariae found infecting snails were Cercariaeum cercaria, Virgulate cercaria, Cotylomicrocercous cercaria and Furcocercous cercaria. The most common snails found was the assassin snail, A. helena, which showed the negative relationship among other species interactions. This finding indicated infection with animal's parasites in snails in this area are common, besides, we found many species of snails in Sirindhorn Reservoir are potentially be the host of parasite in animal and human.

Mollusc biodiversity in late Holocene nearshore environments of the Caspian Sea: A baseline for the current biodiversity crisis

The Caspian Sea is an evolutionary island whose rich and endemic fauna have evolved in partial isolation over the past two million years. Baseline studies of pre-20th Century communities are needed in order to assess the severity of the current Caspian biodiversity crisis, which mostly involves invasive species. An inventory of late Holocene shelly assemblages (c. 2000–2500 cal yr BP) from outcrops in and around Great Turali Lake (Dagestan, Russia) shows a diverse nearshore community consisting of 24 endemic Caspian species, two invasive species and two Caspian native species that lived in a shallow embayment with mesohaline salinities of circa 5–13 psu (parts per thousands). This pre-crisis Holocene Caspian mollusc community serves as a baseline against which modern mollusc diversity measurements can be evaluated. Examination of faunas from similar environments living today and in the past illustrates the dramatic changes in nearshore communities during the 20th Century. Our study identifies a habitat that may have served as a refuge, but that is currently under threat from invasive species. The severity of the Caspian biodiversity crisis is comparable with other well-known biodiversity crises in semi-isolated ecosystems such as the cichlid fish communities of Lake Victoria, Africa.

Aragonite bias exhibits systematic spatial variation in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, North America

AbstractPreferential dissolution of the biogenic carbonate polymorph aragonite promotes preservational bias in shelly marine faunas. While field studies have documented the impact of preferential aragonite dissolution on fossil molluscan diversity, its impact on regional and global biodiversity metrics is debated. Epicontinental seas are especially prone to conditions that both promote and inhibit preferential dissolution, which may result in spatially extensive zones with variable preservation. Here we present a multifaceted evaluation of aragonite dissolution within the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America. Occurrence data of mollusks from two time intervals (Cenomanian/Turonian boundary, early Campanian) are plotted on new high-resolution paleogeographies to assess aragonite preservation within the seaway. Fossil occurrences, diversity estimates, and sampling probabilities for calcitic and aragonitic fauna were compared in zones defined by depth and distance from the seaway margins. Apparent range sizes, which could be influenced by differential preservation potential of aragonite between separate localities, were also compared. Our results are consistent with exacerbated aragonite dissolution within specific depth zones for both time slices, with aragonitic bivalves additionally showing a statistically significant decrease in range size compared with calcitic fauna within carbonate-dominated Cenomanian–Turonian strata. However, we are unable to conclusively show that aragonite dissolution impacted diversity estimates. Therefore, while aragonite dissolution is likely to have affected the preservation of fauna in specific localities, time averaging and instantaneous preservation events preserve regional biodiversity. Our results suggest that the spatial expression of taphonomic biases should be an important consideration for paleontologists working on paleobiogeographic problems.

Checklist of bivalve molluscs in mangroves of Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam

ABSTRACTThe diversity of bivalves was studied in four mangrove stands in the vicinity of Nha Trang city: planted mangroves in Dâm Bay (Tre Island) and three natural associations, in Dâm Bay, Nha Phu Bay and Cam Ranh Bay. Forty-five species from 18 families of bivalve molluscs were recorded in total. The richest families were Veneridae (eight species), Tellinidae (six species) and Lucinidae (five species). Five of the species are considered to be true mangrove associates, while others are eurybiotic species normally inhabiting mudflats and hard intertidal substrata, although some of them are commonly found in mangroves. An illustrated guide is provided, with short synonymies and data on ecology and distribution. The recorded molluscan diversity is compared with published data on mangrove Bivalvia in different regions of the Indo-Pacific. Since all characteristic groups and mangrove associates were present in our samples (except wood-borers that were not sampled), species composition of studied mangrove stands in Vietnam fits the general pattern of Indo-Pacific mangrove bivalve fauna.

Making Known and Available: The importance of digitization of a historical malacological collection in the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra

The Science Museum of the University of Coimbra (MCUC) manages the oldest zoological collections in Portugal. The molluscs are among the most relevant invertebrates within this collection, with over one hundred thousand specimens. A significant part of the Portuguese malacological collection in MCUC comes from the Madeira Archipelago, a group of oceanic islands with a high diversity of terrestrial molluscs and a hotspot of endemic taxa. A recent review of land snails from Madeira hosted at the MCUC revealed that there were around 130 lots and 2,000 specimens offered by naturalists since the 19th Century and none of them had been previously digitized. A significant number of these specimens was offered by António da Costa de Paiva (Barão de Castelo de Paiva) who described ten land snail species from the Madeira Archipelago in 1866 and published an extensive monograph on non-marine molluscs in 1867. The main goal of our work was to carry out the inventory of the mollusc collections from the Madeira Archipelago in the database of MCUC, and to discuss the importance of specimens’ digitization for making the collections known and available to researchers and the general public. We inserted data for 1,916 specimens of the Madeira Archipelago collection in the MCUC database ‘In Natura - Natural Heritage Management’ with information on their taxonomy, old inventory numbers (if available), correspondent lot, collector and the study areas, complemented with information about habitat, among others. In addition, we also included photographs of the lots and of some of the most remarkable individuals in the database. The specimens were then reconditioned and identified in the general mollusc collection, although the identification and designation of the type material are still lacking. Digitization is crucial in the field of biological collections in order to transfer specimen data onto worldwide accessible repositories, potentially benefiting the work of researchers and other stakeholders in the ecological and conservation communities. For instance, even when researchers are intensively searching for a type material in a certain collection, if the data are neither known nor available, they cannot trace it and compare it with their material. Thus, this work is fundamental for the accessibility of the malacological collections in the MCUC for researchers and also the society-at-large that has the possibility of consulting them through the digital museum (http://museudaciencia.inwebonline.net), as well as for the dissemination of the important historical and scientific heritage of the University of Coimbra and Portugal, both nationally and internationally.