Specimens from the 1985 expedition to Cape Verde from MNCN (National Museum of Natural Sciences) Malacology Collection

The Malacology Collection of the National Museum of Natural Sciences preserves 130,000 lots with specimens from all classes of mollusks: Solenogastres, Caudofoveates, Polyplacophorans, Monoplacophorans, Gastropods, Cephalopods, Scaphopods, and Bivalves. It is considered one of the largest collections in the world, with nearly two million specimens from across the globe, with significant representation of the fauna of the Iberian Peninsula, Philippines, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, and South America. Material obtained during the first Iberian scientific expedition to Cape Verde (Africa) in 1985 is particularly noteworthy. During this expedition, 1,461 specimens of 71 different bivalve species were collected, which were subsequently incorporated into the Malacology Collection in 2022. With the aim of ensuring a permanent record of the specimens and facilitating their consultation and digital distribution among the research community, photographs were taken of a representative selection of specimens of each species deposited in the collection. Additionally, photographs were taken through a magnifying lens, using a Zeiss STEMI 305 stereoscopic microscope, equipped with a Zeiss ICC1 digital camera and AXIOVISION software, which allowed for the precise documentation of the smaller specimens.