UWBM Malacology Collection

The malacology collection at the Burke Museum houses more than 35,000 specimen lots (>150,000 individual specimens) of molluscs, representing bivalves (clams, mussels, and oysters), gastropods (snails and slugs), cephalopods (octopods, squids, and nautiluses), polyplacophorans (chitons), and scaphopods (tusk shells). The collection dates to the late 1800s, however, the majority of acquisitions stem from the past 50 years, donated by researchers and shell collectors. The collection is broad in geographical and ecological scope, but with an emphasis on the Pacific region and marine taxa. Currently, the collection is composed primarily of dry shells, with only a small, but increasing, number of fluid-preserved specimens. Specimens are available by loan for research purposes. Collection Stats: Holdings (37,343 lots); Types (106 lots); Families (375); Species (6,941); Continents/Oceans (11); Countries/Territories (189); Marine (91.5%), Freshwater (3.5%), Terrestrial (5%)