Mollusc Shells in Bangladesh National Museum

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Introduction. Description of Mollusc Shells. Bibliography. Appendix.

Putting the treasure of 444 types of molluscan shell into a book symbolizes an important step in Bangladesh’s natural history. The collection testifies to the diversity of this species that has roamed the earth for about 500 million years. While the collectors are aware that the Golden Age of conchology has begun, this effort seeks to match the new-found enthusiasm for knowledge on shells of this region. This catalogue is an attempt at laying the basis for further inquiry in this field. By providing a map of what lies in the collection of Bangladesh National Museum, it hopes to bridge the gap between the current enthusiasm for knowledge on shells and he need for resources to generate that knowledge. It is a guide that may serve researchers, students, amateur conchologists and hobbyists alike who are most likely to look for avenues to enhance their expertise and knowledge and pursue their hobby.

The taxonomic classification of the mollusc shells given in the appendix will provide important information to the scientific community. In terms of the natural history and biodiversity study of mollusc shell in Bangladesh, this compilation is of crucial importance since the country is rich in mollusc resources. Though, very little was known about the molluscan taxa of this country till the 1990s, some initial studies have sparked the interest of many a researcher. The study of marine molluscan taxa began almost a century ago, first initiated by Coomans (1940) and later by Ali and Aziz (1976) who worked in the same island. Subsequent researches and findings have made it clear that the shell provide cues to the biological history of the region. This catalogue indexes each type of molluscs by placing a photograph, a brief description and inventorial information in one place, thereby facilitating a quick survey of the collection to the beneft of the interested readers. (jacket)