14 / 09 / 2015
Although the MolluscaBase is still developing, it contains already 52 425 accepted and controlled species names including 5 400 fossil species. In addition to the recent (and the outmoded) scientific name, there is information for every species regarding the known local name in several languages, the publication of the original description, biogeographic data, links to other informative platforms and databanks, and lots of photographs. The aim is to add gradually other traits (such as magnitude, invasivity, etc.) for each species.
The MolluscaBase initiative is supported by LifeWatch (E-Science European Infrastructure for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research). VLIZ is coordinating this initiative and relies greatly on the expertise and information that is incorporated within the Mollusca-component of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).
To make the MolluscaBase more complete, four efforts have been made. (1) A complete integration of the Taxonomic Database on European Marine Mollusca (CLEMAM) into MolluscaBase. CLEMAM was previously hosted at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris and maintained by WoRMS editor and Mollusca expert Serge Gofas. (2) The Freshwater Gastropods of the European Neogene (FreshGEN) is now also available through MolluscaBase and contains information on all fossil freshwater gastropod species described from the Miocene and Pliocene of Europe. (3) The integration of the Indo-Pacific Mollusca database has been initiated. In the long term, Gary Rosenberg (chief taxonomic editor of this initiative and Mollusca-expert in WoRMS) wants to combine the Indo-Pacific data with existing databases for the Western Atlantic and European marine mollusc species to form the basis of a global database of Mollusca, being MolluscaBase. (4) The databases New Zealand Cenozoic Mollusca and New Zealand Recent Terrestrial Mollusca were added by Bruce Marshall.
In the future, several other initiatives will be initiated. By the end of 2015, a global list of the genera of recent terrestrial mollusks and a list of the recent land and freshwater mollusks of Europe will be added to MolluscaBase. In addition, a list of recent North American land and freshwater mollusks will be added as a collaboration with the U.S. National Science Foundation-supported Invert-E-Base. Meanwhile, the MolluscaBase experts are exploring a possible collaboration with PaleoDB on getting the fossil part of MolluscaBase more complete.
The MolluscaBase initiative is supported by LifeWatch (E-Science European Infrastructure for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research). VLIZ is coordinating this initiative and relies greatly on the expertise and information that is incorporated within the Mollusca-component of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).
To make the MolluscaBase more complete, four efforts have been made. (1) A complete integration of the Taxonomic Database on European Marine Mollusca (CLEMAM) into MolluscaBase. CLEMAM was previously hosted at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris and maintained by WoRMS editor and Mollusca expert Serge Gofas. (2) The Freshwater Gastropods of the European Neogene (FreshGEN) is now also available through MolluscaBase and contains information on all fossil freshwater gastropod species described from the Miocene and Pliocene of Europe. (3) The integration of the Indo-Pacific Mollusca database has been initiated. In the long term, Gary Rosenberg (chief taxonomic editor of this initiative and Mollusca-expert in WoRMS) wants to combine the Indo-Pacific data with existing databases for the Western Atlantic and European marine mollusc species to form the basis of a global database of Mollusca, being MolluscaBase. (4) The databases New Zealand Cenozoic Mollusca and New Zealand Recent Terrestrial Mollusca were added by Bruce Marshall.
In the future, several other initiatives will be initiated. By the end of 2015, a global list of the genera of recent terrestrial mollusks and a list of the recent land and freshwater mollusks of Europe will be added to MolluscaBase. In addition, a list of recent North American land and freshwater mollusks will be added as a collaboration with the U.S. National Science Foundation-supported Invert-E-Base. Meanwhile, the MolluscaBase experts are exploring a possible collaboration with PaleoDB on getting the fossil part of MolluscaBase more complete.