Utah Mollusk Identification Guide (Paperback)

Offers up-to-date information for identifying aquatic and terrestrial snails, slugs, clams, and mussels within the state of Utah, providing comparative tables, taxonomic keys, and more than 230 images, including many type specimen images published for the first time.

The Utah Mollusk Identification Guide offers up-to-date information for identifying aquatic and terrestrial snails, slugs, clams, and mussels within the state of Utah, providing comparative tables, taxonomic keys, and more than 230 images, including many type specimen images published for the first time. Amateur naturalists and biologists alike will benefit from detailed information regarding size, type, specimen location, junior synonyms (including taxonomy notes), original descriptions for each of the 139 species, and comments to help differentiate similar species.

In contrast to older guides, this book includes data on the external and internal anatomy of mollusks. Taxonomic names are updated to incorporate the latest information available. Family descriptions and miscellaneous data on ecology, life history, and genetics are also presented. Distribution data are based on historical articles, museum records, personal observations, and collections. Although the focus is on Utah mollusks, many species are widely distributed and the data, images, references, and taxonomy details within the guide will be of interest to many outside the state.

Reviews

“The first update of Utah mollusks since the 1929 Chamberlin and Jones volume. This book will unify the taxonomy in Utah and adjacent regions of aquatic and terrestrial mollusks and their habitat, a necessity for intermountain biological diversity and for conservation assessments.”—Peter Hovingh, retired biologist, expert on western mollusks

"Wagner’s guide is a much needed, monumental contribution to mollusk conservation in Utah. Readers will find the comprehensiveness of this guide incredibly helpful, and it will become the new go-to resource for anyone interested in Utah mollusks."—Kate Holcomb, Statewide Mollusk Specialist, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

About the Author

Eric J. Wagner recently retired from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, where he worked for 30 years conducting fisheries and aquaculture research and monitoring aquatic invasive species. He has authored numerous research articles on aquaculture and A Guide to the Identification of Tailed Myxobolidae of the World, an open-access textbook and guide to a group of fish parasites in the phylum Myxozoa.