MolluscaBase

MolluscaBase is an online taxonomic database focused on the phylum Mollusca. It forms the molluscan component of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) project and provides authoritative information on mollusk names, classifications, and related data. The database is built and maintained through a collaborative effort of taxonomic editors and specialists from scientific institutions around the world.

Content and scope: MolluscaBase records accepted scientific names, synonyms, higher classification, distribution, bibliographic references, type material, and links to original descriptions. It covers major molluscan groups, including Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Cephalopoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda and Monoplacophora, as well as fossil and recent taxa when documented. Data are regularly updated to reflect taxonomic revisions and new species descriptions. User-facing features include a search interface, taxonomic tree views, and programmatic access via APIs, facilitating integration with journals, museums, and biodiversity informatics platforms.

Access and governance: The project is maintained by editors and curators affiliated with museums, universities, and research institutes. Each taxon is assigned a stable AphiaID to support persistent referencing. MolluscaBase data are open for research use under WoRMS licensing, and the resource interoperates with related databases within the WoRMS framework to promote consistency in molluscan nomenclature across platforms.