>So it will take a lot of work to compile even a rough checklist of the
>world's molluscan species. But we will probably have that within a few
>years, as the Zoological Record digitizes its back issues.
 
Actually, the Zoological Record is not digitizing its back issues as far as
I'm aware, because they can't make money by doing so. They are not breaking
even just keeping up with what is being named; the deficit is subsidized by
their parent company BIOSIS.
 
The organization that _is_ trying to coordinate compilation of lists of
valid species worldwide is Species 2000 <http://www.sp2000.org/>.  My
Western Atlantic database is affiliated with Species 2000. I am hoping that
my database will become global in scope for mollusk species, including
illustrations. More details will follow as plans and funding solidify.
 
By the way, the Zoological Record lists how many molluscan taxa have been
named, and how many synonymized in the last 20 years, at
<http://www.york.biosis.org/triton/taxstats/moll.htm>
 
They tally 28,237 new species and 4,000 new synonyms.
 
Gary
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Gary Rosenberg, Ph.D.                     [log in to unmask]
Malacology & Invertebrate Paleontology    gopher://erato.acnatsci.org
Academy of Natural Sciences               http://www.acnatsci.org
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