Donations of Terrestrial Molluscs of Canada

I very much welcome samples of terrestrial molluscs from any place in Canada, especially from the north and the prairie provinces, which are particularly poorly known.

I am especially looking for leaf litter and stream-drift samples. While the minute land molluscs that dwell in leaf litter are a major component of the terrestrial mollusc fauna of Canada, they have historically been neglected in large parts of the country. Their small size has usually meant that they have been overlooked by all but the most dedicated naturalists and malacologists, and there exists substantial gaps in our knowledge of these animals in Canada. If you are interested in supplying me with litter samples, some advice is here.

Each sample needs to be accompanied by accurate, detailed locality and habitat data. Please contact me for further information if you are interested in sending samples.

I have now worked through two major collections of litter samples, one from along the Alaska Hwy, southern Yukon Territory, and another from the area straddling the southern Northwest Territories and northern Alberta. Still in progress are samples from southern Ontario, the area around Dease Lake, BC, and more material from the Yukon.

« Map of Canada showing donated samples since 2005; not shown are several unsorted samples that were donated and have yet to be worked on.

Thank you to Joseph Belick, Lola Bourget, Scott Digweed, Tammy Forsyth, Barb Johnston, Rose Klinkenberg, Laurent LeSage, Bill Merilees, Michael Oldham, Eva Pip, Geri Poisson, Rosamund Pojar, Mary Smith, Mark Thompson, Marilyn Van Gerven, Mary Whitley, and Kathy & David Wilford for generously providing samples (as of August 24, 2007).

« Most collections made or donated since 1990, more or less current to August 2007. I'd be most interested in litter samples, or other specimens, from areas with few or no dots.

(These maps will be updated from time to time but are best thought of as always out of date.)