The lifesize guide to identifying and classifying shells. Over 100,000 kinds of mollusk have been recorded and some estimates of yet to be discovered species exceed a million. They have colonized nearly every habitat on the planet, ranging from high mountains to the depths of ocean trenches, and from the poles to the tropics. They range in size from that of a grain of sand to a meter in length and many hundreds of kilograms in weight. The Book of Shells curates a lifesize collection of 600 of the most significant examples, presented by one of the world's preeminent scholars. Each shell is reproduced lifesize, and the book is arranged by shell family, and by size within each family, providing instant visual identification and comparison. Accompanying text for every example is divided into charted specifications, a general "biography," a summary of related species, and an extended caption that provides a detailed visual description. Magnified details reveal the diversity of pattern, while miniature line drawings reveal the variation in structure. The result is a collector's piece that is both a significant resource for enthusiasts and scholars, and the most visually stimulating guide to shells you could wish to find.