Shells of the Hawaiian Islands

The Land Shells

by Mike Severns

ISBN 9783939767343 published in 2011 by Conchbooks, Hackenheim, Germany, laminated boards, A4 size (about 21 by 29.5cm.)  about 8.25 by 11.5inches, 459 pages, 186 page size color photographic plates  and 5 additional  full size color plates in addendum, also maps, charts and illustrations of  the shells' habitat.

This is nothing less than an amazing work and it is the only work that has recently been done on the varied and unusual endemic species of land and freshwater mollusks that are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Many of these species show complex variations that are fully illustrated and described. In all there are 3117 images of these  in this book. The introductory section is extremely well written and is essential to the understanding of the descriptions and the illustrations that follow. The descriptions that are keyed to the plates are succinct but more than adequate. They contain the name of the species (including author and date), a size for the illustrated shell, a distribution range and a citation for the location of the shell. Sadly most of the species that are covered are now extinct and those that remain are protected, but threatened. This book offers photos of some of the best of all of these shells and serves to make us realize what has been lost. Many holotype specimens are included. This book can be purchased separately or can be purchased along with its companion volume  on the sea shells.