Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland founded

Background. The Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland is a British-based learned society concerned with the study of molluscs and their shells. Conchology is defined as the study of shells, distinct from malacology, which studies molluscs as whole organisms. The society was established in 1876 and is considered one of the oldest such societies in the world.

Scope. The society's primary focus is conchology, the study of shells, rather than the broader biological study of molluscs as whole organisms. This distinction separates the society's work from general malacology. The organization operates as a learned society within Great Britain and Ireland, maintaining a specific focus on shell study.