Molluscs of the Czech and Slovak Republics is intended for anyone interested in molluscs occuring in the Czech and Slovak Republics and neighbouring countries. Introductory chapters give a brief overview of the morphology, anatomy and biology of land snails and freshwater molluscs. They provide basic information on their ecology and significance for humans, on their palaeoecology and the history of their research in the Czech and Slovak Republics. One chapter summarizes basic methods of collecting and proper storage of shells and soft-bodied molluscs. Each species is briefly described, including variability, ecological requirements and distribution. Particular attention is paid to distinguishing characters illustrated by colour photographs, with emphasis on key shapes and structures. Internal anatomy with key diagnostic characters is illustrated in species that are otherwise difficult to tell apart. All species and subspecies occurring in Czech and Slovak Republics are shown on 68 high-quality colour plates. Photographs of characteristic specimens in multiple views, often accompanied by surface and mouth details, provide a clear tool for rapid and reliable identification of all native and introduced mollusc species in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Taken together with the text, they make Molluscs of the Czech and Slovak Republics exceptionally informative. This fact will be certainly appreciated by amateur and professional zoologists, conservationists, teachers as well as shell collectors and all lovers of nature. Molluscs of the Czech and Slovak Republics is fully bilingual with parallel Czech and English versions. All species names are listed in Latin, Czech, Slovak, English and German. Separate index of taxa in each language facilitates quick lookup of the species in the text and colour plates. The authors prepared the book with great care and believe that it has all attributes to become the standard guide for central European molluscs.
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