Conchology

Conchology (from Ancient Greek: κόγχος - conchos "cockle") is the scientific or amateur study of mollusc shells. Conchology is one aspect of malacology, the study of molluscs, however malacology studies molluscs as whole organisms, not just their shells. Conchology pre-dated malacology as a field of study. It includes the study of land and freshwater mollusc shells as well as seashells. In addition to a shell, some gastropods have an operculum which may also be studied as part of conchology.