The Deutsche Malakozoologische Gesellschaft (DMG) is the scientific society devoted to malacology and is open to both professional scientists as well as amateurs of all nations.
It was founded in 1868 by leading members of the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN) in Frankfurt a. M. and its seat is the mollusc section of the Senckenberg Research Institute. The society currently has approx. 250 members. Since 1992 it is registered as a non-profit organization serving the public.
The aim of the DMG is to support scientific malacological work in a broad sense with a particular focus of research and conservation of mollusk diversity in Central Europe. Thus it is not an association of pure shell collectors. Traditionally the study of land and freshwater mollusks is the main interest of most members of the society.
Annual meetings take place in Germany and neighbouring countries for scientific and social exchange among members. Besides a scientific lecture program field trips are organized.
The membership of the DMG usually includes the subscription to either only one or both of the following journals:
The Archiv für Molluskenkunde was founded 1868 as “Nachrichtsblatt der Deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft“ and today is the oldest uninterruptedly published malacological journal of the world. The Archiv publishes original articles in English especially dealing with systematics and taxonomy of Recent and fossil mollusks. The journal publishes one volume in two fascicles per year .
The Mitteilungen der Deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft appear since 1962. This journal mainly publishes articles in German or English concerning with a focus on regional faunistics, ecology of mollusks, but also book reviews, reports on the annual DMG-meeting etc. It also is published twice a year.
Most back volumes of both journals as well as many papers are still available and can be ordered by the Publications Division, Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut Frankfurt, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main.
Members of the society get a sales discount of 20 %.
For members of the DMG the large malacological library as well as the collections are open for scientific use according to prior arrangement with the Head of the mollusc section.
Other malacological societies in Germany:
Friedrich-Held-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Weichtierkunde e.V.
