Fabio Moretzsohn

Fabio Moretzsohn is a malacologist whose research and public writing connect the biological study of mollusks with the long human fascination with their shells. Shells: A Natural and Cultural History, published by Reaktion Books in 2023, surveys shell formation, diversity, habitats, collecting, symbolism, art, trade, food, and scientific classification. The book belongs to Reaktion’s Animal series and treats a shell as both a protective biological structure and an object repeatedly transformed by human use. Moretzsohn draws on museum and field expertise while keeping the discussion accessible to readers interested in natural history. He has also coauthored reference works such as The Book of Shells and Texas Seashells, which place his broader work in identification and marine biodiversity. Shells: A Natural and Cultural History takes a different, more thematic route, moving among conchs, clams, cowries, and other forms to explain why shells matter across disciplines. Its combination of science and cultural history makes it a concise introduction to Moretzsohn’s specialist knowledge and interpretive range.