It seems nature never seizes to amaze us, and many new species are described annually around the globe. Most often, 1 or a few new species are described, yet sometimes, intensive research on expedition material reveals many new animals - and MolluscaBase obviously follows accordingly.

2026 is no exception – on the contrary. Herewith a few examples of what was recently published, or has just rolled off the presses:

Just published:

• Fallon, P. J., Zuccon, D. & Bouchet, P. (2026). Mangeliidae (Gastropoda: Conoidea) of the French West Indies and other Western Atlantic regions: a monograph. European Journal of Taxonomy. 1089:1-647. (https://molluscabase.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=568989)
            = > 6 new marine genera, and 159 new marine species.
• Stahlschmidt, P., Chino, M., Tardy, E. & Nappo, A. (2026). Description of 33 new turriform conoidean species from the Philippines (Gastropoda: Conoidea). Gloria Maris. 65(3): 157-200. (https://www.molluscabase.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=568831)
            = > 33 new marine species.
• Hadorn, R.; Kantor, Y. I.; Bouchet, P.; Puillandre, N. (2026). The extensive Indo-Pacific deep-water radiation of Vermeijius Kantor, Fedosov, Snyder & Bouchet, 2018 (Buccinoidea: Fasciolariidae), revealed by molecular data, with descriptions of new species. European Journal of Taxonomy. 1095: 1-134. (https://www.molluscabase.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=569344)
            = > 27 new marine species. 

Recently published:

• Severns, M. (2026). A revision of the Endodontidae of the Hawaiian Islands. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 170(1): 1-231. (https://www.molluscabase.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=567791)
            = > 12 new genera and 150 new species of Hawaiian terrestrial molluscs.
• Terryn Y. (2026). Collections revisited: the description of 50 new species of Terebridae. Gloria Maris. 65(2): 50-116. (https://www.molluscabase.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=567182)
            = > 50 new marine species.

So no, we’re not there yet.

For sure, many currently unknown species are still out there, waiting to be discovered in nature or already in museum- or private collections’ drawers. Some of the new species described by Mike Severns had been waiting in museum drawers since the first half of the 20th century!
It is also remarkable that most of the authors (or first author) of these publications are citizen scientists.

On behalf of the Editor Community,

(Photograph after Terryn (2026), pls 8, 9 under consent of the author)