Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "malacologist" masanin kimiyya ne ko gwani wanda ya ƙware a cikin nazarin mollusks, waɗanda rukuni ne daban-daban na invertebrates waɗanda suka haɗa da katantanwa, slugs, clams, da dorinar ruwa. Masana ilimin Malacologists suna nazarin ilmin halitta, ilimin halitta, halayya, juyin halitta, da rarraba mollusks, da kuma mahimmancin su ga mutane da muhalli. Suna iya yin aiki a fagage daban-daban, gami da ilmin halitta na ruwa, ilmin dabbobi, ilmin burbushin halittu, da ilimin halittun kiyayewa.