Zoological collection There are glass models of animals by the world- Development of the collection - part of the University of since 1775 renowned firm Blaschka and wax models made by Recently, the stock of the collection has been the German firm Ziegler acquired by F. E. Schulze. The Zoological Collection of the University of expanded to take into account research currently Artistic wall charts of animals created by R. Leukart Rostock (ZSRO) is an important part of the being conducted in our department on birds and with the aid of some professors from Rostock are Department of General & Systematic Zoology. The fishes, among vertebrates, and on crustaceans, abundant in our collection. The inventory has now department is situated within the Institute of polychaetes, molluscs and other marine grown to approximately 100,000 series. The Biological Sciences on one of the most beautiful invertebrates. Historical material, on molluscs emphasis of the collection is on aquatic animals, squares in the city. The collection was founded in and scorpions in particular, has been edited and fisses,hes, moouscs,lluscs, bbdsirds and insects . The mostos theyear 1775 and isoneof theuniit’iversity’soldest madeavailabl eagain. From the biibeginning, the important reference collections from recent times permanent institutions. Many exhibits are of idea behind the collection has been research are of bristle worms (Polychaeta) collected by A. international value for research and education in the activity with an educational approach. It is Bick, crustaceans collected by S. Richter, insects, field of phylogenetics, systematics and biodiversity integrated into the activities of the Department of scorpions and molluscs collected by R. Kinzelbach The collection contains about 500 holotypes, the General & Systematic Zoology. Some of the and H. Pohl, arachnids (Araneae) collected by J. reference specimens for the first description and material was used in the 78 dissertations and 20 Haupt, and fishes collected byH.Winkler.Our bird denomination of animal species. Access to the PhD theses the department produced between collection has recently been enhanced by liquidated collection via an electronic database and printed 1995 and 2007, and in 4 habilitations. historical collections from elsewhere and by catalogues is subject to a continuous process of skeletons from new material improvement.

Highlights and areas of emphasis Functions of the collection The highlights of the collection are the famous Mecklenburg (‘Arrow Stork’) of 1822, Inaccordance wihith the bibasic concept of which provided the first evidence for the long- university education, the collection covers the distance migration of birds, reference specimens whole animal kingdom and includes specimens from the earliest scientific anatomical work on the from all over the world. The collection fulfills river manatee (Trichechus inunguis), two various roles. It is a: ichthyosaurs from Holzmaden, Australian animals •research collection containing material from from the botanist baron Sir Ferdinand von Müller all over the world for taxonomic study and the (1825-1896), reptiles and amphibians from the description of new species businessman T. Cordua (1796-1857), a native of • collection for university education (anatomy, Laage, and material from the first German deep-sea morphology, histology, material science) expedition. The collection of molluscs founded in •public natural history collection in Rostock’s the 18th century, with type material stemming from “cultural mile” H.F. Link and material on freshwater mussels from •collection of voucher specimens from the the West Palearctic collected by R. Kinzelbach, is of and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern international importance. The original animal samples are appropriately UNIVERSITY OF ROSTOCK prepared, including for genetic research, and thus made accessible for study. About 500 holotypes Zoological Collection are availabl e, as well as paratypes and other material. All the biographical data of the persons involved (collectors, donors, scientists) are collected, in an approach which links natural history with cultural history.

Addresses and contact Address: Institute for Biological Sciences, General & Systematic Zoology, Universitätsplatz 2, Situation und perspectives D-18055 Rostock, Germany The Zoological Collection of the University of Tel. +49 381 -498 6261, Fax -498 6262, Rostock collaborates with various natural history www.biologie.uni-rostock.de/zoologie/sammlung.htm and conservation groups, including the e-mail: [email protected] ‘Vereinigung der Freunde der Naturgeschichte in Mecklenburg’, sections of the ‘Naturschutzbund Deutschland’ (()NABU) and with the ‘Gesellschaft Opening hours: The exhibition room on the first floor für Geschiebekunde’. Guest researchers are is open from Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., always welcome. Please bequeath to us your and on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please make an personal collections in the spirit of conserving appointment for a guided tour through the historic our national heritage, both natural and cultural. sections of the collection (maximum 16 people) with They will be well cared for and used for at least Norma Schmitz (Tel.: + 49 3814986281, another 232 years. We can guarantee appropriate norma. schmitz@uni-rostock. de). preservation and management, and can also offer Lectures: See the public announcements and notices. an electronic cataloguing and advisory service for objects remaining at their original site. Museum shop: Postcards and information sheets on The Zoological Collection is a member of the particular objects available. German Association of Museums. Instit u te for Biol ogi cal S ci ences Donations are much needed and welcome. Bank details: BBK Schwerin, bank identification code General & Systematic Zoology 140 000 00, account number 140 015 18.