Mammals MZS

The collection of Mammals at the MZS comprises more than 10,400 specimens. A large proportion of which (ca. 7000) are osteological samples, about 830 are specimens in alcohol, 1700 are mounted animals and 860 are skins. They have worldwide origins and cover all extant families. The collection periods are in their vast majority the 19th and 20th centuries but the oldest bone, a whale mandible, likely dates back to the 16th century. Several Natural History agencies significantly contributed to the 19th century entries, among which Hermann Rolle in Berlin, J.F.G. Umlauff in Hamburg and Gustav Schneider in Basel. About 300 mounted specimens of large Mammals (Bovidae, Equidae) correspond to invaluable specimens that were destroyed by bombing during WWII. Two important ensembles are present in the collection. One was collected in the 1870’s by Reinhold Hensel in eastern Europe and Russia and consists of a skull collection (1340 elements) of mainly Rodents and Carnivora. The second is a collection of bats, dry, bones or mummies, from an extensive survey in Alsace in the 1980’s (648 pieces). Other relevant ensembles are the 174 skeletons collected by Gottfried Hagmann in South Amerika beginning of 20th century, and those collected in Japan by Ludwig Döderlein in 1879-1881. There are also several specimens, among which 2 mounted lion skeletons, donated by Georges Cuvier. Finally 27 specimens are valid types for species or sub-species. Ce travail a bénéficié du soutien financier du Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche.