The Comparative Anatomy and Zoology Collection

THE COMPARATIVE ANATOMY AND ZOOLOGY COLLECTION

The scientific collection has begun from 1989, thanks to the work of the staff and the willing and enthusiastic students of Tuscia. Actually count numerous pieces of remarkable value. Each Academic year has indeed enriched anatomical preparations of vertebrates and invertebrates. The material was initially selected and prepared for teaching purposes – for students of biology- such as to transfer the knowledge gained from the teacher and from books to laboratory practice. Secondly, given the amount of material available, it was decided to devote a part for the preparation of a museum space usable not only to students of the Tuscia University. The preparation of the samples was done in part in laboratory of Functional Anatomy and Developmental Biology and partly in those of Zoology. The various components of the collection have also been purchased or acquired by exchange of materials, samples made during scientific expeditions in particular environments in the world. Other material has been acquired thanks to generous donations from museums such as the Fish Museum of S. Benedetto del Tronto, The Museum of Zoology and Museum of Comparative Anatomy G.B.Grassi, University “La Sapienza” of Rome. In addition, over time, there were also numerous donations from scholars, experts entomologists, herpetologists and ornithologists. The collection now has numerous skeletons of vertebrates (about thirty) is also very large (eg, horse, dog, dolphin, fox) and stuffed animals (fish, birds), some prepared in dry invertebrates (sponges, corals, arthropods ), some animal models of organs or plastic (about 20). Some invertebrates preserved in glass jars (about 20 species, including Antarctic species) and other vertebrate species preserved in buffered formalin or alcohol (frogs, toads, fish, amphioxus, Lampreys, Reptiles- including snakes and chameleons- and small mammals). Currently the collection is located at the Department of Ecology and Biology Block B, in the didactical  “Biology Laboratory” and kept in glass cabinets. The access time, in the absence of a museum exhibition, is restricted to students of the University of Tuscia. The collection also includes projects in cross-disciplinary teaching and dissemination initiatives for middle schools and high schools.

c/o DEB, Largo dell’Università snc 01100 Viterbo.

Tel. 0761 357131