Guide to collections


Historical collection of cnidarians

Name Historical collection of cnidarians
Alternative name MCNB Col. historical cnidarians
Cite as Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona (MCNB). Historical collection of cnidarians
MCNB. Col. historical cnidarians
Description Collection consisting of specimens from the stock of the general collection of Cnidaria. It consists of 293 lots corresponding to 498 specimens, both dry invertebrate skeletons (70% of lots) and whole organisms preserved in liquid. Taxonomically, the collection covers all the main orders and, in particular, the Scleractinia, which represent almost half of all the lots. The geographical origin mainly covers the western Mediterranean. Atlantic and Indian oceans (Philippine archipelago). The specimens preserved in liquid originate from the Museum's Oceanographic Section, organized at the beginning of 1917 by Josep Maluquer, and include a series of items from the Naples Zoological Station and the Santander Maritime Biological Station. Other dry and wet specimens from this period come from the historical collections of the Barcelona Royal Academy of Science and Art, Baltasar Serradell, Artur Bofil and other sources closely linked to the museum. In all, 99% of the detailed registration, documentation and computerization to specimen-lot level has been completed. A group of dry and wet specimens from the historical Cnidaria collection has been displayed in a number of the Museum's exhibitions. Since 2011, a selection of 20 lots and 32 elements forms part of the permanent exhibition of the Museu Blau.
Provenance The liquid collection comes mainly from the former Oceanographic Section of the Museum, which was organized at the beginning of 1917 by Josep Maluquer and includes material from the Naples Zoological Station and the Santander Maritime Biological Station. The collection also has a number of dry and wet lots from the historical collections of the Barcelona Royal Academy of Science and Art, Baltasar Serradell, Artur Bofil and other sources closely linked to the museum (mainly from Josep Maluquer himself). Francesc Uribe has been curator of the Museum's non-Arthropod Invertebrate collection since 1990. During his time in charge, the registration, documentation and computerization to specimen-lot level has been completed. As well, advances have been made in the preventive conservation of both wet and dry specimens. Around half of the lots have recently been revised and photographed by Pablo López (University of Seville) and this information has been incorporated into the datebase. Part of the collection of Cnidaria has been displayed in the Museum's exhibitions. A representative sample of 20 lots was selected when the Museum's permanent exhibition was transferred to the Museu Blau.
Kingdom coverage Animalia
Taxon coverage Cnidaria, Scleractinia (strength)
Collectors Maluquer, Josep
[desconeguts]
Collection type Preserved
Primary purpose Research
Include types No
Grouping principle Taxonomic
Formations periods ca. 1882-1936
Development statuses Closed
Collection extents 293 lots, 498 specimens
Documentation state Documentary control of 99% of lots (registration, documentation and computerization). Identification to species level in around 50% of lots. Updated nomenclature for the specimens documented with MuseumPlus. Most of the collection has been identified and/or revised by specialists (Pablo González, Josep Maria Gili). The MuseumPlus datasheet for most of the specimens revised by P. López also contain the corresponding photographs.
Specimen preservation methods Fluid-preserved, No Treatment
Preparation and conservation Dry lots in rigid containers (crystal polystyrene or polypropylene boxes) and/or wrapped in protective material (polyethylene sheets, Ethafoam). Periodical quality controls of the liquid preservative in samples in alcohol. Control of environmental conditions in storage facilities.
McGinley conservation statuses Level 8
Conservation status date 11-03-2013 (dd-mm-yyyy)
Institution Natural Science Museum of Barcelona - Non-Arthropod Invertebrates Department
Parent collection Cnidarians collection
Associated person Miguel Prieto (Documentalist), Francesc Uribe (Curator),
Item level access MCNB General Zoology GBIF online database (date when consulted) (accessed through GBIF data portal, http://data.gbif.org/datasets/resource/9127, 2014-10-14)
Col·leccions en línia de Zoologia (MCNB) / Online Zoological Collections (MCNB)
Related material Junta de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, 1917. Guia de les instal·lacions i serveis. Publicacions de la Junta de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Barcelona. 136 pp.

Maluquer, J., 1917. Organització i increment de la Secció Oceanogràfica. Anuari de la Junta de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, 2: 205-238.

Maluquer, J., 1918. Les seccions ictiològica i d'invertebrats marins en 1918. Anuari de la Junta de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, 3: 192-198.