Guide to collections


Collection of continental molluscs from Cuba

Name Collection of continental molluscs from Cuba
Alternative name MCNB. Col. continental molluscs Cuba
Cite as Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona (MCNB). Collection of continental molluscs from Cuba
MCNB. Col. continental molluscs Cuba
Description Collection of continental molluscs from Cuba consisting of dry shells. In all, there are 4,600 specimens grouped in 1,245 lots. The collection includes bivalves and terrestrial (the principal group represented) and freshwater gastropods. Wide range of taxa including a quantitatively important representation of Pulmonadae (families Cepolidae, Cerionidae, Helicinidae, Helminthoglyptidae, Orthalicidae and Urocoptidae, amongst others). Most of the material belongs to the Museum's historical collection (original collection of Francesc Martorell and collections of Artur Bofill, Joan Baptista d'Aguilar-Amat, Joan Rosals, Barcelona Royal Academy of Science and the Arts, Manuel de Chía, Baltasar Serradell and the Jaume Bofill Institute, amongst others). Also of interest are the terrestrial molluscs collected by Marià Ferrer Bravo and donated to the Museum in 1932. One of the collection's main points of interest, which it shares in general with the fauna from Cuba, is the large number of endemic taxa, with a number of species only found on this island, some of which are characterized by their chromatic polymorphism (e.g. genera Polymita, Liguus and others). The whole collection has been registered, documented and digitalized to specimen-lot level. Data from a part of the collection can be consulted on-line on the website of the Barcelona Natural History Museum and the portal GBIF. A sample of the terrestrial molluscs from Cuba has been displayed in the Museum's permanent exhibition with a long series corresponding to the genus Polymita, which illustrates the concept of polymorphism. Currently there are 48 specimens on display in the Museum Blau.
Provenance The first specimens came from the shell collection of Francesc Martorell i Peña and were part of the original collection of the Martorell Museum (1879). The addition of the collections of Artur Bofill, Joan Baptista d'Aguilar-Amat and Joan Rosals in 1917-1920 increased the Museum's collection of continental gastropods from Cuba significantly. Further material came from other historical collections that were added subsequently, including specimens from the collections of Barcelona Royal Academy of Science and the Arts (on permanent loan to the Museum since 1925), Manuel de Chía (1923), Baltasar Serradell (1931) and the Jaume Balmes Institute (1936). Also of interest are terrestrial molluscs collected by Marià Ferrer Bravo and donated to the Museum in 1932, as well as other donations by Ramon de Bolòs and Alejandro Torres Mínguez. Under the direction of Artur Bofill i Poch (1892-1929) and then J. B. d’Aguilar-Amat (1929-1936), the malacological section began to be reorganized and all the different collections were united and the nomenclature revised (all the original labels have been preserved). Francesc Uribe has been curator of the Museum's non-Arthropod Invertebrate collection since 1997. During his time in charge, the registration, documentation and computerization to specimen-lot level has been completed.
Kingdom coverage Animalia
Taxon coverage Bivalvia, Gastropoda (strength)
Common name coverage freshwater clams, freshwater snails, land snails
Collectors Ferrer Bravo, Marià
Ribero, Antonio
[altres]
Collection type Preserved
Primary purpose Research
Include types No
Grouping principle Spatial
Formations periods ca. 1882-
Development statuses Passive growth
Collection extents 1245 lots, 4600 specimens
Documentation state Documentary control of all the lots (registration, inventory and computerization). Most material still needs to be revised: identification to species level based on documentation and original labels (nomenclature updated for the samples documented with MuseumPlus).
Specimen preservation methods No Treatment
Preparation and conservation Dried material boxed or wrapped up in protective material in individual containers. Control of the environmental conditions in storage areas.
McGinley conservation statuses Level 8
Conservation status date 10-07-2013 (dd-mm-yyyy)
Institution Natural Science Museum of Barcelona - Non-Arthropod Invertebrates Department
Parent collection Collection of continental molluscs
Collection of molluscs from Cuba
Associated person Miguel Prieto (Documentalist), Francesc Uribe (Curator),
Item level access MCNB Mollusca GBIF online database (date when consulted) (accessed through GBIF data portal, http://data.gbif.org/datasets/resource/9125, 2013-09-04)
Col·leccions en línia de Zoologia (MCNB) / Online Zoological Collections (MCNB)
Related material Bofill i Poch, A., 1917. La colecció Rosals. Anuari de la Junta de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, 2: 193-196.

Martorell, M. & Bofill, A., 1888. Catálogo de la colección conchiológica que fué de D. Francisco Martorell y Peña legada por dicho señor á la ciudad de Barcelona y existente en el Museo Martorell de la propia ciudad. Barcelona. 94 pp