Facilities
Collections
Fossil Collection
The
collection of fossil vertebrates is composed by several thousands of
microvertebrate remains, especially small mammals of Neogene and
Quaternary age and a few macrovertebrate remains. The holotypes of some
species are included in this material. The revision of all these specimens
is planned for the near future
a) Fragmentary fossil skull of a new species of Gavialis from the Early Miocene of Lower Manchar Formation, South-Eastern Pakistan. Estimated length ≈ 80 cm.
b) Left mandibular ramus of Crocidura esuae Kotsakis, an endemic soricid of Middle and early Late Pleistocene age of Sicily (Contrada Fusco, Sicily, Italy). Length = 10,30 mm.
c) Lower right first molar of Rhagapodemus azzarolii Angelone & Kotsakis, an endemic murid of latest Ruscinian of Sardinia (Mandriola, Sardinia, Italy). Length = 1,2 mm.
d) Right mandibular ramus of Rhinolophus birzebuggensis Storch, from the late Early Biharian of Gargano Peninsula (Cava Pirro Nord, Apulia, Italy). Length = 13 mm.
e) Skull of the saber-tooth tiger Smilodon fatalis (Leidy), a Rancholabrean machairodontine felid from California (cast). Length = 34 cm.
Osteological Collection
The
osteological collection, used for comparison and teaching purposes, is
composed by bones of many specimens belonging to a good number of species
of small mammals, amphibians and reptiles. During the last two year, thanks to
the collaboration of many people and especially of Mr. Riccardo Torchia,
we have formed a very good collection of big extant mammals also.
a) Material of the osteological collection.
b) Material of the osteological collection.
c) Skull of the macropodid red kangaroo Macropus rufus (Desmarest) from Australia. Length = 22 cm.
d) Skull of the aplodontid mountain beaver of the Rocky Mountains (USA), Aplodontia rufa (Rafinesque). Length = 7.5 cm.
e)
Skull of the cheloniid see-turtle Caretta
caretta (Linnaeus), from the Bajuni islands (Somalia). Length = 16 cm.