1st Zoological Department/Vertebrates/Mammals

Natural History Museum Vienna

Wien | Website

Open for Collaboration

Short Description

Currently, the mammal collection comprises more than 100,000 specimens. Its annual increment amounts to around 500 items. The first catalogue of acquisitions to the collection dates from the year 1806, however, many specimens date from an even earlier time. The geographic scope of the collection is global; the Palearctic Region is represented best.

The collection consists of skeletons, study skins, furs and stuffed specimens, as well as specimens preserved in alcohol. From skeletons of earlier times, often only skulls were preserved, because these contain the most important identifying features in mammals. Currently, we are trying to close the gap regarding postcranial material. Study skins are uniformly prepared specimens for scientific purposes. Stuffed specimens are artfully finished for exhibition purposes. They show the animal in the most natural position possible. With ca. 9,000 specimens, the collection of mammals preserved in alcohol is relatively small; however, it is now in the process of being expanded since DNA for genetic studies is much easier to extract from specimens preserved in alcohol than from other materials. Alcohol specimens can also be studied with respect to internal anatomy by means of modern imaging technology, e.g. µCT-scanning.

Study skins, skulls and a major part of the skeletons are stored in huge metal cases in systematic order. Stuffed specimens not on exhibition and skins are located in an air-conditioned basement storage area. The particularly valuable specimens of extinct mammal species (e.g. blue antelope, quagga or thylacine) are also stored here for conservation purposes. Mounted skeletons and antlers, as well as whale skulls and skeletons, are stored in adapted basement rooms.

A major focus of the collection comprises Holocene mammal remains from cave floors. They constitute the most important source for studying the postglacial re-colonization of the Eastern Alps by mammals. This material was collected mainly by Austrian speleologists.

The collection is referenced in scientific literature by the acronym "NMW", derived from Naturhistorisches Museum Wien or nowadays by "NHMW-ZOO-MAMM".

Contact Person

Prof. Dr. habil. Frank E. Zachos

Research Services

At the moment there are no collection-specific research services, with the exception of photographic documentation. However, our collection material can be analysed by means of the infrastructure of the Central Research Laboratories of the museum (genetics, µCT scanner etc.).
We also help with the identification of mammalogical material.

Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure

Our expertise and research comprise the biodiversity, taxonomy/systematics and biogeography of mammals with a particular focus on Central European and African species as well as ungulates and small mammals. We use genetic, population genetic and morphological approaches, including geometric morphometrics and modern imaging techniques. Our theoretical focus is on the foundations of taxonomy and classification as well as the species problem in biology.

Allocation to research infrastructure

1st Zoological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna