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Collections

Mammals

This collection contains over 2650 mammals, in the form of full or partial skeletons, naturalised exhibits or alcohol specimens.

There are three types of African bat described by Dr. Albert Monard, who also described or contributed to the description of several new species. Thanks to the exceptional contributions of this former curator, the Natural History Museum boasts a very rich collection of African fauna, including a reference collection of skulls (rodents, bats, mustelids, cats, etc.).

Birds

This collection contains over 4900 birds, in the form of skins, skeletons, fragments or naturalised specimens, including a reference collection of skins and skulls.

Reptiles

This collection contains over 1100 reptiles, including six types described by Dr. Albert Monard.

Amphibians

This collection contains over 900 amphibians, including six types described by Dr. Albert Monard.

Fish

This collection contains over 210 fish, including a significant proportion of fish from Angola.

Insects & other invertebrates

This collection includes several tens of thousands of invertebrates, with around 66,000 insects, including scorpions, exotic beetles and many butterflies.

Butterfly collections from Joss, Anton Hirsiger, St.Urban (Lucerne); Fernand Vuilleumier, Tramelan, etc.

Geology & mineralogy

Riccardo Crosilla collection: a collection of several hundred micromounts and other minerals.

Palaeontology

Flora and Fauna (Graptolites, Trilobites and Brachiopods) from the Paleozoic era (Cambrian – Silurian – Devonian – Carboniferous – Permian periods)

Liassic fauna (Cephalopods, Bivalves and Brachiopods) from different regions of Europe (Germany and France)

In addition, there is also a significant naturalist art collection (Paul Barruel, Robert Hainard, Walter Linsenmaier, Charles-Edouard Gogler, Georges Roessinger, Louis and Marie Favre, among many others)