Civic Museum of Zoology

The Civic Museum of Zoology, founded in 1932, has a heritage of about 5 million preserved specimens, ranging from shellfish of a few millimeters, to the whale of 16 meters.

These collections derive partly from an agreement with the then Royal University of Rome (today "Sapienza"), including also the prestigious collections of the Pontifical Archiginnasio, partly from donations made after its establishment.

However, most of this immense heritage is kept in particular warehouses, and it is available to researchers who request to study them, or it is exhibited on special occasions.

The curator zoologists ensure that the collections are kept in safe conditions, they increase by collecting them in the field or through donations and purchases; they provide to take inventory of the individual specimens, registering their origin, number and location, under their responsibility. The museum therefore represents a true archive of biodiversity, as well as a heritage for the whole community.

Biodiversity in the animal world is the leitmotiv of the new exhibition itinerary. Visitors passing through the rooms of Amori Bestiali, Vivere al Limite, La Barriera Corallina, Le Zone Umide della Campagna Romana, the Arrigoni Degli Oddi collection of birds, i Mammiferi (the mammals), gli Anfibi e i Rettili (the amphibians and the reptiles), up to the spectacular Salone degli Scheletri (the hall of skeletons) , and using multimedia and multisensory tools, will be able to learn about the different animal forms and understand their origin and adaptation to the multiple types of environment.