Largest collection of crustaceans in Germany and one of the most important collections in the world
The Crustacea collection currently comprises more than 850,000 specimens of around 7,200 species from all over the world. The collection contains more than 62,000 catalogue numbers, of which over 2,000 lots correspond to type material. The largest type collection is the Ostracoda with 739 type lots, followed by the Isopoda (369), the Amphipoda (195) and the Cumacea (120). The collection is global in scope, with a particular focus on the southern hemisphere, including the Antarctic. The most recent collections are rich in deep-sea taxa. The freshwater and terrestrial collections are similarly geographically diverse and were mostly collected between 1870 and 1950 and have only recently been expanded. In addition, the Crustacea collection contains some representatives of Hamburg's regional fauna, including some of the first records of invasive species in Germany. The collection is constantly being expanded through new field collections and donations from researchers from all over the world.
The collection includes historical material and is being further expanded through field research and collaborations
The collection includes historical material from the Galathea (1846) and Challenger (1872-1876) expeditions as well as from historical German expeditions such as the Hamburg Magalhaenische Sammelreise (1892-1893), the Valdivia/German Deep Sea Expedition (1898-1899), the Museum Godeffroy and many others. Johann Georg Pfeffer was the first curator of the Crustacea collection (1879). In 1900 he was succeeded by Otto Steinhaus and later by Albert Panning (1920-1957). He was particularly interested in the Chinese mitten crab, an invasive species that has been documented in Germany since 1912. Gerhard Hartmann took over in 1961, focussing primarily on the biogeographical aspects of the ostracods of the southern hemisphere. In 1995, Angelika Brandt became curator and led numerous expeditions to the Antarctic and the deep sea. She systematically focussed on the Peracarida. Today, the collection continues to grow through field research and worldwide cooperation, with digitisation being one of the main tasks.
Co-operation partnerships crucial for the growth of the Crustacea collection
In the past, the collaboration with the German Centre for Marine Biodiversity (DZMB) has been one of the most important sources of new material thanks to the joint expeditions that have taken place since the early 2000s. Recent field research in collaboration with the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy, and the Universidad de la Habana, Cuba, has enriched the material of anchialine cave crustaceans. Colonisation processes of semi-terrestrial crustaceans and the diversity of freshwater crustaceans are new lines of research recently established in collaboration with the Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Mexico. Other collaborations that enrich our collection have been established with Ifremer (France), the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture (BUKEA, Hamburg) and many others. These co-operations lead to a transfer of material and knowledge between the institutes.
Related section
Contact person
