Herpetology - Bonn

Our task

The herpetological collection of the Museum Koenig Bonn documents biodiversity and thus serves as a source for researchers dealing with taxonomy, biogeography, (macro)ecology, phylogenetics, evolutionary biology, parasitology and species conservation of amphibians and reptiles. Data obtained from the collection material is also frequently used for modern techniques such as genetic analyses, micro-CT scanning and distribution modelling, which underlines the enduring importance of such scientific collections.

About the collection

The herpetological collection currently comprises approx. 105,000 catalogued specimens. Amphibians and reptiles are traditionally grouped together here, with the latter accounting for almost two thirds of all specimens. The collection contains type material of around 700 taxa, including over 300 primary types (i.e. holo-, lecto- and neotypes) and almost 100 syntypes, which objectively define scientific species names and are therefore irreplaceable. The majority of the specimens are preserved in ethanol, but the collection also includes dry specimens, skeletons and some (sub)fossils. With these key data, the herpetological collection of the Museum Koenig Bonn is one of the most extensive of its kind in Germany and is also of international importance.

In keeping with their high species diversity, frogs and scaly reptiles (lizards and snakes) make up the majority of the species. However, there are also representatives of all other large groups of amphibians (caudates and blindworms) and reptiles (crocodiles, tortoises and tuatara) in the collection.

The collection has no explicit geographical focus and the specimens come not only from Europe, but from over 200 countries worldwide. In line with the research foci of previous curators and students, the Museum Koenig Bonn has notable collections from the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, Africa, Madagascar and Brazil. The current geographical focus of the collection is on South-East Asia, Peru and the western Palaearctic.

History

The first herpetological collections were made by Alexander Koenig himself. However, amphibians and reptiles only played a minor role at the Museum Koenig until a separate herpetological collection was established in 1951. Under the first curator Karl F. Buchholz and his successor Ulrich F. Gruber, the herpetological collection grew to around 9,500 specimens. In 1971, Wolfgang Böhme succeeded him as curator and helped the collection to reach its current significance. By taking over some university herpetological collections, for example from Kiel, Göttingen, Heidelberg, Saarbrücken and Trier, the collection was further enlarged and historically important material was also added to the relatively young Bonn collection. The oldest specimens date from the early 19th century.