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The mammal collection is one of the most important collections of its kind in Germany (10,000 counting units of skeletal material, 5,000 counting units of alcohol material, mainly of large mammals), as well as a very comprehensive collection of skins and collections of organs and embryos. The collection of brains is of great importance. In total, the mammal collection contains more than 17,000 individuals. The skeletal and fur material (around 13,000 counting units) was only collected after the destruction of the old museum in the Second World War and has therefore been conserved and archived using modern methods from the outset. Particularly important are the extensive data that are available with this material in accordance with the methodology of the post-war period. In addition to some newer material, the alcohol collection also includes old material that was removed from storage during the war.
Focal points of the collection
The collection focuses on the Cetartiodactyla (especially horned mammals and whales), odd-toed ungulates, primates (1,552 count units), carnivores, marine mammals and bats (1,240 count units). However, all other groups of mammals are also represented. Due to its focus on predominantly large mammals, which are represented not only by skulls but often also by complete skeletons, the collection differs significantly from other mammal collections. As larger mammals in particular can no longer be "collected" in their habitat almost anywhere today, the Hamburg specimens are among the greatest museum and scientific treasures that cannot be obtained anywhere else in the world. The excellent gorilla and chimpanzee material, Indian langurs, rhinoceroses, wild equids (including an extensive zebra collection) and African antelopes (2,559 counting units) should be emphasised here. Due to the outstanding quality of the material, the latter form an extremely important focal point of the collection worldwide. In addition to the numerous individual collections of the former curator Dr Erna Mohr, the mammal department contains first-class material from the natural habitat from the expeditions to India and Angola over several years, from the research trips of the curator Dr Manfred Röhrs, from the research expeditions of the former curator Dr Dr Dr Dr Dr Manfred Röhrs, from the research expeditions of the former curator Dr Dr Dr Dr Manfred Röhrs and from the research expeditions of the former curator Dr Dr Manfred Röhrs. Manfred Röhrs, from the research trips of the Hamburg scientist Dr Henriette Oboussier (her bovid series with complete skeletons, organs and skins as well as extensive data are world-famous and unique) and the collecting activities of Prof. Dr Harald Schliemann in East Africa.
In addition to the world-famous Dr Erna Mohr, Prof. Dr Berthold Klatt should also be mentioned, both of whom have made significant contributions to German and Hamburg mammalogy.
Guest research & digitalisation
Due to the high quality of the material, the mammal collection is visited comparatively frequently by guest researchers from all over the world (23 guest researchers between 2006 and 2007). Cross-species studies, especially on horned mammals, primates and bats, can be carried out in the Hamburg collection alone thanks to the unique closed complexes from the habitat and are therefore very attractive to visiting researchers. Added to this is the almost complete digital recording of the mammal collection, which has been intensively pursued in recent years and which can be researched as a database on a server at the university computer centre. The next goal is to integrate it into international metadatabases. This makes the collection one of the best catalogued of its kind.
Co-operations
Today, the collection material increasingly forms an important pillar in international research projects, especially at the interface between zoology and palaeozoology. Current cooperation agreements with the universities of Barcelona, Washington, Albany (New York), Zurich and Bonn, among others, are largely based on the Hamburg ungulate material, which can be used as a recent database for palaeoecological modelling approaches due to its outstanding quality. The mammal collection therefore plays a key role in the recently approved DFG Research Unit 771 "Function and performance enhancement in the dentition of mammals - phylogenetic and ontogenetic influences on the masticatory apparatus" and other national and international research projects.
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