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Scientific Collections


Invertebrate Collection

Mesozoic and Cenozoic invertebrates form the bulk of the palaeontological collections housed at the Department of Geology & Palaeontology. Traditionally Late Cretaceous and Neogene molluscs, as well as Triassic-Jurassic cephalopods have been in the centre of the research interest of the palaeontologists working at the Natural History Museum. Due to historical reasons, the collection consists not solely of Austrian material but includes also many specimens from former parts of the Austrian empire, namely Bohemia (Czech Republic), Galicia (Poland & Ukraine), Hungary and Siebenbürgen (Romania). Among the stored material there are numerous types and figured specimens, including Bittner, Hörnes, Kittl, Laube, Mojsisovics, Reuss, Toula, and Zittl, to name a few. More than 20,000 types and figured specimens in collection are presently registered in OeTyp, the database of palaeontological types in Austrian collections.Holotyp of Schizaster laubei Hörnes, 1875
Staff members responsible:
M. Harzhauser (Cenozoic, Molluscs)
A. Kroh (Palaeozoic, Echinoderms, Brachiopods)
A. Lukeneder (Mesozoic, Cephalopods)
O. Schultz (Cenozoic, Molluscs, Amber)

Published type-catalogues:
Flügel, E. 1960. Verzeichnis der in der Geologisch-Paläontologischen Abteilung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Austria, aufbewahrten Typen und Abbildungsoriginale aus den Aufsammlungen der Novara-Expedition. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 2/5: 826-845 - Lower Hutt.

Flügel, E. 1960. Typen-Katalog. Verzeichnis der in der Geologisch-Paläontologischen Abteilung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien aufbewahrten Typen sowie Abbildungsoriginale. I. Invertebrata: 1. Protozoa. 2. Coelenterata. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 64: 65-104 - Wien.

Pomomarenko, A.G. & Schultz, O. 1988. Typen der Geologisch-Paläontologischen Abteilung: Fossile Insekten. - Kataloge der wissenschaftlichen Sammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, 6/Paläozool. 1: 39 S., 14 Taf. - Wien.

Tichy, G. 1970. Typen-Katalog. Verzeichnis der in der Geologisch-Paläontologischen Abteilung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien aufbewahrten Typen sowie der Abbildungsoriginale. Triadische Gastropoden, Lamellibranchiaten und Scaphopoden. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 74: 607-655 - Wien.

Vertebrate Collection

Miocene and Pleistocene mammals constitute the largest part of the fossil vertebrate collection in the NHM Vienna. Among else, it includes the famous Kohfidisch fauna studied by Bachmayer and co-workers. A scientifically very valuable extension of small mammal remains was acquired during numerous field work campaigns by G. Höck.
Mesopithecus-skull
Staff members responsible:
U. Göhlich (Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, Birds)
O. Schultz (Pisces)

Published type-catalogues:
Pia J. & Sickenberg, O. 1934. Katalog der in den Österreichischen Sammlungen befindlichen Säugetierreste des Jungtertiärs Österreichs und der Randgebiete. - Denkschriften den Naturhistorischen Museums Wien 4, Geologisch-Paläontologische Reihe 4: 544 S. - Leipzig und Wien (Verlag Deuticke)

Palaeobotanical Collection

The beginnings of the collection date back to the early 18th century. An important part (about 10 000 specimens) was bought from Constantin von Ettingshausen 1879. It comprised plant fossils from different sites of the Austrian-Hungarian empire. Based on this material C.v.Ettingshausen has prepared the concept of the first palaeobotanical exhibition in the Museum of Natural History. Since then the collection was increased by excavations, donations, exchange as well as by purchases. It comprises now fossil plant material from all periods. But the bigger part derives from the Carboniferous, Triassic, Cretaceous and Tertiary. Many famous and formerly rich sites do not exist anymore. The scientific collection is arranged stratigraphically according to regions. The collection arrangement and management is now supported by a database.
The palaeobotanical collection contains type material of numerous publications. The types (> 8,200 specimens) are included in OeTyp , a database of palaeontological types in Austrian collections, accessible to the public via the WWW.
fossil cone

Staff member responsible:
A. Kroh

Published type-catalogues:
Kovar-Eder, J. 1990. Palaeobotanischer Typenkatalog. Typen und Originale der palaeobotanischen Sammlung der Geologisch-Palaeontologischen Abteilung. Kataloge der wissenschaftlichen Sammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 8/1: 342 pp.

Kovar-Eder, J. 1995. Palaeobotanischer Typenkatalog. Typen und Originale der palaeobotanischen Sammlung der Geologisch-Palaeontologischen Abteilung. Kataloge der wissenschaftlichen Sammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 8/2: 200 pp. ISBN 3-900275-53-X

Micropalaeontological Collection

The core of the micropalaeontological collection if formed by the material of Reuss from the second half of the 19th century. It has been continuously extended and contains a wealth of individual microfossils and sediment sample, mainly thanks to the efforts of F. Rögl. The collection focuses on Cenozoic foraminifera of the Paratethys area, but includes also numerous ostracods and other microfossils (e.g. the Pia collection of dasycladacean thin sections).

Staff member responsible:
M. Harzhauser

Published type-catalogues:
Flügel, E. 1960. Typen-Katalog. Verzeichnis der in der Geologisch-Paläontologischen Abteilung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien aufbewahrten Typen sowie Abbildungsoriginale. I. Invertebrata: 1. Protozoa. 2. Coelenterata. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 64: 65-104 - Wien.

Hofmann, T. & Granier, B. 1994. A Guide to the Collection of Julius Pia. 1st Part: “Neue Studien über triadische Siphonae verticilatae” Julius v. Pia, 1912. Beiträge zur Paläontologie 19: 149-151, Wien

Granier, B. & Hofmann, T. 2002. A Guide to the Collection of Julius Pia. 2nd Part. In; Bucur, I.I. & Filipescu, S. (eds.). Research advances in calcareous algae and microbial carbonates, p. 135-144. Cluj University Press.

Pia J. 1920. Katalog der Diploporensammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. - Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 33: N 1 - N 16, Wien.






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Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien,   Serie A