Specimens and vouchers preserved in natural history museums are invaluable resources for taxonomic, anatomical, historical, epidemiological, and conservation studies. These museums serve as critical repositories of global biodiversity, offering tangible evidence of species distributions and evolutionary trends. They also house unique information about extinct or critically endangered species, making them essential to both present and future scientific inquiry.

In recognition of this role, a 2022 paper published in Acta Herpetologica examined Italy's herpetological collections conserved in 39 scientific museums, with particular attention to the conservation value of voucher specimens. The catalogue includes 1,400 species of amphibians (across 67 families) and 250 species of reptiles (across 80 families).

Importantly, the conservation significance of these collections is high: 257 amphibian species and 210 reptile species are listed in threat categories, including some that are currently extinct (EX), extinct in the wild (EW), or critically endangered (CR). Studying these specimens enables research into aspects that are often difficult to investigate in the wild—such as fecundity, age structure, distribution, genetics, and the effects of climate change and other stressors.

Given its minimal conservation impact, the scientific collection of wild vouchers remains necessary—even for highly threatened species. Nevertheless, most Italian museums, particularly smaller institutions, have ceased collecting new vouchers. They also tend to overlook research on historical collections, prioritizing educational functions instead. This is largely due to the traditional structure of museum governance in Italy, where management is often handled by local institutions. While this approach promotes regional cultural identity, it also leads to fragmentation and a decline in research activities.

As a result, Italian herpetological collections are increasingly becoming historical snapshots that no longer represent current herpetofaunal diversity. This presents a significant bias that diminishes their scientific value. However, this challenge could be addressed through the creation of a centralized coordination hub and a national network of herpetological collections. Such a system would facilitate the sharing of vouchers, resources, and expertise—revitalizing the research mission of Italian scientific museums and enhancing their role in biodiversity conservation.

Read the full paper here.

See you in two weeks!