ANDREA BATELLI AND THE FREE UNIVERSITY OF PERUGIA
On the 28th of September 1860, the Special Royal Commissioner Marquis Pepoli, envoy of
Vittorio Emanuele II, issued an important decree on the University of Perugia that declared the
University of Perugia a “Università libera” (Free University). In 1866, the course Zoology and
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology was created, a discipline that concerned the Faculty of
Medicine and also the courses in Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture until (1882) the existence
of the Faculty of Political Science.
From 1884/5 to 1896 the course was taught by Professor Andrea Batelli, who later moved to
Florence. During this period under his direction, the University’s first Museum of Zoology and
Comparative Anatomy was established in the large corridor on the upper floor of Palazzo
Murena. There was also Zootomic and Histological laboratory where anatomic specimens were
displayed chiefly for didactic purposes. At the beginning, the goal was to complete the
collections of local fauna as these materials served as the basis for didactic activities, but in
time different branches of the discipline began to be differentiated: Comparative Histological,
Embryology, Anatomy of Vertebrate, Taxonomy, and Medical Zoology. Many of these
specimens and samples are currently housed at the Department of Cellular and Environmental
Biology’s Cellular and Molecular Biology Division.
GIULIO CICIONI (Cerqueto 1844 – Perugia 1923)
The collections of the “G. Cicioni” Museum, property of the Archiepiscopal Curia, were recently
entrusted to the University of Perugia on loan, under the administration of CAMS. The
collections have been organised temporarily in different buildings of the Faculty of Agriculture
in San Pietro as they await systemization in the more suitable and definitive spaces of the
Museum which are almost complete. With this collection, the University of Perugia currently
posseses the most valuable collection of natural history present in Umbria and among the most
important collections at the national level as well. All this is owed to Monsignores Guilio Cicioni,
of the Parish of San Giovanni del Pruneto (PG), and Professor of Natural Science at the
Archbishop’s Seminary that created the entire collection, thanks to donations of missionaries
working in some of the most diverse parts of the World, from tropical Africa to the Orient and
the Indian mainland; from the Americas to Oceania (Australia and New Zealand),. A passionate
Naturalist, Giulio Cicioni gathered plant and animal samples in the Umbrian countryside
followed by all specimens gathered in extra-European countries that were of enormous value in
historical, cultural and biogeograhical importance for the region of Umbria and for the presence
of extinct and endangered species. (es. Gyps fulvo e Lutra lutra, Rossi Barilli & Gentili, 2006).
He also managed to create a herbarium with specimens representing more than 7,087 species
(Papagano, 1994 Mazzerioli et al., 1996). This herbarium also contains a collection of
Pteridophytes from the Antilles Archipelago and, in particular Jamaica, many of which are
endemic (Cagnotti & Barili 2001). The Museum’s collections are made up of minerals and
fossils as well as Porifera, Cnidarias, Molluscks, Crustacea, Arachnids, Insects, Echinoderms,
Tunicates, Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals.
Of considerable importance is the Malacological collection as are the Bird and Mammal
collections which contain specimens that come from geographic environments which today are
considered as some of the World’s most important Biodiversity “Hot Spots” (Sundaland;
Wallacea; Tropical Andes).
Together with these collections is also a Siloteca, or collection of wood specimens, including
rare and precious samples, coming from various tropical regions (Central America and the
Amazon River Basin) and a collection of ethnographic materials including fishing and hunting
instruments belonging to peoples native to South-eastern Africa, Oceania and Central and
Southern America.
PALPICORN BEETLES AND THE PIRISINU COLLECTION
The Animal and Ecological Biology Divison of DBCA is host to the collection of Palpicorn Beetles
that Quirico Pirisinu, Professor at the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences
created during his many years as a passionate Zoologist and researcher. Palpicorn Beetles,
which belong to the suborder of Polyphaga, superfamily Hydrophiloidea in Italy are
represented by the Helophoridae families (26 species), Hydrochidae (7 species), Hydrophilidae
(50 species) Sphacridiidae (37 species), Spercheidae (1 species), Hydracnidae (145 species).
The Pirisinu collection, housed in 63 entomological cases, of various dimensions and not all full,
consists of 94 of the 266 Italian species. Represented are 6 endemic species, the entire
Hydraenidae family: 4 Hydraena, 1 Hacnydra, and 1 Ochtebis. In this last genus, the Octebius
viganoi is represented, the species classified by Pirisinu and dedicated to his deceased
colleague, Antonio Viganò. In all there are 26 genera represented in the collection with
respect to the 34 genera listed in the “Ceck”—the list of Italian Fauna.
Some cases contain unidentified specimens and in the collection there are also 4 cases
belonging to the Chiesa collection and 3 cases of specimens gathered abroad (2 in Turkey and
1 in Madagascar).
SPECIALISED ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTION: BIRDS AND MAMMALS by B. Ragni
The Vertebrate Biology Division on DBCA, over thirty years of gathering and studying has put
together a Specialised Zoological Collection consisting of Bird and Mammal species and some
very valuable bone and skin samples of the peoples of Umbria and Central Italy that are not
commonly found in Italy’s scientific institutions
Here are some examples of the specimens relating to the Bird and Mammal Classes:
a) mounted Golden Eagle and Lanner Falcon specimens
b) skulls of: wolf, wild European cat, brown bear, Eurasian lynx, wild boar, porcupine,
coypu and roe deer.
c) European otter tanned skin hides (juv. E ad.)
These last few represent very rare specimens (European otter) of multiple importance:
material testimony of a species extint in Umbria, in the majority of Italy and in grave danger of
extinction in Europe.
ORAZIO ANTINORI (Perugia 1881 – Let Marefià 1882)
Traveller, Explorer and Naturalist, in exile for political reasons, can be considered pioneer of
the Zoological studies in various parts of the world: Greece, Crete, Cyprus, Asia Minor, East
Orient, North Africa and East Africa He began his work as an ornithologist gathering many
samples and specimens of Umbrian birdlife and creating a vast collection of which exists a
catalogue written by the Museum’s staff and that is preserved today at the University of
Perugia’s Centre for Scientific Museums (CAMS).
Sensitivity and scientific and naturalistic curiosity guided him in his expeditions during the end
of the 19th Century, a period in which the study of the environment and wildlife was the basis
for further expeditions and settlements. During these expeditions he gathered numerous
zoological specimens, mainly birds that were sent to Italy after being taxidermically prepared
by him and his assistants.
He worked with the greatest naturalists of the period to achieve the “Iconography of Italian
Wildlife” and a Scientific Laboratory for Taxidermy within the Boneparte scientific institute.
Thanks to his good relationship with S.M. Menelik II, the future Emperor of Ethiopia named
Negus Neghesti, he lived in Abissinia from 1876 to 1882. From Negus, he obtained
authorisation for the construction of an Italian Scientifc Observatory in Let Marefià, close to the
City of Ankober (Shewa) and from that area he went on various naturalistic explorations in
some of the most remote places in Africa, contributing in a decisive way to Italians’ knowledge
of the wonders of those lands. During the course of his long travels, Antinori met some of the
most distinguished naturalists and explorers of the times. A rich enthnografic collection
(Castelli 1984), fruit of Antinori’s work overseas, is currently preserved at Umbria’s National
Archaeological Museum.
GIAMPAOLO MORETTI (1910-1997)
After a few years of a brilliant academic career, first in Milan and then in Camerino, Moretti-Professor Emeritus of Zoology at the University of Perugia, Honorary Member of the Italian
Zoology Association and Associate of the National Academy of Entomology-- came to Perugia
in 1953/54 to teach Hydrobilogy and Pisciculture and obtained warrant allowing for the
construction of the Institute of Hydrobilogy and Pisciculture in Monte del Lago on Lake
Trasimeno.
In this way, Moretti began his in-depth study of Lake Trasimeno’s habitat and his research,
conducted together with his assistants and students, was also extended to many other
freshwater bodies. This research defined the establishment of the “Internal Waters Ecology
Group” and as part of this group he dedicated himself mainly to the study of Trichopter insects
(Caddisflies) leading to the creation and development of the collection – with many very
valuable specimens and the only one of its kind in Italy for many years – still bares his name
today.
Author of 333 publications, in addition to many posthumous publications, these reflect his
particular personality together with a great interest in nature and an astute taxonomic
intuition. The collection of Italian Trichopters rightly bares the name of Giampaolo Moretti, the
specialist who, on the 10th of February 1933, classified two specimens, an adult male and a
female Rhyacophila dorsalis Curtis captured by him in Lombardia. That day marked the birth of
the collection that now is housed at the University of Perugia’s Faculty of Mathematical,
Physical and Natural Sciences’ Department of Cellular and Environmental Biology.
Since then until just before his death, on the 9th of April 1997 , Giampaolo Moretti dedicated all
his work as a passionate researcher to the collection and the study of specimens belonging to
this order of insects, which he made famous in Italy. The an updated version of the collection
is catalogued in the Journal of Hydrobiology (vol. 41, 2002) and illustrates the current
structure resulting from 114 years of research in Italy. Also included in this volume in a
separate list, is material coming from occasional gathering expeditions conducted in other
European and Extra-European nations. Also, the personal is officially incorporated.
The collection, housed in the Animal and Ecology Division of the DBCA, represents, even today,
the richest collection in Italy, preserving 97,000 specimens (from larvae to adults) from the
internal waters of the entire Italian peninsula and the islands.
Currently the collection contains 355 taxa (324 species, 31 subspecies) belonging to 93 genera
and 20 families and 99% of the material was classified by Moretti, at times in collaboration
with others and the remaining 1% was classified by other specialists including Botosaneanu,
Malicky, Masely, Navas and Ulmer.
The collection is of enormous ecological value because there are many specimens from
different internal water environments (limecrete springs, marshes, ponds, lakes, mountain
puddles) and hypogeous cavities (caves, and underground passages).
FRESHWATER BRYOZANS OF ANTONIO VIGANO’S COLLECTION
The phylum Bryozoa is comprised of acquactic bentonic invertebrates that grow on submerged
substratums in colonies formed by many identical types of zoides. They are filter-feeder
organisms that capture the organic substances in the environment via a crown of ciliate
tentacles called Lophophores.
Antonio Viagnò, who died prematurely in 1972, was the only specialist to have published works
on his research carried out in central Itlay and in the western Italian Alps and he gathered and
preserved many specimens in the collection that today bears his name. This collection is the
only one of its kind in Italy for freshwater Bryozans. The specimens belong to 15 species, 10 of
which were already studied by Viganò. To these will soon be added other species which are
still being studied, two already known in extra-European continents and one species which is
completely new.