Museum of Comparative Zoology

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The Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) is a natural history museum located at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1859 by Louis Agassiz and is one of the oldest and most renowned institutions of its kind in the world. The museum is dedicated to the study of comparative zoology, which involves comparing the anatomical structures of different animal species to understand their evolutionary relationships.

History

The Museum of Comparative Zoology was established in 1859 by Louis Agassiz, a prominent Swiss-American biologist and geologist. Agassiz envisioned the museum as a center for research and education in the natural sciences. The museum's collections began with Agassiz's own specimens and have since grown to include millions of specimens from around the world.

Collections

The MCZ houses extensive collections of vertebrates, invertebrates, fossils, and genetic material. These collections are used for research by scientists from around the globe. The museum's holdings include:

• Mammals
• Birds
• Reptiles
• Amphibians
• Fish
• Insects
• Mollusks
• Crustaceans
• Arachnids
• Fossils

Research and Education

The MCZ is a hub for scientific research and education. It supports a wide range of research projects in fields such as taxonomy, systematics, evolutionary biology, and ecology. The museum also offers educational programs for students and the public, including lectures, workshops, and exhibitions.

Notable Figures

Several prominent scientists have been associated with the MCZ, including:

• Louis Agassiz - Founder
• Alexander Agassiz - Son of Louis Agassiz and a notable marine biologist
• Ernst Mayr - Evolutionary biologist and former director of the MCZ
• Stephen Jay Gould - Paleontologist and evolutionary biologist

Facilities

The MCZ is located within the Harvard Museum of Natural History complex, which also includes the Harvard University Herbaria and the Mineralogical and Geological Museum. The museum's facilities include research laboratories, specimen storage areas, and public exhibition spaces.

Related Pages

• Harvard University
• Louis Agassiz
• Comparative zoology
• Natural history museum
• Evolutionary biology
• Taxonomy (biology)