An Introduction to Zoological Taxonomy and the Collection and Preparation of Zoological Specimens based on a paper written by Kleber Silva Vieira et al. The slides were prepared by Asiimwe Athony from the university of Rwanda.

1. An Introduction to Zoological Taxonomy and the Collection
and Preparation of Zoological Specimens
by Kleber Silva Vieira et al.
Presented by; Asiimwe Athony (220008429).

2. Outline
◉ Introduction
◉ Zoological nomenclature
 History
 Rules, principles and laws followed
◉ The collection and preparation of zoological material
 collecting
 series
 Field notes
 Tagging and labeling
 Preparation
 sampling and collecting methods for vertebrates
 fishes,
 amphibians and reptiles,
 Mammals, and birds
◉ Zoological collections

3. Objectives
The main concepts discussed under this chapter include:
◉ Short introduction to zoological taxonomy.
◉ Introduction to General methods used in collecting and gathering
zoological material.
◉ Orientation to better deposition of a new material in scientific
collection; supporting better use of information on specimen

4. Definitions
◉ Taxonomy is defined as a branch of science that deals with creation of
biological groups that share certain characteristics and elaborates names for
those groups.
◉ Nomenclature is the system of naming organisms.
◉ Scientific collections are archives containing accumulated information about
nature and are open to individuals interested in research or teaching
 Biological classification serves as source of information about diversity and
reference systems concerning biological organisms.
Introduction
4

5. Background of Biological classification
◉ Humans have always come up with ways of classifying the diversity of living
things.
◉ Greeks were credited with their manner of seeing and classifying the world.
◉ Aristotle in his logic, he introduced the concept of classes.
◉ In 18th century, scientists employed the formal concept of classes, as a result,
the combined efforts of Peter Artedi and Linnaeus to classify the natural
world. This marked the beginning of modern taxonomy.
 In order to come up with information for classifying biological diversity,
Researchers and Taxonomists must equip themselves with information about
collection techniques and preparation methods
Introduction…
5

6. Zoological Nomenclature
◉ Nomenclature is the system of naming organisms.
◉ Publication of 10th edition of systema naturae by Carl
Linnaeus in 18th century marked birth of modern
taxonomy.
◉ Linnaeus classified and created series of divisions so
inclusive that encompassed minerals to animals.
◉ The greatest innovations in the systema naturae:
 (1) practice of assigning binomials to those entities, and
 (2) introduction of taxa
6

7. Zoological Nomenclature…
◉ The scientific name must follow binomial nomenclature
and always singular nominative nouns and be more than
one letter.
◉ Linnaeus created 5 categories i.e., species, genus, order,
class, and kingdom.
◉ Linnaeus’s concepts are now regimented by International
code of zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)
7

8. ◉ ICZN sets rules and recommendations as far as zoological
nomenclature is concerned
◉ ICZN main goal is to ensure stability and universality of scientific
names given to animals
◉ The ICZN has basic principles followed, in addition to principles, the
laws of priority, homonymy, synonymy are vital in the nomenclature
of zoological groups.
 Synonymy; more than one name for one taxon
 Homonymy; same name for more than one taxon
 Priority; if synonymy or homonymy encountered, the oldest published
name will be considered valid
International code of zoological Nomenclature
(ICZN)
8

9. Zoological Nomenclature…
◉ Proposals for new names, especially for species, require that the
author(s) designate a type species
◉ This process, the code designates it as Principle of typification,
◉ Principle of typification consists of choosing the specimen that
will fix the name of a given taxon. It may be a whole animal or part
of one, or activity of an animal, molds, etc.
◉ Terms under principle of typification include:
• Holotype; a single specimen for description
• Paratypes; These are specimens used by the author along side holotype
specimen
• Syntypes; series of animals used co-currently for description.
• Lectotype; a single syntype for used to fix the name of the taxon and others are
now referred to as paralectotypes
• If holotype or paralectotype is lost, neotype is used.

10. PhyloCode
◉ This is nomenclature system exclusive to phylogenetic system,
it was developed as a result of limitations of traditional
nomenclatural rules when applied to supra-specific monophyletic
groups.
◉ PhyloCode has got many similarities as compared to traditional
zoological nomenclatural rules, however, PhyloCode presents
some differences:
 PhyloCode does not apply taxonomic hierarchy recognizing the
categories of clade and species only as different biological entities and
not as hierarchical levels
Zoological Nomenclature…

11. ◉ Nomenclature is based on species collected and deposited in
scientific collection.
◉ These are various methods of collection and preparation.
◉ Less risk methods of collection (to the integrity of animal
populations and to the collector himself) are employed.
◉ Methods that provide information that would not possible in any
other manner are prioritized.
The Collection and preparation
of zoological material
11

12. Collecting:
Before collection of animals is done, the following must be put into
consideration:
◉ Collection should only be done when there is a real necessity;
educational/scientific purposes
◉ Conditions for their transportation, preparation and storage must be
adequate
◉ The collector should respect environment and licensing procedures
of a country at all times in the process of collecting animals.
The Collection and preparation of
zoological material…
12

13. Methods of Collecting animals:
◉ There are basically two methods of collecting animals, i.e.,
General and specific method.
◉ General: In a given area, attention is given to all animals in
the area, even though it is practically impossible due to
logistics and equipment material necessary.
◉ Specific: It involves searching for and capturing specific
specimens; single specimen or a certain taxonomic group
that inhabit a specific environment or special microhabitat.
The Collection and preparation of
zoological material…
13

14. Series:
◉ Series are composed of individuals of one ore more species
collected in a given period of time
◉ A good series should contain
 Sufficient number of specimens to cover almost all or most of the
variations;
 Due to environmental laws, the numbers are always restricted.
 All inclusive; both sexes, sizes and ages
The Collection and preparation of
zoological material…
14

15. Field notes;
◉ Field notebooks should be of high quality with hard covers
and of convenient size.
◉ Pages of the notebook should not get lost easily.
◉ Record 3 basic information; (1) trip diaries that register both
scientific and human-related incidences, (2) the catalog
numbers of the material collected, and (3) observations
about the animal and the size
The Collection and preparation of
zoological material…
15

16. Tagging and labeling;
◉ All specimens must be well labelled for easy identification.
◉ Tag the material in the field during collection.
◉ A tag is physically bound to the collected material.
◉ A tag may indicate only the number or written data such as weight,
color, size etc.
◉ The tag should be made of an excellent quality material
◉ Labels: Labels contain 3 basic items of information; locality, collection
date, and names of collector(s).
◉ Non soluble ink in alcohol or formaldehyde
The Collection and preparation of zoological
material…
16

17. Preparation :
◉ Preparation allows specimens to be stored in collection without any
serious distortion or degradation of its parts.
◉ Proper preparation Inhibits autolysis of cells as well as impede
bacterial and fungal attacks.
◉ Two principle types of preparation are employed, i.e., liquid and dry
◉ Liquid preparation uses fixing and conserving solutions principle fixer
being formaldehyde.
The Collection and preparation of zoological
material…
17

18. Fishes
◉ Selective or non-selective methods are used in sampling of fishes.
◉ Selective methods include, use of traditional fishing gear as well nets
◉ Non selective include, use of electrical fishing equipment, and
chemical fishing such as use of rotenone.
◉ Non-selective methods have many disadvantages and are not
recommended
◉ Collected specimens are fixed in 10% formaldehyde
◉ The fish are tagged by typing a label on the caudal peduncle
◉ Kept in 10% formaldehyde for about 2 weeks, after this, they are
washed to remove excess formaldehyde and kept in 75% ethyl alcohol
Sampling or collecting methods for
vertebrates
18

19. Sampling or collecting methods for
vertebrates
Amphibians and Reptiles
(Herpetofauna)
◉ They are collected by either
active(visual) or passive
capturing(traps)
◉ The principle method for passive
collection involves use straight line
drift fences and pitfall traps( as seen
on the right).
◉ Other devices include; glue traps,
sticking traps and traps-roach, funnel
traps and cage traps.

20. Amphibians and Reptiles (Herpetofauna)…
◉ Specimen collected can be transported in a wooden box, or cloth, or
plastic sacks to laboratory where they are anesthetized and killed.
◉ They can also be euthanized by inhalation of ethyl ether or by injecting
them with high doses of Benzocaine, lidocaine or xylocaine or by
drowning in 40% GL alcohol
◉ Reptiles are generally killed by inhaling ethyl ether or injecting them
with high dose of xylocaine, pentobarbital or ketamine
◉ All specimens are fixed in 10% formaldehyde and conserved in 75%
GL alcohol
Sampling or collecting methods for
vertebrates
20

21. Sampling or collecting methods for
vertebrates
Mammals
◉ Principle objectives for collecting mammals in
scientific research: study (1) their skin, (2) body
parts, and (3) soft organs
◉ They are collected by active collecting or direct
searching and by using traps
◉ Active collecting is utilized by medium sized
animals, it involves use of short guns
◉ Passive methods involve use of various traps such
as Tomahawk and Sherman traps, Harvahart and
Longworth traps, intercept and pitfall traps linked by
straight line drift fences, Fine mesh mist, etc.

22. Sampling or collecting methods for
vertebrates
Mammals…
◉ Species can be killed using anesthetics, chloroform,
injections with alcohol or 10% formaldehyde at the
base of cranium
◉ Large animals, large doses of cyanide are used
◉ Liquid preservation; injecting 10% formaldehyde and
conserving in 75% GL alcohol
◉ Dry preservation is accomplished through taxidermy
(As seen on the right)

23. Sampling or collecting methods for
vertebrates
Birds…
◉ Scientific objectives for collecting birds include; (1) study their
plumage and other external morphology structures and (2)
study their skeletons and soft tissues
◉ They are collected by active or passive methods
◉ Active collection involves moving a long a transect searching
and once sited, they are killed by use of short guns
◉ Passive methods involve use of mist nets
◉ Captured birds can be killed by compressing their thorax or
injecting ketamine into thorax or alcohol or formaldehyde
◉ Prepared in 10% formalin for fixation and preserved in 75%
alcohol

24. Zoological collections
◉ They are stored in permanent zoological collections
◉ Zoological collections can either be didactic or purely research
collections
◉ Research collections are designed toward teaching purposes,
demonstrations and training.
◉ Research collections are also known as scientific collections and have
great value to taxonomic and biological studies.
◉ They are classified as general, regional, private or special collections
◉ All collections should be maintained in order so that their data and
specimens are reliable and easily consulted for future generations.

25. End.
Thank you