The Muséum de Toulouse (, MHNT) is a museum of natural history in

Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger region of Occitania. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne, from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Par ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. It is in the Busca-Montplaisir, houses a collection of more than 2.5 million items, and has some of exhibition space. Its

Index Herbariorum The Index Herbariorum provides a global directory of herbaria and their associated staff. This searchable online index allows scientists rapid access to data related to 3,400 locations where a total of 350 million botanical Biological specim ...

code is TLM.

History

The museum was founded in 1796 by the naturalist

Philippe-Isidore Picot de Lapeyrouse Philippe-Isidore Picot de Lapeyrouse or La Peirouse, Baron de Lapeyrouse (20 October 1744 in Toulouse – 18 October 1818 in château de Lapeyrouse, Haute-Garonne) was a French naturalist. He was particularly interested in the flora and fa ...

, with his collections being able to be housed (after the revolution) in the former

Carmelite , image = , caption = Coat of arms of the Carmelites , abbreviation = OCarm , formation = Late 12th century , founder = Early hermits of Mount Carmel , founding_location = Mount Car ...

monastery in Toulouse. In 1808, the emperor

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

formally gifted all the Carmelite buildings and land to the city of Toulouse, and in 1865 the museum was opened to the public in its present location and under the directorship of

Édouard Filhol Jean Pierre Bernard Édouard Filhol (7 October 1814 – 25 June 1883) was a French scientist. In 1854 Édouard Filhol was appointed Professor of Chemistry at the University of Toulouse, a position he held until 1882. Later, in 1865, he became dir ...

. Toulouse museum was the first museum in the world to open a gallery of

prehistory Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use of ...

thanks to the collection of the malacologist Alfred de Candie de Saint-Simon (1731-1851) and the collaboration of

Émile Cartailhac Émile Cartailhac (15 February 1845 – 26 November 1921) was a French prehistorian, one of the founding fathers of the studies of the cave art. He is perhaps best remembered because of his involvement with the Altamira paintings. Cartailhac was ...

Jean-Baptiste Noulet Jean-Baptiste Noulet (1 May 1802 – 24 May 1890) was a French scientist and naturalist who helped to prove the archæological existence of humans and was one of the pioneers of the scientific discipline of prehistoric archaeology. He was born in ...

, and

Eugène Trutat Eugène Trutat (25 August 1840 – 6 August 1910) was a French naturalist, mountaineer, pyreneist, geologist and photographer, who was curator of the Museum of Toulouse. He began taking photographs in 1859, and produced almost 15,000 over the c ...

.''Le Muséum de Toulouse et l'invention de la préhistoire'', 2010 . In 1887 (on the occasion of a world exposition in Toulouse) the botanical gardens of the

University of Toulouse The University of Toulouse (french: Université de Toulouse) was a university in the French city of Toulouse that was established by papal bull in 1229, making it one of the earliest universities to emerge in Europe. Suppressed during the Frenc ...

became part of the museum. In 2008, the museum reopened in its present form (as of May 2018) with the renovations and extensions of the museum, designed by the architectural firm of

Jean-Paul Viguier Jean-Paul Viguier (born 4 May 1946) is a French architect. He is considered one of the world's leading architects and one of the few French ones to work extensively outside of Europe. Early works Graduated from the École nationale supérieure ...

, having been completed.

Permanent exhibitions

The permanent exhibition has five linked themes: *Sequence 1: Feeling the Earth's power. Nature of the

Solar System The Solar SystemCapitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Solar S ...

and its formation. Nature of the Earth –

plate tectonics Plate tectonics (from the la, label=Late Latin, tectonicus, from the grc, τεκτονικός, lit=pertaining to building) is the generally accepted scientific theory that considers the Earth's lithosphere to comprise a number of large ...

seismic Seismology (; from Ancient Greek σεισμός (''seismós'') meaning "earthquake" and -λογία (''-logía'') meaning "study of") is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other ...

and

volcanic A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface. On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates a ...

activity and erosion,

petrology Petrology () is the branch of geology that studies rocks and the conditions under which they form. Petrology has three subdivisions: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology. Igneous and metamorphic petrology are commonly taught together ...

and

mineralogy Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proces ...

. *Sequence 2: Doing away with our notions of hierarchy. The nature of life –

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

classification Classification is a process related to categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated and understood. Classification is the grouping of related facts into classes. It may also refer to: Business, organizat ...

, and

organization An organization or organisation (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is an entity—such as a company, an institution, or an association—comprising one or more people and having a particular purpose. The word is derived from ...

. *Sequence 3: Getting to grips with the huge scale. Earth history from 3.8 billion years ago. Introduces time,

palaeontology Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of fossi ...

and the

evolution Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...

of life *Sequence 4: Admitting the obvious. The main functions of

living beings Life form (also spelled life-form or lifeform) is an wikt:entity, entity that is Life, living, such as plants (flora) and animals (fauna). It is estimated that more than 99% of all species that ever existed on Earth, amounting to over five billi ...

—feeding, respiration, locomotion, reproduction, protection and communication. *Sequence 5: Inventing the future. The impact of human activity—

demographic Demography () is the statistical study of populations, especially human beings. Demographic analysis examines and measures the dimensions and dynamics of populations; it can cover whole societies or groups defined by criteria such as edu ...

pressure on

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syste ...

s and

natural resource Natural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest and cultural value. O ...

s File:MHNT - Themes-1.jpg File:MHNT - Themes-2.jpg File:MHNT - Themes-3.jpg File:MHNT - Themes-4.jpg File:MHNT - Themes-5.jpg File:MHNT - Themes-6.jpg File:MHNT - Themes-7.jpg File:MHNT - Themes-8.jpg

Collections

This section presents examples to illustrate the content of each different collection of the Museum de Toulouse.

Prehistory

The prehistoric collection includes mostly artefacts excavated in France. They also contain comparative material from other parts of Europe and other continents. Notable collectors include Édouard Harlé (1850–1922),

Antoine Meillet Paul Jules Antoine Meillet (; 11 November 1866 Moulins, France – 21 September 1936 Châteaumeillant, France) was one of the most important French linguists of the early 20th century. He began his studies at the Sorbonne University, where he was ...

(1866–1936),

Alexis Damour Augustin Alexis Damour (19 July 1808, in Paris – 22 September 1902, in Paris) was a French mineralogist who was also interested in prehistory. Biography In 1827 he studied under Alexandre Brongniart at the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle in ...

(1808–1902), Félix Regnault (1847–1908),

Louis Péringuey Louis Albert Péringuey MSc (9 October 1855, Bordeaux – 20 February 1924, Cape Town) was a South African entomologist who specialised in Coleoptera and prehistory. Péringuey was a collector for museums in Senegal, Gambia and Madagascar fo ...

(1855–1924),

(1845–1921), Daniel Bugnicourt,

Edward John Dunn Edward John Dunn (1 November 1844 – 20 April 1937) was an English-born Australian geologist, winner of the 1905 Murchison Medal. Early life Dunn was born at Bedminster near Bristol, England, the son of Edward Herbert Dunn and Betsy Robinson Dun ...

(1844–1937),

Henri Breuil Henri Édouard Prosper Breuil (28 February 1877 – 14 August 1961), often referred to as Abbé Breuil, was a French Catholic priest, archaeologist, anthropologist, ethnologist and geologist. He is noted for his studies of cave art in the Somme a ...

(1877–1961), and

Louis Lartet Louis Lartet (1840 – 1899) was a French geologist and paleontologist. He discovered the original Cro-Magnon 1, Cro-Magnon skeletons. Louis Lartet was born in Castelnau-Magnoac, in Seissan in the ''département in France, département'' ...

(1840–1899), as well as the curators

(1802–1890),

(1840–1910), and

(1814–1883). Image:Sépulture de Teviec Global.jpg, Image:Diorite-Reims-Damour 2.jpg, Image:Hache_Plagne_Global.jpg, Image:Collier de Penne.jpg,

Botany

*The

herbarium A herbarium (plural: herbaria) is a collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study. The specimens may be whole plants or plant parts; these will usually be in dried form mounted on a sheet of paper (called ...

contains historic specimens collected by

Benjamin Balansa file:Benjamin Balansa par de Lacger Toulouse.jpg, Benjamin Balansa Gaspard Joseph Benedict Balansa, also known as Benjamin Balansa or Benedict Balansa (25 March 1825 – 2 November 1891) was a French botanist. Born in Narbonne in 1825, Balansa mad ...

(1825–1891). File:Entada phaseoloides MHNT.BOT.2007.26.55.jpg, File:Luffa aegyptiaca MHNT.BOT.2007.26.52.jpg, File:Cassia fistula MHNT.BOT.2007.26.54.jpg,

Entomology

Coleoptera Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

File:Cerapterus pilipennis (Male).jpg, File:Chrysochroa_rajah_thailandica_MHNT.ZOO.2004.0.520.jpg, File:Hiperantha testacea MHNT.ZOO.2004.0.561.jpg, File:Metaxymorpha gloriosa MHNT.ZOO.2004.0.535.jpg,

Lepidoptera

File:Historis odius.jpg, File:Charaxes varanes vologeses (Mâle).jpg, File:Morpho menelaus didius Male MHNT.jpg, File:Prepona licomedes Bresil Global.jpg,

Orthoptera

File:Oedipoda caerulescens MHNT.jpg, File:Titanacris Albipes Vol.jpg, File:Porphyromma speciosa MHNT.jpg,

Mineralogy

File:Celestite MHNT.MIN.1998.252.jpg, File:Fluorine Peyrebrun.jpg, File:Népouite MHNT.MIN.2005.0.63.jpg, File:Scheelite MHNT.MIN.2004.0.88 (p).jpg, File:Blende MHNT.MIN.1998.81.jpg,

Ornithology

* The bird collection of MHNT contains more than 30,000 specimens, of which 20,000 are eggs. About 8,500 bird mounts and 1,500 scientific bird skins are included. Other bird items are around 2,000 skeletons and skulls and 5,300 eggs. The collection focuses on Europe (especially France), but the collection also has exotic species . Most are documented on card or computer systems. *The bird mount collection of Victor Besaucèle, with 5,000 specimens, is one of the most important historic collections in Europe. *Other collectors represented are R. Bourret, G. Cossaune, M. Gourdon, Hammonville, A. Lacroix, and Reboussin. File:Harfang des neiges MHNT.jpg, File:Mino dumontii - MHNT STV 2002 1.jpg, File:Semnornis_ramphastinus_-_MHNT_PIC_2004_1.jpg, *The egg collection of Jacques Perrin de Brichambaut (1920–2007) was acquired in 2010. It contains his personal collections, supplemented by those of other ornithologists, notably

Georges Guichard Georges may refer to: Places * Georges River, New South Wales, Australia * Georges Quay (Dublin) *Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania Other uses *Georges (name) * ''Georges'' (novel), a novel by Alexandre Dumas * "Georges" (song), a 19 ...

Henri Heim de Balsac Henri Heim de Balsac (1 January 1899 – 28 November 1979) was a French zoologist. In 1937 Henri Heim de Balsac was awarded the Prix Savigny de l'Académie des sciences. In the following year, 1938, he was awarded the Prix Gadeau de Kerville ...

, and Rene de Naurois. It includes all the

Palearctic The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa. The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Sibe ...

species (Europe, North Africa, and Asia), about 1,000 species and nearly 15,000 eggs, and is one of the most complete and best-documented palearctic egg collections in Europe. File:Aigle d'Australie MHNT.jpg, Egg of

wedge-tailed eagle The wedge-tailed eagle (''Aquila audax'') is the largest bird of prey in the continent of Australia. It is also found in southern New Guinea to the north and is distributed as far south as the state of Tasmania. Adults of this species have lon ...

File:Aigrette garzette MHNT.jpg, Egg of little egret File:Pintade de Numidie MHNT.jpg, Egg of helmeted guineafowl File:Pétrel géant MHNT.jpg, Egg of

southern giant petrel The southern giant petrel (''Macronectes giganteus''), also known as the Antarctic giant petrel, giant fulmar, stinker, and stinkpot, is a large seabird of the southern oceans. Its distribution overlaps broadly with the similar northern giant pet ...

File:Delichon urbicum MHNT.jpg, Nest of

common house martin The common house martin (''Delichon urbicum''), sometimes called the northern house martin or, particularly in Europe, just house martin, is a migratory passerine bird of the swallow family which breeds in Europe, north Africa and across the ...

File:Pigeon migrateur MHNT.jpg, Egg of

passenger pigeon The passenger pigeon or wild pigeon (''Ectopistes migratorius'') is an extinct species of pigeon that was endemic to North America. Its common name is derived from the French word ''passager'', meaning "passing by", due to the migratory habits ...

Osteology

File:Taupe MHNT.OST.1997.45.jpg, File:Avahi 5 face noir.jpg, File:Alouatta seniculus 5perspective.jpg, File:Cynocephalus Perspective.jpg,

Paleontology

The specimens of the collection of paleontology amount to tens of thousands. They date from the

Paleoarchean The Paleoarchean (), also spelled Palaeoarchaean (formerly known as early Archean), is a Geologic time scale#Terminology, geologic era within the Archean, Archaean Eon. The name derives from Greek "Palaios" ''ancient''. It spans the period of time ...

to the

Eocene The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene' ...

Invertebrates

The invertebrates room was named Saint-Simon in honor to the collection of the

malacologist Malacology is the branch of invertebrate zoology that deals with the study of the Mollusca (mollusks or molluscs), the second-largest phylum of animals in terms of described species after the arthropods. Mollusks include snails and slugs, clams, ...

Alfred de Candie de Saint-Simon, presented during the museum opening exhibit in 1865 under the directorship of

. Image:Stromatolithe_Paléoarchéen_-_MNHT.PAL.2009.10.1.jpg, Image:Pseudoasaphus praecurrens MHNT.PAL.2003.439.jpg,

Vertebrates

Image:Coelodonta antiquitatis .jpg, Image:Coelodonta antiquitatis Crane.jpg, File:Flickr - Wikimedia France - machoire ours-a.jpg,

Henri Gaussen Botanical Garden

Henri Gaussen Marcel-Henri Gaussen (14 July 1891 in Cabrières-d'Aigues (Vaucluse) - 27 July 1981 in Toulouse), was a French botanist and biogeographer. In 1926, he defended his thesis on "the vegetation of the eastern half of the Pyrenees", which laid the ...

was a Toulouse-based phytogeographer and botanist. The

botanic garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...

which honours his name is attached to the museum and is part of the Earth and Life Science Research and Training

Paul Sabatier University Paul Sabatier University (''Université Paul Sabatier'', UPS, also known as Toulouse III) is a French public university, in the Academy of Toulouse. It is one of the several successor universities of the University of Toulouse. Toulouse III was ...

. A second botanical area, The Museum Gardens, extends over 3 hectares. It is notable for "''potagers du monde''" (vegetable gardens of the world) and a "shade house" which recreates the conditions required by shade plants.

References

External links

* * François Bon, Sébastien Dubois, Marie-Dominique Labails, 2010. ''Le Muséum de Toulouse et l'invention de la préhistoire Toulouse'' Editions Muséum de Toulouse * Part of this article is a translation of (or greatly inspired by) the French Wikipedia's article (see the list o
title=Mus%C3%A9um_de_Toulouse&action=history authors
{{DEFAULTSORT:Museum de Toulouse Museums in Toulouse Natural history museums in France Museums established in 1796 1796 establishments in France