Volpi, C., Benvenuti D., 2003. The Duchassaing & Michelotti collection of Caribbean corals: status of the types and location of the specimens. Atti della Societa Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale in Milano 144 1: 51-74.
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Publication
In 1860 and 1864, Eduard Placide Duchassaing de Fonbressin and Giovanni Michelotti published two monographs listing 409 species of Cnidaria collected in the Caribbean Region, 208 of which were new to science. In the Memoire sur les coral/Mires des Antilles of 1860, the same Authors their collection to the Turin Museum in order to "Livrer au domaine public les collections en les destinant au Museum d'histoire naturelle de Turin". The collection was actually distributed to various Museums, and among these a large part was donated to the Imperial and Royal Museum of Physics History of Florence, presently the Zoological Museum "La Specola" of the University of Florence. From the examination of all the preserved material, we were able to compile a new list of the Duchassaing & Michelotti collection, comprising 236 species. It was also possible to list specimens that are missing but testified in the old museum catalogues or in past revisions by specialists. With this contribution, 109 specimens of the 208 new species described by the Authors are once again known and available to specialists in the field. On the basis of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature have been designated 74 lectotypes, 1 holotype and 34 type series waiting a specific analysis.
Systematics, Taxonomy
Zoogeography, Biogeography (generalities), Geographic distribution
