Bird type specimens in the AfricaMuseum (RMCA)

Citation

Description

The name-bearing types at the RMCA ornithological collection are represented by these unique records: 89 holotypes, 5 lectotypes and 36 syntypes compose the most important part among the 988 type specimens of birds kept in Tervuren. This types’ dataset was based on a digitally updated catalogue (Louette et al. 2010), that was a revision of an earlier detailed inventory (Louette et al. 2002). Thanks to recent comparisons by Louette (2023), we hereby highlight actualised taxonomic findings: - Of 25 bird species, accepted by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC), the AfricaMuseum holds the type specimens, including 12 holotypes and almost all syntypes which are listed in this updated dataset. - A few other birds that have not yet been recognised as distinct species by the IOC (2021), are additionally discussed, of which the three holotypes are indicated here as incipient species in taxon remarks. - Besides, many taxa are listed as accepted subspecies by the IOC for which the RMCA has type material. - Moreover, three birds that were originally considered to be species and once described by holotypes, appear to be melanistic morphs of already known species belonging to other taxa. Paratypes are excluded from this dataset, since only the name-bearing types were photographed and digitised through an earlier project, partially funded by Belspo. Initially, this data mobilisation was situated as a paradigm case in the experimentally Semantic Web-based Thematic European Reference Network Application (STERNA, http://www.sterna-net.eu) that aimed to develop a capacious database on birds according to the objectives of a European Digital Library (EDL) and its portal Europeana (www.europeana.eu). References: Louette, M., D. Meirte, A. Louage & A. Reygel, 2002. Type specimens of birds in the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren. Doc. Zool. (Mus. R. Afr. Centr.) 26, 105 pp. Louette, M., D. Meirte, A. Louage & A. Reygel, 2010. Type specimens of birds in the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren. Revised Edition. Zool. Doc. Online Series (R. Mus. Centr. Afr.) 332 pp. Louette, M., 2023. The bird species from the type collection. Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren. Collections of the RMCA. 180 pp. International Ornithological Committee http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
especially IOC 2021 World Bird List 11.2. doi: 10.14344/IOC.ML.11.2

Taxonomic Coverages

Geographic Coverages

Bibliographic Citations

1. Louette, M., D. Meirte, A. Louage & A. Reygel, 2002. Type specimens of birds in the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren. Doc. Zool. (Mus. R. Afr. Centr.) 26, 105 pp. -
2. Louette, M., D. Meirte, A. Louage & A. Reygel, 2010. Type specimens of birds in the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren. Revised Edition. Zool. Doc. Online Series (R. Mus. Centr. Afr.) 332 pp. -
3. Louette, M., 2023. The bird species from the type collection. Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren. Collections of the RMCA. 180 pp. -
4. International Ornithological Committee http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ especially IOC 2021 World Bird List 11.2. - doi: 10.14344/IOC.ML.11.2