Dorsal and ventral views of the holotype EBD 01285H Algyroides hidalgoi (Photo: Carlos Ruíz; edited by Celsa Señaris).

The Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) has published the first complete catalogue of amphibian and reptile type specimens preserved in its Scientific Collections. The study, led by researchers and technical staff from ICTS-Doñana, compiles information on a total of 195 type specimens corresponding to 33 taxa, including both species and subspecies. This contribution represents a key reference for research not only in taxonomy and systematics, but also in biodiversity conservation.

Type specimens are of exceptional scientific value because they are the original specimens used to describe and define species. Under the strict protocols established by international zoological nomenclature standards, these type series serve as the primary reference for identifying and comparing specimens in the future. Their preservation and proper documentation ensure the stability of scientific names and make it possible to validate, revise, and expand knowledge about the diversity of life..

The catalogue details 17 holotypes, 164 paratypes, and 14 syntypes, reflecting the taxonomic and geographic scope of the ICTS-Doñana herpetological collection. Among Iberian amphibians, the collection includes Pelodytes atlanticus, recently described from the Atlantic coast, and Pelodytes ibericus, native to the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. In reptiles, the collection contains historically significant type specimens such as the pond turtle subspecies Emys orbicularis hispanica from Doñana, the viper Vipera latastei arundana described in Andalusia, and lizards and skinks of the genus Chalcides, characteristic of the Iberian Peninsula. Together, these specimens demonstrate both the importance of the collection in the description of new species and its role in the study of European biodiversity

A scientific heritage of international importance

The catalogue also includes herpetofauna from other regions, with an important collection of South American amphibians — particularly from Venezuela and Bolivia — as well as reptiles from North Africa. Altogether, the amphibian and reptile collection of the Doñana Biological Station houses more than 42,000 catalogued specimens representing around 650 species, making it one of the most comprehensive collections nationally and internationally.

This work is the result of a recent process of review, maintenance, and reorganization of the Scientific Collections, which enabled the identification, documentation, and thorough updating of all type specimens deposited at the institution. The catalogue also provides detailed information for each specimen — including origin, collectors, date, preservation status, and bibliographic references — together with high-quality photographic material of the most significant specimens.

Scientific Collections as essential research infrastructures

The Scientific Collections of the Doñana Biological Station were established by biologist and naturalist José Antonio Valverde following the founding of the research center in 1964, based on his own collections gathered since the 1950s. Since then, they have grown over decades through scientific expeditions, research projects, and international collaborations. Today, they house more than 140,000 vertebrate specimens, constituting a unique archive of global biodiversity.

This new catalogue highlights the value of scientific collections as essential infrastructures for research, not only as repositories of specimens but also as active tools for studies in taxonomy, evolution, biogeography, and conservation. In this context, type specimens play a central role, serving as the mandatory reference for documenting the planet’s biological diversity, understanding evolutionary relationships, and reconstructing the “tree of life.”

The study forms part of ICTS-Doñana’s ongoing efforts to improve the accessibility and visibility of its scientific collections through digitization processes and the development of online platforms. These initiatives broaden access to data for both the scientific community and society at large, promoting data reuse, communication, and the strengthening of collaborative networks that accelerate biodiversity research and help address conservation challenges.

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Amphibian and reptile specimens preserved in alcohol solutions in the Scientific Collections of EBD-CSIC (Photo: Celsa Señaris).

About the ICTS-Doñana

Since 2017, the Scientific Collections of EBD-CSIC have been part of the Doñana Singular Scientific-Technical Infrastructure (ICTS-Doñana), an infrastructure managed by the Doñana Biological Station – CSIC. ICTS-Doñana is the largest field laboratory in Europe and a leading center for research on biological diversity, ecology, and the impacts of global change. It provides accommodation, specialized equipment, laboratories, as well as technical and logistical support to the scientific community. Access projects are approved by an Access Committee and form part of the network of Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.