09 April 2026
A look at the legacy of José Antonio Valverde to the Scientific Collections
A small exhibition highlights the contributions of José Antonio Valverde that laid the foundations for the Scientific Collections of the Doñana Biological Station
To mark the centenary of José Antonio Valverde’s birth, the Scientific Collections of the Doñana Biological Station (ICTS-Doñana) have organized a small exhibition featuring a selection of specimens collected by the biologist throughout his life during his many scientific expeditions. Together with numerous other materials, these specimens formed the basis on which the EBD Scientific Collections were built. The exhibition is on display in the lobby of the institution’s headquarters in Seville.
In the 1950s, José Antonio Valverde played a pivotal role in rallying the international scientific community to protect the Doñana marshlands. He founded the Doñana Biological Station in 1964 and became its first director. He also spearheaded the creation of Doñana National Park in 1969, serving as its first director and warden. Deeply committed to the study of biodiversity, he promoted the establishment of the Station’s Scientific Collections, donating a large part of his private holdings and encouraging their growth through new expeditions and further contributions.
Among the items on display are a specimen of Lopus saharae—described only in 2020 but preserved in the collections for more than 50 years—a specimen of the world’s largest frog, Conraua goliath, collected in Guinea, and an example of the cheetah subspecies Acinonyx jubatus hecki, from a population in Western Sahara that is now extinct.
The exhibition is complemented by a poster outlining the key milestones in Valverde’s contributions to the Collections over the course of his life, as well as another showcasing some of the species he described. Their type specimens—those used to formally define each species and which serve as global references—are preserved at the Doñana Biological Station.
This exhibition is the first in a series of initiatives through which the EBD Scientific Collections aim to connect with the public and highlight their value for research, education, and science communication. Open days will be held soon, offering visitors the opportunity to discover firsthand the work of the Doñana Biological Station, its collections, and José Antonio Valverde’s enduring legacy.