SIGNIFY in Harvard

Five Weeks in Massachusetts

The Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard University was one of the SIGNIFY team’s priority institutions as literature review uncovered over 100 specimens of interest, including some very important types and historical materials. The team made a productive five-week visit to MCZ starting 22 April 2024—albeit one kickstarted with unforeseen challenges. Just two days prior to departure, torrential downpours hit Dubai, flooding much of the city and delaying the team’s connecting flight by 10 hours. The missed flight to Boston also resulted in delays on the arrival of luggage containing essential digitisation equipment. Despite the rocky start, the team had a fruitful time working with the collection team at Havard. This story showcases some specimens of interest that were digitised by the team.

WEEK 1

Malacology, Mammals, Aves

Cyclophorus aquilus specimen, collected from Singapore (Museum of Comparative Zoology, MCZ-228014)

Source: SIGNIFY

Paratype of Vexillum sculptile collected by Pickering (Museum of Comparative Zoology, MCZ-216590)

Source: SIGNIFY

Todiramphus chloris humii specimen collected onboard the S.S. Rhexenor (Museum of Comparative Zoology, MCZ-197677)

Source: SIGNIFY

The first week was dedicated to the extensive mollusc, mammal, and bird collections in MCZ. These specimens comprise some of Singapore’s rich biodiversity, from rare molluscs to resident bird species. Cyclophorus aquilus, a terrestrial snail, is one such specimen that the team imaged. Collected by Hugh Cuming who visited Singapore in 1840, this specimen is now over 180 years old. It is a valuable addition to the SIGNIFY database as it can provide researchers with crucial insights into historical biodiversity.

Marine molluscs such as Vexillum sculptile, commonly known as the carved mitre, were also imaged. This specimen was collected during the United States Exploring Expedition (U.S. Ex. Ex.) (1838–1842) by Charles Pickering, an American naturalist and physician at Harvard, during a stopover in Singapore on 19th February 1842. The U.S. Ex. Ex. was a major exploration effort made by the United States in the 19th century. Spanning four years (1838–1842), over 60,000 plant and animal were collected by the expedition, contributing to much of the 19th century American scientific development. Pickering was one of several American naturalists who were onboard and curated the natural history collections from the expedition. This specimen was one of the type specimens used by the eminent American malacologist (and Harvard alumnus), Augustus Addison Gould, in the description of Mitra cophina. This name is now considered a synonym (a different name for the same species) of Vexillum sculptile.

MCZ also houses an extensive ornithology collection. Within this collection was a specimen of Todiramphus chloris humii (collared kingfisher), which was opportunistically collected when it flew on board the S.S. Rhexenor—a steamship transporting goods and passengers. Originally named Halcyon chloris humii. This is an example of how the information on specimen labels can provide some context to the collection event itself.

WEEKS 2 & 3

Entomology

In the next two weeks, the team’s focus shifted to the entomology department. The impressive collection ranges from butterflies to beetles to bees and includes some of the most precious collection of ants in the world. The challenge of searching for Singapore specimens was surmountable with excellent curation of the collection, whereby each group was well-organised into major bioregions. Throughout the two weeks the team came across several specimens with interesting origins. The first example is that of Tetramorium simillimum, a widely-distributed ant species, with a specimen found on a pineapple imported from Singapore.

Next, the team worked with two holotype specimens of ants of the genus TetraponeraT. volucris, known only from the holotype collected in Singapore, and T. vivax which is known from three specimens collected from Singapore, and what are today Sabah (in Malaysia) and Bogor (in Indonesia).

Tetramorium simillimum specimen collected from a pineapple (Museum of Comparative Zoology, MCZ-ENT-00820471)

Source: SIGNIFY

Holotype specimen of Tetraponera volucris, collected by Baker (Museum of Comparative Zoology, MCZ-ENT-00036362)

Source: SIGNIFY