Carcinology

A carcinological collection is a type of zoological collection that consists of an ordered and inventoried set of samples of crustacean arthropods, such as decapods (crabs, shrimp) or isopods (pill bugs), among many others.

This type of collection allows us to understand the diversity of crustaceans in our seas, as well as how the distribution of species has changed over time, since all are associated with a capture date. This provides very valuable information for future conservation projects, as it allows us to see if there have been recent changes that may be caused by climate change, pollution, etc. Additionally, if necessary, DNA samples can be extracted for more sophisticated studies. The MUCBO | Science Museum contains an extensive collection of crustaceans from the Balearic Islands, consisting essentially of decapods, mainly crabs, donated by Lluc Garcia. It comprises more than 2,500 specimens belonging to 185 different species. Almost all are preserved in liquid, meaning they are submerged in 75% alcohol inside hermetically sealed glass jars. This allows for the perfect preservation of their morphology and external and internal structure, although they lose their color. This type of storage also keeps the DNA intact, making them useful for future genetic studies. On the other hand, a small part of the collection consists of dry animals, arranged in entomological boxes or other small containers to prevent movement and breakage.