Catalogue of types of recent Cephalopoda in the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle (France)

Many collections of historical and scientific significance are gather in the MNHN. The collection of recent cephalopods dates back to the end of the 17th century, to LAMARCK. It was considerably increased during the first half of the 19th century, an era of great explorations, when specimens from round the world were added to the collection. The publication of the monumental contribution to teuthology by FERUSSAC & D'ORBIGNY (1834-1848), based largely on the collections of the MNHN, further enhanced their value. The scientific and historical importance, the long history and the broad geographical coverage of the collection made it desirable to have a catalog of the type specimens deposited in the MNHN. This involved an extensive search of the literature, an exhaustive analysis of the register of the Museum's cephalopod collection a thorough examination of all specimens in the collection. Accordingly, the original material of 216 species were thought to be deposited in the collection of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. However, after extensive search, only 104 of them appeared to be still available, 104 could not be found, and there were 8 nomina nuda.