Invertebrate Collection Donated by Professor Dr. Ion Cantacuzino to “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History from Bucharest

Abstract

The catalogue of the invertebrate collection donated by Prof. Dr. Ion Cantacuzino represents the first detailed description of this historical act. The early years of Prof. Dr. Ion Cantacuzino’s career are dedicated to natural sciences, collecting and drawing of marine invertebrates followed by experimental studies. The present paper represents gathered data from Grigore Antipa 1931 inventory, also from the original handwritten labels. The specimens were classified by current nomenclature. The present donation comprises 70 species of Protozoa, Porifera, Coelenterata, Mollusca, Annelida, Bryozoa, Sipuncula, Arthropoda, Chaetognatha, Echinodermata, Tunicata and Chordata.. The specimens were collected from the North West of the Mediterranean Sea (Villefranche–sur–Mer) and in 1899 were donated to the Museum of Natural History from Bucharest. The original catalogue of the donation was lost and along other 27 specimens. This contribution represents an homage to Professor’s Dr. Cantacuzino generosity and withal restoring this donation to its proper position on cultural heritage hallway.