# The arachnological collection at the Natural History Museum of Bern (NMBE), Switzerland: scope, history, and significance

## TL;DR

The Natural History Museum Bern's arachnological collection contains over 500,000 specimens of spiders, harvestmen, and scorpions, with a focus on specimens from Europe and a significant portion digitized since 1996.

## Contribution

The paper provides a detailed overview of the scope, history, and significance of the NMBE's arachnological collection, including its digitization efforts and type material.

## Key findings

- The collection includes 25 holotypes and 453 paratypes of Araneae, along with type material for Opiliones and Scorpiones.
- Approximately 60,000 vials of spider specimens have been digitized, representing 2080 species.
- The collection is organized into five main sections, including rare specimens from caves and historical collections.

## Abstract

The arachnological collection at the Natural History Museum Bern (NMBE) comprises approximately 120,000 vials containing around 500,000 specimens of spiders (Araneae), harvestmen (Opiliones), and scorpions (Scorpiones). While the material originated from around the globe, most of the specimens were collected in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The collection is organized into five main sections. It encompasses the collections of Konrad Thaler, Peter “Otto” Horak, Peter Sacher, and Ambros Hänggi, along with a general collection that features rare specimens, including material collected from caves. The material is stored in 80% pure ethanol. Since 1996, a total of 60,000 vials with 235,000 specimens of Araneae, representing 2080 different species, have been digitized and electronically catalogued. The collection also holds type material, including 25 holotypes and 453 paratypes of Araneae, three holotypes and paratypes of Opiliones, and one holotype and two paratypes of Scorpiones. A detailed list of the type material is provided in Suppl. material 1.