The scientific collection of fishes of Middle Asia in Saint Petersburg State University: history and present state

Abstract

The article describes the history and present state of the collection of fish of Middle Asia which is currently kept at the Department of Ichthyology and Hydrobiology and Department of Vertebrate Zoology of Saint Petersburg State University. The collecting of fish specimens in the Zoological Cabinet of the University started in the 60s of the XIX century. This was the time of the beginning of the active study of biological diversity and development of natural resources of Middle Asia (Turkestan) as well as military expansion of the Russian Empire into the region. Extensive ichthyological material was collected by A.P. Fedchenko in the Turkestan Expedition (1868–1871), M.N. Bogdanov and V.D. Alenitsyn in the Khiva Campaign (1873) and the Aral-Caspian Expedition (1874), A.M. Nikolsky in the Balkhash Expedition (1884) as well as I.S. Polyakov, D.D. Pedashenko, A.A. Kushakevich, P.Y. Schmidt, K.M. Deryugin and others. Professor K.F. Kessler described 12 new fish species based on study of the material brought from Turkestan. Today, the collection of Middle Asian fish includes 45 lots with 109 specimens in good condition. The taxonomic diversity of fish is represented by 5 families, 19 genera, and 28 freshwater and migratory species. Main part of the collection (89%) is stored at the Department of Ichthyology and Hydrobiology of Saint Petersburg State University, and other part is stored at the Department of Vertebrate Zoology.