Mozambique's Colonial‐Era Non‐Human Primate Collection at the National Museum of Natural History and Science of Lisbon: Taxonomy, Provenance, and Historical Context
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study reviews Mozambique's non-human primate collection housed at the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC) in Lisbon. The collection originates from the Zoological Missions of Mozambique (1948 and 1955) carried out under Portuguese colonial administration. The objectives of this work were to: i. reorganize the collection to facilitate future research; ii. compile data on the species represented, number of individuals, their sex, age, and geographic provenance; iii. document the historical and sociocultural context of the Zoological Missions with particular attention to the Gorongosa region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Methods Include: 1. Zoological Examination of Each Specimen (Taxonomic Identification and Updated Nomenclature); 2. Historical Research on the Collection (e.g., Collectors, Collection Sites, and Methodologies) Drawing on Materials From Historical Archive, Institute of Tropical Scientific Research, Zoology Centre Collection, University of Lisbon. RESULTS: A total of 34 individuals were identified (26 skulls and 30 skins), comprising 26 individuals from the family Galagidae (Otolemur crassicaudatus, Paragalago granti, Galago moholi) and 8 individuals from the family Cercopithecidae (Chlorocebus pygerythrus, Cercopithecus mitis, Papio ursinus). Among these, 13 individuals (eight O. crassicaudatus, one Paragalago granti, one C. pygerythrus and three P. ursinus) originated from the historical Gorongosa region. Historical evidence indicates that Portuguese zoologists considered Gorongosa as a prime area for the establishment of a national park, speculating that it could also be used for breeding and domestication of large fauna. DISCUSSION: The review of Portugal's primate collections offers new opportunities to investigate primate taxa that still present taxonomic and evolutionary challenges. Understanding the historical and sociopolitical contexts in which these collections were assembled is essential for reinterpreting their scientific and cultural value within contemporary biological anthropology.
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70174
Authors: Matilde Osório, Cecilia Veracini
Institution: University of Lisbon
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,840
OpenAlex ID: W4416946111