MPM Fish Collection
The Milwaukee Public Museum is not known for its fish collection, but should be. This valuable scientific resource comprises about 500,000 catalogued specimens with a broad taxonomic and biogeographic scope. Over a dozen countries and 26 U.S. states are represented, including extensive marine holdings from the Eastern Indian, West and East Pacific, and West Atlantic, as well as significant freshwater collections from South America, Central America and North America. Dominant localities are Wisconsin (28,000 lots), Quintana Roo, Mexico (1,400 lots), North West Cape, Australia (about 750 lots), Vanuatu (450 lots), Solomon Islands (about 400 lots), Hawaii (340 lots), and Thailand (260 lots). Several U.S. states are represented by between 100 and 200 lots (the Carolinas, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee).
| Collection Vital Statistics | |
| Size | 500,000 specimens in over 33,000 catalogued lots |
| Storage | almost all in 70% ethanol, originally fixed in 10% buffered formalin, smaller specimens in glass with polypropylene caps, larger specimens in 30 metal vats (some early specimens are mounted) |
| Oldest specimen | mounted commercial specimen, 1884 (Australian Lungfish skeleton, Ward's Natural Science Establishment); non-commercial mounted, 1886 (Tiger Shark jaws, Yucatan, Mexico); ethanol, 1889 (Whitefish eggs and larvae, Wisconsin) |
| Type material | limited, but with paratypes of Cyprinidae, Labrisomidae, Pempheridae, Plesiopidae and Pseudochromidae. |
| Data base | about 35% computerized using Paradox® as data base manager; non-computerized material is card catalogued and cross-indexed by taxon and locality. |
| Loan policy | 6 months with extensions granted; liberal policy concerning research use, with permission for dissection, clearing and staining, sectioning or other destructive examination methods usually granted (within reason). We believe the collection should contribute to natural history by more than acting only as voucher material. |
Summary Table of Localities Represented
Marine
Western Atlantic and Caribbean (1800 lots)
Mexico (Quintana Roo) - 1400 lots
Bermuda - 110 lots
Florida - 110 lots
Carolinas - 100 lots
Texas - 80 lots
South Pacific (1240 lots)
Vanuatu (450 lots, 230 species)
Solomon Is. (400+ lots)
Hawaii (340 lots, 160 species)
Moorea, French Polynesia (20 lots)
Indian Ocean (1050 lots)
Australia (750+ lots)
Thailand (260 lots, 180 species)
Comoros, Chagos, South Africa (40 lots)
Tropical and North West Pacific (120 lots)
Washington and Alaska (70 lots)
Costa Rica (50 lots)
Freshwater
North America (29,000 lots)
Wisconsin (28,000+ lots)
Missouri (200 lots)
Carolinas (200 lots)
Minnesota (125 lots)
Tennessee (100+ lots)
Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia (150 lots; each with 30)
13 other states (50 lots total)
Mexico (100 lots)
Canada (40 lots)
South and Central America (465 lots)
Peru (300 lots, 125 species)
Paraguay (125 lots, 80 species)
Costa Rica (20)
Belize (20)