The entomological collection contains approximately 500,000 insect specimens, many of which were collected in the province of Salzburg. They represent an irreplaceable archive of immeasurable value for both nature conservation and science. Discover this collection here!

The malacological collection houses around 55,000 specimen series of snails and mussels from all over the world. The collection focuses on Austria and the federal state of Salzburg. For more information contact the malcological working group.

The botanical collections include over 200,000 specimens of dried plants and fungi. They represent an irreplaceable archive, particularly for the province of Salzburg. The oldest archived flowering plants were pressed over 400 years ago.

The vertebrate collection at Haus der Natur contains around 16,000 specimens, mainly birds and mammals, but also amphibians, reptiles and fish. The vertebrate collection comprises dermoplasts, skins, alcohol-preserved specimens, skeletons, bird feathers, trophies, furs and a collection of eggs from both living and extinct species. In addition to providing scientific documentation of Salzburg, the dermoplasts in particular are also used for exhibition and educational purposes within the museum.

Distribution data from published and secondary literature are continuously imported into the biodiversity database. These include scientific research papers, as well as project reports and data from nature conservation expert reports. The aim is to ensure that this data remains available in the long term.

The biodiversity database also includes nature observations. These come primarily from citizen scientists and members of the volunteer working groups at Haus der Natur. The observations are checked, validated and curated by our curators and volunteer experts. Using the Observation.org smartphone apps, anyone can easily take part in the research themselves.