Galerie de paléontologie et d’anatomie comparée
Encyclopedia
The Galerie de paléontologie et d’anatomie comparée (Gallery of Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy) is a part of the French Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
(National Museum of Natural History). It is situated in the Jardin des Plantes
in Paris
near the Gare d'Austerlitz
.
The Gallery was inaugurated in 1898 as part of l' Expositions universelles de Paris
of 1900 and was the creation of professors Albert Gaudry (Professor of Paleontology
) and Georges Pouchet
(Professor of Comparative Anatomy
) who wished to preserve and present to the public collections of great historic and scientific importance.
The collections derive from the great expeditions of the traveller-naturalists of the 18th and 19th centuries as well as from the ménagerie (zoo) of the Jardin des Plantes.
The Gallery of Paleontology
presents a famous collection of fossil vertebrate
s (especially dinosaurs and other extinct animals) and of invertebrate
s.
The Gallery of Comparative Anatomy
, holds nearly a thousand skeletons and interprets their organization and classification. The remarkable Gallery building, designed by the architect Frederic Dutert consists of two floors and its surface area is approximately 2,500 square meters. The largest gallery, made of stone and metal, is almost 80 meters long, the facades are decorated with sculptures inspired by naturalists and large windows afford abundant natural light.
Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle is the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.- History :The museum was formally founded on 10 June 1793, during the French Revolution...
(National Museum of Natural History). It is situated in the Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France. It is one of seven departments of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. It is situated in the 5ème arrondissement, Paris, on the left bank of the river Seine and covers 28 hectares .- Garden plan :The grounds of the Jardin des...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
near the Gare d'Austerlitz
Gare d'Austerlitz
Paris Austerlitz is one of the six large terminus railway stations in Paris. It is situated on the left bank of the Seine in the southeastern part of the city, in the XIIIe arrondissement...
.
The Gallery was inaugurated in 1898 as part of l' Expositions universelles de Paris
Exposition Universelle (1900)
The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from April 15 to November 12, 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next...
of 1900 and was the creation of professors Albert Gaudry (Professor of Paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
) and Georges Pouchet
Georges Pouchet
Charles Henri Georges Pouchet was a French naturalist and anatomist who was born in Rouen. He was the son of naturalist Félix Archimède Pouchet....
(Professor of Comparative Anatomy
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
) who wished to preserve and present to the public collections of great historic and scientific importance.
The collections derive from the great expeditions of the traveller-naturalists of the 18th and 19th centuries as well as from the ménagerie (zoo) of the Jardin des Plantes.
The Gallery of Paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
presents a famous collection of fossil vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
s (especially dinosaurs and other extinct animals) and of invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s.
The Gallery of Comparative Anatomy
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
, holds nearly a thousand skeletons and interprets their organization and classification. The remarkable Gallery building, designed by the architect Frederic Dutert consists of two floors and its surface area is approximately 2,500 square meters. The largest gallery, made of stone and metal, is almost 80 meters long, the facades are decorated with sculptures inspired by naturalists and large windows afford abundant natural light.