World of Animals

The largest, historic hall displays more than 1,500 exhibits. The exhibition, illustrating the diversity of the animal world, is intended for all audiences, and its aim is education and drawing attention to the beauty of nature.

The exhibition is arranged systematically. Birds, mollusc shells and insects are represented most abundantly. The display presents 448 bird species from 137 families, which covers most of those currently existing on Earth, from the great ostriches to the smallest members of this group, the hummingbirds.

Among the species on display, visitors can see true rarities: 5 species already extinct, namely the great auk (Alca impennis), passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis), black-winged lapwing (Vanellus macropterus) and Heterolocha acutirostris. Also shown are species that have nearly vanished from the wild: blue macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), black stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae), slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), yellow-headed Hawaiian honeycreeper (Psittirostra psittacea) and cream-crested cotinga (Calyptura cristata).

Among the more exotic species, visitors can see kiwi (Apteryx australis), penguins and a group of birds of paradise. The exhibition presents 66 species representing 17 orders. The most interesting include the extinct carnivorous marsupial, the Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus), and monotremes: the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and the echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus).

Visitors can also see as many as 17 primates, from the tiny sifaka (Propithecus diadema), through the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), to the great orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Other interesting mammals include the greater flying fox (Pteropus giganteus), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga jubata), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), red panda (Ailurus fulgens) and black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis).

Among the molluscs particularly worth seeing are the giant clam (Tridacna gigas), the largest bivalve in the world, and pearl oysters (genus Pinctada); the nautilus shell (Nautilus), one of the few living shelled cephalopods; the female paper nautilus (Argonauta) with its 'shell', which is not equivalent to the shells of other molluscs; and beautiful, diverse shells of sea snails sought by collectors, such as cowries (genus Cypraea), murex (genus Murex) and cone snails (genus Conus).

Among the insects on display, beetles and butterflies are particularly numerous, with many specimens of colourful, exotic species.