Natural History Museum of El Salvador: Vestiges of the natural heritage « El Salvador Travel

Natural History Museum of El Salvador: Vestiges of the natural heritage

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Currently little is said about natural remnants and subsisted on land inhabited since prehistoric times Salvadoran the date.

Thus, various national and international bodies united efforts for more than 30 years to conduct research that contributed to the consolidation of the National Natural History Deposits evenings by the Ministry of Culture of the Presidency (SECULTURA) under the classification of Cultural Heritage.

This section remains only focused scientific use and, for the time being, requires more funds and support to start or continue projects like paleontological excavations at sites with its historical, among other needs.

These parts are strictly guarded facility of the Museum of Natural History (MUHNES) and Eco Parque Saburo Hirao, some from the late seventies, if only they were part of a small collection that evolved into four categories: Herbal area with botanical specimens, malacology (molluscs study), paleontology with prehistoric remains and entomology as a branch that studies insects.

Botanical findings

Originally the first collection was obtained 1975. It was not until 2009 it was made a count indicating thousand 250 species, over 3 thousand 500 herbal samples without digitizing. In 2005 reactivated the research activities, collection and sorting of different types of plants, more fruit, where you stand species new to science, endemic (only in one country) and findings considered "Range amplitude " for the region.

Jenny Menjívar, biologist in charge of the herbal-botanical, reported that the collection consists of 12 thousand samples approximately which stand:

Known as Mountain Naranjo, its scientific name is Meliosma echeverriae.

In 1977 became known as Meliosma dentata. However, was up 2008 that a new analysis of the species and determined as a new species to science reported in El Salvador, so its name changed to the current.

Its characteristics are its flower and its stalk are small.

This species was found in herbal Montecristo National Park, in the municipality of Metapan, department of Santa Ana. This site is characterized by humid forests of the northern part of the country. There have been findings in the Cerro Miramundo Chalatenango department.

Meliosma echeverriae with fruits.

Its scientific name is Anemia salvadorensis.

He received the rank of endemic, attribution is given to the unique species of a single country and have not been reported elsewhere.

This was taken in the National Park El Imposible, Abroad department in 1977 and got its name until 1984.

New reports for El Salvador

Helicteres baruensis

The finding of this species was in the Toad River, Township Arambala, Morazan 2006. It is also found in Central America.

KRAMERIA ixine

This herb is collected in the River Toad, Township Arambala, Morazán department. It was classified as "range extension" as all Central American countries had reported previously and El Salvador was pending.

Turnera diffusa

This is a shrub that grows on the banks of the River Toad, Morazan. It is also classified as "wide range" as it is found in many countries in Central America.

Salvia kellerman

This is a common plant in the country and is said to contain medicinal properties.

Plumeria rubra

Popularly known as Flor de Mayo is characterized by the variety of colors that form.

Molluscs collection

Ana María Rivera, who is in charge of compiling said Salvadoran malacology are approximately 436 marine species, 25 land type and 5 freshwater from among opisthobranchs, quitones (known as sea cucas), snails and bivalves. These began to be collected from the late seventies in different parts of the country.

Lysinoe starreti

Popularly known as land snail. It was collected in the National Park Metapán Montecristo, department of Santa Ana. It was classified as "new species to science".

Euglandina sowebyana

This mollusk was classified as "range extension". It was collected in the municipality of Cinquera, Cabañas.

High cone, Conus orion, CONUS fergusoni

Such species are unusual with a neurotoxin used to immobilize prey to eat. They also have medicinal properties for heart and nerve. These specimens were collected in the province of La Union.

Aragon olividae

This is a shell porcelanizada, which according to scientific research, was used for making necklaces prehispanic. This specimen was taken on the beach Icacal, department of La Union.

Lepidochitona salvadorensis

Was studied in the year 2003 and received a rating of "new species for science," as it was found in El Salvador. Among the most remarkable peculiarity is that it measures about nine millimeters. Was collected in the municipality of Los Cóbanos, Sonsonate.

Strombus

It is one of the most common snails Pacific coasts endangered since given a commercial, either to the preparation of cocktails and craft production.

Salvadoran Entomology

Eunice Echeverría, Current coordinator MUHNES, protects the variety of insects that make up the National Warehouse collection is strictly confidential. Among the most prominent are:

Group Beetle Cyclocephala melolonthida

This specimen was collected in 1998 in the municipality of Resume, San Salvador. It received a rating of "new species to science".

Hemiphileures euniciae

Was collected in Costa del Sol, department of La Paz in 1976. It was not until 2005 that was reported in El Salvador as "new species to science" by Dr. Ronald Cave, University of Florida, U.S..

Zesiusa levona

This butterfly was collected in the Montecristo National Park 1972 and reported as "new species to science".

Mellana key

This insect was collected in 1970 in the municipality of Santa Tecla, department of La Libertad. He received the title of "new species to science".

Chrysin quetzalcoatli

Popularly known as "jewel beetle". It has been reported in countries such as Guatemala and Honduras. This finding was in 2002 Montecristo National Park, department of Santa Ana.

Heterogomphus chevrolaty

Also known as "whips horns" is a variety of beetles. This specimen was collected in the volcano Cacahuatique, Morazán department 1999.

Rothschildia erycina

Also known as a type of Papalota, this species is conspicuous by its shape and color. Was collected in the National Park El Imposible, Abroad department in 1988.

Thysania agrippina

Characterized by its large size, the enshrined as one of the largest papalotas Latin America and the world. Was collected in the National Park El Imposible in 1998.

To learn more about these and other species collected, can manage the Coordination permission of the Museum of Natural History El Salvador (MUHNES) through the detailed contact information annexed.

Get Directions

Address: Barrio San Jacinto, Hatcheries street final, Cologne Nicaragua, San Salvador.

Near the National Zoo and the National Institute of Children and Adolescents.

Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=es&q=Mapa+a+Saburo+Hirao&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Route buses across the area:

Route 2 (National Zoo and San Jacinto), Route 12 y microbuses 11B. Ticket cost from $0.25 USD.

More information

Contact numbers: (503) 2270-9228 / (503) 2270-1387

Hours Natural History Museum and Eco Park Saburo Hirao: Wednesday to Sunday, of 9:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. (without close to noon).

Entrance:

- General $0.60 USD

- Children 7 years and older FREE