Catalog of type specimens of recent mammals in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP)

Vendramel, Rafaela LumiNascimento, Fábio Oliveira doGarbino, Guilherme Siniciato TerraGualda-Barros, JulianaSilveira, Luís FábioPrado, Joyce Rodrigues doSerrano-Villavicencio, José Eduardo Serrano

Abstract The Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP) houses one of Latin America's largest, most complete, and representative collections of Neotropical mammals. Its origins can be dated back to the 1890s when it was initially established as part of the Museu Paulista. The collection's growth is primarily attributed to the efforts of its first directors and curators. Initially, the collection expanded through the acquisition of complete specimens from various regions of Brazil, obtained via scientific expeditions led by traveling naturalists and purchases from professional collectors. The collection continues to grow predominantly through specimens gathered during environmental impact studies, fieldwork conducted by MZUSP researchers, and donations. Over the years, the collection at MZUSP has constituted an essential source of information for taxonomic and biogeographic studies of mammals. It contains approximately 66,000 specimens from 882 species, including type material of several taxa. In this article, we present a comprehensive list of the type material of extant mammals housed at MZUSP, along with comments on taxonomy and other noteworthy information regarding the specimens. A comprehensive survey was conducted on all valid and synonymous taxa-type specimens housed at the mammal collection of MZUSP. Additionally, photos of the name-bearing types are provided. A total of 257 type specimens were listed, comprising 53 name-bearing types (holotypes, syntypes, neotypes, and lectotypes) and 204 secondary types (paratypes and paralectotypes). Out of these, 37 are considered valid names. The specimens were obtained from the orders Didelphimorphia, Pilosa, Primates, Rodentia, Chiroptera, Carnivora, and Artiodactyla. This catalog provides the first comprehensive, annotated account of the mammalian type specimens at the MZUSP, highlighting the collection's historical and scientific significance, and enhancing the accessibility and preservation of specimen data to support Neotropical mammalogy and systematic research.