The tit and the triceratops ... palaeontologists are in no doubt: birds are dinosaurs! They are descended from small theropods, or carnivorous dinosaurs. Their points in common? The laying of eggs, long hollow bones, fused collarbones forming a wishbone, etc. Moreover, fossils of small theropods unearthed in China have shown traces of primitive plumage. This layer of down did not mean that they could fly, but allowed them to retain body heat: they were warm-blooded, just like birds today.
Black tit, Parus ater
Triceratops, Triceratops sp.
The Museum of Natural Sciences is famous throughout the world for its iguanodons. Its collections are a testimony to the development of life on Earth and biodiversity today. For instance, there is a display room on human evolution, a vivarium of spiders and spectacular invertebrates, and giant whalebone fragments. The Museum is also the scene of important research work, which often takes place away from the general public’s gaze. One example is work to monitor the North Sea and the Scheldt river estuary, courtesy chiefly of the oceanographic vessel, the Belgica, and a recently acquired aircraft.
www.naturalsciences.be
The primary forests of the Congo offer an abundance of animal and plant species and constitute a major revenue source. In order to reconcile sustainable economic development and biodiversity preservation, the Royal Museum for Central Africa has initiated with the Congo research projects on forest ecology and tropical wood growth - two areas that remain poorly documented today.
The statue is carved in Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C. Berg., a wood known as Iroko or Kambala and one that is still exploited in the Congo today. This hard wood is used primarily in construction.
The Iroko is an imposing tree, reaching a height of 50 to 60 m and a diameter of 80 cm over 130 years.
Luba statue Eastern LUBA (HEMBA) Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo Donated by V. Jacobs EO.1953.67.1-1
Royal butterfly Charaxes smaragdalis smaragdalis (Butler)
Butterfly, collected by Queen Elisabeth
What do a butterfly and a Luba statue have in common?
Africa? The forest? But what else?
These objects both have been collected and then studied, analysed and preserved by scientists from the Museum. Today, they serve as a reference and as tools to better understand the diversity of Africa’s environment, past and present societies and economies, with an emphasis on sustainable development.
The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) is an interdisciplinary centre which offers international partnerships and also conducts research, both in the field and within the collections.
The Museum, which sets out to disseminate knowledge and to take an open attitude towards a multicultural world, presents its research efforts to the general public through a vast programme of educational and cultural activities and through temporary and thematic exhibitions.
www.africamuseum.be