Museu de Biologia Professor Mello Leitão, Research museum in Santa Teresa, Brazil.
The Museu de Biologia Professor Mello Leitão is a natural history museum in Santa Teresa, in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, focused on the Atlantic Forest and its wildlife. It consists of several exhibition buildings spread across a property with walking trails, streams, and natural vegetation.
The museum was founded in 1949 by naturalist Augusto Ruschi on his family's property, which his father José Ruschi had acquired in 1911. Ruschi devoted his life to documenting the wildlife of the Atlantic Forest, and his work formed the basis of the collections still held here today.
The museum is named after Afonso de Taunay Mello Leitão, a Brazilian zoologist known for his work on the country's fauna. Visitors today can see collections of insects, reptiles, and other animals that reflect this long research tradition.
The grounds are large and include natural trails, so wear sturdy footwear before heading out to explore. It is worth checking opening hours in advance, as they can vary depending on the season or day of the week.
The museum holds a collection of around 1700 hummingbird specimens, one of the largest in the world for studying these birds. Augusto Ruschi, the founder, was internationally recognized as a leading authority on hummingbirds and collaborated with researchers from many other countries.
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