Tracing the taxonomic journey of ostracods (Crustacea): From Gualtieri to Latreille, through Micheli-Targioni Tozzetti's collection

This study retraces the early taxonomic history of ostracods by examining the historical Micheli-Targioni Tozzetti's collection housed at La Specola Museum (University of Florence, Italy). Earlier records of ostracod reference, namely Niccolò Gualtieri's 1742 Index Testarum Conchyliorum, which includes the first scientific illustration and description of ostracods were identified. The analysis of the collection revealed the oldest known collection of Recent ostracod specimens in a museum repository, likely dating back to before 1737. Furthermore, Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti’s unpublished observations from the mid-18th century provide the earliest known ethological notes on ostracods. The presence of four distinct ostracod species in the collection, Herpetocypris reptans, Heterocypris incongruens, Heterocypris salina, and Cypridopsis vidua are confirmed. This research highlights the pivotal role of historical museum collections in reconstructing the early development of taxonomy, ethology, and the scientific concept of species.