ITS22 Visit Zoological and Geological Universities of Palermo

Firstly, Doderlein Museum of Palermo is the most important Sicilian zoological museum dedicated to Professor Pietro Doderlein, who founded it in 1863. It houses over 5000 specimens, exhibited strictly in evolutionary order.

Many of the animals on display are now extinct in Italy and Sicily, such as the sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), the eagle owl (Bubo bubo), the Sicilian wolf (Canis lupus cristaldii), the sultan chicken (Porphyrio porphyrio) and the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) (the last two species are now once again present in the region thanks to reintroduction projects)

Students had to look for the proposed species and observe them more carefully, on the ground of their characteristics. For example, the tartarura is a reptile - go to the reptile department and find the species of interest.

The museum is divided into sub sections: Ichthyology, Herpetology, Ornithology, Malacology, Entomology, Mammology. Students have to find different species and observe them. 

Secondly we went to geology university and a geological teacher analysed rocks. He explained how works an eruption and it gives the youngest rocks of Sicily. At the opposite he shown the oldest which are from billions of year.

He explained that erosion is constituted by sedimentary rocks. Many minerals from this part of Italy are the yellow one (sulfuric). It s possible to use it in industrial process. Sicily was the most important place to find it and export many all around the world. After the explanations of many different elements about rocks, he gave information about meteorite which has got a composition with high density. When we analyse them we learnt about our planet earth created. Pangou god like Cyclope, from South America was the creator of the universe. The guide explains about the creation of Italy. Some white rocks were analysed:. The grey mountains are carbonific rocks. All minerals give Information about sulphate to sulphured by catching oxygen (yellow). The white parts are calcium. Some block of white rocks are salt which have different colors because of lights because of the structure, or because there is some natural composants inside. Salt is given by Column of water evaporation.

Many students were surprised about the number of animals we have seen in that private collection. They discovered lot of new things about meteorites, rocks and how Sicily was created years after years long time ago. It was the occasion to  re understand how volcanos work. It was the occasion to see many precious rocks.