Aquarium
With its 60,000 litres of water and over 100 species of fish, the aquarium at the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa is the largest freshwater aquarium in Italy.
Although freshwater environments represent only a small fraction of the planet’s water resources – approximately 3%, including glaciers – they are home to more than 40% of all known fish species.
Due to the ecological fragility of these habitats and the increasing threats posed by human activities, such as pollution, overfishing, and the introduction of non-native species originating from other regions (allochthonous), many of these species face a serious risk of extinction.
The exhibition aims to illustrate the great diversity of the fish group and to raise awareness of current environmental issues that directly concern us and the ecosystems we inhabit.
The Aquarium spans an exhibition area of around 500 square metres and is organized into five thematic sections.
The first section focuses on local freshwater ecosystems and features four tanks displaying native Italian fish species, including several endemic to Tuscany – species that occur naturally only in this region. The specimens on display come primarily from the Arno and Serchio river basins (tench, European roach, barbel, European perch, freshwater shrimp, Italian riffle dace, freshwater goby) and from the Orbetello Lagoon (Mediterranean killifish).
The second section explores both the evolutionary history of fish and the diverse adaptations they have developed to thrive in a wide range of freshwater habitats. Visitors can observe cartilaginous species such as freshwater rays; species considered living fossils, including bichirs and gars; and numerous representatives of major freshwater groups such as Cypriniformes (e.g., clown loach), Siluriformes (catfish), Characiformes (tetras), and the highly diverse Cichlidae family, which includes over 3,000 species worldwide. This section also features the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), a unique amphibian that retains its gills in the adult phase, threatened with extinction due to the destruction of its natural habitat. One species of freshwater turtle is also on display (Carettochelys insculpta).
The third section features a large tank inhabited by koi carp, the ornamental variety of the common carp. Koi are widely bred in Japan and appreciated for their aesthetic value.
The fourth and fifth sections are dedicated to global freshwater biodiversity, with tanks dedicated to the fish fauna of the different continents: Oceania, Africa, Europe, America, Asia.