Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

• taxidermy specimen 1891

Scientific research into fish life in Mecklenburg started at the end of the 18th century through Adolph Christian Siemssen (1768-1833), a lecturer and graduate in Rostock. In 1794 he wrote his paper “The fish of Mecklenburg” and described not only the species of fish in inland waters but also those in the Baltic Sea. In the 19th century the Maltzan Natural History Museum for Mecklenburg was given interesting exhibits of fish life in Mecklenburg. Some of these taxidermy specimens can be seen in the exhibition.

The scientific sculpture of a whale from the Hinbergsee (formerly the Waren/Müritz region) is from the 20^th century. The animal weighed an impressive 53 kg. Investigations over the last few years have found that there are approximately 60 species of fish and Cyclostomata (“round mouths”) currently living in the inland waters of Mecklenburg. Around 50 species are on display in the aquarium at the Müritzeum.