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 Furthermore, Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti’s unpublished observations from the mid-18th century provide the earliest known ethological notes on ostracods.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.