Permanent display of the Natural History Museum in Rijeka consists of the following exhibitions: Methodology of oceanographic research, Geological history of the Adriatic, Geology of the Rijeka region, Systematic of minerals, Marine invertebrates, Sharks and rays, chondrosteans, Multimedia center Aquarium. In 2002 we have started to remodel the hall intended for the following exhibitions: Insects of the Rijeka region, Reptiles and Amphibians of the Rijeka Region, and Birds and Mammals of the Rijeka Region.

 

PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS: Geology and Mineralogy

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE ADRIATIC genesis, formation and the evolution of the Adriatic basin in three separate units Adriatic – a Relict of Tethys , Formation and structure of the Adriatic basin , and the Dynamics of the Adriatic Coast . The exhibition reconstructs the formation of the Adriatic basin and the life in it from the Tethys sea until the formation of the Adriatic, from 230 million year ago until the present time, through original specimens: sedimentary and eruptive rocks and fossils of extinct organisms (amonites, foraminifers, corals, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, dinosaurs of Istria and bones of the cave bear) presented in dioramas in 8 display cases. The exhibition documents the carbonate structure of the Adriatic coast and islands, with an accent on the islands of volcanic origin (Jabuka, Brusnik). The material is museographically presented in the form of keys, photographs, graphics, dioramas and displays. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue and video projection of the following topics: The formation of the Earth, Volcanoes and Dinosaurs.


GEOLOGY OF THE RIJEKA REGION
– with original specimens of rocks and fossils, photographs and charts the collection presents lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic relations and characteristics of geological structure. Special feature are ore resources: oil, coal, bauxite, quartz, baryte and building stone.

 




MINERALS
- genesis, structure and characteristics of minerals, presentation of basic systematics. Special units: Quartz - most widespread mineral in the Earth crust, Calcite - the most widespread rock-forming mineral of the Croatian coast, crystals of ore minerals. Original specimens.





ROCKS
systematic presentation of the main types of sedimentary, magmatic and metamorphic rocks.

GEOLOGICAL STRATIGRAPHIC COLLECTION OF THE ISLAND OF KRK

Within the work on interpretation of the natural heritage, the Museum has established a regional collection in Dobrinj on the island of Krk Geological Stratigraphic Collection of the Island of Krk. Displayed are 216 specimens of fossil foraminifers, corals, bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, and Paleogene and Cretaceous rocks found on the island of Krk. A geological map, keys and photographs of the finding sites support the original specimens.

 


SHARKS AND RAYS DISPLAY
In the Sharks and rays display there are large pelagial and benthic sharks and rays. Large sharks are especially interesting. Most shark species of the Adriatic are displayed. All specimens were caught in the Rijeka region. A multimedia CD-ROM with a touch screen accompanies the exhibition. It contains basic data on the biological characteristics of sharks and rays, data on species displayed and other interesting shark and ray species of the world. There are over 200 photographs and other graphic designs, as well as video sequences.

BONY FISCHES DISPLAY
Dermoplastic preparation of bony fisches are on display. The specimens are displayed according to localities, rare species are presented separately.

MARINE INVERTEBRATES DISPLAY
Specimens of sponges (Porifera), cnidaria (Cnidaria), polychaetes (Policheta), crustacean (Crustacea), bryozoans (Bryozoa), echinoderms (Echinodermata), and Tunicata are displayed according to systematic groups. All specimens displayed are from the Kvarner bay and Kvarneriæ bay aquatorium, some of the preparations date back to the days of the Hungarian Royal Biological Station.


THE AQUARIUM
The Aquarium, the multimedia display gives you a chance of dive in and discover the wealth and beauty hiding below the sea surface. It also informs you about the need to preserve and protect the submarine world. Given is the biocenoses overview from the most shallow part of the mediolittoral zone to the blue depths of the circalittoral. The pools are copies of part of sea bed with the submarine world characteristic for the depths they represent. The Aquarium offer an experience of sea depths through underwater photography, sounds of the ocean, a movie clip and interactive research of over 300 species of marine flora and fauna.
In the most concrete way it teaches those interested in it about the secret life of the fish, invertebrates, algae and marine flowering plants.

 

BIRDS AND MAMMALS OF THE RIJEKA REGION AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF THE RIJEKA REGION

Permanent display Birds and Mammals , and Amphibians and Reptiles present tetrapod vertebrate fauna of the Rijeka region. Fauna is presented according to the most frequent habitats of the coastal and continental part of the region. Dermoplastic preparations and models of faunal species are presented in stylized environment of the display cases. In 11 display cases there are birds and mammals of the mixed beech and fir forest, submediterranean forest, rocky pasture grounds, the coast and the sea, as well as amphibians and reptiles of dry-land habitats of the coastal area and the islands, aquatic habitats of the coastal area and the islands, dry-land habitats of the highlands, aquatic habitats of the highlands, subterranean habitats, and the sea. The actual habitat is presented on the photograph placed above the display case. Brief information about the species and the habitat is given in the key in the lower corner of the display case. Detailed information on the displayed species as well as other amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal species of the Rijeka region are given on the computer screens in three multimedia concepts: Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rijeka Region , Birds of the Rijeka Region , and Mammals of the Rijeka region . They contain data on basic characteristics of the amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, describing the species of the Rijeka region. Using hypertext and links you can get a better overview of the material and a feeling of interconnection of information. General characteristics of amphibians and reptiles, as well as individual species of the Rijeka region are described by way of text, photography, drawing, animation, video clip and sound the animal produces. All the information is given in Croatian and English language.