# División Zoología Invertebrados del Museo de La Plata

> research unit belonging to the La Plata Museum

**Wikidata**: [Q118976886](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q118976886)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/division-zoologia-invertebrados-del-museo-de-la-plata

## Summary
The División Zoología Invertebrados del Museo de La Plata (also known as Departamento Científico de Zoología Invertebrados) is a research unit within the La Plata Museum in Argentina. It functions as a specialized research institute dedicated to the study of invertebrate animals, with expertise spanning malacology, arachnology, carcinology, helminthology, and myriapodology.

## Key Facts
- Official name: División Zoología Invertebrados del Museo de La Plata
- Alternative name: Departamento Científico de Zoología Invertebrados
- Classification: Research institute (organization whose primary purpose is research)
- Parent organization: La Plata Museum (Museo de La Plata)
- Location: La Plata, Argentina
- Geographic coordinates: Latitude -34.9106, Longitude -57.9416
- Headquarters coordinates: Latitude -34.909111, Longitude -57.935222
- Postal code: B1900
- Street address: Paseo del Bosque (Circ 1ª, Secc B, Mzna 866, Parc 1), La Plata
- Current supervisor/director: María Cristina Damborenea
- Fields of work: Invertebrate zoology, malacology, arachnology, carcinology, helminthology, myriapodology
- Applies to jurisdiction: La Plata Museum

## FAQs

### What is the División Zoología Invertebrados del Museo de La Plata?
It is a research unit within the La Plata Museum in Argentina that conducts scientific research on invertebrate animals. The division operates as a specialized research institute focusing on multiple zoological disciplines.

### Where is the División Zoología Invertebrados located?
The division is located at Paseo del Bosque (Circ 1ª, Secc B, Mzna 866, Parc 1) in La Plata, Argentina, with postal code B1900. It operates within the broader La Plata Museum complex.

### What areas of zoology does the division specialize in?
The division covers six primary fields: invertebrate zoology (general), malacology (study of mollusks), arachnology (study of spiders and related arthropods), carcinology (study of crustaceans), helminthology (study of parasitic worms), and myriapodology (study of centipedes, millipedes, and related organisms).

### Who leads the División Zoología Invertebrados?
María Cristina Damborenea serves as the supervisor and director of the division, overseeing its research activities and operations.

### What type of organization is this division?
It is classified as a research institute, meaning it is an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct systematic scientific investigation. Unlike universities that combine teaching with research, this unit exists specifically to generate new knowledge through research.

## Why It Matters
The División Zoología Invertebrados del Museo de La Plata represents a critical node in Argentina's scientific infrastructure for understanding invertebrate biodiversity. Invertebrates constitute the vast majority of animal species on Earth, yet remain significantly understudied compared to vertebrates. By maintaining specialized expertise across six distinct zoological disciplines—malacology, arachnology, carcinology, helminthology, and myriapodology—the division enables comprehensive research on organisms that play essential roles in ecosystems, from decomposers and pollinators to parasites and prey species.

As part of the historic La Plata Museum, one of South America's most important natural history institutions, the division contributes to both fundamental taxonomy and applied research. The study of helminthology, for instance, has direct implications for understanding parasitic diseases that affect human health, agriculture, and wildlife conservation. Similarly, research in carcinology and malacology supports fisheries management and environmental monitoring efforts throughout Argentina and the broader region.

## Notable For
- Operating as a dedicated research institute within a major South American museum
- Maintaining expertise across six specialized zoological disciplines under one organizational unit
- Being part of the La Plata Museum, a prominent natural history institution in Argentina
- Covering the full spectrum of invertebrate study from microscopic helminths to larger arthropods
- Contributing to the scientific documentation of Southern Hemisphere invertebrate biodiversity

## Body

### Organizational Structure and Classification
The División Zoología Invertebrados operates as a research institute, a classification that distinguishes it from educational institutions or commercial research operations. As an organization whose primary purpose is conducting research, the division exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation rather than to grant degrees or produce commercial products. This classification aligns with international standards for research organizations and is recognized across multiple knowledge organization systems.

The unit functions as an integral part of the La Plata Museum, reporting to and operating within the museum's broader organizational framework. This relationship positions the division to leverage the museum's extensive collections, facilities, and institutional reputation while maintaining focused expertise in invertebrate zoology.

### Geographic Location and Facilities
The division is physically located in La Plata, the capital city of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Its precise coordinates place it at latitude -34.9106 and longitude -57.9416, with its headquarters situated at slightly different coordinates of latitude -34.909111 and longitude -57.935222. The facility operates from Paseo del Bosque (Circ 1ª, Secc B, Mzna 866, Parc 1), a location within the park area that also houses the main La Plata Museum building. The postal code for the division is B1900.

### Research Disciplines and Fields of Work
The division maintains active research programs across six interconnected but distinct zoological specializations:

- **Invertebrate Zoology**: The broader umbrella discipline encompassing all animals without backbones, providing the foundational framework for the division's work.

- **Malacology**: The scientific study of mollusks, including gastropods (snails and slugs), bivalves (clams and mussels), cephalopods (octopuses and squids), and other related organisms.

- **Arachnology**: Focused research on arachnids, including spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks, and their relatives, contributing to understanding of these ecologically important predators and parasites.

- **Carcinology**: The study of crustaceans, covering crabs, lobsters, shrimp, crayfish, and related organisms that play crucial roles in aquatic ecosystems and fisheries.

- **Helminthology**: Research on parasitic worms, including nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes, with implications for understanding diseases affecting humans, livestock, and wildlife.

- **Myriapodology**: The study of myriapods, including centipedes, millipedes, and related terrestrial arthropods important for soil ecology and decomposition processes.

### Leadership
María Cristina Damborenea serves as the current supervisor and director of the division, providing scientific and administrative leadership for its research programs and operations. Her role encompasses oversight of the division's research activities, staff management, and representation within the broader museum structure.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.sinca.gob.ar/)
2. [Source](https://www.museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar/div_arqueologia#:~:text=La%20Divisi%C3%B3n%20Arqueolog%C3%ADa%20realiza%20la,%2C%20Europa%2C%20%C3%81frica%20y%20Asia.)
3. [Source](https://www.museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar/div_zooinvertebrados)
4. [Source](https://monumentos.cultura.gob.ar/)