The collection of current echinoids kept at the Diocesan Museum of Menorca (Ciutadella de Menorca, Balearic Islands). Inventory and museographic management

The natural history collections of Fernando Escalante Díaz ((Donosti, 1955-Ciutadella de Menorca, 2020) were deposited, after his death, in the Diocesan Museum of Menorca (Ciutadella de Menorca) in June 2020. In January 2024, and Thanks to a grant from the Institut Menorquí d'Estudis (IME), the inventory, the repair, stabilization and accommodation of the collection of current echinoids began, since, of all the collections, it is the one with the most peculiar characteristics due to its fragility. This work offers a complete list of all species, divided into 44 families, 118 genera and 249 species, of which more than half come from the Indo-Pacific region. In addition to the taxonomic inventory, some of the problems inherent to this type of collections are discussed, also detailing some aspects regarding the methodology used during the process of stabilization and accommodation of the collection. All these comments are indicative and formulated with the aim of avoiding problems in collections of similar characteristics. In this sense, the greatest contribution of amateur naturalists is the responsible collection and preparation of specimens and data, never for purely economic purposes, in order to facilitate the process of donation and definitive conservation, as much as possible, within a public museum. It is evident that public natural history museums must play a fundamental role in offering the necessary information to enthusiasts in order to promote responsible and quality citizen science.