Collections of Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences is the basis of studying species diversity

The goals and principles of zoological collecting, the importance of modern animal collections for-developing systematics, investigations, and conserv ation of biological diversity are discussed. The history of creating collec tions of the Zoological Institute, sources of their stocking, scientific, e ducational, and social importance of them are described in details. The rol e of the Institute museum in biological education and education od nature c onservation is noted. The volume, state and degree of processing the collec tional funds as well as themes of studies on various taxa of animals are de scribed. The role of specialists contributed significantly to the formation of the collections has been reflected. Considerable attention is given to multi-faceted expeditionary investigations which served the basic source of stocking the collectional funds.