A synthetic biodiversity? Natural history museums and the use of artificial replicas as supplement to taxidermied specimens

Natural history museums are institutions dedicated to research, dissemination and exhibition of nature. They have developed scientific rigor in collecting specimen series (including tissue samples, photographs, videos and sound recordings), contributing to taxonomic, ecological and biogeographical studies. In the 20th century, museums became centers for natural science education and public outreach, often using historical and scientific collections to engage visitors. The use of original specimens for education and science communication presents challenges: long-term preservation issues, potential data loss, and their growing historical value. Moreover, acquiring zoological specimens has become increasingly difficult due to ethical and legal constraints. We propose an integrated approach using high-quality replicas and hyper-realistic models - a form of "synthetic biodiversity." Combining original materials with these synthetic representations offers museums new opportunities without compromising their historical and scientific collections.