Special Exhibition “Aves Japonicae <10> –Wondering classification”

→Press Release: PDF file［80MB］

●Main Features of the Exhibition
- Introducing species whose classification has been changed based on the 8th revised edition of Check-List of Japanese Birds.
- Exhibiting specimens whose classifications and scientific names have been changed over the years.
- The origin of the interesting scientific name.

●Overview of the exhibition
"Species are the basis of life forms, and are absolute" - you may think so. However, if we think about evolution, a species is merely the current state of a constantly changing group. It is also an arbitrary definition that humans have decided on as the same group. The specific scientific name given to that species also changes with revisioning in classification.
Humans like to classify the world. The fact that small birds have their specific names as "Sparrow" and "Swallow" indicates the beginning of classification. Meanwhile, studies using genes are progressing in birds, and traditional lineages and classifications are changing significantly.
Check-List of Japanese Birds published by the Ornithological Society of Japan is one standard for the classification and naming of birds in Japan. This year, the 8th revised edition of the Check-List will be published, reflecting the latest research results. As a result, the classification position of many birds has changed. For example, the Japanese nightjar was considered to be part of the Southeast Asian species Caprimulgus indicus, but the population in the Far East became a separate species, C. jotaka.
This time, we would like you to take a look at the changes and trends in classification from the latest edition of Check-List of Japanese Birds.

●Key Information
Title: Special Exhibition “Aves Japonicae 〈10〉 –Wandering classification”
Dates: July 30 – September 29, 2024
Opening Hours: 11:00 – 18:00 (open until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays) *Opening hours may change.
Closed: Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a National Holiday; however the museum is open on August 13 and 19) and September 2-9. May close irregularly.
Venue: Intermediatheque 3F [STUDIOLO]
Organizer: The University Museum, The University of Tokyo (UMUT)
Admission: Free of charge
Address: KITTE 2F - 3F, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
Access: JR lines and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line Tokyo Station (Marunouchi South Exit). Nijubashimae Station (Exit 4) on the Chiyoda Line (about 2 minutes on foot).

●Exhibition Page
https://www.intermediatheque.jp/en/schedule/view/id/IMT0279

●Contact
+81-47-316-2772 (NTT Hello Dial Service)
From Japan: 050-5541-8600 (NTT Hello Dial Service)