Eugène-Edmond Delfortrie
Eugène-Edmond Delfortrie (1816-1885), a notary in the Drôme then magistrate successively in Monségur, La Réole and Bordeaux, was also a geologist, palaeontologist, archaeologist and historian through personal interest. He put together an important collection of vertebrate fossils, in particular deposits of the Tertiary period of the Bordeaux region where he discovered several new species. They were mainly described and shown in the Records of the Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux, one of the Bordeaux learned societies of which he was a member.
The Delfortrie collection
The collection includes at least 160 specimens or sets of specimens, fossilised bones of mammals and reptiles, but also birds and fish teeth. These fossils are in a good state of conservation. They were displayed for a long time in regional palaeontology displays and are currently kept in the reserves.
The interest of the Delfortrie collection
Delfortrie had the opportunity to bring together an significant and remarkable set of fossilised bones from Entre-deux-Mers starfish limestone quarries and the Léognan ossiferous molasse in particular. As the latter are no longer in operation, amassing such a collection is no longer possible.
These fossils, enabled Delfortrie to describe 22 new species (13 fish, 6 mammals, 3 tortoises), are reference specimens – the perfect examples– for these species. Numerous other fossils have been added to these specimens which have been studied, and often represented, completing the descriptions and improving knowledge of speeches already known. We can in particular mention the Rytiodus skull, an extinct sirenian, cousin of the current Dugongs.
This set of fossils, as much the perfect examples as represented alone, brings together specimens of great scientific interest. They are still consulted on a regular basis today, and are re-studied in light of new knowledge and new investigation methods, and contribute to better knowing these species that are extinct today and evolution of current fauna.
Acquisition of the collection
During his life, Delfortrie made several donations of specimens, in particular fossil castings he described, at the Museum of Bordeaux. Delfortrie’s collection of vertebrate fossils of Aquitaine was purchased by the Museum of Bordeaux in 1880 (Souverbie management), uniting castings and original pieces.