Highlights
Would you have thought that old bone finds from the Harz foothills were used as evidence of a prehistoric unicorn? In 1663, fossilized bones from the Ice Age (Pleistocene) were found while mining gypsum in the Sewecken mountains (Seweckenberge) southwest of Quedlinburgs old municipal area. Not only did these bones probably come from different animals, but from different animal species. Nothing remains of the finds - nothing except written references and two drawings showing that the bones were attributed to a single animal - a unicorn. The original report on this sensational find and a drawing, both now lost, are attributed to Johann Meyer, an astronomer and chamberlain from Quedlinburg. Famous scholars of the time - including Otto von Guericke and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz - testified in their works that... read more
Giant deer Megaloceros giganteus* The museum's highlight is the complete skeleton of a male giant deer, which was found in a bog in Ireland. The museum acquired this skeleton in 1902. Antler fragments from the giant deer have also been found in gravel layers in Magdeburg. In addition, the occurrence of reindeer, elk and red deer is also documented. The giant deer was a steppe animal widespread in Eurasia. Between the individual ice ages, there were long warm periods during which this species migrated from southern Asia into our area. The span of its antlers could reach up to four metres with a weight of up to 40 kilograms. By comparison, the antlers of today's elk reach a maximum weight of 35 kilograms. In Central Europe, the giant deer became... read more
Leaf mats The Quedlinburg leaf mats In the exhibition on the history of the development of life, a large stone slab with leaves can be seen. This is an accumulation of fossilised leaves from the backwater of a river. The leaves are 85 million years old and date from the Cretaceous period. The fossil was recovered by the geological preparator Frank Trostheide near Quedlinburg in 1994. It is the largest mat of Cretaceous leaves in the world! Learn more on our YouTube channel >> read more
The northern cassowary Casuarius unappendiculatus The line of animals in the middle of the second exhibition hall is led by an impressive flightless bird that stands out with its horn crest and colourful neck. The northern cassowary has a body height of 1.60 m and, at up to 85 kg, is one of the heaviest living birds on earth. Like all ratites, it is flightless. The line of animals in the middle of the second exhibition hall is led by an impressive flightless bird that stands out with its horn crest and colourful neck. The northern cassowary has a body height of 1.60 m and, at up to 85 kg, is one of the heaviest living birds on earth. Like all ratites, it is flightless. The cassowary's feet have a... read more
Braunborsten-Gürteltier (Chaetophractus villosus) Together with the duck-billed platypus described above, the showcase of special mammals contains a representative of the armadillos. Armadillos are the only living mammals with a shell made of bony and horny plates. Along with the anteater and the sloth, they belong to the group known as Xenarthra. Armadillos have been around since the Cretaceous period. Some of their ancestors were much larger. The extinct giant armadillo Holmesina sepentrionalis from North America reached a length of 2 m and a weight up to 220 kg. Our specimen belongs to one of the 2 species of bristlenose armadillos, as can be easily seen from the long hairs on the shell. The big hairy armadillo lives in southern South America, in the open and dry landscapes east of the... read more
The kākāpō (owl parrot) Strigops habroptila The museum's exhibition includes a specimen of one of the rarest birds on earth. The Māori people of New Zealand call it the kākāpō, which means “night parrot”. At 4 kg, it is the heaviest parrot in the world. However, its weight prevents it from flying, like some other birds in New Zealand, making it flightless. The kākāpō is the only representative of the owl parrot genus. Like owls, kākāpōs have a facial disc that they can turn to one side or the other, which they use for better hearing at night. They also have bristles on their beaks which allow them to feel things. They feed on forest fruits. During the mating season, the males gather in a special display arena and woo... read more
The platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus At the back of the animal hall, there is an extremely curious animal with fur and a beak-shaped snout. The first specimens to arrive in Europe at the end of the 18th century were thought by scientists to be a taxidermist's joke. It took a long time to discover the interesting biology of these animals in the Australian region. The platypus is found in eastern Australia and Tasmania. They dig burrows into the banks of small lakes and rivers. The platypus is a mammal, but it features a leathery snout that resembles a duck's bill. Adults have no teeth and chew their food with their horny lips. They eat crabs, insect larvae and worms, which they dive for in the water. Another special feature is the... read more
© KHM, Foto: Charlen Christoph
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26.11.
2025
Event | Discussion - 26. November 2025 7:00 PM
Film und Gespräch
Das Museum für Naturkunde Kooperiert mit dem Moritzhof Magdeburg für einen spannenden Filmabend
Eintritt frei
02.12.
Senior Academy - 2. December 2025 2:30 PM
Seniorenakademie
Führung mit Dana Fabienne LiebkeMuseum für Naturkunde Magdeburg,
Treffpunkt Foyer, regulärer Eintritt, Führungsgebühr entfällt
