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The Natural History Museum "Charles Theodoro Ramsden de la Torre" (1876-1951), placed in Universidad de Oriente of Cuba, preserve a large collection of zoological specimens for exhibition and study purpose that are used in educational, research and cultural activities. However, this museum is not well known in the university community. With the purpose of generalizing the historical trajectory of this museum in the university context, in the present work was performed a review of the documents which inform the donations processes and all the activities since its foundation in 1952 until the present. The results obtained inform about the donation process, classification, mission, objectives and functions of the museum, in addition to the educational and research activities performed for students and researchers; the description of the different rooms and the main zoological groups exhibited are also detailed. The collections of the museum have their origins in the precedent researches of the eminent naturalists "Charles T. Ramsden de la Torre" and constitute part of the natural and cultural patrimony of our University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cuban marine biodiversity is the most richness of the Caribbean Sea, however, numbers organism's groups are almost or all unknown. This is the example of Platyhelminthes, which only are known the parasitic species and five polyclads. In this work, we record 11 species of Polycladida collected or photographed in situ in eastern and western regions of the archipelago. Sampling were conducted directly under rocks in rocky and corallines bottoms. The animals were maintaining alive in the laboratory for the study. Species identification was done using the characters of external morphology valid for Cotylea. Furthermore, are included three Acotylea which are not necessary the study of internal morphology for identification. Is recorded Pseudoceros bicolor in a new locality of southwestern coast, previously recorded from Cayo Coco. With present records are 16 species of the order recorded from Cuba. This number should be increase whit the conduction of more samplings in the Cuban platform. Particularly, is necessary to complete the identification of numbers Acotylea morphospecies needed of internal morphology study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]