The collection contains over 8,000 fish species in over 1,300 type series (42% of which are primary types) from all oceans and all continents. Thus about a quarter of all known fish species and two thirds of all Atlantic fish species are represented. It is the largest fish collection in Germany with extinct fish species from Europe and North America and precious specimens from the 19th century, e.g. from collections of Godeffroy and Bleeker. The oldest collection object dates from 1838.