The Pietro Doderlein Museum of Zoology houses collections containing several thousand specimens of both invertebrates and vertebrates. It serves as an important reference point for the scientific community, as well as a center for the study and conservation of Sicilian and Mediterranean biodiversity. Dating back to the second half of the 19th century, the museum features a remarkable collection of Mediterranean fish, which were preserved using a special and still-secret chemical treatment that has maintained their physical and aesthetic characteristics. A visit to the museum's collections greatly enhances the understanding of animal diversity and biological evolution, while also emphasizing the urgent need to protect natural habitats. Thanks to its unique layout, the museum offers visitors an immersive experience that reflects the very atmosphere in which 19th-century zoologists once worked.

Professor Pietro Doderlein taught zoology and comparative anatomy first in Modena (1839–1861) and then in Palermo (1861–1894), shortly after the unification of Italy. In Modena, he contributed significantly to the expansion of the University's natural history museum, while in Palermo, he founded it from scratch, transforming it into a facility so rich in specimens that it remains an important international landmark to this day. After the founder's death, the work of preserving the collection and researching new specimens continued, as did scientific collaborations linked to intense teaching and outreach activities.