Review paper presented at the Ringberg Castle workshop on the Virgo Cluster.
astro-ph/0206205

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Abstract. I review the status of knowledge about the dwarf galaxies in the Virgo Cluster (VC) concentrating on work published after 1995. I explain the present ideas about the nature and history of the dwarf elliptical galaxies and emphasize the major increments in understanding achieved in the study of the dwarf irregular population. Special attention is given to the samples of late-type dwarf galaxies in the VC studied at the Wise Observatory (BCDs and dIs), and to a comparison of their properties.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

DWARF AND LARGE GALAXIES

THE WISE OBSERVATORY PROJECT

SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES AND THE QUESTION OF GAS STRIPPING

ISM IN DGS AND OTHER RELEVANT QUESTIONS

FUTURE OBSERVATIONS

CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES