UCM Amphibian and Reptile Collection (Arctos)

Emily Braker

doi:10.15468/1llmgl

UCM Amphibian and Reptile Collection (Arctos)

Citation

Braker E (2024). UCM Amphibian and Reptile Collection (Arctos). University of Colorado Museum of Natural History. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/1llmgl accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-14.

Description

Vertebrate Zoology in the CU Museum of Natural History is a biodiversity repository of more than 120,000 specimens from five taxa: Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles (Herpetology), Birds, and Mammals.Since our specimens document changes in biodiversity over the last 200 years, they are treasures of biological and historical significance. The Herpetology collection spans 77 countries, with its geographic strength in Mexican and the southwestern United States species. It contains over 68,000 specimens, including over 22,000 from Mexico, which have been actively studied and cited in systematic herpetology publications over recent decades. Additionally, the whiptail lizards (genus Aspidoscelis) are particularly well represented, including over 12,000 fluid-preserved specimens and two hundred dry skulls. The world-renowned herpetologists, Hobart M. Smith and T. Paul Maslin, as well as a number of their students and collaborators, were the major architects of our largest vertebrate collection. R. Earl Olson's contribution of 3,800+ specimens recently expanded our taxonomic and geographic coverage, including new material from Minnesota and Haiti. Most recently, Julio A. Lemos-Espinal contributed 2,600 specimens from the northern Mexican states of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila.

Sampling Description

Method steps

Additional info

http://vertnet.org/resources/norms.html

Taxonomic Coverages

More than 67,000 specimens. The whiptail lizards (genus Aspidoscelis) are particularly well represented. 342+ type specimens (16 holotypes & 326+ paratypes).

Amphibia
common name: amphibians rank: class
Reptilia
common name: reptiles rank: class

Geographic Coverages

The herpetology collection spans 77 countries, although its geographic strength is Mexico (more than 22,000) and the southwestern USA. There is new material from Minnesota and Haiti. Our Mexican reptile specimens have been most actively studied and cited in systematic herpetology publications over recent decades. Most recently, Julio A. Lemos-Espinal contributed 2,600 specimens from the northern Mexican states of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila.

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Emily Braker
originator
position: Vertebrate Zoology Collections Manager
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
UCB 265
Boulder
80309
CO
US
Telephone: 303-492-8466
email: emily.braker@colorado.edu
homepage: https://www.colorado.edu/cumuseum/research-collections/vertebrates

Emily Braker
metadata author
position: Vertebrate Zoology Collections Manager
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
UCB 265
Boulder
80309
CO
US
Telephone: 303-492-8466
email: emily.braker@colorado.edu
homepage: https://www.colorado.edu/cumuseum/research-collections/vertebrates

Laura Russell
programmer
position: VertNet Programmer
VertNet
email: larussell@vertnet.org
homepage: http://www.vertnet.org

David Bloom
programmer
position: VertNet Coordinator
VertNet
email: dbloom@vertnet.org
homepage: http://www.vertnet.org

John Wieczorek
programmer
position: Information Architect
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
email: tuco@berkeley.edu

Emily Braker
point of contact
position: Vertebrate Zoology Collections Manager
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
UCB 265
Boulder
80309
CO
US
Telephone: 303-492-8466
email: emily.braker@colorado.edu
homepage: https://www.colorado.edu/cumuseum/research-collections/vertebrates

Dusty McDonald
point of contact
position: Arctos Database Programmer
University of Alaska Museum
email: dlmcdonald@alaska.edu
homepage: http://arctos.database.museum

Christy McCain
curator
position: Vertebrate Zoology Curator
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
UCB 265
Boulder
80309
CO
US
Telephone: 303-735-1016
email: christy.mccain@colorado.edu
homepage: https://www.colorado.edu/cumuseum/research-collections/vertebrates

Emily Braker
administrative point of contact
position: Vertebrate Zoology Collections Manager
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
UCB 265
Boulder
80309
CO
US
Telephone: 303-492-8466
email: emily.braker@colorado.edu
homepage: https://www.colorado.edu/cumuseum/research-collections/vertebrates