Search

The department of vertebrate zoology encompasses all animals with backbones: fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

The oldest specimens date back to the 1840s, but most activity associated with vertebrates started in the 1870s. With the exception of the bird collection  and a portion of the fish collection, vertebrates are housed on the Sixth Floor  of the Museum. Besides collection areas, a lab area for specimen processing and examination is situated adjacent to the herpetology range.

MPM's Zoology collections are the largest in the Museum's care.

The Invertebrate Zoology collection contains approximately 800,000 specimens, of which 70% are insects, and the Vertebrate Zoology collection contains more than 1.8 million specimens, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Please Note:

In preparation for the upcoming collections move, we have adjusted our access policies:

Weapons are not allowed at MPM, regardless of conceal carry.

Patrons are prohibited from endangering the safety of others in any way, including possession of a firearm or weapon of any kind.

If any patron is in possession of a weapon, MPM Security will be called.