Our internationally important research collections of 3,200 amphibians and reptiles are mostly preserved in alcohol and stored in jars.
The reptiles and amphibians in our collection come from all over the world.
The collection includes specimens from all over the world included, but among the most valuable are:
- Lizards from the 1898-99 expedition to Socotra, an island off the east coast of Africa.
- East African snakes donated during 1957-62.
- Of particular importance is a large group of East African snakes acquired from John Mills and Captain Pitman between 1957 and 1962.
- British reptiles contributed by Ian Prest in 1663
- Frogs more recently collected by previous staff member M.J. Largen and his colleagues in Ethiopia and Congo Brazzaville.
We also have mounted reptiles and amphibians, many of which arrived with us after they were confiscated by the UK Border Force. These are extensively used for teaching and exhibition.