University of Illinois Museum of Natural History Amphibian and Reptile Collection
In October 1997 curation and management of the amphibian and reptile collection of the University of Illinois Museum of Natural History (UIMNH) was transferred to the Illinois Natural History Survey. With nearly 100,000 catalogued specimens, it is one of the largest amphibian and reptile collections in North America. The geographic emphasis is Mexico, but there are large holdings from the United States, Canada, Ecuador, Cuba, The Philippines, and Venezuela. There are approximately 2,000 type specimens; including over 170 primary types. With the exception of a few skeletons and dried skins, the vast majority of the specimens are preserved in ethanol. The UIMNH collection was largely assembled by Hobart Smith, curator from 1947 to 1968. In addition to adding thousands of specimens from his and his students' research, Smith was instrumental in acquiring other collections, most notably those of Edward Taylor, Chapman Grant, and Frederick Shannon. The UIMNH collection also includes specimens collected by other famous herpetologists, including Hobart Smith's mentor, Edward Taylor, whose Mexican collection is the most extensive in the world. Other famous collectors include Robert Ridgeway, an ornithologist who collected in Richland County, Illinois early in this century; Alvin Cahn, who collected throughout Illinois in the 1930s; and Chapman Grant, who collected in Cuba and Guatemala in the 1950s.
A searchable version of the UIMNH Amphibian and Reptile catalogue is On-line (see link below). The nomenclature of the computer catalogue is reasonably up to date. Send any comments or suggestions for further updates to the Curator.
Illinois Natural History Survey Curator & Staff
Dr.
Christopher A. Phillips, Herpetology Curator
Dr. Michael J. Dreslik, Herpetologist
Andy Kuhns, Aquatic Ecologist
Dan Wylie, Collection Manager
Ethan Kessler, Herpetology Intern
Christine A. Mayer, Database Manager