The Florida Museum houses more than 180,000 scientific specimens of amphibians and reptiles, making it the largest herpetology collection in the southeastern United States and among the largest in North America. These specimens—with some dating to the late 19th century—are used by researchers around the world and in courses at the University of Florida.

The collection houses nearly 80,000 specimens from the state of Florida, another 35,000 from elsewhere in the United States, and the remainder from 145 countries around the world. In addition to the world’s best collection of the more than 170 species of amphibians and reptiles native to Florida, the collection contains one of the world’s largest collections of both turtles and crocodilians as well as unique strengths in species from Haiti and Pakistan.

Research by the herpetology division’s staff and students focuses on the diversity, natural history, evolution, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. We regularly host both short-term and long-term visits from U.S. and international students and scientists interested to conduct research using the collections.

Please use the links at left to explore the staff and students who are currently associated with the collection as well as those from the past. You can also learn about our amphibian and reptile collection and even search our online database. We host a current list of Florida’s amphibian and reptile species, a list of the amphibians and reptiles of the UF campus in Gainesville, as well as our popular Online Guide to Florida Snakes.