Herpetological collection

The specimens that compose the herpetological collection come from all over the world. An essential part of them are preserved in liquids (alcohol or formalin). Only a small number of turtles and tortoises Testudines as well as crocodiles Crocodilia are stuffed or dried specimens. As a result of wartime operations, the herpetological collection sustained a serious loss. Deprived of the preservative solution, dried specimens suffered a heavy damage, or due to the lack of labels have lost their scientific character. In spite of that, this is the largest, considering the number of taxa, collection of these vertebrates in Poland. It consists of:

1. 87 species of amphibians Amphibia, represented by 372 specimens, mainly from Europe and south-eastern Asia;
2. 292 species of snakes Serpentes, represented by 1309 specimens, mainly from Europe, south-eastern Asia, Africa and South America;
3. 93 species of lizards Sauria, represented by 398 specimens, mainly from Europe, South America and Africa;
4. 7 species of crocodiles and alligators Crocodilia, represented by 20 specimens, including a single one of the Chinese Alligator Alligator sinensis;
5. 83 species of turtles and tortoises Testudines, represented by 210 specimens;
6. 4 specimens of tuataras - the species Sphenodon punctatus, belonging to the order Rhynchocephalia.

Collection’s Curators

Andrzej Jabłoński
anjab@biol.uni.wroc.pl