Students at night in a circle looking at a frog, which one student holds

Herpetology

Our research on the systematics, evolution, biogeography, genetics, morphology, conservation, ecology and behavior of reptiles and amphibians is grounded by extensive field work and research collections of more than 340,000 specimens and associated data.

KU Herpetology

#1
Largest collection of Neotropical amphibians and reptiles in the world
#2
Second largest amphibian collection in the world
#2
Second largest herpetology collection at a public university
#4
Fourth largest herpetology collection in the world

Research

Herpetology investigates the diversity of reptiles and amphibians. A diverse team of researchers uses our collections, field study, and work in the molecular laboratory to discover new diversity, characterize global patterns of diversity, and understand the evolutionary origins of this diversity.

three people with white lab coats on looking at a reptile specimen

Collections

The KU Herpetology collections are among the largest research collections of reptile and amphibian specimens in the world. Our actively growing collections are accessed thousands of times every year through on-line searches, loans and on-site visits.

woman behind a rack of specimens, looking at a jar