The herpetology collection in the Yale Peabody Museum’s Division of Vertebrate Zoology is rich in amphibian and reptile specimens from western Africa, specifically Benin and Cameroon. This region is diverse in its topography and thus also in habitat types.
In
2002 the Museum began work in Equatorial Guinea, which shares a border
with Cameroon. While the islands of Equatorial Guinea have been studied
herpetologically, the mainland (Rio Muni) is largely unknown.
The
topology and climate of Rio Muni contributed to a high diversity of
species for this small country. To date, in addition to birds and
mammals, more than 53 specimens representing over 400 taxa of
amphibians and reptiles have been collected from Equatorial Guinea. The
Peabody’s continued work in Rio Muni will likely reveal many more
secrets that this small African country has to offer.
The Yale Peabody Museum’s collections are available to legitimate
researchers for scholarly use. Loans are issued to responsible
individuals at established institutions. Loans and access to the
collection can be arranged through the Collections Manager.
Volunteer Opportunities | Support the Peabody
