The mammal collection in the Yale Peabody Museums’s Division of Vertebrate Zoology, although small, is worldwide in coverage, and is used principally for teaching. The 5,086 mammal skins (over 720 species) date from the 19th century, and includes several rare and endangered species: the African elephant, black rhinoceros, orangutan, mountain gorilla, red wolf, black-footed ferret and snow leopard.

The skeleton collection is likewise small (4,776 specimens representing over 770 species), but historically important, and contains a disproportionate number of large animals, among them one of only 7 complete skeletons of the now extinct quagga, and a large series of buffalo skulls from the 1870s.  The history of the collection includes field expedition as well as historically interesting captive specimens such as those from P. T. Barnum as well as a champion dog collection.  Recent field activity includes work in Alaska and Cambodia.

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.

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