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Description: | The Zoology Museum owns approximately 280 reptile specimens. Approximately half of these specimens are Squamata. Chelonia, Crocodilia and Rhynchocephalia specimens form the other half of the collection.
A third of the Chelonia specimens are bodies of turtles, tortoises and terrapins. The Chelonia collection also includes shells (mainly turtle), Chelonia eggs and Chelonia skulls and other parts, such as turtle vertebrae, limbs, heart and hyoid. The collection includes side-necked, soft-shelled and hard-shelled turtles. One of the largest turtles in the collection is the Mata mata turtle.
Among the Crocodilia specimens are several bodies of crocodiles and alligators and various skeletal parts such as crocodile and alligator skulls, a pelvic girdle of a crocodile and two fully articulated skeletons of crocodiles. There are also 2 Gavialis specimens in the collection.
The museum owns approximately 50 lizard specimens, including geckos, iguanas, monitor lizards, skinks, chamelons, Moloch specimens and Tetradactylusspecimens. Most of the specimens are bodies of lizards. There are also a wide variety of snakes in the collection, including blind snakes, sea snakes, rattle and grass snakes, adders, vipers, pythons (including an articulated skeleton), cobras and boa constrictors. The majority of the snake specimens are preserved in fluid.
One highlight of the collection is a tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) which most likely dates from the early 1900s. The tuatara is the last remaining member of an ancient group of reptiles known as the Sphenodontia which was well represented by many species during the age of the dinosaurs, some 200 million years ago. Another highlight of the collection is a 15-foot long articulated skeleton of a crocodile.
Super collection: Zoology Museum.
Objects: Chelonia ; Crocodilia ; Rhynchocephalia ; Squamata. | Subjects: | reptiles. Zoology | Source: | University of Aberdeen | Address: | King's College,
AB24 3FX | Identifier: | ABDUZ:CLD16 | Relation: | ABDUA:CLD00 | Go to resource |
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