San Diego Natural History Museum--Your Nature Connection[BRCC San Diego Natural History Museum: Collections]
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BRCC
Collections Care

Caring for Collections
Collections Sizes
Staff

 

CONTACT:
Wendy Strohmeyer,
Collections Care Assistant
619.255.0313
fax: 619.232.0248
wstrohmeyer@sdnhm.org

Type specimens
refer to those specimens used to describe individual species; these have the highest scientific value for each collection

Photo of fossil shell

 Collections Sizes

More than 8.5 million research specimens:

Quino Checkerspot butterfly
  • Birds: 46,700 skins and skeletons of birds with 48 primary type bird specimens.
  • Botany: 176,000 botanical specimens (vascular and non-vascular) with 105 holotypes (+ 10 in process) and 258 isotype specimens.
  • Entomology: 980,000 terrestrial pinned and labeled invertebrates and 20,000 insects preserved in 70% ethanol with 150 primary and 500 secondary types.
  • Herpetology: 72,260 reptiles and amphibians, with 66 primary and 718 secondary type specimens.
  • Mammals: 22,823 skins and skeletons of mammals with 89 primary and secondary type mammal specimens.
  • Marine invertebrates: 4.7 million specimens with 134 primary and 700 secondary types.
  • Mineralogy: 15,000 samples
  • Paleontology: 2.2+ million plant, vertebrate and invertebrate fossils; includes 125 holotypes and 462 paratypes; 541 secondary types (figured and referred specimens).
    • [estimate includes over 94,081 numbered species lots, divided approximately as follows: 46,467 vertebrate lots, 45,739 invertebrate lots, and 1,875 botanical lots. The mean lot sizes are 2.47, 46.38, and 2.0 respectively, with the total number of cataloged specimens approximating 2,239,897.]

    Plus additional library, historical and interpretive collections:

  • Library: 56,000 volumes in the main collection; at least 2,350 in the Klauber Library; 1094 in Valentien collection; bird paintings by Allan Brooks (61)
  • Archives: 400 cu ft.
  • Photo archives: at least 50,000 items
  • Maps: 5,000 of which 25% have historical importance
  • Exhibit collections: approximately 500-600 specimens held in 22,900 sq.ft. of exhibit space and additional storage space: traveling exhibits use approximately 7800 sq.ft.; temporary exhibits (Fossil Hunters and Plant Portraits) use 10,500 sq.ft.; permanent space includes 4,600 sq.ft. (until Fossil Mysteries is completed).
  • Nature to You Loan Collection: approx. 1,100 specimens
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