Collection composition (taxonomic and geographic)

Proteus anguinus from Kraino

At present, collection of amphibians and reptiles includes more than 15.000 registered lots with about 75.000 specimens. The collection has been growing up most rapidly during the last decade and increased by 5.500 lots since 1990.

Amphibian fauna of the former USSR is represented exhaustively in the collection. In respect to the world wide fauna, amphibians are represented by 23 genera of 8 families of caudates, 40 genera of 12 families of anurans, and 3 genera of apods.

Some species of frogs and toads are represented by extensive samples from several localities. An important collection of larvae of nearly all caudates was created during last years.

Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) from Mexico

Reptiles of the World fauna are represented by 300 species of 40 families belonging to 4 orders. Among them are: the tuatara; more than 30 genera of 10 families of the turtles; 120 genera of 14 families of lizards and amphisbaenas; 150 genera of 12 families of snakes; and about 5-6 genera of 3 families of crocodiles (mostly in exhibition). Reptiles of the former USSR are represented by nearly all species, excluding just few ones.

Dinnik's viper (Vipera dinniki) from Daghestan

Lizards are represented most completely in taxonomic respect (agamids, geckos, lacertids and scintids). There are representative samples of Caucasian parthenogenetic and bisexual forms of common lizards. Genus Eremias, some agamid genera (especially Phrynocephalus) also occurs in good samples. Among snakes, most numerous are boids, colubrids, viperids, and crotalids.

Of great importance are numerous materials on amphibians and reptiles from Mongolia collected during several years by Soviet- (= Russian-) Mongolian Expedition. In addition, representation of tropical reptiles (especially poisonous snakes) significantly grew up in the last years.