Museums Victoria Herpetology Collection

The Herpetology Collection comprises more than 76,000 specimens of snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders, tortoises and turtles.
Established in the 1850s, the majority of the collection comprises specimens kept in 70% alcohol, plus sub-collections of ethanol-fixed and frozen tissues, a dry and skeletal collection, an X-ray and photographic collection.
The collection is used for research and exhibition purposes, with research use significantly increasing in recent years with the growth of the tissue collection. Researchers in the Herpetology section recently amplified and sequenced DNA from historic reptile and amphibian specimens - groundbreaking work that opens up new avenues for research.
The collection is highly significant for three main reasons:
It is one of the oldest reptile and amphibian collections in Australia.
It contains around 900 type specimens, as well as tissues.
It is the largest existing collection of south-east Australian reptiles and amphibians.
Although the primary focus has been on the acquisition of specimens from south-eastern Australia, the collection contains a significant number of specimens and species from elsewhere in Australia and overseas.
Historic material acquired by Frederick McCoy during the 19th century includes significant collections originating from overseas. McCoy formed the foundation of the herpetological library, which is well maintained and comprises recent and historical publications, including books, journals and reprints.