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The Division of Tetrapods, a collection of vouchered amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, located at of the OSU Museum of Biological Diversity, is an important repository of Ohio and North American species. The collections were established shortly after the founding of The Ohio State University, in 1870, and with collecting efforts of OSU faculty, staff, and students have grown to over 40,000 specimens. Today’s collection houses more than 170 amphibian, 200 reptile, 2000 bird and 250 mammal species. The specimens in our collection are used for research and teaching.
Given that this collection has grown for a long time it is not surprising that we possess species that are now considered threatened or extinct. These specimens are irreplaceable vouchers as they document the existence of these species in Ohio and beyond.
Some examples are: - Ivory-billed Woodpecker - Passenger Pigeon - Eskimo Curlew - Indiana Bat - Allegheny Woodrat - Bachman’s Warbler - Carolina Parakeet
Currently, these irreplaceable specimens are stored in heavy non-mobile museum cabinets. They are spread throughout the collection making them susceptible to irreversible damage should an emergency (fire, flooding, etc.) in the museum occur. Other museum collections are able to roll such valuable specimens to safety. With your help, we will purchase a small museum quality cabinet with a rolling base that will allow us to move it out of the museum with ease in case of an emergency.
One of the colorful wood warblers that fascinate birders on their migration; this species was last seen in 1988 and is thus possibly extinct. Since the species is so rare, little has been described about its behavior.
Also known as the social bat because they cluster together in large groups during hibernation, in so-called hibernacula. Their scientific name Myotis sodalis means "mouse eared companion."
A cute and sweet-natured rodent, only found in one county in Ohio. It is commonly known as a "pack rat" due to its habit of collecting shiny objects such as bottle caps, coins and others.
The only parrot species native to continental North America. These gregarious birds showed close attachment to their own kind, when one of them died, a host of chattering birds promptly surrounded its body.
Once a numerous shorebird in the tundra of Arctic Canada and Alaska. With a population once in the millions, it now has not been seen in over 30 years.
Once the most numerous species of bird on earth! They occurred in large flocks that appeared to blackout the sky for long periods of time. A flock of all Rock Pigeons, European Starlings and House Sparrows together would still not equal the number of Passenger Pigeons that once roamed the forests of eastern and central Canada and USA.
