The herpetology collection contains over 73,300 fluid-preserved specimens and 3,100 skeletons with 212 primary and 500 secondary types. The collection is used by scientists to better understand the biodiversity, distribution, and general biology of amphibians and reptiles from the Museum's region. The collection has been built over the past century and is actively being added to today. Of particular importance is the Laurence M. Klauber collection containing over 43,000 specimens he personally cataloged. This includes his rattlesnake collection, containing over 8,600 specimens, and representing nearly every known species. The collection now holds over 9,300 rattlesnake specimens, one of the largest in the world. Mr. Klauber's library of rare and antiquarian natural history books and archival material from his research and publications are held in the Museum's Research Library. Search the herpetology collection here.

We would like to acknowledge the generous support of the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors for Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funds that enabled us to upgrade our fire suppression system to protect the legacy collections in the Herpetology Department.