The Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig

is a research museum of the Leibniz Association

Link to Leibniz Association

Research › Collections › Herpetology

Herpetology

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The herpetological collection of the ZFMK documents biodiversity and serves as a repository for researchers who are working on the taxonomy, biogeography, (macro)ecology, phylogenetics, evolution, parasitology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. Data obtained from collection material is also frequently used for modern techniques such as genetic analyses, micro-CT scanning, and species distribution modelling, which highlights the withstanding importance of such scientific collections.

Contents

Collection

The collection houses more than 100,000 catalogued specimens from over 200 countries. All major groups of amphibians and reptiles, which are traditionally united in the collection, are represented.

History

In 1951, the curatorship for herpetology was installed at the Museum Koenig. Since then, the herpetological collection has become one of the largest of its kind in Germany.

Type catalogue

The herpetology collection contains about 2500 type specimens of ca. 650 species and subspecies, including more than 300 primary types and 100 syntypes.

Contact person

Dr. Dennis Rödder
Head of Herpetology Section
Curator
Herpetology
+49 228 9122-252
+49 228 9122-212
d.roedder [at] leibniz-zfmk.de