DEPARTMENT of ORNITHOLOGY & MAMMALOGY


mammals@calacademy.org

Mailing Address:

Dept. of Ornithology & Mammalogy

California Academy of Sciences
875 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94103-3009
mammals@calacademy.org
(email for both Ornithology & Mammalogy)

COLLECTIONS - databases now on-line
ORNITHOLOGY
   - Search Bird Database
   - Search Egg & Nest Database

MAMMALOGY

   - Search Mammal Database
TYPES OF PREPARATION
  Wet
  Skins
  Skeletal
LOAN POLICY
  Loan Contact - see Collections Manager
DEPARTMENT VISITS

ORNITHOLOGY
The Department's collections contain over 97,000 study skins, flat skins, mounts, skeletons, spread wings, plumage samples, alcohol-preserved specimens, and frozen tissues, plus over 10,700 egg and nest sets and over 4,000 sound recordings. Our specimen holdings represent 29 orders, 140 families, and over 1250 genera and over 3500 species. The collections represent over 100 countries, all 50 US states, 27 Mexican states, and 12 Canadian provinces. The collections are renown for their extensive holdings of birds from Ecuador & the Galapagos islands, consisting of more than 9,700 specimens, including over 6,000 geospizine finches that have been the subject of several landmark studies. Other important collections include extensive holdings from Mexico, China, Panama, Costa Rica, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, eastern Africa, and Myanmar (Burma). The majority of our specimens come from throughout the western US, including large collections from Arizona, Alaska, and from every county in California, as well as from the Farallon Islands. Strengths in our bird collection lie primarily in our extensive holdings of seabirds, waterfowl, raptors, and passerines. The collections also include many type specimens, as well as specimens of species which have become extinct in the last two centuries.

Studies of birds and collection of avian specimens began with the inception of the California Academy of Sciences on April 4, 1853. Preeminent ornithologist James G. Cooper was appointed as Curator of Zoology in 1862, Henry Chapman and Ferdinand Gruber were appointed as the first Curators of Ornithology and Mammalogy in 1891. From its early years until 1906, the Academy amassed an amazing collection of some 25,000 birds, and thousands of mammals, which were housed in the Academy's facilities on Market Street. The earthquake and ensuing fire of April 18, 1906 destroyed the Academy's museum and nearly all of the bird and mammal specimens. Of the thousands of specimens contained in the department, only two, the type specimens of the Guadalupe Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma macrodactyla), were saved from the burning rubble of the collapsed museum by the heroic efforts of Leverett M. Loomis. But even as the Academy lay in ruins, the nucleus of the new Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy was being born.

The Academy's 1905-06 Galapagos Expedition returned to a devastated San Francisco after a 17-month trip along western Mexico and the Galapagos Islands with 8,718 bird specimens, as well as numerous mammal specimens. Within the first decade after the 1906 earthquake and fire, the new Department received thousands of additional bird specimens donated or collected by museums and naturalists from around the world. The Academy mounted several more expeditions throughout western North America. By 1910, the collection had grown to 18,000 bird specimens. Much later, large collections of birds were transfered to us from Stanford University, San Francisco State University, and Santa Rosa Junior College.

MAMMALOGY
The mammal collections contain over 30,000 specimens of study skins, pelts, skulls, skeletons, frozen tissues, and alcohol-preserved specimens. Our holdings currently contain more than 1,000 species from over 450 genera, representing over 110 families in 24 of 26 mammalian orders. These include specimens from over 70 countries, 49 US states, 26 Mexican states, and 9 Canadian provinces. Aside from our extensive holdings of mammals from the western US and Canada, we have important mammal collections from China, Mexico, the Galapagos Islands, eastern Africa, the Philippines, and Australia. Currently, we are developing new collections from southwestern China, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, South Africa, and Sao Tome & Principe.

Our strengths lie largely in our vast holdings of marine mammals (4800+ specimens), including the world's largest collection of California Sea lions (Zalophus californianus, 2300+ specimens), and California sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis, 750+ specimens). We also have large collections of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina, 480+ specimens), Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus, 230+ specimens), northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus, 190+ specimens), southern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris, 160+ specimens), and harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena, 300+ specimens), as well as hundreds of other seal, sea lion, porpoise, dolphin, whale, and sirenian specimens. These specimens make our marine mammal collections one of the largest in the world. Our holdings of terrestrial mammals are strong in Chiropterans (bats), and rodents, especially Sciurids (squirrels), as well as in carnivores, bovids (especially antelopes), and marsupials. In addition to our specimens, our bioacostics library contains thousands of audio recordings of mammals, including the Poulter Collection of marine mammal sounds.

The origin of the mammal collection began with the inception of the California Academy of Sciences on April 4, 1853. Henry Chapman and Ferdinand Gruber were appointed as the first Curators of Ornithology and Mammology in 1891. From its early years until 1906, the Academy amassed an amazing collection of thousands of mammals from California and around the world, including many species now extinct. The earthquake and ensuing fire of April 18, 1906 destroyed the Academy's museum and collections facilities on Market Street, including all the mammal specimens. Within the first decade after the fire, the new Department received new mammal specimens donated from or collected by museums and naturalists from around the world, and the Academy mounted several more expeditions throughout western North America. Additional expeditions to the Galápagos Islands, Mexico, and the Far East formed the core of the new mammal collections. Much later, large collections of mammals were transfered to us from Stanford University and San Francisco State University.

TYPES OF PREPARATION

WET/FLUID PRESERVED COLLECTION
Traditional methods of specimen preparation often meant that only the skin, and perhaps skeleton, of a specimen was prepared and curated into museum collection. This meant that the musculature, organ systems, and other soft tissues of a specimen were often discarded. However, new and developing research techniques requiring more of the specimen are becoming increasingly important. In that respect, our collections have been making more whole fluid-preserved or 'wet' specimens. This entails the 'fixing' or initial preserving of a specimen in formalin or ethanol, then storing it in a jar of ethanol for long-term curation. The result is the preservation of a complete specimen with all of the original anatomical structures, both internal and external, entirely intact. This allows for examination of organs and other soft tissues, as well as its plumage, by researchers who study such aspects as biomechanics, diet & feeding ecology, reproductive biology, adaptive physiology, comparative anatomy, and parasitology.

SKINS
The most common, and perhaps most traditional, way of preparing a bird or mammal specimen for long-term curation is as a study skin. This basically means that the internal organs, musculature, and most of the skeleton of the specimen have been removed, and the internal body cavity filled with cotton. This method leaves the complete outer skin with fur or feathers, along with the distal portion of the legs and feet, the distal limb bones, and the anterior skull with the beak if (it's a bird); if the specimen is a mammal, usually the terminal foot bones remain in the skin. When the skin is prepared, the aim is to maintain the original shape and size of the original specimen. In most cases, the wings are folder against the body as the bird would when resting, or the limbs of a mammal are extended. However, some newer preparations leave the wing extended so that the feathers and feather tracts can be seen more easily. In some cases where a specimen is not suitable for a complete study skin, sometimes just the spread-wing and or tail is prepared, with the rest of the specimen being prepared in a different manner, such as a skeleton.

SKELETAL
The Department's collection of bird and mammal skulls and skeletons is extensive, and our collections of mammalian postcranial skeletons is of particular importance. Often in conjunction with preparation of a study skin or pelt is the preparation of the specimen's skeleton. In mammals, it is possible to prepare a study skin and extract a nearly complete skeleton, but in birds, preparation of a study skin leaves an incomplete skeleton. Even incomplete skeletons are valuable, and are usually prepared. If some specimens are damaged or would otherwise not make good study skins or pelts, they often become complete skeletal preparations. During the course of preparation, the skeleton often comes apart and the bones are disassociated from each other. This is called a disarticulated skeleton, and is particularly useful when scientists need to study individual bones from an animal. If the preparation procedure results in the bones being connected in their original order, that is called an articulated skeleton. Such a specimen allows scientists to study the interrelationships of bones as a complete skeletal structure, and to better understand the skeleton as a mechanical system. Bones are essential tools for those who study systematics, biomechanics, evolutionary morphology & adaptation, paleontology, and identification of animal remains from archeological sites.

Related Sites:
Collecting skulls, and the Skulls! exhibit

LOAN POLICY
Most specimens from the Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy are available for loan to reputable individuals from other recognized research institutions, museums, government agencies, and colleges. We do not loan research specimens as teaching material, and loans are not made to the general public. General inquiries about specimens in the collections can be made directly to the collections manager. Birds and mammals are perhaps the most protected and regulated groups of living organisms, which makes collecting additional specimens difficult or impossible. Added to this are state, federal, and international laws governing ownership, transfer, and disposition of research material, which place more restrictions on the collection and use of our specimens. Because we adhere to such laws and fully realize the intrinsic scientific value and unique importance of every specimen in our care, all loans of specimens must be consistent with our loan policy. Failure to comply with our loan policy may result in loss of loan privileges.

1. Loan request should be made on paper bearing the letterhead of the researcher's institution, and mailed to the collections manager. Loans are to be signed by the person actually using the specimens, and loans will not be made to someone acting for a third party. Graduate students must make the loan under the name of, and be co-signed by, their primary graduate advisor. Visiting or adjunct professors must have their loan cosigned by their department chairperson. Please be specific about the type and number of specimens needed, and how they are to be used.

2. Loans are made with the understanding that all specimens will be used for scientific and/or educational purposes, and that the receiving institution has all the necessary and current permits to possess these specimens in accordance with state and federal laws.

3. All loans must involve research that is not invasive, damaging, or harmful to the specimens. Care should be exercised when handling specimens; never pick up specimens by their tail, feet, beak, or tag. Catalog and/or data tags are never to be damaged, modified or removed from the specimens. Study skins are in no way to be dissected or modified. If samples for genetic, isotopic, or chemical research need to be taken, please contact the collections manager directly, and please read clause #9 (below) carefully. Dissections made on fluid preserved specimens may only be conducted after a valid scientific justification is presented and with the approval of the collections manager and/or department chairman.


4. Once specimens are received by the accepting institution, all care should be taken to house and secure the specimens in an area which is pest-free, has low humidity, is out of direct sunlight, and is not accessible by personnel other than the researcher. Sent separately from the specimens will be a loan form listing all of the specimens that were shipped. Please confirm that all specimens arrived safely, and sign and return the appropriate loan form acknowledging the receipt of specimens.

5. Loaned material can not be forwarded to a third party. If specimens are needed by an individual other than the principal researcher, the material must first be returned to the California Academy of Sciences and a separate loan can be arranged.

6. Loans are for a period of six months, but if specimens are needed for a longer time, loan renewals are possible. Such requests must be made within a month of the end of the loan period. If the specimens are requested by another researcher at the end of the loan period, a renewal may not be possible. The Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy reserves the right to request return of specimens at any time.

7. No more than half the number of specimens from any species or subspecies will be loaned at one time. If all the specimens of a species or subspecies need to be examined, loans of half the specimens will be made, and the second half can be sent once the first half have returned. If we possess a single specimen of a species, it cannot be sent on loan, but it will be available for study in the department.

8. Type specimens, specimens from the Galápagos Islands, bird nests & eggs, and specimens of extinct species are not to leave the department, and can not be loaned to researchers. However, feel free to contact the collections manager about making arrangements to visit the Academy and study these specimens here.

9. Destructive Sampling: The Department sometimes grants permission for researchers to take tissue samples from study skins, but only after approval from the Chair. Loans must follow the general rules of our loan policy, plus the additional clauses below:
a) The researcher must forward a justification of why samples need to be taken along with a comprehensive sampling protocol before any sampling is done. Also, the researcher must provide data or results from previous testing to show that their methods are valid and produce adequate results.
b) Any destructive or invasive sampling (skin, feathers, etc.) of specimens must take place at the Academy, and specimens cannot be sent out on a loan for sampling. Because of prior incidents involving extensive damage inflicted on some specimens that were sent for sampling, all such sampling must take place under the supervision of Ornithology & Mammalogy Department staff.
c) A loan of such samples will be indicated as a 1 year loan, with no samples to be returned if they are completely destroyed during testing or analysis. However, after the first year, all unused samples must be returned to the Academy at the end of the loan period, and must be placed in separate containers with the original catalog number clearly marked. Samples or subsamples of specimens taken from this institution MAY NOT be accessioned into another institution under a different catalog number.

10. Endangered or threatened species of mammals and birds covered under the most recent CITES list can be sent only to other institutions that possess a current CITES Certificate for Scientific Exchange. If the borrowing institution is not covered by such permits, other arrangements will need to be made. Check with the collections manager in such cases.

11. Because of increasingly complex laws regarding trans-border shipment of specimens and specimen parts, and the reality that seizure of specimens by a government agency through misinterpretation of laws does happen, loans via mail to countries outside the U.S. are generally declined by this institution. However, we fully welcome international researchers to visit the collections and examine our material in person.

12. State of California regulations require us to notify users that some specimens may contain chemicals deemed harmful by title 8 section 5214 of the California Code of Regulations. Some bird and mammal skins prepared before 1950 may contain minute amounts of inorganic arsenic trioxide. Alcohol-preserved specimens may have been fixed in formalin, and residual amounts may remain in the specimen. These substances have been identified as potential cancer-causing agents. However, research specimens are not marked as to which have or lack such substances, so care must be exercised when handling all specimens.

13. When loaned specimens are returned, care must be taken to pack and ship them in a manner which maintains the maximum level of safety and protection for them. Each specimen should be individually wrapped or boxed, given ample padding, and shipped in a durable cardboard, plastic, or wooded shipping container that is resistant to crushing. A list of specimens to be returned should be sent separately from the parcel containing the specimens.

14. The Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy reserves the right to seek financial compensation for specimens that are lost or destroyed while in the possession of those responsible for the loan. Any legal fees incurred in attempting to regain overdue loaned specimens, or to gain financial compensation for lost specimens, will be at the cost of the borrower. Additionally, the Department of Ornithology & Mammalogy reserves the right to refuse loans or use of material by unqualified researchers or by researchers who have abused loan privileges, or have lost or damaged specimens.

15. Any publications or documents using samples derived from Academy specimens must cite the CAS catalog number for the specimen. If data obtained from our research specimens is used in a published report, thesis, or a scientific article, please acknowledge the Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy, California Academy of Sciences. Additionally, we request a reprint or photocopy of any such article when it becomes available.

If there are any additional questions or concerns regarding specimens or loan policy, please contact the collections manager.

DEPARTMENT VISITS
The Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy is not open to the general public, but during the Annual California Academy of Sciences Open House, Academy members can visit the department, meet the staff, and examine some of the scientific specimens during the yearly behind the scenes tour. Please contact the Membership office for details.

Individuals with specific needs may have access to study specimens within the collections if plans are made in advance. Entrance to, and use of, the collections is free of cost to researchers, graduate & undergraduate students, educators, government scientists, and artists. Commercial users, such as for-profit environmental firms, archaeological companies, advertising agencies, and the entertainment industry, may be levied a nominal charge. Please contact the collections manager directly with a request to visit the collections at least one week prior to arrival. Such studies should be conducted during normal operating hours, weekdays, 9am - 5pm. Visits on weekends, or long-term visits must be organized through the collections manager and/or the department chairman.

Location, Address, and Directions

Please click HERE for a link to other Bird & Mammal
collections in California museums.