Angelo State Natural History Collections

The Biology Department maintains the Angelo State Natural History Collections, which contain tens of thousands of specimens of all types of living organisms. The collections are preserved, documented and curated assemblages that are important to a wide array of human activities.

The collections are essential to the management of natural resources because they document the diversity and biology of organisms that impact agriculture, health and urban and other rural activities. They also characterize the ecosystems that we all depend on.

The collections are a resource for many fields of biological research. The presence and growth of the collections at ASU are important to the university, San Angelo and the Concho Valley because they are a readily available local resource for the region.

Use of the Collections

All qualified visitors can study the specimens by making an appointment or by taking out a loan.

A researcher wanting to borrow any materials must make a loan request in writing to the appropriate curator. Loans are made for a period of six months with extensions possible by written request. Destructive sampling requests will be considered by the curators.

Searchable Databases

Data for specimens in each of the collections is entered in a “Specify” database. Selected information from the databases is searchable through our Web interface. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of catalogued information, researchers should verify information before use or publication.

Search for data here:

For additional information not provided through the searchable Web interface, or if you have questions, please contact the appropriate collection curator.

Make loan requests in writing to the appropriate curator listed below. To learn more about each collection, use the links provided.