Welcome to the Mammal Collection
About the Collections:
The Collection of Mammals was begun by Dr. Wilmot Thornton in the mid-1960's. Dr. Mark D. Engstrom, now Curator at the Royal Ontario Museum , served as Curator of Mammals of the ASNHC from 1982 to 1988. In that time the collection moved to its current location in room 109 of the Cavness Science Building . Major expansions of the collection occurred during Dr. Engstrom´s tenure as Curator. In 1988, Dr Robert C. Dowler assumed duties in the Collection of Mammals and has continued as Curator since then. Under his direction, the collection has reached 13,000 specimens. The Collection of Mammals is accredited by the American Society of Mammalogists, Systematic Collections Committee. Almost half of the collection is of species from Texas; however, significant holdings from Mexico (3600 specimens), Guyana (200), and the Galapagos Islands, seaward of Ecuador, (300) are also represented. Recent field studies in Sulawesi , Indonesia and several states of the U.S. , including Arizona , New Mexico , Montana , and Oregon , have added specimens to the collection.
Database:
Data for specimens in the Collection of mammals is entered in a Specify database. Selected information from the database are searchable through our web interface. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of catalogue information, researchers should verify information before use or publication. For additional information not provided through the searchable web interface, or if you have questions, please contact the curator.
Use of the Collection:
Specimens are available for study by all qualified visitors by appointment or through loans. Loan requests to the Curator must be in writing from the researcher borrowing the material to the ASNHC curator. Loans are made for a period of six months with extensions possible by written request. Destructive sampling requests will be considered by the Curator.
Tissue Loans
Requests for tissue loans should be made in writing to the Curator of Frozen Tissues, Dr. Loren Ammerman (loren.ammerman@angelo.edu). Please refer to the ASNHC Tissue Loan Policy regarding the information that should be included in the request.
Curator:
Dr. Robert C. DowlerDepartment of Biology
Angelo State University
San Angelo , TX 76909
robert.dowler@angelo.edu