iziko natural history collections: terrestrial vertebrates


	terrestrial vertebrate collections
	Historically important bird and mammal skin collections dating back to the 1850's and earlier are held at Iziko South African Museum. The foal of the extinct Quagga is an example. Recent growth of the collections has centred on building up skeletal collections of birds and mammals, which are the best in South Africa. Because the Iziko South African Museum is located in Cape Town, the broad collection strategy is on representivity of species from the southern African subregion and focuses on the fynbos biome of the Western Cape Province. All the bird, amphibian, reptile and mammal collections have been computerised. Ongoing projects, based on the appropriate care for the collection – type, ensure the continued conservation of the specimens in the collections and on display. All terrestrial vertebrate collections are fumigated regularly with insecticide. The preserving fluid used in the wet collections is ethyl alcohol. The alcohol levels are checked at regular intervals and topped up when necessary.
	Mammals
	Mammal Study Skin Collection The mammal study skin collection includes a wide range of southern African large and small mammal species. Plains zebras Equus burchelli, which formed part of Reinhold Rau’s initial quagga project are particularly well represented. Mammal Osteology Collection The mammal comparative osteology collection includes cranial material for most of the southern African sub-region’s large mammals, small mammals and micromammal species. Many species are now also represented by complete skeletons. There is also some material from other African regions and elsewhere in the world. Large mammal species that are well represented in the collection include plains zebra Equus burchelli, Cape Mountain zebra Equus zebra, and leopard Panthera pardus, from the Western Cape Mountains.
	Birds
	Bird Study Skin Collection The bird study skin collection focuses on South African species, but includes species from elsewhere in Africa as well as other regions of the world. Bird Egg Collection The bird egg collection includes species primarily from southern Africa. Bird Osteology Collection The bird comparative osteology collection includes complete skeletons representing a large proportion of the southern African marine and terrestrial species. There is also some material from other African regions and elsewhere in the world, including an important assemblage of dodo bones.
	Reptiles & Amphibians
	Reptile and Amphibian Wet Collection The wet collection includes many southern African forms. The national and fynbos species are well represented in these collections from over 80 – 100% of those occurring. Of particular interest is the collection of Cape material donated by the former Cape Nature Conservation. Now Cape Nature, the collections continue to receive valuable donations of specimens from this source. Reptile and Amphibian Osteology Collection A small number of comparative skeletons is held. These are primarily used for identification purposes by archaeologists.