The Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles contains over 112,209 cataloged specimens and is the largest collection of Texas amphibians and reptiles, with over 45,000 specimens from all areas of the state. Holdings from Latin America are extensive, totaling 36,361 specimens, with particularly strong collections from Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, and Argentina. Our database may be searched by clicking here. The cataloged specimens in the collection document the historical and current distribution, variability, and natural history of reptiles and amphibians across their ranges, and contribute much to our knowledge of our shared environment.
The holdings represent well the diversity of amphibians and reptiles worldwide, adding to the research and didactic value of these collections. There are representatives of all existing orders of reptiles and amphibians, and includes 2,507 species in 114 families, with outstanding taxonomic strengths in turtles, snakes, lizards, and important geographic representation of herpetofauna from Texas, SW USA, Mexico, and South America. The collection of amphibians and reptiles at Texas A&M is among the largest university-based herpetological collections at universities in the USA and is world renowned.
Research projects and field courses directed by former Curator Dr. James R. Dixon provided most of the specimens, and the collections continue to grow based on research, teaching, and networking with other institutions. The collection recently acquired the reptile and amphibian collections of West Texas A&M University, Midwestern State University, The University of North Texas, The Witte Museum, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
A significant portion of the use of data from the Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles is facilitated through our participation in global online databases including Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), VertNet, iDigBIo and GGBN. The Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles provides access to special-purpose datasets, such as CT scans available Morphosource. The Collection is currently partnered with the Texas Alligator Task Force, the Houston Toad Task Force, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Turtle Survival Alliance, the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and the National Science Foundation in projects that involve the study of reptiles and amphibians.
Recent Publications
Griffin, N.E., A. Rojas Carranza, L.A. Fitzgerald. 2025 Conspecific oophagy by tadpoles: conditions for Its occurrence and importance as a source of anuran egg mortality. Journal of Herpetology 59 (3) 1-12.
Macdonald Kristina J., C. M. Gienger, Adrian F. Wayne, Scott A. Thompson, Annabel L. Smith, Xavier Santos, Shannon Dundas, Don A. Driscoll, Michael D. Craig, Robert A. Davis, Steven J. Hromada, Lee A. Fitzgerald, Daniel J. Leavitt*, K. Walkup*, Rickard Abom, Gordon R. Friend, Brent Johnson, Danielle Stokeld, Chris R. Dickman, Graham G. Thompson, Daniel F. Bohórquez Fandiño Christopher K. Woolley, Calum Irvine, Tim S. Jessop, Jade E. Keehn, Chris R. Feldman, Josabel Belliure, Juli G. Pausas,Stacey L. Weiss, Patricia A. Fleming, Dylan M. Westaway, Sabrina E. Duncan, Tim S. Doherty. (2025) Cross-Continental Analysis Shows That Disturbance Effects on Reptile Body Condition Do Not Predict Abundance Responses. Global Change Biology 31e70295. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70295.
Parker, M.R. and L.A. Fitzgerald. 2025. Using life history to predict outcomes of conservation translocations of herpetofauna. Animal Conservation 28:592-606.
