Frogs in 3-D

Natural History Collections and How They Are Used: Video

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Background Knowledge

Museums of natural history are invaluable resources in helping scientists study what organisms are like, and how they have changed over time. If you have ever visited a museum of natural history, what did you see there?

Watch the video below and consider these questions:

What did you learn about the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology?

What organisms are found in the MCZ collections?

How are the specimens preserved at the museum?

Why do scientists use the collections of the MCZ?

What are some newer ways people can access information from the collection?

Professor James Hanken, Director of the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) describes the Museum, its collections, and how they are used to help us understand the natural world.

The "herps" collection is one of the many collections that make up the museum. It includes all reptiles and amphibians such as frogs, snakes, turtles and lizards.

Watch the video and consider these questions:

What are some examples of animals found in the herpetological collection?

What do scientists who work there do?

Was there one animal you found particularly interesting?

Who uses the collection?

José Rosado, Collection Manager of the Herpetology Department at the MCZ, describes the depth and importance of the collection, how new specimens are added, and how the collection is used.