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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Coronated Tree Frog
Division of

Amphibians & Reptiles

Amphibians & Reptile Icon
The Division of Amphibians and Reptiles is devoted to herpetology, the scientific study of amphibians and reptiles, and to building and maintaining preserved collections of those animals, which are used in research by the staff of the Division as well as herpetologists throughout the world. Researchers in the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles specialize in systematic herpetology, the branch of the science that attempts to determine what are the species of amphibians and reptiles and how those species are related to one another as parts of larger taxonomic groups.

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We regret to inform you that the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles is not currently accepting loan (specimens or tissues) or imaging requests. We will continue to accept visitor requests as we work hard to catch up on our loan and imaging backlogs. Please check this website for updates, which will be posted when this temporary suspension is lifted. We appreciate your patience as we balance managing the large volume of previous loan and imaging requests with in-person visits and other current and necessary collections work.


The National Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles is among the largest and most important herpetological collections in the world, consisting of more than 580,000 specimen records, representing over 667,000 specimens and many thousands of type specimens, which serve a critical function concerning the scientific names of amphibians and reptiles.

Visitor Information

Specimen Loans

Genetic Loans

Destructive Analysis

Photo & CT Requests
Crocodylus rhombifer, Cuban crocodile. Photographed at the Reptile Discovery Center, National Zoological Park.
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