Search

Destructive Analysis
While the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History exhibition spaces will partially open to the public on June 18th, our collections remain closed to most staff and all researchers, and the museum’s COVID-19 loan moratorium remains in effect. Currently, there is no capacity to accommodate collections activities including visits, image requests, loans, and shipments. While there is no current date set for when on-site collections activities will resume, we will update as soon as this changes.
Destructive analysis of USNM specimens (including dissection, clearing and staining, tissue sampling from morphological specimens, and use of specimens for diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced (diceCT) scans) requires the written approval of an USNM curator.
Permission to modify one specimen is not automatically conferred to other specimens. When in doubt about terms of use, ask Division of Amphibians and Reptiles staff.