Mammals

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The Division of Mammals houses a world-class collection of roughly 590,000 preserved specimens. This collection supports a wide range of scientific research by resident staff and associates, as well as numerous scientists who visit each year. Divisional collection management staff preserve, conserve, and document our specimens as part of the Congressionally mandated "National Collections" to ensure their accessiblity to present and future research activities.

Special message to researchers: In response to COVID-19, the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History is implementing precautionary measures to help reduce the spread of the virus, including limiting access to facilities. The safety of our staff, visitors, and communities are our first priority. As of March 14, 2020 the NMNH temporarily closed to the public. That closure now includes access to the NMNH collections via scientific visits or outgoing loans. Users may continue to access collections information via collections.si.edu. Please do not ship collections such as returned loans to the museum at this time. We will reopen when we are advised that it is safe to do so.

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Specimen Loans

Genetic Loans