Collections Overview
The ASU Natural History Collections are comprised of nine different collections that support the university's teaching, research and public outreach functions. They are supported by the School of Life Sciences. Our collections emphasize flora and fauna from the arid southwest of North America, especially Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. Collectively, our holdings rank among the largest collections of Sonoran desert biota in the world.
The Ichthyology Collection (ASUFIC) contains approximately 22,000 lots representing more than 580 species, with a geographic concentration in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. ASUFIC represents the largest collection of freshwater fishes in Arizona, with historic specimens of threatened, endangered, and extinct species. Please direct inquiries regarding collection access and specimen use to the Collection Manager, Dr. Dakota Rowsey, at drowsey@asu.edu
The Mammalogy Collection (ASUMAC) contains approximately 9,300 specimens representing more than 160 species, with a geographic concentration in the southwestern United States. The research collection represents the second-largest mammal collection in Arizona and contains regionally important collections from the Sonoran Desert, Mogollon Rim, and Kaibab Plateau. Please direct inquiries regarding collection access and specimen use to the Collection Manager, Dr. Dakota Rowsey, at drowsey@asu.edu
The Arizona State University Mollusk Collection (ASUMOC) is curated by volunteer and avid shell enthusiast, Dale Snyder. It consists of approximately 140,000 shell specimens, and includes members from five of the seven classes of the phylum Mollusca.
The Ornithology Collection (ASUORC) at the ASU Natural History Collections contains approximately 2,000 specimens representing more than 300 species, with global coverage and a geographic concentration in the southwestern United States, northwestern Mexico, and the Neotropics. Please direct inquiries regarding collection access and specimen use to the Collections Manager, Dr. Dakota Rowsey, at drowsey@asu, or the Curator, Dr. Jay Taylor, at jetaylo6@asu.edu.
The Herpetology Collection (ASUHEC) contains approximately 40,000 specimens representing more than 900 species, with global coverage and a geographic concentration in the western United States and northwestern Mexico. Our collections contain a particularly dense geographic coverage of Arizona tiger salamanders. Please direct inquiries for specimen use and collection access to the Collection Manager, Dr. Dakota Rowsey, at drowsey@asu.edu
The Fossil Plant Collection (ASUPC) is a unique resource for the ASU Natural History community, supporting plant evolutionary research, teaching, and public outreach.
The Hasbrouck Insect Collection (ASUHIC) is a vibrant part of the ASU Natural History Collections community, with a diverse array of insect research, learning, and outreach activities.
The ASU Lichen Herbarium (ASU) is among the ten largest collections of lichenized fungi in the US; it contains some 115,000 specimens. The collection has a particularly strong focus on the Greater Sonoran Desert Region [northwestern Mexico: Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, western Chihuahua and northern Sinaloa; and southwestern USA, Arizona, southern California].
The Arizona State University Vascular Plant Herbarium (ASU) is among the most important in the greater Sonoran Desert region with over 315,000 specimens. We are particularly proud of our holdings of Cactaceae which include over 1,100 chromosome counts.