03/07/2023
Students from University of New Mexico's Herpetological Collections Management course visited the Station this weekend. They gave the reptile and amphibian specimens in our teaching collection a facelift: replacing jars, updating labels, and documenting every individual. Thanks to Tom Giermakowski and the whole class for the visit!
Image descriptions:
1. The class proudly displays the specimens they helped curate. Each student holds a jar with a reptile or amphibian inside. They are standing in front of a museum case, full of the Field Station's teaching collection of herps.
2. Rows of jars sit on a counter. In the nearest jar is a western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus). It has a very cute snoot.
3. A black-tailed rattlesnake specimen lays on a metal tray. It is being photographed before being put back into its jar. The namesake black band of tail scales, just below the rattles, is apparent. This species was recently split into two groups: Crotalus molossus and Crotalus ornatus. We are contacting rattlesnake experts to correctly label this specimen.
4. Students and their professor stand around a workbench. Each person is engrossed in their curatorial work, holding jars, photographing specimens, and transcribing their labels.
