The herpetology collection at the Academy started with just a single Galápagos tortoise shell in 1853, but has since become one of the largest collections of reptiles and amphibians in the world. It is now the 6th largest collection of its kind and is an important resource for Academy scientists and others who are studying these animals.

In addition to documenting species and their global distribution, the Academy’s scientists and partners are engaged in various aspects of herpetological research and conservation, including examining evolutionary relationships among different taxonomic groups, working to protect against population threats, and developing captive breeding programs to help maintain the genetic stock of critically endangered species. The collection includes over 315,000 catalogued specimens from 175 countries.