Additional Instructions

The database is available to browse or search. Advanced searches are aided with pick lists for institutional codes and / or taxonomy to the genus level.

Once records are selected, clicking the thumbnail image loads the side by side map and plate images for viewing (including zooming) and identification of individual specimens. Most of the plates have radio opaque square numerals which were used as internal identifiers but can also be used for scale since they measure ¼ inch x ¼ inch.

Individual plates (and / or maps) can be downloaded with a choice of various resolutions after toggling between "related views" on the menu bar. Toggling between individual records / images and "back to results" enables the user to view metadata for each specimen record on plates with multiple images.

Metadata are provided from UMMZ databases or were downloaded from Vertnet for participating collections. Often, specimen vertebral counts are listed on the maps, but have not yet been entered into the database. There are over 1,200 records, mostly from European collections, that do not list metadata (including identifications). It is the hope that by sharing the database, records that are missing data will be able to be updated. This is easily done by providing a file (such as Excel) with the fields "Institution Code" and "Catalog Number" as the update or "match fields", and with any missing data fields (including vertebral count if available) filled in. Please send any updates, questions, or concerns to Greg Schneider at [email protected].