About
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Research and Collections section strives to discover and document biological diversity, promote environmental awareness and relate the natural sciences to everyday life. The Museum’s collections — more than 2 million specimens — focus on zoology, geology and paleontology of North Carolina and the southeastern United States. In addition to maintaining the state’s zoological collections, Museum scientists: conduct primary research in the natural sciences; collaborate on research projects with universities, state and federal agencies and international organizations; and interpret natural history for the public. There are seven units in the R&C section
Amphibians & Reptiles
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ amphibian and reptile collection, started in the late 1800s by Museum co-founder C.S. Brimley, contains approximately 200,000 specimens. Learn more »
Birds
Our bird collection is one of the three largest of its kind in the southeastern United States and is the only collection of significant size in North Carolina. Learn more »
Fishes
Our collection of fishes comprises approximately 100,000 lots and more than a million specimens and is one of the largest regional repositories of fishes in the United States. Learn more »
Geology
Our geology collection numbers approximately 7,500 specimens, mostly from North Carolina. Unusual specimens include meteorites and samples from historic gold mines that closed in the early 1900s. Learn more »
Invertebrates
Our invertebrate collection, comprised of three units: millipedes and centipedes, freshwater crayfish and mollusks, consists of more than 50,000 catalogued lots totaling more than 641,000 specimens and is actively growing. Learn more »
Mammals
Our mammal collection contains approximately 18,000 specimens and is one of the largest regional mammal collections in the southeast. Learn more »
Paleontology
Our paleontology collection includes approximately 56,000 vertebrate, 55,000 invertebrate and 1,000 paleobotanical specimens. Learn more »
Research & Collections 
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