Wet Collection

The wet collection is composed of about 1,300 specimens, mostly amphibians and reptiles, along with smaller numbers of mammals, birds and fish. Most species are from the eastern United States, although there is some western material.

Entomology

Two of the Museum's founders were entomologists, and their interests are reflected in the collection. This is the largest collection in the Museum, containing about 500,000 specimens. It is also the most valuable scientifically, containing many type specimens.

Type Collection

The type collection contains about 2,000 primary and secondary types, mostly species of homoptera, coleoptera, and orthoptera described by Davis, Leng, Notman and others in the early twentieth century. Specimens are available for examination at the Museum or by institutional loan.

Homoptera

The type collection contains about 2,000 primary and secondary types, mostly species of homoptera, coleoptera, and orthoptera described by Davis, Leng, Notman and others in the early twentieth century. Specimens are available for examination at the Museum or by institutional loan.

Coleoptera

The beetle collection contains about 300,000 specimens, collected by Howard Notman, William T. Davis, Charles W. Leng and other workers who were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Emphasis is on the northeastern United States, but there is a significant amount of material from the southeastern and western U.S. The Cicindelidae, Carabidae and Staphylinidae are particularly well represented.

Other Orders

Other orders which are well represented in the collection include the Odonata, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Dipteral and Hemiptera. As with the other parts of the entomological collection, emphasis is regional, concentrating on the eastern U.S. north of Mexico, although there is a considerable amount of western material. A collection containing about 2,000 exotic lepidoptera was received in 1992.

Marine Invertebrates

The Museum houses a large collection of marine invertebrates, consisting mostly of shells, along with dried specimens of crustacea, corals, sponges, etc.

Conchology

The shell collection contains about 10,000 specimens, many collected locally in the early days by William T. Davis, and later by Mathilde Weingartner, a former science curator at the Museum. There is also a mid-nineteenth century collection of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) from the midwestern U.S., and an equally old collection of land snails from world-wide localities. A collection of about 5,000 exotic shells from world-wide localities was received in 1974.

Other Marine Invertebrates

This is a small collection of about two hundred specimens, mostly crustaceans picked up on local beaches.

Geology

The geological collections contain in excess of 5,000 specimens of rocks, minerals and fossils. While the emphasis is on the geology of Staten Island, world-wide localities are also well represented.

Staten Island

The local collection contains about 2,100 rock, mineral and fossil specimens, thoroughly documenting the geological history of Staten Island. Of particular importance are type and figured specimens of Cretaceous plant fossils described by Arthur Hollick in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Non-Staten Island

The world-wide collection is dominated by a mineral and fossil collection obtained from the Brooklyn Museum in 1937, containing many specimens from classic 19th century localities. This is essentially a display collection.

Archaeology

The archaeology collection is centered on Staten Island sites, and is collection of approximately 15,000 prehistoric stone, bone and clay artifacts. These range in age from the Paleo Period (~12,000 years ago) up to the Contact Period (~1600).

Herbarium

The herbarium covers mostly Staten Island and the surrounding New York-New Jersey area, although there is some extralimital material. The flora of Staten Island from the 1860s to the present is well represented. Collectors include Arthur Hollick, Nathaniel Lord Britton, William T. Davis, Philip Dowell and others. The following sub-collections are included:

1. Vascular plants: 25,000 mounted specimens

2. Algae: 400 mounted specimens

3. Mosses and lichens: 500 specimens in envelopes

4. Myxomycetes: 700 mounted specimens

Diatoms

This collection was assembled by Joseph F. Burke, an authority on the genus Aulacodiscus. It contains approximately 13,000 slides, primarily of fossil marine diatoms. There is also local Staten Island material preserved in this collection. An extensive library of diatom literature accompanies the collection.

Zoology

The zoological collection contains a wide range of material, from mounted specimens and study skins to wet specimens and skeletal preparations.

Mammals

This collection contains about two hundred specimens, mostly taxidermy mounts, study skins and skeletal material of small mammals. Area covered is Staten Island and the northeastern United States.

Birds

The ornithology collection contains about 4,000 specimens, about 2,000 of which are eggs. The rest of the collection is composed of taxidermy mounts, study skins, nests and skeletal material. Geographical area covered is the northeastern United States, with a small amount of foreign material.

Annual Counts

The S.I. Museum participates in several biological counts throughout the year. These are done in cooperation with the Museum's Section of Natural History. All take place on Staten Island.

New York State Waterfowl Count - usually the second Sunday in January. Both numbers of individuals and species of waterfowl are counted.

Big Day Bird Count - usually the second Saturday in May. An informal competition between local birders to see who can spot the greatest number of bird species in a 24-hour period.

North American Butterfly Association 4th of July Butterfly Count Usually on the third or fourth Saturday in June. Numbers of individuals and species of butterflies are counted over the course of one day.

Christmas Bird Count - usually the second or third Saturday in December Both numbers of individuals and species of birds are counted in the oldest established biological count, sponsored by the National Audubon Society. All of the counts are open to participation by interested persons. Please e-mail the science curator at ejohnson@statenislandmuseum.org , or call 718.727.1135 x 110, for exact dates and further information on any of the counts.

Research Opportunities

The natural science collections at the Staten Island Museum are available by appointment for study to qualified researchers from museums, colleges, universities, and federal, state and city agencies. Specimens can also be loaned to qualified institutions. To make a research appointment, e-mail the science curator at ejohnson@statenislandmuseum.org or call 718.727.1135 x 110.

Sightings

Visit the SINaturaList Homepage for the most recent natural history sighting from Staten Island.