Museums
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ) is located at 1109 Geddes Avenue, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The museum boasts more than 15 million specimens representing all orders of birds, amphibians and reptiles, mites and insects, and more than 80% of the orders of fish and mollusks.

The Bird Division of the museum is a treasure house for those who conduct research on or need information about birds. The division helps curators and graduate students research the phylogenetic relationships, evolution, and behavior of different bird species, using the museum’s collections, molecular techniques, and field studies.

The division has a sound laboratory, as well, which helps to analyze bird vocalizations. Since 1930, the headquarters and library of the Wilson Ornithological Society, an international organization devoted to the study of birds, has been housed in the division. It has been a major center for ornithological research and graduate studies for more than 80 years.

The mammal collection of the museum was established in 1837. The most noteworthy feature of the mammal collections is that the emphasis is given on “non-traditional” specimens – that is, a preparation which replaces the traditional “skin and skull.”

Some of the major taxonomic components in the mammal collection include rodents, with more than 90,000 specimens; insectivores, with more than 6,000 specimens; lagomorphs, with more than 2,800 specimens; and North American carnivores, with more than 4,000 specimens.

The Division of Fishes in the museum is a research resource and teaching center committed to the study of fish evolution, ecology, distribution, phylogeny, and behavior.

About 3.5 million catalogued specimens are provided for study. Though most the collections are rich in specimens from the U.S. and Mexico, excellent collections from Southeast Asia, Japan, the Neotropics, and Africa are also on hand.

The Insect Division features an exquisite collection of more than 4.5 million specimens from all over the world. The aquatic groups and a significant portion of the mite collection are data-based for easy access.

Also located in the Museum of Zoology is the Edwin S. George Reserve - one of the most renowned biological research areas in the world. The 1500-acre fenced preserve is home to a large variety of flora and fauna. Several long- and short-term biological studies have been conducted at the reserve since its establishment.

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