Abstract
The herpetology collection of the Ewha Womans University Natural History Museum (EWNHM) represents one of the oldest and largest institutional collections in the Republic of Korea. The specimens deposited in the EWNHM represent a major historical collection of the native herpetofauna, both in species diversity and time span. However, the full inventory of the herpetology collection has never been conducted and thus the collection has received little attention from researchers. Here, the first full account of the herpetology specimens held at the EWNHM is provided, with voucher information for all documented specimens to make the collection accessible for future studies.
Highlights
Natural history collections are an invaluable repository for modern biological research
Such specimens are a valuable historical collection, they usually do not fully encompass the native herpetofauna in taxa, time span, and geographic locations (American Museum of Natural History 2020; e.g., herpetological specimens historically collected in Korea)
We found jars that contained two or more amphibian species collected from the same location
Summary
Natural history collections are an invaluable repository for modern biological research. Vouchered specimens collected during this time were deposited in natural history museums outside of the country (American Museum of Natural History 2020; e.g., a series of Bombina orientalis vouchers collected in early 1950s). Such specimens are a valuable historical collection, they usually do not fully encompass the native herpetofauna in taxa, time span, and geographic locations (American Museum of Natural History 2020; e.g., herpetological specimens historically collected in Korea). A public database (Korean Natural History Research Information System; NARIS) provides information on EWNHM specimens, this database is only a partial representation of the collection This database uses a different cataloging system from EWNHM, leading to voucher inconsistencies and potential problems of locating specimens. This means yet another change of voucher system applied to specimens, this catalogue can serve as a reference point towards reducing confusions originating from multiple conflicting voucher systems
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