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 There
are two types of collections in the Department of Life Sciences
Zoology Museum: The Zoology Teaching Collection and the
Zoology Research Collection.
The
Zoology Teaching Collection supports the practical requirement
of the Undergraduate Zoology courses during the academic
year and consists of the following:
The
Vertebrate Collection, which contains representatives of
all the major classes:
- The
Fish Collection, which is quite extensive, with representatives
of both marine and fresh water species. The collection
continues to grow through the addition of field-collected
specimens from the undergraduate practical sessions
and field trips.
- The
Amphibian Collection, which contains juvenile stages
of at least four (4) Anuran specimens including the
distinctive Pseudis paradoxus tadpole. The Apoda and
Urodela are less well represented, with the former group
having only one (1) representative Dermorphis sp.
- The
Reptilian Collection, which has a predominance of snakes,
with eighteen (18) present. There are also eggs and
hatchlings of the endangered Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys
sp. present in this collection. There is also one (1)
Amphisbaena sp.
- The
Avian Collection, is lacking in good specimens. Those
that are present have lost most of their plumage from
wear and tear in the teaching laboratory. There are
several stuffed and dry-mounted specimens, including
two (2) duck species, the Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
and some Passerine species.
- The
Mammalian Collection, which is marked by a large assemblage
of skeletal, jaw systems, which highlight the varied
dietary types of mammals. Whole mounted skeletons of
the Mole, Pig and Man also enhance the collection. Stuffed
whole mounts of several local and foreign mammals are
also present. Quite recently, the collection was embellished
with the addition of skull reproductions of the proposed
earlier ancestors of man, Australopitheus specie, a
gift from a visiting research scientist, Dr Judy St.
Omer. Also in our collection is the excavated remains
of Trinidad's oldest resident - The
Banwari Man
Both
the Avian and the Mammalian Collections double for reference
and teaching purposes.
The
Invertebrate Collection, which covers most phyla, ranging
from the Porifera to the Echinodermata.
Staff
contact: Dr Dawn Phillip
Technician:
Mrs Savitree Rattan
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