Ichthyology

Ichthyology has been a part of research at the Academy since its beginnings, but its importance has increased dramatically since 1898 when it acquired the entire personal collection of the famous 19th century naturalist Edward Drinker Cope and Henry Weed Fowler became its first full-time curator. The collection has continued to grow in size, scope, and importance and currently houses an estimated 1.5 million cataloged specimens representing 15,000 species and 2,803 primary types in 1,925 lots plus 15,306 secondary types in 3,576 lots. The collection is taxonomically diverse, but especially strong among eels, characiforms and catfishes. Its geographic scope is world-wide, but it's strengths include freshwater species of North and South America and marine species of the Bahamas, Western Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Continued growth results from recent expeditions to the Bahamas, South America and Asia.