The Spider Collections

The MCZ has a long and intensive history of spider collection, curation and research, owing to the succession of prominent arachnologists associated with the museum: J.H. Emerton, N. Banks, R.V. Chamberlin, E.B.B. Bryant, and A.M. Chickering were all MCZ affiliates at some point in their careers. The MCZ spider collection is currently one of the largest in the world, containing over 400,000 specimens, and including 3445 holotypes. All major, and most smaller, spider families are represented. Specimens come from all over the world, and include scientifically and historically valuable collections donated by the major figures listed above, as well as present Curator Emeritus Herbert Levi.

The department currently houses 3,445 spider holotypes, deposited between 1864 and the present. The type collection can be searched using our keyword-searchable catalog. The catalog, which is updated continuously, includes genus, species, author, family, locality, sex, additional type material, and a citation to the original species description. The purpose of the catalog is to facilitate the use of type specimens by taxonomists doing revisionary work. Information on spider holotypes is extracted from the original specimen label and citation. However, it is the responsibility of the researcher to verify citations to be included in publications.