Database, Specimens, & Access
To request a loan of specimens, please use our loan request form, and our collection manager will respond within 2 business days.
A snapshot of our collections database (~June 2023), representing label data for approximately 35% of the collection holdings, is accessible via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) portal. More detailed data is available upon request from the collection manager via the loan request form.
Specimen loans are available to qualified researchers. Loans are generally made for a period of two years, renewable upon request. Primary types are generally loaned for a period of three months from the date received by the borrower and are non-renewable. Holotypes, allotypes, and a major portion of the type series of each species described based on INHS specimens must be returned. Details of the collection policy are here.
The collection is open to the general public, but only by appointment. Tours are generally on the 15th or 1st of the month (or the closest business day). Email the collection manager to arrange a tour.