MNH completes first phase of image bank featuring representative PH amphibian and reptile species
- Written by Harlene May Viesca
- Published in News
Photo courtesy of UPLB Museum of Natural History
The first phase of the Zoological and Wildlife Specimens (ZWS) Image Bank is now completed with a total entry of 109 representative species of Philippine frogs, lizards, and snakes, the UPLB Museum of Natural History (MNH) announced last 14 January 2021.
MNH ZWS Image Bank currently displays high-resolution images, showing the different views of body parts, of 33 frog species, 37 lizard species, and 39 snake species that are found in the Philippines. Each representative species is also described by the specimen tag, accession number, locality, family, and name of the collector. The image bank also specifies the terms of use for the publicly accessible images.
As MNH’s current extension program, the image portal is an online photographed collection of specimens – like representative birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and shells – that can be found at the Zoological and Wildlife Section of the museum. It is led by University Extension Associate Camila G. Meneses and University Extension Specialist Florante A. Cruz.
According to Ms. Meneses, MNH ZWS Image Bank is also one of the products of their ongoing inventory and catalog digitization for amphibian and reptile specimen collections. “Hopefully in the future, we can include birds, mammals, mollusks, as well as other collections here,” Ms. Meneses added.
The online image library was initially revealed last 28 September 2020 during their 44th anniversary program on Youtube, where they also introduced the MNH Wikipedia page. UPLB MNH also showed their virtual Makiling’s Ark Exhibit, and the physical Photo Ark Exhibit, Audubon Exhibit, Dr. Harold Conklin’s Book Exhibit, and Smilodon Exhibit.
Aside from the Zoological and Wildlife Museum, MNH also houses the Botanical Herbarium, Entomological Museum, Forestry Herbarium and Wood Collection, Hortorium, Microbial Culture Collection, and Mycological Herbarium.
For interested faculty, students, taxonomists, systematists, and natural museum workers, high-resolution images of the said specimens may be requested for academic, research, and non-commercial purposes through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Ms. Meneses also called for student volunteers, and said that their team is looking forward to training them in expanding the MNH ZWS Image Bank.
