The Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection was established in 1936 by W.P Taylor and Dr. William B. Davis, founder of the Department of Wildlife Management (later Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences) at Texas A&M University. The TCWC maintains one of the largest University based natural history collections in the United States with over one million preserved specimens.
Represented are specimens of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and marine invertebrates. The collections within the TCWC serve as historical evidence of the distribution of wildlife in Texas, and provide valuable ecological and life history information for an array of species. The collections are used in the research of Texas A&M faculty, graduate students, and scientists worldwide, as well as for the teaching of natural history, conservation and wildlife management, both within the university and in public schools.
Tomodactylus grandis, type specimen
Fluid preserved fishes at the TCWC
The Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection primarily documents the faunal history of Texas, the United States, Central and South America, and the Gulf of Mexico. However, the collection contains specimens from around the world. The collection of specimens includes their associated historical documents, field notes, and original collector catalogs. Historically the TCWC has been an invaluable source of data for researchers in the fields of biodiversity, vertebrate evolution, endangered species, wildlife and fisheries conservation, and even forensic biology. This information is made available to the public, to increase awareness of the natural history of Texas and thus enabling the citizens of Texas to make better-informed decisions affecting their natural environment.
The collections at the TCWC continue to grow because of the work of faculty, curators, affiliated researchers, and students. Expeditions, field work associated with graduate student projects, and regional projects are several of the ways we add specimens to our collection. All specimens are professionally curated by our staff curators and data are available electronically for interested researchers. Donations of specimens are welcome as well.
Students search through seine for specimens
Mammal range before improvements
Recently, the TCWC received a Biological Research Collections improvement grant from the National Science Foundation that will be used to improve the facility's housing of bird and mammal specimens. Currently, reorganization of specimens and placement of new cabinets is underway. Check back for updates and photos of the new range!
