How is the collection arranged ?

What kinds of data are associated with the specimens?
 
 

Our VP collections are arranged by the temporal and geographic units that describe the locality, and by taxon within locality. Due to historical factors, the heirarchical arrangement of the Cenozoic and Paleozoic/Mesozoic differ slightly.
 
 

UCMP has one of the most data-rich collections in the country and maintains these data in a series of linked databases. Expressed in its simplest form, the databases maintain information on a a variety of physical items that contribute to the scientific study of vertebrate paleontology.  These include:

• the geographic location where a specimen was found backed up by physical topographic maps;
• the actual collecting event, which is substantiated in field notes and supplemental locality data;
• taxonomic information and a basic descriptor of the specimen itself; and
• publication information.