Catalogue of type specimens deposited in the Herpetology Collection of the Natural History Museum Gustavo Orcés V. at Escuela Politécnica Nacional (Ecuador)

Study Extent

The Herpetology Collection of  the Natural History Museum Gustavo Orcés at Escuela Politécnica Nacional (MEPN-H) encompasses specimens from all 24 provinces in Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands This comprehensive collection encompasses a total of 193 type specimens, consisting of 14 holotypes, 34 paratopotypes, and 145 paratypes, representing 10 families, 17 genera, and 32 species. Within this collection, there are 164 amphibians and 29 reptiles.

Sampling

Sampling methods vary among collectors and projects.  Most of them, include Visual Encounter Surveys (VES), sampling plots or  linear transects.

Quality Control

The consistency of data on type-specimen records was verified by comparisons with the information in original publications of the corresponding new species.

Method steps

1. The data validation and curation process commenced with an extensive search for scientific descriptions pertaining to MEPN type specimens. We compared the specimen details mentioned in the corresponding scientific paper with our collection database, field notes if available, and the physical specimens housed in our collection.

N/A

1. Chordata
   rank: phylum
2. GYMNOPHTHALMIDAE
   rank: family
3. Reptilia
   rank: class
4. HYLIDAE
   rank: family
5. Anura
   rank: order
6. COLUBRIDAE
   rank: family
7. Amphibia
   rank: class
8. Squamata
   rank: order
9. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
10. BUFONIDAE
    rank: family

Collection sites of type specimens are clustered towards the south of Ecuador in the provinces of Zamora Chinchipe, Morona Santiago and Pastaza in the Amazon region; and in the provinces of Carchi and Azuay in the Andes