The MVZ mammal collection is the third largest in the United States and the largest such collection associated with an academic institution in this country. It contains approximately 207,000 skin, skull and fluid-preserved specimens. Nearly 19,000 are also represented by frozen or ethanol preserved tissues. In addition to overall size, the collection ranks fourth in the number of primary type specimens it contains, with 363. Specimens are acquired through the collecting activities of MVZ biologists, as well as through donations from state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and miscellaneous salvaged specimens. Our oldest specimens date back to circa 1858. The primary use of the collections is for molecular and morphological systematics; however, they also are used for epidemiology, stable isotope studies, molecular evolution, parasitology, paleontology, and zooarchaeology..

The collection is synoptic in coverage (see distribution map). It includes representatives of 25 of the 26 currently recognized orders, almost 60% of families, and more than 50% of the genera of Recent mammals. Rodents and bats are especially well-represented and the collections are known for large species of individuals from multiple localities of single species. Geographic coverage is worldwide, but strongest for western North America, i.e., the U.S. including Alaska, western Canada, and northwestern Mexico. Large and significant collections are present from Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.

Karyotype (chromosome) preparations are available for ca. 4,000 rodent specimens. Envelopes contain one to six slides per specimen and some are accompanied by black and white photos and/or 35 mm negatives of chromosome spreads.

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