Snakes and Lizards (Squamata)
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of around 500 specimens of snakes (Serpentes), lizards (Lacertilia) and worm lizards (Amphisbaenia). These date from the mid 19th century to 2006. This collection comprises about 300 snakes, 200 lizards and 6 worm lizards (Amphisbaena fuliginosa). These come from all over the world, including Africa, India, Japan, Australia, North and South America, Europe and the UK. The vast majority of the specimens are preserved in spirit, although there are some mounted specimens, dried skins, skeletons, casts and two eggs. Many specimens were originally in the Andersonian College collection in Glasgow. In turn they were then passed to the University of Glasgow, presented to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in the 1960s, and given Glasgow Museums in 1988. Snakes, lizards and worm lizards are all from the order of Squamata, the largest recent order of reptiles. Members of this order are distinguished by their skins, which have horny scales or shields.
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