Snakes in jars float in preservation fluid.

Shelves full of preserved snakes display their patterns Oct. 11, 2022, at the Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center. 

File photo / Mary Abby Goss

Ever wondered what happens at the herpetology museum on the west side of campus?

Filled with rows of jarred amphibians and reptiles floating in preservation fluid, the museum houses the largest preserved collection of reptiles and amphibians in Texas, and is in the top 10 in the world, said Gregory Pandelis, collections manager and biological curator.

Pandelis said the museum is usually only open to scientists, but in the name of connecting with more students and the community, once a semester they open the museum to the community through the Maverick Herpetology Club.

Students and residents will have the chance to see the museum at the Night at the Museum tour, which will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center.

“I love doing tours like this,” Pandelis said. “It’s always very exciting for me, and I love showing people around and telling them about what we do.”

He said he will show attendees all of the different parts of the museum and the specimens, and talk about the research done at the museum, why the specimens are important and why they are a valuable resource at UTA.

Reptiles and amphibians are a really important part of natural ecosystems, Pandelis said. They are both predators and prey, and studying them helps to understand the world around us.

“I think it’s very important to bring what we do to the public in a way that’s understandable to the average person,” Pandelis said.

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