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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

On Monday, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Half-Earth Day will be held in Sanders Theatre! Join us to celebrate E.O. Wilson's legacy of discovery and hope, honoring our planet and the bold efforts to understand, protect, and sustain the living world. Tickets at bit.ly/4rdtoEl

a person sitting on a couch, speaking into a microphone

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Applications for MCZ-funded field research & conference support are due on Oct 1! Professor & Curator Stephanie Pierce received funding for an expedition to Cape Breton in Nova Scotia where her lab scoured the island’s dramatic Carboniferous cliffs for ancient tetrapod fossils bit.ly/4hPno1k

Three individuals carrying buckers walk on a rocky shore next to a large cliff by the water. They are near a forested area, and the sky is clear.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Read about the newest exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the MCZ specimens on display. Visit for free on October 12, Indigenous People's Day, sponsored by Half-Earth Day at Sanders Theatre on the same day. eowilsonfoundation.org/.../outreach...

news.harvard.edu

Curios and curiouser— Harvard Gazette

With exhibits including a dodo, fish mummified in pearl, and a ‘King Kong’-connected Komodo, ‘discovering the stories is one of the best jobs’

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Join us on Indigenous Peoples' Day for Half-Earth at Ten, in Sanders Theatre. Larry Spotted Crow Mann (Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe) will present poetry, music, and story — pathways to what data alone cannot carry, and close with young people from the Ohketeau Cultural Center. bit.ly/4rdtoEl

An individual wearing a light blue shirt and a wide-brimmed hat holds a microphone and native instrument in a wooden, high-ceilinged venue. There are people in the background, some wearing traditional attire.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Half-Earth Day 2026 is presented by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation together with @mczharvard.bsky.social, the Harvard University Herbaria, @harvardsalata.bsky.social and the Harvard University Native American Program

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Join us for Half-Earth Day, Oct 12, Sanders Theatre! Scientists, artists & Indigenous leaders explore how courage, imagination & wisdom pass from one generation to the next. Photographer Florian Schulz will share immersive stories of wildlife & connected Indigenous communities bit.ly/4rdtoEl

A bear and a seagull are positioned near each other in a dark, natural setting. The bear is illuminated from behind, highlighting its fur, while the seagull stands on the ground nearby.

A whale breaches the ocean surface, creating a large splash against a clear blue sky.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Tickets are now available for Half-Earth Day: Half-Earth at Ten: Honoring a Legacy of Hope A landmark celebration of biodiversity, science, and the enduring vision of E.O. Wilson — Oct 12, Indigenous Peoples Day, Sanders Theatre, Harvard. Tickets bit.ly/4rdtoEl Program bit.ly/4gLxujP

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Miriam Hueytletl Pérez is visiting the MCZ to examine banded brittle, analyzing external and internal morphology, morphometrics, and molecular data to resolve this species complex—likely redescribing the species originally described in 1851 and potentially discovering previously undescribed species.

A person is sitting at a desk with a microscope and an open laptop, smiling at the camera. The setting appears to be a laboratory or study area.

A collection of small specimen boxes on a table, each containing brittle stars and labeled with handwritten notes. Scissors and a person's hand are visible nearby.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Scientific glassblowers Laurel North & Lucas Clarke recently visited to acquire polariscope imagery of Blaschka glass invertebrate models and antique specimen jars. The images reveal internal stress, which can inform fabrication techniques used and conservation priorities. Images: Clarke, J Woodward

A colorful glass object with bubbles inside, resembling a small sculpture, is placed on a wooden surface. The background features a gradient of pink and purple hues.

A glass model of a group of translucent, spiky sea anemones with bulbous bases is displayed on a flat surface against a softly lit background in shades of pink and purple.

A person with curly hair uses a camera to photograph a small glass invertebrate model on a table. Another individual stands in the background with a laptop.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Applications for undergrad research grants are due Sept 8! GUR's support research across Harvard, like Liam Joy's recent research on phytoecdysteroids in the Nett Lab (@harvardmcb.bsky.social) and ant-plant interactions in the N. Pierce Lab (@harvardoeb.bsky.social). More info bit.ly/4lIg1aO

Vertical racks holding trays of small green plants in a well-lit indoor farming setup. Colored tags are visible, and boxes are stacked in the background.

A group of ants surrounds several test tubes inside a clear container. The test tubes contain various colored liquids and substances. The setting appears to be a laboratory environment.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Independent researcher George Klein visited to examine this American alligator skull, collected in 1888. It is likely the largest in museum collections, and possibly ever known. It weighs 37.25 pounds, and is estimated to have belonged to a alligator over 14.5 feet long!

A person is standing in a laboratory holding a large skull of an American alligator. The lab is filled with scientific equipment and shelves. The person has short hair and is wearing glasses and a light-colored shirt.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Reconstructions of Forelimb Musculature in Extinct Pre-Therian Synapsids - is now available in the journal Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, available open access at @bioone.bsky.social bit.ly/4x6VWkV

Fossilized remains showcasing a long body with ribs and vertebrae visible. The skull is elongated, displaying sharp teeth. The specimen is laid on a light background.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Molecular Phylogeny, Diversification, and Biogeography of Cascade Frogs (Ranidae: Amolops) from India: An Integrative Assessment with Description of Three New Species - is now available doi.org/10.3099/MCZ88.1 image: Amolops cf. medogensis from Northeast India, by lead author S. D. Biju

A brightly colored frog with orange and yellow patterns sits on a rock against a green background.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Taylor Nienaber and Sam Trail from Florida Atlantic U study leatherback sea turtle visual fields and how ontogenetic shifts may impact feeding behavior. They study live hatchlings at the FAU Marine Lab but came to the MCZ to review head morphology of adult leatherbacks and other life stages!

Two individuals in a laboratory setting smile while handling a large turtle head specimen. Shelving in the background holds various tools and supplies.

A person sitting in a laboratory setting with a small glass jar containing a preserved turtle specimen.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Jafnoon Khatun, a McNulty Scholar from CUNY Hunter College, spent the summer as an intern in our malacology collection, working on four projects including Venom Across the MCZ and the US federally-funded InSLiDE microscope slide cleanup project. Image of Jafnoon (right) working with two MCZ staff

Three people are organizing numerous small bags containing shell specimens. They are working on a large table in a storage area with cabinets and shelves in the background.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Congratulations to MCZ Curator in Malacology & @harvardoeb.bsky.social professor Carrie Albertin, recipient of a 2026 Klingenstein Fellowship Awards in Neuroscience for her project Mechanisms of Neurogenesis in the Largest Invertebrate Brain. image: Baby cephalopods, by Matt Cosby/New York Times

A hand carefully holds a petri dish under a microscope. The dish contains several small, round baby cephalopods. The lighting is focused on the dish, highlighting its contents.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Jack Thompson, an ecology student at the U of Florida, visited MCZ herpetology for his research on the diet and cranial morphology of alligator snapping turtles. Here he is holding a loggerhead skull collected in 1858. Visit our database at bit.ly/4z5KlE7 to read the attached note!

A person is seated at a laboratory desk holding a large turtle skull and smiling. The room is filled with various scientific equipment and shelves stocked with jars and containers.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Researchers from the Rhode Island School of Design x Hyundai Motor Group Regeneration Studio recently visited MCZ collections as they investigate biomimicry principles as applied to future mobility and electric vehicle design. They examined limb morphology on arboreal salamanders and many more.

A person in a lab uses tweezers to remove a lizard from a jar near a microscope. In the background, more jars and lab equipment are visible.

Three people are examining a fish specimen using a Leica microscope in a laboratory setting. One person is adjusting the microscope while the others observe closely. Shelves with various items are visible in the background.

Three people are in a storage room filled with shelves of jars, some labeled. One person is holding a jar and appears to be showing it to the others, suggesting a discussion about its contents. The room is well-lit and organized.

A group selfie taken indoors with several individuals smiling at the camera.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Steve Auscavitch from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History visited our Invertebrate Zoology collection to study deep-sea sponges and black corals collected by the E/V @nautiluslive.org from both the central and western Pacific Ocean.

A person is seated at a desk in a laboratory, examining biological samples in clear bags. There are various lab equipment and containers on the desk. On the wall, posters display scientific diagrams, and a small box labeled "INVERTEBRATE" is visible. The person is writing in a notebook, with a laptop open nearby.

Three people stand in a storage room filled with shelves of jars. The individuals are surrounded by various jars placed on carts and shelves.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Applications for the 2026 Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship are now open. Applications are due September 30 and are open to those pursing the discovery and formal taxonomic description of Earth's animal species and botanists working on plant-animal interactions. Apply at bit.ly/4fHkU2S

Shelf-lined room filled with preserved specimens in jars, including reptiles and a large tortoise. A promotional text on the image reads: "Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026. Applications due September 30.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Save the date for Half-Earth Day at 10, held at Sanders Theatre on October 12! More information at bit.ly/4gLxujP

A scenic landscape with lush green hills and a misty horizon. The image promotes Half-Earth Day on October 12, 2026, at Sanders Theatre, Harvard University. The event's theme is "A Legacy of Hope," highlighting biodiversity and global conservation efforts. Logos at the bottom include the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, Museum of Comparative Zooloy, Harvard University Herbaria, the Harvard University Native American Program and the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

In frogs, chlorosis refers to the accumulation of the green-to-blue bile pigment biliverdin in the blood, lymph, bones, and soft tissues, giving those tissues a distinct blue-green hue. Study led by Silionamã Dantas, with mentorship from former MCZ Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellow Miquéias Ferrão.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

A new species of nurse frog from the Brazilian Amazon has just been described in the MCZ journal Breviora bit.ly/4yuXfeD. Allobates tanaru is the first known chlorotic species in the poison frog superfamily Dendrobatoidea, with striking greenish hatchlings.

A small frog with a dark brown and light tan speckled body sits on a mossy log in a dark forest environment. A bubble-like vocal sac is visible under its mouth, indicating it is in the process of calling. The surrounding area is dimly lit, with blurred foliage in the background.

A close-up image of a translucent green sac attached to a leaf, containing small visible embryos with white features. The sac is enveloped by greenery.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

The secret can be revealed…our Vertebrate Paleontology department is featured in the upcoming @pbs.org series EONS: LIFE AND DEATH ON PANGEA! The first two episodes premiere on July 29th. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this outstanding project and excited for you all to see it!

Two people stand in a storage room with archives in open drawers. One person holds a clapperboard. The other person makes a peace sign.

Two individuals are seated at a table in a laboratory setting with various specimens and tools. The room is well-lit with overhead lights and has equipment for scientific research.

A television crew is filming two people in a room with shelves. Equipment like microphones and cameras are visible.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

MCZ Malacology staff are rehousing wood from Ruth Turners research ~50 years ago. This piece was from research published in Science in 1973, "Wood-Boring Bivalves, Opportunistic Species in the Deep Sea," and is one of ~5,130 uncatalogued lots from Turner's research that we hope to database soon.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Ernst Mayr Grant recipient Ian Solon Ito visited MCZ ichthyology to study Hypomasticus, a poorly known South American fish genus in the family Anostomidae. Ian examined specimens collected more than a century ago during the Thayer and Hassler expeditions from habitats that have since deteriorated.

A person stands in a narrow aisle between shelves filled with jars containing various specimens. The shelves are white with yellow bins, and the background features a brick wall. The person is casually dressed and looking at the camera.

A person is sitting in a lab, smiling, and holding a large fish. They are surrounded by various scientific equipment, jars, and storage boxes.

A close-up view of a fish jaw showing sharp teeth and translucent red accents along the gum line.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

It was a beautiful day for MCZ staff to visit the @whoi.edu! They viewed three research vessels - a source of over 50,000 specimen lots cataloged in the MCZ over the years - and toured the @mblscience.bsky.social, visiting Carrie Albertin’s (@harvardoeb.bsky.social prof, Curator in Malacology) lab.

A group of people standing on the deck of a large boat, smiling at the camera. They are outdoors, near water and a dock. The weather is clear and sunny.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Harvard students traveled through diverse habitats in Arizona for the OEB course Biology and Diversity of Birds taught by Scott Edwards. The MCZ funds spring break trips for many OEB courses, providing field experience that compliments classroom and lab learning. photo by Asher Montgomery

A group of individuals observing nature in a desert setting with tall cacti and distant hills. One person is using binoculars, and another has a camera phone. They appear focused on the surrounding landscape.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Congratulations to @harvardoeb.bsky.social PhD graduates advised by MCZ Faculty-Curators! Top left to bottom right: Amber Rock (M Srivastava) Maya Woolfolk (H Hoekstra) Arianna Lord (G Giribet) Jared Richards (@invertebratepal.bsky.social) Juli Mayorga (G Giribet) Katherine Angier (G Giribet)

six people smiling at the camera, in different settings

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Did you know that Nantucket used to have a wild-living population of prairie dogs? A few black-tailed prairie dogs introduced in the 1890s quickly overwhelmed the locals, who raised funds to eradicate them in under 10 years. Caption and images of two MCZ specimens by M. Mullon #mczMammalogy

Two preserved prairie dog specimens are placed on an open ledger with handwritten entries. A small skull with jawbones are positioned below the specimens. Identification tags are attached to the specimens.

Two praire dog skin specimens lie on an open notebook in a library setting. Nearby, there is a small skull and jaw bones. Shelves filled with books are in the background.

A prairie dog specimen skin rests on an open book in a library setting. Shelves filled with books are visible in the background.

Animal skull and jawbones labeled "Bangs 983" resting on a handwritten list of numbers.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Our Herpetology department just finished rehousing their primary type specimens: 1,800+ jars (nearly 2,700 specimens) moved into a more space‑efficient and organized setup. The process took three months and provided the bonus benefit of rediscovering dozens of hidden types along the way.

A well-organized storage room with rows of shelves filled with jars, containers, and other items. The shelves contain scientific specimens, neatly arranged in a brightly lit environment.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Beyond the fossils and into the archives, intern Julia Weisz dove into the Vertebrate Paleontology department’s map collection to begin inventorying, rehousing, and digitizing this valuable set of documents.

Woman with dark hair and a tan blouse standing behind a table with a map laid out in front of her.

Map flatfile cabinet with two drawers partially pulled out showing drawer conditions before and after rehousing.

map showing the southeast region of Virginia circa 1899

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Reposted by Museum of Comparative Zoology

Knowable Magazine @knowablemag.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

🐍 New fossils and modern techniques are updating the story of how our favorite sssslithering reptiles came to be. ✍️ Amber Dance: knowmag.org/4cUX0Rl

knowmag.org

Evolution of snakes: Scientists unravel the mysssteries

Huge snakes, tiny snakes, poisonous snakes and constrictor snakes, snakes that slither, burrow or swim: New fossils and modern technology are tracing serpent origins

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

It's an exciting time when a specimen gets installed as an exhibit. Here are some sneak peeks of a Dimetrodon specimen that was returned to the MCZ after a 60-yr loan, given a visual refresh and stabilization, and installed in the Northwest Building on Harvard campus. Stay tuned for the full reveal!

People working together to install an exhibit display case containing a large Dimetrodon skeleton against a wooden wall. They are using a dolly for assistance.

A person in a yellow shirt painting the tail of a Dimetrodon skeleton, against white textured surface.

A finger is playfully touching the snout of a Dimetrodon skeleton displayed on a textured wall.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Harvard students traveled to Utah over spring break last month for the @harvardoeb.bsky.social course The History and Evolution of Life on Earth, led by our Faculty-Curator in Invertebrate Paleontology Javier Ortega-Hernández and funded by the MCZ.

A group of people smiling and posing for a selfie in front of a large rock formation, possibly in Arches National Park. They are wearing various hats and sunglasses. The sun is setting behind the rock arch in the background.

A group of people stands in a rocky, desert-like landscape, engaging in a discussion. They are wearing sun hats and casual outdoor clothing. Sparse trees and a clear blue sky are in the background.

A group of people is examining dinosaur footprints in a desert landscape. They are gathered around a measuring tape placed on the ground. Some individuals are crouched, while others are sitting. The background features clear blue skies and sparse desert vegetation.

A group of eleven people stands together in a large storage area filled with shelves containing large fossils.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Check out this stunning fossil and life reconstruction of the chelicerate Megachelicerax, which lived 500 million years ago! @invertebratepal.bsky.social @harvardoeb.bsky.social Credit: @cambrianlife.bsky.social and Masato Hattori/Harvard University. Learn more at NYT nyti.ms/4tu8DnQ

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Are you a biologist with a focus on malacology or invertebrate zoology? The MCZ is looking to hire a Curatorial Assistant in our malacology department! Apply at bit.ly/4sbHCnL

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

The 2026 spring deadline for Ernst Mayr Grants supporting research in animal systematics is tomorrow April 1! Aluska Santos from Brazil's Federal University of Paraná received funding to visit collections in Chile and Venezuela for her project on a small family of leaf beetles, Lamprosomatinae.

A person smiling near a desk with several open drawers containing organized insect specimens. A lamp is on the desk alongside a notepad and pencil.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

A peek into our mammalogy collection featuring marsupials, sloths, and the primates that manage the collection - Madeleine, Mark and Nina. photo by Juan Giribet

Three individuals stand smiling in a storage area lined with metal shelves containing various natural specimens, in a museum storage facility. The lighting is bright and the atmosphere is clean and orderly.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Harvard students traveled to the Florida Keys over spring break for the @harvardoeb.bsky.social course Biology and Evolution of Invertebrate Animals, looking for creatures like this sea slug. The MCZ funds spring break trips for many OEB courses, adding a meaningful field component to classwork.

A marine nudibranch with translucent, feathery appendages on its back is shown against a black background.

A group of people standing together on a rocky shoreline with a partially cloudy sky at sunset. The sun is low on the horizon over calm water.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Rock, Srivastava (2026) Totipotency and high plasticity in an embryo with an invariant, fate-specifying cleavage program doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...

doi.org

Redirecting

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Study from MCZ & @harvardoeb.bsky.social reveals surprising totipotency in early worm embryos, going against previous assumptions that because individual cells at this stage have different roles, removing or rearranging them would prevent growth of a complete organism. @currentbiology.bsky.social

Four stages of early embryonic development: a single cell, two cells, four cells, and six cells, shown against a black background.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

MCZ staff have been assisting with cleaning and updating the New England Forest exhibit (featuring MCZ specimens) in the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Vitrines (glass display cases) are being added to protect some of the specimens on display that were previously exposed.

A person wearing a white protective suit and purple gloves is interacting with a mounted bobcat in a museum exhibit. The scene is set against a backdrop depicting a natural woodland environment.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

A peek into our collections showcasing a Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) specimen. Kodiak bears are a subspecies of brown bear that exist only in the Alaskan Kodiak Archipelago. They are the largest brown bear and comparable in size to polar bears. photo by Juan Giribet

A long hallway lined with white storage cabinets. A taxidermy bear head is visible inside an open cabinet drawer on the right. The cabinets have numbered labels and metal handles. The ceiling is equipped with fluorescent lights.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Thanks to the careful work of our curatorial assistants, a valuable holotype (a specimen used when describing a new species) was discovered after being lost for over 90 years! Rediscovery of the enigmatic holotype of Buthus barbouri Werner, 1932 ... Zootaxa at bit.ly/4rz3HfY

A close-up image of a preserved scorpion specimen, featuring a detailed view of its segmented body and legs. Inset A shows the dorsal view, Inset B displays a handwritten label noting "Buthus barbatus Werner Agadir Sous. S. Morocco Type Specimen Werner leg." Inset C provides a ventral view of the scorpion. Measurements are visible in parts of the image.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Meaghan Sorce, Curatorial Assistant in Ichthyology, recently returned from an expedition with the @schmidtocean.bsky.social R/V Falkor off the coast of South America to explore how gut microbiomes shape the fate of carbon. Meaghan collected mesopelagic fish and other specimens for the MCZ.

A sunset view from the deck of a ship at sea. The sky is painted with hues of orange, purple, and blue, with wispy clouds scattered across. The deck is equipped with machinery and containers.

Twelve white containers on ice hold various fish specimens. Each container is labeled with a colored number. Handwritten notes are beneath some containers.

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Museum of Comparative Zoology @mczharvard.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Applications for our summer GUR grants are due March 16! These grants support faculty-supervised research by Harvard College undergraduates bit.ly/4lIg1aO. Aditya Tummala received funding last year for his project Exploring Local Community Involvement in Kafue National Park, Zambia.

A person is walking on a dirt road in a rural landscape with sparse trees and dry grass on either side. Mountains are visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.

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