The Ichthyology Collection is extremely valuable for its regional focus on Arizona,
southwestern US and northern Mexico. The collection has been historically built around the activities
of the late Dr W.L. Minckley, with continued growth through collecting activities by Drs P. Marsh,
T. Dowling and A. Gill. The collection also serves as the repository for non-game fish surveys by
Arizona Department of Game and Fish. It contains around 20,000 registered lots (jars with multiple
specimens), and includes numerous threatened and endangered southwestern species. Specimens
are primarily preserved and housed in jars, plastic buckets, stainless steel, and Nalgene coffins. The
fish skeletal collection is also noteworthy, consisting of over 1,000 cleared and stained specimens of
small fishes and over 100 dry skeletons. The skeletal holdings - and an associated tissue collection -
are currently being developed to increase phylogenetic coverage in order to allow research on higher
relationships of fishes. A paper catalog of all registered specimens is maintained, though an electronic
database is being developed. A large teaching collection is maintained separately from the exclusive
research material. An extensive literature collection (reports, scientific reprints, and ichthyological books)
of the late Dr. W. L. Minckley, consisting of 200 linear feet of shelf space, is associated with the collection
and available to visiting researchers.

To arrange a visit to the collection or for more information,
please contact Anthony
Gill at anthony.gill@asu.edu.