Herpetology Section

Herpetology section houses the national reference collection for reptiles (crocodiles, tortoises, terrapins, marine turtles, lizards, snakes) and amphibians (toads, frogs, caecilians). It forms an international reference point for systematists and taxonomists, aspiring herpetologists and students as well as farmers, medical doctors and interested members of the public. The Herpetology section, established in 1971, houses over 30, 000 specimens of about 577 species (339 reptiles, 218 amphibians). Some of the species date back to the first world war. Most of the specimens come from Kenya; however, there are sizeable collections from Uganda, Tanzania, central and Southern Africa and a smaller collection from other  sub- Saharan African countries. The collection contains type material for about 29 species (13 Holotypes and 16 Paratypes). These include Callulina dawida, Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus, Afrixalus septentrionalis, Boulengerula niedeni, Naja ashei, Chemaeleo conirostratum, Chamaeleomarsabitensis, Chamaeleo jacksoni xantholopus, Agama finchi, Hyperoliussheldricki, Afrixalus sylvaticus, Kinyongia asheorum, Chamaeleo (Trioceros) nyirit, Leptopelis mackayi and other awaiting description.

Over 95% of the collection isdigitized using File Maker Pro Database programme and with all specimens with most of the material geo-referenced

All our materials are prepared using a wet or spirit method (wet or spirit collection) and are categorized by species groups (crocodiles, snakes, turtles (Chelonians), amphibians and lizards).

Research

• Research themes: Taxonomy, conservation education, bio-informatics, zoogeography, community ecology,climate change.
• Research projects: Community conservation education on the critically endangered Sagalla caecilian Boulengerula niedeni, Sagalla Hill-Taita Hills. (Ongoing- by Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZ). 
• Taxonomy of the African sand frogs (University of Western Cape and NMK): ongoing 

Other projects

• Digitization of reptile andamphibian data (NMK supported)
• Specify database (not completed)
• ACC database (not completed)

Offer education and awareness to visiting colleges, universities and other interested groups