Three years after Louis Agassiz died, Washington-based photographer Henry Ulke, also known as the ‘Painter of presidents’ and the photographer of Lincoln’s famous deathbed picture, painted Agassiz’s posthumous portrait (oil on canvas). In 1877, this portrait was purchased by the US Capitol (Washington DC). Thereafter, it soon went missing and remained unnoticed for nearly one hundred and fifty years, until the same portrait was recently found by shark researcher Frederik Mollen (Belgium) at a sale by Swann Auction Galleries, New York.

Many instituions provided archival...

Read more about US Capitol’s lost painting of MCZ founder found after 150 years by Belgian shark researcher

Collection departments at the MCZ are currenlty closed. While MCZ staff continue to work from home, no researchers are able to access the collections for the forseeable future. 

We are currenlty accepting applications for summer GUR grants and ...

Read more about Update from the MCZ during the Covid-19 outbreak

Congratulations to MCZ Faculty-Curator of Ornithology Dr. Scott Edwards and colleague Dr. Richard Kliman, the recipients of the first ASN/SSE/SSB Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award. 

This award recognizes individuals who have strengthened our community by promoting...

Read more about Scott Edwards and colleague awarded the innaugrual Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award

A new genus of terrestrial lizard is named after Edward O. Wilson, Faculty Emeritus in the MCZ. Wilsonosaura is dedicated to Prof. Wilson in recognition of his lifelong contributions to biodiversity research and conservation. The genus is described in the journal Salamandra. 

Read more about New lizard genus named for Edward O. Wilson

The MCZ is now accepting applications for a Vertebrate Paleontology Technician and Preparator. 

The Vertebrate Paleontology Technician and Preparator operates and manages the Paleontology Preparation Laboratory and cares for fossils in the vertebrate paleontology collection. Research priorities of the department are established by the Faculty-Curator, Stephanie Pierce.

... Read more about Now accepting applications for Vertebrate Paleontology Technician and Preparator

A recent study from MCZ Faculty-Curator of Lepidoptera, Naomi Pierce, and collaborators, looked at tissues in butterfly wings that are supplied by circulatory, neural and tracheal systems, indicating that the wing is a dynamic, living structure. Behavioral assays show that butterflies use wings to sense visible and infrared radiation, responding with specialized behaviors to prevent overheating of their wings. The study is published in... Read more about Living portions of butterfly wings prevent overheating

Congratulations to Stephanie Pierce, MCZ Faculty-Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, recipient of the 2019 Fannie Cox Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching for her exceptional teaching in introductory science courses. Courses Stephanie teaches include How to Build an Animal, Vertebrate Evolution, and The Fishy Aspects of the Human Body.  Read more about Stephanie Pierce awarded prize for Excellence in Science Teaching