Introduction The Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH) derives its purpose, mission, and authority as the natural history museum for the State of Florida from Florida Statute § 1004.56, which formally established the institution in 1917 at the University of Florida. Relevant portions are excerp
(AAM) and the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) to which FLMNH subscribes, have
Thunnus atlanticus These migratory tuna prefer the warm coastal waters of the Western Atlantic, where they form large schools with skipjack tuna and strain prey out of the water like smaller fish, squid, and shrimp. Torpedo-shaped and strong swimmers, they are dark on top, fading to silver and th
They have small bronze colored finlets running from their sturdy pectoral and anal
A new book by a Florida Museum researcher challenges traditional theories about the exchange of prehistoric pottery and its value among ancient peoples in north Florida and southern Georgia. “The Swift Creek Gift: Vessel Exchange on the Atlantic Coast� by Neill Wallis, an assistant curator of arc
Cooking vessels have not been singled out as exchange items in the past because they
As a child, Megan Ennes dreamed of becoming a geologist – that is, until she discovered zoology. Zoology, in turn, was eclipsed by marine biology. What never wavered, though, was her family’s encouragement of her interest in science. Now, Ennes works with children and their families to ensure the
“If I could have written my own job description, it would have been this position
The Florida Museum asked its members to share their most beloved natural history treasures for an online exhibition. Enjoy a few of their submissions below! If you’d like to submit an object to be included in the exhibition, please send a photo wit
– Louise B. What is it?
Paragaleus pectoralis This small shark has a slender body, long snout, and large oval eyes. The fins are somewhat small except for the elongated, pointed pectoral fins, and it has an asymmetric caudal (tail) fin. This specialized feeder preys mostly on cephalopods like squid and octopus, but will
Danger to Humans There have been no documented attacks on humans by the Atlantic
 The first Collectors Day at the Florida Museum of Natural History was part of our International Museum Day celebration on May 18, 1980. It hosted 20 collections and highlighted the importance of them and museums. Our last Collectors Day in 2020 hosted over 110 collections with 2,100 visitors, conti
“A collection is a cohesive group of items that have special meaning to the person
The showy colors of some butterflies could advertise their speed and nimbleness, much like a coat of bright yellow paint on a sports car. A new study shows birds can learn to recognize these visual cues, avoiding not only butterflies they’ve failed to nab in the past but similar-looking species as w
€™s a common idea that being distasteful is one of the best kinds of defense to have
A new book co-authored by a Florida Museum researcher examines the rich and distinct histories of the Caribbean islands before the arrival of Europeans and presents findings from the first excavation of a Carib culture site. In “The Caribbean before Columbus,� Florida Museum of Natural History Ca
Some of the findings surprised the archaeologists, who together have about 80 years
The Florida Museum of Natural History offers several awards to support and recognize student research. These include Travel Awards, which assist with research-related travel, and Student Excellence Awards, which honor outstanding student research in natural science, biodiversity, or anthropology. A
All of these awards are funded by the generous endowments from individuals who have
