ABOVE: Alvin Braswell shows off an 

 alligator skull in the collection. 

 BELOW: Researchers and teachers can 

 view salamanders now rare in the wild. 



Moving down the shelves to the more advanced species, there is a 

 jar of baby needle fish found by a research vessel in 1957. Near this is a 

 large jar of flying fish found on the North River in 1986. 



The collection also includes the robust redhorse — a freshwater fish 

 found in the coastal plain and the piedmont. "The redhorse has been 

 looked for a lot in the last 15 years, and we have found only two 

 specimens," says Starnes. 



Mollusk Collections 



In the next room, freshwater and marine invertebrates crowd the 

 shelves. 



In the freshwater section, there are about 175 species of bivalves, 

 including freshwater clams found in all 17 river basins in North Carolina, 

 and crayfish. 



"Freshwater clams are the most endangered species in North 

 America," says Arthur Bogan, the museum's curator of aquatic 

 invertebrates. "We have already lost about 32 species in North America. 

 Since the clams live in rivers and streams, many of their habitats have 

 been destroyed. Dams and pollution have caused most of the problems." 



Bogan says freshwater clams are unique because of their strong ties 

 to fish. Each mussel larvae attaches itself to a specific species of fish, 

 including minnows, darters, bass and some catfish. 



To find out more about freshwater clams, Bogan is studying several 

 species from Southeast Asia. "There are some clams in China that appear 

 to be closely related to clams in North America," he says. 



The mollusk collection includes wet and dry specimens. A small 

 scotch bonnet seashell — which is the state seashell — sits on a shelf 

 near ajar of scallops. 



Salamanders to Turtles 



Moving into the next area, Braswell is like a walking encyclopaedia 

 on different species of salamanders. 



As a herpetologist, Braswell has done extensive research on the 

 Neuse River water dog and other amphibians. 



In the primitive section of salamanders, the Neuse River water dog 

 collection includes specimens, eggs, skeletons and even stomach 

 contents. "For each species, we try to document the different life stages," 

 says Braswell. 



As the salamander becomes more genetically advanced, you see a 

 jar with a congo eel that can grow to be three feet in length. 



In the shelves filled with frog specimens, there are many varieties of 

 species — from a toad frog to the tree frog. 



As we approach the small oak toad that breeds in ephemeral ponds 

 in piney woods, Braswell makes a "peep, peep" sound that echoes across the room. "The small 

 toad's call is like a baby chicken," he says. 



Because turtles can get quite large, many of these specimens are housed in big tanks filled 

 with alcohol. As Braswell opens one tank, you see a female turtle with a beige shell lying on top 

 of another turtle's green head. 



In the next tank, several Kemp's ridley sea turtles — which are on the state's endangered 

 list — are floating in alcohol. On a nearby shelf, a 40-pound, mounted, brown snapping turtle 

 that was on display at the museum for years dominates the area. 



"Arsenic was used in the mount for the turtle to keep off the bugs," says Braswell. 



18 SUMMER 2001 



