Mammalogy is the study of mammals and their diversity and distribution on earth. Vertebrate animals (those with backbones) that have hair and produce milk for their newborns make up the class Mammalia. The 4,632 living species of mammals are spread throughout all the earth's environments and make up 26 diverse orders, such as Carnivores, whales, bats, rodents, and primates, to name just a few.

The Burke Museum's mammal collection consists of 51,641 specimens (as of August 2004) and includes 70 species of carnivores, 140 bat species, 262 rodent species, 38 primate species, and 37 marine mammal species. Only a few of our specimens are on view in the museum galleries.

The mammalogy program develops and maintains its valuable collection and trains students in research that is based on the collection. For example, the techniques of molecular biology are used to investigate how mammals have responded to environmental change over the past several million years. Beyond this, it's possible to evaluate how human influences such as deforestation and global climate change are further affecting biodiversity.

Mammals of Washington Learn all about the state's 148 species of mammals—their habits and habitats, what they eat, where they live, and more! Collection The Burke Mammal Collection ranks as the 9th-largest university collection in North America and the 18th-largest of all collections in the Western Hemisphere. Most specimens are from Washington and the Pacific Northwest; South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe are also represented. Search the online collection database. Learn more about the history and makeup of the collection. The Burke also participates in a multi-museum mammal database (MaNIS).

Research Read about current research projects. Plus, see a list of recent research publications, dissertations, and theses. People Meet the Mammalogy Division staff and students.

How does climate change affect Northwest mammals? Using new molecular techniques for examining DNA, Burke researchers study mammal genes to discover how changes in climate and habitat affect animal populations. Learn more about this fascinating new program!