Invertebrate Collection Databases
Bivalve Collection
The Division's catalogued holdings of bivalvia are fully accessible online in our Specify 7 database. We also push our data to partners like GBIF and InvertEBase, and our data are available in their portals as well. For most users, InvertEBase has the most intuitive search interface, but our local Specify 7 database contains the most complete data on our holdings.
Advanced users can view a guide for querying our Specify 7 collection database at the following link: Query Building in Specify 7
Crustacean Collection
The Crustacean Collection database is accessible online through the collaborative InvertEBase Symbiota portal. Some of our holdings are also available in Specify 7.
Gastropod Collection
The Division's gastropod collection database is not available online yet. However, a subset of the freshwater gastropod collection has been georeferenced and is available here:
If you have trouble using our databases, or have any questions about our collections, please contact us at invertebrates@osu.edu for assistance.
Our collection data are provided under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC 4.0 license. You MUST cite our collection and abide by our Data Access Policy to use or republish our data or images. We consider academic publishing to be a noncommercial use for the purposes of our policy.
More complete license information and data use agreement for accessing our collection data are below.
Data Access Policy
Data Access Policy
The Ohio State University Museum of Biological Diversity, as a part of the College of Arts and Sciences, serves the interests of educators, scientific researchers, and the public with its archival collections. As part of a public institution, we strive to provide the best access we can to the immense holdings of our scientific collections. We will make our data available insofar as possible within the abilities of our staff, equipment, and facilities. We aspire to supply all reasonable inquiries with the information requested. Access to data does not imply access to the material items themselves. What follows is a policy guideline regarding how we provide access to our collections and the information contained in the collections.
We reserve the right to refuse unreasonable requests, and protect information that is sensitive in the following regards:
- Requests that require an unreasonable amount of time or effort to process cannot be honored. Examples of such requests would be those that require opening dozens of cabinets, or those that require searching databases separately or repeatedly and compiling a novel list of data.
- Requests that are not specific, such that the Faculty and Staff of the Museum do not easily understand the limits of the request, will be subject to clarification and restriction, or they will not be honored.
- Requests will be denied if they concern a summary of current, unfinished, research content intended for public dissemination and publication in the future. Notebooks, whether physical or electronic, are not valid subjects for requests unless expressly advertised as such by staff.
- Information that is sensitive and ordinarily protected by a community of peers (such as the precise localities of remaining populations of endangered species) may be denied if the request is seen to be in conflict with the purpose of the confidentiality.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USE OF ONLINE DATABASES
Except as otherwise expressly stated herein, material from the Databases may not be reproduced, distributed, publicly displayed or otherwise used , in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the Ohio State University. Subsets of the records in one or more of the Databases may be used, downloaded, reproduced, publicly displayed, distributed or reprinted by persons affiliated with academic and/or non-profit organizations for scientific and scholarly purposes only, provided however, that the following attribution appears in all copies: "Division of Invertebrate Zoology, The Ohio State University Museum of Biological Diversity, invertebrates.osu.edu accessed [day-month-year]". Nevertheless, the Ohio State University does not grant permission for anyone to use, download, reproduce, publicly display, distribute or reprint all or substantially all of the records in one or more of the Databases, except under the terms of the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC 4.0 license.
USE OF THESE DATABASES IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MAKES NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY OR CURRENCY OF THE INFORMATION IN THE DATABASES NOR ITS SUITABILITY FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THESE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" FOR YOUR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE DATABASES, AND THE RISK OF INJURY RESTS ENTIRELY WITH YOU.
Distributional, ecological, taxonomic, and other such data should be verified by examination of the specimen(s) in consultation with the curatorial staff.
By accessing the information in the Databases, you agree that The Ohio State University shall not be liable to you for any loss or injury caused in using, procuring, compiling, or delivering the information. In no event will The Ohio State University or the contributors of information to the Databases be liable to you or anyone else for any action taken in reliance on such information or for any consequential, special or similar damages.