American Museum of Natural History
@amnh.org
Official page of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Open daily, 10 am–5:30 pm.
https://linktr.ee/amnh
https://linktr.ee/amnh
Meet the long-tailed semi-slug. Unlike the shells of snails, semi-slugs’ shells are too small for the animals to retract their bodies into. This critter can be seen wrapping its tail—which measures 3x the length of its body—around itself like a cat.
Photo: Albert Kang, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: Albert Kang, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
October 14, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Meet the long-tailed semi-slug. Unlike the shells of snails, semi-slugs’ shells are too small for the animals to retract their bodies into. This critter can be seen wrapping its tail—which measures 3x the length of its body—around itself like a cat.
Photo: Albert Kang, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: Albert Kang, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Were you born in October? Then that means one of your birthstones is tourmaline! Some of the first gemstones mined in the United States, tourmalines come in a variety of colors. Their hue is determined by the metals present in each gemstone’s crystal structure.
Photo: © AMNH
Photo: © AMNH
October 14, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Were you born in October? Then that means one of your birthstones is tourmaline! Some of the first gemstones mined in the United States, tourmalines come in a variety of colors. Their hue is determined by the metals present in each gemstone’s crystal structure.
Photo: © AMNH
Photo: © AMNH
It's time for Trilobite Tuesday! Each year, exciting new trilobite repositories are unearthed throughout the Paleozoic soils of Morocco. A variety of beautifully preserved Devonian trilobites—such as this spinose, 1.5-in- (3.8-cm-) long odontopleurid—have been found near the town of Jorf.
October 13, 2026 at 2:09 PM
It's time for Trilobite Tuesday! Each year, exciting new trilobite repositories are unearthed throughout the Paleozoic soils of Morocco. A variety of beautifully preserved Devonian trilobites—such as this spinose, 1.5-in- (3.8-cm-) long odontopleurid—have been found near the town of Jorf.
Boo! Behold the whitemargin stargazer. It inhabits parts of the Indo-Pacific. This ambush predator's upturned face allows it to spend much of its time burrowed beneath the sand—waiting patiently for passing prey like fish or crustaceans.
Photo: Robin Gwen Agarwal, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: Robin Gwen Agarwal, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
October 12, 2026 at 3:28 AM
Boo! Behold the whitemargin stargazer. It inhabits parts of the Indo-Pacific. This ambush predator's upturned face allows it to spend much of its time burrowed beneath the sand—waiting patiently for passing prey like fish or crustaceans.
Photo: Robin Gwen Agarwal, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: Robin Gwen Agarwal, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
☄️ Do you remember where you were on this day 34 years ago? If you were hanging out in Peekskill, New York, you might have seen a meteorite fall from the sky. It all started when a fireball flashed over Peekskill, startling fans at a high school football game.
Photo: © AMNH
Photo: © AMNH
October 9, 2026 at 2:07 PM
☄️ Do you remember where you were on this day 34 years ago? If you were hanging out in Peekskill, New York, you might have seen a meteorite fall from the sky. It all started when a fireball flashed over Peekskill, startling fans at a high school football game.
Photo: © AMNH
Photo: © AMNH
Meet the Cape dune mole-rat, one of the world’s largest species of mole rat. Unlike its naked cousin, this species is solitary & territorial. Individuals can weigh ~4.4 lbs (2 kg) & reach lengths of 13.7 in (35 cm).
Photo: ladybird59, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: ladybird59, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
October 8, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Meet the Cape dune mole-rat, one of the world’s largest species of mole rat. Unlike its naked cousin, this species is solitary & territorial. Individuals can weigh ~4.4 lbs (2 kg) & reach lengths of 13.7 in (35 cm).
Photo: ladybird59, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: ladybird59, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Ever feel like a fish out of water? Meet the giant mudskipper (Periophthalmodon schlosseri). Found on the muddy shores of mangroves in parts of Southeast Asia, it uses its pectoral fins to “skip” or “walk” across mudflats.
Photo: wcyongwc, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: wcyongwc, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
October 7, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Ever feel like a fish out of water? Meet the giant mudskipper (Periophthalmodon schlosseri). Found on the muddy shores of mangroves in parts of Southeast Asia, it uses its pectoral fins to “skip” or “walk” across mudflats.
Photo: wcyongwc, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: wcyongwc, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
It’s time for Trilobite Tuesday! For decades, the Lower Cambrian trilobite Bristolia insolens was recognized almost exclusively from the disarticulated exuviae, or cast-off exoskeletons, of its distinctively shaped head section.
October 6, 2026 at 2:39 PM
It’s time for Trilobite Tuesday! For decades, the Lower Cambrian trilobite Bristolia insolens was recognized almost exclusively from the disarticulated exuviae, or cast-off exoskeletons, of its distinctively shaped head section.
Have you ever seen a flapjack devilfish? Growing up to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long, this tiny cephalopod isn’t a strong swimmer. Instead, it spends most of its time in pancakey flatness on the seafloor, where it hunts for worms & small invertebrates.
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
October 5, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Have you ever seen a flapjack devilfish? Growing up to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long, this tiny cephalopod isn’t a strong swimmer. Instead, it spends most of its time in pancakey flatness on the seafloor, where it hunts for worms & small invertebrates.
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fall is here, so take a step into the Museum’s Stissing Mountain Diorama! 🍂 This scene is set on an October afternoon near Stissing Mountain, located 90 mi (144.8 km) north of New York City in Dutchess County.
Photo: Daniel Kim/ ©AMNH
Photo: Daniel Kim/ ©AMNH
October 4, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Fall is here, so take a step into the Museum’s Stissing Mountain Diorama! 🍂 This scene is set on an October afternoon near Stissing Mountain, located 90 mi (144.8 km) north of New York City in Dutchess County.
Photo: Daniel Kim/ ©AMNH
Photo: Daniel Kim/ ©AMNH
Hello, October! 🍁🍂
Fall into fall at the American Museum of Natural History. We’re open daily, 10 am–5:30 pm. Plan your visit: amnh.link/4bnMbG3
Fall into fall at the American Museum of Natural History. We’re open daily, 10 am–5:30 pm. Plan your visit: amnh.link/4bnMbG3
October 3, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Hello, October! 🍁🍂
Fall into fall at the American Museum of Natural History. We’re open daily, 10 am–5:30 pm. Plan your visit: amnh.link/4bnMbG3
Fall into fall at the American Museum of Natural History. We’re open daily, 10 am–5:30 pm. Plan your visit: amnh.link/4bnMbG3
Happy Fossil Friday from the Museum’s Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs! Behold Styracosaurus. A relative of the famous horned dinosaur Triceratops, Styracosaurus had huge spikes sticking out from its frill, the bony collar that projects rearward from the skull, and a singular nasal horn.
October 2, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Happy Fossil Friday from the Museum’s Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs! Behold Styracosaurus. A relative of the famous horned dinosaur Triceratops, Styracosaurus had huge spikes sticking out from its frill, the bony collar that projects rearward from the skull, and a singular nasal horn.
Science news! Discovered in Scotland in 1984 and described in 1990, Westlothiana lizziae—nicknamed “Lizzie” for its lizard-like appearance—was considered one of the earliest known reptiles. Now, a new look inside the 345-million-year-old fossil is revealing a very different story. 👀
Famous "First Reptile" Fossil Wasn’t a Reptile After All | AMNH
Study uncovers gills and fish-like teeth in 345-million-year-old fossil, upending long-held ideas on origins of reptiles.
amnh.link
October 1, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Science news! Discovered in Scotland in 1984 and described in 1990, Westlothiana lizziae—nicknamed “Lizzie” for its lizard-like appearance—was considered one of the earliest known reptiles. Now, a new look inside the 345-million-year-old fossil is revealing a very different story. 👀
🎃👻🍫Trick or treat! On Saturday, October 31, dive into a deep-sea Halloween adventure at the Museum! Before heading out for trick-or-treating around the city, spend the day under the Blue Whale with live music, dancing, crafts, science demonstrations, and more. Get tickets.👇
Halloween Celebration | AMNH
Come in costume and spend the day under the Blue Whale with live music, crafts, candy, Museum collections, and more!
amnh.link
October 1, 2026 at 4:09 PM
🎃👻🍫Trick or treat! On Saturday, October 31, dive into a deep-sea Halloween adventure at the Museum! Before heading out for trick-or-treating around the city, spend the day under the Blue Whale with live music, dancing, crafts, science demonstrations, and more. Get tickets.👇
Thank you to everyone who joined us for ClimateFest! This full-day celebration of science, sustainability, & community brought the science of climate change to life through hands-on activities, pop-up presentations, & live demonstrations across the Museum.
Photos: Alvaro Keding & Daniel Kim/© AMNH
Photos: Alvaro Keding & Daniel Kim/© AMNH
October 1, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Thank you to everyone who joined us for ClimateFest! This full-day celebration of science, sustainability, & community brought the science of climate change to life through hands-on activities, pop-up presentations, & live demonstrations across the Museum.
Photos: Alvaro Keding & Daniel Kim/© AMNH
Photos: Alvaro Keding & Daniel Kim/© AMNH
The Resplendent Quetzal inhabits the cloud forests of Central America. Males showcase brilliant iridescent green plumage that contrasts with a vibrant shock of red on their bellies, and their tail feathers can grow up to 3 ft (0.9 m) long!
Photo: Martin Walsh, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: Martin Walsh, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, iNaturalist
September 30, 2026 at 1:50 PM
The Resplendent Quetzal inhabits the cloud forests of Central America. Males showcase brilliant iridescent green plumage that contrasts with a vibrant shock of red on their bellies, and their tail feathers can grow up to 3 ft (0.9 m) long!
Photo: Martin Walsh, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: Martin Walsh, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, iNaturalist
Congratulations to this year’s graduates of the Richard Gilder Graduate School! This week, the Museum held its 2026 commencement under the iconic Blue Whale, celebrating six doctoral graduates and 16 Master of Arts in Teaching Earth Science Residency Program graduates.
Photo: Alvaro Keding/© AMNH
Photo: Alvaro Keding/© AMNH
September 29, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Congratulations to this year’s graduates of the Richard Gilder Graduate School! This week, the Museum held its 2026 commencement under the iconic Blue Whale, celebrating six doctoral graduates and 16 Master of Arts in Teaching Earth Science Residency Program graduates.
Photo: Alvaro Keding/© AMNH
Photo: Alvaro Keding/© AMNH
Welcome back to Trilobite Tuesday! Behold this carefully prepared Lonchodomas rostratus. The hard bioclastic limestone that comprises Eastern Europe's Viivikonna Formation often adheres to a trilobite’s slender spines, making its clean removal a challenge to even the most skilled preparators.
September 29, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Welcome back to Trilobite Tuesday! Behold this carefully prepared Lonchodomas rostratus. The hard bioclastic limestone that comprises Eastern Europe's Viivikonna Formation often adheres to a trilobite’s slender spines, making its clean removal a challenge to even the most skilled preparators.
Have you ever spotted a rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus)? Found throughout much of the southwestern United States and Mexico, this rodent can weigh up to 1.8 lbs (0.8 kg). While it does forage in the trees, this species prefers to make its dens in rocky terrain like cliffs and canyons.
September 28, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Have you ever spotted a rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus)? Found throughout much of the southwestern United States and Mexico, this rodent can weigh up to 1.8 lbs (0.8 kg). While it does forage in the trees, this species prefers to make its dens in rocky terrain like cliffs and canyons.
It’s a stupendous Fossil Friday! Let’s celebrate with Stupendemys geographicus, the “stupendous turtle.” This reptile lived during the Late Miocene some 5 million years ago, and it’s one of the largest turtles to have ever existed.
Photo: D. Finnin/© AMNH
Photo: D. Finnin/© AMNH
September 25, 2026 at 6:17 PM
It’s a stupendous Fossil Friday! Let’s celebrate with Stupendemys geographicus, the “stupendous turtle.” This reptile lived during the Late Miocene some 5 million years ago, and it’s one of the largest turtles to have ever existed.
Photo: D. Finnin/© AMNH
Photo: D. Finnin/© AMNH
🚨Research alert! A new study based on the largest bat genome and fossil study ever conducted has found that bats most likely arose in Europe around 65 million years ago, overturning previous assumptions.
Read more.👇
Read more.👇
New Study Points to Bats Originating in Europe | AMNH
New bat genome and fossil study, the largest ever, finds bats likely originated in Europe around 65 million years ago before going global.
amnh.link
September 24, 2026 at 3:12 PM
🚨Research alert! A new study based on the largest bat genome and fossil study ever conducted has found that bats most likely arose in Europe around 65 million years ago, overturning previous assumptions.
Read more.👇
Read more.👇
This Friday, September 25: Join us for Climate Education in Action! This virtual event for educators, policymakers, and thought leaders focuses on increasing climate literacy and integrating climate education in the classroom. Register for the livestream, here: luma.com/uslmcnd5
Climate Education in Action: Realizing New York's Climate Requirement | Livestream · Zoom · Luma
Join us for virtually for an evening at the American Museum of Natural History, co-hosted by SubjectToClimate, the Climate & Resilience Education Taskforce…
luma.com
September 23, 2026 at 2:39 PM
This Friday, September 25: Join us for Climate Education in Action! This virtual event for educators, policymakers, and thought leaders focuses on increasing climate literacy and integrating climate education in the classroom. Register for the livestream, here: luma.com/uslmcnd5
Paleoclimatologist and Museum Curator Nathalie Goodkin explains that the 2026 El Niño is on track to be the strongest on record and how looking to the past can help us understand current climate and weather patterns.
September 22, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Paleoclimatologist and Museum Curator Nathalie Goodkin explains that the 2026 El Niño is on track to be the strongest on record and how looking to the past can help us understand current climate and weather patterns.
🍁It’s the first day of fall, and few things make it feel more like autumn than the foliage of the red maple tree (Acer rubrum). But did you know? The deciduous tree sports something red all year round. (1/2)
Photo: Ashley M Bradford, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: Ashley M Bradford, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
September 22, 2026 at 1:55 PM
🍁It’s the first day of fall, and few things make it feel more like autumn than the foliage of the red maple tree (Acer rubrum). But did you know? The deciduous tree sports something red all year round. (1/2)
Photo: Ashley M Bradford, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: Ashley M Bradford, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist
What’s a spiny lumpsucker? No, it’s not a nickname for your ex: The spiny lumpsucker (Eumicrotremus orbis) is a fish that has a powerful pelvic fin helps it stick to solid surfaces, acting like a suction cup to hold it in place!
Photo: ajustinfocus, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: ajustinfocus, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, iNaturalist
September 21, 2026 at 8:19 PM
What’s a spiny lumpsucker? No, it’s not a nickname for your ex: The spiny lumpsucker (Eumicrotremus orbis) is a fish that has a powerful pelvic fin helps it stick to solid surfaces, acting like a suction cup to hold it in place!
Photo: ajustinfocus, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, iNaturalist
Photo: ajustinfocus, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, iNaturalist