Here are some lists of all the items accepted in the museum in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. If you want to complete the museum exhibits (and earn some rare items and tools in the process), you'll have to find each and every item for each exhibit and submit them to Blathers. Use the quick jump below to easily find the sections of the FAQ you're looking for.
Let's get to each list:
Fishing/Diving
Here's a complete list of fish and undersea creatures for your encyclopedia and museum collection. Ponds are small bodies of water not connected to your river while lakes can be larger contained water, or areas where the river pools up. The times all refer to your in-game clock, so if you're time-traveling be sure to keep that in mind as your real-world and in-game timers may be different.
| Species | Location | Time |
| Bitterling | River | November-February All Day |
| Pale Chub | River | All Year 9AM-4PM |
| Crucian Carp | River | Any time |
| Dace | River | All Year 4PM-9AM |
| Barbel Steed | River | Any time |
| Carp | River | Any time |
| Koi | River | All Year 4PM-9AM |
| Goldfish | River | Any time |
| Pop-eyed Goldfish | River | All Year 9AM-4PM |
| Killifish | Pond | April-August All Day |
| Crawfish | Pond | April-September All Day |
| Soft-shelled Turtel | River | August-September 4PM-9AM |
| Tadpole | Pond | March-July All Day |
| Frog | Pond | May-August All Day |
| Freshwater Goby | River | All Year 4PM-9AM |
| Loach | River | March-May All Day |
| Catfish | Lake | May-October 4PM-9AM |
| Eel | River | June-September 4PM-9AM |
| Giant Snakehead | Lake | June-August 9AM-4PM |
| Bluegill | River | All Year 9AM-4PM |
| Yellow Perch | River | October-March All Day |
| Black Bass | River | Any time |
| Pike | River | September-December 4AM-9PM |
| Pond Smelt | River | December-February All Day |
| Sweetfish | River | July-September All Day |
| Cherry Salmon | River | March-October 4AM-9PM |
| Char | Waterfall | March-June September-November 4AM-9PM |
| Rainbow Trout | River | March-October 4AM-9PM |
| Stringfish | River | December-February 4PM-9AM |
| Salmon | River opening | September All Day |
| King Salmon | River opening | September All Day |
| Shanghai Crab | River | September-November 4PM-9AM |
| Guppy | River | April-November 9AM-4PM |
| Nibble Fish | River | May-September 9AM-4PM |
| Angelfish | River | May-October 4PM-9AM |
| Neon Tetra | River | April-November 9AM-4PM |
| Piranha | River | June-September 9AM-4PM, 9PM-4AM |
| Arowana | River | June-September 4PM-9AM |
| Dorado | River | June-September 4AM-9PM |
| Gar | Lake | June-September 4PM-9AM |
| Arapaima | River | July-September 4PM-9AM |
| Saddled Birchir | River | June-September 9PM-4AM |
| Sea Buttefly | Ocean | December-February All Day |
| Sea Horse | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Clown Fish | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Surgeonfish | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Butterfly Fish | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Napoleonfish | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Zebra Turkeyfish | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Blow Fish | Ocean | November-February 9PM-4AM |
| Puffer Fish | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Horse Mackerel | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Barred Knifejaw | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Sea Bass | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Red Snapper | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Dab | Ocean | October-April All Day |
| Olive Flounder | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Squid | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Moray Eel | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Ribbon Eel | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Football Fish | Ocean | November-March 4PM-9AM |
| Tuna | Ocean | November-March All Day |
| Blue Marlin | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Giant Trevally | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Ray | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Ocean Sunfish | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Hammerhead Shark | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Shark | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Saw Shark | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Whale Shark | Tropical Ocean | Any time |
| Oarfish | Ocean | December-May All Day |
| Coelacanth | Ocean (rain or snow) | All Year 4PM-9AM |
| Seaweed | Underwater | November-July All Day |
| Sea Grapes | Underwater | June-September All Day |
| Sea Urchin | Underwater | June-August All Day |
| Acorn Barnacle | Underwater | Any time |
| Oyster | Underwater | September-February All Day |
| Turban Shell | Underwater | August-May 4PM-9AM |
| Abalone | Underwater | All Year 4PM-9AM |
| Ear Shell | Underwater | All Year 4PM-9AM |
| Clam | Underwater | September-April All Day |
| Pearl Oyster | Underwater | Any time |
| Scallop | Underwater | Any time |
| Sea Anemone | Underwater | Any time |
| Sea Star | Underwater | Any time |
| Sea Cucumber | Underwater | November-April All Day |
| Sea Slug | Underwater | Any time |
| Flatworm | Underwater | June-September 4PM-9AM |
| Mantis Shrimp | Underwater | All Year 4PM-9AM |
| Sweetshrimp | Underwater | September-February 4PM-9AM |
| Tiger Prawn | Underwater | June-September 4PM-9AM |
| Spiny Lobster | Underwater | September-December 9PM-4AM |
| Lobster | Underwater | Any time |
| Snow Crab | Underwater | November-April All Day |
| Hair Crab | Underwater | November-April All Day |
| Red King Crab | Underwater | November-March All Day |
| Giant Spider Crab | Underwater | March-April All Day |
| Octopus | Underwater | March-July All Day |
| Spotted Garden Eel | Underwater (Tropical) | Any time |
| Chambered Nautilus | Underwater (Tropical) | Any time |
| Horseshoe Crab | Underwater | July-September 9PM-4AM |
| Giant Isopod | Underwater (Tropical) | Any time |
Bugs
Remember to try looking around the tropical island for some of the rare beetles. It's a lot easier to find some spieces on Tortimer's island paradise than it is in your town.
| Species | Location | Time |
| Common Buttefly | Near flowers | March-June 8AM-5PM |
| Yellow Butterfly | Near flowers | March-June 8AM-5PM |
| Tiger Butterfly | Near red flowers | March-August 8AM-5PM |
| Monarch Butterfly | Near flowers | September-November 8AM-5PM |
| Emperor Buttefly | Near flowers | June-September 7PM-8AM |
| Agrias Buttefly | Near flowers | June-September 8AM-5PM |
| Raja Brooke Butterfly | Near river, pond | May-September 8AM-5PM |
| Birdwing Butterfly | Near flowers | June-September 8AM-4PM |
| Moth | Near lights | May-August 7PM-4AM |
| Oak Silk Moth | On trees | June-September 7PM-4AM |
| Honeybee | Near flowers | March-July 8AM-4PM |
| Bee | Shake trees | Any time |
| Long Locust | Grass | May-November 8AM-7PM |
| Migratory Locust | Grass | August-November 8AM-7PM |
| Locust | Grass | April-November 8AM-7PM |
| Mantis | Near flowers | April-November 8AM-5PM |
| Orchid Mantis | Near white flowers | April-November 8AM-5PM |
| Brown Cicada | On trees | July-August 8AM-5PM |
| Robust Cicada | On trees | July-August 8AM-5PM |
| Giant Cicada | On trees | July-August 8AM-5PM |
| Walker Cicada | On trees | July-August 8AM-5PM |
| Evening Cicada | On trees | July-August 4AM-8AM, 4PM-7PM |
| Cicada Skin | On trees | July-August All Day |
| Lantern Fly | On trees | June-September 4PM-8AM |
| Red Dragonfly | In the air | September-October 8AM-7PM |
| Darner Dragonfly | In the air | June-August 8AM-5PM |
| Banded Dragonfly | In the air | July-August 8AM-5PM |
| Giant Petaltail | In the air | August-October 5PM-7PM |
| Ant | On candy, spoiled turnips, rotten fruit | Any time |
| Pondskater | Near river, pond | May-September 8AM-7PM |
| Diving Beetle | Near river, pond | May-September 8AM-5PM |
| Stinkbug | On trees | April-October All Day |
| Snail | On Hibiscus Bushes | April-September All Day |
| Cricket | Grass | September-November 5PM-8AM |
| Bell Cricket | Grass | September-October 5PM-8AM |
| Grasshopper | Grass | July-September 8AM-5PM |
| Mole Cricket | Have to dig after hearing sound | November-May All Day |
| Walking Leaf | Grass | July-September 8AM-5PM |
| Walking Stick | On trees | July-November 4AM-7PM |
| Bagworm | Shake trees | October-February All Day |
| Ladybug | Near flowers | March-October 8AM-5PM |
| Violin Beetle | On tree stumps | June-November 4AM-7PM |
| Longhorn Beetle | On tree stumps | July-August 11PM-7PM |
| Tiger Beetle | Grass | March-September 8AM-7PM |
| Dung Beetle | Near snowballs | December-February 5PM-8AM |
| Wharf Roach | On beach | Any time |
| Hermit Crab | On tropical island beach | Any time |
| Firefly | Near river, pond | June 7PM-4AM |
| Fruit Beetle | On trees | July-September All Day |
| Scarab Beetle | On trees | July-August 11PM-8AM |
| Jewel Beetle | On trees | July-August 8AM-5PM |
| Miyama Stag | On trees | July-August All Day |
| Saw Stag | On trees | July-August All Day |
| Giant Stag | On trees | July-August 11PM-8AM |
| Rainbow Stag | On trees | June-September 5PM-8AM |
| Cyclommatus Stag | On palm trees | July-August 5PM-8AM |
| Golden Stag | On palm trees | July-August 5PM-8AM |
| Horned Dynastid | On trees | July-August 5PM-8AM |
| Horned Atlas | On palm trees | June-August 5PM-8AM |
| Horned Elephant | On palm trees | July-August 5PM-8AM |
| Horned Hercules | On palm trees | July-August 5PM-8AM |
| Goliath Beetle | On palm trees | June-September 5PM-8AM |
| Flea | On neighbors | March-November All Day |
| Pillbug | On rock | September-June All Day |
| Mosquito | In the air | June-September 5PM-4AM |
| Fly | On garbage or spoiled turnips | Any time |
| House Centipede | On rocks | August-October 7PM-8AM |
| Centipede | On rocks | June-February 4PM-11PM |
| Spider | Shake trees | March-October All Day |
| Tarantula | Grass | June-August 7PM-4AM |
| Scorpion | Grass | July-September 7PM-4AM |
Fossils
You can find up to four fossils every day of the week and they're completely random. There's no way of skewing the results in your favor, so just keep digging and having Blathers assess.
| Amber |
| Ammonite |
| Anykylosaurus Skull |
| Anykylosaurus Torso |
| Anykylosaurus Tail |
| Apatosaurus Skull |
| Apatosaurus Torso |
| Apatosaurus Tail |
| Archaeopteryx |
| Archelon Skull |
| Archelon Torso |
| Coprolite |
| Dimetrodon Skull |
| Dimetrodon Torso |
| Dimetrodon Tail |
| Dinosaur Egg |
| Dinosaur Track |
| Diplodocus Skull |
| Diplodocus Neck |
| Diplodocus Chest |
| Diplodocus Hip |
| Diplodocus Tail |
| Fern Fossil |
| Ichthyosaur Skull |
| Ichthyosaur Torso |
| Iquanodon Skull |
| Iquanodon Chest |
| Iquanodon Tail |
| Mammoth Skull |
| Mammoth Torso |
| Megaceros Skull |
| Megaceros Torso |
| Megaceros Tail |
| Pachysaurus Skull |
| Pachysaurus Torso |
| Pachysaurus Tail |
| Parasaurus Skull |
| Parasaurus Torso |
| Parasaurus Tail |
| Peking Man |
| Pleiosaur Skull |
| Pleiosaur Neck |
| Pleiosaur Torso |
| Pteranodon Right Wing |
| Pteranodon Skull |
| Pteranodon Left Wing |
| Shark Tooth |
| Sabretooth Tiger Skull |
| Sabretooth Tiger Torso |
| Spinosaurus Skull |
| Spinosaurus Torso |
| Spinosaurus Tail |
| Stegosaurus Skull |
| Stegosaurus Torso |
| Stegosaurus Tail |
| Styracosaurus Skull |
| Styracosaurus Torso |
| Styracosaurus Tail |
| Triceratops Skull |
| Triceratops Torso |
| Triceratops Tail |
| Trilobite |
| Tyrannosaurus Rex Skull |
| Tyrannosaurus Rex Torso |
| Tyrannosaurus Rex Tail |
| Velociraptor Skull |
| Velociraptor Torso |
Fine Art
Search for the paintings in Redd's gallery by asking about each item and then using the name to find them in the chart below. Some pieces don't have a fake, so once you've searched, jump on your prize!
| In-Game Name | Which is the fake? |
| Ancient Statue | eyeballs with pupils |
| Animal Sculpture | only one boy |
| Beautiful Sculpture | long hair |
| Gallant Sculpture | cloth over both soldiers |
| Mystic Statue | round top |
| Robust Sculpture | underside of disc looks like UFO |
| Valiant Sculpture | bat wings |
| Amazing Painting | white suit left, black suit right |
| Basic Painting | both hands on hips |
| Calm Painting | N/A |
| Common Painting | N/A |
| Dynamic Painting | Mt. Fuji under the wave |
| Famous Painting | left hand on top |
| Fine Painting | N/A |
| Flowery Painting | N/A |
| Good Painting | looking to the left |
| Jolly Painting | carrot and green sprout |
| Moody Painting | N/A |
| Moving Painting | shell closed |
| Nice Painting | N/A |
| Perfect Painting | N/A |
| Proper Painting | N/A |
| Quaint Painting | no white bonnet |
| Scary Painting | long index fingers |
| Scenic Painting | N/A |
| Serene Painting | cat instead of ferret |
| Solemn Painting | standing up tall |
| Warm Painting | N/A |
| Wild Painting | white on right, black on left |
| Wistful Painting | orange instead of blue bonnet |
| Worthy Painting | N/A |
