About the collections
The shells in this specimen drawer were collected by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the HMS Beagle between 1831 and 1836.
The Zoology Department’s collections comprise an estimated 29 million specimens from all recent animal groups except insects and arachnids.
Collection strengths
Our collections are worldwide in origin, with a lot of material from former colonial countries in particular.
They are rich in:
- voucher specimens
- type specimens
- historical material
- extinct and endangered species
Spanning centuries
The bulk of the collections were assembled in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but they also include some 16th century and much modern material. Modern collections reflect the expertise within the department.
Historically-important material
Many specimens originate from the work of famous zoologists, including:
- Carl Linnaeus
- Charles Darwin
- Alfred Russel Wallace
- Walter Rothschild
- Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
- Sir Hans Sloane
- the Sowerby family
They were often obtained from voyages of exploration, such as those of Challenger, Alert, Investigator and Discovery.
Online specimen catalogue
Toolbox
Glossary
Voucher specimen
A specimen used for scientific study that is deposited in a permanent collection (usually in a Museum, an institution committed to long-term maintenance) for future reference.
Type specimen
This is a unique voucher specimen that serves as the basis for the taxonomic description of a species. Scientists refer back to it whenever they reassess the status of that species or need to confirm the identification of new material.