Skip to page content

Primary navigation

Zoology collections

The Zoology Department’s collections are a treasure house of information that we strive to make accessible to anyone with an in-depth interest in life sciences. They are a source of inspiration for all.

The collections include most of the recent animal kingdom, with insects and arachnids housed in the Entomology Department.

Specimens, and information about them, can be accessed in a variety of ways. We try to make our collections as accessible as possible through our online databases and it is possible to access the collections in person for research purposes.

  • Mollusc specimen drawer
    About the collections

    Find out about the department’s 29 million specimens, many collected by famous zoologists.

  • The Tank Room in the Darwin Centre
    Collections management

    Read an introduction to collections management in the Zoology Department, from how specimens are preserved and arranged, to curation teams and department objectives.

  • North sea marine worm, Osedax mucofloris
    Current collecting priorities

    Learn how the department is growing its collections and areas of current and future interest.

  • Blue bird of paradise, Paradisaea rudolphi
    Online access

    Find out about accessing specimen records via the department’s online collections and specimen images via the Museum’s Picture Library.

  • Various reptile specimens stored in spirit in the Museum's Darwin Centre
    Visiting the zoology collections

    Learn about visiting the Zoology Department, including who can visit, who to contact, and key information for prospective visitors.

  • A female specimen of the football fish, Himantolophus groenlandicus
    Borrowing from the zoology collections

    Discover how to borrow material from the zoology collections, either for scientific study or use in an exhibition.

  • The northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus
    Enquiries

    Find out what to do if you require identification and advisory services or have scientific or media enquiries.

  • Yellow-banded dart frog, Dendrobates leucomelas
    Consultancy

    The Zoology Department offers a range of consultancy services, from identifications to environmental impact assessments.

  • Common nautilus, Nautilus pompilius
    Acquisitions, bequests and donations

    Information for anyone wishing to bequest or donate specimens to the zoology collections.

  • Pufferfish
    Zoology specimen database

    Search the zoology database for specimens held at the Museum.

Print version