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Foraminifera collections

The Museum has a strong tradition of foraminifera research, going back to the late 1800s. As a result, these are the most extensive of our micropalaeontological collections, with approximately 250,000 slides, and the most requested by visitors. 

Our foraminifera collections consist of both fossil and recent specimens.

  • HMS Challenger collections

    The HMS Challenger collection is of historical and taxonomic importance for studying foraminifera. Holding samples dating back to the early period of the industrial revolution it provides a valuable resource for current and future research

  • Microslide cabinet of microfossils.
    Former Aberystwyth University Collection

    A teaching collection built by researchers at Aberystwyth University. Includes foraminifera, ostracods, coccoliths and conodonts.

  • Scanning electron microscope image showing the spiral side of a planktonic foraminifer
    Buckley collection

    Discover the collection of Henry Buckley, a valuable resource for the study of global change on recent planktonic foraminifera.

  • Specimen of an orbitolite specimen, Orbitolites complanata
    Heron-Allen slide collection

    Learn about Edward Heron-Allen’s vast collection of foraminifera type slides. It includes specimens gathered from samples from a number of notable research voyages.

Print version

Useful references

Jones RW (1994) The Challenger Foraminifera. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 150pp.

Holbourn A and Henderson A (in press) Paleobase: Deep-Sea Benthic Foraminifera. Blackwell Scientific: Oxford.