Special displays
A 400,000 year-old flint hand axe recently uncovered in our collection is on display by the Dinosaur Gallery. The axe shows that humans were living on Earth 1000s of years earlier than originally believed.
Our special display cases house unusual or extraordinary specimens and information about topical themes. The special displays are in Dinosaur Way in the Blue Zone and spot the world's longest insect in the Creepy Crawlies gallery.
Find out about the special display of 47-million-year-old Ida our fossil cast
Evolution hand axe on display
Flint hand axe helped reveal age of humankind
The axe that revealed the age of mankind
On display until March 2010
The flint hand axe that helped reveal the very ancient age of humankind is on display.
The human-made hand axe was discovered in 1859, the same year Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, and was the first strong evidence that humans had been living on the planet for much longer than previously thought.
The axe was uncovered in the Museum's collection only recently and is thought to be about 400,000 years old.
Read the news story Evolution axe goes on display
Hawkmoth collection on display
With a little help from our friends...
On display until March 2010
There are about 1,400 species of hawkmoths like this one on display
Thanks entirely to public donations, the Museum was able to buy a large collection of hawkmoth specimens. A few of these are on display at the Museum.
Built for speed, with narrow wings and streamlined bodies, hawkmoths (family Sphingidae) are among the most distinctive of all moths.They feed on nectar, some often hovering motionless in mid-air or darting rapidly from side to side. The moths will be available for scientists and amateur naturalists to study.
Read the news story about the hawkmoths on display
Find out about the Museum's hawkmoth appeal
World's longest insect
Chan's Megastick is the world's longest insect, a 56.7cm-long stick-insect
Stick it in the record books
Ongoing display
The world's longest insect, a 56.7cm-long stick-insect from Borneo, is on special display at the Creepy Crawlies gallery entrance. Only 3 specimens of this new insect have been found so far. Learn about its discovery and unique eggs, and what scientists use to find such insects. Its species name is Phobaeticus chani (Chan's Megastick is the common name).
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The Museum's smallest members of staff are our flesh-eating beetles, Dermestes maculates, who strip carcasses to the bone.