Special displays

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

The flint hand axe that helped reveal the ancient age of humankind is 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

Hawkmoths on display

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

The world's longest insect, a stick insect from Borneo

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).

Read the news story about the world's longest insect

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Cartoon image of footprints disappearing through closing door

The Museum's smallest members of staff are our flesh-eating beetles, Dermestes maculates, who strip carcasses to the bone.