Zoology collections

One of the largest bird collections in the world, with over one million specimens representing 95% of bird species

The fish collections include important historical material collected by James Cook, Charles Darwin and Mary Kingsley.

One of the longest maintained collections in the world, originating in the late eighteenth century.

The collection is one of the largest of its kind in the world, with over 70% of currently known mammal species represented.

The collection contains important and historic material.

The most significant collection of Bryozoa in the world, containing around 30% type material.

Contains Myriapoda, Pycnogonida and Xiphosura, with the Arachnida collection rich in type specimens.

Includes corals, jellyfish, sea anemones, octocorals and hydroids, with about 20% of specimens known to be types.

An internationally important collection, containing significant historical material and specimens across all Orders.

The deuterostome invertebrates contain about 10% type material.

The collection is one of the most significant in the world and is in constant demand by the research community.

One of the world’s largest and most comprehensive collections of parasitic worms.

The extensive Porifera collections are of international importance, with about 50-70% of the world’s type material.

The microbiology collection includes extant protozoan protists.

The collections cover all of the living invertebrate phyla.

Find out how to arrange a visit to the collections and access specimens for research.

Find out how we fulfil our duty to provide a safe and secure environment for the collections in our care.

Discover how we are preparing for the UK’s largest collections move and which collections will have limited access.