Our collections cover all of the living invertebrate phyla, including Onychophora (velvet worms), Chaetognatha (arrow worms), Gastrotricha (hairybacks), Kinorhyncha (mud dragons), Nemertea (ribbon worms), Phoronida (horseshoe worms), Priapulida (penis worms), Rotifera (wheel animals) and Tardigrada (water bears).
Specimens
- 755,000
Specimen breakdown by phylum
- Onychophora (velvet worms): 1,500 (wet and slides)
- Chaetognatha (arrow worms): 750,000 (wet), 225 (slides)
- Gastrotricha (hairybacks): 80 (wet and slides)
- Kinorhyncha (mud dragons): 13 (slides)
- Nemertea (ribbon worms): 360 (wet), 500 (slides)
- Phoronida (horseshoe worms): 1,700 (wet), 184 (slides)
- Priapulida (penis worms): 50 (wet), 100 (slides)
- Rotifera (wheel animals): 260 (wet), 5,250 (slides)
- Tardigrada (water bears): 287 (wet and slides)
Looking for a specimen?
This collection is being digitised
Senior curator (Nemertea, Phoronida, Priapulida)
If you would like to use any specimens for research, please get in touch
Senior curator (Onychophora, Tardigrada)
If you would like to use any specimens for research, please get in touch
Principle curator (Gastrotricha, Kinorhyncha, Rotifera)
If you would like to use any specimens for research, please get in touch
Principal Curator in Charge, Invertebrates (non-insects)
If you would like to use any specimens for research, please get in touch
Core research labs and consulting
Our research lab teams are available for complex on-site imaging and analysis of biological and geological samples.
Accessing the collections
Scientists and collections management specialists can visit the collections and borrow specimens for research.
Collections management
Our duty is to provide a safe and secure environment for all of our collections.
Collections on the move
We have set out on an ambitious programme to develop a new science and digitisation centre. As we prepare for the move, access to some collections will be affected.
Find out more and sign up to our newsletter to receive updates on changes to collections access, relevant news and opportunities to get involved.