Jar Collection (page 9)

Engraulis ringens, Peruvian anchoveta
Peruvian anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) specimens brought back by Charles Darwin on his voyage on HMS Beagle

Syngnathus crinitus, insular pipefish
Insular pipefish (Syngnathus crinitus) specimens brought back by Charles Darwin on his voyage on HMS Beagle

Clinus crinitus
Fish specimens (Clinus crinitus) brought back by Charles Darwin on his voyage on HMS Beagle

Pseudoscarus lepidus, parrot fish
Parrot fish (Pseudoscarus lepidus) specimens brought back by Charles Darwin on his voyage on HMS Beagle

Syngnathus acicularis, deep-bodied pipefish

Scorpaena histrio, player scorpionfish
Player scorpion (Scorpaena histrio) specimens brought back by Charles Darwin on his voyage on HMS Beagle

Coryphaenoides sp. rattail
A specimen jar containing rattail fish (Coryphaenoides sp.) collected south of Australia, 1874 on The Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876)

Spirit jars containing small lizards
Specimens collected by Charles Darwin (1809-1882) during his Beagle Voyage, now held by the Natural History Museum, London

Specimen label
Scientist writing a specimen label in indelible ink on paper for a specimen held in spirit, at the Natural History Museum, London

Cetacea (order), cetacean stomach contents
Stomach contents of a Cetacean (either a whale, dolphin or a porpoise) preserved in a spirit jar. Specimen stored at the Natural History Museum, London

Curator checking specimens
Curator checking zoological specimens at The Natural History Museum, London

Pteropus alecto gouldi, black flying fox
Photograph of a black flying fox specimen preserved in spirit, held at the Natural History Museum, London

Emydoidea blandingi, Blandings terrapin
Small North American Blandings terrapins. Specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London

Raja marginata, skate egg case
Specimen jar containing the egg case of a skate (Raja marginata), popularly known as a mermaids purse. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Ophiroid brittle stars
These invertebrates can occur in huge numbers on the deep ocean floor. Specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London

Argiope bruennichi, wasp spider
The wasp spider is a non-poisonous species from the Mediterranean that is now also found in southern England. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Reptile specimens in the Darwin Centre
Various reptile specimens stored in spirit in the Darwin Centre, at the Natural History Museum, London

Crocodilus niloticus, Nile crocodile eggs
The Natural History Museums collections include examples of earlier life history stages as well as adults, and these are also preserved in spirit

Antarctic Discovery Collections
Specimens preserved in toxic formalin carry clear hazard labels to alert researchers. This batch forms a very small part of the extensive Antartic Discovery Collections

Mene maculata, moonfish
Specimen jar containing the curiously shaped moonfish (Mene maculata). This schooling, deep-water, marine fish is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region

Scientist at work adding alcohol to a specimen jar
An end to the effort of moving large volumes of spirit around the storerooms by hand, in the Darwin Centre alcohol is available at the workbench on tap

Zoological specimens
Specimen jars stored in the Darwin Centre, at the Natural History Museum, London. Assembled over hundreds of years, these specimens are still highly relevant to contemporary biological research

Tropidolaemus wagleri, green pit viper
Also known as the temple viper or Waglers pit viper. It is a tree dwelling snake found in South-east Asia. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Pomacanthus imperator, emperor angel fish

Mantella pulchra, frog
This small frog specimens tissues have been cleared and the skeleton stained with alizarin. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Oryzomys ratticeps, rice rat
From Brazil and Paraguay. Specimen held at The Natural History Museum, London

Notostomus perlatus, caridean shrimp
Specimen jars containing type specimens of the caridean shrimp (Notostomus perlatus). Type specimens provide a vital point of reference for taxonomists seeking to confirm an identification or

Copepod parasite
Specimen jar containing copepod parasites, which live on the body surface of salmon and in large numbers can cause damage to the fish. Specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London

Various specimens
Specimen jars containing various sea and land creatures

Freshwater snails
Specimen jar containing some freshwater snails, held at the Natural History Museum, London

Zoological specimens in the Darwin Centre
Specimens in spirit jars stored in the Darwin Centre, at the Natural History Museum, London. Assembled over hundreds of years

Bulinus sp. snails
Specimen jar containing snails (Bulinus). These snails act as intermediate hosts for the parasite of the tropical disease bilharzia. Specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London

Children with Sir John Ramsbottom December 1948
Children around Sir John Ramsbottom with spirit jar, December 1948. At the Natural History Museum, London

George Albert Boulenger (1858-1937) with spirit jars, 1920s
Belgian born British naturalist, George Albert Boulenger (1858-1937), was first-class assistant in the Zoology Department in the Natural History section of the British Museum, 1882-1920

Specimen jars containing crustaceans
Shelves of specimen jars containg crustaceans

Lizard specimen held in the Darwin Centre
Lizard specimen in a spirit jar held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Specimens in spirit jars
A variety of zoological specimens in spirit jars held at the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Nerodia sipedon, water snake
A group of North American water snakes neatly coiled to fit into a storage jar. Specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London

Squid specimen
Specimen jar containing squid, held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Alytes obstetricans, midwife toad
This male midwife toad is carrying an egg string. Specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London

Oliver Crimmen with fish specimen
Photograph of Oliver Crimmen, a curator at the Natural History Museum, London. The specimen featured is a Cypselurus bahiensis, four winged flying fish from the North Atlantic

Cypselurus californicus, four-winged flyingfish
Specimen jar containing a four-winged flyingfish (Cypselurus californicus), held in the Darwin Centre at The Natural History Museum, London

Storage jars for spirit collection
Storage jars come in a huge variety of designs, reflecting changing styles over the years, as well as cost and availability

Iguana delicatissima, West Indian iguana
West Indian iguana in a specimen jar held at the Natural History Museum, London

Astroboa clavata, basketstar

Isurus oxyrinchus, shortfin mako shark
Specimen jar containing the head of a shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), held at the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum. London

Lophiodes naresi, monkfish
Specimen jars containing monkfish (Lophiodes naresi), held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Visitors in the Tank Room in the Darwin Centre
Scientist showing visitors zoological specimens held in the Tank Room in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

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