Preserved Collection (page 6)

Dance fly in amber
A dance fly preserved in Baltic amber. This specimen dates from the Upper Eocene

Cypress twig in Baltic amber
A cypress twig in Baltic amber dating from the Upper Eocene. Amber is fossilised tree resin. Image from Amber the Natural Time Capsule (1998) by Andrew Ross

Horsefly in Baltic amber
A horsefly, Diptera: Brachycera: Tabanidae trapped in Baltic amber and dates from the Upper Eocene. Amber is fossilised tree resin

Lacewing larva in amber
Lacewing larva preserved in Baltic amber. This specimen dates from the Upper Eocene

Marine specimens
Specimen jars containing various sea creatures, held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Oliver Crimmen with fish specimens held in the Darwin Centre at The Natural History Museum, London

Synaphobranchus kaupi, arrowtooth eel
Specimen jar containing many arrowtooth eels (Synaphobranchus kaupi), held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Zoological specimens in the Spirit Building awaiting movement to the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Syngnathus crinitus, banded pipefish
Specimen jar containing a banded pipefish (Syngnathus crinitus) collected by Charles Darwin in Patagonia during the voyage of the 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

Wanneria walcottana, trilobite

Onychiopis mantelli, fossil fern
This fossil fern originates from Sussex, England

Acroceolites subtenius, belemnites
A fine group of belemnites (Acroceolites subtenius) preserved in soft Jurassic shale from Yorkshire. Longest specimen is 9cm long

Latimeria chalumnae, coelacanth
A coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) specimen caught in the Indian Ocean in the 1960s

Abliguritor niger, fossil spider in amber
This Oligocene spider, about 1 cm long, is encased in amber from the Baltic

Hemicidaris intermedi, Jurassic sea urchin
This specimen is particularly well-preserved retaining its spines where they fell around the animal as it died

Insects in copal
Two flies trapped in copal from East Africa - Rhagio sp. and Chrysopilus sp. Specimens date from modern to pleistocene (2 million years ago). Copal is a more mature form of amber

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

Models of Pompeii victims
Models of the Pompeii, Italy eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, including a dog on display in The Power Within Gallery 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

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

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

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

Preserved Fish

Specimen jars containing crustaceans
Shelves of specimen jars containg crustaceans

Thrip in amber
A thrip, a small to minute sucking insect seen here preserved in Dominican amber. Specimen dates from the Lower Miocene

Froghopper in amber
A froghopper is a type of spittlebug, seen here preserved in Baltic amber. Specimen originates from the Upper Eocene

Caddis fly in amber
Caddis fly, Trichoptera, a small moth-like insect preserved here in Baltic amber. Specimen dates from the Upper Eocene

Insect droppings in Dominican amber. Specimen dates from the Lower Miocene, about 20 million years ago. Fig. 65 from Amber the Natural Time Capsule

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