Spirit Jar Collection

Isopod, Glyptonotus antarcticus
Specimen collected by Robert Falcon Scotts British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913, also known as the Terra Nova expedition

Starfish, Luidia scotti
Specimen collected by Robert Falcon Scotts British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913, also known as the Terra Nova expedition

Leiopelma hamiltoni
Hamiltons frog is probably one of the rarest frogs in the world. Donated in 1922 by the Dominion Museum in New Zealand

The Tank Room, Darwin Centre
The Tank Room in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Moving specimens to the Darwin Centre
Moving zoological specimens from the old Spirit Building to the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Chamaeleo jacksonii, Jacksons chameleon
Jacksons chameleon specimen in spirit jar held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London. This image is on display in the link corridor from the Life Galleries to the Darwin Centre

Fish specimens
Specimen jars containing fish, held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London. Notice how over time the specimen jars have been warped by gravity and are no longer straight

Juvenile fish specimens
Specimen jar containing juvenile fish, held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Darwin Centre storage room for specimens in spirit
Zoological specimens in one of the storage rooms in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Parasitic worms in spirit jars. Specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London

Marine specimens preserved in spirit jars
Specimen jar containing various marine creatures, in the former spirit building, which is now stored in the Tank Room of the Darwin Centre at the Natural Histroy Museum, London

Argyropelecus sp. hatchetfish
Specimen jar containing hatchetfish (Argyroplectus sp.), held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Philothamnus irregularis, western green snake
Western Green Snake specimen in spirit jar held in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London. This image is on display in the link corridor from the Life Galleries to the Darwin Centre

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

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

Emydoidea blandingi, Blandings terrapin
Small North American Blandings terrapins. Specimens 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Viverra sp. civet
This civet specimen was obtained in 1867, and held at The Natural History Museum, London

Cyprinid fish
Specimen jar containing tropical freshwater cyprinid fish from Indonesia, held at the Natural History Museum, London

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping