Life Collections

LIFE

The Life collections encompass all of the Museum's animal specimens.

Our Life specimens come from a variety of sources, including historic anatomy teaching collections and early expedition collections, and the research collections of eminent zoologists and amateur naturalists. With over 5 million specimens, the zoology collections are the largest in the Museum and fill several storerooms behind the scenes – what you see on display is only a tiny fraction of the entire collection. The collections are actively growing and used for scientific research, as well as supporting teaching and public engagement.

Vertebrates

Arachnids

Crustaceans

Insects

Mollusca collection, Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Molluscs

Other invertebrates

The Oxford Dodo

The Oxford Dodo is the most iconic specimen held by the Museum. It is the most complete remains of a single dodo...

The Oxford Dodo is the most iconic specimen held by the Museum. It is the most complete remains of a single dodo in the world, including soft tissue of the head and foot.

A side view of our hive, showing where the bees are fed from during the winter months

Beehive

Hand-built especially for the Museum, this beehive reveals honey bees at work. Look closely and you can see eggs,...

Hand-built especially for the Museum, this beehive reveals honey bees at work. Look closely and you can see eggs, larvae and even the queen bee.

Skeleton parade

The parade of skeletons in the main court is one of the Museum’s most photogenic displays. Even just a quick...

The parade of skeletons in the main court is one of the Museum’s most photogenic displays. Even just a quick glance at the line-up reveals some of the great diversity of evolutionary...

The parade of skeletons in the main court is one of the Museum’s most photogenic displays. Even just a quick glance at the line-up reveals some of the great diversity of evolutionary adaptations of these large...

The parade of skeletons in the main court is one of the Museum’s most photogenic displays. Even just a quick glance at the line-up reveals some of the great diversity of evolutionary adaptations of these large mammals.

Common minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Whale skeletons

Suspended from the roof is a spectacular display of five skeletons, including a killer whale, a beluga whale and...

Suspended from the roof is a spectacular display of five skeletons, including a killer whale, a beluga whale and a bottlenose dolphin.

Things to see and do

A quick guide to the different areas of the Museum: where they are and what's on display.

Search Life Collections Online

We have digitised all our entomological type specimens as well as significant portions of our collections of crustaceans, mammals, birds, molluscs, corals, reptiles, fishes and human remains.

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