Ventral view of Mucrospirifer, a fossil brachiopod, showing the characteristically wing-like shell. This Devonian specimen from Ohio is 3.5cm wide.
Brachiopod hard parts have excellent preservation potential. As a result, the Museum’s Brachiopod collection has more than 300,000 specimens, including 10,000 type and figured specimens.
Collection strengths
Uniquely, the collection includes recent (non-fossil) dry and preserved specimens in addition to fossil material.
The value of the collection is enhanced by a specialist library.
Geological range
The full geological range of each subphylum of brachiopod is represented in our collection:
- Craniiformea (Lower Cambrian to Recent)
- Linguliformea (Lower Cambrian to Recent)
- Rhynchonelliformea (Lower Cambrian to Recent)
Major collections
- Sowerby Collection: contains brachiopod specimens illustrated in the Mineral Conchology
- William Smith Collection: contains specimens associated with his pioneering mapping of Britain
- Sir Charles Darwin Collection: brachiopod specimens collected from South America during the voyage of HMS Beagle
- Davidson Collection
Countries of origin
The collection is representative of oceanic islands and all continents including Antarctica.
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Remarkable preservation of the delicate brachidium, a structure which supported the lophophore of this Jurassic spiriferide brachiopod, Spiriferina
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Jurassic Torquirhynchia, fairly typical of the order Rhynchonellida in dorsal view
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Recent specimen of the brachiopod Lingula, with a long pedicle emerging from the 5cm-long valves of its phosphatic shell
Looking for a specimen?
The Brachiopod collection is being digitised
Curator
Any questions ?
If you would like to use any specimens for research
Related links
Specimens
300,000
Type specimens
10,000
Collections on the move
We have set out on an ambitious programme to develop a new collections, science and digitisation centre. As we prepare for the move, access to some collections will be affected.
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.