Placental Mammal Collection (#8)

Australopithecus sp. hip bone
The hip bone (Os coxae) of Australopithecus from Sterkfontein, South Africa

Homo habilis cranium & mandible fragment casts
Casts of fragments mandible and cranium fragments of a Homo habilis discovered at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania dating back to between 1.85 million years ago to 1.6 million years ago

Trachypithecus cristatus, silver leaf monkey. Males skull. Catalogue reference 1909.4.1.5

Rhinoceros sondaicus, javan rhinoceros skull from sunderabund, Bengal

Boxgrove excavation site
A view of the archaeological excavation site at Boxgrove, West Sussex, UK. The site yielded a very significant fossil find, a tibia and incisors believe to have belonged to a 500

Bat
An illustration (Plate 1, Mammals) from the Zoology of the Beagle

Australopithecus sp. thigh & hip bone

Beached whales alive in a Cornish village, 1932
The people of Perranporth, a village not far from Newquay, Cornwall, have just had the surprise of their lives. Eight whales have been found on the beach washed up during a gale

Bubalus bubalis, Indian water buffalo
These are the largest Indian water buffalo horns ever recorded, each almost 2 metres long

Skin from a Ground sloth
This rare sloth skin, one of the best examples of its kind, was found in a cave in Chile in the early 1900 s

Mylodon
Illustration (p.140) from Charles Darwins Journal of Researches, first illustrated edition 1890

Illustration of a seal intestine
Drawing of a seal intestine by Edward Wilson. Drawn during the Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole 1910-1913

Fake rodent skeleton
Sent to the Museum by amateur palaeontologist Reverend C Green in 1843. The skeleton had not been dug out of the ground whole and bones belonged to different individuals

The Modern Mrs Jonah
Eric the Whale at Olympia. Eric, the huge 65-ton whale which arrived at Olympia yesterday from America, was on view there this morning for the first time

Sketch of Dolphins by Edward Wilson
Plate one from Edward Wilson sTerra Nova sketch book showing three dolphins

Missourium theristrocaulodon, jaw bone
Unearthed in 1840 on the shore of the Pomme de Terre River in Missouri by Albert Koch. The enormous skulls, jaws and bones all belonged to an extinct relative of the elephant

99% Ape cover illustration

Graomys lockwoodi
Views of Graomys lockwoodi skull. Original specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London. Photographed by Harry Taylor, 2010

Madoqua saltiana, Salts dik-dik
On display in the Natural History Museums whale and mammal gallery (number 24). Its common name, dik-dik (or dikdik) is thought to have dervied from the sound it makes whilst running

Elephant; Walk Quietly
A Natural History Museum poster with an elephant design asking visitors to walk quietly. 1968

Trachypithecus delacouri, delacours langur
Skull of Trachypithecus delacouri, delacours langur. Type specimen catalogue number 32.4.19. Male

Oligoryzomys victus, St. Vincent pygmy rice rat (holotype). Catalogue reference NHM 1897.12.26.1)

Cervus unicolor brookei, sambar deer
Photograph of BM(NH) 1.3.13.1 Cervus unicolor brookei, Sarawak

Phyllotis cachinus
Views of Phyllotis cachinus skull. Original specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London. Photographed by Harry Taylor, 2010

Engraved mammoth tusk
Mammoth tusk engraved of Grevettian age. 25, 000 - 30, 000 years ago during the Upper Palaeolithic and within the great Stone Age from Dolni Vestonice, Moravia, Czech Republic

Mylodon darwinii, ground sloth
Jaw bone collected by Charles Darwin when he stepped off the Beagle in Argentina. First officially recorded by Richard Owen, the first Superintendent of the Museum

Lemur skulls from Madagascar
Two skulls show the incredible diversity of lemurs on Madagascar

Bringing in a prisoner illustration (p.84) from Charles Darwins Journal of Researches, first illustrated edition 1890

Graomys edithae
Views of Graomys edithae skull. Original specimen held at the Natural History Museum, London. Photographed by Harry Taylor, 2010

Children examining tiger, c. 1927. The Natural History Muse
This white tiger was shot in the Rewa jungle in early 1925 by the Maharajah Gulab Singh. The Maharajah presented this animal to George V, who in turn loaned the specimen to the Museum in February 1926

Taxidermist working on wolf teeth, 1935
One of the several behind-the-scenes shots taken for the February 1935 edition of Weekly Illustrated, 1st Class Technical Assistant Percy Stammwitz adds final touches to the teeth of a wolf

Boys sketching giraffes, 1949. The Natural History Museum
For the really keen young naturalist aged between 10 and 15, a Junior Naturalists Club was established. Entry was gained by producing a piece of fieldwork to prove ones dedication to the study of

Nepal tiger, 1913. The Natural History Museum, London

Boys sketching rabbit, 1949. The Natural History Museum, Lo
To ensure the children actually learnt something during their visit, they had to research and produce a description of the animals they drew

Lions in debris, 1944. The Natural History Museum, London
The flying bomb of 11 July 1944 followed one on 5 July, and together the two did a great deal of damage, as can be seen here in the Lower Mammal Gallery

Bulldog cranium 1906
Specimen number D94, Bulldog, Canis lupus familiaris. Juvenille bulldog skull, from dog called Neotsfield. 1906

Affenbande am Flusse
A troup of monkeys on the riverside, page 199 from Loango Expedition 1873-1876 published in 1879, by P Gussfeldt et al

Whaling boats
A photograph from A Cruise in the Arctic (1888) by Livingstone-Learmonth

Panther design
Drawing by Alfred Waterhouse for the ornamentation of the Natural History Museum, London, 1875-1876. Waterhouse designed the museum in the 1860s, and it first opened its doors on Easter Monday 1881

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"Unveiling the Marvels of Placental Mammals: From Lucy to Sperm Whales" Step into a world where ancient creatures and modern marvels coexist. Meet Australopithecus afarensis, famously known as Lucy, our earliest ancestor in the hominin lineage. Her fossilized remains provide invaluable insights into human evolution. But the wonders don't stop there. Lord Walter Rothschild's zebra-drawn trap showcases his eccentricity and passion for wildlife conservation. Meanwhile, Ballyregan Bob, a majestic greyhound, exemplifies the elegance and speed of these domesticated placental mammals. Venture further back in time to encounter Megatherium, the colossal giant ground sloth that once roamed Earth. Its massive size leaves us awe-struck at nature's ability to create such extraordinary beings. The ferocious Smilodon fatalis with its iconic saber-like teeth takes center stage next. This fearsome sabre-toothed cat reminds us of prehistoric predators that ruled their habitats with unmatched prowess. In contrast to these formidable creatures, we have Mustela nivalis - the least weasel - showcasing how even small they can leave an indelible mark on our planet's biodiversity. Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild himself was not only a collector but also a pioneer in zoology. His contributions paved the way for scientific understanding and conservation efforts worldwide. Proconsul africanus represents an important link between primates and humans. Its existence sheds light on our common ancestry and offers glimpses into early primate behavior. Marvel at the sleek design of greyhounds; their streamlined bodies are perfectly adapted for high-speed pursuits—a testament to both natural selection and human intervention through selective breeding practices. Witness Homo habilis in action—an early member of our own genus who used tools skillfully millions of years ago—showcasing humanity's ingenuity from its very beginnings.