NaturalBlue Whale exhibition space at the Royal Ontario Museum.History

About

Natural History Research

The Department of Natural History collections comprise one of the largest holdings of natural history specimens in Canada, and are recognized internationally. Staff members conduct research in areas of particular strength in our collections and where our curators have a special expertise. We are actively involved in studying the diversity, evolutionary relationships, distribution, and conservation of living species; in researching and displaying fossilized plants and animals from all over the world; and in acquiring and studying the best examples of minerals, gems, meteorites and rocks from our planet and solar system.

Natural History Collections

Pressed green fern leaves with delicate brownish seed clusters on a pale background.

Plants

1,178,618 Specimens

Bicolor polished gemstone with green on one side and pink on the other.

Minerals & Gems

70,051 Specimens

Rough turquoise and gray mineral rock with black specks.

Rocks & Ores

39,137 Specimens

Slice of iron meteorite with a distinctive pattern of interlocking silver crystals and brown rust-colored patches.

Meteorites

3,565 Specimens

Orange and black butterfly with long, narrow forewings and rounded hindwings displayed with wings spread.

Insects & Arachnids

10,846,349 Specimens

Illustration of a green flying lizard with extended frilled wings and a long tail.

Reptiles & Amphibians

85,249 Specimens

Illustration of a fish with a yellow head, blue markings near the eyes, and a cream-colored body with a forked tail.

Fishes

1,545,627 Specimens

Polished golden amber with visible trapped insects inside.

Invertebrate Fossils

1,765,855 Specimens

Two views of a small, round orange sea shell with white and black dots, one showing the exterior and the other showing the interior.

Invertebrates

1,392,241 Specimens

Side view of a brown bison standing on a white background.

Mammals

124,045 Specimens

A clump of small, dried red-capped fungi with slender, light-colored stems attached to brown soil.

Fungi

502,000 Specimens

Black-capped chickadee with spread wings in mid-flight against a white background.

Birds

204,500 Specimens

Skeleton of a horse displayed against a white background.

Vertebrate Fossils

130,254 Specimens

A collection of traditional Japanese swords with black and beige handles and sheaths, displayed horizontally on a foam pad.

Donate to Collection

Support ROM's mission by donating artifacts or funds, contributing to the Museum's ongoing efforts to enrich and diversify its collections.

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Natural History Research Projects

Dr. Mark Engstrom helping to prepare the whale for it's trip back to the Royal Ontario Museum.
Project
Blue Whale
Illustration of Burgess Shale
Project
Burgess Shale Projects
The Southern Alberta Dinosaur Project team dig in a bonebed.
Project
Southern Alberta Dinosaur Project
Collection room in museum

Online Collections

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See our collections online