Palaeontology collections
The palaeontology collections of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle contains between 5 and 6 million specimens and microfossil slides, including 4 million lots of invertebrates and 450,000 vertebrates.
Attention
Following a serious cyberattack on our servers, some of our websites are currently unavailable for an indefinite period. Our teams are working flat out to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Our collection databases remain available for consultation.
Natural History Collections
- The Museum’s collections portal is once again accessible. Last updated: 01/04/2026
Documentary Collections
- Catalogue of archives, manuscripts, iconographic documents, works of art and Calames collection items
- Printed Works Catalogue
For any requests regarding access to the MNHN’s collections (loans, sampling, images, visits), please refer to the procedure outlined on the page for the collection relevant to your request.
Contacts
Scientific Officer
Marie-Béatrice Forel: marie-beatrice.forel [@] mnhn.fr
Head of Conservation Service
Claire Sagne: claire.sagne [@] mnhn.fr
Fossil echinoderm collection
The Muséum’s fossil echinoderm collection is one of the biggest in the world. Sea urchins, crinoids, starfish and ophiuroids form...
Fossil fish collection
The Muséum’s fossil fish collection makes it possible to reconstruct a history spanning about 500 million years, from the oldest...
Fossil insect collection
Despite the large number of extant species, fossil insects are found in a few deposits only, scattered across the globe and...
Fossil mammal collection
The fossil mammal collection is the Muséum’s richest collection of vertebrate fossils in terms of number of types and well...
Fossil marine arthropod collection
The collection of fossil marine arthropods at the Muséum contains specimens from all over the world. Many extant and extinct...
Mollusk fossil collection
The Muséum’s marine mollusk fossil collection contains specimens from all over the world. All extant and extinct groups are...
Fossil reptile, amphibian and bird collection
The Muséum’s reptile, amphibian and bird fossil collection has gradually built up around the first fossil specimens described by...
Micropalaeontology collection
The Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle’s micropalaeontology collection contains several million of microscopic fossils...
Paleobotanical collection
Paleobotany, the discipline devoted to the study of fossil plants and plant material (reproductive organs, leaves, wood, pollen...
Palaeopalynology collection
Palaeopalynology is the study of microfossils formed of organic matter, called palynomorphs; they are preserved in certain...
Reef-builder invertebrate collection
The reef-builder invertebrates collection gathers various organisms able to create underwater reliefs on a macroscopic scale.