Animals in the Collections

Animals don't just live in the zoology museum and collection, we have animals all over the place in rare books, archive and museum collections. Check out some of the highlights below for more information!

Brilliant Birds

We've got some amazing birds in the collections, from museum specimens through to giant bird books. Scroll through for a few examples! Clicking on the image will take you to the catalogue entry, where you can learn even more.

Cardinal

John James Audubon, 'The Birds of America', volume 2, from original drawings, 1831-34

Wine vessel

A rare ritual bronze wine vessel (tsun) in the form of a goose, the sturdily built bird standing squarely on large webbed feet, its long neck outstretched in threatening attitude; 500-220 AD

Headdress

The headdress frontlet, in form of a thunderbird, for a dancing mask, wooden with decoration in black, red and blue pigment.

Snowy Owl

John James Audubon, 'The Birds of America', volume 2, from original drawings, 1831-34

Bird bowl

Bird shaped bowl with decoration, carved in a shark motif and inlaid.

Cartonnage fragment

One of four fragments of cartonnage, from inner coffin, painted and inscribed. Cartonnage is a type of material used in ancient Egypt. It was made of layers of linen or papyrus covered with plaster.

Seed pod

Seed pod from the Baobab Tree. decorated with frongs, birds and flowers. One of two seed pods presented by Dr Boyd in 1927

Hieroglyph fragment

One of eight fragments with incised horizontal inscriptions in two lines, giving prayers for the dead and the titles of a high official; 2471 BC - 2355 BC

Embroidery

Embroidered panel on black silk, depicting a bird at the centre of the panel and sun at the top left of the composition. Embroidered in shades of silver and gold thread, and backed onto sky blue silk.

Blue Jays

John James Audubon, 'The Birds of America', volume 2, from original drawings, 1831-34

Netsuke

18th century figure representing the tongue-cut sparrow or Shita-kiri Suzume, with makers mark, Shugyoko to the base.

Headdress

The red feathers on this headdress may be from a Crimson Lorikeet; black tipped ones from a Rainbow Lorikeet; the iridescent black ones from a Crinkle-collared Manucode or Curl-crested Manucode.

Aberdeen Zoo

Insect House

Did you know there were plans for themed buildings, such as this ladybird-inspired Insect House, for Aberdeen Zoo?

Mole Hill

Opening a zoo in Aberdeen was first proposed at an informal meeting between respresentatives of the Town Council and Aberdeen University in Sept 1961.

Reptile House

The zoo grew in size and diversity, developing links with local schools but failing visitor numbers and financial difficulties led to its closure in 1977.

Mouse Town

Even though these wonderfully whimsical buildings were never built, we are delighted that the architectural plans survive in the UoA Collections archive.

Beehive

How would you design an insect or animal house?

Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) Illustrator of Insect life

Maria Sibylla Merian

Maria Sibylla Merian was a 17th century female naturalist, entomologist and botanial illustrator and is considered one of the greatest ever botanical artists.

Caterpillars

The University of Aberdeen's Special Collections holds a copy of her publication entitled 'The Miraculous Transformation and Unusual Flower-Food of Caterpillars'.

Metamorphosis

Maria Sibylla Merian was a woman of both Art and Science. She was the first to record metamorphosis, contradicting contemporary notions about how insects developed.

Entomology

She recorded and illustrated the life cycles of 186 insect species.

Expeditions

She also undertook scientific expeditions at a time when these were unusual and normally undertaken by men only.

Scientific Discoveries

She discovered unknown animals and insects in the interior of Surinam. Her classification of butterflies and moths is still used today.