The Invertebrate Paleontology and Micropaleontology collections house nearly 6.5 million specimens, mostly collected within the last six decades from over 7,500 sites around Florida, the southeastern U.S., the Caribbean, Central and South America and Antarctica.*

These exceptional collections serve regional and national research and education programs. The Florida Museum houses many significant and unique fossil invertebrates from areas no longer accessible due to rapid land development.

Exhibit Objects

Significant collections

Systematic Collection (Cenozoic and Late Mesozoic)

Specimens arranged in phylogenetic order (simplest to most complex organisms) and used heavily in biodiversity studies and to aid in identification

Stratigraphic Collection (Cenozoic and Late Mesozoic)

Fossils collected in place, layer by layer, used in studies determining local diversity, age and environments in which ancient animals once lived

Teaching Collection (Early Mesozoic and Paleozoic)

Materials that complement Museum Cenozoic collections demonstrating diversity of early life used as a major resource to educators and exhibitors

Type and Figured Collection (all eras)

The specimens upon which new species, genera and families were described and those figured in published research

Micropaleontology Collection (all eras)

Mostly single-celled organisms (Foraminiferida) best viewed through a microscope

*Collection numbers were accurate at the time the exhibit was on display in 2017. Please visit the collection website or collection database for updated holdings information.