The Invertebrate Palaeontology type and figured collection encompasses more than 16 000 published specimens. It includes 3500 primary types (holotypes, neotypes, lectotypes), 5400 secondary types (paratypes, paralectotypes), and 6300 figured specimens.
These specimens are based on more than 700 research publications from 1851 to the present day, authored by museum staff and external researchers.
Held separately from the rest of the Invertebrate Palaeontology collection, it is housed in a climate-controlled (temperature and humidity) storage room in 31 metal cabinets. Specimens are arranged by date of first publication and are clearly labelled with their type status.
Type specimens are generally not used for display as they must be easily accessible to researchers. The museum has an international obligation to preserve type and figured material and make it accessible for researchers.