Cephalopoda Collection (#6)

Cuttlefish dissection drawing
Table LI, taken from Bibel der Natur byJan Swammerdamm

The Tank Room, Darwin Centre
The Tank Room in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Aturia sp. nautilus
Watercolour by Alice B. Woodward, c. 1880. Drawings 1 and 2 have had their shells removed, drawing 3 is a cross section of the shell and drawing 4 is an apical (open end) view

Shell Gallery, May 1911
New attractions for visitors in 1907, four years before this image was taken, included life-size models of an octopus and a giant squid in the Shell Gallery (now the Jerwood Galllery)

Detail of terracotta moulding of an octopus in the Waterhous

Bactrites carinatus, nautiloid
This straight nautiloid Bactrites carinatus originates from the Devonian of Germany

Nautilus pompilius, nautilus
Specimen shell of the nautilus (Nautilus pompilius), which has been sectioned to show body chamber (largest section), septa (individual chambers) and siphuncle (tube canal)

Brasilia bradfordensis, ammonite
This Middle Jurassic ammonite has been sectioned to show its chambers with calcite crystals formed in some and hardened mud in others. The body chamber is missing

Parkinsonia dorsetensis, ammonite
This ammonite has an evolute shell and is displaying complex suture lines. Specimen originates from the Middle Jurassic

Aegocrioceras quadratus, ammonite
This Lower Cretaceous crytocone ammonite displays whorls which do not touch each other but form an open spiral

Ichthyosaurus, Rhamphorhynchus, Plesiosaurus, Megalosaurus
Plate 82 Life on Jurassic Shores 165 Million Years Ago an illustration from Britain Before Man by F.W. Dunning et al (1978)

Plate 76 from the John Reeves Collection
John Reeves, a 19th Century Tea Inspector, travelled to Canton, China in order to develop a large collection of Chinese natural history drawings

LS Plate 83 from the John Reeves Collection
John Reeves, a 19th Century Tea Inspector, travelled to Canton, China in order to develop a large collection of Chinese natural history drawings

Darwins Octopus
A specimen held in the Natural History Museum, London, of an octopus collected by Charles Darwin

Plate 42 from Mineralogie Volume 1 (1790)
Coupe de la corne d ammons don?t chacunes des cazes, renferme une variete particuliere du Spath calcaire. From Recuille complet de Mineralogie? vol.1 (1790) by F.L. Swebach Desfontaines

Nautilus pompilius, nautilus

Oxynoticeras oxynotum, ammonite
Shown here is the ventral view of this Lower Jurassic oxycone ammonite

Aulacostephanus autissiodorensis, ammonite
Shown here is an Upper Jurassic macroconch (larger form) ammonite. Despite some damage to the shell, the fine ribbing is still apparent

Dactylioceras commune, ammonite
This shows a Lower Jurassic snakestone from Whitby, Yorkshire, UK where a snakes head has been carved onto the ammonite

Dactylioceras commune, snakestone ammonite
Snakestone ammonite (Dactylioceras commune) (J. Sowerby) a lectotype specimen from Toarcian, Upper Liassic, Bifrons Zone, Whitby, U.k

Concretions with ammonites (saligrams)

Actinoceras sp. nautiloid
An extinct, long-shelled or orthoconic marine fossil invertebrate from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Octopus ceiling panel
A photograph of one of the decorative ceiling panels from the roof of the Natural History Museums Central Hall. Showing a black and white painting of an octopus

Belemnite longitudinal section to show phragmocone
A longitudinal section of a belemnite (Acrocoelites vulgaris) from Toarcian, Alum Shales, Ravenscar, Yks; unreg

Aulacoceras sulcatum, belemnite
An extinct marine fossil known as a belemnite. These are invertebrates from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Vestinautilus cariniferous, nautiloid
An extinct, coiled-shelled marine fossil invertebrate from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Goniatites, fossil ammonite
In marked contrast to Dactylioceras, this Carboniferous Goniatites has a shell in which successive whols overlap stongly, giving a narrow, deep umbilicus

Wasatchites tridentinus, ammonoid
An extinct, marine fossil invertebrate with a heavily ribbed, coiled shell from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Architeuthis dux Steenstrup, 1857, squid
The squid was caught by the Falkland registered trawler John Cheek, on 15 March 2004 It was caught at a depth of 220m, 15.6 km north west of Port Stephens Settlement

Gomphoceras pyriforme, nautiloid
An extinct, egg-shaped marine fossil invertebrate from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Gonioteuthis, a fossil belemnite
Guard of the belemnite Gonioteuthis, 8 cm long, from the Cretaceous Chalk of Salisbury, England

Plesioteuthis sp. belemnite
An extinct marine fossil known as a belemnite. These are invertebrates from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Acanthoteuthis (Belemnoteuthis) speciosus, belemnite
An extinct, marine fossil invertebrate from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Gonioclymenia laevigata, ammonoid
An extinct, marine fossil invertebrate from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Dactylioceras, fossil ammonite
Dactylioceras, represented here by a 9.5 cm wide individual, is a characteristic and abundant ammonite in the Lower Jurassic of north Yorkshire, England

Prolecanites compressus, goniatite

Kosmoclymenia undulata, ammonoid
An extinct, marine fossil invertebrate from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Perisphinctes, ammonite
A Pyritised (golden cloured) ammonite from the Jurassic, Callovian, Jason Beds; Uetzing, Germany

Hoplites, fossil ammonite
Hoplites, a stongly-ribbed Cretaceous ammonite. This 7.8 cm wide specimen is from the Cretaceous of Southern England

Belemnitella minor, belemnites
Natural History Museum specimens of belemnites or thunderbolts from the Paramoudra Chalk of Norfolk

Fossil belemnites
Belemnite battlefield, a dense accumulation of belemnites covering a 22 cm wide slab of Jurassic shale from Yorkshire, England

Aphelaeceras mutabile, nautiloid
An extinct, coiled-shelled marine fossil invertebrate from the class Cephalopoda belonging in the phylum Mollusca (molluscs). Photographed by Beatriz Aguirre-Urreta

Nostroceras, ammonite

Maorites densicostatus, ammonite
This flat-shelled ammonite dates from the Lower to Middle Campanian of the Upper Cretaceous, Vega Island, Graham Land, Antarctica

Terracotta panels
Detail of terracotta panels in front galleries, showing marine life. Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905) designed the museum in the 1860s, and it first opened its doors on Easter Monday 1881

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Cephalopoda, the mysterious and captivating creatures of the sea. From the giant octopus to extinct marine reptiles, these animals have fascinated scientists and adventurers alike. Imagine diving into the depths of the ocean and coming face to face with an ancient Asteroceras, a fossil ammonite that once roamed these waters millions of years ago. Or witnessing the mesmerizing sight of an Ocellate octopus gracefully swimming up from the sea floor, its vibrant colors illuminating its path. Octopuses are known for their intelligence and adaptability. Take for instance the veined octopus resting on top of two halves of an old coconut, using it as both shelter and camouflage. These creatures never cease to amaze us with their resourcefulness. Intriguing portraits capture moments in time when a bigfin squid hovers in open water above corals, showcasing its ethereal beauty. And let's not forget about deep-sea species like Abraliopsis atlantica found off Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean - they remind us just how diverse our planet truly is. For those seeking adventure, exploring Asia offers encounters with various cephalopods such as cuttlefishes darting through colorful coral reefs or Asian squids gliding effortlessly through azure waters. The Argonauta hians, commonly known as brown paper nautilus, showcases nature's artistry with its delicate shell resembling crumpled paper. It serves as a reminder that even within this group there is immense diversity. Coconut or veined octopuses are nocturnal hunters who venture out into sandy bottoms at nightfall - witnessing one skillfully hunting is like observing a master magician at work. A wide-angle macro view reveals intricate details as a veined octopus stretches itself across rocks or plants underwater – reminding us that beauty can be found even in small-scale wonders. Cephalopoda encompasses all these incredible beings - each with its own unique characteristics and behaviors.