D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum facts for kids

The D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum is a cool place to explore zoology (the study of animals) at the University of Dundee in Scotland. It's filled with amazing animal specimens and unique models from all over the world!

Who Was D'Arcy Thompson?

The museum is named after a brilliant Scottish scientist called D'Arcy Thompson (1860–1948). He was not just a biologist, but also a mathematician! He started collecting animal specimens for the museum way back in the 1880s.

D'Arcy Thompson became a professor at University College, Dundee, in 1885. Right away, he began gathering items for a museum. By 1893, his department grew, and a special building was made just for the museum. It quickly became one of the biggest museums of its kind in Britain!

A Museum on the Move

The museum's first building was taken down in the 1950s to make space for new university buildings. Many of D'Arcy Thompson's original collections had to be moved or stored away.

For many years, the remaining items were kept safe in storage. Then, in the 1980s, new displays were created in another building. That building was also later taken down. Finally, in 2007, a brand new museum was opened in the Carnelley Building. It was officially named the D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum, honoring its founder.

What Can You See?

This museum has an incredible collection of animals from all over the world. You can see:

• Birds
• Fish
• Insects
• Mammals
• Reptiles

The museum also displays many of D'Arcy Thompson's original models and teaching tools. These include amazing glass models of sea creatures made by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka. There are also special models and preparations by Vaclav Fric. Many of these items show D'Arcy Thompson's interest in how math helps us understand biology. This idea led to his famous book, On Growth and Form.

Famous Expeditions

The museum holds specimens from many important scientific journeys. Imagine seeing items from:

• The HMS Challenger voyage (1872–1876) – a huge trip that explored the oceans!
• The Dundee Antarctic Expedition (1892–93)
• The Ingolf Expedition (1895–96)
• The Nimrod Expedition (1907-9)
• The Discovery Investigations (1930s)

You can also see specimens of animals that are now extinct, like the Huia bird and the Thylacine (also known as the Tasmanian tiger).

Art Inspired by Science

The museum also has a unique art collection! These artworks are inspired by D'Arcy Thompson's ideas, especially from his 1917 book On Growth and Form.

The art collection includes pieces by famous artists such as:

• Henry Moore
• Victor Pasmore
• Wilhelmina Barns-Graham
• William Turnbull
• Salvador Dalí

There's even an original catalog from Richard Hamilton’s "Growth and Form" art exhibition from 1951. You can also see digital art showing cell shapes by Andy Lomas. This shows how science and art can inspire each other!