Comparative Anatomy Collection

1812 Sloth skeleton by Cuvier
Skeleton of a three toad sloth, or Ai, copperplate engraving from Cuviers " Ossamens Fossiles" 1812. Cuvier saw that the key to understanding fossils was to relate their bones to animals

1812 Hippopotamus skeleton by Cuvier
Skeleton of a hippopotamus, fine folio copperplate engraving from Cuviers " Ossamens Fossiles". Cuvier saw that the key to understanding fossils was to relate their bones to animals

1873 Richard Owen Old bones Vanity Fair
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892). Caracature from Vanity Fairs Men of the Day series March 1st 1873. Owen was a comparative anatomist

1883 Richard Owens study ex BMNH
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892). 1883 portrait in his home study for The Graphic magazine. The year he retired from the BMNH

Richard Owen, British palaeontologist C016 / 5008
Richard Owen (1804-1892), British anatomist and palaeontologist. Owen was the founder and first director of the Natural History Museum, London, UK

The Pongo skull sent by Rademaker to Camper. From ''Man's Place in Nature'', London, 1894
2604829 The Pongo skull sent by Rademaker to Camper. From ''Man's Place in Nature'', London, 1894, by Thomas Henry Huxley.; (add.info)

Skull from Western Port, Australia, with outline of the Neanderthal cranium
2604830 Skull from Western Port, Australia, with outline of the Neanderthal cranium. From ''Man's Place in Nature'', London, 1894

Neanderthal 1, also called the Neanderthal cranium. From ''Man's Place in Nature'', London, 1894
2604831 Neanderthal 1, also called the Neanderthal cranium. From ''Man's Place in Nature'', London, 1894, by Thomas Henry Huxley.; (add.info.: Neanderthal 1)

Foot of, left ot right, Man, Goirilla, and Orangutan, drawn same size to show different proportions of each
2604835 Foot of, left ot right, Man, Goirilla, and Orangutan, drawn same size to show different proportions of each. From ''Man's Place in Nature'', London, 1894

Front and side view of pelvis of, top to bottom, Man, Gorilla, and Gibbon
2604832 Front and side view of pelvis of, top to bottom, Man, Gorilla, and Gibbon. From ''Man's Place in Nature'', London, 1894

Adult male Orangutan based on Muller and Schlegel's illustration (1839-1845)
2604833 Adult male Orangutan based on Muller and Schlegel's illustration (1839-1845). From ''Man's Place in Nature'', London, 1894

Thomas Henry Huxley, 1825 - 1895. English biologist specialising in comparative anatomy. Illustration by Gordon Ross, American artist and illustrator (1873-1946)

Alfred Newton (1829-1907), Professor of Comparative Anatomy at Cambridge University in the late 19th Century. Newton was an expert ornithologist and tutored Walter Rothschild in anatomy

Selection of thigh bones from different animals arranged by size, close up

Human Skull and Neck compared with that of Gorilla

Sir Richard Owen, museum statue C016 / 5009
Sir Richard Owen, museum statue. British anatomist and palaeontologist Richard Owen (1804-1892) was the founder and first director of the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Sir Richard Owen, museum statue C016 / 5007
Sir Richard Owen, museum statue. British anatomist and palaeontologist Richard Owen (1804-1892) was the founder and first director of the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Richard Owen, British palaeontologist C016 / 5006
Richard Owen (1804-1892), British anatomist and palaeontologist. Owen was the founder and first director of the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Human and chimpanzee jaws. Historical artwork comparing the jaws of a modern human (Homo sapiens sapiens, left) and a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes, right)

Ape skulls

Human and ape hands. Historical artwork of the hand of a human (left) and a barbary ape (Macaca sylvanus, right). The skin has been removed to reveal the underlying muscles and tendons

Louis Daubenton, French naturalist
Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton (1716-1800), French naturalist. Daubenton worked with Buffon on his grand treatise of natural history, providing anatomical descriptions of quadrupeds

Georges Cuvier, French zoologist
Georges Cuvier (1769-1832), French zoologist and anatomist. Georges Leopold Chretien Frederick Dagobert Cuvier was educated in Stuttgart, Germany

Australopithecus and gorilla brains. Historical artwork comparing the brain sizes of an early hominid (Australopithecus, from 4-2 million years ago) and a gorilla (brains seen from behind)

1850 Richard Owen zoologist lecturing
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892) Caricature from Punch 1850, captioned " A scientific institution during a lecture of an eminent savan " (sic)

Georges Pouchet, French naturalist
Georges Pouchet (1833-1894), French naturalist. Pouchet, the son of the naturalist Felix Pouchet, worked as an anatomist at the Museum of Natural History in Paris, France

Embryonic development. Comparison of fish, amphibian, bird and mammal embryos at the same stage of development

1885 Richard Owen, T. H. Huxley, waterbaby
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892). Thomas Henry Huxley (4 May 1825 - 29 June 1895). Linley Sambournes illustration for the new 1885 Macmillan edition of Kingsleys 1862/3 The

1880s Sir Richard Owen and Grandaughter
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892). Portrait frontispiece published in Volume II " The Life of Professor Owen" by his grandson in 1894

1870s Professor Sir Richard Owen
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892) 1870s CDV by Maull & Polyblank of London. Owen was a comparative anatomist and palaeontologist who became one of the most famous

1880 Sir Richard Owen engraved portrait
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892) 1880s engraving by C.H. Jeens. Owen was a comparative anatomist and palaeontologist who became one of the most famous

1841 Richard Owen coined dinosaur
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892) 1894 engraving from an 1840s painting by Pickersgill, later hand colouring. Owen was a comparative anatomist and palaeontologist

1889 Sir Richard Owen portrait in old age
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892). 1889 Portrait mezzotint by H.J. Thaddeus with contemporary face but pose taken from an earlier 1852 photograph with dinosaur

1846 Richard Owen and Moa leg fossil
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892) photo-engraved by Walker and Boutall around 1894 from an 1846 Daguerrotype

1871 Richard Owen on megatherium fossil
Richard Owen (20 July 1804- 18 December 1892) 1871 engraving by Frederick Waddy republished 1873 in " Cartoon Portraits and Biographical sketches of Men of the Day"

1878 Sir Richard Owen photograph portrait
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892). Woodburytype photograph by Lock & Whitfield published in Men or Mark 1878

1873 Richard Owen Vanity Fair CU portrait
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892). Caracature from Vanity Fairs Men of the Day series. Owen was a comparative anatomist and palaeontologist who became one of the most famous

1889 Sir Richard Owen portrait old age cu
Richard Owen (20, July 1804- 18 December 1892). Portrait mezzotint by H.J. Thaddeus. Owen was a comparative anatomist and palaeontologist who became one of the most famous

Primate skulls, 19th century artwork
Primate skulls. 19th century artwork of a human skull (top) and those of four different primates, showing the anatomical differences

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Comparative anatomy, a field of study that has fascinated scientists for centuries, delves into the intricate similarities and differences between various species. It allows us to unravel the mysteries of evolution and understand how organisms have adapted to their environments over time. In 1812, renowned French naturalist Georges Cuvier unveiled his groundbreaking work on comparative anatomy with the discovery of sloth and hippopotamus skeletons. These findings revolutionized our understanding of animal structure and function. Fast forward to 1873 when British paleontologist Richard Owen graced Vanity Fair's pages as an esteemed figure in the scientific community. His expertise in comparative anatomy led him to conduct meticulous studies at the British Museum of Natural History, where he examined ancient bones with unwavering dedication. Owen's contributions did not go unnoticed; his statue now stands proudly in a museum, symbolizing his immense impact on this field. Alongside him were other influential figures like Alfred Newton and Thomas Henry Huxley, who further expanded our knowledge through their research and illustrations. One cannot discuss comparative anatomy without mentioning John Hunter, a prominent surgeon from 1788 whose portrait immortalizes his passion for dissecting bodies in pursuit of anatomical knowledge. His work laid the foundation for future discoveries in this captivating discipline. The artful arrangement of thigh bones from different animals by size serves as a visual representation of how diverse species compare structurally. This close-up snapshot highlights both subtle nuances and striking disparities among these skeletal elements. Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects explored within comparative anatomy is comparing human skulls and necks with those of gorillas. By examining these side by side, we gain insights into shared ancestry while appreciating unique adaptations that have shaped each species' survival strategies. As we reflect upon these historical milestones and remarkable individuals who dedicated their lives to studying comparative anatomy, it becomes evident that this field continues to shape our understanding of life on Earth.