We advise you to start browsing with Collection search to have an overview of the collections. Collection names may include information that will help to narrow down results. Specimen search allows you to choose specific criteria. Still, you may have to browse through hundreds of records in case of some rich collections.
Collection search tips
- you may choose multiple buttons
- not selecting a button will result in including all in the query
- systematic groups are arranged for practical reasons and should not be considered as a scientific system
- marine specimens may be included under country, a body of water (sea, gulf) or oceans
Collection search results
- Search results are sorted by collection name.
- A collection is featured by a specimen with photo, to show type of preservation or typical characteristics of specimens. There are currently only a small number of collections with images associated with them. We are still adding images to the database. Photo can be enlarged when you move to specimen view (before downloading images, please consult Copyright policy).
Specimen search tips
- all entries are not case-sensitive
- enter a value or choose one category from the drop-down lists
- whenever there is an option of selecting a condition, it must be chosen to include in the search
- to narrow down search results enter a phrase and/or select from the list of the detailed criteria. Obtained results will meet all criteria indicated
Specimen search fields
- Containing phrase – Searches for an exact phrase in all fields in the specimens records. Note that typos or double spaces may occur in the database, affecting the search by giving a falsely negative result.
- Systematic group – Groups are arranged for practical reasons and should not be considered a scientific system. You may choose only one search.
- Taxon name – You must select a condition to restrict the search. Under taxon name, you can search for Latin species names. If species are indefinite, higher taxon is used, e.g., Theropoda indet. In the database, species names are entered as published at the time when the collection was assembled. For revised collections, synonymy is provided.
- Stratigraphy – To narrow down search results, choose from the list. You may select only one in one search.
- Geographic region – To narrow down search results, choose from the list. You may select only one in one search.
- Detailed localization – You must select a condition to restrict the search. In the database, detailed localization entry is often based on the specimen labels, and so far it is not unified, e.g., specimen from locality Józefka in the Holy Cross Mts., may be entered as Józefka, Holy Cross Mts. or Józefka or just Holy Cross Mts.
- Collection name – To narrow down search results, choose from the list. You may select only one in one search.
- Specimen number – The correct format is a combination of Roman or Arabic letters (being an abbreviation of the systematic group) and a number of the collection, followed by the specimen number, e.g., Bp. V/12 (period, space, and slash are obligatory). Please note that specimen number entry is often based on the publication. In the case of collections with Roman lettering in some papers, the Arabic number may be used due to a mistake. You may need to check both combinations.
- Type status – To narrow down search results, choose from the list. You may select only one in one search.
- Category – Please consider this field as supplementary guidance. The default entry is a specimen or additional material (mostly comparative specimens); other categories were assigned based on the availability of data, e.g., SEM stubs may not include all specimens mounted on the SEM stubs. Still, all labelled SEM stubs will be mounted.
Specimen search results
- Search results may be sorted by specimen number, type status or taxon name.
- You may choose to filter specimens with photo only.
Archival photographs from Polish-Mongolian Expeditions
- Collection name: Foto_Mon
- Category: photograph
- Systematic group: Dinosauria or Mammalia
- For location of the site or age of the outcrop on the photograph, check "detailed localization" or "stratigraphy".
- The field "containing phrase" can be searched using key words related to the subject of the photo: landscape, campsite, excavation, transport, loading, people, group, town.
- Other information available through searching by "containing phrase": surnames of the participants, year of the expedition.
- We allow downloading jpg files for free (please consult our Copyright policy), if you are interested with high resolution files please contact Collection Curator