The Natural History Museum Fossil Porifera Collection

This is the status update on the Porifera Collection at The Natural History Museum, London. There is still very little information available regarding fossil sponge digitisation or any similar initiative, with molluscs being the main goal of digitisation worldwide. This paper covers the type and figured specimens and drawer label content data of the Porifera Collection and also describes the collection and its research potential. With approximately 71,000 specimens at the NHM, of which more than 60 % are Mesozoic, this is the best Mesozoic sponge collection in the world and one of the most important. It covers all stratigraphic periods and all taxonomic groups and includes almost 3000 cited and figured specimens including types. Although most of the specimens come from the British Isles, there are also worldwide samples, with abundant specimens from other Commonwealth countries and from Antarctica.