| Botanical Specimens | Pressed leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, wood sections, and plant fibers | Dried, pressed, mounted, or preserved in a container | Leaf arrangement, venation, flower structure, seed shape, surface texture, and botanical name | Air drying, pressing, desiccation, or controlled storage away from moisture and direct light | Verify lawful collection, plant-protection requirements, quarantine rules, and any restrictions on protected species or seeds |
| Entomological Specimens | Butterflies, moths, beetles, dragonflies, and other preserved insects | Pinned, spread, dried, or stored in resin or alcohol | Wing pattern, body segmentation, antennae, leg structure, scale arrangement, and specimen label | Dry preservation in insect drawers, sealed display cases, or liquid preservation for selected specimens | Check collection permits, species identification, export documentation, pest control, and restrictions applying to protected insects |
| Zoological Specimens | Feathers, shells, bones, teeth, antlers, eggshells, and naturally shed materials | Cleaned, dried, articulated, mounted, or individually packaged | Morphology, surface pattern, anatomical structure, dimensions, weight, and documented origin | Dry cleaning, dehydration, stabilization, sealed storage, or temperature-controlled preservation | Wildlife-trade laws may restrict many animal parts; confirm species status, legal acquisition, permits, and import requirements before purchase |
| Geological Specimens | Minerals, rocks, crystals, ores, volcanic materials, and polished geological sections | Hand samples, cut slabs, polished pieces, crystal clusters, or thin sections | Color, luster, hardness, crystal form, cleavage, grain, density, and geological locality | Dry storage, protective wrapping, vibration control, and humidity management for moisture-sensitive minerals | Review extraction permissions, local heritage rules, customs classification, weight limits, and safe packaging for fragile materials |
| Paleontological Specimens | Fossilized shells, plant fossils, trace fossils, fossil bones, and amber containing inclusions | Rock matrix, prepared slabs, casts, fragments, or stabilized display pieces | Fossil morphology, geological formation, stratigraphic context, matrix type, and locality records | Dry, vibration-resistant storage; fragile pieces may require reversible conservation materials | Ownership and export rules vary widely by country; request provenance, legal title, excavation records, and relevant permits |
| Marine Specimens | Seashells, coral fragments, echinoderm tests, marine sediment, and dried algae | Cleaned, dried, bleached only when appropriate, mounted, or stored in sealed containers | Shell architecture, radial symmetry, growth lines, spines, surface texture, and collection locality | Rinsing, gradual drying, dry storage, and protection from salt residue and excessive humidity | Coral, shells, and other marine materials can be regulated; verify species identity, collection method, protected-area rules, and export permits |
| Mycological Specimens | Dried mushrooms, bracket fungi, lichens, and fungal growth on wood | Dried, pressed, mounted, or stored with a representative substrate | Cap and pore structure, spore-bearing surface, substrate, color, texture, and collection date | Rapid drying, low-humidity storage, and sealed packaging to reduce mold and insect damage | Confirm accurate identification, absence of hazardous contamination, packaging requirements, and any plant-health restrictions on attached wood |
| Anthropological or Cultural Natural Materials | Naturally sourced fibers, shells, seeds, feathers, bones, and other materials incorporated into cultural objects | Raw material, fragment, tool component, or part of a documented cultural object | Material composition, manufacturing traces, cultural context, age, provenance, and documented ownership history | Conservation depends on the material; stable temperature, low light, and careful handling are generally recommended | Cultural-heritage laws, ethical acquisition standards, repatriation requirements, and community permissions may apply |
| Minimum Documentation for International Sourcing | Scientific or common name; specimen category; country and locality of origin; collection or acquisition date; legal source statement; permit or certificate details where required; material composition; dimensions and weight; preservation method; photographs; packaging requirements; and any applicable customs, quarantine, wildlife, plant-health, mineral, fossil, or cultural-heritage documentation. |
