Vertebrate collection: Herpetological specimens from Africa; birds from Africa; mammal skulls, skins, and skeletons from east Africa; The collection also includes taxidermy specimens of bears, lions, mountain gorilla, zebra, impala, coyotes, and birds. Some of these may be available for long-term loan.
Gems and minerals: 4,500 specimens from locations worldwide. The collection was formed primarily for exhibition. The 1,500 display-quality specimens include duplicates that may be available for long-term loan.
Anthropology collection: 60,000 objects from Africa (including Egypt), Oceania, Japan, and the Americas. Collection strengths are in objects from the North American Plains and Southwest, and pre-Columbian and folk art pieces from Latin America. Subject to conditions, most objects are available for loan.
Malacology collection: 1,000,000 dry specimens, 40% of which are from the Gulf of Mexico. The collection is comprised of marine, freshwater, and land mollusks.
Entomology collection: 500,000 specimens (predominantly beetles, moths, and butterflies)
Paleontology collection: Three major areas: fossil plants (approximately 450 catalogued specimens): fossil invertebrates (approximately 700 catalogued specimens); fossil vertebrates (approximately 1,100 catalogued specimens). A large (>100,000 specimen) collection of fossil invertebrates is currently being identified and inventoried.
HMNS also has collection items in the following areas: history and technology, astronomy, and botany.