Primates at Quex
Quex Museum contains one of the most extraordinary research collections of African primate remains in the world. It is a unique scientific collection that comprises the associated skulls, skeletons and skins of great apes, monkeys and smaller primates such as the bush baby. The collection is therefore of considerable importance to scholars from a range of different disciplines such as physical anthropology, ecology, comparative anatomy, developmental biology and genetics. The great ape series is particularly renowned, and has played a crucial role in the publication of dozens of scientific studies. The gorilla and chimpanzee collection is larger than all the collections in North America put together, and consequently draws researchers from all around the world.
The specimens are extremely well documented – in many cases far better than in much larger and more famous natural history museums. Major Powell-Cotton was a meticulous keeper of records and field notes concerning the animals he collected. Many specimens were measured and weighed in the field, their localities were recorded and they were often photographed or even filmed. Added to that detailed additional notes were made about anything extra the Major thought interesting, such as evidence of disease or unusual aspects of provenance. He was very careful to collect animals of different ages and of both sexes, with the result that his collection is representative of a number of populations rather than just a random assortment of unrelated individuals. This is very unusual for a museum collection and using it makes it possible for scientists to address difficult questions, such as how our fossil ancestors grew, how they were related to each other and how they moved around.
