The display will feature a number of specimens Owen worked on during his time as an anatomist and palaeontologist, including the dog-sized dawn horses, which have not been seen by the public for 50 years.

Other species featured on the self-guided trail include the duck-billed platypus, the dodo, a skeleton of a Diprotodon and a Giant Ground Sloth.

The display and trail will aim to demonstrate the wide scope of work completed by Owen, who is best known for coining the word ‘dinosaur’.

Angela Milner, associate keeper of Palaeontology at the NHM, said: “Owen paved the way for the future study of the natural world and, without him, we would not have the Natural History Museum.”

The free display will be open to public between 20 July and 31 October. Details: www.nhm.ac.uk