Thanks for the wrapping the tenrec, so it doesn't get freezer-burned! Better give it to NHM, because plastination of small mammals doesn't look very good, and vets can find specimens for themselves easily...
Today's arrivals: 3 Nile crocs Frilled lizard, bluetongue, 2 mastigures Common & alligator snapping turtles, Russian & spurred tortoises Somewhat rattlesnake, king cobra, burmese albino python (skin), blood python. And guinea pig! Does anyone want to see pics?
My largest Nile (1,5 m) is still lying deeply in the freezer under other critters, I have a cleaned Cuban skull about 35 cm. Those Niles are smaller ones (50-60 cm), maybe 1 would become a skeleton.
They're not stuffed nowadays, but the skin is mounted on a sturdy form which replicates the animal's body anatomy. It's usually made of lightweight polymers like polyurethane foam (by casting or carving), or of soft materials (like wood wool) wrapped tightly around the wire frame. Stuffing is used by amateurs and looks very bad!
Are these all acquired from ebay like the colugo ? Quite amazing if that's the case. Do you assemble the skeletons yourself?
No, I got them frozen from a private facility for free And yes, I articulate skeletons myself (wish for some help though, esp. with large snakes).
A female snowy owl is coming... likely... but she may recover as well It is from the wild and very weak because of starvation (the owls migrate in search of food to great distances and not all are lucky, some end up in cities)
EM where do you keep all these skeletons, and do you look at an animal and think I'd like too see your bones?
There's enough space until I get an elephant or whale (hope it happens eventually) 'And a flesh side of your skin too'! This happened with many animals that I knew and observed alive, it was pleasant to know them closer and not a disturbing experience at all
Did you learn this art by yourself or take a course, I have always been sorely tempted to take up taxidermy!
By myself. There are virtually no courses un Russia (only at some taxidermy studios of Moscow & St. Petersburg). The snowy owl is still alive...
Insects (sun beetles, elephant & common rhino beetles, dermestids ) Yesterday recieved 45 juveniles of 4 crocodylian species (gator, Siamese, Nile & Morelet's crocs). NOT alive of course - they bite!