Post by Tamber on Aug 23, 2015 22:14:52 GMT
Hey all. So I don't know if I've mentioned this on here, but I've been working as an intern at the St. Louis Zoo this summer. I'm working under the Curator of the zoo's biofact collection, a "biofact" being any preserved item that comes from a living thing. In the zoo's case, the biofact collection is almost exclusively things that come from animals (which would make sense).
So on a day-to-day basis, I get to help organize and preserve this collection for educational use, such as in classes or at stations around the zoo. The collection has also been used much the way a museum's collection might to facilitate research - I'm conducting research on canid skulls this fall
Anyway, it occurred to me the other day that we have a LOT of things you guys might be interested in seeing! So I took some photos in our mammal room the other day. I just pulled out a few items from African mammals, figuring that might be a good starting place. But I would be happy to pull out all kinds of things, whatever you guys want to see. I've given three private tours since I've been working there, and I'd love to give you guys a comprehensive, virtual one!
So yeah, any animal your heart desires, we probably have some kind of remain. Pelts, skins, skulls, other bones or limbs...we've got other mammals (including big cats) as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Let me know what you want to see and I'll post something! I'd love to answer any questions about the collection itself, too.
This is what you'll find below:
1) Pelt piece from a male lion head, including the mane. I didn't know we had this until I found it the other day!
2) A full lioness pelt minus the head.
3) Lion fur up close. I'll definitely be taking info from these pelts with me when I draw, color and shade.
4) One of my favorite things in our collection is our king cheetah pelt. This is a comparison of the king cheetah markings next to a standard cheetah.
5) King cheetah pelt up close. It's REALLY SOFT.
6) Black panther pelt!
7) Two members of Giraffidae: okapi pelt piece on the left, giraffe tail on the right (freeze-dried).
8) Close-up of okapi stripes.
9) Elephant skull and mandible, with a femur off to the right.
10) Indian rhino skull that my boss cleaned.
11) The last three photos are of an elephant foot - both the skin and the bones that were inside it. We keep the foot bones inside it, connected with wire and screws, but they can be pulled out to get a better look at them separately. The skin is extremely hard and tough - you could scratch yourself up on it.
So on a day-to-day basis, I get to help organize and preserve this collection for educational use, such as in classes or at stations around the zoo. The collection has also been used much the way a museum's collection might to facilitate research - I'm conducting research on canid skulls this fall
Anyway, it occurred to me the other day that we have a LOT of things you guys might be interested in seeing! So I took some photos in our mammal room the other day. I just pulled out a few items from African mammals, figuring that might be a good starting place. But I would be happy to pull out all kinds of things, whatever you guys want to see. I've given three private tours since I've been working there, and I'd love to give you guys a comprehensive, virtual one!
So yeah, any animal your heart desires, we probably have some kind of remain. Pelts, skins, skulls, other bones or limbs...we've got other mammals (including big cats) as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Let me know what you want to see and I'll post something! I'd love to answer any questions about the collection itself, too.
This is what you'll find below:
1) Pelt piece from a male lion head, including the mane. I didn't know we had this until I found it the other day!
2) A full lioness pelt minus the head.
3) Lion fur up close. I'll definitely be taking info from these pelts with me when I draw, color and shade.
4) One of my favorite things in our collection is our king cheetah pelt. This is a comparison of the king cheetah markings next to a standard cheetah.
5) King cheetah pelt up close. It's REALLY SOFT.
6) Black panther pelt!
7) Two members of Giraffidae: okapi pelt piece on the left, giraffe tail on the right (freeze-dried).
8) Close-up of okapi stripes.
9) Elephant skull and mandible, with a femur off to the right.
10) Indian rhino skull that my boss cleaned.
11) The last three photos are of an elephant foot - both the skin and the bones that were inside it. We keep the foot bones inside it, connected with wire and screws, but they can be pulled out to get a better look at them separately. The skin is extremely hard and tough - you could scratch yourself up on it.
So you have access to all these things and more? Really cool! ^^
Also added Christmassy snow and banner :3
