The The Effects of Soft Tissue Removal Methods on Porcine Skeletal Remains

Sus scrofa domesticus limbs were obtained as a human proxy to study the effects of five distinct materials used in published methods of flesh removal: Dermestes lardarius beetles (also referred to as dermestids), distilled-water boil, bleach boil, enzyme-based detergent simmer, and ammonia simmer. Each method was evaluated based on a set of specific criteria, focusing on time efficiency, macroscopic damage, and the effects on DNA preservation and potential for future analysis. While the dermestid beetles had the longest time-expectancy and was the most labor-intensive, they caused minimal damage to the bone surface and did not appear to affect the DNA preservation. Heated maceration methods sped up the process considerably, but that often led to decreased DNA quantity and minimal to severe amounts of macroscopic damage. The ammonia simmer method was the only method tested that was found in zoological literature but did not appear to have any published use within the forensic field, operating occasionally instead as a degreasing agent. While the ammonia was the most potent of the methods, it was efficient, low-cost, and left amplifiable DNA, perhaps indicating a potential future in more forensic contexts. Each method proved to have different advantages and disadvantages, with no method performing the best or worst in every evaluated criteria. The results of this research highlight how differently each method performs and how easily bone material can be affected. Method selection can severely impact later research and analysis and the choice demands to be made with consideration and awareness of the potential risks and desired results.

New records of Dermestid beetles (Coleoptera, Dermestidae) from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearics

New records of eight species of little known Dermestidae (Coleoptera) are given for the Ibero-Balearic fauna. Most of them represent first records at regional level: Anthrenus (Anthrenus) munroi Hinton, 1943 (Valencian Community); Anthrenus (Nathrenus) biskrensis Reitter, 1887 (Community of Madrid, second record from the Iberian Peninsula); Attagenus (Attagenus) lobatus Rosenhauer, 1856 (Balearic Islands); Dermestes (Dermestes) hispanicus Kalík, 1952 (Galicia); Dermestes (Dermestinus) szekessyi Kalík, 1950 (Balearic Islands); Globicornis (Hadrotoma) hispanica Pic, 1908 (Castilla-León, second record from the Iberian Peninsula); Globicornis (Hadrotoma) sulcata (Brisout de Barneville, 1866) (Andalusia) and Megatoma (Megatoma) ruficornis Aubé, 1866 (Navarre, third record from the Iberian Peninsula). Worldwide and Iberian distribution is provided for each species, as well as some additional remarks and illustrations. Resumen Se aportan nuevos registros de ocho especies de Dermestidae (Coleoptera) poco conocidas para la fauna iberobalear. La mayoria de ellos constituyen primeras citas a nivel regional: Anthrenus (Anthrenus) munroi Hinton, 1943 (Comunidad Valenciana); Anthrenus (Nathrenus) biskrensis Reitter, 1887 (Comunidad de Madrid, segunda cita para la península ibérica); Attagenus (Attagenus) lobatus Rosenhauer, 1856 (islas Baleares); Dermestes (Dermestes) hispanicus Kalík, 1952 (Galicia); Dermestes (Dermestinus) szekessyi Kalík, 1950 (islas Baleares); Globicornis (Hadrotoma) hispanica Pic, 1908 (Castilla y León, segunda cita para la península ibérica); Globicornis (Hadrotoma) sulcata (Brisout de Barneville, 1866) (Andalucía) y Megatoma (Megatoma) ruficornis Aubé, 1866 (Navarra, tercera cita para la península ibérica). Se proporciona la distribución mundial e ibérica de cada especie, así como algunos comentarios adicionales e ilustraciones.

Revising the Dead Art of Skeleton Preparation for Today’s Museum Collections

Many museums have an eclectic mix of skeletons in their collections. These curiosities from across the globe were processed from the carcass using a variety of techniques with varying degrees of success. The details of how these animals have journeyed from death to collection item are scarce. The old techniques and skill involved in constructing skeletons, from large down to the most delicate and tiny, can still be marveled at today. However some skeletons were poorly articulated, others incomplete or put together borrowing bones from another animal or bird. In the case of animals not known as live specimines ignorance may have been a factor in achieving an incorrect stance while other specimines were intentionally exaggerated to impress rather than appear true to nature. A selection of methods for the preparation of skeletons have been used, such as carcinogenic chemicals, bleaches, detergents and solvents, fresh and seawater maceration, flesh-eating dermestid beetles, boiling bones to remove the oils and flesh, and composting. Skeletons were articulated for display by drilling and pinning the bones, sometimes using irreversible glues or ferrous wire that rusted over time. Over the past 18 years I have prepared and articulated native bird and marine mammal skeletons for the Otago Museum collection. To ensure the bones are not contaminated by chemicals or physically damaged, methods and requirements have evolved over a relatively short time, as conservation has become an integral part of museum practice. This presentation will provide an overview of the fresh water maceration process, some lessons learnt, the articulation method developed using an external stainless steel wire armature to hold each bone in position, and organizing bones with safety, articulation and transportation in mind. I will share the journey from corpse to collection item of Autahi the leopard seal and other skeletons I have worked with.