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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Sergio,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">You are correct. Taxidermy is not a pretty thing for these turtles. I think if you can find somebody who can either make a cast or a 3D print of the specimen it will be a better display. Then perhaps make
a research skeleton with the specimen. I’ve done that by composting the specimen as one would for marine mammals. It works rather well, but the shell for leatherbacks does fall apart nearly completely and it is always oily.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">But for certain, if you want an exhibit from this specimen I 100% suggest doing something like a cast or a print rather than taxidermy or even a mounted skeleton.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Good luck!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Greg<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F3864">****************<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">Gregory J. Watkins-Colwell<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">Sr. Collection Manager, Herpetology and Ichthyology<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">Division of Vertebrate Zoology<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:red;background:white"><a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7789-9806"><span style="color:red">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7789-9806</span></a>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">YALE PEABODY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">Main Office: 203-432-3791; West Campus: 203-737-7568; Fax 203-432-9277<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F3864">Package shipping address:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">Greg Watkins-Colwell<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">Division of Vertebrate Zoology<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">YALE PEABODY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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New Haven, CT 06511 USA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#2F5496">203-432-3791<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F3864">******************<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Sergio Montagud<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 25, 2022 3:56 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] Leatherback sea turtle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear all,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have a freeze ex. of Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) about 1,60 meters long. Our first idea was to send it to a professional taxidermist, but due to the special characteristic of the material, out of the traditional hunting
mammals, we have doubts that taxidermists we known could done a good work. Also we think about the skeleton preparation, but some problems could appear with the dermic shell, not bony shell, as we hear.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We would like to know if anybody have had experiences with this species and can help us and, of course, if anybody knows some references about skeleton preparation in this species.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sergio<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">********************************<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sergio Montagud Alario<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-TRAD">Museu [UV] Història Natural<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-TRAD">Universitat de València<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-TRAD">e-mail: <a href="mailto:sergio.montagud@uv.es">
sergio.montagud@uv.es</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-TRAD">********************************<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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