[NHCOLL-L:5976] Preserving velvet-worms for display

[Simon Grove]

Colleagues

I'm wondering if anyone can offer us some advice on how best to dry-preserve velvet-worms so that we can include them in a new museum display on Tasmanian natural history.  Velvet-worms (Onychophora, sometimes known as peripatus) are softer-bodied than most arthropods, but harder-bodied than earthworms.  They have retractile antennae and semi-retractile 'legs'.  The Tasmanian species in question (the giant velvet-worm, Tasmanipatus barretti) is a delicate pink colour.  In life they're rather cute-looking (despite their predatory nature) and we'd like them to stay that way in death.

I suspect that ultimately they will need to be freeze-dried to be made suitable for putting on display, but I am concerned that if I put them straight in the freeze-drier they will retract their appendages and curl up, and won't look very impressive at all (let alone cute).  On the other hand, if I relax them first (e.g. by drowning in water with menthol, then pickle them in ethanol) they may go too limp and lose their colour, even if they would stiffen up nicely on subsequent freeze-drying.  Either way, we may still face the problem of them 'deflating' in the freeze-drier.  Can anyone suggest fixes to these problems, or alternative means of preparation?  Perhaps there are standard techniques for preparing caterpillars that could equally apply to velvet-worms?  Any advice will be much appreciated.

And to think that I got into biology because I love animals!

Regards

Simon Grove

Dr Simon Grove
Senior Curator, Invertebrate Zoology
Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery
5 Winkleigh Place
Rosny 7018
Tasmania
Australia
Phone 61 3 6211 4124
http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/visitor_information/about_us/locations/collections_and_research_facility_rosny

Please note that I only work Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in this position



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