[Nhcoll-l] dry skeleton from formalin-fixed material?

[Thomas Labedz]

I have had very good luck with small mammal skulls and some reptile skeletons from formalin preserved specimens.  Many were fixed in formalin then transferred to alcohol, but some were straight from formalin.  After extraction of the skull, or other bone parts, I soaked  them in frequently changed water.  I do not use broth or other attractants.  After a few days of soaking I submit the specimen to my dermestid colony, a smaller, active, highly managed colony.  Usually the specimen is submitted wet, but after a day it will have dried too much for most dermestids to be interested.  I then remove the specimen, repeat the soak, and go again. Repeating as many times as necessary to get the job done.  Usually that is two runs through the colony.   I don't do this very often, but it works well for me.

A caution.  If the specimen has been in unbuffered formalin for a long time (years), and you say yours have not, the formalin may have turned acidic.  The increased acidity of the solution can "decalcify" the bone.  The bone may seem fine during the extraction because of the stiffened, preserved tissues surrounding the bone.  However, after the tissue is removed the remaining bone can be very punky/spongy and possibly be destroyed by the dermestids.  If you are unsure of the formalin solution, or the time in formalin, then watch carefully the specimen in dermestids.

Thomas E. Labedz, Collections Manager
Division of Zoology and Division of Botany
University of Nebraska State Museum
Lincoln, NE  68588-0514
tlabedz1 at unl.edu


From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Meredith Mahoney
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 10:35 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] dry skeleton from formalin-fixed material?

Hello all,
Is it possible to make a dry skeletal specimen from material that has been fixed in formalin?

A research associate here is receiving some shoulder joints that were dissected out of mammal carcasses. He wants to prepare them as dry skeletons for his research, however the sender preserved the material in formalin before sending (apparently following standard veterinary practice). They may have been in the formalin for a few weeks or a couple months at most.

Is it possible to safely prepare these as dry skeletal specimens or is the best option to clean any flesh away but preserve the joints in ethanol? I am concerned that residual formalin will remain in the bones even if they are soaked extensively in water prior to maceration and drying.

Thanks for any thoughts and advice.

Meredith

Meredith J. Mahoney, Ph.D.
Assistant Curator of Zoology

mjmahoney at museum.state.il.us<mailto:mjmahoney at museum.state.il.us>

Illinois State Museum
www.museum.state.il.us<http://www.museum.state.il.us>

Zoology Section on Facebook
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1011 E. Ash St
Springfield, IL 62703
ph.  217-785-4843
fax  217-785-2857

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