[Nhcoll-l] Small herps in ETOH

Thu Dec 13 06:31:04 EST 2018

Greetings Tanya,

Formalin would likely not cross link the proteins and serve no useful purpose after being placed in alcohol. Prior to about 1900 all fluid specimens were preserved directly in ethanol and prior to that strong brandy. Small specimens aren't adversely affected except for shrinkage, plus the fact that DNA is still easily obtained from specimens not damaged by formalin. All our larger snake specimens collected prior to 1900 had lengthwise cuts in the belly to allow alcohol more direct access to alcohol.

Alcohol does not move into the tissues as well as formalin which can penetrate ¼ to ½ inch from either the surface or where ever you inject. Some recent workers prepping small specimens (Anolis for example) bypass the formalin steps entirely by using alcohol and keeping the specimens in refrigerators for a period of time which slows down decomposition and allows time for alcohol to work. I am told the specimens hold up very well.

Stephen P. Rogers (Mr.)
Collection Manager of Section of Birds
and Section of Amphibians and Reptiles
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15213-4080
Phone: 412-622-3255 or 3258
Email: rogerss at CarnegieMNH.org
http://www.carnegiemnh.org/birds/index.html
http://www.carnegiemnh.org/herps/index.html
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From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Julian Carter
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2018 5:05 AM
To: 'Simon Moore' <couteaufin at btinternet.com>; Tonya.Haff at csiro.au
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Small herps in ETOH

Hi Tonya,

I'd simply move to 70% ethanol to balance preservation versus dehydration effects. I don't see any value taking the specimens back to aqueous formaldehyde ('formalin') once they have been preserved in this way. Ethanol can be treated as a 'pseudofixative' due to the way it dehydrates tissues and subsequently alter protein arrangements.

All the best

Jules

Prif Gadwraethydd, Gwyddorau Naturiol
Principal Conservator Natural Sciences
julian.carter at amgueddfacymru.ac.uk<mailto:julian.carter at amgueddfacymru.ac.uk>
julian.carter at museumwales.ac.uk<mailto:julian.carter at museumwales.ac.uk>
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julian_Carter
029 20573230
07870448074

From: Nhcoll-l [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Simon Moore
Sent: 13 December 2018 08:57
To: Tonya.Haff at csiro.au<mailto:Tonya.Haff at csiro.au>
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Small herps in ETOH

Hi Tonya,

You should be OK to inject the specimens with formalin. Might need to take them down a short hydration ladder to water, then fix overnight (and inject) before taking them back up again into preserving EtOH.  I always maintain a few small tanks for 'intermediate alcohols' for this purpose as it helps to reduce the effect of syneresis (osmotic shrivelling).

With all good wishes, Simon.

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,

[cid:image001.png at 01D492AD.6B695650]
www.natural-history-conservation.com<http://www.natural-history-conservation.com>

On 13 Dec 2018, at 03:56, <Tonya.Haff at csiro.au<mailto:Tonya.Haff at csiro.au>> <Tonya.Haff at csiro.au<mailto:Tonya.Haff at csiro.au>> wrote:

Hi all,

We were recently donated a few salvaged small snakes and lizards (largest is probably ~30 g) that have been chucked directly in alcohol (the lizards 95%, the snake 70%). Normally, I would prep herps in formalin first, and then step into ETOH. Do any of you have recommendations for how best to deal with these specimens to ensure they preserve well long term? Is it too late, or not smart, to fix them in formalin now?  The very small lizards (skinks) seem fine, and have been in their jars for a few years with almost no slippage. The snake has only recently been placed into 70% alcohol.

Thanks for your help!

Cheers,

Tonya

---------------------------------------------------------
Dr Tonya Haff
Collections Manager
Australian National Wildlife Collection
National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO
Canberra, Australia
Phone: (+61) 02 62421566<tel:(+61)%2002%2062421566>

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