[Nhcoll-l] Mold or fungal growth in herpetology collection

[John E Simmons]

I agree with Dirk, but I would add that it is also possible that some of
the stuff could be an efflorescence due to anexcess of salts used to buffer
the fixative (I have seen this happen when a formaldehyde fixative is
buffered with an excess of borax and a few other buffers).

Following Dirk's recommendations should clear up the problem. Do be very
careful if you need to brush away the white stuff so that you do not damage
the skin of the specimen.

Thank you for sending these excellent photos, they are much better than the
photos most us post of our problem specimens.\

You mentioned that you were new to the collection so you don't know the
history of the specimen, but I do have a few questions that might help
better diagnose the problem:
1-Do you know how long it has been in the collection?
2-Is denatured ethanol used in the collection?
3-Is the alcohol diluted with tap water?

Thanks,
John

John E. Simmons
Writer and Museum Consultant
Museologica
*and*
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia
Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima


On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 8:44 AM Indah Huegele <indahhuegele at isu.edu> wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> I was wondering if I could get feedback on some scary-looking growths on a
> few herpetology specimens in our collection (photos attached here). Any
> thoughts on what these residues are and/or advice on how to treat them
> would be much appreciated!
>
> *Orange-brown bumps. **(images 143927 and 143900) *There are small,
> orange-brown, round bumps on one specimen that has had its tail exposed
> from fluid levels that are too low. I completely replaced the ethanol for
> this specimen and tried to gently scrape off the growth, but most of it was
> quite dried on, so I left it soaking in fresh 70% ethanol for the time
> being. Is this definitely fungal? Should I try to scrape the rest of the
> growth off the specimen's tail or leave it alone?
>
> *White layer of residue.* *(all other images) *On a few salamander
> specimens, there is this opaque, white layer of residue. This is occurring
> on salamander specimens that are completely submerged in ethanol. (However,
> I am not sure what the concentration of this ethanol is or the last time
> that it was changed out; I worry it might have lost ethanol concentration
> over time.) Any thoughts on what this might be and how to treat it?
>
> I took over this collection a few months ago, so I am still discovering
> issues with specimens. I appreciate any suggestions that you folks have to
> offer on how to help these poor specimens!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Indah
>
>
> Indah B. Huegele, PhD
> Life Sciences Collection Manager | Idaho Museum of Natural History
>
> Museum Bldg | Room 220
> 921 S 8th Ave, Stop 8096 | Pocatello, Idaho 83209
> (208) 282-2815 | indahhuegele at isu.edu
>
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