[Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Cetacean skeleton issues

[Callomon,Paul]

Whale skeletons that have been outside for a century or more still ooze oil. The main hall at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard still has a fine fragrance of it from the whales on display, despite easily that long having elapsed. Part of the experience.

Paul Callomon
Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates
________________________________
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia
callomon at ansp.org<mailto:callomon at ansp.org> Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170
President of the American Malacological Society for 2027

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Dirk Neumann
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2025 9:17 AM
To: Vanessa Pitusi <vanessa.pitusi at uit.no>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Cetacean skeleton issues


External.
Dear Vanessa,

if it is indeed mould (you would easily recognise this from the powdery spores), you can treat this with 70% EtOH. Otherwise, if it is "just" grease, the question would be if conservation treatment is needed.

Especially old whales have a lot of grease in their bones, and even if you would degrease the surface, the remaining grease would ooze out again. Which chemical decreasing, you would probably reduce the scientific value of the specimen, because the chemical agents and decreasing procedure would affect the remaining proteins and lipids that might be useful for future research.

With best wishes
Dirk


Am 15.12.2025 um 13:26 schrieb Vanessa Pitusi:
Dear Dirk,
Thank you for getting back to me and, mould, what a Christmas present 🙈
All the best,
Vanessa

[cid:image001.png at 01DC6DA4.0D19EFE0]
From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu><mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Dirk Neumann
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2025 12:49 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Cetacean skeleton issues

Dear Vanessa,

on a quick look, some seems like intense oil/fat staining, but especially on the second picture it looks like if there would be mould growth on top of the greasy surfaces.

With best wishes
Dirk


Am 15.12.2025 um 12:29 schrieb Vanessa Pitusi:
Dear all,

I have been going through our cetacean skeletons and have noticed some issues (see photos).

Any advice on how to treat such conditions and how long that would take?

Kind regards,
Vanessa

[cid:image001.png at 01DC6DA4.0D19EFE0]




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Dirk Neumann
Collection Manager, Hamburg

Postal address:
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Leibniz Institute for the Analysis
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Dirk Neumann
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--
Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael H. Wappelhorst


--
****

Dirk Neumann
Collection Manager, Hamburg

Postal address:
Museum of Nature Hamburg
Leibniz Institute for the Analysis
of Biodiversity Change
Dirk Neumann
Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3
20146 Hamburg
+49 40 238 317 – 628
d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de<mailto:d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>
www.leibniz-lib.de<imap://dneumann@webmail.leibniz-lib.de:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX/Privat/www.leibniz-lib.de>

--
Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael Wappelhorst

--
Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael H. Wappelhorst
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