[Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: preserving leafy sea dragon

[Dirk Neumann]

... maybe worth adding: use formalin seawater instead of 'normal' formalin (freshwater-based) to avoid unwanted osmotic effects of soft tissues. Depending on the size of the specimen, a 4% formalin solution (1:9 dilution of a saturated 40% aqueous formaldehyde stock solution) might be better, as 10% rapidly fixed outer tissues, which lowers the diffusion of formalin into the tissues.

Hope this helps
Dirk


Am 02.09.2025 um 17:19 schrieb Simon Moore:




Hi Catherine,

As you appear to be in a slight hurry to get the specimen preserved, 10% buffered formalin is still the best way of fixing such a specimen.  Ensure that the internal organs are also fixed by injection into the body cavities, including the occipital area to prevent brain lysis.  The pH of the fixing solution should be 7.0 or a bit less.
You could also use the Kaiserling 3-stage technique as well if you want the colour to last longer, although I have no experience with sea dragon pigments.

You will likely get a few more results quite quickly including the author!

With all good wishes, Simon

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

www.natural-history-conservation.com<http://www.natural-history-conservation.com>





On 2 Sep 2025, at 15:09, Catherine Early (she/her) <cearly at smm.org><mailto:cearly at smm.org> wrote:

Hi all,

I'm passing along a request from advice from a zoo partner: they had a leafy sea dragon pass away and want to fluid-preserve it. They have formalin on hand and can put it into there immediately after necropsy, but is there a better approach? My experience is with fluid-preserving terrestrial animals and I don't have my copy of John Simmons' book at hand today, so I'm feeling out of my depth to help them. Thanks!

Best,
Catherine


Catherine M. Early, PhD
she/her/hers
Barbara Brown Chair of Ornithology
cearly at smm.org<mailto:cearly at smm.org>
https://catherineearly.wixsite.com/home




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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)
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