ABOUT SKULLS UNLIMITED
©Skulls Unlimited International
10313 South Sunnylane
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73160
sales@skullsunlimited.com
1-800-659-SKULL
Skulls Unlimited International
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The evolution of Skulls Unlimited started when, at age seven, I found a dog skull in the woods near my home. When my father saw my interest, he encouraged me to find and collect other skulls, thus making it a life-long hobby. After graduating high school, I collected and sold skulls in my spare time while working as an auto body technician. As sales grew, my wife Kim and I began to clean skulls in our kitchen. Starting with a one-page price list, in 1986, we turned this unusual hobby into a business.

Four years later, Skulls Unlimited evolved from this small home-based business into a successful retail & mail-order company. Then in 1992, fueled by local and World Wide enthusiasm, we became Skulls Unlimited International, Inc.

Currently, we've earned a reputation with some of the most prestigious museums & educational facilities in the world for having the best quality, most professional services, and the largest variety of natural bone specimens found all over the world.

Many of you have requested species that are not available in natural bone. In order to accommodate your needs, as well as our continuing efforts to protect the environment, you will find more than 200 replica skulls & skeletons of rare or endangered species throughout the catalog. All natural bone specimens are legally and ethically obtained. Suppliers World Wide send skulls that would otherwise be discarded or destroyed, as they are collected.

We do not condone and will not support poaching of animals, nor do we approve of destroying an animal solely for the purpose of gaining an Osteological item. Our suppliers and their sources obtain Osteological material from natural & predator deaths, road kills, food source by-products in exotic regions, legal hunting & trapping operations, and from attrition in zoological gardens. You can be assured of and take comfort in knowing that your purchase conserve treasures and promote the ethical utilization of limited resources.

As for the future, Skulls Unlimited continues to grow. Construction has begun on our new museum and soon, The World of Nature Museum of Osteology will be open to the public. This museum will allow Skulls Unlimited to show case the thousands of skull and skeletal specimens we have acquired over the years. The goal of this museum will be to serve as an educational experience, with the hopes that through education, an appreciation of the natural world will ultimately lead to conservation for the future.

Sincerely
Jay Villemarette
President

PRODUCTS

All natural bone skulls and skeletons require additional US Fish and Wildlife and USDA fees for export outside of the United Sates. These fees, which are required by the US Government, can total $162 in addition to regular shipping charges. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please call for more information. THESE FEES DO NOT APPLY TO HUMAN MATERIAL OR REPLICAS

Skulls Unlimited currently warehouses over 500 varieties of Osteological Specimens from around the world.  Skulls from North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia are usually available.  Please note however, that skulls in our catalog may be in limited quantity and may not always be available.  WE ENCOURAGE PHONE AND WEB ORDERS ON ALL OF YOUR SKULL REQUESTS.  1-800-659-SKULL or 1-405-794-9300 Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CST) Or You can Fax us at: 1-405-794-6985 24 hours a day.

DENTAL FORMULA:
For you convenience the following information is provided for each skull listed in the catalog.

All mammals have teeth with the exception of monotremes, anteaters and certain whales. Four types of teeth are found in mammals.  Each type of tooth is adapted to perform specific functions.

INCISORS (I) Designed for biting, cutting and stripping
CANINES (C) Designed for seizing, piercing and tearing
PREMOLARS (P) Designed for grinding, crushing, shearing and slicing
MOLARS (M) Designed for grinding and crushing

The most important characteristic used in the identification of mammals is the dentition or teeth.  Animal lifestyles can be revealed more by examining their teeth, than by perhaps any other single physical characteristic.  For example, the diet and method of feeding of large carnivores is indicated by their large slicing canines.   In contrast, the beaver has no canines, but instead has extremely large specialized incisors for gnawing.

A mammal's dental formula designates the number of each type of tooth found in its dentition.   The numbers in the dental formula represent the number of teeth in each half of the upper and lower jaws. 

Dental formulas are represented as follows:
upper jaw
lower jaw

For example, the dental formula for a human is:

I 2
2
C 1
1
P 2
2
M 3
3
= x 2 =32

Tooth count differs from animal to animal, so in many cases this counting method is used in identifying genus and species. Dental formulas are further discussed in many mammal books available from Skulls Unlimited.

AVERAGE SKULL LENGTH:
This measurement indicates the greatest length of the skull.  The average skull length is determined by measuring for the most anterior tip of the skull or teeth to the most posterior part of the skull (usually the occipital crest or the occipital condyles). This measurement may vary from the actual skull specimen you receive because it is only an average measurement.

ORIGIN:
The origin indicates the animal's present geographical distribution in the world.

DIET:
The diet information indicates the type of diet the animal eats in the world.

INSECTIVORE: animals that eat insects exclusively
(bats, moles and shrews).
HERBIVORE: animals that eat primarily plants
(beavers, rabbits and deer).
CARNIVORE: animals that are meat-eaters
(dogs, cats, mongoose and lion).
OMNIVORE: animals that eat plants and animals
(black bears, raccoons and badgers).

QUALITY CHART:
Natural bone skulls are classified into two pricing categories based upon condition and intended usage.

A OR MUSEUM QUALITY:
These skulls are our most highly desired specimens.  Each skull is anatomically complete and able to meet our strictest criteria in bone quality.  First quality includes all teeth and is in perfect condition.  Please remember that these are the actual skulls, not plastic replicas (unless otherwise noted) and they may have minor, natural imperfections as found in all living species.  First quality skulls will always include the mandible, except in cases noted below *.

B TEACHING OR HANDLING QUALITY:
Similar to those of first quality, these skulls are suitable teaching aides, well used for display and handling.  They may have minor imperfections, such as chipped or missing teeth, fractures or other minor damage.  If you have, a particular need, please feel free to call us with your request regarding second quality specimens.   Second quality will also always include lower jaws, except with exotic or some large game skulls as noted below *.

*Note:  Due to normal collecting procedures most large game (such as bison, kudu, impala, longhorns, etc.) are not available with lower jaws.  Occasionally large predator skulls (such as Wolverine, Badger, Wolf) show the natural wear, chips or cracks known as "species specific wear characteristics."   Skulls with these characteristics may still be considered first quality specimens.

SERVICES

SPECIAL SERVICES:
Skulls Unlimited offers many special services including special Order Requests, Gift Certificates, Custom Cleaning Services and Institutional Purchase Orders.

GIFT CONSULTATION:
Allow us to help you with your gift selection.  By asking a few questions about the recipient, we can offer realistic suggestions to fit any budget.

SPECIAL ORDERS:
Skulls Unlimited has access to skulls not necessarily listed in the catalog.  If you have an interest in an unusual specimen, please feel free to call.

CUSTOM CLEANING SERVICE:
Available for those who have a special need of our services for their own specimens.   If you have a specimen you would like to have cleaned, call, and we'll be happy to send you a copy of our skull cleaning catalog. This Catalog instructs as to the best way to package and ship your skulls. You can also visit http://www.skullcleaning.com for more information.

GIFT CERTIFICATES:
Available for any amount over $25.00 and can be sent along with a complimentary catalog and a card with your desired message.

PURCHASE ORDERS:
Purchase orders are gladly accepted from bona fide educational institutions within the United States and Canada. Our terms are Net 30 days from date of invoice for any amount over $25.00.

GUARANTEE:
We are so confident of our quality that we offer a 10-day return guarantee.   Quality is our first priority!

ORDERING INFORMATION
Telephone orders and customer service hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST.  We encourage telephone orders for immediate service and to verify availability of your specimen.  CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-659-SKULL or 405-794-9300. Also you may use our new Order Status form, and a reply will be sent via email quickly.

SHOWROOM:
The Skulls Unlimited showroom is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. We are located at: 10313 South Sunnylane Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73160.

PRICES:
Because of the constant fluctuation of costs of materials, prices are subject to change without notice.

SHIPPING ADDRESS:
We ship via FedEx whenever possible, so please be sure that you include your proper street address (No PO Boxes) and your correct zip code.  Please keep us informed of address changes so that you can receive future catalogs and information.

SALES TAX:
Oklahoma residents please include current sales tax with your order, unless tax exempt.

PAYMENT:
We accept checks, money orders, Master Card and VISA.  For Canadian orders and other foreign orders, credit cards are most convenient, however checks and money orders must be drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars.  Personal checks will delay shipping 10 days to allow checks to clear.  Sorry we cannot ship C.O.D.

SHIPPING:
Orders are normally shipped within 5 working days.  We will not hold up your order for an out of stock item, unless we expect it within a few days.  Beyond that point we will notify you of any delays.  We ship FedEx ground service (no more than 5 delivery days in the U.S.).  Next-Day, Second-Day or Three-Day delivery is available for rush orders at an additional shipping cost.

PACKAGING:
All skulls are in individually labeled boxes or bags for easy identification, shipping and storage.

BACK-ORDERS:
Since these are natural bone specimens and no animals are destroyed for our purposes, occasionally even common specimens will be back-ordered.  These orders are normally filled within a reasonable amount of time.  You will be notified of delays over 30 days.

PLEASE NOTE:
All items offered by Skulls Unlimited are legally obtained by-products and can legally be sold according to the laws of the State of Oklahoma.  We assume when you order an item from us that you can legally possess the item(s) according to the laws of your state or country.  Please note, if you order an item(s) from us that you cannot possess according to the laws of your state or country, Skulls Unlimited accepts no responsibility for this act and will hold you responsible for any penalties and legal fees incurred by Skulls Unlimited. Please be aware of your local laws before purchasing specimens that you may be in doubt of.

SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES:
This covers the cost of processing, packing and shipping your order by UPS ground server and guaranteed delivery.  The table below to determine the appropriate amount:

Total Merchandise Shipping Charges
under $25.00 $7.95 minimum
$25.01 to $100.00 $9.95 minimum
$100.01 to $150.00 10% of total order
$150.01 to $400.00 7% of total order
$400.01 and up 6% of total order

RUSH ORDERS:
Next-Day, Second-Day and Three-Day shipping is available at an additional $10.00 above normal air shipping charges.  Orders must be received before 10:30 a.m. CST to be shipped the same day.  Shipments other than the Continental United States will be shipped the most cost efficient way.

RECYCLING:
Skulls Unlimited is a true believer in protecting the environment and its natural resources. Our hope is that you will in turn use our boxes and materials for your shipping needs. By continuing the "cycle" we are all preserving the future. If you have any comments regarding our recycling efforts please do not hesitate to contact us.

RETURN POLICY:
We guarantee our products to be true to the description and quality presented in this catalog. Do not return merchandise without first contacting us. We will either exchange the item or issue a credit to your account or a complete refund, less shipping charges. Please enclose your invoice with your returned merchandise. Merchandise returned after 10 days will be charged a 20% restocking fee and orders returned after 30 days will not be accepted. Merchandise returned C.O.D. will not be accepted.
Our return policy is extended during the Christmas season to 10 days after Christmas without penalty.

FAX:
If you wish, you may fax your order by calling 405-794-6985.   This is a 24 hour dedicated line.  When faxing please use the order form or a bonafide purchase order.  Please mark mailed orders that have been previously faxed to us to prevent duplication.

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS
CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.

Due to US Fish and Wildlife CITES regulation changes, a CITES form 3-200-26 is necessary for the export of the following species from the United States; Bobcat, Lynx, River Otter and Alaskan Gray Wolf. This form is issued from Washington D.C. and averages between 60 and 90 days to process. Skulls Unlimited has no control over this government policy change and apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. Skulls Unlimited applies for this form on behalf of our customers.

Some specimens throughout the catalog bare the symbol of the CITES convention. These items require export permits from the United States and in many cases an import permit from the county of destination. An additional $100.00 will be assessed to cover the cost of the permit. This charge is per order (not per item). Certain CITES animals require an application for export from Washington D.C,, and it may take 60 to 90 days to receive these documents. Certain CITES animals offered in this catalog are not available for export, due to stringent export requirements from the United States.

International orders are gladly accepted for orders over $250.00. There is no minimum order required for any Items that do not need U.S. Fish & Wildlife clearance. There are certain fees to be expected when we export your order. By United States law every fish and wildlife product must leave through a designated port for visual inspection. The closest designated port to Skulls Unlimited is Dallas, Texas. There will be a transportation fee assessed to you in order to get your shipment to Dallas, Texas for clearance, normally about $75.00. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has an inspection fee of $55.00 to clear your shipment. All parcels will also need a U.S. Dept of Agriculture Export certificate $32.00. Once the parcel is cleared by United States Fish & Wildlife service, the parcel would need to ship by a bonded freight forwarder estimated shipping charges can range from $150.00 up to $225.00.

Domestic animals such as dogs, cat, horses, cattle, bison, domestic ferret, chinchilla, etc., as well as all replica skulls, do not require any clearance and will be shipped without any fees.

Click Here, for Information On Ordering A Full Color 2004 Catalog.


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To contact us by phone, In the United States and Canada call 1-800-659-SKULL
To contact us from outside North America please call 1-405-794-9300
You can Fax us at: 1-405-794-6985
E-Mail your comments and questions to: info@skullsunlimited.com


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Last Updated: October 1, 2005
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