SKULLS UNLIMITED INTERNATIONAL NEWS |
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Museum of Osteology Update
As reported last month, the Museum of Osteology is back on track and construction of the interior mezzanine, classroom and displays continues unabated. Framers, welders, plumbers, electricians and concrete workers are a common sight once again. As of writing this, a deafening fury of hammering, welding, sawing and grinding emanates from within the museum. A light-weight gypcrete flooring was poured on the upper level mezzanine and in the classroom. In addition, the mezzanine handrail is welded and nearly ready for glass. We are excited at the progress and look forward to moving in to the final stage of exhibit construction and skeletal articulation.
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Inside Skulls Unlimited
This month we continue Darien's inside look into to the dirty processes of Skulls Unlimited.
DEATH STEW - Part Two
Here at Skulls Unlimited, we have a variety of phases a skull has to go through to become the shiny squeaky-clean specimen of perfect skulldom that you see presented. A few of you may be reading this on your lunch break, so I suggest a complete detachment of your stomach from your visual activities for a few minutes. I will bring to light the messy and interesting process of what a severed head must endure to look as good as it does at the end.
The first step, and also quite possibly the worst, is getting the meat off the bones. It's like eating meat off ribs, only not tasty, not easy, and takes a long time. Ok, it's nothing like eating meat off ribs. We have a fancy process of flesh removal, officially called flensing, that includes sharp knives, nerves of steel, and an unnatural proclivity for carving meat. At least our families get some pretty fancy turkey at Thanksgiving! This is the bloodiest step, and our workroom floor sometimes ends up looking like a scene from cheap horror movies. Hooray for concrete and high-pressure hoses!
After most of the meat is gone, we make beef jerky out of the rest. No wait, I'm kidding. Really, I promise. The bones then go to the bugs, specifically dermestid beetles. These hungry little carnivores make short work of whatever is left on the bones after flensing, showing more of the true form of the skull when all the cartilage and connective tissue is eaten away. It doesn't take long for them to eat everything in their path, somewhat like a college student through their parents' refrigerator. At least we don't have to pay tuition.
After the bugs are through, the skull really looks like a dirty version of what you see in the catalog. We're nearing the end of processing and this is where it gets really interesting. Here we have a top-secret highly guarded degreasing process that removes the natural oils from inside the skull, all the places the bugs couldn't get to. Skulls will sit here to neutralize color and finalize cleansing, so they can be ready for the next step. Oh the suspense...
Clean-ish skulls now are placed in a gentle lightening bath to achieve an even white tone. Almost ready for the final touches, they are left to soak until ready for drying and finishing.
A lot less exciting than flensing, finishing takes off the leftover bits of meat the bugs missed. It's all done by hand, again with the sharp knives, sans blood and gore. Quite possibly the most pleasant step of skull cleaning (if it can be described as pleasant at all).
What comes off the finishing tables is your finished product, clean and ready for display. The journey from start to finish is definitely not for the squeamish, but I hope this abbreviated guide will give you a better picture of everything it takes to bring you - Skulls Unlimited.
Next time, what it takes to keep us from becoming inventory, otherwise known as Precautionary Safety Measures.
Darien
If you would like to ask Darien a question about working at Skulls Unlimited, email mail@skullsunlimited.com Darien will answer your questions in the next newsletter.
Skulls Unlimited In the News
Be sure to check out these recent articles about Skulls Unlimited and the Museum of Osteology.
Life as a Skull Cleaner is a Messy Job
Skeleton Crew: Skull Supplier's Museum to Offer 'Educational Experience'
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FEATURED ITEM |
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WLQ-321 Kirk's Dik Dik Skull
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Kirk's Dik Dik Skull
Madoqua kirkii
A unique skull for the collector. This is a rare chance to obtain one of the world's smallest antelopes. Specimens may have minor dental damage and horn length may vary slightly.
| WLQ321 | A Quality: $225.00 | | WLQ321 | B Quality: $199.00 |
Order Online with our secure shopping cart at www.skullsunlimited.com/horns_and_antlers_collection.html
Order by phone at 1800-659-SKULL or 405-794-9300
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NEW ITEM |
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Clear Canine Jaw Model
Canis familiaris
Healthy canine hinged jaw showing the roots of all teeth(incisors, canine, premolars, molars). Can be separated for better observation. Made of durable high quality materials. 6-1/2" x 5-1/4" Education card included with model.
| WVT-101 | Teaching Quality: $87.00 |
Order Online with our secure shopping cart at www.skullsunlimited.com/veterinary_specimens.htm
Order by phone at 1800-659-SKULL or 405-794-9300
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WVT-101 Clear Canine Jaw Model
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NEW ITEM |
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WBC-352 Short-eared Owl Skull
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Short-eared Owl Skull
Asio flammeus
The short-eared owl is a medium-sized owl found throughout much of North America and Eurasia. This species inhabits marshes, prairies, grasslands, fields and tundra. Unlike most other owls, the short-eared owl is crepuscular, being most active at sundown or sunrise. This species primarily feeds on small mammals. In the winter, this species is gregarious, sometimes congregating in large groups.
| WBC-352 | Museum Quality: $100.00 |
Order Online with our secure shopping cart at www.skullsunlimited.com/short-eared-owl-skull.html
Order by phone at 1800-659-SKULL or 405-794-9300
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NEW ITEM |
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Roadrunner Skull
Geococcyx califonianus
The roadrunner, a member of the cuckoo family, is found throughout the Southwestern U.S. Although this species can fly, its better known as a runner, capable of reaching speeds over 15 mph. As an adaptation for running, this species has two toes that face forward and two backward facing, known as zygodactylism. The roadrunner eats a variety of insects and small vertebrates.
| WBC-347 - Skull | Museum Quality: $110.00 |
| WBC-348 - Foot | Museum Quality: $35.00 |
Order Online with our secure shopping cart at www.skullsunlimited.com/roadrunner-skull.html
Order by phone at 1800-659-SKULL or 405-794-9300
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WBC-347 Roadrunner Skull
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NEW ITEM |
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WBC-351 Glaucous Gull Skull
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Glaucous Gull Skull
Larus hyperboreus
The glaucous gull inhabits the northern Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. This large, predatory sea bird possesses a wingspan up to 6 feet (2 meters). Glaucous gulls prey on fish, small birds, eggs, small mammals and carrion. This species nests along cliff tops or rocky ground with both parents playing a role in the raising of the young.
| WBC-351 | Museum Quality: $130.00 |
Order Online with our secure shopping cart at www.skullsunlimited.com/glaucous-gull-skull.html
Order by phone at 1800-659-SKULL or 405-794-9300
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NEW ITEM |
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American Kestrel Skull
Falco sparverius
The American kestrel is the smallest and most common of the North American falcons. The more colorful male is rusty with blue-gray wings, a pale underside and two black stripes on its face. Fond of perching on telephone wires or fence posts, kestrels feed on insects and small vertebrates. Kestrels have the ability to hover directly over their prey before dropping on top of it. Sometimes wrongly called a sparrow hawk, due to its diet of small birds such as sparrows, the kestrel is a true falcon.
| WBC-346 | Museum Quality: $100.00 |
Order Online with our secure shopping cart at www.skullsunlimited.com/american-kestrel-skull.html
Order by phone at 1800-659-SKULL or 405-794-9300
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WBC-346 American Kestrel Skull
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MARCH T-SHIRT CONTEST WINNER |
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This month's winner is.......Mary Lou Shick of Mount Pleasant, PA. Mary Lou will receive a $50 Skulls Unlimited gift certificate. To enter the Skulls Unlimited T-shirt Contest simply send us a color photograph, or digital image showing you or someone you know wearing one of our T-shirts. Originality will count, so choose a pose in front of a well known landmark, at your job, exotic regions of the world, in the classroom or just lounging around. Each entry will receive a gift certificate for $9.95. We will choose a new winner each month. To learn more about the t-shirt contest or to see previous entries, visit,
http://www.skullsunlimited.com/t-shirt_contest.html.
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Mary Lou Shick
Mount Pleasant, PA
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MUSEUM OF OSTEOLOGY CHALLENGE |
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The Museum of Osteology Challenge is a chance for all of you skull enthusiasts to show off the size of your craniums. The Museum of Osteology, although not yet open to the public, houses a large collection of rare and unique skull specimens. Each month, this newsletter will feature a new photograph of a specimen. The first three individuals that can correctly identify the pictured specimen will win one of our new Skulls Unlimited Est. in 1986 T-Shirts and have their names posted in the next newsletter. Winners will be the envy of all their skull collecting friends! This contest is open to all ages. Only one guess per individual, per month will be accepted. Guesses must include the animal's common, genus and species names. (Example: Human, Homo sapiens) Entries lacking any of these will not be accepted.
We're sorry, this Mystery Skull Challenge has expired. For the current Mystery Skull Challenge, please see the current Skulls Unlimited Newsletter.
Last month's mystery skull measures 5.2 inches (13.2cm) long.
Hint: Not the Americas or Africa
Last month's Museum of Osteology Challenge answer was:
Hog Badger, Arctonyx collaris
This month's challenge stumped almost all of you. Congratulations to our only correct entry, Michel Bourque, of Quebec. We have included a comparison photo of the Hog Badger with several of the most common, incorrect, guesses. Good luck to everyone this month!
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Stay tuned for the May 2007 SUI newsletter featuring museum updates, new products and Skulls Unlimited news. |
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