Careful With My Words (the Meaning of Taxidermy)

What image does the word "taxidermy" conjure up for you?

"Specimens" sounds too adult, but "stuffed animals" seems to diminish the care taken to preserve the real animals displayed at the Museum. So what do I call the animals when I'm explaining my job to a group 8-year-olds? 

Taxidermy preparations make up the majority of our prepared animals in the collection, and I tend to use that term most commonly—with care. The word "taxidermy" is rather straightforward, but may not be readily apparent to those of us unfamiliar with the Greek roots. And without understanding the great respect and care put into the craft, the word may conjure unfavorable notions.

The 19th-century term is a combination of two root words, "taxis" and "derma." The first half means arrangement or order, referring to the way in which taxidermy animals are positioned to replicate realistic poses of a live animal. The last part of the word refers to skin, as that's generally the only part of the animal's body kept for the final piece. Together, "taxidermy" becomes a word we often use to describe such creations. 

This life-like crow taxidermy helps to demonstrate
the bird's behavior by positioning the body in a realistic manner.

An arrangement of skin. It's a bit grim, but that really is what prepared animals come out to be...with the inclusion of a great deal of time, fine-tuning, artwork, and passion on the taxidermist's part.