Specimen of the Month: Study Skin Showcase

By guest contributor and Summer Naturalist Intern, Olivia Rataezyk

Study skins are specimens that scientists can use to study animals, in this case birds, for decades in museum settings. They are made simply, usually of a skin stuffed with cotton and sewn up. While not especially showy, their simple preparation has a purpose: skin specimens are designed with ease of use in mind for future data collection. For example, their beaks, tails, and feet are generally easily accessed for measuring. This allows for scientists to collect accurate data for many different inquiries, including comparing species measurements over time, with minimal difficulties, as without this attention to detail specimens could not otherwise be measured without causing damage to their fragile extremities.

Study skins are held in the collections of museums and serve as records of past
life by preserving information about species that may have changed over
time or even gone extinct. Photo by Olivia Rataezyk.

The Museum has a collection of study skins from varying dates and locations, largely local to the region. Each skin has an attached tag with information about who collected the specimen, when, and where. These tags provide valuable information about past life that may either be difficult or impossible to collect later. Occasionally, more data will be included, such as the weight of the specimen before preparation or lengths that may not be accessible for any reason. These data provide valuable information about past life!

Some tags, such as the one for this Indigo Bunting (Passerina Cyanea), 
contain additional information about the specimen, including lengths that
may be otherwise inaccessible.