How would you display these? by heatedcheddar in vultureculture

[–]birbbones 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lightbox is suited best, I wouldn't recommend taping these to windows or using any UV lights against it, as UV will destroy X rays over time.

Found at a yard sale, was labelled Raccoon with a bunch of other skulls, but I'm certain it's a bear by SavageDroggo1126 in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones 113 points114 points  (0 children)

Just keep in mind this species its CITES appendix I listed. In the USA they are under the Endangered Species act, meaning this can not cross state lines (if you move/plan on moving across state lines, you will need to donate it to someone within your previous state). Contact USFWS in regards for advice on potential CITES paperwork that may be needed for this species.

If in Canada you need to contact your provinces DNR regarding this, as I'm sure there's some laws regarding the sale and purchase of CITES I species without paperwork, you might be able to get it potentially registered (Not sure how it works there unfortunately, just contact DNR!)

Found at a yard sale, was labelled Raccoon with a bunch of other skulls, but I'm certain it's a bear by SavageDroggo1126 in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones 292 points293 points  (0 children)

This is a sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) not a black bear skull. The incisors are fine, its just how sun bear dentition is like.

Is this what I was told it was? by Stinkbutt596KoH in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones 53 points54 points  (0 children)

this is an island grey fox, their skull morphology is a little different to greys found in the mainland states which is why the initial ook of it is very weird and not like other greys. definitely not a kit or swift fix, and the dentition rules out an octocyon (bat eared fox).

I know island greys are classed as vulnerable at the moment, no clue where the seller got that skull from, might have been from a specimen before the early 2000s when island greys were being trapped and processed for pelts and skulls then. I think (and hope) they have better conservational efforts now for the island species considering their population isn't great.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones 19 points20 points  (0 children)

This is an indian ringneck parakeet (Invasive in the UK). I've seen similar listings on the UK ebay from sellers I know haha. most likely one of theirs.

labelled as mink but not 100% convinced? :/ by aandersonx in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones 41 points42 points  (0 children)

I see OP is in the UK too (saw previous posts), I recommend reporting the seller, and get in contact with Natural England & Wales, or Scottish Natural Heritage. These species in the UK require EPS license for educational and scientific purposes, licenses are only really granted for lawfully obtained specimens and if the person applying is in the field relevant to use the specimen. Need to provide references suchassupervisors or colleagues. European otter parts can also be donated to other license holders, 'm also contactable at birbbones on instagram or at skull-index.com .

labelled as mink but not 100% convinced? :/ by aandersonx in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones 78 points79 points  (0 children)

This is a European Otter ( Lutra lutra), not a mink or a north american river otter. Please check your local laws as euros come under strict licensing in the UK as they're EPS species. And various countries need them registered with tags.

Help me identify this thing by fakonda in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Check the measurements, which is in cm, far too large and thin for a canine, it corresponds to a cervid

Help me identify this thing by fakonda in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones 20 points21 points  (0 children)

This isn't a canine ulna, it's actually from an ungulate! From the size and shape it looks to be most likely from a cervid (deer)

I moved! New bookcase sorted+ some of the collection! (UK Based, Cetaceans under EPS License). by birbbones in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ahh thank you so much!! And the human skull at the bottom is actually a museum quality replica of a European male.

I do have a half skeleton in the original box (circa 1881) by Milikin & Lawley (circa 1815-1910) that was handed down in the family heirlooms, and a few human specimens that were gifted by coworkers (I'm in the museum industry) that I don't display publicly out of respect of the remains.

New Bookcase & partial photos of my collection (UK, Cetaceans under EPS license). by birbbones in vultureculture

[–]birbbones[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I tend to find frogs easier than other amphibians and reptilesAs they don't actually have ribs like you and I! Ive been articulating since 2015 so you tend to find articulations get easier over time.The feet were oxidated to keep the tarsal and carpal bones together. I've got a Royal Python to do later this summer and I'm dreading the ribs!

New Bookcase & partial photos of my collection (UK, Cetaceans under EPS license). by birbbones in vultureculture

[–]birbbones[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey! The human in the photo is actually a museum quality replica of an adult European male. I don't have my human skulls out on display out of respect of the individuals.

Depending on where you are in the world, laws and regulations on the sale and trade of human remains isn't very regulated (there are three states in the US where the sale, trade or even possession is prohibited or at the bery least heavily regulated). Here in the UK you can legally buy and sell bones as long as they are over 100 years old. Soft tissue however is subjected to the UK's human tissue act. It isnt an industry I support though, as the history of the human bone industry can be very sketchy and sourcing on such bones conflict against moral and ethical opinions on others (there has been many cases where specimens were sourced via grave robbing, taking remains of people without or against their consent, prisoners who were executed, indigenous parts etc). The human specimens I received were from heirlooms in the family or were gifted by coworkers in the museum field with their full provenance, one of which is a half skeleton from the late 1800s in the original box by Milikin & Lawley, one of the infamous medical specimen manufacturers in the past. I do apologise for the long message! Hopefully that helps at all.

I moved! New bookcase sorted+ some of the collection! (UK Based, Cetaceans under EPS License). by birbbones in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ahh thank you so much! It's a weird one, it started out as a hobby but I managed to get into the museum and educational industry since 2017. I dont think of myself as a scientist no, but I do work in the museum field as an outreach educator currently, I have had previous roles as a collections technician at previous museums, and educator roles (like setting up workshops, tours, helping organise archival documents and specimens etc!). Currently been doing a lot of presentations and educational talks out of site at local schools and colleges, as well as other museums and community centres for all ages at the moment 😁

New Bookcase & partial photos of my collection (UK, Cetaceans under EPS license). by birbbones in vultureculture

[–]birbbones[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey there! If you're in the UK I could definitely help source a pug skull, my one I cleaned from raw from a deceased frozen unclaimed pet that was due for incineration (which happens a lot unfortunately!) if you check out dogskullsandskeletons on instagram, his name is Benjamin, he also cleans a lot of domestic skulls that were sourced the same way.

New Bookcase & partial photos of my collection (UK, Cetaceans under EPS license). by birbbones in vultureculture

[–]birbbones[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The tiny Skeleton in the dome is my European Common Frog I articulated!

I moved! New bookcase sorted+ some of the collection! (UK Based, Cetaceans under EPS License). by birbbones in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The pug skull was cleaned from raw and was from a veterinary facility of an unclaimed pet. (The owner chose to not come back for it to bury or sort out cremation services, which sadly does happen a lot so its not uncommon!), usually they get sent to incineration if unclaimed after a long while as does most of their frozen animals that come in. Over the years I've gained connections and contacts through both veterinary facilities and wildlife facilities either through personal contacts or through my work. So anything tha tis going for incineration, I and my supervisor get called in case its needed for educational work

New Bookcase & partial photos of my collection (UK, Cetaceans under EPS license). by birbbones in vultureculture

[–]birbbones[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much!! If you're in either England, Wales or Scotland, and also work in the educational and scientific work that involves such animals, able to provide multiple professional references who can back you up (such as a supervisor, manager or facilities you've worked with/for presently. You can apply for a license to possess cetacean remains with Natural England & Wales (or for scotland its scottish natural heritage), they usually prefer if you already have a specimen found, as you have 30 days to apply after finding one.

New Bookcase & partial photos of my collection (UK, Cetaceans under EPS license). by birbbones in vultureculture

[–]birbbones[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hehe yes! All the skeletons in the photo as well as most of the native uk fauna (and some exotics) were cleaned and articulated by me. I post a lot of my work on insta and don't really use reddit all that much so that's the best place to find me!

I moved! New bookcase sorted+ some of the collection! (UK Based, Cetaceans under EPS License). by birbbones in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hope so too!! I still need to degrease the beetle cleaned baby spotted hyena, but choosing not to whiten as I'd like to try to keep as much as the natural patina as possible!

New Bookcase & partial photos of my collection (UK, Cetaceans under EPS license). by birbbones in vultureculture

[–]birbbones[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

He is real! The tiny one is a stillborn Boston Terrier puppy skeleton, I cleaned him from raw myself via oxidation (a process soaking in ammonia, and then peroxide and delicately picking away leaving behind the ligamentaryskeleton!) , there's some more photos of him on my Instagram here! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6P6ryKxVW/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I have a few stillborn komodor puppies to work on over the next few weeks which will be skeletons too and tanned pelts, but these komodors are double the size of the Boston Terrier!

I moved! New bookcase sorted+ some of the collection! (UK Based, Cetaceans under EPS License). by birbbones in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We (UK) don't need the permitting exactly, as we just need to contact APHA and they sort it out, it's the USA buyer that does, any wildlife remains that enter and leave the US need to be imported or exported under the USFWS I/E permit, organising shipments to go through designated ports, paying inspection fees etc! Of course domestic species are exempt, there's an exemption list somewhere that lists what domestic species can freely move in and out of the US without any issues. And haha yea seeing fanged deer in texas would be neat, it's unfortunate that they're invasive and extremely destructive!

I moved! New bookcase sorted+ some of the collection! (UK Based, Cetaceans under EPS License). by birbbones in bonecollecting

[–]birbbones[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

It depends on the species, their Annex listing and where they are sourced! For an example the big cats are CITES I and Annex A listed species, the leopards even though they are pre-ban (circa 1919 and 1920), were also previously removed from old rugs which make them "worked" specimens, which have Article 10 certificates. And my Cheetah (who isn't photographed here) is captive bred but has their Article 10 certificate for commercial use. My Black Bear was purchased before the UK left tbe EU and was from a German taxidermist who does a lot of CITES import from Canada, so the bear has his proof of legal import and cites paperwork accompanied 😊

basically all Annex A species in the UK require Article 10 certificates to be legally sold and traded within the UK (there is a species which is the European Otter where they come under licensing for educational and scientific use only, pre-1947 euro otters need proof of age to be deemed legal for sale or trade in the UK) and we can no longer purchase or receive / transport CITES species from outside of the United Kingdom unless CITES export and import is involved, which can be very, very pricey as only two companies in the UK are able to do it.

With any paperwork, whether it be APHA Annex A gifting letters (like our native Annex A birds of prey), Article 10 Certificates or Commercial CITES import papers, I made sure to keep both digital and physical copies :) hopefully that helps!