THE SMALL MAMMAL MANUAL MANUSCRIPT
A Step by Step Guide to Preparing and Articulating
Small Mammal Skeletons
Vol. 9
This manual is on the techniques for the
articulation of mammals smaller than a
wolf, using a lynx and a sea otter as
primary examples.
(85 pages)

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PROMISING NEW METHOD
FOUND IN THE SMALL MAMMAL MANUAL MANUSCRIPT
AND FEATURED IN THE BONE BUILDER'S NOTEBOOK
For small mammals and birds we've been working on a new technique that may be a good
alternative to beetles for preparing small skeletons.

Someone was quick to point out that it is unlikely that this is really a new technique, as
people have been working with skeleton cleaning for a couple hundred years. However, I
have never seen anything in print on this technique and one of the main ingredients
(concentrated  hydrogen peroxide) wasn't produced much before WWII even though it had
been first discovered in the 1880's.

The process uses concentrated hydrogen peroxide to oxidize flesh. This so far involves
soaking small animal carcasses in a strong ammonia solution for ten days and then in
baths of 15-20% hydrogen peroxide solution until the flesh is gone, but before the bones
become disarticulated. The articulated skeleton is then removed and posed until it dries.
Experiments as to the exact steps, times and limitations are still being conducted. I will add
details here as the process gets fine-tuned.

The major advantage, if this works, is being able to prepare very small skeletons without
using environmentally hazardous chemicals or having to deal with the nauseating smells of
decay.

There is a brief write-up about this method in the Small Mammals Manual, and a more
complete write-up in the Bone Builder's Notebook.
Here's my first skeleton prepared by this method; a Northern
Saw-whet Owl. The entire skeleton weighs 5 grams, the same weight
as an American 5 cent piece.
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Last Update
: September 1, 2009

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