CHARACTERIZATION OF SKELETON PREPARATION IN AVIAN, MAMMALIAN, AND REPTILE SPECIES WITH EMPIRICAL METHODOLOGY.

Skeletons serve as didactic equipment in educational institutions and as exhibits in museums. Modern skeleton preparation is a protracted, tedious and meticulous process involving several steps out of which maceration reckons exalted time. Several maceration methods, e.g., burial maceration, cold water maceration, hot water maceration, insect maceration, chemical maceration, and enzymatic maceration are available with virtues and vices with each of the methods. At present, veterinary educational institutions do not undertake skeleton preparation due to procedural complexities. We have made a novice attempt to articulate the skeleton of two pigeons (Avian species), one squirrel and one spotted deer (Mammalian species), and one crocodile (Reptile species) by empirical method without compromising the quality of skeleton involving seven steps, viz., De-fleshing and Evisceration of carcass, Burial of carcass, Collection of bones, Cleaning of bones, Drying of bones, Varnishing of bones, and Articulation of bones. The entire procedure took 18 days-2 hours (434 h) both in pigeon and squirrel, 5 months-6 days-6 hours (3750 h) in deer, and 10 months-11 days-12 hours-30 minutes (7476 h) in crocodile. The time frame was similar in respect of avian (pigeon) and small mammal (squirrel) species, while it was longer in deer (large mammal), and the longest in crocodile (reptile) indicating that it was influenced by mass of the animal rather than the species, and expressed a gradient behaviour. Maceration was the principal time-devouring component in skeleton preparation by empirical method. It devoured equal time out of the total time both in pigeon and in squirrel (360 h), and accounted for 83% of the total time. Maceration time was higher in deer (3600 h), and the highest in crocodile (7200 h), although the time fraction out of the total time was similar in both the species (96%). This paper deciphers a detail account of the protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]