Techniques for the preparation of dry skeletons of lepidosaurs

Authors

  • C. Agustín Scanferla Laboratorio de Anatomía Comparada y Evolución de los Vertebrados. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ?Bernardino Rivadavia?.

Keywords:

Dry skeletons, Lepidosaurs, Maceration, Sodium hypochlorite,

Abstract

Two techniques for the preparation of dry skeletons of small-sized lepidosaurs are described here, 1.- The technique of bacterial maceration in water generates total disarticulation of the specimens through anaerobic decomposition of soft tissues, without any chemical or physical modifi cation of bones. This technique has demonstrated to be useful for the observation of articular surfaces or of contactbetween bony elements; 2.- The diluted solutions of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO)technique is useful to quickly dissolution of soft tissues, allowing the preservationof bony elements in articulation. However, it presents the inconvenience of a slightdecalcifi cation of the specimens. These techniques have been also used with positiveresults in anurans and small-sized mammals.

References

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Published

2018-02-04