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Taxidermy? |
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What does Taxidermy mean?
Taxidermy is a general term describing the many
methods of reproducing a
life-like
three-dimensional representation of an animal
for permanent display. In some cases, the actual
skin (including the fur, feathers or scales) of
the specimen is preserved and mounted over an
artificial armature. In other cases, the
specimen is reproduced completely with man-made
materials.
The word "taxidermy" is derived from two ancient
Greek words; taxis, meaning movement; and
derma, meaning skin. Therefore, loosely
translated, taxidermy means the movement of
skin. This is a fairly appropriate definition as
many taxidermy procedures involve removing the
natural skin from the specimen, replacing this
skin over an artificial body, and adjusting the
skin until it appears lifelike.
The modern practice of taxidermy incorporates
many crafts, such as carpentry, woodworking,
tanning, molding and casting; but it also
requires artistic talent, including the art of
sculpture, painting and drawing. In a modern
deer head mount, for example, the only natural
parts of the animal used are the antlers and the
skin. All of the other organs and tissues are
recreated with man-made materials. The eyes are
made from glass, the eyelids are sculpted from
clay, the soft tissues of the nose and mouth are
sculpted from epoxy or wax, and the manikin or
"form" (which incorporates the anatomy of each
muscle and vein) is made from polyurethane foam.
Today, some taxidermy mounts (most notably
saltwater fish) do not contain any parts
of the animal at all. They are completely
re-created from man-made materials. This is
ideal for catch-and-release anglers, who can
release their gamefish unharmed, and can still
have a life-sized trophy produced from a good
color photo and measurements.
Works of taxidermy are displayed in museums,
educational institutions, businesses,
restaurants, and homes. There are many different
methods for producing mounts (or re-creations)
of different species. |