A very fond memory of mine, was to be able to work abroad in Australia. While conduction ecological field work in the Upper Warren area near Manjimup, I was also able to cultivate a local dermestid beetle colony. With the help these beetles, I was able to clean skulls and skeletons of the local animal species for the Skeleton Library of the DBCA.
The skeleton of a shining bronze cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus) that I locally cleaned and build.
The DBCA (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; Goverment of Western Australia) uses the Skeleton Library for scientific and educational purposes. I felt honored to be able to work with these species. Some of which very rare, such as the woylie (near threatened), tuan (near threatened), numbat (endangered) and ngwayir (critically endangered).
The local dermestid beetle species that I collected and cultivated were the species Dermestes maculatus and Dermestes frischii.
Small skulls from left to right: mardo (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster), mundarda (Cercartetus concinnus), chocolate wattled bat (Chalinolobus morio) and a non-native house mouse (Mus musculus).
More examples of skulls that I have cleaned during my time in Australia:
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