Apologies for the slightly late posting today – it was out Xmas Party last night and an early start was simply beyond me. Another skull, but a bit trickier than last week:
I will try to answer questions and respond to your suggestions during the day, so put them below. Good luck!
Scale?
Around 2cm
My best guess is polecat/ferret but I know it’s not because it’s not long enough.
I can see what you mean, but nope, not a mustelid.
Can it fly?
Yes indeed it can!
Looks pretty small to me, judging by the wall finish behind. The damage to the top of the skull makes me think that maybe there aren’t many specimens around. Could it be from an animal that is extinct, or at least quite rare?
It’s not rare, but you don’t get them in the UK
Kinkajou?
Nope, not a member of the Carnivora
It flies on membranous wings, with a scary fearsome weapon poking from the middle of its face?
In that case I have totally misjudged the scale
That’s what it says it is on the label!
Phyllostomidae?
Marsupial? Taz?
Nope – it’s a eutherian
My knee-jerk guess was rodent, but rostrum is too soft and short, and I don’t think the dentition looks right even from this angle. Not mustelid, either. After looking at it a little longer, it looks like a little red bamboo eater that may be omnivorous.
Not a Red Panda