On Friday I gave you this object to identify:
The idea was to provide a sense of how tricky it can be to identify bits of postcranial bone, even fairly characteristic bits like the humerus (which is what this is).
There were various suggestions, with sheep, goat and deer all getting a mention, but henstridgesj and Jake both got the same identification as the collector when they suggested Continue reading
This Friday I’ve decided to really challenge your identification skills with a single bone that I found in the Horniman’s collections.
There was no information of any kind with this specimen, although the material it shared a box with was acquired from the King’s College Comparative Zoology collection. That means that it could be from pretty much any animal on the planet. What do you think it is? (N.B. since it is tricky I’ve given you an image from every angle.)
As usual, you can put your questions, comments and suggestions below and I’ll do my best to respond during the day. Good luck (I think you may need it).
Apologies for the late posting and brevity of the FMO answer today, I’m not feeling at all well.
On Friday I gave you something a bit more ‘taxing’ than the previous week’s mystery object:
Some of you spotted the clue hidden in my statement and Bubba, Carlos, Will, Neil, henstidgesj and Julie Doyle all implied or identified that this as the skull of Continue reading
On Friday I gave you this mystery object:
and after a long bout of Q&A Fia managed to get the correct answer – it is indeed a Continue reading
Last week I let Harrison pick an object that proved a bit too difficult (although perhaps I could have been more generous with the clues I gave…). This week I am giving you something that is actually alive and commonly found in gardens in the UK – so it should be a doddle to identify:
Simple questions – what species is it (binomial name gets you kudos) and what sex is it?
Answers in the comments section below – but I’m afraid I won’t be able to respond to comments this week. Good luck!
I am still without internet at home, so apologies for slow responses to comments and the lower quality of my recent posts.
This Friday’s mystery object is pretty straight-forward, a simple case of ‘what is it?’
If you think you know what this is just leave a comment below – I will attempt to respond to any questions when (and if) I am able, but I can’t make any guarantees I’m afraid.
Good luck!
My internet is still down at home, but here’s a Friday Mystery Object anyway!
This time I just want you to work out what group of animals this ribcage comes from:
Here’s a close-up that you might find useful:
Now you don’t need to be an expert to work this out – just work out how this ribcage is similar to the ribcage of other animals and certain features should start standing out to make the answer obvious – a real case of deductive power!
To assist, I will point you in the direction of some useful comparative material and I urge you to consider how function and inheritence both shape bones used in movement.
Feel free to ask questions in the comments section below – I will reply whenever possible. I hope you enjoy the detective work!
It’s Friday again, we all know what that means – Mystery Object time!
Last week I gave you a really tricky one, that you managed to work out with some clues. I liked the Q&A format, but unfortunately I am between ISP’s at the moment, so I don’t think I will have the chance to have as much input this week. Instead there is a poll (although comments are always welcome!) and I will return to my favourite objects – skulls.
So, what is this the skull of? Choose an answer from the poll below (don’t forget to hit “vote”): Continue reading
Since there have been calls for some variety (skulls not good enough for you eh?) and there have even been accusations of the FMO being “too easy” I have decided to unleash a tricky one for you this week.
Scale in cm
Simple questions, what is it and what’s it made of?
No poll this week, just leave your thoughts in the comments section below. I will give you a clue however – it’s supposed to be magical (even Harry Potter’s used one).
More clues to follow if they’re needed!
I must say that I’m impressed with this week’s response. Most of you correctly identified this skull:
It does indeed belong to a Continue reading
Since there was so much interest in last week’s mystery object, I’ve decided to stay with the same theme, but a different specimen.
Scale in cm
The mystery object I showed you on Friday was this:
Height to shoulder 15cm
The correct answer was in fact Continue reading
Cool natural history stuff from the museum – a different angle (an internal one) on something familiar… can you tell what it is?
Height to shoulder 12.5cm
You can put your thoughts in the comments section below Continue reading
More poorly labelled stuff I’ve found at work this week – do you know what this is and where it came from?
Dorsal view (total width ~5cm)
Ventral view (total width ~5cm)
I’ve decided to trial multiple choice answers for this one, so please vote on what you think it is! [N.B. don’t forget to hit the “vote” button after making your selection!] Continue reading
The mystery object I showed you on Friday was this:
Despite a range of inventive and highly plausible(?) proposed identifications, ranging from lunch to Mike Tyson’s ear, Lifelinking earns a plethora of kudos for the correct identification that this is Continue reading
Delving deeper into the world of natural history this week, with the second of my Friday Mystery Objects!
This should be much easier than last week’s object since you only need to work out what it is and I have provided two views (scale is in cm BTW). If it proves too simple I will up the difficulty next week!
As before, put you thoughts in the comments section below. Answer will follow on Monday in a seperate post and I may drop in some extra clues if they’re needed.
The mystery object I showed you on Friday was this:
and I was looking for an identification of what it is and why does it look like that.
I’ve decided to share my world with others – at work I get to see some amazing stuff and often I have to work out what it is, because the label has gone missing. So here is the first of my Friday Mystery Objects!
So, what is it and why does it look like that?
Put you thoughts in the comments section below. Answer will follow on Monday in a seperate post.
Good luck!
Zygoma 