I’ll keep it simple today and leave you free to ask questions about this week’s mystery object. Quite simply, can you work out what this is:
Comments and questions below – I will provide answers as I am able.
Good luck!
Tag Archives for mystery object
Friday mystery object #15 answer
On Friday I gave you a palaeontological mystery object and asked you to choose what you thought it was from a poll:
As it turns out, you did pretty well, with 60% of you selecting the correct category (with a couple of you making comments which went into greater detail). The object in indeed a piece of fossil Continue reading
Friday mystery object #14 answer
On Friday I gave you a bit of a change from museum specimens and presented you with this:
Everyone managed to get the identification to at least within the Order level (it’s in the Orthoptera), which is good going when dealing with insects. The hard bit came down to whether it was a cricket or grasshopper. Now, the photo does not show the most important feature for distinguish between these two types of orthopteran: it’s the antennae length that gives it away (grasshoppers have short antennae, crickets have long antennae). Colour is not really important (sorry KateKatV).
That said, the vivid green colour, speckled appearance, lack of wings and characteristics shape of the ovipositor (curved bit at the back which means this is a female) are a give-away for those who are familiar with this particular beastie (and for those who use Google image to help with their identifications). It is in fact a Continue reading
Friday mystery object #14
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!
Friday mystery object #13 answer
Crumbs, it appears that last Friday’s object stumped everyone! Harrison certainly chose a difficult one…
SmallCasserole came closest, asking:
Is it antler or horn?
but my response:
Antler or horn that thick?
was perhaps too ambiguous – because there is a horn out there that is this thick, that of a Continue reading
Friday mystery object #13
Today’s mystery object has been selected by a very helpful work experience volunteer who was assisting me in the collections yesterday, so my thanks to Harrison! He is rather more cruel than me, so there’s no multiple choice on this – we just want you to see if you can work out what it is. I will attempt to answer any questions (time permitting) since our broadband seems to have been sorted out at home.
So here it is:
Friday mystery object #12
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!
Friday mystery object #10 answer
On Friday I presented two mystery objects after a frantic search through the photos on my phone whilst at the SVP conference in Bristol:
Name the source of this leather seat cover
As it is you performed remarkably well, SmallCasserole spotted that the leather was Continue reading
Friday mystery object #10
Currently in my apartment in Bristol frantically searching for a suitable mystery object whilst also trying to plan the talks I want to attend at SVP.
I get the feeling skulls are getting boring for some of you, so perhaps it’s time I introduced an object that isn’t directly related to what I’m doing at work. In the pub yesterday, a natural history curator friend of mine (David Waterhouse from Norwich Castle Museum) queried the type of leather on the seat of his chair (it’s the kind of thing we do). We think we know, but can you work it out?
Name the source of this leather seat cover
Not an easy one, particularly without any clues, but I will attempt to answer any questions go help you on your way – just post them below in the comments section.
Good luck! Continue reading
Friday mystery object #9 answer
On Friday I presented you with a skull to identify:
I thought this would be suitably tricky, but achievable. Right enough, there was a wide spread of answers, but the correct answer got the most votes – it is indeed a Continue reading
Friday mystery object #9
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
Friday mystery object #7 answer
Here’s what I said on Friday, just before 7am:
Just posted the Friday Mystery Object. Not a skull, no options and just one clue (for now): http://wp.me/pvJGH-6M You’ll never get it! #FMO
[PaoloViscardi on Twitter, Friday 4th September]
Of course, I was hoping to be proved wrong, but Gimpy managed to prove me wrong in record time (about an hour). So well done to Gimpy, although I now can’t help but hate you just a little bit for ruining my fun… (is this how the woo merchants feel?). Clearly the clue I left was far too much of a give-away (I should have listened to Melissa).
The question was “what is it and what’s it made of?” and it referred to this:
Scale in cm
If you read the comments you probably worked out that it is indeed a Continue reading
Friday mystery object #7
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!
Friday mystery object #5 answer
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
Friday mystery object #5
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
Friday mystery object #4 answer
The mystery object I showed you on Friday was this:
Height to shoulder 15cm
The correct answer was in fact Continue reading
Friday mystery object #4
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
Friday mystery object #3
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
Friday mystery object #2 answer
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
Friday mystery object #2
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.
Zygoma 