This is the skull of an domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Dogs
were domesticated over 10,000 years ago and today there are over
300 different breeds around the world. Despite this variation,
the skeletons of all dogs show many similarities with their wild
relatives, wolves and coyotes. Posts for category ‘Announcement’
This is the skull of an opossum (Didelphis virginiana). These
animals are usually around 9-13 lbs and just under two feet
long. They also have a hairless prehensile tail that aids in
climbing and carrying objects. They have unique prints as their
rear feet have opposable “thumbs”. The phrase “playing possum”
comes from these animals, when faced with a threat they will
sometimes feign death and even excrete a fluid that has a putrid
odor. We have another sample from the Common Dolphin Delphinus
delphis specimen. This is the scapula (shoulder blade) of the
animal. Compare this to the scapula of the Cougar and the Brown
Pelican and see the remarkable variation. Think about how life
in different env