Skinning

The preparation of animal specimens for preservation begins with skinning - the careful removal of the skin. However, this is only the first stage in a detailed process that also includes gutting (removal of internal organs) and defleshing (cleaning away remaining muscle, fat, and connective tissue). These steps are essential for both scientific study and long-term preservation. Every specimen shown here died of natural causes, and this documentation is shared for educational purposes, as part of the respectful and meticulous work involved in osteological and taxidermy preparation.

first day of receiving the specimen

final results of the project

Take for example this Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator). Skinning large lizards is considered a slightly more challenging task, especially when preparing them for taxidermy, due to their tough skin that is also tightly connected to the underlying bone particularly around the front of the skull and the phalanges. However, as you can see here, it is entirely possible. My tip is to soften the skin slightly by soaking the tougher areas for about an hour or more to make the process easier. Still, some parts are so firmly attached to the bone that, if your goal is to prepare a skeleton, it's usually not worth the extra effort to remove every bit.

I recommend doing a solid job at this stage and removing as much skin and flesh as possible, as it will reduce the amount of work needed later and make the skeleton cleaning process much faster and more efficient. take a look at the examples below

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