Method of preparing an articulated skeleton of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) for biology education

Abstract

Skeletal specimen is a useful tool for biology education, since it enables students to learn about body structure of vertebrate animals. Comparing skeletal specimens of target animal species obtained from multiple sites or comparing speci?c bones between

species enable us to consider ecological factor(s) affecting morphological traits of the animals. In addition, observing skeletal specimens originated from crop-feeding or road-killed animals is a good opportunity to start thinking about human-wildlife con?icts. In this report, we introduce a simple method to prepare a robust articulated skeleton of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), which is suitable for biology education.