A note on the precautionary measures for animal preservation.

1. SYED MUHAMMAD KHAN (BS HONS. ZOOLOGY)
pg. 1
Precautionary Measures for Animal
Preservation
Specimen preservation refers to the long-term preservation of organisms either plant
or animal in the best possible condition. So that it can be accessed in the future as a
reference collection for scientific purposes.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES FOR ANIMAL PRESERVATION
Some precautionary measures to be considered while preserving animals are:
Specimens Must Not Be Decayed Or Contaminated: The most important thing when
it comes to a high-quality specimen is to make sure the animal was frozen as soon as
possible after death to avoid any type of decay or contamination.
Be Equipped: Find a well-ventilated area (outdoors is easiest) and always wear a
respirator (to avoid any sort of toxicity from the chemicals). Use nonporous,
hypoallergenic powder-free nitrile gloves and something which absorbs extra fluid and
doesn’t allow it to leak through. Prepare your work station. You’ll need a hypodermic
needle, a syringe, and a fixative, typically formalin.
Avoid Over Crowding: Do not crowd living animals in small containers – this will result
in damage to their body parts and will also make it hard for someone to observe and
properly identify them.
Position The Specimen Properly: Place the specimen in a large jar in the position you
want it to stay in for display - it will stay in that position once you are done. Fill the
container with the same fixative that you used to inject the specimen and seal it. Most
fixatives like formalin cause all of the tissues to start to harden, so remember that
however you preserve it at this stage will be how the specimen is positioned forever.
Leave the specimen for several days, weeks, or months depending on the size. Shake
the jar (with the lid on) every few days to agitate the fixative and encourage fluid
exchange.

2. SYED MUHAMMAD KHAN (BS HONS. ZOOLOGY)
pg. 2
Specimens Must Not Float: If your specimen floats, it's possible that it's rotten or that
you injected air bubbles. Make small incisions to allow gases to escape. Shaking helps
with floating as well - birds are more likely to float early on because of their bones.
Specimen Containers Must Be Made Up Of Glass: Specimen containers must be
made of glass or if you have your heart set on using plastic jars, you have to make
sure it won't chemically react with your preserving fluid or your final chemical bath -
otherwise, it could melt and leak.
Ensure Safety: Properly caring for your collection of jarred specimens is important, not
just so they stay in good condition but also to avoid a fire hazard. Never store a wet
specimen somewhere that is overly warm (a house in the summer with no air
conditioning) and always keep them away from direct sunlight. Never smoke or burn
candles nearby and never store your specimens near a heater or fireplace – they are
extremely flammable. The chemicals used in preservation processes are harsh and
some are known carcinogens. It is your responsibility to store them safely.
Obtain Specimens Legally: It is also your responsibility to make sure the specimens
you are processing are legal to possess in your city, state, or region. Some species
are federally protected.
Remove Intestines Of Larger Specimens: If you are using a whole animal specimen
that is on the larger size, consider removing its intestines before storage. This can be
accomplished by pulling them out through the anus using forceps and then disposing
of them.
Avoid Damage To The Specimens: Features important in the taxonomic study of fish,
for example, are easily damaged with contact even after preservation, so it is very
important to ensure that the specimens are handled with care and are hence not
damaged.

3. SYED MUHAMMAD KHAN (BS HONS. ZOOLOGY)
pg. 3
Keep Live Specimens Isolated: Live crabs before preservation should be kept
individually as some species will damage each other and other animals that will distort
morphological features.
Safe Handling Of Preservatives: Inhalation of formalin fumes is harmful and causes
extreme discomfort to the nose and eyes. Contact with fluid causes severe irritation to
the skin. Contact with sore or raw spots results in extreme pain. It is a carcinogen.
Hands should be rinsed after usage. Alcohol is usually safe to handle, but it can irritate
the skin in cases of prolonged contact. Always rinse hands with water after working
with alcohol. Industrial alcohol is toxic and should never be drunk. Alcohol is highly
flammable, never work with this fluid in the vicinity of open flames.