Plastination as an alternative method for the anatomical preservation and study of Brazilian herpetofauna

Abstract

The teaching and learning of zoology and comparative anatomy face several challenges, including the identification of anatomical structures across different species, understanding evolutionary relationships, and promoting science communication and public engagement. In addition, the fragility of formalin-fixed specimens subjected to repeated handling limits their long-term use in practical classes. Plastination has emerged as an effective alternative for preserving biological specimens while maintaining their anatomical characteristics. In this experience report, we describe the preparation and preservation of amphibian and reptile specimens from the Brazilian herpetofauna using plastination and evaluate their preservation quality and practical applicability for educational purposes. Six vertebrate specimens — five Squamata reptiles and one Anura amphibian — were plastinated using the standard S10B silicone technique. Following curing, all specimens exhibited good preservation of their external morphology and anatomical structures, enabling visualization of superficial musculature in Rhinella diptycha and Iguana iguana , the topographic organization of internal organs in Ameiva ameiva , and the external morphology of Coleodactylus natalensis , Epicrates assisi , and Bothrops erythromelas . A semiquantitative assessment indicated high preservation quality, with only minor changes in color, anatomical definition, and structural integrity. Furthermore, all specimens showed high educational usefulness and museum display suitability, as well as good handling suitability and ease of observation. These findings demonstrate that plastination is an effective and feasible preservation method, providing durable, anatomically informative specimens with considerable potential for teaching vertebrate anatomy and zoology, scientific outreach, and museum exhibition.

Bibliographic Information