Elasmobranch Cartilaginous Preparations for Dummies
Location
OC Auditorium
Start
4-2-2026 2:50 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Elasmobranch cartilaginous preparations are a critical part of research surrounding the delicate cartilage of the chondrocranium and jaw. These preparations hold critical insights into a species’ feeding strategies, taxonomy, niche, and functional morphology. Unlike teleosts, elasmobranchs present a unique challenge: their cartilaginous skeletons are prone to degradation, loss of detail, and even dissolution. In this lightning talk, I provide insight into the workflow for cleaning and storing jaws and chondrocraniums while maintaining high structural integrity. This talk highlights minimizing skeletal damage, selecting the appropriate maceration techniques, and preventing warping during drying and storage; methods developed through a self-taught process, formed through errors and many mistakes. This talk emphasizes not only the proper technique for skeletal preparations but also the preservation of biological information that can be utilized by researchers for education, display, and future studies. Attendees will leave with detailed instructions to help improve their own elasmobranch specimen preparations.
Elasmobranch Cartilaginous Preparations for Dummies
OC Auditorium
Elasmobranch cartilaginous preparations are a critical part of research surrounding the delicate cartilage of the chondrocranium and jaw. These preparations hold critical insights into a species’ feeding strategies, taxonomy, niche, and functional morphology. Unlike teleosts, elasmobranchs present a unique challenge: their cartilaginous skeletons are prone to degradation, loss of detail, and even dissolution. In this lightning talk, I provide insight into the workflow for cleaning and storing jaws and chondrocraniums while maintaining high structural integrity. This talk highlights minimizing skeletal damage, selecting the appropriate maceration techniques, and preventing warping during drying and storage; methods developed through a self-taught process, formed through errors and many mistakes. This talk emphasizes not only the proper technique for skeletal preparations but also the preservation of biological information that can be utilized by researchers for education, display, and future studies. Attendees will leave with detailed instructions to help improve their own elasmobranch specimen preparations.