Geissmann, T. & Lim, K.K.P. 1994: Extraction of bacula from tanned gibbon skins. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 42: 29-41.
Extraction of bacula from tanned gibbon skins
Thomas Geissmann1 &
Kelvin K.P. Lim1
1Anthropological Institute, University Zürich-Irchel, Switzerland
2Zoological Reference Collection, Dept. of Zoology, National University
of Singapore
Key words: Baculum; gibbons; Hylobates;
os penis; classification.
Abstract: Bacula or penis bones are thought to be of great potential importance
for the classification of gibbons (Hylobatidae), but not enough specimens have been
available for study to either support or reject this view. Because we found that
bacula are often well preserved in tanned skins of museum specimens, we developed
an easy and safe method to extract these fragile bones from such skins. Our method,
described here, may be applied to other mammals as well. In addition, the method
is of some value for sexing tanned skins of juvenile gibbons of the Hylobates
concolor group. Sex determination is difficult in these gibbons and hitherto,
there has been no reliable method for sexing tanned skins of these animals.
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