The use of multi-enzymatic detergent for cleaning flesh from bones of small mammals preserved in fluid and frozen

The scientific collections of Mammals mainly consist of preserved specimens in spirit or taxidermized skins and skeletons. Cleaning bones is one of the most important steps in preserving the dried osteological material. Necrophagous insects are predominantly used to clean delicate bones such as skulls of small mammals but, maintaining the colonies of these insects can be challenging. In order to find an alternative and simple approach to safely clean small mammal bones, multi-enzyme detergent was tested. Although this method is known for its application in large mammals and forensic studies, it has never been attempted on small mammals in scientific collections. Different concentrations of a multi-enzymatic detergent to deflesh small mammal skulls were tested. After removing excess flesh, the skulls were placed separately in containers filled with the solution up to three times the volume of the skull. They remained immersed for 2.5 to 24 hours at 24°C–37°C. The final cleaning was done using a soft toothbrush and tweezers under a stereoscope. The results were satisfactory, especially with the highest concentration, although all other concentrations were effective in degradation of soft tissue, even in formalin-preserved specimens, apparently without damaging bone structures. To prevent damage to the skulls, it is recommended to check them hourly until the tissue has been completely removed.