Ilian Velikov wrote:
I still find it hard to believe. I know all the bones and skeletons are casts (maybe some fish/dolphins) but I think these here are real prepared animals. You didn't say why you believe it's not so...?
Very often reproductions are more lifelike, because there is always shrinkage in the real skin when it dries. For this reason, and because they are easier to prepare, museums nowadays usually use reproductions rather than actual taxidermy specimens in exhibitions (in the case of reptiles, that is). And in this Heloderma the skin looks a bit too lifelike to be real. Also, you can actually see that it is airbrushed. Nevertheless, the painting job is very well done in this one.
Just believe me. I am a professional taxidermist and actually one of the few in Europe specializing in reptiles.
If interested, you can see some of my work here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/30008608@N07/albums/72157631501333836My reptiles in these pictures are all skin mounts, only the
Bufo marinus is a reproduction.