Paolo Viscardi

Friday mystery object #518 answer Last week I gave you this mystery object to have a go at identifying: This one is fairly straightforward to get to the superfamily level - it's one of the Sea Turtles (the Chelonioidea). However, despite there only being seven species alive today, their skulls can take a bit of careful observation to distinguish the diagnostic features that offer the clues to a species level identification.

The answer to last week's mystery object and some palatable pointers on turtle skull identification...

It's always useful. Keeps things in perspective and all that.

No, I carry it around with me.

You were on point the first time 😉

Some days it stares back...

Bearded man on left, face to face with a Kudu antelope

Paolo Viscardi, Keeper of Natural History at the National Museum of Ireland @paoloviscardi.bsky.social stares death in the face every day! Front page of Irish Independent magazine Saturday 2 August 2025

Ah, but which description?

A mystery skull for your identification delectation. Any idea what it is?

Friday mystery object #517 answer Last week I gave you a close up of a specimen from the Dead Zoo to have a go at identifying: I don't think this proved too much of a challenge, since Chris Jarvis responded with a correct identification within the hour: This one’s sent me into a spiral, kudyu show a bit more,. bucky?chrisjarvise8da89e10d says: July 18, 2025 at 8:44 am…

The answer to last week's mystery object, and a teaser for an upcoming project that natural history enthusiasts might find interesting...

Neigh.

Friday mystery object #517 The last mystery object was a close-up detail of a specimen, and it proved tricky, but not impossible to identify. I thought I might try another close-up of a specimen, to see if it might yield a similarly balanced challenge for this week: I feel like this has enough information to make an identification, but hopefully it's not too easy. Let me know what you think it could be in the comments box below - I hope it proves a fun challenge!

It's all in the eyes. Any idea what this mystery critter could be from this close-up?

Friday mystery object #516 answer Last week I gave you a close-up of an object that caught my attention when visiting a friend who works at the Natural History Museum, Denmark: The original image I had gave a bit too much information to make this a challenge, so I have to admit to doing some judicious cropping, and I wasn't sure if this was going to be an easy or difficult one,

The velvety answer to last week's mystery object - did you work out what it is?

Without wanting to disappoint, the Dead Zoo is now closed for a major redevelopment (we desperately need lifts and a roof that doesn't let the weather in). However, if you're here in October you can visit the Dead Zoo Lab in Collins Barracks to get your Nat Hist hit - we're working on it now.

Friday mystery object #516 This week's mystery object is a close-up of something I found interesting and thought it would be fun to share: Any idea what this might be? I'm not sure if it's really easy or really difficult, so I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Have fun with it!

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this week's mystery object. Any idea what it might be?

Friday mystery object #515 answer Last week I gave you this fuzzy little fella to have a go at identifying: It's a very distinctive caterpillar and I had a feeling it wouldn't prove much of a challenge (correctly it turns it). Those tufts of hair, "horns" and bristles are a dead give-away. As everyone who commented recognised, this is the larva of a Vapourer Moth, also known as a Rusty Tussock Moth…

The answer to last week's fuzzy mystery object, plus a bit of entomological etymology.

Friday mystery object #515 This week I have a fuzzy mystery object for you to identify: Any idea what this colourful little critter could be? I look forward to hearing your thoughts, questions and suggestions in the comments section below. Have fun!

Any idea what this fuzzy little critter might be?

Friday mystery object #514 answer Last week I gave you another guest mystery object from regular contributor Andy Taylor FLS FBNA: Image by Andy Taylor FLS FBNA, 2025 This proved to be a tricky challenge. The large size and the lack of a halux (the rear-facing small toe found in many birds) makes this seem like the feet of some sort of Ratite, which is the group of birds that includes a variety of flightless examples, including Ostriches, Emus, Cassowarys, Rheas, and Kiwis - many of which lack the hallux.

The answer to last week's mystery pair of feet. Going toe-to-toe with a challenging identification.

Friday mystery object #514 This week I have another guest mystery object for you from regular contributor Andy Taylor FLS FBNA: Image by Andy Taylor FLS FBNA, 2025 Image by Andy Taylor FLS FBNA, 2025 Image by Andy Taylor FLS FBNA, 2025 I'm keen to hear your thoughts on what the owner of this magnificent pair of feet might have been in the comments below.

This week's guest Friday mystery object, courtesy of Andy Taylor comes with a scale bar, because a couple of feet isn't always 24 inches (boom-tish!) Any idea what these clodhoppers might be from?

Thanks Terry!

Friday mystery object #513 answer Last week I gave you this mystery object found by the family of one of my colleagues to have a go at identifying: Image by Andrew Brady, May 2025 Adam Yates got the ball rolling with some key observations about this skeletal element that provides a handy set of clues to look for when assessing vertebra: The element is easier than than the taxon.

An answer to last week's myster object. Did you figure out what it was?

Morning sun over the River Liffey in Dublin, viewed from a bridge, with light reflecting off the water.

Sunny morning in Dublin

Friday mystery object #513 This week I have another guest mystery object for you, found on a beach by the family of one of my museum colleagues: Let me know your thoughts about the species, where in the body this particular bone came from, and any other deductions you might have about the animal? I look forward to seeing if you agree with my thoughts!

A genuine mystery object for you this week - I'm keen to hear your thoughts on what this might be from!

Friday mystery object #512 answer Last week I gave you this guest mystery object to try identifying, from the collection of Andy Taylor FLS FBNA: Andy had brought this particular specimen along to the NatSCA Conference, which was held in the Manchester Museum this year. It's not the only one he brought - there were several fantastic specimens from his incredible collection, my favourite being the…

The answer to last week's mystery object and a consideration on the role of amateur naturalists in underpinning our understanding biodiversity:

Friday mystery object #512 This week I have a guest mystery object for you, from the collection of Andy Taylor FLS FBNA - a regular contributor of specimens to the blog, and this year a fellow attendee of the Natural Sciences Collections Association conference, which is taking place in Machester at the moment - but more about that when I come to the answer next week.

This week's guest Friday mystery object from Andy Taylor FLS FBNA comes straight from the @natsca.bsky.social conference - and it may be a challenge!

It has begun. @natsca.bsky.social conference 2025 with a little @uclgrantmuseum.bsky.social reunion. @jackdashby.bsky.social and @paoloviscardi.bsky.social

Two books on a table. An atlas of butterflies in Ireland and Handbook for the Irish vegetation classification

Two great publications launched today by the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Irish butterfly populations have decreased on average by 50% (over 80% for some species, and with some huge reductions in distribution for many). Hard facts but data is what we need to battle the #biodiversity crisis.

Friday mystery object #511 answer Last week I gave you a particularly mean mystery object to try to identify: This would be difficult if it was an accurate representation of the eye of the living animal, but I suspect it's pretty much impossible (unless you're familiar with this specimen), considering how different this eye appears from the eye of the actual animal. This is something that katedmonson spotted and commented on:

The answer to last week's incredibly difficult mystery object. I don't think this challenge got anybody's seal of approval...

Falcon sex hats FTW!

🤣

Friday mystery object #511 This week I have an unapologetically difficult mystery object from the Dead Zoo for you to try idenifying: Any idea what this close-up mystery object could be? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below - and have fun with it!

Eyes on the prize - although the prize is mainly the kudos of working out what this eye belongs to. What do you think?