Question

A person skilled in Taxidermy is called as:
(A) Taxonomist
(B) Taxidermist
(C) Archeologist
(D) Scientist

Answer 1

Hint: Try to connect the word ‘ist’ with the prefix of the term used. It involves the preservation of specimens for a scientific study.

Complete step by step answer: Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal’s body via mounting or stuffing for the purpose of display or study. Animals are often, but not always portrayed in a life-like state. The word taxidermy describes the process of preserving the animal, but the word is also used to describe the end product, which is called ‘Taxidermy mounts’ or referred to simply as ‘Taxidermy’. Taxidermy is practised primarily on vertebrates (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and less commonly on amphibians), but can also be done to larger insects and arachnids under some circumstances. A taxidermist is aided by familiarity with anatomy, sculpture, painting and tanning.

Additional information: The conservation of taxidermy is the ongoing maintenance and preservation of zoological specimens that have been mounted or stuffed for display and study.
Taxidermy specimens contain a variety of organic materials, such as fur, bone, feathers, skin and wood as well as inorganic materials such as burlap, glass and foam. Due to their composite nature, taxidermy specimens require special care and conservation treatments for different materials. ‘Notable examples’ are:- American Museum of Natural history mammal hall, National Postal Museum’s “Owney”, Napoleon’s Horse “Vizir” and Henry the Elephant.
Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note: ‘Carl Akeley’ is known as the ‘father of Modern Taxidermy’. Some more notable taxidermists are John Hancock (ornithologist), Walter Potter (Victorian era creator of iconic anthropomorphic taxidermy) and Martha Maxwell (First female naturalist to obtain and taxidermize her own specimens).