Science Museum of Minnesota - 100th Anniversary Objects

100th Anniversary Objects - Biology

Click on the i in the upper left corner for more information.

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<p>Partridge or Sensitive Pea<br />
Chaemaecrista fasciculate
</p>
</div>

<p>This species has a unique response similar to that of the sensitive plant Mimosa in rapidly folding up its leaves at the slightest touch or temperature change. The seemingly disjunct locations of the Wadena County populations perhaps reflects inadequate investigations of the intervening area between them and the closest others reported in Minnesota. Interest has recently been shown by researchers in investigating possible responses of this plant to global warming. This plant thrives on open very sandy sites and grows up to two feet tall. </p>

<strong>Curator’s pick</strong><br />
<p><em>I was totally but pleasantly surprised to discover this plant unexpectedly at two separate locations in Wadena County, Minnesota 152-175 miles further north from the closest currently known locations near Minneapolis and St. Paul.

<br /> – Dick Oehlenschlager, Biology</em></p>

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<p>Snapping turtle </p>
<p>Chelydra serpentina </p>
<p>“Emily” the Two Headed turtle</p>
<p>Hatched in the possession of Roy Hauge of Pequot Lakes, 15 Sept 1973</p>
<p>Died 7-9 July 1977</p>
<p>Z2004:1</p>
<p>(already on exhibit)</p>
</div>

<p>Although two-headed reptiles occur frequently in nature, they normally live for only a short time. “Emily” – its gender was never certainly determined – lived for 3 years and 10 months. It had separate spinal cords and stomachs. The two heads were combative, stealing food from each other and indecisive about which way to swim. The turtle(s) died when one head lodged in the shell and the left side, and presumably a second heart, died. </p>

<p>Recently, a newly hatched two headed painted turtle was brought to the Science Museum where it lived only briefly.
</p>

<strong>Curator’s pick</strong><br />
<p><em>I believe this specimen is especially interesting because it was a great attraction to museum visitors when it lived at the Science Museum. ‘Emily’ had a regular following of interested visitors who came regularly. I still get occasional queries regarding it and even sympathy cards were received after its demise!<br /> – Dick Oehlenschlager, Biology</em></p>

$<div class="margin-left" style="width: 200px; font-weight: bolder; float:right; padding: 5px; border: 2px solid #96ADBF; margin-bottom: 5px;"> Indigo bunting Passerina cyanea Z95:9:6 Male, Collected 18 May 1995, Washington Co., Minnesota </div> Males have this distinctive blue appearing plumage only during the summer season from May through August; molting replaces it to a dull brown female like plumage before the southward fall migration. Widespread and common throughout Minnesota, including suburbs, it is often overlooked; males commonly sit on power lines, fence wires, tree tops and corn stalks, and sing persistently from May through July especially on hot sunny days. Nests are located in shrubbery at forest and woodland edges. With different viewing angles and light intensity they may appear black, light or dark blue. Color is likely perceived differently by animals. In buntings, the male’s plumage probably serves to attract a mate. In the case of the American Kestrel, which preys on voles (mice), it detects their presence because their fresh droppings and urine luminesce to the eyes of the kestrel. Some butterflies, moths, and other birds may also have this ability. Curator’s pick I choose this bird because it is somewhat an illusion. It, like Blue Jays and Bluebirds, actually lacks blue pigment in its plumage. Rather, their feather structures refract light of the wavelength we see as blue – hence, it is a pigment of our imagination! This effect is called iridescence.$

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<p>Gyrfalcon</p>
<p>Falcon rusticolus</p>
<p>Z80:3:1</p>
</div>

<p>This particular specimen was collected in Minneapolis in 1874 by Dr. Hatch. It was reported in 1936 in the classic Birds of Minnesota written by Thomas Sadler Roberts. The specimen was exhibited at the Minnesota Academy of Sciences, which became the Museum of the Minneapolis Public Library. Gyrfalcons now descend in very small numbers each winter from the Arctic to mostly northern Minnesota. Individuals can be white, gray, or blackish.
</p>

<strong>Curator’s pick</strong><br />
<p><em>I recognize this specimen to be of significant historical interest because it was the first specimen of the species recorded in Minnesota; it is also one of the oldest bird specimens in the Science Museum collections.</em></p>

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<p>Rock vole</p>
<p>Microtus chrotorrhinus</p>
<p>RJO-M-309</p>
<p>Collected 18 August 1988, Cook Co., Minnesota</p>
</div>

<p>Until 1970, this species was only known in Minnesota on the basis of one specimen collected near Ely. From then to 1981 field researchers found it at 8 more locations in Cook County. Subsequently, Science Museum biologists added more than 60 locations. Radio tracking of individuals with small collar transmitters to trace their movements helped determine home range and territory sizes and their affinity to habitat types and that this vole species does not show regular high and low (boom or bust) cycles typical of other voles. These findings allowed the delisting of the Rock vole as a species of special concern in Minnesota.</p>

<strong>Curator’s pick</strong><br />
<p><em>I submit this specimen as one of special interest after having worked on field studies of the species for 10 years in Northeastern Minnesota involving intensive night and day efforts which extended the known range of the species into Lake County and Voyageurs National Park.</em></p>

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<p>Red crossbill </p>
<p>Loxia curvirostre benti</p>
<p>Z73:16:38</p>
</div>

<p>The crossed bill, seemingly freakish, is actually a unique, highly efficient adaptation to extract seeds from conifer cones. Some individuals have beaks crossing left over right, others right over left allowing some flock members to feed right side up, the others upside down. This permits all flock members to feed without competition. Found across conifer forests of the northern hemisphere south to Nicaragua, North Africa, the Middle East, and Korea, crossbills vary greatly in body and beak size in adjustment with natural selection to match beak and cone sizes in different geographical areas. Cone failures trigger massive migrations to other regions where – if food is adequate – nesting can take place spontaneously any time of year. Some populations have different vocalizations, leading to speculation separate species may be involved. DNA does not currently support this.
</p>

<strong>Curator’s pick</strong><br />
<p><em>I and many other ornithologists find this species of nomadic occurrences a subject of intense interest. When affiliated with the University of Minnesota, I collected the largest number (at the Bell Museum of Natural History) of this species from a single location in North America and documented the presence of 6 different subspecies in Wadena County, Minnesota in different years – mostly from one tree!</em></p>

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<p>Longnose gar skull</p>
<p>Lepiosteus osseus</p>
<p>Lake City, Minnesota
</p>
</div>

<p>This is one of seven species of living gars in the world that are very primitive, having changed very little over millions of years. Note the unique designs of the individual skull bones and the specialized “beak.” This species can reach 5 feet in length in Minnesota; farther south in the Mississippi River, the closely related Alligator gar attains a total length exceeding 6 feet and a weight of 300 lbs! The rhomboid shaped scales of gars are strong and like armor, even impenetrable by a knife. Gars floating near the surface resemble sticks, lunging out to seize fish swimming too close. They also surface to gulp air. This specimen has been used to identify unknown fish bones submitted for identification.
</p>

<strong>Curator’s pick</strong><br />
<p><em>I am deeply impressed with the diversity of structures and geometric patterns of the individual bones of fish skulls. This, I believe, is one of the most elegant specimens in those respects.
</em></p>

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<p>Paddlefish skull</p>
<p>Polyodon spathula</p>
</div>

<p>This paddlefish was exhibited alive for 10 years by the Minnesota DNR at the Minnesota State Fair until it died when water circulation systems failed. The “beak” structure contained numerous nerves that aided the fish in detecting through electromagnetic means the presence of its microscopic food, plankton; the fish swims with an open mouth filtering the plankton through fine gill filaments to expel the water. Paddlefish are extremely ancient fish. Only two species live today, the other in China; ours lives in the lower St. Croix River, the Mississippi, and the Missouri Rivers. They are more closely related to sharks than modern fish. Paddlefish reach 150 lbs in weight and 6 feet in length. They are protected as state endangered fish in Minnesota.
</p>

<strong>Curator’s pick</strong><br />
<p><em>In terms of uniqueness, this specimen is peerless. I am certain most people will never see one elsewhere. Judging from responses I have heard from many who have viewed it, I suspect most would not correctly identify it; some believe it to be a beaver tail! It is the only paddlefish specimen in the Science Museum collection.
</em></p>

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<p>Virginia mountain mint</p>
<p>Pycanthemum virginianum</p>
<p>Field Number RJO No 589</p>
<p>Wadena Co, Minnesota</p>
<p>Collected 2 August 1997</p>

</div>

<p>This species has cultivated garden varieties. It is used as a commercially available tea; either dried flower heads and leaves or fresh ones can be used. The flower heads in winter can be used as underarm deodorant when cross country skiing or trekking. A typical mint, it has paired opposites leaves, a square stem, and fragrant aroma.
</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>In inventorying the plant species of Wadena County Minnesota, I discovered this one at only a single site in the county during my lifetime. It probably represents a survivor from the dry climatic period about 7000 years ago when prairie dominated the entire region. A prairie plant, this is one of 825 species of documented occurrence, making Wadena County among the four counties having the greatest number of known specimens in Minnesota.</em></p>

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<p>Timber rattlesnake</p>
<p>Crotalus horridus</p>
<p>Mississippi River, Dakota Co., Minnesota</p>
<p>Collected by Donald Hubley</p>

</div>

<p>The species was until the 1980s much more numerous along the Mississippi and Lower St. Croix Rivers northward possibly to Stillwater and Taylor’s Falls. Rattlesnakes were killed for bounties in southeastern Minnesota and have become rather rare; slow to reach reproductive maturity they are now fully protected as a state threatened/endangered species. Highly venomous, rattlesnakes generally attempt to avoid human approach and seek cover under logs, rocks, and forest debris. They usually but not always vibrate their rattles to warn of too close approach; one should exercise caution in rattlesnake habitat. Fortunately rattlesnake bites have been virtually unheard of in Minnesota. Pits before the eyes are heat sensors to detect mice, chipmunks, birds, rabbits, or other snakes.
</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>I frequently am made aware that many people are unaware Minnesota has native rattlesnakes. This specimen is the only Timber rattlesnake from Minnesota in the fluid collections at the Science Museum of Minnesota, and is from nearly the most northern locality for the species in the state.</em></p>

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<p>Bald eagle egg</p>
<p>Haliaceetus leucocephalus</p>
<p>ZR9:280</p>
<p>Donated by Minnesota Zoological Gardens</p>

</div>

<p>From the 1950s eagle populations plummeted precipitously, the cause being determined that ingestion of DDT from the largely fish diet induced egg shell thinning to the extent the female eagle would break the eggs when attempting to incubate them. DDT was subsequently banned for use in this country. Eagle populations have since rebounded astonishingly, to the point they recently have been downlisted from federally endangered status. Eagles can be seen almost daily from the windows of the Science Museum.
</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>I can say little about any outstanding visible aspects of this egg which seems so small for the size of the bird that laid it. But it is from an egg or eggs such as this one that the cause of the great decline in bald eagles in the past century was identified. This shows the scientific value, I believe, from collections obtained in the past that acquired new unforeseen values in the present and perhaps will in the future as well.</em></p>

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<p>Trumpeter swan</p>
<p>Olor buccinator</p>
<p>Z84:21:1</p>
<p>Minnesota Zoological Gardens, Dakota Co., Minnesota</p>

</div>

<p>Trumpeter Swans were lost in Minnesota as a breeding species since 1885; restoration efforts began with captive birds in 1969, some allowed to fly free. Free flying birds increased to 86 by 1985. They are now freely established over much of Minnesota, numbering several thousand, and their trumpet like calls can be heard on many lakes and marshes or from flocks flying overhead. The mounted birds suspended from the ceilings of the Mississippi River Gallery were some of the early propagations that were illegally shot.
</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>The choice of this bird rests largely upon the
remarkable success story of its recovery from extirpiration in Minnesota and near extinction everywhere else. This magnificent species is the largest of our waterfowl with a weight of over 30 lbs and wingspreads of 6½ feet.</em></p>

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<p>Passenger pigeon</p>
<p>Ectopistes migratorius</p>
<p>(On exhibit)</p>

</div>

<p>The passenger pigeon was probably once the most abundant land bird of North America. Slaughtered to oblivion by many methods including dynamiting nesting colonies, netting, clubbing, cutting of forest and nest trees and firearms. Forest fragmentation reduced the area needed for nesting and food; continuous cooing in the colony was needed to initiate and synchronize breeding, only 1-2 eggs being laid each season. Only several hundred specimens exist in the world today, testifying that opportunistic preservation of all species is of scientific merit when opportunity exists. DNA material could be obtained from these specimens!</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>The history that this species and specimens represent conveys to me a deep sense of tragedy – the species is now extinct, the last living one dying a lonely death in the Cincinnati Zoological Park in 1914. What the museum visitor sees here is all that can be seen to remind us never to take our natural resources for granted. These specimens, some of the oldest Science Museum’s collections, are priceless and irreplaceable.
<br />– Dick Oehlenschlager, Biology
</em></p>

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<p>Whooping crane</p>
<p>Grus americana</p>
<p>(On exhibit)
</p>

</div>
<p>At the brink of extinction, there were 20 living birds in 1950. Recent propagation of this species at the International Crane Center in Baraboo, Wisconsin has increased the total to over 400 living birds. Efforts in this process involved using closely related Sandhill Cranes as foster parents and preventing young birds from imprinting on humans. Ultra light aircraft have been used to lead these young to Florida wintering grounds; young have flown in spring northwards on their own but a few have flown astray to Minnesota and New York. An entire flock but one was killed by a storm in the autumn of 2006. This incident shows that however encouraging results this far have been, threats to the survivors can not be taken lightly.</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>I rank these specimens equal to the Trumpeter swan, Greater Prairie chicken and Swallow-tailed Kite in terms of their struggles with extirpation or extinction; like them, these specimens are irreplaceable haunting reminders of our nation’s history. Those alive today offer hopes for survival of the species into the future and public awareness of their plight today, therefore needs to be strongly promoted.
<br />– Dick Oehlenschlager, Biology
</em></p>

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<p>Greater prairie chicken</p>
<p>Tympanuchus cupido</p>
<p>Z95:9:7</p>
<p>Male, Wadena Co. Minnesota</p>
<p>Died from hitting a power line</p>
</div>

<p>The species entered from the east with early deforestation and agricultural frontier. The population of the above specimen persists for the longest of any in Minnesota dating back to the 1890s. An eastern subspecies – the heath hen – is extinct; a Texas subspecies is federally endangered. The species increased with agriculture but ironically is dying because of transformation of agricultural types.</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>Since childhood I have been associated with this beautiful bird; I witnessed its elaborate courtship displays of flocks from my frosty upstairs farmhouse bedroom window in a house that is no more. I learned later this population had entered the area in the 1890s with early agricultural settlement. It has persisted until the present but in 2006 only about 6 individuals were seen. I co-authored a technical paper which summarizes all that is known of the species in Wadena County Minnesota.
<br />– Dick Oehlenschlager, Biology
</em></p>

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<p>Eastern spiny softshell turtle</p>
<p>Trionyx spiniferus</p>
<p>Male, Washington Co., Minnesota </p>
<p>Died accidentally in survey trap Summer 1991; found by SCWRS survey crew</p>

</div>
<p>Soft shelled turtles are reptiles extending far back in time, changing very little. Distinctive in appearance with their long necks, very pointed noses, and soft leathery skin, soft shelled turtles are strictly aquatic, coming ashore only to lay eggs. They are found only in rather swift flowing water, are extremely swift swimmers as fast as fish, and are very wary not allowing close approach; they bite viciously when handled. This specimen has been used frequently for reference with fossil turtles, some perhaps unnamed species.</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>Turtles, like fish, have many unique aspects to their bones as the surface of this carapace reveals after removing the outer surface tissues. I have very frequently consulted this specimen to identify bones sent to the Science Museum for identification.
<br />– Dick Oehlenschlager, Biology
</em></p>

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<Pileated woodpecker
<p>Drycopus pileatus
<p>Z95:9:30</p>
<p>Male, Washington Co., Minnesota</p>

</pileated></div>

<p>No evidence suggesting the Ivory-billed Woodpeckers even came close to Minnesota; their dependence on very extensive forests of Cyprus stands argues against it. The recent discovery in Arkansas in 2005-2006 by Jim Fitzpatrick was debated by skeptics who pronounced it as likely a misidentified Pilated Woodpecker. Note the all black back and upper surface of the closed wings and a dark slate-colored beak (Ivory-billeds have extensive white patches on their shoulders and upper wing surfaces); white, however, is extensive on the underwings of the Pileated; visible only when the wings are spread – this is unquestionably the explanation for misidentification. Pileated Woodpeckers are widespread and relatively across North America in extensive mature forests where they feed primarily on carpenter ants and beetle larvae. They even occur in the more wooded metropolitan suburbs and river bottom forests.</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>The recent reported rediscovery of the believed extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker by my friend prompts me to select this Pilated Woodpecker for comparison with its more famous relative, and eliminate any doubt that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker ever was found in Minnesota. I have had a few people inform me that they believed having seen them in the state!
<br />– Dick Oehlenschlager, Biology
</em></p>

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<p>Rufous-lored kingfisher</p>
<p>Halycon winchelli</p>
<p>Z80:3:7</p>
<p>4 November 1887 or 1888</p>
<p>Philippine Islands</p>

</div>

<p>This specimen was collected in the late nineteenth century by the Steers Expedition to the Philippine Islands where the species is endemic (restricted to those islands). It offers a DNA source useful in establishing genetic relationships among and between various species of birds, as well as a reference for artists, sculptors, or ornithology students. By having a known provenance and morphological data, it is invaluably useful for analysis by professional ornithologists. Its status can be equated to that of the Passenger Pigeon and Whooping Crane on exhibit elsewhere in the Science Museum.
</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>This colorful individual demonstrates to me the considerable scientific value that old collections have in connecting the past with the present. Specimens such as these are irreplaceable and some may represent species that, even if not endangered, extirpated, or extinct, cannot easily be obtained.
<br />– Dick Oehlenschlager, Biology
</em></p>

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<p>Higgins pearly eye mussel</p>
<p>Lampsilis higginsii</p>
<p>Z87:3:2</p>
<p>Found at Marine on St. Croix</p>
<p>23 March 1987 and 10 July 1988</p>

</div>

<p>This species, along with other mussel species, has been decimated from its habitat by sedimentation, dredging, chemical pollution, and overharvesting for pearls and buttonmaking. The discovery of this species as noted demonstrates the active role of Science Museum staff in conjunction with other agencies to detect, protect, propagate, and conserve biological resources wherever they are to be found – perhaps in the backyard of the Science Museum.
</p>

<strong>Curator's pick</strong><br />
<p><em>This specimen is one of the first three of this federally endangered species I found in the St. Croix River at Marine on St. Croix. This location was the first site known for this species north of Stillwater, Minnesota. This subsequently sparked the interest of other researchers from Wisconsin and Minnesota to further explore the St. Croix River and discover more of another species(Monodonta cumberlandia) that I had discovered which had not been officially recorded early from Minnesota and also finding another mussel, the Winged Maple Leaf (Quandrula fragosa) near Taylor’s Falls. This species is currently known to certainly exist only in a 10 mile stretch of the river near that site.
<br />– Dick Oehlenschlager, Biology
</em></p>

100 Objects

100th Anniversary

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100th Anniversary Objects - Biology Click on the i in the upper left corner for more information. $<div class="margin-left" style="width: 200px; font-weight: bolder; float:right; padding: 5px; border: 2px solid #96ADBF; margin-bottom: 5px;"> <p>Indigo bunting</p> <p>Passerina cyanea</p> <p>Z95:9:6</p> <p>Male, Collected 18 May 1995, Washington Co., Minnesota</p> </div> <p>Males have this distinctive blue appearing plumage only during the summer season from May through August; molting replaces it to a dull brown female like plumage before the southward fall migration. Widespread and common throughout Minnesota, including suburbs, it is often overlooked; males commonly sit on power lines, fence wires, tree tops and corn stalks, and sing persistently from May through July especially on hot sunny days. Nests are located in shrubbery at forest and woodland edges. With different viewing angles and light intensity they may appear black, light or dark blue. Color is likely perceived differently by animals. In buntings, the male’s plumage probably serves to attract a mate. In the case of the American Kestrel, which preys on voles (mice), it detects their presence because their fresh droppings and urine luminesce to the eyes of the kestrel. Some butterflies, moths, and other birds may also have this ability.</p> <strong>Curator’s pick</strong><br /> <p><em>I choose this bird because it is somewhat an illusion. It, like Blue Jays and Bluebirds, actually lacks blue pigment in its plumage. Rather, their feather structures refract light of the wavelength we see as blue – hence, it is a pigment of our imagination! This effect is called iridescence.</em></p>$ 1 2 next › last »	100 Objects Archaeology Biology Ethnology Paleontology Research Station 100th Anniversary History & Mission Resources Directions & Parking Museum Accessibility
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100th Anniversary Objects - Biology

100 Objects

100th Anniversary

Resources