Owl Pellet Dissection Lab

Owl Pellet Dissection Lab
4. Place the cheese cloth on a piece of white paper. Pick bones, teeth, insect
parts, and any other prey evidence out of the fur and place all prey evidence
(except skulls) in a specimen dish or watch glass. Place the skulls on a second
sheet of paper. Use probes, dissecting mounts, or forceps, as necessary, but
proceed carefully to avoid crushing any small bones. Separate the fur and
other soft matter as you search for bones by placing them in a separate
specimen dish or watch glass.
5. Label the skulls by number, and use this dichotomous key to
identify them. Record the species of each skull on your answer sheet.
6. Try to match other bones to each skull. Use the preserved specimens
and the diagrams of animal bone structures provided to identify each
bone and record its name under its matching skull on your answer
sheet.
7. Use the links provided with the dichotomous key to find the likely habitat and
diet of each species found in the pellet. Record the information on your answer
sheet.
1.