Preparation, assembly and osteological description of a brocket deer specimen (fischer, 1814)

The description of the technique of preparation and assembling of a skeleton of brocket deer Mazama gouazoubira (Fischer, 1814), received without life by the Laboratory of Zoology and Ichthyology Regional University of Northwestern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (UNIJUI), Ijuí -RS were the aims of this study. The preparation of the skeleton followed the steps: complete strip of the animal by means of manual maceration with cooking, the bones clarification, mounting and jointing of the bones ending with the fixing of the skeleton on a wooden base. The choice of maceration method and its cooking were essential to obtain a skeleton of quality. To mount the specimen the anatomical knowledge of similar species and the knowledge of the behavior related to their habitat determined the position and location of each anatomical structure enabling to have a quality result and trustworthy regarding the animal when alive. The skeleton description o was performed based on observation and measurement of the bones with the aid of a tape measure. The proposed work resulted in an excellent example of a fixed skeleton of brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) whose material will contribute as a tool of didactic nature for scientific research on approaches to environmental education.