Vertebrate Skeletal System

An exhibition devoted to the skeletal system of vertebrates, illustrating the relationships between the structure and functioning of the skeleton.

Among the 66 complete skeletons presented here, a visitor can see ones of animals linked with the aquatic environment; the display shows elasmobranchean and teleostean fishes, and a rundown of sea mammals: the Dugong Dugong dugong, Manatee Trichechus sp., Dolphins, White Whale Delphinapterus leucas and Narwhal Monodon monoceros having a characteristic long spirally twisted incisor ("horn" of the unicorn whale).

There are also a skeleton of the largest whale, i.e. the Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus, in the "Animal World" exhibition and one of the smaller Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis. They are the only complete skeletons of these species on display in Poland.

Other exhibits include skeletons of edentates: the Giant Anteater Myrmecophaga jubata and the tree Two-toed Sloth Choloepus didactylus, and also examples of primate skeletons; the Leopard Panthera pardus and Polar Bear Thalarctos maritimus, representing predacious mammals.

A great curiosity among the even-toed ungulates is a complete skeleton of the extinct Giant Elk Megaloceros giganteus. The odd-toed ungulates are represented - among others - by the Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis and Great Indian Rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicolor. The skeleton of the Indian Elephant Elephas maximus is imposing indeed.

An interesting section of the exhibition contains skulls, e.g. of the Nile Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius, Babirusa Babyrousa babyrussa or Sea-horse Odobenus rosmarus. Finally, there is a collection of skulls of primates, from Lemurs Lemur sp. to the Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes, supplemented with the scheme of evolutionary paths in anthropoids with models of skulls of man's antecedents. Apart from mammalian, skeletons of reptiles, e.g. Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus, Anaconda Eunectes murinus or Leopard Tortoise Geochelone pardalis, are also displayed.