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The Perfect Specimen

@perfect-specimen.bsky.social
235 followers 15 following 164 posts

A lighthearted look at natural history via objects in the NHM London collections, hung loosely on a different adjective every episode. Podcast available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube: m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6w4ih…

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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Partly related to what specimens we could access and also what species have natural history info about them online. Some really cool species only have a few lines in a paper or a description which makes for a very quick and/or dry discussion! Animal bias was an attempt to get phyla coverage.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Maybe it doesn't appear on your phone? It's there in plots under the text I promise :)
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
We promised you @nhcooper123.bsky.social 's donut plots showing how the specimens in the podcast were split taxonomically. Here they are! With raw numbers in the alt text.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Thanks Jack :)
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Thanks so are we :(
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Jack Smith @jackmacgabhann.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Sad to see the last episode of @perfect-specimen.bsky.social! I loved the lost media tidbits, I was lucky to see 007 loggerhead shrike in person. As a fan of comparatively very small and very big taxa (ISLANDS!), I hope the podcast continues and Josh and Natalie get to use 'COMPARE' as a word soon!
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What's been our favourite specimen? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep29
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
And here it is, our final episode 😭😭😭 m.youtube.com/watch?is=v0D... We filmed this on the hottest day of the year (so far) so apologies for the sweatiness! Thanks everyone for listening! We had fun and learned loads :)
m.youtube.com
What's been our favourite specimen? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep29
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Time for AWKWARD! Our last proper episode (there will be a Q and A/round up episode in a few weeks). m.youtube.com/watch?v=T41c... with the wonderful Emma Bernard! 🐀🐟🦅🦖🐢🧩
m.youtube.com
Was Darwin perfect? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep28
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Images of the specimens for this week
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Please enjoy my terrible taxidermy as mentioned in this episode… with apologies to Darwin for laughing at his attempts…
A very badly taxidermied hamster. Grey with big bulging eyes and a weirdly zombie like pose
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Time for AWKWARD! Our last proper episode (there will be a Q and A/round up episode in a few weeks). m.youtube.com/watch?v=T41c... with the wonderful Emma Bernard! 🐀🐟🦅🦖🐢🧩
m.youtube.com
Was Darwin perfect? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep28
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Ash @queerash.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
this reads like he is some child-emperor disposing of his ill-suited and scheming viziers
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Happy PRIDE! We've been so excited about this one www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwk1... with the always delightful @thelabandfield.bsky.social. It's a bird special as we recorded it at NHM Tring 🦢 🐦‍⬛ 🦉🦜🦚🦆. And a topic very close to our hearts 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️. With added poetry!
youtube.com
Are homosexual black swans more successful at raising chicks? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep27
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
have questions about natural history museums, specimens, or more? Get them in now for the @perfect-specimen.bsky.social podcast Q&A special recording on Wednesday!
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Due to scheduling we will be recording our final Q & A/retrospective episode on Weds, so please send over any Qs by then and we’ll do our best to answer them :)
static.klipy.com
Cat Bops Answers to Questions on Box
Alt: Cat Bops Answers to Questions on Box
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
This was so fun, with Winston the swan looming over @joshlukedavis.com in a menacing way. And features two of my absolute favourite stories debunking the "biological sex is simple" myth - trans pheasants and gynandromorphs ❤️. And poetry by @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social! The perfect PRIDE episode. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
If you want to know why I'm giving a black swan named Winston a bit of side-eye, tune into the Pride Month edition of @perfect-specimen.bsky.social! Also ft some other very rainbow characters indeed. (and maybe a cheeky @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social poem)
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Richard McElreath 🐈‍⬛ @rmcelreath.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
I learned from this: The tuatara is the only extant member of its ORDER (Rhynchocephalia), which diverged from other reptiles (Squamata) ~240 Mya. They have slower life histories than chimps, and their mortal enemy is the Polynesian rat. In Zealandia sanctuary, they wear beads for identification.
pic from wikipedia article about Tuataras: Tuatara at Zealandia are given coloured beads on their heads for identification.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Happy PRIDE! We've been so excited about this one www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwk1... with the always delightful @thelabandfield.bsky.social. It's a bird special as we recorded it at NHM Tring 🦢 🐦‍⬛ 🦉🦜🦚🦆. And a topic very close to our hearts 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️. With added poetry!
youtube.com
Are homosexual black swans more successful at raising chicks? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep27
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
And a great write up of the paper describing the fossil rhychocephalian that @marcehjones.bsky.social talks about in this episode www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
nhm.ac.uk
Fossil halves separated for 90 years are a new species of reptile | Natural History Museum
Sphenodraco scandentis is a relative of lizards that would have climbed among the trees in ancient Jurassic forests.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Images for this week… no image of the lonely whale sadly but you can enjoy Whalien52 from BTS m.youtube.com/watch?v=N6o-...
Stuffed Galapagos tortoise with a label round its neck Close up of the head of a tuatara in a jar showing its cute big eyesLovely fossil rhychocephalianFull tuatara specimen in a jar
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Slightly delayed publication of this episode for various reasons means we will have two episodes in back to back weeks! Exciting! This week please enjoy LONELY m.youtube.com/watch?v=uYIe... with the lovely @marcehjones.bsky.social 🐋 🦎 🐢.
m.youtube.com
The whale that inspired a BTS song | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep26
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Some sad podcast news :(. The final episodes are already recorded except the Q&A but sadly these will be the last episodes in the current format 😭. We’re all very upset to lose Josh from the NHM.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Great Q! We will answer more fully on the podcast but short answer is yes 100%!
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Yes please do ask us any questions or @joshlukedavis.com will have to suffer through one of my statistics based digressions. Or poetry. You have been warned.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
And this lovely wasp! m.youtube.com/watch?v=HhWG...
m.youtube.com
Sir David Attenborough has wasp named in honour of his 100th birthday | Natural History Museum
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Happy Birthday to Sir David Attenborough! I think it’s fair to say everyone here at the NHM has a story about how he inspired them. He’s also a lovely guy! And we have some specimens named after him. m.youtube.com/watch?v=ToGZ...
m.youtube.com
Our David Attenborough specimens: Nature, knowledge and a lasting legacy
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
For episode 29 we’ll be doing a Q&A. Let us know if you have any questions! This will also be the last episode before we go on hiatus 😭 so might be your last chance to ask those burning Qs about specimens, collections, NHM London etc. 2/2
static.klipy.com
Animated Question Mark with Googly Eyes
Alt: Animated Question Mark with Googly Eyes
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
We hope you’ve been enjoying our latest episodes! Previous episodes are available here: m.youtube.com/playlist?lis... and also on Spotify, Apple etc. 1/2
m.youtube.com
The 'Perfect' Specimen - YouTube
Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? We’re taking a look through 80 million specimens...
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Dr. Sven N. Nielsen @snnielsen.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Want to know amazing fun facts about clams, bats and other critters? Check out this episode with @spissatella.bsky.social They surely know their clams 🧪
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Images of the specimens from this week :)
Jar with a bat in it. The bat has its mouth wide openA jar containing test tubes that contain midges and labelsA clam with a label next to it. This is the real Megalodon!Fossil clam in a lovely box with foam holding it in place. Clam has both sides of the shell and the hinge.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
What specimens could possibly be MISUNDERSTOOD? Let’s find out! With the amazing @spissatella.bsky.social! m.youtube.com/watch?v=lO1h... Please enjoy the real Megalodon! 🦇 🪰 🦟🐚
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Finding this alive is like finding a plesiosaur in your bathtub | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep25
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
We’d really love it if you came! It’s an incredible program but we struggle to advertise for reasons. So if you’re interested in saving the planet please join us! www.nhm.ac.uk/events/gener...
Illustration of a small bird (goldcrest) facing the viewer with the words “appealing look” highlighted next to it
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
And then Sunday you can enjoy a double dose of me (plus other more exciting people like @flygirlnhm.bsky.social) talking about their UK’s amazing wildlife (11am), and how we’re using collections to investigate global change (2pm free tickets: www.nhm.ac.uk/events/pinne...). Plus more! 3/3
Bat in a jar of fluid
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Saturday more events! Including a fascinating session on climate and business. Book tickets here. www.nhm.ac.uk/events/reima.... All FREE. Also some of our amazing PhD students will be in the galleries with specimens talking about their work and how they’re researching the climate crisis. 2/3
Red bodied frog with blue legs sat on a green leaf
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Live in/near London with no plans this weekend? I have great news! It’s Generation Hope at @nhm-london.bsky.social and we’ve got loads of free events about the planetary crisis! Friday from 6.30pm…Tours! Storytelling! Art! Science! Amazing activists! www.nhm.ac.uk/events/a-nig... 1/3
Some pretty yellow flowers
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Sadly we might not be able to make any more of these due to budget issues, so if you’re enjoying them please share widely!
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Here are the specimens from this week! Still can’t believe @joshlukedavis.com was allowed to bring in such an old and important book. 📕😍
Illustration from a 17th century book of The Boas. A scaled snake like creature with no limbs but a fat body, long tail in a knot, eating a person.Massive toad in a large jar of fluid, and a second jar with massive tadpole in it
Frog in a jar of fluid head down. Its legs are very longA large herbarium sheet with dried palm leaves and palm fruits on it. All leaves and fruit are brown in colour
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
New episode today is MYTHICAL! m.youtube.com/watch?v=KYux... Featuring Jeff (who just moved to Cardiff Museum 😭). Available on Spotify and Apple too. 🐸 🦎 📕 🌴 No unicorns were harmed in the making of this podcast 🦄
m.youtube.com
Are unicorns real and can trees walk? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep24
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Josh Luke Davis 🏳️‍🌈 @joshlukedavis.com · 06/04/2026
🚨New podcast episode🚨 Go check out the latest episode of our podcast! We've got the delightful Talay with us talking all things beetles, while I got my mitts on some rather incredible snails 🪲🧪🥰
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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the Museum? Dive into the fish collection with us to see just some of the marine marvels we look after ⬇️
A photo showing Dr Diego Vaz looking at a specimen jar held in his hands. Around him there are stand shelving units containing many other jars of preserved fish.
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Katy Evans @katyfevans.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
This entire @nhm-london.bsky.social podcast is delightful 🧪
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
If you’re enjoying these please rate and share them with as many people as possible. We need more viewers to be allowed to keep making them! Thanks!
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Images of the specimens for this episode. Well an image of the moss which is full of meiofauna at least!
Black beetle in a white box. This one can be run over by a car and survive!Lovely long horn beetle. Beetle is balck with iridescent green stripes and its antennae are folded back and longer than its body. Pinned in a white box with a barcode and label Some dark coloured snails in a jar. Their skin is scaly and slightly shiny grey colour.An open glass jar with a lump of green moss in it
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Time for TOUGH! With our delightful guest Talay! m.youtube.com/watch?v=t1iE... 🪲 🐌 🐞🪱
m.youtube.com
This beetle can survive being run over by a car! | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep23
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Time for FRIENDLY with special guest @gavinbroad.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt_k.... Come for the wasps, stay for the zombie-castrating parasites... 🦘🐝 🦀🧟‍♀️
youtube.com
Natalie tells us why kangaroos are actually terrible mothers | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep22
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
The Generation Hope program for this year is now online! Events are free but you need to reserve tickets: www.nhm.ac.uk/events/gener... Lots of weekend events this year due to popular demand! Come and learn more about the planetary crisis and how to fight it. Aimed at young people but all welcome!
nhm.ac.uk
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Here are some images of this episodes specimens :)
Mammal skull held by person. Skull is about hand sized. This is a quokkaA white board in which is pinned a large wasp with ovipositors longer than its body, body is black with thin yellow stripes. There is also a piece of wood with an ovipositor sticking out of it.Close up of a crabs underside with a parasitic barnacle growing out of it. A very very small pinned wasp on top of very small label with tiny writing
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