The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Partly 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. 000
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Maybe it doesn't appear on your phone? It's there in plots under the text I promise :) 100
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 20/07/2026We 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. 141
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenJack Smith @jackmacgabhann.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Sad 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!youtu.beWhat's been our favourite specimen? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep29YouTube video by Natural History Museum 111
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 14/07/2026And 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.comWhat's been our favourite specimen? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep29YouTube video by Natural History Museum 041
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenThe Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Time 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.comWas Darwin perfect? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep28YouTube video by Natural History Museum 266
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Images of the specimens for this week 031
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Please enjoy my terrible taxidermy as mentioned in this episode… with apologies to Darwin for laughing at his attempts… 074
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Time 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.comWas Darwin perfect? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep28YouTube video by Natural History Museum 266
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenAsh @queerash.bsky.social · 22/06/2026this reads like he is some child-emperor disposing of his ill-suited and scheming viziers 5651132
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenThe Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Happy 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.comAre homosexual black swans more successful at raising chicks? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep27YouTube video by Natural History Museum 174
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenDr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 22/06/2026have 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! 003
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 22/06/2026Due 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.comCat Bops Answers to Questions on BoxAlt: Cat Bops Answers to Questions on Box 012
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 15/06/2026This 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. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ 056
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenDr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 14/06/2026If 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) 1202
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenRichard McElreath 🐈⬛ @rmcelreath.bsky.social · 08/06/2026I 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. 3495
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Happy 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.comAre homosexual black swans more successful at raising chicks? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep27YouTube video by Natural History Museum 174
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/06/2026And 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.ukFossil halves separated for 90 years are a new species of reptile | Natural History MuseumSphenodraco scandentis is a relative of lizards that would have climbed among the trees in ancient Jurassic forests. 001
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/06/2026Images for this week… no image of the lonely whale sadly but you can enjoy Whalien52 from BTS m.youtube.com/watch?v=N6o-... 111
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/06/2026Slightly 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.comThe whale that inspired a BTS song | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep26YouTube video by Natural History Museum 144
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 28/05/2026Some 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. 010
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 10/05/2026Great Q! We will answer more fully on the podcast but short answer is yes 100%! 010
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Yes 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. 062
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 08/05/2026And this lovely wasp! m.youtube.com/watch?v=HhWG...m.youtube.comSir David Attenborough has wasp named in honour of his 100th birthday | Natural History MuseumYouTube video by Natural History Museum 033
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 08/05/2026Happy 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.comOur David Attenborough specimens: Nature, knowledge and a lasting legacyYouTube video by Natural History Museum 1126
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/05/2026For 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. 2/2static.klipy.comAnimated Question Mark with Googly EyesAlt: Animated Question Mark with Googly Eyes 210
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/05/2026We hope you’ve been enjoying our latest episodes! Previous episodes are available here: m.youtube.com/playlist?lis... and also on Spotify, Apple etc. 1/2m.youtube.comThe 'Perfect' Specimen - YouTubeDoes 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... 112
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenDr. Sven N. Nielsen @snnielsen.bsky.social · 30/04/2026Want to know amazing fun facts about clams, bats and other critters? Check out this episode with @spissatella.bsky.social They surely know their clams 🧪 075
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 29/04/2026Images of the specimens from this week :) 011
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 29/04/2026What 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! 🦇 🪰 🦟🐚m.youtube.comFinding this alive is like finding a plesiosaur in your bathtub | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep25YouTube video by Natural History Museum 159
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026We’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... 1114
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026And 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! 3/3 163
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026Saturday 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. 2/3 154
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026Live 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 11214
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Sadly we might not be able to make any more of these due to budget issues, so if you’re enjoying them please share widely! 067
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Here are the specimens from this week! Still can’t believe @joshlukedavis.com was allowed to bring in such an old and important book. 📕😍 010
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 12/04/2026New 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.comAre unicorns real and can trees walk? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep24YouTube video by Natural History Museum 153
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenJosh 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 🪲🧪🥰 046
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 09/04/2026Ever 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 ⬇️ 13311
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenKaty Evans @katyfevans.bsky.social · 03/04/2026This entire @nhm-london.bsky.social podcast is delightful 🧪 032
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 03/04/2026If 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! 012
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 03/04/2026Images of the specimens for this episode. Well an image of the moss which is full of meiofauna at least! 121
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 03/04/2026Time for TOUGH! With our delightful guest Talay! m.youtube.com/watch?v=t1iE... 🪲 🐌 🐞🪱m.youtube.comThis beetle can survive being run over by a car! | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep23YouTube video by Natural History Museum 111
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenThe Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 18/03/2026Time 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.comNatalie tells us why kangaroos are actually terrible mothers | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep22YouTube video by Natural History Museum 144
Reposted by The Perfect SpecimenNatalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 20/03/2026The 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 024
The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 18/03/2026Here are some images of this episodes specimens :) 120