KU News Release

Researchers to show off ‘Museum Oddities’

LAWRENCE — Most people who visit the exhibits at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum don’t have the opportunity to see the giant pythons, spiked pinecones or the extraordinary insects of the museum’s research collections.

They are about to get the chance. From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, the public is invited to a one-day exhibition of rarely seen — and sometimes strange — specimens presented by KU researchers.

The event, “What on Earth? Museum Oddities,” will feature specimens collected as part of field research conducted by KU researchers and graduate students. The event offers the opportunity to learn about biodiversity fieldwork directly from the researchers and students.

Among the specimens that will be on display in the Panorama Gallery for the event are an elephant skull, a giant clam shell, fanged frogs, flesh eating plants, unpolished amber, ammonites and an ancient ocean fish called a Celeocanth. Visitors can learn about some of the wonders of deep-ocean, iridescent fish and get a sense of the enormous wingspan of one of the world’s largest and endangered birds.

Requested admission for “What on Earth? Museum Oddities” is $2; members of Friends of the Museum will be admitted free.

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