Study the anatomy of seven different preserved animal specimens as you work through the hands-on animal dissections in this kit. It's a unique & memorable way to see how internal organs fit together!
Fetal pigs are commonly used to study mammal anatomy. This medium-sized preserved pig dissection specimen has blood vessels that are double injected with red and blue latex to make veins and arteries easy to identify.
Study mammal anatomy with this preserved brain specimen (cranial nerves attached)! Through dissection, students will observe external & internal brain structures, such as the corpus callosum, pituitary gland & more.
This set of seven large-sized preserved animal specimens is a great way to learn about & compare the anatomy of several animals. Explore the anatomy of a grass frog, earthworm, starfish, clam, crayfish, perch & grasshopper!
The vessels in this shark dissection specimen are double injected with red and blue latex. Explore the circulatory, nervous, and urogenital systems of the dogfish shark. Learn about their fins, buoyancy, and more!
This large-sized fetal pig preserved specimen has blood vessels that are double injected with red & blue latex. Fetal pig dissections make for excellent learning opportunities and are commonly used to study mammal anatomy.
At 4-4.5" in body length, this preserved grass frog specimen makes it easy to locate and identify internal organs and external structures. Double-injection allows unmistakable visualization and tracing of the vascular system.
This extra-large preserved grass frog has a body length of 4.5" to 5.5" and is an excellent dissection specimen. Arteries are injected with red latex & veins are injected with blue latex to easily trace the vascular system.
Learn about internal & external snake anatomy with a snake dissection! The species of this preserved snake specimen varies, but it is usually from the Genus Thamnophis. 18-22" long; not injected.
Dissect this mammal pluck to better understand respiratory systems, circulatory systems, and other systems & characteristics of internal mammal anatomy. Includes the heart, lungs & fully attached trachea!.
Do a squid dissection to learn all about a squid's respiratory, circulatory, excretory, reproductive, digestive, skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems! This plain preserved squid specimen is typically genus Loligo.
Slither into science with this complete snake dissection kit! It is easier than ever to study anatomy with all the tools you need to jump in and start learning! Begin your memorable biology learning experience today.
An excellent way for students to study mammal anatomy is to dissect a fetal pig! This large preserved specimen has vessels that are double injected with red and blue latex to make veins and arteries easy to identify.
Using a fetal pig for dissection, students can explore and learn so much about mammal anatomy. This affordable specimen measures between 7 & 10 inches in length. Will remain free of decay for 6 months from date of purchase!
This large plain dogfish shark specimen is 22"-27" long and ideal for an advanced dissection. A dogfish shark dissection provides an engaging, hands-on way for students to learn about an interesting marine specimen!
This uterus contains an embryo typically 2"-6" in length and allows for the study of the uterus, embryo, placenta, and umbilical attachment of a large mammal. This is a plain preserved specimen.
This single injected 8-12" squid dissection specimen lets you learn about its systems: respiratory, circulatory, excretory, reproductive, digestive, nervous, skeletal, and muscular.
Bullfrogs provide a better dissection experience than grass frogs because of larger body mass, better-defined organs & well-developed muscle structure. Arteries are injected with red latex and veins with blue latex.
Sheep eye dissection offers a lower-cost alternative to cow eye dissection. Like a cow eye, a sheep eye is similar to the human eye, making it a popular dissection specimen. Identify the cornea, iris, pupil & more!
This item only ships to a street address in the 50 US states.
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Preserved Dissection Specimens
Specimens and preserved animals for dissection.
Praise for HST Dissection Specimens
"I used these Cow Eye kits for a homeschool science lab. The specimens were great - no refrigeration, in great shape, perfect for my class. The kit came with what I needed for the dissection and the students loved them. Good prices, too." – Shelly A.
"I ordered 7 sheep brains for a co-op A&P class. All arrived in excellent condition and the students thoroughly enjoyed their dissection experience." – Marni P.
"We are an all-girl robotics team with a large interest in STEM. Two team members want to work in the medical field and we thought a dissection would be a great team-building and learning activity. We ordered two sharks and they were very well preserved. Neither specimen was very oily and both were very high quality for our dissection. Our dissection instructor was very impressed with the quality. The team definitely wants to do another dissection." – Shannon M.
Shop the HST store for high-quality, long-lasting, preserved specimens for dissection.
All dissection specimens come with our 90-day satisfaction guarantee. HST specimens fit homeschool curriculums, classroom labs, and co-op projects.
We guarantee that your specimen(s) will arrive fully preserved and void of decay. Your preserved specimen(s) will also stay moist for one year after delivery (again, guaranteed) and do not need refrigeration. This means you won’t have to worry about them touching or contaminating your food (thankfully!).
For best results, keep dissection specimens out of direct sunlight and store them in a room that doesn’t trap heat (i.e. not the attic). Your preserved specimens may discolor over time; this discoloration is normal and does not signal decay.
Seal your dissected specimens in a Ziploc bag after use and be sure to remove any air pockets. Ideally, you’ll want to finish a dissection within one week. If that’s not possible, you can refresh the dissection specimen with glycerin.
The Preservation Process
Chemical solutions preserve animal specimens. These solutions are also known as fixatives or embalming fluids. You may remember formaldehyde from your lab days in schools. That’s the “chemical” smell many of us… despise.
But, fortunately, we use a lot less formaldehyde today. We use it as an initial preservative, before displacing it with a glycol solution. Then we displace the glycol with a water solution. The infamous “preservative” smell? It's almost nonexistent!
(Some fish specimens, like perch and dogfish, may contain a trace, natural scent.)
We recommend that your students wear latex or nitrile disposable gloves during dissections. We also recommend eye protection, to avoid traces of solution, during dissections.
HST sells plain, single-injected, and double-injected specimens individually, or as part of a dissection kit. Plain specimens are exactly as they sound—nothing added. You can see the animal's arteries in a single injection; they’re red. In a double injection, you can see red arteries and blue veins. The injections are made from rubber (e.g., latex).
All preserved specimens come with a safety data sheet. Most of our customers order a dissection guide if they're working on an unfamiliar specimen.
The Role of Preservatives in Dissection Specimens
Preservatives keep dissection specimens limber and flexible. "Soft" specimens enable your dissection tools to work properly. They also prevent decay and the spread of disease. They allow us to ship unspoiled specimens to street addresses in the United States (all 50 states).
Without preservatives, animal dissections would be rare and expensive. Why? You would need access to recently-dead (“fresh”) specimens. You would also have to work fast to avoid decomposition. Finally, you would need medical-grade protective clothing to avoid bacterial and fungal diseases.
Conducting dissections with preserved specimens has led to breakthroughs in anatomy, biology, and other life sciences.
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