The Perfect Specimen
@perfect-specimen.bsky.social
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: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6w4ihPqk5_LOTuw-VhlaqEn1CctPqWGB
Pinned
Welcome to “The Perfect Specimen” a new podcast from NHM London with science writer @joshlukedavis.com and scientist @nhcooper123.bsky.social. Each episode Josh and Natalie pick two objects each to represent an adjective given to them by their producers and attempt to amaze and surprise each other.
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
I am catching up on @perfect-specimen.bsky.social and the Halloween episode was spooky, funny and informative. I've just looked up the vampire snail (Cumia reticulata) which got an honorable mention at the end, and it is bloodcurdling.
Ten points for the costumes as well!
Ten points for the costumes as well!
Please enjoy SPOOOOOOOKY! And I think you should look up ostrich penises because it’s spooky season and they are terrifying. As was @joshlukedavis.com costume…
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
Josh says don't research ostrich penises | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep12
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I am catching up on @perfect-specimen.bsky.social and the Halloween episode was spooky, funny and informative. I've just looked up the vampire snail (Cumia reticulata) which got an honorable mention at the end, and it is bloodcurdling.
Ten points for the costumes as well!
Ten points for the costumes as well!
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
JUST LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL GROUND SQUIRREL I WAS GIVEN FOR THE EPISODE ISN'T IT A THING OF WONDER
November 10, 2025 at 10:35 PM
JUST LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL GROUND SQUIRREL I WAS GIVEN FOR THE EPISODE ISN'T IT A THING OF WONDER
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
We’ve uncovered a new species of snake! 🐍
Paradoxophidion richardoweni lived 37 million years ago and has a strange mix of features that suggest it's an early caenophidian, the group containing 80% of living snakes.
Discover what it reveals about snake evolution 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
Paradoxophidion richardoweni lived 37 million years ago and has a strange mix of features that suggest it's an early caenophidian, the group containing 80% of living snakes.
Discover what it reveals about snake evolution 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
“Weird” new species of ancient fossil snake discovered in southern England | Natural History Museum
An extinct snake named Paradoxophidion richardoweni has slithered its way out of obscurity.
www.nhm.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
We’ve uncovered a new species of snake! 🐍
Paradoxophidion richardoweni lived 37 million years ago and has a strange mix of features that suggest it's an early caenophidian, the group containing 80% of living snakes.
Discover what it reveals about snake evolution 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
Paradoxophidion richardoweni lived 37 million years ago and has a strange mix of features that suggest it's an early caenophidian, the group containing 80% of living snakes.
Discover what it reveals about snake evolution 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
It’s our 13th episode! UNLUCKY for some… but not for @joshlukedavis.com and @nhcooper123.bsky.social as they share their favourite UNLUCKY specimens. m.youtube.com/watch?v=JwGf... Yes we know some might be considered LUCKY depending on how you look at it! Picking stuff is hard! 🤣
What's beautiful and smells like vomit? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep13
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:59 PM
It’s our 13th episode! UNLUCKY for some… but not for @joshlukedavis.com and @nhcooper123.bsky.social as they share their favourite UNLUCKY specimens. m.youtube.com/watch?v=JwGf... Yes we know some might be considered LUCKY depending on how you look at it! Picking stuff is hard! 🤣
Forgot to share the extra pics for this one!
November 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Forgot to share the extra pics for this one!
It’s our 13th episode! UNLUCKY for some… but not for @joshlukedavis.com and @nhcooper123.bsky.social as they share their favourite UNLUCKY specimens. m.youtube.com/watch?v=JwGf... Yes we know some might be considered LUCKY depending on how you look at it! Picking stuff is hard! 🤣
What's beautiful and smells like vomit? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep13
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:59 PM
It’s our 13th episode! UNLUCKY for some… but not for @joshlukedavis.com and @nhcooper123.bsky.social as they share their favourite UNLUCKY specimens. m.youtube.com/watch?v=JwGf... Yes we know some might be considered LUCKY depending on how you look at it! Picking stuff is hard! 🤣
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
Three new species of tree toads from Tanzania have been discovered. 🐸
These amphibians don’t lay frogspawn or have a tadpole phase like most other toads, but instead give birth to live young!
Find out how museum specimens helped scientists to discover these species. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
These amphibians don’t lay frogspawn or have a tadpole phase like most other toads, but instead give birth to live young!
Find out how museum specimens helped scientists to discover these species. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
New species of toads that give birth to live young discovered in Tanzania | Natural History Museum
Museum specimens have helped scientists discover three new species of tree-dwelling toads.
www.nhm.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Three new species of tree toads from Tanzania have been discovered. 🐸
These amphibians don’t lay frogspawn or have a tadpole phase like most other toads, but instead give birth to live young!
Find out how museum specimens helped scientists to discover these species. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
These amphibians don’t lay frogspawn or have a tadpole phase like most other toads, but instead give birth to live young!
Find out how museum specimens helped scientists to discover these species. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
🎃 Happy Halloween! 🦇
If you're going to watch one episode of @perfect-specimen.bsky.social, then how about the one in which me and Natalie put on some very silly costumes to talk about some spooooky specimens 👻
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
If you're going to watch one episode of @perfect-specimen.bsky.social, then how about the one in which me and Natalie put on some very silly costumes to talk about some spooooky specimens 👻
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
Josh says don't research ostrich penises | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep12
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:12 AM
🎃 Happy Halloween! 🦇
If you're going to watch one episode of @perfect-specimen.bsky.social, then how about the one in which me and Natalie put on some very silly costumes to talk about some spooooky specimens 👻
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
If you're going to watch one episode of @perfect-specimen.bsky.social, then how about the one in which me and Natalie put on some very silly costumes to talk about some spooooky specimens 👻
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
Happy Halloween! There’s not a bat nor a pumpkin in sight for this episode. Enjoy some different spooky species! 🦀 🌱
Please enjoy SPOOOOOOOKY! And I think you should look up ostrich penises because it’s spooky season and they are terrifying. As was @joshlukedavis.com costume…
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
Josh says don't research ostrich penises | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep12
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Happy Halloween! There’s not a bat nor a pumpkin in sight for this episode. Enjoy some different spooky species! 🦀 🌱
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
It was genuinely disturbing having to look at Josh while recording this 🎃
Please enjoy SPOOOOOOOKY! And I think you should look up ostrich penises because it’s spooky season and they are terrifying. As was @joshlukedavis.com costume…
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
Josh says don't research ostrich penises | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep12
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:20 PM
It was genuinely disturbing having to look at Josh while recording this 🎃
Please enjoy SPOOOOOOOKY! And I think you should look up ostrich penises because it’s spooky season and they are terrifying. As was @joshlukedavis.com costume…
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
Josh says don't research ostrich penises | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep12
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Please enjoy SPOOOOOOOKY! And I think you should look up ostrich penises because it’s spooky season and they are terrifying. As was @joshlukedavis.com costume…
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
💀 m.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdN...
Spoiler for the next episode: it’s a SPOOKY special…we recommend watching the video for this one if only for the first 5 mins. You won’t be disappointed 🎃.
October 24, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Spoiler for the next episode: it’s a SPOOKY special…we recommend watching the video for this one if only for the first 5 mins. You won’t be disappointed 🎃.
Have you listened to LOUD yet? How loud is the loudest penis? What is a midshipman? Why are crustaceans so good at physics?
It’s time for LOUD! We really enjoyed recording this one, it has sound effects and the owner of the world’s loudest penis… m.youtube.com/watch?v=hOTz...
How loud is that penis? | The 'Perfect Specimen Ep11
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Have you listened to LOUD yet? How loud is the loudest penis? What is a midshipman? Why are crustaceans so good at physics?
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
The 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition opens today! 📸
Through 100 awe-inspiring photographs, the exhibition celebrates the variety of life on Earth and spotlights the threats facing species around the world.
The exhibition is supported by Lead Corporate Sponsor, Nuveen.
Through 100 awe-inspiring photographs, the exhibition celebrates the variety of life on Earth and spotlights the threats facing species around the world.
The exhibition is supported by Lead Corporate Sponsor, Nuveen.
October 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
The 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition opens today! 📸
Through 100 awe-inspiring photographs, the exhibition celebrates the variety of life on Earth and spotlights the threats facing species around the world.
The exhibition is supported by Lead Corporate Sponsor, Nuveen.
Through 100 awe-inspiring photographs, the exhibition celebrates the variety of life on Earth and spotlights the threats facing species around the world.
The exhibition is supported by Lead Corporate Sponsor, Nuveen.
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
Congratulations to this year's #WPOTY winners. 👏📸
With ghostly urban landscapes & rodents stealing the spotlight – this year's images are truly striking, detailed and thought-provoking.
@nhm-london.bsky.social
With ghostly urban landscapes & rodents stealing the spotlight – this year's images are truly striking, detailed and thought-provoking.
@nhm-london.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Congratulations to this year's #WPOTY winners. 👏📸
With ghostly urban landscapes & rodents stealing the spotlight – this year's images are truly striking, detailed and thought-provoking.
@nhm-london.bsky.social
With ghostly urban landscapes & rodents stealing the spotlight – this year's images are truly striking, detailed and thought-provoking.
@nhm-london.bsky.social
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
And the winner of this year’s ✨Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year✨ goes to Andrea Dominizi!
Awarded for their poignant picture of a longhorn beetle seemingly watching the destruction of its own forest. Or maybe the beetle is a symbol of resilience, surviving against all the odds 📸🧪🪲
Awarded for their poignant picture of a longhorn beetle seemingly watching the destruction of its own forest. Or maybe the beetle is a symbol of resilience, surviving against all the odds 📸🧪🪲
October 14, 2025 at 10:49 PM
And the winner of this year’s ✨Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year✨ goes to Andrea Dominizi!
Awarded for their poignant picture of a longhorn beetle seemingly watching the destruction of its own forest. Or maybe the beetle is a symbol of resilience, surviving against all the odds 📸🧪🪲
Awarded for their poignant picture of a longhorn beetle seemingly watching the destruction of its own forest. Or maybe the beetle is a symbol of resilience, surviving against all the odds 📸🧪🪲
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
Congratulations to our Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners! 🎉📸
Wim van den Heever is our Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025, awarded for his mesmerising image, ‘Ghost Town Visitor’.
Andrea Dominizi’s ‘After the Destruction’ crowns him our Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025.
Wim van den Heever is our Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025, awarded for his mesmerising image, ‘Ghost Town Visitor’.
Andrea Dominizi’s ‘After the Destruction’ crowns him our Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025.
October 15, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Congratulations to our Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners! 🎉📸
Wim van den Heever is our Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025, awarded for his mesmerising image, ‘Ghost Town Visitor’.
Andrea Dominizi’s ‘After the Destruction’ crowns him our Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025.
Wim van den Heever is our Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025, awarded for his mesmerising image, ‘Ghost Town Visitor’.
Andrea Dominizi’s ‘After the Destruction’ crowns him our Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025.
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
This was fun! @joshlukedavis.com and I love a good genitalia based fact!
It’s time for LOUD! We really enjoyed recording this one, it has sound effects and the owner of the world’s loudest penis… m.youtube.com/watch?v=hOTz...
How loud is that penis? | The 'Perfect Specimen Ep11
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
October 14, 2025 at 7:56 AM
This was fun! @joshlukedavis.com and I love a good genitalia based fact!
It’s time for LOUD! We really enjoyed recording this one, it has sound effects and the owner of the world’s loudest penis… m.youtube.com/watch?v=hOTz...
How loud is that penis? | The 'Perfect Specimen Ep11
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
October 14, 2025 at 7:45 AM
It’s time for LOUD! We really enjoyed recording this one, it has sound effects and the owner of the world’s loudest penis… m.youtube.com/watch?v=hOTz...
Who ❤️ data? Our 36 specimens (31 animal, 5 plant) so far represent 8/31 (25%) animal and 2/14 (14%) plant phyla/divisions. Chordata/mammals are winning (but many of these appeared in OVERRATED). @joshlukedavis.com and @nhcooper123.bsky.social have done OK so far but there's more diversity to cover!
October 7, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Who ❤️ data? Our 36 specimens (31 animal, 5 plant) so far represent 8/31 (25%) animal and 2/14 (14%) plant phyla/divisions. Chordata/mammals are winning (but many of these appeared in OVERRATED). @joshlukedavis.com and @nhcooper123.bsky.social have done OK so far but there's more diversity to cover!
See we did actually answer your Qs!
Here’s the Q and A. Fixing @nhcooper123.bsky.social terrible error in NOXIOUS (among other things) m.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ji...
Natalie gets schooled on tentacles | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep10
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
See we did actually answer your Qs!
Want to know more about arms and tentacles? www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOKw...
What's the plural for octopus? | A closer look at arms and tentacles
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
www.youtube.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Want to know more about arms and tentacles? www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOKw...
Reposted by The Perfect Specimen
🐙. With additional apologies to @marcehjones.bsky.social for mocking his alternative podcast name 🤣
Here’s the Q and A. Fixing @nhcooper123.bsky.social terrible error in NOXIOUS (among other things) m.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ji...
Natalie gets schooled on tentacles | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep10
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
September 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM
🐙. With additional apologies to @marcehjones.bsky.social for mocking his alternative podcast name 🤣
Here’s the Q and A. Fixing @nhcooper123.bsky.social terrible error in NOXIOUS (among other things) m.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ji...
Natalie gets schooled on tentacles | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep10
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Here’s the Q and A. Fixing @nhcooper123.bsky.social terrible error in NOXIOUS (among other things) m.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ji...