Four student interns with the Georgia Museum of Natural History are reconstructing the skeletal remains of a pygmy sperm whale as part of an upper level anthropology internship.

The skeleton of the small whale species was originally discovered in 1987, but had yet to be reassembled and researched until the interns took on the project for course credit. Because the pygmy sperm whale is rarely seen in the wild, the bones will help the marine science community increase the currently scarce knowledge about the small sea creature.

“If ‘rare’ is the opposite of ‘common,’ then yes this is rare,” said Lee Hartle, assistant curator for the museum’s ichthyology collection. “We have about 10 specimens of the pygmy sperm whale from just the skull to the almost-complete skeleton that we are currently re-articulating.”

Although the skeleton is one of 110 whale and dolphin skeletons in the museum’s collection, Hartle said the interns have a unique opportunity.

“This animal is rarely seen alive in the ocean, and most of what we know about this species has been learned by studying beached specimens,” he said.

Intern Clay Young, senior biology major, said he was attracted to the internship because of its relation to his summer classes and the added experience from working on a student-led research project.

“I wanted to do something in conjunction with taking chemistry over the summer that would pertain to my major, something a little bit more fun,” he said.

The internship incorporates the “fun” aspect of outside-of-the-classroom learning and promotes marine conservation efforts for the rarely-seen species, he said.

“The skeleton may be studied by visiting scientists and others for a myriad of research issues, from taxonomy to marine conservation,” Hartle said. “We also use this and other skeletal material in classes at the University, giving students hands-on experience.”

The 10-foot-6 skeleton will be exhibited in the Discovery Room – the public display area – once reconstruction is complete.