Helmeted Hornbill Skull Replica

Description

Helmeted hornbill skull replica measures 8.3 x 2.2 x 4.3 inches. Rhinoplax vigil is a museum-quality polyurethane resin cast of a California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.

The helmeted hornbill is a very large bird in the hornbill family. The casque goes from the base of the bill halfway to the tip, where it ends abruptly.

This species has a bare, wrinkled throat patch, pale blue to greenish in females and red in males. The helmeted hornbill casque is solid, and the skull including the casque and bill may constitute 10 percent of the bird’s weight.

Their call is a series of loud, intermittent barbet like hoots, sometimes double toned and over two dozen in number, which gradually accelerates to culminate in a cackle reminiscent of laughter.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Bucerotiformes
• Family: Bucerotidae
• Genus: Rhinoplax
• Species: R. vigil
• Binomial name: Rhinoplax vigil
• Conservation status: Critically Endangered

Cackle, the helmeted hornbill skull replica, decided to create a gallery-wrapped canvas painting of flowers.

Sulfer, the great hornbill skull replica, mixed bright yellow paint with thick modeling paste to form heavy impasto ridges around the flower petals. He finished the piece by scattering gold glitter across the wet edges. It turned out beautifully.

Spade, the black-casqued hornbill male skull replica, focused on a cluster of dark jungle orchids. He loaded the canvas with purple paint, dragging the heavy coat across the canvas to form raised, sculptural petals. He carefully sprinkled silver glitter along the edges of each flower to make them pop.

Cassie, the southern cassowary skull replica, loomed over her canvas with massive creative energy. She used thick waves of crimson paint. She finished her floral design by pressing hundreds of loose glitter flakes into the wet canvas.