Extreme Mammals at California Academy of Sciences Greet Their Human Cousins

By Emma Krasov, photography by Yuri Krasov

The new exhibit, Extreme Mammals: The Biggest, Smallest, and Most Amazing Mammals of All Time opens today at the California Academy of Sciences to deliver a juicy piece of education via thrilling, shocking, and mind-boggling means. It’s a great reminder to those of us who grew a big head over our human uniqueness that there are bigger brains, smarter ways, and cuter faces out there, in the family of mammals to which we all belong. At the press opening, Dr. Greg Farrington, Executive Director, delivered a speech while standing under a 15 ft. tall model of Indricotherium – the largest land mammal ever discovered, who lived in the forests of Central Asia about 34 to 23 million years ago. Next to the giant rhino-like vegetarian, the smallest mammal from approximately 50 million years ago was displayed as a tiny model in a clear box – a relative to modern shrews and moles, called Batodonoides vanhouteni.
In his speech, Dr. Farrington said that although humans do not have frightening horns, killer claws or body pouches to carry their babies around, no other animal can paint a Sistine Chapel or write the Ninth Symphony, which makes humans a part of the extreme mammals’ motley crew.
Dr. Carol Tang, Director of Public Programs, gave a tour of the exhibit, during which she said that she chose to exchange her scientist’s seclusion for direct involvement with the public, to provide education on modern discoveries and new scientific knowledge.
The press was also treated to a behind the scenes tour with Dr. Jack Dumbacher, Curator of Birds & Mammals, and Dr. Galen Rathbun, Zoologist, the Academy Fellow, and Research Associate. The scientists shared their recent discoveries and future plans, their thoughts on balancing research, conservation, and preservation, and also introduced the wealth of resources available at the Academy to all the researchers from all over the world.

The exhibit, organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York in collaboration with the Academy, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and the Canadian Museum of Nature, holds a few fascinating surprises for visitors of all ages and all levels of education. It features amazing fossils and skeletons alongside the impressive reconstructions and taxidermy specimens, and it contains a live tree shrew.

Family-friendly, fun, and just a great show, Extreme Mammals will run through September 12 at the California Academy of Sciences – home to Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium, and Kimball Natural History Museum – at 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. The Academy is free to the public on the third Wednesday of each month. Visit calacademy.org. or call (415) 379-8000.