A Jaw-Dropping Anatomy Lesson-BODY WORLDS: Animal Inside Out at the Canadian Museum of Nature

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 28, 2015) - Get ready for the best anatomy lesson ever. BODY WORLDS: Animal Inside Out at the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN) presents the fascinating and rare opportunity to see what's under the skin of more than 100 animal specimens. This extraordinary show is from the creators of the renowned human body exhibition. This is the first time in Canada for Animal Inside Out, on view at the CMN from May 1 to September 20, 2015.

"BODY WORLDS: Animal Inside Out is our marquee summer attraction," says Meg Beckel, CMN President and CEO. "We're delighted to be the first Canadian venue for this popular show which has thrilled audiences in Europe and the United States. Our visitors are going to be enthralled by it."

Among the highlights of the mammals, invertebrates, fish and birds on display are a camel, giraffe, giant squid, ostrich, bull, and even a human! With the skin removed from the real specimens, and the animals preserved through a process called plastination, visitors can examine and compare the muscles, bones, digestive system, blood vessels, nervous systems and internal organs of many types of creatures.

Invented by anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens in the 1970s, plastination is a ground-breaking method for halting decomposition to preserve anatomical specimens for scientific and medical education. Essentially, water and soluble fat are removed from the body and replaced with a reactive polymer (silicone rubber, for example).

The museum has added a Science Lounge in the exhibition, with unique hands-on activities to enhance visitors' exploration of animal anatomy. Highlights of this interactive space include skeletons for comparison, games, complex anatomy scans viewable on a multi-touch LCD table, and even some live glass catfish-so transparent that you can see their heart and spine.

Other programming in the Animal Inside Out gallery includes roving interpreters as well as a scavenger hunt activity sheet. As of June 27, visitors can learn about digestive systems at the "Glorious Guts" station, or sign up for a family workshop on owl pellet dissection.

This highly educational exhibition is designed for all ages and reveals many curiosities about animals, such as how reindeer can navigate icy ground, the capabilities of a giraffe's tongue and why bulls have such incredible strength.

BODY WORLDS: Animal Inside Out is made possible with cooperation between various university veterinary programs, zoos and animal groups. No animal was harmed or killed for this exhibition.

A surcharge (in addition to regular museum admission) applies to the Animal Inside Out exhibition: $10 for adults; $7 for ages 3-17 and for seniors (65+). Summer hours start June 1 with the museum open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Thursdays and Fridays until 8 p.m.) The museum is located at 240 McLeod St., Ottawa. Follow the museum on Twitter (@museumofnature) or Facebook. For more information, visit www.nature.ca.

The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada's national museum of natural history and natural sciences. The museum provides evidence-based insights, inspiring experiences and meaningful engagement with nature's past, present and future. It achieves this through scientific research, a 10.5 million specimen collection, education programs, signature and travelling exhibitions, and a dynamic web site, www.nature.ca.