# Skin & Bones

> Augmented reality 3D skeleton experiences for education and entertainment. (iPhone/iPad app by Smithsonian Institution.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skin-and-bones/id929733243 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Smithsonian Institution](https://appshunter.io/developer/370564865)
- Category: Education, Entertainment
- Price: Free
- Rating: 2.50/5 from 19 App Store ratings · 15 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 7.1 · 96 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-01-11
- Data updated: 2026-08-14
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skin-and-bones/id929733243/reviews.md

## What is Skin & Bones?

The mobile app that brings skeletons to life at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum in Washington, DC now creates the same 3-D experience at home or in the classroom. The app has a special way to ‘see’ skeletons on display in the Bone Hall, or printed on paper and on a monitor. Astonishing things happen in 3-D and the audio is as wild as the places the animals come from. Use the app from wherever you are to peer into the inner lives of animals like bats, giant sea cows, rattlesnakes and more. Meet the people who study them, ponder big ideas about the natural world and play a game or two.

- 10 augmented reality experiences with 3-D tracking will change the way you see skeletons
- Two games and two interactives boost your animal skills
- 32 videos take you around the world--from the Congo to the Arctic to the  Amazon
- Listen to forests and prairie and bats and snakes
- videos and animations are captioned

## Key features

- Augmented reality 3D skeleton experiences
- Interactive games and activities
- Educational videos about animals
- Audio explorations of natural environments
- 3D tracking for immersive viewing

## Recent user reviews (10 of 15)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skin-and-bones/id929733243/reviews.md

### 5/5 — DO NOT LISTEN TO THE GUY WHOS TITLE IS BUNS

*2026-06-01*

This IS LITERALLY THE BEST THING ON EARTH!!!! Do not listen to the other guy, idk what he’s on about

### 1/5 — BUNS

*2026-06-01*

This app is the reason I have diabetes >:(

### 1/5 — Does not work

*2025-03-09*

Half the skeletons don’t have AR and the ones who do you have to watch a video that never loads

### 2/5 — Let down

*2024-09-15*

The woodpecker worked great and we were excited. Nothing else worked though. A lot of the AR needs you to watch a video first, but the video never loads. Good concept with zero follow through.

### 1/5 — App crashes

*2024-01-12*

This app crashes after a few seconds on iOS 17.3 Beta 1

### 1/5 — Bad bad bad

*2023-10-21*

Tried to use app multiple times but just kept crashing after the initial screen.  Tried reinstalling but no luck.  Wish it would work!

### 1/5 — Not as advertised—just videos

*2021-09-12*

The signs implied you could hold up the app to select skeletons (with the green logo) and see a VR with the skin on. But all it allowed us to do was play videos.

### 3/5 — Awesome; some Videos Issues

*2020-04-14*

My 6 year old loves it!

Bummer is some of the videos for the featured animals do not play. All you get is a black screen.

### 5/5 — Very useful

*2018-12-28*

It’s very useful when you visit the museum of natural history. Better bring your ear phones.

### 2/5 — Good idea, poor execution

*2017-05-06*

Loved the idea of using augmented reality. The app is so bloated with videos that it takes too long to load anything. The UI needs to be streamlined to be easier and faster to use. Too clunky.

## Frequently asked questions about Skin & Bones

### What is Skin & Bones?

Skin & Bones is a free educational app that uses augmented reality to bring animal skeletons to life. It offers 3D experiences, games, videos, and audio to help users learn about the natural world.

### What kind of learning does Skin & Bones offer?

Skin & Bones focuses on interactive learning through 3D augmented reality experiences, games, and videos. It aims to make learning about animal anatomy and habitats engaging and accessible.

### Can I use Skin & Bones offline?

The provided information does not specify offline capabilities. However, apps with video and interactive elements often require an internet connection for full functionality.

### What devices support Skin & Bones?

Skin & Bones is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for Apple's mobile operating system.

### How often is Skin & Bones updated?

The latest version of Skin & Bones was released on March 25, 2016. The app has not received an update since then, indicating a potentially infrequent update schedule.

### What is the user sentiment for Skin & Bones?

Skin & Bones has a rating of 2.4 stars from 17 ratings. This suggests that user satisfaction with the app may be mixed or leaning towards negative based on the limited feedback.

### Does Skin & Bones have ads?

No, Skin & Bones does not contain advertisements. It is a free app that provides an ad-free educational experience.

### What age is Skin & Bones appropriate for?

Skin & Bones has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young children and older users interested in its educational content.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0 — 2016-03-25

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

* Exhibit list view (for when user is not in museum and doesn't need a map)
* Printable exhibit images (for when user is not in museum)
* Accessibility improvements
* Image zoom on about page
* Bug fixes

### 1.4 — 2015-07-29

Fixes an occasional crash when switching between skeletons.

### 1.3 — 2015-03-07

Fixes crash on selecting some links in expanded view.

### 1.2 — 2015-01-21

Updated Bundle Display Name ('skinandbones' -> 'Skin & Bones').

### 1.1 — 2015-01-11

- Redesigned Map
- Added Bison Augmented Reality Experience

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## More apps by Smithsonian Institution

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All apps by Smithsonian Institution: https://appshunter.io/developer/370564865

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-14.*
