From The FloriÂda MuseÂum of NatÂurÂal HisÂtoÂry comes the openÂVerÂteÂbrate project, a new iniÂtiaÂtive to “proÂvide free, digÂiÂtal 3D verÂteÂbrate anatoÂmy modÂels and data to researchers, eduÂcaÂtors, stuÂdents and the pubÂlic.” IntroÂducÂing the new project (othÂerÂwise known as oVert), the museÂum writes:
Between 2017 and 2023, oVert project memÂbers took CT scans of more than 13,000 specÂiÂmens, with repÂreÂsenÂtaÂtive species across the verÂteÂbrate tree of life. This includes more than half the genÂera of all amphibÂians, repÂtiles, fishÂes and mamÂmals. CT scanÂners use high-enerÂgy X‑rays to peer past an organism’s exteÂriÂor and view the dense bone strucÂture beneath. Thus, skeleÂtons make up the majorÂiÂty of oVert reconÂstrucÂtions. A small numÂber of specÂiÂmens were also stained with a temÂpoÂrary conÂtrast-enhancÂing soluÂtion that allowed researchers to visuÂalÂize soft tisÂsues, such as skin, musÂcle and othÂer organs.
The modÂels give an intiÂmate look at interÂnal porÂtions of a specÂiÂmen that could preÂviÂousÂly only be observed through destrucÂtive disÂsecÂtion and tisÂsue samÂpling.
In the comÂing years, the openÂVerÂteÂbrate team will “CT scan 20,000 fluÂid-preÂserved specÂiÂmens from U.S. museÂum colÂlecÂtions, proÂducÂing high-resÂoÂluÂtion anatomÂiÂcal data for more than 80 perÂcent of verÂteÂbrate genÂera.” The project will also make digÂiÂtal images and 3D mesh files availÂable to downÂload and 3D print.
The video below proÂvides a short, visuÂal introÂducÂtion to the digÂiÂtal colÂlecÂtion. You can learn more about the project here.
RelatÂed ConÂtent
Watch The Insects’ ChristÂmas from 1913: A Stop Motion Film StarÂring a Cast of Dead Bugs
Slow it down.
1. Please cut out the music.
2. NarÂrate “This is a _. Notice the _ and the _.”
3. NarÂrate “Most or all memÂbers of this Class, or Order, or FamÂiÂly, or Genus share these _ qualÂiÂties.”
Please rememÂber the great valÂue of a readÂer who retains much of what you present. This will enrich their life. The readÂer who retains nothÂing due to missÂing enrichÂment, at high speed, has wastÂed their time here, and may feel frusÂtratÂed and excludÂed from this wonÂderÂful realm of life.
Thank you for your thoughtÂful conÂsidÂerÂaÂtion.