3D reconstruction of the fossil skull of Opisthiamimus gregori, (VIDEO)
Caption
The research team set about scanning the fossil with high-resolution computed tomography (CT), a method that uses multiple X-ray images from different angles to create a 3D representation of the specimen. The team used three separate CT scanning facilities, including one housed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, to capture everything they possibly could about the fossil. Once the fossil’s bones had been digitally rendered, the team set about reassembling the digitized bones of the skull, some of which were crushed, out of place or missing on one side, using software to evenutally create a nearly complete lifelike 3D reconstuction. A team of scientists describe the new species Opisthiamimus gregori, which once lived alongside dinosaurs like Stegosaurus and Allosaurus, in a paper published today in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. In life, this prehistoric reptile would have been about 16 centimeters (about 6 inches) from nose to tail—and would fit curled up in the palm of an adult human hand—and likely survived on a diet of insects and other invertebrates.
Credit
D. DeMar
Usage Restrictions
News media use of these photos in relation to this study is permitted with attribution.
License
Original content