Overview
- Researchers at Florida Atlantic University and partners scanned a complete female vaquita skeleton from 1966 using medical CT, micro-CT and high-resolution photography to build layered, interactive 3D models.
- The micro-CT scans resolved internal bone structures at the micron scale, producing one of the most detailed anatomical records ever made of the world’s smallest cetacean.
- The full layered datasets and interactive models were uploaded to the MorphoSource repository so scientists, educators and museums can freely download and 3D-print accurate replicas.
- Project leaders say the digital archive expands study and public access without handling the fragile original specimen, but it does not change the species’ plight as only a handful of vaquitas remain in the wild because of gillnet entanglement tied to illegal totoaba fishing.
- The work reflects a multi-institution collaboration involving FAU, the San Diego Natural History Museum, SeaWorld California and NOAA Fisheries and aims to support research, education and outreach that could bolster conservation efforts.