GETTING A HEAD WITH 3D SOFTWARE: DIGITAL RECONSTRUCTION OF A FOSSIL CROCODILIAN SKULL

Reconstructing a complete fossil specimen from partial remains presents many challenges, least of all the time and effort required using traditional sculpting, casting, and molding techniques. These techniques may be costly and require facilities beyond the means of many small paleontology programs. Digital 3D capture technologies (CT, laser scanning, photogrammetry, etc.) provide one alternative route to producing high quality reconstructions. Decreased hardware costs and availability of free software packages allows researchers with even modest budgets to readily utilize this technology. However, as a relatively new technology, rigorous techniques are still being developed. Here I illustrate one method of digital reconstruction using bones belonging to a new species of fossil crocodilian. A NextEngine desktop laser scanner was used to create digital models of the holotype and paratype specimens and related taxa to replace missing elements. Post-processing was carried out with Scanstudio and Meshmixer software. These files were then imported into the open source software package Blender. Specimen scaling must be considered carefully, as scans vary due to differences in scanning parameters, specimen size, etc., which may distort the final model. Specimens should be measured and set to the same scale. Photos or line drawings may be imported to guide reconstruction, as well as the addition of a virtual scale bar. Reconstruction then proceeded from a fixed anatomical landmark outward, in this case using the basioccipital as a starting point. Benefits of working in a virtual environment include the ability to: easily scale, mirror, or distort specimens; readily update the model as new information becomes available; create realistic renderings for presentation and publication; and export the completed model for 3D printing. Furthermore, these models may be used by digital paleoartists to create even more accurate and realistic life reconstructions through placing virtual flesh over digital bones.