Protocol for the reconstruction of micromammals from fossils. Two case studies: The skulls of Beremendia fissidens and Dolinasorex glyphodon

PLoS One. 2019 Mar 20;14(3):e0213174. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213174. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

We have developed a protocol for reconstructing 3D models of the skulls of extinct species of small mammals. For the first time, the reconstruction uses fragments of fossils from a mixture of different specimens and from related extant species. We use free software and commercial computers to make the process reproducible and usable for the scientific community. We present a semi-quantitative protocol to face the problem of making 3D reconstructions of fossil species that are incomplete in the fossil record and/or represented by a mixture of different individuals, as usually occurs with small vertebrates. Therefore this approach is useful when no complete skull is available. The protocol combines the use of microCT scan technology with a subsequent computer treatment using different software tools for 3D reconstruction from microCT and 3D design and printing (e.g. Fiji, SPIERS, Meshlab, Meshmixer) in a defined order. This kind of free and relatively simple software, plus the detailed description, makes this protocol practicable for researchers who do not necessarily have great deal of experience in working with 3D. As an example, we have performed virtual reconstructions of the skulls of two species of insectivore small mammals (Eulipotyphla): Beremendia fissidens and Dolinasorex glyphodon. The resulting skulls, plus models of the extant shrews Blarina brevicauda, Neomys fodiens, Crocidura russula and Sorex coronatus, make it possible to compare characteristics that can only be observed by means of microCT 3D reconstructions, and given the characteristics of the material, using this protocol. Among the characters we can compare are the position of the mandibles, the spatial relations among all the teeth, the shape of the snout and, in general, all parameters related with the anatomy of the rostrum. Moreover, these reconstructions can be used in different types of context: for anatomical purposes, especially to see internal features or characteristics at whole-skull scale, for bioengineering, animation, or other techniques that need a digital model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Extinction, Biological
  • Fossils / anatomy & histology*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Shrews / anatomy & histology*
  • Skull / anatomy & histology*
  • Software
  • X-Ray Microtomography

Grants and funding

RMC is the beneficiary of a predoctoral fellowship “Formación de Profesorado Universitario” (FPU) from the MECD (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte) with number FPU14/05528 (http://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/servicios-al-ciudadano-mecd/catalogo/general/educacion/998758/ficha/998758-2014.html). The work was funded by: the MINECO/FEDER (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y deporte/Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional) project CGL2015-65387-C3-2-P “GEOLOGIA, GEOCRONOLOGIA Y PALEOBIOLOGIA DE LOS YACIMIENTOS DE LA SIERRA DE ATAPUERCA VI” (http://www.ciencia.gob.es/; http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/es/funding/erdf/), to which GCB and RMC belong; by Grupos de Investigación del Gobierno de Aragón (http://www.aragon.es/) E18_17R: GRUPO DE REFERENCIA ARAGOSAURUS: RECURSOS GEOLÓGICOS Y PALEOAMBIENTALES to which RMC, GCB and BB belong. Publication fees were funded by the Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA) (http://iuca.unizar.es/) to which RMC, GCB and BB belong with the “Convocatoria Ayudas a Publicaciones IUCA 2018”. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.