Blaschka Nudibranch

3D Model

Model SC-308 of the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology Collection of Blaschka Marine Invertebrates. This is a glass model (length ~ 3.5 inches) of a Nudibranch (originally listed as Pterogasteron marginata, currently known as Elysia marginata). Wikipedia states that Nudibrancia, an order in the subclass of sea slugs, include more than 3000 species, of widely varying appearance and color. This model is one of thousands made by Rudolf and Leopold Blaschka as educational models in the late 1800s. The light-colored material on the bottom of the model is residual epoxy, used to affix a mounting wire for exhibit in decades past.

The thin dorsal fins were a challenge to mesh, requiring 528 photographs shot in 7 orientations. The processing was done with Agisoft Photoscan and the surface was post-processed with Blender. With thanks to Prof. James Hanken (Curator) and Jon Woodward (Collections operations) for access to the models and description information. (Model SC308-2018d)