Alligator hatchling: Middle-ear air sinus system

3D Model

This model accompanies an article by Dufeau and Witmer published 2015-09-23 in PLOS ONE on the ontogenetic development of the middle ear and associated air sinuses in Alligator missippiensis (http://bit.ly/1R3DFe4). The study looked at 13 individuals comprising an almost 19-fold increase in skull length. This specimenwas the youngest of the ontogenetic series. It was provided to us for study by the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge (Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries). We scanned the head region on the OUµCT scanner in 2009 at a resolution of 45µm (0.045 mm). Analysis was done by Dufeau (http://bit.ly/1YBPCgi ) as part of his Ohio University doctoral dissertation; Ryan Ridgely assembled these materials in Maya for upload here. For more 3D content on this and other alligators, check out the Visible Interactive Alligator site: http://bit.ly/1Kv9mKX . There you’ll find 3D PDFs for download that provide comparable content to what’s here, but allowing the user more control.