VIRTUAL PALAEONTOLOGY

Traditional fossil studies often require visits to museums or collections to examine morphology through physical measurement and direct observation of specimens. However, critical anatomical information is frequently concealed within the fossil matrix or obscured by the specimen’s state of preservation, making it difficult to observe directly using conventional methods.

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With advances in computed tomography (CT) scanning, digital visualisation techniques, and 3D modelling, palaeontologists can now reconstruct both the internal and external structures of fossils without damaging the specimens. These methods produce digital models that can be measured, compared, and analysed. They enable researchers to examine brain cavities, dentition, muscle attachment sites, bone architectures, and other fine anatomical features digitally, supporting inferences about sensory capabilities, feeding mechanics, locomotion patterns, and ecological adaptations in extinct animals.

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The Centre’s scientists are experienced in applying virtual palaeontology techniques to investigate the morphology, function, and evolutionary trends of fossil vertebrates. Our research includes topics such as theropod bite performance, tooth replacement mechanisms in sauropods, pterosaur skeletal anatomy and brain morphology reconstruction, the biomechanics of avian limb bones, and the endocranial morphology of pseudosuchians. Through these modern approaches, fossils excavated decades ago continue to yield entirely new scientific insights.