Johannesburg, Jan 14 (PTI) Scientists have created adigital reconstruction of the skull of a 200-million-year-oldSouth African dinosaur, which will allow enthusiasts all overthe world to make 3D prints of the fossil at home.
The researchers from University of the Witwatersrand inSouth Africa hope that this will facilitate research on thedinosaur called Massospondylus, as well as others.
Researchers used CT scans to peer inside the skull of thedinosaur Massospondylus.
They were able to rebuild every bone of Massospondylus'scranium, and to even look at tiny features like nerves exitingthe brain and the balance organs of the inner ear.
Along with the study published in the journal PeerJ, a 3Dsurface file of the skull can be downloaded.
"This means any researcher or member of the public canprint their own Massospondylus skull at home," said KimiChapelle, a PhD student at University of the Witwatersrand.
Massospondylus is one of the most famous dinosaurs fromSouth Africa and was named in 1854 by the celebrated anatomistSir Richard Owen.
Fossils of Massospondylus have been found in many placesin South Africa, including Golden Gate National Park, whereJames Kitching discovered fossil eggs and embryos in 1976.
However, the skull of Massospondylus has never been thefocus of an in-depth anatomical investigation.
"I was amazed when I started digitally reconstructingMassospondylus' skull, and found all these features that hadnever been described," said Chapelle.
"It just goes to show that researchers still have a lotto learn about South Africa's dinosaurs," she said.
"By comparing the inner ear to that of other dinosaurs,we can try and interpret things like how they held their headsand how they moved," said Chapelle.
"You can actually see tiny replacement teeth in the bonesof the jaws, showing us that Massospondylus continuouslyreplaced its teeth, like crocodiles do, but unlike humans thatcan only do it once," she added.
The bones of the braincase are not fully fused, whichmeans that this particular fossil is that of an individualthat is not fully grown yet.
"This allows us to understand how Massospondylus grew,how fast it grew and how big it could grow," Chapelle added.
Hundreds of Massospondylus fossils have been found inSouth Africa, ranging in size from hatchlings to adult.
Chapelle is using CT technology to study these additionalfossils. PTI MHNMHN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.