Recently a 3D cyberportrayal of a newly discovered millipede is making headlines, and it resembles something out of a horror or action sci-fi flick more than it does anything from Earth.
INTRODUCING THE OMMATOIULUS MILLIPEDE AVATAR
At 1.5 inches long, the millipede was found in Andalusia in Spain back in 2005. It ekes out a common existence in the dirt beneath stones and dead broken leaves. This creature decomposes plant life, and “acts as an important component of soil fauna,” said study lead researcher Nesrine Akkari, curator of the Myriapoda Collection at the Museum of Natural History in Vienna.
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The researchers introduced the new species after preserving it in a jar of ethanol for many years, and now, instead of simply photographing, illustrating or studying under a microscope, the researchers decided to use an X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) to study the new creature.
Basically, micro-CT is no different than a medical computerized tomography (CT) scanner, with the slight difference remaining present in its detail. It sports a resolution that can take a user down to a couple of micrometers, mentioned Akkari. Researchers placed the jar holding the millipede in the machine, and then took X-rays of the creature from several angles. When X-rays were compiled, they were able to construct an amazing 3D avatar of the millipede, and named it Ommatoiusus avatar.
“We decided to bring some innovation to the study and show that taxonomy [the classification of species] is not an old-fashioned kind of discipline, but that it can be fun, it can be modern,” said Akkari in an interview with Live Science.
MAKING THE MILLIPEDE AVATAR
Since this is a relatively new species, researchers wanted to find a way they could examine the genitalia of the millipede (gonopods). It sounds weird, but this technique actually allows scientists a better look at what type of species it may be since gonopod anatomy varies greatly in millipedes.
“Usually, to examine those genitalia, we would have to make a cut, a dissection, and cut the specimen at the seventh ring, extract those gonopods and cut them in half,” said Akkari.
The researchers didn’t want to take this route because it would obviously mean the millipede specimen they had been preserving for so many years would be destroyed. So, instead, they took a risk by creating a 3D avatar of the millipede. Fortunately, the scientists were able to accurately study the anatomy, and keep the specimen intact.
THE ADVANTAGES OF TECHNOLOGY
Micro-CTs have been done before. Scientists have used the technique to study insects, reptiles, and even ancient scrolls. One of the biggest advantages to using Micro-CTs is the ability to essentially combine all of the data into one place, which makes it much easier for scientists to access and research for years to come.
There are other types of micro-CT that provides more detail than what was collected in this case, but those techniques are much more involved; sometimes gathering the data can take weeks, which isn’t realistic for understanding most species.
Those interested in a more in-depth look can take a look at the entire millipede study here.
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