Digital Specimens

In a collaboration with the University of South Florida Digital Heritage & Humanities Collections, specimens from the invertebrate collection have been selected for 3-D scanning. This technology can help make specimens and information about them more widely accessible to students, teachers, and researchers. 

The Dusky Shark is a generalist predator found in tropical and warm-temperate waters throughout the world.

Below: one of FWRI's Dusky Shark jaw specimens scanned by University of South Florida Libraries on Sketchfab

Early in the life of a flatfish, one eye migrates to the other side of the head.

Below: Peacock Flounder by University of South Florida Libraries on Sketchfab

These large snails are unusual for their left-handed coiling.

Below: Busycon sinistrum (Lightning whelk) by University of South Florida Libraries on Sketchfab

Although these are related to the small pillbugs you may find in a garden, these deep sea animals are often more than a foot long.

Below: Bathynomus giganteus (Giant isopod) on Sketchfab

Oreaster reticulatus is a large sea star also known as the cushion star. Being an echinoderm, sea stars are closely related to sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.

Below: Oreaster reticulatus (Cushion Star) on Sketchfab