Digital Reconstruction of a Vaquita Skeleton Provides Open-Access Tool for Conservation

Scientists have generated a three-dimensional digital model of a complete female vaquita (*Phocoena sinus*) skeleton collected in 1966. Using hospital-grade CT, ultra-high-resolution micro-CT and high-resolution photography, thousands of slices were combined into a model that displays both overall bone shape and microscopic structures. The dataset is freely downloadable for global research.

The Guardian

The vaquita, a small porpoise endemic to Mexico’s northern Gulf of California, was first described as a species in 1958. A 1997 survey counted about 600 individuals; the World Wide Fund for Nature now estimates only seven to ten animals remain, making it the rarest marine mammal. Bycatch in gillnets targeting illegal totoaba fisheries is the principal cause of decline.

The Guardian

The project was led by researchers from Florida Atlantic University, the San Diego Natural History Museum, SeaWorld California and NOAA Fisheries, with doctoral researcher Jamie Knaob overseeing the workflow. The combination of conventional and microscopic CT allowed resolution of bone features narrower than a human hair.

The Guardian

The skeleton dates to 1966; scan slices number in the thousands; current population estimates range from seven to ten (WWF) versus ~600 in 1997.

The Guardian

Open-access digital specimens eliminate the need for physical loans, protecting fragile material while enabling worldwide collaboration. The model can be 3D-printed for museum displays and classroom use, raising public awareness. It also contributes to biodiversity informatics projects such as the U.S. oVert initiative and Australia’s OzBoneViz, which aim to digitise rare collections for comparative research.

The Guardian

The team said the primary aim is to support vaquita conservation and increase awareness through open data, noting that many institutions hesitate to share fragile specimens and that digital access can bypass these barriers. They also highlighted the dataset’s broader utility for studies of biodiversity, evolution and related marine mammals.

The Guardian

Population figures differ: WWF cites seven to ten individuals, while earlier surveys reported several hundred, reflecting uncertainty due to the species’ elusive behavior and limited observations.

The Guardian

• “Jamie Knaub, the study’s lead author and a doctoral researcher at Florida Atlantic University, said: “We want to influence conservation and awareness of the vaquita, but what it boils down to is open access datasets for biodiversity.” — Jamie Knaob, Doctoral Researcher, Florida Atlantic University

The Guardian

• “There’s this whole web [of information] that can be shared to study biodiversity, conservation, evolution – there’s so many things that can come from one dataset.” — Jamie Knaob, Doctoral Researcher, Florida Atlantic University

The Guardian

• “There’s a lot of people who don’t have access to museum specimens, or museums are wary of loaning out specimens because of how fragile or rare they are,” — Jamie Knaob, Doctoral Researcher, Florida Atlantic University

The Guardian

The online repository will enable researchers to produce 3D-printed replicas and integrate the model into comparative anatomical studies, while broader digitisation initiatives such as oVert and OzBoneViz continue to expand access to rare specimens.

The Guardian