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A whole body micro-CT scan library that captures the skeletal diversity of Lake Malawi cichlid fishes Project ID: 000570997 Public
116 Media · 82 Specimens · Creator: Callum V Bucklow · Managed by: Roger Benson, Callum Bucklow

Here we describe a dataset of freely available, readily processed, whole-body μCT-scans of 56 species (116 specimens) of Lake Malawi cichlid fishes that captures a considerable majority of the morphological variation present in this remarkable adaptive radiation. We contextualise the scanned specimens within a discussion of their respective ecomorphological groupings and suggest possible macroevolutionary studies that could be conducted with these data. We also describe a methodology to efficiently μCT-scan (on average) 23 specimens per hour, limiting scanning time and alleviating the financial cost whilst maintaining high resolution. We demonstrate the utility of this method by reconstructing 3D models of multiple bones from multiple specimens within the dataset. We hope this dataset will enable further morphological study of this fascinating system and permit wider-scale comparisons with other cichlid adaptive radiations.

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  ID Part Object Taxonomy Type Date Added Publication Status  
000571473 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1921.9.6.102-107 Haplochromis polystigma Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-15 Open Download  
000571468 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1921.9.6.102-107 Haplochromis polystigma Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-15 Open Download  
000571465 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1978.10.31.2-6 Lethrinops auritus Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-15 Open Download  
000571459 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1896.10.5.25 Nimbochromis livingstonii Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-15 Open Download  
000571454 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1978.10.31.2-6 Lethrinops auritus Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-15 Open Download  
000571448 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1930.1.31.171-180 Lethrinops albus Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-15 Open Download  
000571443 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1930.1.31.171-180 Lethrinops albus Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-15 Open Download  
000571441 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1981.1.9.28-32 Labidochromis strigatus Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-15 Open Download  
000571434 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1981.1.9.28-32 Labidochromis strigatus Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-15 Open Download  
000571427 Whole Body NHMUK:ZOO:1971.9.8.7-8 Iodotropheus sprengerae Volumetric Image Series 2023-10-14 Open Download  
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