Devices and Methods for Rapid 3D Photo-Capture and Photogrammetry of Small Reptiles and Amphibians in the Laboratory and the Field
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2020
Publisher
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Source Publication
Herpetological Review
Source ISSN
0018-084X
Abstract
Because of the importance of specimen identification, and for establishing protocols for new species boundaries, novel methods and tools for identifying and sharing specimen data for vertebrate organisms, particularly amphibians and reptiles, is an important aim for taxonomists (Dayrat 2005; McDiarmid et al. 2011). In general, the gold standard for specimen collection and identification for reptiles and amphibians is euthanization with appropriate preservation and deposition as vouchered material in natural history holdings (Allmon 1994; Davis 1996; Shaffer et al. 1998; Suarez and Tsutsui 2004; Reynolds and McDiarmid 2011; Simmons 2015). This important approach will rightfully remain the gold standard for collecting and identifying most reptile and amphibian specimens (McDiarmid et al. 2011). However, there is also value in establishing other methods to gain specimen identification as a complement to this method. Several methods already exist (Simmons 2015), including photographs, audio recordings, and scientific illustrations, among others (e.g., https://soundcloud.com/frogvoicesofborneo). Photographs have proven to be a useful resource for specimen identification and are widely used in online resources such as AmphibiaWeb (amphibiaweb.org). The collection of audio recordings is especially valuable for recording of vocalizations, such as from frogs (e.g., Köhler et al. 2017). Scientific illustrations can be a valuable tool for effective recreation of specimens, especially for emphasizing key elements of scalation and color that might be challenging to document in a photograph. Here, we describe novel tools and techniques for the creation of 3D models of live reptiles and amphibians, both in wild settings in the field and in the laboratory.
Recommended Citation
Irschick, Duncan J.; Corriveau, Zachary; Mayhan, Trevor; Siler, Cameron; Mandica, Mark; and Gamble, Tony, "Devices and Methods for Rapid 3D Photo-Capture and Photogrammetry of Small Reptiles and Amphibians in the Laboratory and the Field" (2020). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 1018.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/1018
Comments
Herpetological Review, Vol. 51, No. 4 (2020): 716-725. Publisher link.