Ophiacodon & Early Homonin
This Januari, we were tasked by Hortus Botanicus Leiden and Universiteit Leiden, to provide them with two replicas for their new exhibition "Planten en Planeten".
The exhibition opened this Februari. For more information, please visit the Hortus Botanicus Leiden website.
After careful consideration, we decided that the basal synapsid selected for this project should not be one of the usual suspects, such as Dimetrodon. Instead, we chose a lesser-known but equally important taxon — Ophiacodon.
To date, no 3D reconstructions of Ophiacodon exist, making this depiction the first of its kind. Significant time and research have been dedicated to ensuring that our reconstruction reflects the most current scientific understanding of this early synapsid.
Our work draws heavily on the research of Romer & Price (1940), Berman, Reisz, Bolt, & Scott (1995), and Bazzana, Evans, Bevitt, & Reisz (2022), combining historical insights with modern anatomical knowledge. The result is a scientifically-accurate reconstruction.
The postcranial reconstruction is also well underway and will be shared as soon as they are ready.
We also created a replica of the skull of Sahelanthropus tchadensis. In this case we used a already available 3D model from the collection of the 'Museum of the University of Valencia of Natural History'. This model can be found here. Special thanks to the Museum for making these models publicly available, which greatly supports education and outreach.
This 3D model served as the base for our physical replica. It was 3D printed and painted using a combination of multiple sourced images available online. The goal was to make the replica both visually appealing and have a accurate depiction of the real and casted specimens, while ensuring it could also withstand being handled by visitors.
Bazzana, K. D., Evans, D. C., Bevitt, J. J., & Reisz, R. R. (2022). Neurosensory anatomy of Varanopidae and its implications for early synapsid evolution. Journal of Anatomy, 240(5), 833-849. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13593
Berman, D. S., Reisz, R. R., Bolt, J. R., & Scott, D. (1995). The cranial anatomy and relationships of the synapsid Varanosaurus (Eupelycosauria: Ophiacodontidae) from the Early Permian of Texas and Oklahoma. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 64(2), 99-133.
Brinkman, D., & Eberth, D. A. (1983). The interrelationships of pelycosaurs. Breviora, 473, 1-28. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/25352
Romer, A. S., & Price, L. I. (1940). Review of the Pelycosauria. Geological Society of America.