title: Three-dimensional reconstructions come to life--interactive 3D PDF animations in functional morphology.
abstract: Digital surface mesh models based on segmented datasets have become an integral part of studies on animal anatomy and functional morphology; usually, they are published as static images, movies or as interactive PDF files. We demonstrate the use of animated 3D models embedded in PDF documents, which combine the advantages of both movie and interactivity, based on the example of preserved Trigonopterus weevils. The method is particularly suitable to simulate joints with largely deterministic movements due to precise form closure. We illustrate the function of an individual screw-and-nut type hip joint and proceed to the complex movements of the entire insect attaining a defence position. This posture is achieved by a specific cascade of movements: Head and legs interlock mutually and with specific features of thorax and the first abdominal ventrite, presumably to increase the mechanical stability of the beetle and to maintain the defence position with minimal muscle activity. The deterministic interaction of accurately fitting body parts follows a defined sequence, which resembles a piece of engineering.
authors.affiliation: ANKA/Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; State Museum of Natural History (SMNK), Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van de Kamp
authors.affiliation: ANKA/Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tomy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: dos Santos Rolo
authors.affiliation: ANKA/Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vagovič
authors.affiliation: ANKA/Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baumbach
authors.affiliation: State Museum of Natural History (SMNK), Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riedel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006615:Hip / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D017356:Synchrotrons; D048889:Weevils / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography