SUMIDA, S.S.: Biological Principals that Drive Digital Effects and Strategies of Animation: Trading Lessons between Vertebrate Mechanics and Commercial Entertainment Comparative morphological studies and responsible strategies of animation (both traditionally hand-drawn and computer generated) both require an understanding of structure, function, ontogenetic variation, and sexual dimorphism. Within animation, different techniques utilize slightly differing emphases. Traditional […]

BROCHU, C. A.: Beyond Mere Morphology: Reflections of a Computed Tomography Addict Computed tomographic (CT) technology has become a standard method for nondestructively accessing the interior structures of irreplaceable fossils. This vastly increases the informative power of fossils and allows researchers a unique opportunity to visualize internal features in three dimensions, either through three-dimensional reconstruction […]

Full, R.J.: Bestowing biological inspiration and getting novel insight from engineering and entertainment. Discoveries and principles in biology can provide inspiration for design in robotics, animatronics, animation and architecture. Unique materials and structures, remarkable functional relationships and the spectacularly effective performance found in natural technologies provide a wealth of ideas. Yet, blind, direct copying of […]

HALLETT, M.: Anatomical Principles of Reconstructing Extinct Organisms and Their Uses in Entertainment Art Dinosaurs and other extinct organism are rarely known from anatomical systems other than the skeletal system. Nonetheless, a detailed interpretation of muscular structure is prerequisite to responsible reconstructions. Detailed muscular reconstructions take into account bony landmarks of muscular attachment, but for […]

SCHMIDT-RHAESA, A.: The two dimensions of biodiversity research exemplified by Nematomorpha and Gastrotricha Biodiversity research is characterized by two dimensions: the horizontal dimension recognizes species, their spatial interrelationships and patterns such as biogeographical distribution. The vertical dimension tries to explain the history of the recent biodiversity through phylogenetic and evolutionary approaches. The horizontal dimension is […]

NIELSEN, C.: The phylogenetic position of Entoprocta, Ectoprocta, Phoronida and Brachiopoda Ectoprocts, phoronids and brachiopods are often dealt with under the heading Tentaculata or Lophophorata, sometimes with entoprocts as a more or less closely related group. The Lophophorata is purported to be held together by the presence of a “lophophore”, a mesosomal tentacle crown with […]

GAREY, J.R.: The Lesser Known Protostome Taxa Most biologists are familiar with only a few of the approximately 35 extant animal phyla such as annelids, arthropods, molluscs, echinoderms and chordates. How many are familiar with the more obscure groups such as gnathostomulids, kinorhynchs, priapulids and cycliophorans? Current advances in evolutionary, developmental and ecological studies are […]

ARP, A.J.: The Ecology and Physiology of the Marine Echiuran Worm, Urechis Caupo: a model animal for demonstration of physiological principles. Urechis caupo is a large echiuran worm endemic to the California coast. Populations of these worms inhabit individual, well ventilated, U-shaped burrows in the marine mudflat. Urechis is a non-selective filter feeder which uses […]

WALLACE, R.L.: Rotifers: exquisite metazoans Being among the first microorganisms seen by children exploring the world with their new microscope or high schoolers in biology class, rotifers have fascinated people for nearly 325 years, ever since Leeuwenhoek began describing them in his letters to the Royal Society in London late in the 17th century. And […]

Turbeville, J. M.: Recent Progress in Nemertean Biology: Phylogeny, Development, Ecology Phylum Nemertea contains approximately 1000 species of unsegmented worms that possess an eversible proboscis. The phylum has a global distribution and includes marine, freshwater and terrestrial species. Although relatively common, nemerteans have been understudied. However, in recent years significant advances in nemertean biology have […]