Micro-computed tomography scans and virtual histological slides of a recently described land planarian species of Obama otavioi (Platyhelminthes).

We investigated whether images obtained through X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT), can be used in conjunction with traditional methods for morphological studies of soft-bodied land planarians. Among its virtues, μCT is non-invasive and provides true to scale three-dimensional imagery at high resolution. We compared these μCT-based images with those obtained from light microphotography of histological sections, most of which were also digitizseddigitized at high magnification. The specimens studied were collected in 2012. Subsequent μCT-based images of the stained body of a paratype show nearly all morphological features provided by traditional histology, with the exception of structures particularly minute, 5 μm, such as the sensory pits and single muscle fibers, which are best visible on traditional histological sections. Since the technique is non-destructive, the scanned specimen is preserved without damage. The raw and derivative µCT data and virtual histological sections can be found here.

Keywords:

• Micro-CT, Slide digitization
• Anatomy
• Histology
• Taxonomy
• Morphology
• Soft-tissue

Read the peer-reviewed publication(s):

• Carbayo, F., Francoy, T. M., & Giribet, G. (2016). Non‐destructive imaging to describe a new species of Obama land planarian (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida). Zoologica Scripta, 45(5), 566–578. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12175
• Carbayo, F., & Lenihan, J. W. (2016). Micro-computed tomography scan and virtual histological slide data for the land planarian Obama otavioi (Platyhelminthes). GigaScience, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13742-016-0119-4