Topology-Based Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Delicate Skeletal Fossil Remains and the Quantification of Their Taphonomic Deformation

Taphonomic and diagenetic processes inevitably distort the original skeletal morphology of fossil vertebrate remains. Key aspects palaeobiological datasets may be directly impacted by such morphological deformation, as taxonomic diagnoses phylogenetic hypotheses, interpretations shape orientation anatomical structures, assessments interspecific intraspecific variation. In order to overcome these ubiquitous challenges we present a novel reconstruction workflow combining retopology retrodeformation, allowing both symmetrically asymmetrically damaged areas fossils reconstructed. As case studies, idealised three-dimensional reconstructions sternum crownward stem-bird Ichthyornis dispar , cervical vertebrae diplodocid sauropod Galeamopus pabsti . Multiple sterna were combined into single, composite representation through superimposition alignment retopologised models, this was subsequently retrodeformed. The individually retrodeformed symmetrised. Our enabled us quantify deformation individual specimens with respect our reconstructions, characterise global local taphonomic deformation. can integrated geometric morphometric approaches enable quantitative comparisons among multiple specimens, well interpolation “mediotypes” serially homologous elements missing vertebrae, haemal arches, or ribs.