A collection of non-human primate computed tomography scans housed in MorphoSource, a repository for 3D data

A dataset of high-resolution microCT scans of primate skulls (crania and mandibles) and certain postcranial elements was collected to address questions about primate skull morphology. The sample consists of 489 scans taken from 431 specimens, representing 59 species of most Primate families. These data have transformative reuse potential as such datasets are necessary for conducting high power research into primate evolution, but require significant time and funding to collect. Similar datasets were previously only available to select research groups across the world. The physical specimens are vouchered at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. The data collection took place at the Center for Nanoscale Systems at Harvard. The dataset is archived on MorphoSource.org. Though this is the largest high fidelity comparative dataset yet available, its provisioning on a web archive that allows unlimited researcher contributions promises a future with vastly increased digital collections available at researchers’ finger tips. Design Type(s) organism part comparison design • species comparison design • observation design Measurement Type(s) morphometry Technology Type(s) computed tomography scanner Factor Type(s) animal body part • life cycle stage Sample Characteristic(s) Saimiri oerstedii • Cebus capucinus • Ateles geoffroyi • Trachypithecus cristata • Macaca fascicularis • Euoticus elegantulus • Galago alleni • Cercocebus albigena • Gorilla gorilla gorilla • Pan troglodytes troglodytes • Saguinus • Galago senegalensis • Eulemur fulvus fulvus • Eulemur fulvus rufus • Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi • Varecia variegata variegata • Propithecus diadema • Lemur catta • Papio doguera • Perodicticus potto • Pan troglodytes • Cercocebus torquatus • Propithecus verreauxi deckenii • Varecia variegata • Cacajao calvus rubicundus • Aotus trivirgatus • Miopithecus talapoin • Mandrillus leucophaeus • Callicebus moloch • Saimiri sciureus • Pithecia monachus • Colobus polykomos • Cercocebus • Presbytis rubicunda • Cercopithecus mitis • Therapithecus gelada • Colobus badius • Cebus apella • Alouatta caraya • Macaca mulatta • Alouatta palliata • Nycticebus coucang • Papio doguera ibeanus • Callithrix humeralifera • Callithrix argentata • Pithecia pithecia • Chiropotes albinasus • Avahi laniger • Mandrillus sphinx • Presbytis hosei • Pongo pygmaeus • Symphalangus syndactylus • Nycticebus pygmaeus • Erythrocebus patas • Nasalis larvatus • Macaca fuscata • Hapalemur griseus • Call