3D model of a diplodocid sauropod skull with a beak-like structure

Abstract

We built a 3D model of a diplodocid upper cranium based on data and images of the well-preserved skulls CM 11161 and USNM V 2673 using the open-source software Blender, adding three hypothetical morphologies of the rhamphotheca that mostly vary in thickness of the cornified sheath. The model was used for Finite Element Analysis to test for the functional utility of a rhamphotheca in diplodocid sauropod dinosaurs.