Original Scientific Article
Comparative study of 3D reconstruction techniques on rhinoceros iguana skull by utilizing computer tomography scans
José Raduan Jaber * ,
Mario Encinoso ,
Alejandro Morales-Espino ,
Francisco Suárez-Cabrera

Mac Vet Rev 2025; 48 (2): i - xii

10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0030

Received: 11 August 2024

Received in revised form: 21 July 2025

Accepted: 07 August 2025

Available Online First: 02 October 2025

Published on: 15 October 2025

Correspondence: José Raduan Jaber, joseraduan.jaber@ulpgc.es
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Abstract

The rhinoceros iguana is an endangered species native to the Caribbean, currently listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. While most available studies focus on its ecology and conservation, there is a lack of detailed anatomical descriptions, especially of the skull, which limits clinical, educational, and research applications in veterinary medicine. Computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions, provides a non-invasive and precise method to identify and annotate anatomical structures in reptiles. This study aimed to evaluate and illustrate the anatomical fidelity and utility of different CT-based reconstruction techniques, using Cyclura cornuta cornuta as a representative model. We applied three post-processing methods-Volume Rendering (VR3D), Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP), and Multiplanar Reformatting with Volume Rendering (MPR-VR)-to two female adult specimens. Our results demonstrate that each technique offers unique advantages in visualizing cranial features, and that combining them improves anatomical interpretation. This work provides a practical imaging reference for reptile skull anatomy and supports future applications in clinical diagnostics, comparative morphology, and exotic animal education.

Keywords: rhinoceros iguana, skull anatomy, computer tomography, 3D reconstruction

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Copyright

© 2025 Jaber J.R. This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no financial or non-financial conflict of interest regarding authorship and publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 48, Issue 2, Pages i-xii, e-ISSN 1857-7415, p-ISSN 1409-7621, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0030 

The all content of the Macedonian Veterinary Review, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.