3DR of a giant larvacean (Bathochordaeus stygius) found in Monterey Bay, CA at a depth of 230 m during the Midwater Ecology cruise in 2015. A new study published in the journal Nature describes a unique laser-based system for constructing 3D models of diaphanous marine animals and the mucus structures they secrete. The 3DR model was created by using MBARI’s laser imaging instrument DeepPIV, which was deployed from RV Rachel Carson mounted to ROV MiniROV. Raw video collected by ROV MiniROV can be viewed here, and stabilized DeepPIV footage that was used to generate the 3DR model can be viewed here. The animated model was made in collaboration with the Digital Life Project at UMass Amherst.

STL files of individual elements can be downloaded here: larvacean, inner filter, outer structures (units: mm).