Pelagosaurus fossil skull, micro-CT scan. Pelagosaurus is an extinct crocodile-like reptile that lived 183MB-175MB million years ago. Micro-CT is often used to scan fossils because the surrounding rock can be removed virtually. Traditional means of removing rock are incredibly time-consuming and can risk damaging the specimen. This image was acquired using X-ray micro-Computed Tomography (also known as micro-CT). A micro-CT scanner projects a beam of X-rays through the sample onto a detector panel. Images are collected over a 36MB0?rotation and these are then reconstructed to form a virtual 3D model of the specimen. This virtual object that can be viewed from all angles and sliced open or digitally dissected. Image by Dan Sykes.