Macroevolution is integral to understanding the patterns of the diversification of life. As the life sciences increasingly use big data approaches, large multivariate datasets are required to test fundamental macroevolutionary hypotheses. In vertebrate evolution, large datasets have been created to quantify morphological variation, largely focusing on particular areas of the skeleton. We provide a landmarking protocol to quantify morphological variation in skeletal elements across the head, trunk, hindlimb and forelimb using 3-dimensional landmarks and semilandmarks, and present a large pan-skeletal database of bird morphology for 149 taxa across avian phylogeny using CT scan data. This large collection of 3D models and geometric morphometric data is open access and can be used in the future for new research, teaching and outreach. The 3D models and CT scans of the 149 specimens related to this project can be downloaded at MorphoSource (https://www.morphosource.org/projects/00000C420) 

Menura novaehollandiae FMNH 336751 View specimen

	M3#561 3D model of the left carpometacarpus of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandia (displayed as a mirror image in the 3DHOP viewer). Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.561   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#562 3D model of the mandible of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.562   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#563 3D model of the right coracoid of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.563   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#564 3D model of the right scapula of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.564   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#565 3D model of the right tarsometatarsus of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.565   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#566 3D model of the sternum of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.566   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#567 3D model of the left femur of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae (displayed as a mirror image in the 3DHOP viewer). Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.567   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#568 3D model of the skull of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.568   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#569 3D model of the left humerus of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae (displayed as a mirror image in the 3DHOP viewer). Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.569   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#570 3D model of the synsacrum of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.570   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#571 3D model of the left radius of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae (displayed as a mirror image in the 3DHOP viewer). Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.571   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#572 3D model of the left tibiotarsus of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae (displayed as a mirror image in the 3DHOP viewer). Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.572   state:published	Download 3D surface file
	M3#573 3D model of the left ulna of the superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae (displayed as a mirror image in the 3DHOP viewer). Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.573   state:published	Download 3D surface file

Using X-ray microtomography, we describe the ossification events during the larval development of a non-teleost actinopterygian species: the Cuban gar Atractosteus tristoechus from the order Lepisosteiformes. We provide a detailed developmental series for each anatomical structure, covering a large sequence of mineralization events going from an early stage (13 days post-hatching, 21mm total length) to an almost fully ossified larval stage (118dph or 87mm in standard length). With this work, we expect to bring new developmental data to be used in further comparative studies with other lineages of bony vertebrates. We also hope that the on-line publication of these twelve successive 3D reconstructions, fully labelled and flagged, will be an educational tool for all students in comparative anatomy. 

Atractosteus tristoechus At1-13dph View specimen

M3#94 At1-13dph : 13 dph larvae, 21 mm TL Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.94   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At2-16dph View specimen

M3#95 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 16 dph, 26mm SL. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.95   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At3-19dph View specimen

M3#96 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 19 dph, 27mm SL. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.96   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At4-22dph View specimen

M3#97 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 22dph, 30mm SL. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.97   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At5-26dph View specimen

M3#98 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 26 dph, 32mm SL. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.98   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At6-31dph View specimen

M3#99 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 31 dph, 39mm SL. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.99   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At7-37dph View specimen

M3#100 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 37 dph, 43mm SL. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.100   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At8-52dph View specimen

M3#101 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 52 dph, 46mm SL. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.101   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At9-74dph View specimen

M3#102 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 74 dph, 61mm SL. Not all structures are colored, only newly ossified ones. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.102   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At10-89dph View specimen

M3#103 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 89 dph, 63mm SL. Not all structures are colored, only newly ossified ones. You may find the tag file in the At1-13dph reconstruction data. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.103   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At11-104dph View specimen

M3#104 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 104 dph, 70mm SL. Not all structures are colored, only newly ossified ones. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.104   state:published

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Atractosteus tristoechus At12-118dph View specimen

M3#105 Atractosteus tristoechus larva, 118 dph, 87mm SL. Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.105   state:published

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Current knowledge on the skeletogenesis of Chondrichthyes is scarce compared with their extant sister group, the bony fishes. Most of the previously described developmental tables in Chondrichthyes have focused on embryonic external morphology only. Due to its small body size and relative simplicity to raise eggs in laboratory conditions, the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula has emerged as a reference species to describe developmental mechanisms in the Chondrichthyes lineage. Here we investigate the dynamic of mineralization in a set of six embryonic specimens using X-ray microtomography and describe the developing units of both the dermal skeleton (teeth and dermal scales) and endoskeleton (vertebral axis). This preliminary data on skeletogenesis in the catshark sets the first bases to a more complete investigation of the skeletal developmental in Chondrichthyes. It should provide comparison points with data known in osteichthyans and could thus be used in the broader context of gnathostome skeletal evolution. 

Scyliorhinus canicula SC6_2_2015_03_20 View specimen

M3#50 Mineralized skeleton of a 6,2 cm long embryo of Scyliorhinus canicula Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.50   state:published

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Scyliorhinus canicula SC6_7_2015_03_20 View specimen

M3#51 Mineralized skeleton of a 6,7 cm long embryo of Scyliorhinus canicula Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.51   state:published

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Scyliorhinus canicula SC7_1_2015_04_03 View specimen

M3#52 Mineralized skeleton of a 7,1 cm long embryo of Scyliorhinus canicula Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.52   state:published

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Scyliorhinus canicula SC7_5_2015_03_13 View specimen

M3#53 Mineralized skeleton of a 7,5 cm long embryo of Scyliorhinus canicula Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.53   state:published

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Scyliorhinus canicula SC8_2015_03_20 View specimen

M3#54 Mineralized skeleton of a 8 cm long embryo of Scyliorhinus canicula Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.54   state:published

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Scyliorhinus canicula SC10_2015_02_27 View specimen

M3#55 Mineralized skeleton of a 10 cm long embryo of Scyliorhinus canicula Type: "3D_surfaces" doi: 10.18563/m3.sf.55   state:published

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