Museum of Primatology (MOP)

CARTA is home to several unique collections that make up its Museum of Primatology (MOP). These collections consist largely of chimpanzee and macaque skeletons. Comparative data from other primates is useful in determining which traits are truly uniquely human and not shared by the Old World monkeys or the chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee
(Pan troglodytes)
Macaque
(Macaca mulatta)

A significant portion of the collections has been catalogued, scanned, and digitized in 3D, making this precious data a powerful resource for science and education. MOP's digital anthropogeny initiative, using modern digitizing and database cataloging technology, has produced materials such as digital X-rays and 3-dimensional CT scans of bones. These digital materials are being integrated into courses and can be searched for research applications.

CT Scanning Session CT Scan 3D Rendering

Digital Assets

The following digital assets are available:

  • Subject Records (269 individuals, mostly adult chimpanzees)
    Each subject record may provide an individual's identification attributes (name, IDs), species designation (Linnaen classification), lifespan (DOB, DOD), and kinship (Dam, Sire). You can browse and search subject records in order to find all available data (eg: radiographs, CT data) and physical assets (eg: bones) that are associated with each subject.
     
  • Tomographic "CT" Volumes (444 scans consisting of 1 to 15 bones per scan, more than 5000 bones!)
    For many subjects, we have acquired volumetric / 3D CT scans of bones. By visiting a subject record page, you will see a preview of and links to CT scans available for the subject (sorted by study date). Each CT scan detail page presents rendered preview images as well as download links for DICOM data files containing the CT scan data.
     
  • Digital Radiographs (1,618)
    For hundreds of subjects, we have acquired 2D scans of radiograph films. By visiting a subject record page, you will see a preview of and links to radiograph scans available for the subject (sorted by study date). Each radiograph scan detail page presents a rendered preview image as well as a download link for the DICOM data file containing the scanned data.

How to Access

The Museum of Primatology's digital assets are available for scholarly research, collaboration, and teaching. Please review the Collections Access Policy document. If you have questions about CARTA's collection resources please contact CARTA's MOP administrators.

Once you are granted access to CARTA's collections, you will be able to login to your CARTA website user account and see additional navigation links under the "Resources->Museum->Digital Tools" menu and access the following digital assets:

  • Browse Subjects
    Browse and search subject records. The main listing page and search results provides links to individual subject detail pages.
     
  • Search Data
    Search for all digital data across subjects using a highly customizable search interface. You may search by any combination of data attributes (both general and data-type specific) as well as control what attributes are displayed in the search results listing.