This is the cranium of an extinct species of sea mammal: Steller’s sea cow (*Hydrodamalis gigas*). It was first discovered by Europeans in 1741 in the Bering Sea. 27 years later, it had been hunted to extinction. Up to 9m (30 feet) long when living, this skull is 71cm long and weighs several kilograms. This specimen was documented with a Faro Arm scanner and processed in Geomagic, including the reconstruction of the inner areas. The original scan is 51 million triangles. It was reduced for web viewing using Instant Meshes and ZBrush.
Documentation was done as part of a collaborative project between the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Paris, France and Global Digital Heritage, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.
Collection number MNHN1919-48
