Origami Reconstruction of the Cortical Shell Structures of Radiolarian genus Pantanellium from Planar Graphs

Abstract We describe paper models which represent the cortical shell structures of radiolarian genus Pantanellium using the unit origami method: the construction of a polyhedral frame using origami units. Each unit corresponds to the edge of a polyhedron. The models are constructed based on planar graphs representing the cortical shell structures of real specimens. The resulting models reproduce the cortical shell structures appropriately. This means that the origami model is useful for both naked-eye practical observation of shell structures and group educational/art activities.