Breathtaking images show an unborn elephant, penguin in the womb

Daily Mail

Herald Sun

August 28, 2012 

An Asian elephant fetus after 12 months in the womb. Picture: Pioneer Productions/David Barlow Source: Supplied
 

THEY may be very different beasts, but the creatures in these breathtaking images reveal how surprisingly similar the beginning of life can be in the animal kingdom. 

Captured using revolutionary four-dimensional imaging technology and anatomically accurate models, scientists have managed to shed light on the world of mammals inside the womb.

Snug as a bug: A penguin curls up in it's mothers womb. Picture: National Geographic. Source: Supplied
 

As diverse a bunch as they are - elephant, dolphin and penguin are all shown united by their similar stages of development.

Scientists captured the images for the National Geographic documentary Animals in the Womb, now a book of the same name.

The gestation period for a penguin lasts about 63 days. The females then lay the egg and pass it on to the male penguin while they go off to feed. Picture: National Geographic. Source: Supplied

They were created using a combination of ultrasound scans, computer graphics and small cameras - as well as some carefully created models - to document the animals' development from conception to birth, and give an unparalled glimpse into a world that few of us would ever expect to see.
The documentary explores the marked similarities between very different animals.

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