3D models and morphological data of Desmophyllum pertusum colony samples

Skeletal colony fragments of the deep-water coral <em>Desmophyllum pertusum</em> were digitized using the 3D surface scanner Artec Space Spider with the software Artec Studio 15. Multiple individual scans of each specimen were assembled through <em>Auto-alignment</em>, and converted into watertight polygonal 3D models (resolution 0.2 mm) using <em>Sharp fusion</em>. Noise and artefacts were removed whenever necessary with the <em>Small-object filter</em>, <em>Eraser</em> and <em>Defeature brush</em> tools. Convex hulls of the 3D models, as well as geometric (volume and surface area) measures of 3D models and convex hulls were computed in MeshLab v2020.12. <em>Compactness </em>was calculated as the ratio of mesh volume to convex hull volume. <em>Packing </em>was calculated as the ratio of mesh surface area to convex hull surface area. <em>Compactness</em> and <em>packing</em> are both dimensionless variables.