🦭 Walrus skulls tell a deep story! Analyzing 300+ specimens across Arctic populations shows that sex is the dominant driver of shape w/males developing compact, reinforced skulls for tusk combat, females remain more gracile. Boisville et al.: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

New study on Tasmanian devil & other dasyurids reveals how forelimb muscle structure relates to behavior. Dissections & CT showed largely conserved musculature. Differences hint at specialization in prey processing & arboreal movement Bidaye et al: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Very well-timed publication of my most recent work at @royalsociety.org Proc B showcasing the backbone of my future research at @stonybrooku.bsky.social! There is still much to learn about ray-finned fish neurocranial evolution and the diversity of ways brain and endocasts interact in this lineage!

🏺 🧪 🦣 I've commented on this research elsewhere, but while #Neanderthals using a stone tool to dig around in a rotten tooth is far from surprising (we know they used tooth picks), I don't think it's possible to describe it as being "drilled". journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

Vomeronasal groove is a reliable marker for vomeronasal organ in Caniformia & its presence is confirmed in river otters. Findings challenge assumptions re. sensory regression in aquatic mammals & reveal olfactory evolution complexity Palmer et al.: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

🦖 A nearly complete Stenopterygius fossil was identified from the Yorkshire coast, representing the first definitive confirmation of this ichthyosaur species within the UK. 🔍 Read the full study: doi.org/10.3897/fr.29.185733 @univlille.bsky.social @smnstuttgart.bsky.social

CT reconstruction of Riojasuchus tenuisceps reveals complex snout neurovascular system w/high foramen density like modern crocodilians & birds, suggesting tactile foraging in wading environments not scavenging or active hunting Ulloa-Guaiquin et al anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

A muscle that has been discussed in the literature for over 100 years and its role in aquatic and terrestrial #locomotion in #penguins Hirsch et al 2026 @AnatRecord The signature waddle: Myology of the appendicular #skeleton of the macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) doi.org/10.1002/ar.7...

Limited phenotypic #diversity and insular gigantism in #lagomorphs (partly) explained by evolutionary constraint placed on them by potentially competing ungulate-type herbivores (UTHs). Tomiya & Miller (2021) @sse-evolution.bsky.social Why aren’t #rabbit and #hares larger? doi.org/10.1111/evo....

New specimens of the "bony-toothed" seabird Pelagornis, including a braincase from the Miocene Astoria Formation: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... 🪶🧪 (📷Goedert et al.)

Study on columellar disparity: #Birds have proportionally smaller columellae than other #sauropsids. This may facilitate higher-frequency hearing. Peacock et al 2026 @anatrecord.bsky.social Clade-wide morphological and functional variation of the sauropsid columella 👇

New paper out in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology! Taxonomic reassessment of tristichopterid materials (Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha) from Middle Devonian Red Hill, Nevada, USA by Leong and Liu (2026). Read the full study here: buff.ly/kqHxf4E #PaleoSky #NewResearch #Devonian

Many-to-one mapping: Two strategies to crack open extremely tough-shelled seeds in rat-kangaroos. Randall et al 2025 @linneansociety.bsky.social Cracking the case: differential adaptations to hard biting dominate cranial shape in rat-kangaroos (Potoroidae: Bettongia) with divergent #diets

Field of view in #lagomorphs: more divergent orbit orientation in cursorial species -> complete view of environment 👀 Kraatz et al 2026 @royalsocietypublishing.org A backward view of visual adaptations: cranial specialization and predator evasion within a cursorial #mammal doi.org/10.1098/rsos...

New paper out in @journalofanatomy.bsky.social ! With @CyrilETIENNE and @houssayecnrs.bsky.social, we explored how limb bone inner structure varies across bovids of different sizes and habitats.

Evolutionary drivers of humeral (upper wing bone) shape in hummingbirds: royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article... 🪶🧪 (📷Ríos-Orjuela et al.)

Comparative analysis of primate hind limb muscle moment arms using subject-specific three-dimensional musculoskeletal models royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...

Sunbirds don’t drink nectar like hummingbirds. They use intralingual suction: the tongue acts like a straw, moving nectar via pressure differences rather than capillarity. A clear case of biomechanical divergence despite ecological convergence. doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... @CurrentBiology #ornithology

#Body reconstruction and #size estimation of #plesiosaurs by Ruizhe Jackevan Zhao: peerj.com/articles/21146 in @peerj.bsky.social relevant to #EvolutionaryStudies #MathematicalBiology #Paleontology #Zoology

First-Ever Egg of a Mammal Ancestor Discovered! Research by myself, Julien Benoit (Wits) and Vincent Fernandez (ESRF) presents the first-ever egg of the therapsid Lystrosaurus, finally answering the question: Did the ancestors of mammals lay eggs? Yes, they did! doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Do you want to know how to build an organ from a single cell? Check out our paper about phyllid development in moss by Weney Lin @irbv.bsky.social Colaboration with Yoan Couder @ensdelyon.bsky.social and and Richard Smith @johninnescentre.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

⟦Albrecht et al.⟧ Variation in foraging ecology of common dolphins in the Celtic Seas ecoregion https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1728196/full 🐬 #cetaceans #marinemammals #marinelife #marinebiology #dolphins #Science

Tiny, ferocious #carnivores: Galanthis baskini is the oldest record of a #weasel. This groundbreaking #fossil discovery pushes back the origins of these mustelins by nearly 3 million years. 👇

Size #diversity in Mesozoic aquatic #reptiles: Body mass estimates in #plesiosaurs range from 79 kg to 12,824 kg. 👇

Our new paper published in @zoojlinnsoc.bsky.social on the osteology and neuroanatomy of the crocodyliform Koumiodontosuchus. Great study led by @christijanibarker.bsky.social with @tetzoo.bsky.social et al academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a... @linneansociety.bsky.social @sotonbiosciences.bsky.social

Fascinating #deep-sea creatures 🤩 🧵 [1/2] Jamieson et al 2026 Biodiversity Data Journal. Faunal biodiversity of the lower abyssal and hadal zones of the #Japan, Ryukyu and Izu-Ogasawara trenches (NW Pacific #Ocean; 4534-9775 m) doi.org/10.3897/BDJ....

Complex interplay of ecological and behavioral factors shape lure #morphology across habitats in #anglerfishes. #fish Maile & Davis 2026 Ichtyology and Herpetology. The #Evolution of Lures in Anglerfishes (Acanthuriformes: Lophioidei): Investigating Nature's Tackle Box doi.org/10.1643/i202...

🦜 Discover how the Blue-and-yellow Macaw’s powerful beak and specialized muscles combine to deliver a crushing bite force of 233N, enabling it to crack tough fruits with precision! Read the study by Posso et al anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

#Evolution of modern birds followed a slow process of gradualism. KPg #extinction event seems to have had limited impact on birds’ evolution. Wu. et al 2024 PNAS Genomes, fossils, and the concurrent rise of modern #birds and flowering #plants in the Late Cretaceous doi.org/10.1073/pnas...

Transition from terrestrial to amphibious marine lifestyle: One of the earliest #pinnipeds (Potamotherium) was likely a whisker specialist. Lyras et al 2023 Communications Biology. Fossil #brains provide evidence of underwater feeding in early #seals doi.org/10.1038/s420... #FossilFriday

An isolated ulna from Jurassic of Wyoming reveals new details about Docodon, an early mammal relative. Its anatomy links it to other docodontans, but also shows more primitive form, lacking adaptations for digging or swimming. Averianov & Sues: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Silicified scales and a tiny ear bone (otolith) have been found inside a rock from the Makah Formation, revealing a new prehistoric fish species named 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪. Read all about it: doi.org/10.3897/zitteliana.100.182311 @leibnizlib.bsky.social

New research reveals first comprehensive hypothesis of soft-tissue anatomy in ceratopsid dinosaurs. Reconstruction of Triceratops’ nasal nerves, glands & respiratory turbinates suggests unique innervation and head-cooling adaptations. Tada et al.: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Pangolins possess a spectacular, dense network of diploic veins for brain drainage! In our latest study, we show that this pattern may also provide rare morphological evidence linking pangolins and carnivorans in the Ferae clade. Check it out here: academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...

Mummified early Permian reptile reveals ancient amniote breathing apparatus www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Musculoskeletal function of stem tetrapod limbs onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @crocodilejulia.bsky.social @johnrhutchinson.bsky.social @royalvetcollege.bsky.social

Our new paper is online! We found that 1) today's shark & ray diversity was already reached ~100Ma; 2) that the K/Pg extinction was not catastrophic; 3) that the max diversity was reached ~50Ma; and 4) that today's diversity is depleted compared to the past. www.cell.com/current-biol...

Congrats to @gwynchil.bsky.social on her first first-author publication in @paleosoc.bsky.social Paleobiology! www.cambridge.org/core/journal... - based on her undergrad thesis w/ me at Williams, Gwyn finds that tiny worm teeth(scolecodonts) get smaller across the Late Devonian extinction event

Mark your calender! 🗓️🆕 #Paleo4Alps The joint meeting of the Palaeontological Societies of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland takes place from July 19-23, 2026 in Bolzano/Bozen (Italy). 🐣Early bird registration until April 30, 2026 #palaeontology

#Evolution in real time: Arrival of a new phenotype in the common wall lizard disrupts balancing selection. Uller et al 2026 @science.org Adaptive spread of a sexually selected syndrome eliminates an ancient color polymorphism in wall #lizards doi.org/10.1126/scie...

Possible #synapomorphy uniting #palaeanodonts and #pangolins in #Pholidotamorpha: Presence of a well-developed orbital gyrus and a presylvian sulcus --> Expansion of the orbital gyrus (neocortex) is proposed to be related to the #evolution of #myrmecophagy and emergence of a protrusile #tongue 👇

Decoupled phenotypic constraints framed by respiratory adaptation in the rise of land vertebrates | Science Advances www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Female birds more likely to sing when extended family help Territoriality modulates the coevolution of cooperative breeding and female song in songbirds🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41... Cooperative breeding shapes the evolution of vocal communication differently based on territorial context and sex

Hedgehogs can hear sound frequencies of at least 4-85 kHz. For comparison: The maximal hearing range in humans is commonly given as 20 kHz. Rasmussen et al 2026 @royalsociety.org Hearing and anatomy of the ear of the European #hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...

ENHYDROSS: A New Mechanistic Model Supports the Trans-Oceanic Dispersal Capability of Terrestrial Vertebrates onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

We are pleased to share our new paper on the impact of sample composition on Neandertal/modern human taxonomic discrimination, using nonmetric traits at the enamel–dentine junction and crown tissue proportions of canines and premolars.@AJBA, @pacea.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Three-dimensionally preserved skull of Arothron from the Pleistocene of Taiwan: palaeo-electronica.org/content/2026...

Partial analyses of humeral shape in sauropodomorph dinosaurs highlight a hidden modularity and the differential evolution of sauropod bauplan‐related traits - Lefebvre - 2026 - Palaeontology - Wiley Online Library onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

A new species of the Cretaceous coelacanth Macropoma identified from an old museum specimen: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Hey y'all. I'm a month late to this, but I wanted to share that one of my PhD chapters was published in Systematic Biology with my advisor, Frank Burbrink. Here, we explore how ecological opportunity influences phenotypic evolution in North American natricid snakes. 🧵/8