he workflow for establishing a hybrid framework to estimate body mass in plesiosaurs. (A) Acquire data from fossil specimens (illustrated here using the modified image of Sachicasaurus vitae, Paramo-Fonseca, Benavides-Cabra & Gutierrez, 2018, CC BY 4.0). (B) Create lateral-view silhouettes of skeletal elements. (C) Estimate the dimensions of missing fossil elements through regression formulae and/or comparisons with closely related taxa. (D) Reconstruct the main body axis, including the dimensions and shape of the skull and vertebral column. (E) Reconstruct the ribcage in both lateral view and transverse cross-sections jointly, then restore the soft-tissue outlines of the main body axis and the flippers. (F) Estimate the body mass using the cross-sectional method (Zhao, 2024). (G) Establish body mass equations from the mass estimates of multiple species. Elements in this figure are not to scale. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21146/fig-1

Silhouettes of representative plesiosaur models from different clades, showing the reconstructed body outlines and transverse cross-sections. All models are scaled to the same length. (A) Thalassomedon haningtoni. (B) Aristonectes quiriquinensis. (C) Sachicasaurus vitae. (D) Liopleurodon ferox (E) Abyssosaurus nataliae. (F) Cryptoclidus eurymerus. (G) Martinectes bonneri. (H) Polycotylus latipinnis. (I) Meyerasaurus victor. (J) Macroplata tenuiceps. (K) Seeleyosaurus guilelmiimperatoris. (L) Microcleidus tournemirensis. (M) Nichollssaura borealis. (N) Brancasaurus brancai. (O) Plesiopterys wildi. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21146/fig-4

Representative plesiosaur reconstructions created in this study. (A) Kronosaurus queenslandicus. (B) Albertonectes vanderveldei. (C) Aristonectes quiriquinensis. (D) Plesiopterys wildi. (E) Brancasaurus brancai. (F) Liopleurodon ferox. (G) Seeleyosaurus guilelmiimperatoris. (H) Meyerasaurus victor. (I) Cryptoclidus eurymerus. (J) Mauriciosaurus fernandezi. All limbs are vertically oriented for display. The dorsal ribs in these skeletal reconstructions have been aesthetically refined and thus differ from the initial versions used to infer ribcage cross-sections. Scale bar equals 1 m. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21146/fig-5

Scatter plot and regression models of the pruned skull-neck dataset. The red curve, green dashed line, and the blue dotted line represent the nonlinear regression model based on a log–logistic (LL) function, the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model, and the Phylogenetic Generalized Least Squares (PGLS) model, respectively. Lower values of sample-size corrected Akaike Information Criterion (AICc) and mean per cent prediction error (∣%PE∣) represent better model performance. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21146/fig-8

#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

The first non-mammalian synapsid embryo from the Triassic of South Africa Oviparity was likely the plesiomorphic reproductive condition for non-mammalian Synapsida, the stem-mammal group. Yet, despite nearly two centuries of research, no definitive fossil eggs of late Palae...

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/...

Frontiers | Variation in foraging ecology of common dolphins in the Celtic Seas ecoregion Predators forage by balancing the energy content of prey with the energy required to capture it, selecting prey based on their foraging strategy. In the Celt...

⟦Albrecht et al.⟧ Variation in foraging ecology of common dolphins in the Celtic Seas ecoregion www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/... 🐬 #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

Organisms observed in Ryukyu and Izu-Ogasawara trenches (NW Pacific Ocean).

🧵 [2/2]

Pseudoliparis - the deepest recorded #fish

Animalia incerta sedis - A completely unknown animal 😲

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 Nature - A mummified fossil of the early Permian reptile Captorhinus reveals the potential ancestral amniote breathing mechanism and its impact on terrestrial vertebrate evolution.

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

Top right: Sketch of a salamander illustrating the defined movements of the proximal (hip) and distal (elbow) limb joints measured in this study. Middle left: A muscle map for the giant salamander Dicamptodon, used as model comparator for the stem tetrapods. Lower row: left (blue rectangle) cover image for the journal Palaeontology; middle, musculoskeletal model in a mid-stance pose; right, plot of muscle moment arms.

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

Revealing the hidden patterns of shark and ray diversity over the past 145 million years Gardiner et al. reconstruct the diversity of sharks and rays across the past 145 million years using deep learning and an extensive dataset. Their results unveil previously hidden patterns, including ...

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

Consider submitting an abstract for our #Paleo4Alps #symposium @boehmergroup.bsky.social

S6: Exceptional soft tissue preservation in #fossils and the reconstruction thereof based on osteological covariation.

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 Macroevolutionary models show that rib-based breathing released constraints on body size and cranial evolution in early amniotes.

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

Phylogeny showing the classifications of cooperative breeding (outer circle) and female song (inner circle) for 1,041 Oscine species.

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 We introduce ENHYDROSS, a new mechanistic model that uses optimal swimming speed and minimum cost of transport to estimate maximum dispersal distances and durations for vertebrates, enabling assessme...

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

Nonmetric Traits at the Enamel‐Dentine Junction and Crown Tissue Proportions of Canines and Premolars in Neandertals and Modern Humans: Impact of Sample Composition on Taxonomic Discrimination Objectives This study assesses the efficacy of analyzing nonmetric traits at the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) and tissue proportions of upper and lower canines and premolars to distinguish Neandert...

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/...