Richard Butler
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richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler
@richardjbutler.bsky.social
1.2K followers 280 following 310 posts

Dinosaur researcher, Professor of Palaeobiology & Director of Research, University of Birmingham. Mostly in meetings; would rather be on fieldwork. Current projects in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇲🇦 🇷🇸 🇰🇬 🇺🇸 🇷🇴 🇭🇺

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Richard James Butler is a vertebrate palaeontologist at the University of Birmingham, where he holds the title of professor of palaeobiology. His research focuses on ornithischian dinosaur evolution, dinosaur origins, and fossil tetrapod macroevolution. .. more

Environmental science 39%
Geology 28%
Posts Replies Media Videos

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 3d
I’d say we’re more confident about some of the rhabdodontids being ceratopsians than their exact phylogenetic position within Ceratopsia, and different positions will impact inferences of frill evolution. More to come on this all!

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 4d
Jim it’s Susie, not Suzy 🙂

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 4d
I guess that if you suggest that people might have been misclassifying their dinosaur species incorrectly for decades you should expect some outraged responses 😀

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 4d
Super excited to have been part of this Nature paper which provides key new evidence for horned dinosaurs in Late Cretaceous Europe.

This is the second first author Nature paper for the amazing @tweetisaurus.bsky.social in under six months! And both on ornithischians!
tweetisaurus.bsky.social Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 4d
Out in @nature.com today, we shake up the ornithischian family tree. Remember those weird Late Cretaceous iguanodontians, the rhabdodontids? Well they're weird because they aren't iguanodontians. They're ceratopsians. Well, at least some of them are... www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A hidden diversity of ceratopsian dinosaurs in Late Cretaceous Europe - Nature
New results indicate that rhabdodontids and the previously described Ajkaceratops are actually distinctive European ceratopsians, a group better known from Asia and North America.
www.nature.com

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

endofthepier.bsky.social
Henry Gee @endofthepier.bsky.social · 4d
A hidden diversity of European ceratopsian dinosaurs emerges blinking into the light @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A hidden diversity of ceratopsian dinosaurs in Late Cretaceous Europe - Nature
New results indicate that rhabdodontids and the previously described Ajkaceratops are actually distinctive European ceratopsians, a group better known from Asia and North America.
www.nature.com

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

sketchy-raptor.bsky.social
Dr Matt Dempsey @sketchy-raptor.bsky.social · 4d
New material of Ajkaceratops cements its identity as a ceratopsian, but adds a new wrinkle. It turns out that many european ornithischians previously classified as iguanodontians may actually be ceratopsians! New paper by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social et al., that I provided art for (link in reply).

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

tweetisaurus.bsky.social
Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 4d
Out in @nature.com today, we shake up the ornithischian family tree. Remember those weird Late Cretaceous iguanodontians, the rhabdodontids? Well they're weird because they aren't iguanodontians. They're ceratopsians. Well, at least some of them are... www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A hidden diversity of ceratopsian dinosaurs in Late Cretaceous Europe - Nature
New results indicate that rhabdodontids and the previously described Ajkaceratops are actually distinctive European ceratopsians, a group better known from Asia and North America.
www.nature.com

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

stevebrusatte.bsky.social
Steve Brusatte @stevebrusatte.bsky.social · 4d
A shake-up of the dinosaur family tree! Rhabdodontids are not ornithopods. They are ceratopsians.

There were horned dinosaurs in Europe! As shown by a new fossil of Ajkaceratops from Hungary!

Check out our new study, led by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social ⤵️

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

nhm-london.bsky.social
Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 4d
Relatives of Triceratops have never been found in Europe – until now.

New research reveals that many rhabdodontid dinosaurs might actually be ceratopsians after all - rewriting what we know about Cretaceous Europe!

Find out all about these dinosaurs 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
Europe’s missing ceratopsian dinosaurs have finally been found | Natural History Museum
A dinosaur named Ajkaceratops has revealed that relatives of Triceratops lived in Europe after all.
www.nhm.ac.uk

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

tweetisaurus.bsky.social
Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 5d
Next Tuesday evening I'm giving an online seminar on Spicomellus for our funders, the British Institute of Libyan and Northern African Studies. It's free and anyone can come! Sign up here if you're interested us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Bizarre dinosaurs from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco: implications for armoured dinosaur evolution. After registering, you will receive a confirmation emai...
The Middle Jurassic is a critical time in the evolution of the dinosaurs because it witnessed the radiation of many groups, giving rise to a diversity of familiar forms such as the plated stegosaurs a...
us02web.zoom.us

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

tweetisaurus.bsky.social
Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 5d
On this cold cold January morning, warm your cockles by listening to the second part of our chat with the one-and-only @stevebrusatte.bsky.social here: fossils.libsyn.com/19-dinosaurs... or wherever you get your podcasts #FossilFiles @thefossilfiles.bsky.social
The Fossil Files: 19. Dinosaurs were doing fine (before the asteroid), with Steve Brusatte. part 2
Part 2: Around 66 million years ago an enormous asteroid barrelled into the earth and wiped out  ichthyosaurs, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs*. Debate has raged back and forth as to whether the dinosa...
fossils.libsyn.com

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

stupond.bsky.social
Stu Pond @stupond.bsky.social · 12d
Great piece on this morning's Today program on Radio 4 about the discovery of the weird and very spiky Jurassic ankylosaur Spicomellus from Morocco, featuring @tweetisaurus.bsky.social, @richardjbutler.bsky.social, @ahmedoussou.bsky.social and @simonwills.bsky.social.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
How scientists discovered a 165m-year-old bizarre dinosaur - BBC Sounds
Our science editor Rebecca Morelle went behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum.
www.bbc.co.uk

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 15d
Great to see our work at the Oxfordshire ‘Dinosaur Highway’ featuring on this list:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
2025: The science stories that stopped us in our tracks
From ancient footprints to planet parades, 2025 science amazed us with discoveries on Earth and beyond.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Richard J. Butler, Ondřej Mottl

lewisajones.bsky.social
Lewis A. Jones (he/him) @lewisajones.bsky.social · 19d
🚨 Pre-announcement! 🚨

We’re hiring for 2 x two-year, full-time roles to join me and the wider @palaeoverse.bsky.social team @es-ucl.bsky.social.

- Research Software Engineer (REF: B04-06999): lnkd.in/eNRBiPnP

- Community Engagement Coordinator (REF: B04-06998): lnkd.in/ejUACCzn

Reposted by Richard J. Butler, John R. Hutchinson, Marta Mìrazón Lahr

tweetisaurus.bsky.social
Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 20d
JOB KLAXON! The @nhm-london.bsky.social is recruiting a micro-CT specialist! jobs.nhm.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
CT Data and Micro CT Specialist :South Kensington
jobs.nhm.ac.uk

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 21d
I’m not sure I can simultaneously deal with the Antwerp ring road and listen to Shakin’ Stevens yet again.

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 21d
Too many times to count.

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 22d
I’m driving 12 hours through five countries this weekend & my daughter is insistent we must only listen to Christmas radio stations. Send help.

Reposted by Richard J. Butler, John R. Hutchinson

cbrassey.bsky.social
Charlotte Brassey @cbrassey.bsky.social · 23d
New microCT job! Come run our new Heritage Science lab at ManMet. 5 year post funded by AHRC. Responsible for the microCT plus terrestrial LiDAR, surface laser scanners and more! Happy to consider any disciplinary background manmetjobs.mmu.ac.uk/jobs/vacancy...

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 23d
Surely the bad jokes and childish banter are the whole point?

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 23d
Magnificent artwork from projects with which I was involved in 2025, by @sketchy-raptor.bsky.social @markwitton.bsky.social @maijakarala.bsky.social

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

tweetisaurus.bsky.social
Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 24d
This year, @nhm-london.bsky.social scientists have described 262 new species. Josh talks us though these discoveries, including one by @profpaulbarrett.bsky.social and I.. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfTx...
What new species were discovered in 2025? | Natural History Museum
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
www.youtube.com

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 25d
Last day in the office for 2025. It’s been an incredible year workwise, but as always the greatest pleasure and privilege is the people I get to work with. Thanks in particular to my main partners in crime @tweetisaurus.bsky.social & @kirstymedgar.bsky.social for being absolutely inspirational.

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 25d
Recommended, even if you’ve heard Susie talk about stegosaurs before. How could you ever have enough of Susie talking about stegosaurs?
tweetisaurus.bsky.social Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 25d
On the off-chance that you are one of the three people left in the world who hasn't heard me talking about stegosaurs, you can catch me here, on The Ancients podcast: youtube.com/watch?v=I9Vk...
Inside The Bizarre Biology Of The Stegosaurs
YouTube video by The Ancients
youtube.com

Reposted by Richard J. Butler

tweetisaurus.bsky.social
Prof Susie Maidment @tweetisaurus.bsky.social · 25d
On the off-chance that you are one of the three people left in the world who hasn't heard me talking about stegosaurs, you can catch me here, on The Ancients podcast: youtube.com/watch?v=I9Vk...
Inside The Bizarre Biology Of The Stegosaurs
YouTube video by The Ancients
youtube.com

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 25d
Some of the best landscapes I visited in 2025, in the USA 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 and Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 26d
Yes @plos.org, I’m sure I am an appropriate reviewer of a systematic review of caesarean section rates.

This sort of thing is why I stopped publishing or reviewing with PLOS One over a decade ago. Disappointing to see issues haven’t gone away.

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 27d
It’s clear that Greg Paul has become a taxonomic vandal.

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 27d
You could always pitch it to The Conversation!

richardjbutler.bsky.social
Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 27d
Notably, all these discoveries came from fundamental field- and collections work, which is often underappreciated. @tweetisaurus.bsky.social & I wrote a perspective this year on the importance of taxonomy & field discoveries, and the future of this work: royalsocietypublishing.org/rsbl/article...
New frontiers in dinosaur exploration
Abstract. Two hundred years after the naming of the first dinosaur, taxonomic studies remain an important component of dinosaur research. Around 50 new din
royalsocietypublishing.org