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Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈 @zhejiang0pterus.bsky.social · 13h

And that's not even getting into weird derived structures like the long scales of Longisquama and Mirasaura, Kulindadromeus's overlapping hexagon scales, the floppy back spikes of iguanas, etc. Tetrapod integument evolution is complex!

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Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈 @zhejiang0pterus.bsky.social · 13h

Then there's the numerous scale morphologies on fish, which may or may not all be homologous with each other.

The relationships between each of these are still rather poorly understood, and when looking at fossil tetrapods we should be careful with which one is which

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Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈 @zhejiang0pterus.bsky.social · 13h

We've got at least three types of scales in extant reptiles - dermal scales (maybe including croc scutes), epidermal scales of squamates, and bird foot scales, which are apparently secondarily derived from feathers. Plus the "scales" on rodent tails, pangolins, Castorocauda (some are hair-derived)

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Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈 @zhejiang0pterus.bsky.social · 13h

Random unprompted reminder that there are a whole bunch of different anatomical structures in tetrapods that are colloquially referred to as "scales", and the properties of one don't necessarily apply to all of them

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Sophie M. @sophiesaurus98.bsky.social · 19h

Thinking about some lesser known Steve Kirk dinosaur artwork today. His work shaped my childhood perception of prehistoric life more than any other artist and I have an endless appreciation for his ability to decorate his animals in eye-catchingly beautiful patterns that look painted from life.

The dome-nosed head of Giraffatitan, a huge sauropod dinosaur, looms into frame. The scaly, lightly wrinkled skin is splotched with a blend of greens, grey, and yellows in a pattern reminiscent of crocodylians.

A group of vibrantly patterned "hypsilophodonts" forage amid the misty fern-coated floor of a Jurassic prairie. A herd of massive Diplodocus, sporting crests of iguana-like spines, pass in the middle distance. Far off, a brachiosaurid browses from towering conifers.

A sandy-toned, subtly striped Allosaurus with blue crests charges through a dusty clearing, jaws agape and hands flexing.

Portraits of Corythosaurus, Lambeosaurus, and Parasaurolophus, shown with earthy green, brown, and reddish tones in complex mottled patterns. Their keratin-sheathed crests are richly detailed, as are their scaly hides.

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Darren Naish @tetzoo.bsky.social · 21h

Today I attended The Colour of Dinosaurs at MAST Mayflower Studios in Southampton, a made-for-kids blend of science advocacy and theatre, with tons of music. It revolves around the work of Jakob Vinther, who plays himself, but also emphasises the diversity of its human cast and... cont

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Darren Naish @tetzoo.bsky.social · 1d

What did the dodo look like in life? A reminder of this Tet Zoo article from 2020, which pulls together most of the relevant sources and has influenced at least some recent depictions ... tetzoo.com/blog/2020/7/... #birds #extinct #Dodo

The Dodo in Life — Tetrapod Zoology

dodo, Dodos, Raphus, Raphus cucullatus, Raphidae, extinct birds, birds, ornithology, pigeons, dodobird, extinct bird, bird extinction, flightless birds, flightless pigeons, Erroll Fuller, Julian Hume,...

tetzoo.com

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SaurianCYH @sauriancyh.bsky.social · 2d

Rhamphorhynchus

Was intended to be just a sketch but I spent 2 or 3 too many weeks on it.
#paleoart #sciart

Ventral view of a Rhamphorhynchus flying under a bright blue sky, wings fully open, while looking down towards the pov.

Ventral view of a Rhamphorhynchus flying under a bright blue sky, wings fully open, while looking down towards the pov, zoomed in to the animal's head, torso and hindlimbs.

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Oakland Zoo @oaklandzoo.bsky.social · 3d

Here it is, the signature soundtrack of Oakland Zoo (sound UP 🎶)

Gibbons make these whooping sounds for many reasons -- to send an alert about predators, as mating calls, to announce their territory to neighbors, or to strengthen social bonding.

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

emily moonlight @threnody.bsky.social · 3d

hi, cis folks in california!

this headline leaves out that newsom has another 5 days to sign these bills into law. if you’d like to tell him he should do that to protect trans californians, you should to reach out.

he also has a phone: (916) 445-2841

want to know what to say? next post! 🧵

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Mark Witton @markwitton.bsky.social · 4d

Preview of my latest #paleoart piece: a baby bison flees the deadliest predator of Ice Age Europe. Harrowing, harrowing stuff.

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 4d

Manuscript submitted - what @zhejiang0pterus.bsky.social and I initially thought would be a quick paper redescribing a handful of specimens but grew into 53 specimens, for which we traveled to 10 states plus DC... with some exciting implications.

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Stieven @stievenvdp.bsky.social · 6d

Hip Hip Hooray! Have a nice 120th nameday old chap.

Diorama feaaturing wildlife of the Hell Creek formation.

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Alessandro Chiarenza @macroecoevoale.bsky.social · 6d

A brilliant palaeontologist, Dr Tsogtbaatar, is facing a tough battle and needs help with medical expenses. Please consider donating or sharing the link: every bit truly helps. Thank you!

Donate to Help Dr. Tsogtbaatar, Icon of Mongolian Paleontology, organized by Lindsay Zanno

Renowned Mongolian paleontologist Dr. Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar is fig… Lindsay Zanno needs your support for Help Dr. Tsogtbaatar, Icon of Mongolian Paleontology

www.gofundme.com

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jvertpaleo.bsky.social @jvertpaleo.bsky.social · 6d

Oh hai! We're here now! Follow us for the latest articles published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology!

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 6d

Happy 120th Nameday, Tyrannosaurus rex and Albertosaurus sarcophagus!

Reconstructed skull of the holotype specimen of Tyrannosaurus rex

The 1905 and 1906 reconstructions of the skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex

Skull of Albertosaurus sarcophagus at the Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 6d

For those who want to read the original Osborn paper from 1905 naming Tyrannosaurus rex, its junior synonym Dynamosaurus imperiosus, and Albertosaurus sarcophagus, here it is!

digitallibrary.amnh.org/items/a02fc8...

digitallibrary.amnh.org

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Astra Fauna (Sarah Dahlinger) 🔜 Granite State Comic Con @astrafauna.bsky.social · Nov 13

Hi all! I'm Sarah the author and illustrator for #AstraFauna.
The book follows the non-official adventures of 5 alien scientists as they explore new worlds.
You can see more here! - www.astrafauna.com
#creatureart #NOAI #creature #scifi #indie

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JH @jhemiptera.bsky.social · 7d

I saw this blessed fish in Fukui last week @mosasaurologist.bsky.social

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Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈 @zhejiang0pterus.bsky.social · 7d

The big angry fish that eats everything!

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Sophie M. @sophiesaurus98.bsky.social · 7d

If you liked my thread, check out fellow @chasmosaurs.bsky.social author Marc’s three part review of it over on Love in the Time of Chasmosaurs! There is a TON of art I didn’t share that you’ll see there, it’s well worth your time.

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Reposted by Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈

Ben Miller @extinctmonsters.bsky.social · 8d

This adorable oreodont family has had quite a journey. Paul Miller made this mount for the U of Chicago Walker Museum in 1924. They were transferred to the Field when the Walker shut down, then loaned to the BYU museum for 60 years. The oreodonts are now back in Chicago. #FossilFriday

Framed plaster slab with three mounted Miniochoerus skeletons

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Daniel Dockery @dandock.bsky.social · 9d

Get really into dinosaurs. That's my recommendation for a happier life. Each day, I get news like "Look at this big freak that used roam the Earth!" or "Ya know the big freak you already loved? Fossils show it was even more freakish!" and it's a blessing every time.

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Sternberg Museum Paleontology @sternbergpaleo.bsky.social · 8d

This #FossilFriday, we have our museum's most recognizable fossil: Fish-Within-A-Fish! Featuring Xiphactinus, a large predatory fish, with the smaller Gillicus in its gut contents. It was found and collected by George F. Sternberg in 1952, and is now an iconic part of the Sternberg's collections!

Fish-within-a-fish fossil at the Sternberg Museum. A fossil Xiphactinus with a Gillicus within the gut contents. A dark brown fish fossil within another fish fossil against a light brown background.

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Henry Thomas 🦤🏳️‍🌈 @zhejiang0pterus.bsky.social · 8d

Well my memory was wayyyy off but I found it!!! It's from Dinosaurs: Lifestyles of the Big and Carnivorous, produced by Standard Deviants (an edutainment troupe) in 2001. The rest of it was completely erased from my memory. I presume it was a library rental

In the back, a red cartoon Oviraptor (labeled "Oviraptor") holds eggs and looms over a nest in a prairie. In front of it is a visual of two Oviraptor heads. The left head is surrounded by flowers and labeled "Egg Nurterer". The right head is dressed as a pirate and labeled "Egg Robber".

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