Ali Nabavizadeh
@vertanatomist.bsky.social
Evolutionary Anatomist, Vertebrate Paleontologist, Zoologist, Author
Pinned
Introduction time! I’m an evolutionary anatomist and vertebrate paleontologist teaching medical gross anatomy as an assistant professor. I do research on craniofacial anatomy and function in herbivorous dinosaurs, dicynodonts, and elephants. I also recently wrote a book on Dinosaur Feeding Biology!
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
SVP Diversity Committee co-chair here. Feel free to dm me your thoughts. I’m working with DivComm and some other committees on an action plan and I’d love to know what you want to happen and what would make you feel safer, reassured, and welcome.
SVP has finally put out the statement they should have put out 9 days ago, instead of the disgraceful one they put out originally. This is better, but it's not enough. If SVP wants to regain its members' trust without increasing transparency, we need to see results, not promises.
February 14, 2026 at 5:36 PM
SVP Diversity Committee co-chair here. Feel free to dm me your thoughts. I’m working with DivComm and some other committees on an action plan and I’d love to know what you want to happen and what would make you feel safer, reassured, and welcome.
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
It's no secret I absolutely hate the movie "300" & its horrible, awful portrayal of Xerxes & the Persians. I know it's based on a graphic novel and yes I also blame that graphic novelist's portrayal. If I ever have time to write a graphic novel, I think I'd like to write a much more measured...(1/2)
February 12, 2026 at 4:28 PM
It's no secret I absolutely hate the movie "300" & its horrible, awful portrayal of Xerxes & the Persians. I know it's based on a graphic novel and yes I also blame that graphic novelist's portrayal. If I ever have time to write a graphic novel, I think I'd like to write a much more measured...(1/2)
It's no secret I absolutely hate the movie "300" & its horrible, awful portrayal of Xerxes & the Persians. I know it's based on a graphic novel and yes I also blame that graphic novelist's portrayal. If I ever have time to write a graphic novel, I think I'd like to write a much more measured...(1/2)
February 12, 2026 at 4:28 PM
It's no secret I absolutely hate the movie "300" & its horrible, awful portrayal of Xerxes & the Persians. I know it's based on a graphic novel and yes I also blame that graphic novelist's portrayal. If I ever have time to write a graphic novel, I think I'd like to write a much more measured...(1/2)
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Thrilled to share that our new #OA paper is out in @anatrecord.bsky.social! You like horned dinosaurs including famous Triceratops? we provide the the first comprehensive hypothesis on their soft‐tissue anatomy, based on detailed comparisons with living reptiles! doi.org/10.1002/ar.7...
February 11, 2026 at 4:29 PM
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Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
Finally, I can break silence! I did a lot of creature design work for this show (collaborating, of course, with the production team) and think the animals are looking pretty good here! This was a lot of fun to work on - will be watching on Mar. 6!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ZB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ZB...
The Dinosaurs | Official Trailer | Netflix
YouTube video by Netflix
www.youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Finally, I can break silence! I did a lot of creature design work for this show (collaborating, of course, with the production team) and think the animals are looking pretty good here! This was a lot of fun to work on - will be watching on Mar. 6!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ZB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ZB...
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
Is @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social being serious here?
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
February 4, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Is @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social being serious here?
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
Let‘s open this question up: who are the kindest, most wholesome paleontologists you know (Current/retired/historical/whatever)? Who SHOULD be featured in documentaries?
I’m tired of doomering, let’s focus on the bright lights among us.
I’m tired of doomering, let’s focus on the bright lights among us.
Ok, so is there any non-creep paleo figure the public would recognize from the 80s through 2000s?
February 2, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Let‘s open this question up: who are the kindest, most wholesome paleontologists you know (Current/retired/historical/whatever)? Who SHOULD be featured in documentaries?
I’m tired of doomering, let’s focus on the bright lights among us.
I’m tired of doomering, let’s focus on the bright lights among us.
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
Founders of modern paleontology, and their contributions to systemic racism, classism and sexism (🧵)
Henry Osborn (1857–1935), responsible for naming of Tyrannosaurus & Velociraptor; president of ANHM.
Co-founder of the American Eugenics Society. Contributing to books later praised by Hitler.
Henry Osborn (1857–1935), responsible for naming of Tyrannosaurus & Velociraptor; president of ANHM.
Co-founder of the American Eugenics Society. Contributing to books later praised by Hitler.
February 2, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Founders of modern paleontology, and their contributions to systemic racism, classism and sexism (🧵)
Henry Osborn (1857–1935), responsible for naming of Tyrannosaurus & Velociraptor; president of ANHM.
Co-founder of the American Eugenics Society. Contributing to books later praised by Hitler.
Henry Osborn (1857–1935), responsible for naming of Tyrannosaurus & Velociraptor; president of ANHM.
Co-founder of the American Eugenics Society. Contributing to books later praised by Hitler.
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Iranians are experiencing a collective trauma. Thousands have been killed/injured in recent events, the economy is crippled & the threat of a wider conflict is real. This is especially difficult for those living in Iran, as many have lost (or fear losing) loved ones. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
February 3, 2026 at 5:12 PM
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Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
Crowds packed Elephant Lands on Sunday as the Oregon Zoo celebrated Tula-Tu’s first birthday with keeper talks, a new oversized ball and a special food “cake” shared by the herd.
Oregon Zoo celebrates 1st birthday of 1,000 pound baby elephant Tula-Tu
Crowds packed Elephant Lands on Sunday as the Oregon Zoo celebrated Tula-Tu’s first birthday with keeper talks, a new oversized ball and a special food “cake” shared by the herd.
www.oregonlive.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Crowds packed Elephant Lands on Sunday as the Oregon Zoo celebrated Tula-Tu’s first birthday with keeper talks, a new oversized ball and a special food “cake” shared by the herd.
Late in saying this: To men in paleontology, anatomy, & academia as a whole--we need to do better. We MUST do better. Our science should be a safe space for all & it is not. It is our responsibility to create a safe environment with our actions. Be a light that outshines the dark edges of our field.
February 2, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Late in saying this: To men in paleontology, anatomy, & academia as a whole--we need to do better. We MUST do better. Our science should be a safe space for all & it is not. It is our responsibility to create a safe environment with our actions. Be a light that outshines the dark edges of our field.
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
You know palaeontology online spheres are dominated by men, with a big name being outed as a peado accomplice, the first thing they comment on are "I never agreed with his stance on T.rex" & "I preferred Bakker/Gould anyway"
And not "The field is rotten to the core with sex pests and weird men"
And not "The field is rotten to the core with sex pests and weird men"
February 2, 2026 at 12:37 AM
You know palaeontology online spheres are dominated by men, with a big name being outed as a peado accomplice, the first thing they comment on are "I never agreed with his stance on T.rex" & "I preferred Bakker/Gould anyway"
And not "The field is rotten to the core with sex pests and weird men"
And not "The field is rotten to the core with sex pests and weird men"
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
There's been a lull in the open conversation around abusive and creepy behavior in academic paleontology since the Me-Too era, but the problem has not, to put it mildly, gone away
February 2, 2026 at 2:05 PM
There's been a lull in the open conversation around abusive and creepy behavior in academic paleontology since the Me-Too era, but the problem has not, to put it mildly, gone away
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
Jack Horner being in the Epstein files is not something I had on my bingo card for 2026.... Horner seemingly visited Epstein's ranch multiple times, including apparently with a student.
![Email from John Horner to Jeffrey Epstein 6/29/2012
Hi [redacted] Since i don't really know how long it would take to get from Albuquerque to the ranch and visa versa [sic], and don't know how I'm to get there (would someone be picking me up or should I rent a car) it would probably be best if you just booked the flight for me. Delta Airlines connecting through Salt Lake is the most convenient for me. My official name and frequent number [sic] is:
John Robert Horner
Delta # [REDACTED]
The geology maps are perfect.
Jack](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:eqyx54eikl5vllctjxufeavr/bafkreibg4c5lemsmrg5i5lwlbncm442psefpawe3chmcd2wgrw3qbtealy@jpeg)
![email from Lesley Groff to Jeffrey Epstein
"Reminder: John Horner and student to visit ranch today... [redacted] =ill [sic] be taking care of them...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:eqyx54eikl5vllctjxufeavr/bafkreidykpmdkytzqsinvhufnpoyvhxkajaj6oltk2jjjoafnracumq63m@jpeg)
February 1, 2026 at 1:45 AM
Jack Horner being in the Epstein files is not something I had on my bingo card for 2026.... Horner seemingly visited Epstein's ranch multiple times, including apparently with a student.
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
Of course the worst people in the world influence paleontology (and many other sciences).
Do you know how many fossil halls are named after the Koch brothers? With museums shrugging “Well where else are we going to get the money?”
Do you know how many fossil halls are named after the Koch brothers? With museums shrugging “Well where else are we going to get the money?”
February 2, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Of course the worst people in the world influence paleontology (and many other sciences).
Do you know how many fossil halls are named after the Koch brothers? With museums shrugging “Well where else are we going to get the money?”
Do you know how many fossil halls are named after the Koch brothers? With museums shrugging “Well where else are we going to get the money?”
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Men of academia: please know that we see how you react to news of big names associating with Epstein.
We see who says ”you have to look for grant money wherever you can”, ignoring that inviting Epstein to conferences, gatherings, fields sites, etc. puts the young women at those events in danger. 1/
We see who says ”you have to look for grant money wherever you can”, ignoring that inviting Epstein to conferences, gatherings, fields sites, etc. puts the young women at those events in danger. 1/
February 2, 2026 at 4:21 PM
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Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
Elephant tusks are modified incisor teeth that the beasts use like multitools. Look at the tusks of this Gomphotherium. You can see the worn surfaces - especially on the upper tusks - and how smoothly the lower tusks are beveled down. All from activities like stripping bark and breaking branches. 🧪
January 30, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Elephant tusks are modified incisor teeth that the beasts use like multitools. Look at the tusks of this Gomphotherium. You can see the worn surfaces - especially on the upper tusks - and how smoothly the lower tusks are beveled down. All from activities like stripping bark and breaking branches. 🧪
Fantastic article on these amazing creatures by the incredibly talented @restingdinoface.bsky.social!
(Also, for more on evolution of elephant/proboscidean tusks & trunks, check out my recent exploration/review paper [More to come soon!]) anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...)
(Also, for more on evolution of elephant/proboscidean tusks & trunks, check out my recent exploration/review paper [More to come soon!]) anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...)
Shovel-tuskers! Ancient elephants like Amebelodon are an evolutionary success story, and we’re only just starting to understand how they used their exceptional jaws. I’ll tell you more at Smithsonian. 🧪
Strange, Shovel-Tusked Elephants Puzzled Paleontologists, Until Experts Took a Closer Look at Their Teeth
The animals' extended lower jaws were seemingly made for scooping, but research over the past few decades has found they could do a lot more than initially expected
www.smithsonianmag.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Fantastic article on these amazing creatures by the incredibly talented @restingdinoface.bsky.social!
(Also, for more on evolution of elephant/proboscidean tusks & trunks, check out my recent exploration/review paper [More to come soon!]) anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...)
(Also, for more on evolution of elephant/proboscidean tusks & trunks, check out my recent exploration/review paper [More to come soon!]) anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...)
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
My book is finally on Ingram! You can now officially order it from your local independent bookstore, or recommend it to your library, or … I dunno just be excited with me
January 25, 2026 at 1:31 AM
My book is finally on Ingram! You can now officially order it from your local independent bookstore, or recommend it to your library, or … I dunno just be excited with me
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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
January 7, 2026 at 7:03 PM
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Mental health check-in. How’s everyone doing?
January 7, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Mental health check-in. How’s everyone doing?
Reposted by Ali Nabavizadeh
This paper coauthored with a former undergraduate research student was on the shortlist for the @thepalass.bsky.social Best Paper in Palaeontology Prize 2025. It started its life as a 3rd year dissertation so I'm really pleased with it, even if it didn't win the prize.
Elevated evolutionary rates of biting biomechanics reveal patterns of extraordinary craniodental adaptations in some herbivorous dinosaurs
Adaptation to specialist ecological niches is a key innovation that has contributed to the evolutionary success of many vertebrate clades, underpinning the acquisition of diverse skull morphologies. ....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This paper coauthored with a former undergraduate research student was on the shortlist for the @thepalass.bsky.social Best Paper in Palaeontology Prize 2025. It started its life as a 3rd year dissertation so I'm really pleased with it, even if it didn't win the prize.
I was once told a very important holotype specimen was “lost” only to find out someone else got to study it shortly after.
"We have not finished our research on that specimen yet." Sometimes a legitimate statement, sometimes a prime example of the Gollum Effect.
Systemic territoriality in academia: The Gollum effect’s impact on scientific research and careers
Scientific progress depends on open collaboration and thus resource sharing, but possessive
and territorial behaviors, which we call the Gollum Effect, threaten this ideal. This
study reveals widespre...
www.cell.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I was once told a very important holotype specimen was “lost” only to find out someone else got to study it shortly after.
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The Internet is becoming increasingly unreliable. Buy books and read them.
December 6, 2025 at 1:31 AM
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So I’ve been quietly working on another book and I gotta say—I’m really excited about this one! Stay tuned. 😃💀🦴💪🧠🫀 🫁🐠🐡🐟🐸🦎🐢🐊🦖🦕🦅🦆🦜🦘🦍🦇🐕 🐅🐀🐖🐑🦛🦒🐬🦓🦏🐘
December 2, 2025 at 4:18 PM
So I’ve been quietly working on another book and I gotta say—I’m really excited about this one! Stay tuned. 😃💀🦴💪🧠🫀 🫁🐠🐡🐟🐸🦎🐢🐊🦖🦕🦅🦆🦜🦘🦍🦇🐕 🐅🐀🐖🐑🦛🦒🐬🦓🦏🐘