Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
@heatherfsmith.bsky.social
690 followers 610 following 99 posts
Editor-in-Chief, The Anatomical Record (@anatrecord.bsky.social). Professor of Anatomy. Evolutionary biologist, paleontologist, and educator studying fossil and extant turtles and carnivorans. anatomicalrecord.com
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Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
seishirotada.bsky.social
We have a new paper out! Turtle ancestors evolved a shell—but what else? We found that an unique rostral vasculature was also obtained gradually along the lineage, and that one of the earliest turtles Proganochelys likely retained a mostly ancestral state!🐢 sjpp.springeropen.com/articles/10....
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
Paleo Connected 2025 was a truly excellent conference! Thanks to @anatomyorg.bsky.social and the awesome conference organizers. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the latest exciting paleo and ev bio research & connecting with the paleo community. @anatrecord.bsky.social was excited to participate.
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
anatrecord.bsky.social
This #FossilFriday, we're at Paleo Connected 2025! Looking forward to the exciting paleo presentations
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
arctomet.bsky.social
Menon & Joyce 2025
A redescription of Glyptochelone, an enigmatic fossil sea turtle (Chelonioidea) from the Maastrichtian of the Netherlands and Belgium, sheds new light on fossil sea turtle shell variation and neural bone homology
Swiss J of Palaeontology 144: 62
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A redescription of Glyptochelone suyckerbuykii (Ubaghs, 1879), an enigmatic fossil sea turtle (Chelonioidea) from the Maastrichtian of the Netherlands and Belgium, sheds new light on fossil sea turtle shell variation and neural bone homology - Swiss Journal of Palaeontology
We here provide a redescription the Late Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) fossil marine turtle Glyptochelone suyckerbuykii to document its anatomy and intraspecific variation. This redescription highlights the complete absence of a nuchal pedestal, presence of a radiating shell surface texture pattern easily differentiated from that of coeval marine turtles, and the presence of interneural elements, a characteristic unique among Late Cretaceous turtles. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that Glyptochelone suyckerbuykii is located at the base of Dermochelyidae, a dubious result likely resulting from missing data. To allow constructing phylogenetic characters based on the presence of supernumerary neural elements, we suggest a revised classification for the midline column of the carapace of turtles based on novel homology criteria as consisting of neurals, which are outgrowths of the neural arches, as opposed to preneurals, interneurals, and postneurals, which are independent bones that form in front, within, and posterior to the neural column, respectively. We suggest use of this novel classification in future phylogenetic analysis.
doi.org
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
Putting the finishing touches on my talk for PaleoConnected 2025! Excited to present a new Cenomanian turtle fossil jaw, including detailed microCT segmentation of its extensive neurovascular canals.
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
janegoodallcan.bsky.social
The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada has learned this morning, Wednesday, October 1st, 2025, that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, has passed away due to natural causes.

She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States.
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
Preparing @anatrecord.bsky.social swag for the upcoming PaleoConnected 2025 conference at Mizzou!
Beautiful paleoart reconstructions by Henry Sharpe (pseudosuchians) and Adam Hartstone-Rose (sabretooth cat).
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
Fun night at Arizona Museum of Natural History's Rock on the Rock fundraiser. Excellent live music & science themed games! Proceeds will fund fieldwork, research, education, & new exhibits 🦖🐢🎶
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
I have the best students (who know me very well)!
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
anatrecord.bsky.social
We're pleased to share the abstracts from the 2025 International Symposium on Morphological Sciences held earlier this year in Lisbon, Portugal. It was an honor to sponsor and support this excellent conference:
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19328494...
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
Phx folks, fundraiser for AZ Natural History Museum Sat 9/27. Come by to enjoy live music, local brews, science themed games & chat w/me & other paleontologists about fossils! Proceeds will fund fieldwork, research, education & new exhibits! 🎸🦖🎶🦕
www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/get-involved...
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
anatrecord.bsky.social
We are excited to announce the publication of a new Special Issue "Looking into Chinese Fossils: Paleobiology, Evolution and Biodiversity" organized by Drs. He Chen, Tong Bao, & Hong Pang bringing together leading research institutions across China
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19328494...
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
🐺 Happy to share our recent article, “The dire wolf resurrection that wasn’t”
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Thanks to my awesome co-authors Annie Burrows, Adam Hartstone-Rose, and Mike Jensen-Seaman!
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
rachelmenegaz.bsky.social
Thanks to @asbmr.bsky.social for hosting a fantastic session on effective science communication today. My slides and resources can be found below. Please share with your research groups!
tinyurl.com/tku9xnfx
2025 ASBMR Science Communication - Google Drive
tinyurl.com
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
Really touched to receive an award for mentorship of student researchers from the medical school, “a professor who pursues knowledge, believes in students’ dreams with unwavering curiosity and dedication and mentors students to reach the next plateau”.
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
Neurals are positioned along the dorsal midline of the carapace
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
Hmm... It does have a neural look to it. Ctenochelyids are currently only known from North America, but it could be a different type of Pan-Chelonioid (marine turtle)
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
This #FossilFriday, a contingent from the Menefee Paleo Project is out scouting the field site in preparation for our upcoming fall field season.
Preview of a lovely osteoderm from Deinosuchus, a giant Late Cretaceous eusuchian (crocodyliform) that grew up to ~10.5 m in length.
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
anatrecord.bsky.social
New study on duck-billed dinosaur Huallasaurus australis reveals no evidence of invasive air sacs in Ornithischia. CT scans show dense vertebrae, suggesting these dinos used a “pelvic bellows” breathing system—unlike saurischians.
Aureliano et al.: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
Abstracts for the 2025 Western Association of Vertebrate Paleontologists conference held at the AzMNH have now been published in PaleoBios!
escholarship.org/uc/item/4x65...

Paleo folks, I highly recommend this fun conference. Serving on the host committee this year was a great experience!
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
anatrecord.bsky.social
📢 Call for Papers!
AR Special Issue: Evolution of Birth Difficulties

✨ Focus: Obstetrical dilemma, pelvic anatomy, neonatal & primate adaptations
📅 LOI: Sept 1 | 📝 Manuscript: Dec 1

Guest Editors: Nicole Torres Tamayo & Cédric Cordey
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/as...
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
crocholliday.bsky.social
Calling Midwest Anatomists and Paleontologists!
Deadlines Extended! Sept 1st for Talks and Posters! Sept 12th for registration. Look forward to seeing you here! @anatomyorg.bsky.social @paleosoc.bsky.social @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social

www.anatomy.org/.../Meetings...
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
anatrecord.bsky.social
🦖📢 Call for Papers!
The Anatomical Record Special Issue: South Asian Paleobiology 🌏

✨ Theme: Fossil vertebrates & evolution on a drifting continent
📅 LOI: Oct 1, 2025 | 📝 Manuscript: Dec 1, 2025

#Paleontology #Evolution #CallForPapers
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/as...
heatherfsmith.bsky.social
SVP abstract accepted! Looking forward to talking turtles with everyone in Birmingham 🐢
Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.
anatomyorg.bsky.social
Join us in congratulating AR's editor-in-chief, @heatherfsmith.bsky.social, and guest editors, Drs. Felipe L. Pinheiro, and @leonardokerber.bsky.social for winning an APEX award for special issue: The Dawn of an Era: Comparative and Functional Anatomy of Triassic Tetrapods!
@anatrecord.bsky.social
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