Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Skye McDavid

@skyemcdavid.com

2.7K followers 360 following 2.3K posts

scientific illustrator dabbling in paleontological research: pterosaurs, dinosaurs, other fossil reptiles, zoological nomenclature Links: https://www.skyemcdavid.com/links

www.skyemcdavid.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · Nov 13

Rhamphorhynchus muensteri - one of the best known Solnhofen pterosaurs. Most specimens are not fully grown. This specimen, previously named as a different species R. longiceps, is the largest and oldest.

skeletal diagram of Rhamphorhynchus muensteri

3 38 180

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 15h

Everyone I meet who isn't a paleontologist is cursed with obscure facts about fossil reptiles that escape from my brain

1 1

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 17h

Yep – I love em dashes. genAI uses them because it's sloppily attempting to copy good writers, and good writers use em dashes. (I'm not claiming to be a good writer though, I'll let others judge that one)

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 1d

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.

2 19

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 2d

Other Corvus spp were also heavily affected by WNV, but you could still find some American Crows foraging in dumpsters once in a while.

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 2d

Today I recorded a Common Raven (Corvus corax) in New York's sound shore region. I haven't seen or heard a raven here in years as their populations were drastically reduced by West Nile Virus since the 2000s. I'm so happy to hear these birbs again.
Recording:
www.inaturalist.org/observations...

Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Common Raven in October 2025 by Skye McDavid. First time I've heard ravens on the sound shore in years. (please ignore the Homo sapiens noises ...

www.inaturalist.org

1 4 23

Reposted by Skye McDavid

Alessandro Chiarenza @macroecoevoale.bsky.social · 3d

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

20 32

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 4d

Saw the skull when it was on temporary display in Toronto. Absolutely fabulous specimen.

Skull of Black Beauty the T. rex in a plexiglass display case

3 10

Reposted by Skye McDavid

SaurianCYH @sauriancyh.bsky.social · 5d

boop the snoot

11 37

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 5d

David Schwimmer the actual paleontogist not David Schwimmer the actor best known for playing a paleontogist

1 8

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 5d

This is deliciously chaotic

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 7d

My best guess would be all of them.

1 14

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 7d

Yep, 100%

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 7d

fabric soft,,, good for nap

Reposted by Skye McDavid

James Lamsdell, PhD @fossildetective.bsky.social · 7d

Actual highlight of yesterday was having a woman in the botanical gardens overhear us talking about work and say "Oh, I didn't think paleontologists existed anymore".

5 11 69

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 7d

We went extinct so that we could study ourselves

1 14

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 7d

this is a not so subtle ad for nebula, isn't it?

3 1

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 7d

I am no longer involved in The Sanctum or any projects involving Omar Lagarda González, aka The Darknix.