Tess Gallagher
@tessasaurus.bsky.social
Paleontologist that specializes in Diplodocus skin. Currently working at Edelman Fossil Museum
Happy International Women In Science Day! I had an amazing time speaking with fellow female scientists and paleoartists on todays paleoart panel with @extinctfineart.bsky.social . Pictured here is me and one of the key Diplodocus skin specimens that led to our recent discovery on Dippy Colors 🦕🌈
February 12, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Happy International Women In Science Day! I had an amazing time speaking with fellow female scientists and paleoartists on todays paleoart panel with @extinctfineart.bsky.social . Pictured here is me and one of the key Diplodocus skin specimens that led to our recent discovery on Dippy Colors 🦕🌈
Chipping away at details ✍️
February 11, 2026 at 3:17 AM
Chipping away at details ✍️
Yes, I am slowly chipping away at the newest spiny weirdo. Environment is almost done, but I need to focus on finishing my grant proposal among other things.
February 10, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Yes, I am slowly chipping away at the newest spiny weirdo. Environment is almost done, but I need to focus on finishing my grant proposal among other things.
Got to see the head of this mount back in december! Along with a few of the original bones!
February 8, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Got to see the head of this mount back in december! Along with a few of the original bones!
If I were to sell my artwork as stickers, which one would you be most willing to get? Keep in mind that i will probably remove the melanosome image from the Diplodocus one
February 8, 2026 at 9:26 PM
If I were to sell my artwork as stickers, which one would you be most willing to get? Keep in mind that i will probably remove the melanosome image from the Diplodocus one
So these structures may *look* like feathers/hair, but anatomically they are more similar to scales. Overall, a very welcome weirdo to the world of dinosaur skin (END🧵)
February 7, 2026 at 1:02 AM
So these structures may *look* like feathers/hair, but anatomically they are more similar to scales. Overall, a very welcome weirdo to the world of dinosaur skin (END🧵)
This is not the case for the spikes of Haolong. The spikes consist of layered cells, including a stratum corneum, stratum spinosum etc, with keratinocytes and visible nuclei. In other words, the spikes were living skin
February 7, 2026 at 1:01 AM
This is not the case for the spikes of Haolong. The spikes consist of layered cells, including a stratum corneum, stratum spinosum etc, with keratinocytes and visible nuclei. In other words, the spikes were living skin
Feathers and hair share a somewhat similar internal anatomy (emphasis on somewhat, there's a lot of variation out there). Both structures are made up of *dead cells*, which leave behind hollow vacuoles internally.
February 7, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Feathers and hair share a somewhat similar internal anatomy (emphasis on somewhat, there's a lot of variation out there). Both structures are made up of *dead cells*, which leave behind hollow vacuoles internally.
Mammals and birds have filaments (hair and feathers respectively) that gives them their fluffy look. This new iguanodontian also has structures that look like "filaments" from far away. HOWEVER, a closer look reveals they are very different structures
February 7, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Mammals and birds have filaments (hair and feathers respectively) that gives them their fluffy look. This new iguanodontian also has structures that look like "filaments" from far away. HOWEVER, a closer look reveals they are very different structures
happy #FossilFriday. It is very early in the year and I already have a favorite paper with the newly described Haolong. HOWEVER, this is *not* a feathered dinosaur! The structures on Haolong are very different from filaments. A 🧵
February 7, 2026 at 12:58 AM
happy #FossilFriday. It is very early in the year and I already have a favorite paper with the newly described Haolong. HOWEVER, this is *not* a feathered dinosaur! The structures on Haolong are very different from filaments. A 🧵
What do you guys think of my silly pet lizard? :>
I may have to re-home some of them to people tho on a certain website (et5y) 🤔🦎
I may have to re-home some of them to people tho on a certain website (et5y) 🤔🦎
February 6, 2026 at 5:37 PM
What do you guys think of my silly pet lizard? :>
I may have to re-home some of them to people tho on a certain website (et5y) 🤔🦎
I may have to re-home some of them to people tho on a certain website (et5y) 🤔🦎
Happy #FossilFriday AND National Draw a Dinosaur Day!
January 30, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Happy #FossilFriday AND National Draw a Dinosaur Day!
Mongolian Titan 🦕
January 25, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Mongolian Titan 🦕
Happy #FossilFriday. Did you know Diplodocus skin glows orange under UV light? 🦕🟠
January 23, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Happy #FossilFriday. Did you know Diplodocus skin glows orange under UV light? 🦕🟠
Art train!
Tagging:
@novastein.bsky.social
@paleobyliam.bsky.social
@himmapaan.bsky.social
@dragonsofwales.bsky.social
Tagging:
@novastein.bsky.social
@paleobyliam.bsky.social
@himmapaan.bsky.social
@dragonsofwales.bsky.social
January 22, 2026 at 8:12 PM
uh, idk if this counts but I made some "horror pods" a few years ago
January 14, 2026 at 5:41 AM
uh, idk if this counts but I made some "horror pods" a few years ago
Playing around with 3D printing.
January 12, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Playing around with 3D printing.
Posting a little reminder :>
January 8, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Posting a little reminder :>
Edmontosaurus WIP :>
January 6, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Edmontosaurus WIP :>
If there's one thing I hope to see as a result of our publication on dippy color patterning (not including science related things) I REALLY want some figures and plushies. Would love if dippy got the same treatment as past Dino color discoveries
December 30, 2025 at 2:35 AM
If there's one thing I hope to see as a result of our publication on dippy color patterning (not including science related things) I REALLY want some figures and plushies. Would love if dippy got the same treatment as past Dino color discoveries
If you created any artwork based on our recent study on Diplodocus color patterns, we would love to see it!!! Please feel free to reply to this with your colorful dippy art 🦕🖌️🎨
December 12, 2025 at 2:43 AM
If you created any artwork based on our recent study on Diplodocus color patterns, we would love to see it!!! Please feel free to reply to this with your colorful dippy art 🦕🖌️🎨
I would like to thank Michael Chiappone for conceptualizing the color patterning for the press release art, and my coathors Dan Folkes, Jason Schein, Michael Pittman, Tom Kaye, and Glenn Storrs!! This discovery would not have been possible without this amazing team. 25/26
December 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I would like to thank Michael Chiappone for conceptualizing the color patterning for the press release art, and my coathors Dan Folkes, Jason Schein, Michael Pittman, Tom Kaye, and Glenn Storrs!! This discovery would not have been possible without this amazing team. 25/26
Sauropods are animals stranger than fiction, and our study on their melanosomes only makes them more bizarre. This research marks the first evidence of fossil melanosomes in a sauropod, and the first evidence of diverse melanosome morphologies in a scaly dinosaur 24/26
December 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Sauropods are animals stranger than fiction, and our study on their melanosomes only makes them more bizarre. This research marks the first evidence of fossil melanosomes in a sauropod, and the first evidence of diverse melanosome morphologies in a scaly dinosaur 24/26
It has been hypothesized that juvenile sauropods had fast growth rates, akin to birds and mammals. Considering our specimens were juvenile, could the combined presence of oblong and disk melanosomes be indirect proof of a high metabolic rate in juvenile sauropods? 22/26
December 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
It has been hypothesized that juvenile sauropods had fast growth rates, akin to birds and mammals. Considering our specimens were juvenile, could the combined presence of oblong and disk melanosomes be indirect proof of a high metabolic rate in juvenile sauropods? 22/26
These melanosomes may also tell us something about sauropod metabolism! The melanocortin system, which is responsible for many physiological things in your body, including the creation of melanosomes, is affected by metabolism. 20/26
December 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
These melanosomes may also tell us something about sauropod metabolism! The melanocortin system, which is responsible for many physiological things in your body, including the creation of melanosomes, is affected by metabolism. 20/26