iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Xavier A. Jenkins @semifossorial.bsky.social · 15h

Out today: We show that Westlothiana lizziae or "Lizzie," described 35 years ago as the world's oldest reptile - is not a stem amniote at all, but a stem tetrapod. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The part and counterpart of the holotype specimen of Westlothiana.

Paleoartistic reconstruct of Westlothiana by Jacob Schick based on our new data

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Robin Hayward 🌳 🏳️‍⚧️ @canopyrobin.com · 25/09/2026

We're publishing new guidance to support trans people who do fieldwork (any work outside the office)! Now we need your help to get them seen so please share! inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/trans/

a cartoon of three fieldworkers. One has a small trans flag. The logos of the university of leeds, research england, and canopy robin are shown, as well as the URL: InclusiveFieldwork (dot) Leeds (dot) AC (dot) UK (slash) trans

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Systematics Association @systassn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

We are organising an in-person Morphological Phylogenetics Workshop, in partnership with SRUK/CERU and @thepalass.bsky.social. When: Nov 9-11, 2026 Where: University College London There are limited places, so please pre-register by October 8th!!! Find more details here: tinyurl.com/52c9u7dw

Poster containing event details and QR code to the registration form.

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Steve Brusatte @stevebrusatte.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Over a decade ago, Tom Challands and I noticed these strange rock pools on the Isle of Skye coast. Hundreds, each the size of a car tire, lined up in zig-zag sequences Dinosaur tracks! We announced the site, then handed it to Paige dePolo to describe for her Masters Now today:

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Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zurich @eth-eaps.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at ETH Zurich invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) of Earth and Planetary Evolution. ethz.ch/en/the-eth-z... Please apply online. The closing date for applications is 15 December 2026.

ethz.ch

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) of Earth and Planetary Evolution

The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (www.eaps.ethz.ch) at ETH Zurich invites applications for the above-mentioned position.

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Dr. Emma E. Bird @dremmabird.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A number of 🚨Science & Museum Jobs🚨 available at different levels right now for the Distributed System of Scientific Collections UK programme 🪩 #DiSSCo 🪩 fab if you're into 🌳science digitisation🌳 #ScienceJobs #MuseumJobs jobs.nhm.ac.uk/internal/Job...

jobs.nhm.ac.uk

DiSSCo UK Digitiser:South Kensington

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Dr Mark D. Scherz @markscherz.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🚨We're hiring a new Curator of Mammals!!🚨 🦍🐕🦝🐅🦓🦌🐃🐖🐏🐫🐘🦏🦛🐿️🦔🦇🦥🦦🦨🦘🦡🐋🦭🦒🧸 Come join the Vertebrate Unit at @nhmdk.bsky.social—a fantastic team in the heart of Denmark's beautiful capital! Amazing collections, incredible history. Please share widely! 🧪🏛️ candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...

candidate.hr-manager.net

Tenure Track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor and Curator of Mammals

Tenure Track Assistant Professor / Associate Professor, and Curator of Mammals at Natural History Museum Denmark The Natural History Museum Denmark wishes to ap

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Martin R. Smith @palaeosmith.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Ever wondered which characters support individual clades in a tree? My new method maps phylogenetic support across a dataset. doi.org/10.1093/sysb... Try it in R: pak::pkg_install("ms609/TreeSearch@cpp-search") ?TreeSearch::ClusteringConcordance

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nitroshutter.bsky.social @nitroshutter.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

the value of museum collections - this project rapidly snowballed from Ryan Tokeley emailing me while surveying the Carnian collections in the Warwick Museum stores to say there is a specimen labelled as 'fossil shark' which led to a very fruitful fishing expedition #fossilfriday

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Richard Dearden @euphanerops.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Fan of weird end-Permian-surviving fossil sharks? Check out our preprint describing the first endoskeletal fossils of Carnian jalodontiform Keuperodus brodiei. #FossilFriday doi.org/10.64898/202... Led by Ryan Tokeley (no bsky), based on his great masters project work @nitroshutter.bsky.social

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The Palaeontological Association @thepalass.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Re-interpretation of oral anatomy of Silurian heterostracan Athenaegis chattertoni from Northwest Territories, Canada onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #FossilFriday @agneselanzetti.bsky.social @palaeostephan.bsky.social @euphanerops.bsky.social @lisaschnetz.bsky.social @datadryad.bsky.social

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Richard Dearden @euphanerops.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Check out our new paper in @thepalass.bsky.social Palaeontology, led by @lisaschnetz.bsky.social describing the mouthparts of the oldest articulated heterostracan Athenaegis. Oral plates are organised more like those of the later pteraspids but lack key pteraspid features like ternimal hooks.

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Dr Stephan Lautenschlager @palaeostephan.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Second new paper this week: Reconstructing the oral apparatus of the Silurian heterostracan Athenaegis. Led by @lisaschnetz.bsky.social and in collaboration with many colleagues, including @euphanerops.bsky.social (who rendered the animation) and @nitroshutter.bsky.social

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The Fossil Files Podcast @thefossilfiles.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Calling creatives! 🎹 🎶 Could you create a 30 second musical intro for our palaeontology podcast? We can pay for your services, but our budget is 🤏

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Dr Stephan Lautenschlager @palaeostephan.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

New paper out today! Led by Daniel Schwarz, we retrodeformed the skull and reconstructed the cranio-mandibular musculature of the giant stem-amphibian Mastodonsaurus giganteus. Our results show that Mastodonsaurus had a powerful bite and a crocodile- like bite-and-hold feeding style.

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Lapworth Museum of Geology @lapworthmuseum.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Join us on Mon, 28 Sept, at 5:30pm for Dr Manfredo Capriolo's Lapworth Lecture, exploring a magmatic perspective on carbon emissions from the North Atlantic Igneous Province. The lecture is free and open to all, available to watch on campus or on Zoom. For more info: www.birmingham.ac.uk...

A photograph of a remote landscape with green moss covered rock outcrops in a coastal area.

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Harriet B. Drage @harriedrage.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Interested in fossil arthropods, palaeoecology, dispersal, and interesting methods? 🦀 🌎 I'm hiring a 4-year, fully funded PhD student at the University of Geneva as part of my European Research Council (ERC) grant. Deadline: 16th October. Reach out if any questions! www.unige.ch/sciences/ter...

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Joe Keating @evopalaeo.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

⚠️BIOINFORMATCIS JOB ALERT⚠️ Come and join us @bristolbiosci.bsky.social We are recruiting a Lecturer in Bioinformatics. Details here: www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de... Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested!

bristol.ac.uk

Details | Working at Bristol | University of Bristol

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CENTA @centa.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

🎓 Looking for a #PhD in Earth & Environmental Sciences starting Autumn 2027? Applications now open for CENTA Science Opportunity Scholarships for Home-fee applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds. ✅ Stipend ✅ Fees paid ✅ Research & conference funding centa.ac.uk/apply/ #DiversityInSTEM

centa.ac.uk

Apply – CENTA

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Hannah Byrne @hannahbyrne.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Double preprint alert! 🚨 Squishy in the slishy 🌊 We used jellyfish and their paleoenvironments to better constrain paleogeographic reconstructions and tidal simulations throughout the entire Cambrian period. Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support with this study!

biorxiv.org

Constraining Palaeogeography and Palaeotides for the Cambrian using cnidarian medusae

The ocean tides influence key Earth system processes at a range of spatial and temporal scales. It is known that the geometry of ocean basins is the leading controller of tidal energetics, so well-con...

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Hannah Byrne @hannahbyrne.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Double preprint alert! 🚨 Jaws: Baby shark 🦈 We used micro-CT scanning to examine the tessellated calcified cartilage in the jaws of 10 young chondrichthyans in 3D. We found some surprises—like chunky trabeculae in a baby nurse shark! Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support!

biorxiv.org

Early Ontogenetic Development of Tessellated Calcified Cartilage in Chondrichthyans

Tessellated calcified cartilage (TCC) is a hallmark of the chondrichthyan skeleton, yet its development early in ontogeny across the four major groups (batoids, galeomorphs, squalomorphs, and holoceph...

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Open Palaeontology @openpalaeo.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Open Palaeontology has a new look 💜 Our brand-new website is live! Same mission as ever: Diamond Open Access palaeo research — free to publish, free to read, for everyone. Come explore ➡️ www.openpalaeo.org #PaleoSky #OpenAccess #Palaeontology

openpalaeo.org

Cahiers de l'ILTP

Open Palaeontology is an international Diamond Open Access journal promoting open science in palaeontology

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The Palaeontological Association @thepalass.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

🎉 Registration for PalAss 2026 is officially OPEN! 🦖🦴 We are delighted to announce that registration for the 70th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association is now open! 🎓✨ 📍 University of Oxford, UK 📅 8–11 December 2026 ⬇️ palass.org/annual-meeti...

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

We currently have TWO collections-based vacancies at National Museums Scotland! As part of the upcoming DiSSCo UK program, we’re seeking a Digitiser and Senior digitiser to work with our insect collection: careers.nms.ac.uk/vacancies (Apply by 31st August) #Digitisation #Insects #MuseumJobs

Preserved bumblebee specimens with data labels below each individual

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The Palaeontological Association @thepalass.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

A new fossil from the Eocene of Iran provides new insights regarding the evolution of the morphologically bizarre tube-eye fish onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology

Main image is a photograph of an elongated fossil fish in a pale matrix, with the head in the lower right corner. This is the holotype of Parastylephorus anatoides (IUGM 100897) from the Eocene of Babaheydar (Iran). Scale bar at lower left is 10 mm.
Top right is a reconstruction of the head and anterior body of this tube-eye fish (green eye to the left). Artwork by Lucrezia Bonardo.
Red rectangle below the reconstruction is a cover image from the journal papers in palaeontology.

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Philip Donoghue @phil-donoghue.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Our latest: Xinyuan Meng @bristolpalaeo.bsky.social describes Bataspis crux, expanding galeaspid (jawless fish) disparity with a bat-like head adapted for dynamic lift. Xinyuan's study was aided by @ferronhg.bsky.social Davide Pisani, Zhikun Gai and myself. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Erin Dillon @erinmdillon.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

How many #sharks should there be on a coral #reef? Our new publication in Science tackles this question using thousands of fossil shark dermal denticles—tiny, tooth-like scales that are shed and preserve in sediments—from Panama's two oceans. Check it out here: doi.org/10.1126/scie...

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Joe Keating @evopalaeo.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

consult.education.gov.uk/gcse-and-a-l... The DfE consultation on the proposed subject content for a new GCSE in natural history closes *4 Sep 2026*

consult.education.gov.uk

GCSE natural history proposed subject content - Department for Education - Citizen Space

Find and participate in consultations run by the Department for Education

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Joe Keating @evopalaeo.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

⚠️Please repost!⚠️ Over 99% of species that ever lived are extinct. Without palaeontology, the new Natural History GCSE will only cover a snapshot of life's history. We're making the case for fossils in the new GCSE 🦴🐚🌿 teach.ocr.org.uk/palaeontolog... The consultation is open now! Have your say👇

teach.ocr.org.uk

GCSE Natural History - Palaeontology - Joseph Keating

Joseph Keating puts forward a case for including palaeontology in the new GCSE Natural History curriculum due to its unique deep-time perspective.

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PROTOS ERC @protos-erc.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

🌍 @naturalis.bsky.social is hiring a Postdoc for the ERC Synergy Project #PROTOS (Prof. van Zuilen team) to investigate silica sinters, biosignatures & early Earth environments using experimental geochemistry and advanced imaging techniques. ⏳ Apply by 15 August. 🔗 www.naturalis.nl/en/about-us/...

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Guillaume Houée 🦷🔬 @guillaumehouee.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Excited to share our first evo-devo modeling study exploring the developmental origins of the evolutionary transition from dentine–enameloid to dentine–enamel in vertebrates! 🦷 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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The Palaeontological Association @thepalass.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Bataspis crux, a galeaspid (jawless stem gnathostome) from the Lochkovian of Yunnan with a batwing-shaped head adapted for hydrodynamic efficiency onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @morphobank.bsky.social

Top left: a photograph of the holotype of Bataspis crux (IVPP V30969) the headshield of a Devonian fish, more complete on the right hand side, showing the extended, curved cornual process. Scale bar in lower right corner is 1 cm.
Bottom right: a life restoration of Bataspis crux rapidly moving away up and to the right from a eurypterid on the left of the scene. Artist: Dinghua Yang.
Blue rectangle at top right is a cover image from the journal Palaeontology.

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The Palaeontological Association @thepalass.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

🦴 Newsletter No. 122 is here! 📖 🦈 A 200-million-year-old fish 👩‍🔬 The remarkable "Steamboat ladies" 🦖 The reopening of Dinosaur Isle Museum 🎓 News about our 70th Annual Meeting at the University of Oxford. 🤝 Become a Member and join the PalAss. #newsletters #palaeontology

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Lauren Sumner-Rooney @laurensr.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

📢 JOB ALERT! 📢 I am recruiting a 30-month postdoc to work on modelling the vision of trilobites @hfspo.bsky.social ! If you like 3D data, fossils, and functional morphology, this is the one for you! 📆Deadline 27. Aug Pls contact me with any Qs and share widely! www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...

bristol.ac.uk

Details | Working at Bristol | University of Bristol

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Lapworth Museum of Geology @lapworthmuseum.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Just under two weeks before the deadline! The Lapworth Museum wants YOUR creative fiction! Stories must relate to themes incl. geology, dinosaurs, volcanoes, etc. Submissions close at midday on 31 July 2026. Full terms at

ow.ly

Lapworth Museum Creative Writing Competition - NOW OPEN - University of Birmingham

The Lapworth Museum of Geology is looking for creative fiction from writers of any background! Submit your work throughout July for a chance to win.

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Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

#FossilFriday #SurvivingEarth The Ordovician armored fish Sacabambaspis (in the collections of the Department of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology)

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Lauren Sumner-Rooney @laurensr.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

📢 Heads-up: I'm currently finalising the job description for a 30-month postdoc modelling visual abilities in these very gorgeous and very dead creatures! If you're interested, please get in touch - anticipated start is late 2026/early 2027 and the project combines great colleagues in UK + S Korea!

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Open Palaeontology @openpalaeo.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

🔎OPal is seeking a Managing Editor to join its Editorial Team! Please consider applying if you want to play a leading role in shaping a growing diamond open-access journal making high quality palaeontological research broadly accessible. Deadline is 07/08/2026 Read more on how to apply below👇

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Palaeoverse @palaeoverse.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

💻 Our new website is now live! 💻 Over the past few months, we've been working hard to create a hub of resources designed to support the palaeontological community. 🔗 Find out more and visit the new site here: palaeoverse.org

Our new website is live now! Visit: https://palaeoverse.org/.

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Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

23 month research associate job now available with our team to work on Middle Jurassic mammals from Scotland. Requires strong experience with segmentation of CT data but does not require a PhD. Deadline for applications is 26th July. edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com

Research Associate (Leverhulme) - School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences - 105138 - Grade 6

This is a Research Associate position to assist in palaeobiological research conducted as part of the project “New Insights Into Early Mammal Evolution From Exceptional Scottish Fossils” funded by the...

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Journal of Systematic Palaeontology @journalsystpal.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

New paper out in JSP! Skeletal morphology and phylogenetics relationships of the Late Cretaceous freshwater ray Myledaphus bipartitus (Chondrichthyes; Batomorphii) by Türtscher 𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙡., clarifying the evolutionary relationships of batomorph lineages: buff.ly/gDhmnXZ #PaleoSky #FossilFriday

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Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

We will have a 23 month research associate role opening to support our work on mammal fossils from the Isle of Skye. Open to candidates with substantial CT-segmentation experience with Masters or PhD qualifications. Advert should be out next week - will post soon but do get in touch if of interest.

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Pasha van Bijlert @pashavanb.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Do you use (musculoskeletal) physics simulations with contact spheres? Then my new paper in @jbiomech.bsky.social is for you! This is my first single-author paper, and the third published chapter from my PhD at @uugeo.bsky.social 🥳 Paper (open access): www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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Jane @fossilyarns.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Thanks to a @thepalass.bsky.social grant we’ve been able to grow out outreach so much Today we’re at a school near Oldham running a mini palaeontology science fair for years 3&6. Not something we could have done without the grant money 💕

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Richard Butler @richardjbutler.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Congratulations to all members of the Palaeobiology group at the University of Birmingham - tonight we won the Rose Sidgwick Award for External Engagement & Impact at the University’s Founders’ Awards, our highest internal awards. youtu.be/rXLX0sN5Q5c?...

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Laura Cooper @transitionalform.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Our paper on the origin and evolution of phloem, a big part of my PhD work, is out in Current Biology! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

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