iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We didn’t have the biggest one but some specimens in our museum made the top ten!

Reposted by Dave Hayes

Rob Denton @rddenton.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Your lab isn't a home until you've hung up your prized Tiktaalik. My Live, Laugh, Love wall decals gotta be in a box somewhere.

A 3d-printed model of Tiktaalik, a famous example vertebrate's evolutionary transition from water to land.

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

You let them inside and next thing you know they’re climbing on the furniture. #SciArt 🐡

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

The Dawn Horse, Hyracotherium, out for a walk today. Digital sculpt by Minatures Museum. 3D printed to life size and painted by me. #SciArt 🐡

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Nicole 🪲 @fossilforager.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

sea slug pattern for your feed 🌊🧡

A tiled illustrated pattern featuring incredibly colorful vibrant sea slugs of different colors and shapes. They are laid out on a light vibrant blue solid background.

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Update: Hyracotherium has been making friends fast.

3D printed model of Hyracotherium next to a beagle, next to an orange tabby cat.

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Lately I’ve been keeping our 3D printer busy with this life sized Hyracotherium (ancestor to modern horses) model. Digitally sculpted by Minatures Museum, I cut and scaled it to fit the pieces on the print bed. It’s like the most macabre LEGO set ever.

3D printed Hyracotherium in several pieces on a cart.

3D printed Hyracotherium in several pieces on a table.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Devon @waasp08.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Most people don't think of wasps being aquatic, but there are definitely some that exist, such as Agriotypus sp. They are parasitoids of Trichoptera pupae and pre-pupae. #Agriotypus #Ichneumonidae

Agriotypus sp. An aquatic Ichneumonid wasp. A parasitoid of Trichoptera pupae and pre-pupae.

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

For my Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society peeps on here, just a reminder that all student travel award applications for this year's symposium in Michigan are due by tomorrow! 🦪🐌🐚More info here: molluskconservation.org/Mservices_aw...

molluskconservation.org

Freshwater Mollusks Conservation Society

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

My university came out with a fresh new website! Now all the links are broken the first week of classes and no one can find any of the forms they are required to use.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Florian Leese @leeselab.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Let‘s try a #metabarcoding starter pack to nucleate people interested. Welcome molecular #biodiversity monitoring people. Let’s try to keep us posted on updates regarding papers, projects, methods. Happy weekend.☀️#eDNA go.bsky.app/Qvqgknp

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Matthew L. Miller @matthewlmiller.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

There's a sucker (myth) born every minute. These are not trash fish. Suckers are native fishes found across N. America. They are essential parts of the ecosystem. They're cool fishes to pursue. Photo by Joel Sartore, of a largescale sucker I caught for him to photograph (and release).

Largescale sucker photograh by Joel Sartore/Photo Ark. I caught this sucker for Joel while he was visiting Boise to photograph some zoo animals. He had a free day and noted he wanted to photograph more native fishes. We went out to a local stream and I caught this native sucker. It was photographed in a tank and safely released.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Hey everyone, it's me. I'm sending out my feelers and testing out this platform. In the meantime, enjoy this cute velvet worm (Austroperipatus eridelos) from far north Queensland, Australia.

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

That Thylacoleo skull is pretty sweet.

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Guinea Worms everywhere have been waiting for this day.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Emily Troyer @fishfetisher.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

On the 4th day of #Fishmas, my true love gave to me: The Troyer et al. 2022 Tetraodontiformes phylogenetic tree!! www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....

Tetraodontiformes phylogeny from Troyer et al, 2022 etched onto a wooden ornament.

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Here’s a commission I’m able to share now. Blackside Dace (Chrosomus cumberlandensis), a federally threatened species native to the upper Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. Printed extra large at 400mm. #3DPrinted and painted by me.

3D printed fish with ruler, showing approximate length at 400mm.

Real Blackside Dace being held in someone’s hand, seine net in background.

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

My beagle and Diictodon always like to snuggle together on cold rainy days. Digital sculpt my MinaturesMuseum, 3D printed and painted by me. 🐡🧪

3D printed model of Diictodon and a real beagle snuggled together on a recliner.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

D. Allan Drummond @dadrummond.art · 14/12/2024

Semibalanus balanoides in steel, bronze, and silver for #Crustmas

My sculpture of the common rock barnacle Semibalanus balanoides viewed from the top with my hand for scale. The barnacle is feeding, with its legs fully deployed in a wide fan emerging from the folds of its soft tissues. The shell is rough bronze-infiltrated steel, warm in color; you can see some details of how the plates of the shell interlock.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Lyn @bookrat.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Backlog: Lunaspis from 2020 Fish are prettier than dinosaurs tbh

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Andy Murray @mesofauna.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

So, my one nod towards Crustmas, our only terrestrial UK ostracod, Terrestricythere elisabethae that I was lucky enough to photograph earlier this year, with David Horne, the UK’s main ostracod guy. A very fun day. #crustmas #ostracod #UK

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Frank-T. Krell @frankkrell.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

link.springer.com/article/10.1... One month ago we published a paper was published on the decline of taxonomic expertise, using the example of Hungary, based on several lines of evidence. My Hungarian colleagues compiled a wealth of data. The paper is open access in Biodiversity and Conservation.

link.springer.com

Identification crisis: a fauna-wide estimate of biodiversity expertise shows massive decline in a Central European country - Biodiversity and Conservation

Expertise in biodiversity research (taxonomy, faunistics, conservation with taxonomic background) appears to decline worldwide. While the “taxonomic impediment” is discussed extensively in the literat...

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

This is what happens when you need to record the mileage on the department truck you just returned but you’re also in a rush to get to your next class.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Frank Ashwood @frankashwood.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Did you know New Zealand and other south-west Pacific islands have LEAF-VEINED SLUGS?! Unlike their omnivorous European relatives, these unique leaf-mimicking slugs eat only fungi. They breathe mainly through the skin of the back, which is kept moist by secretions passing along the many grooves! 🧪

A photograph of a pair of slugs, which have veins on their bodies that resemble the veins of leaves.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Kieran 🦘🇨🇦 @hellbendermuseum.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

It's about that time of year- time to remind you all you can get your FREE christmas grub STL for 3D printing from either my MyMiniFactory or Cults3D pages. Enjoy and if you print one, I'd love to see pics! 🐡

Image of grub christmas ornament on christmas tree. Ornament is a grub wearing a santa hat. Text: Merry Christmas, FREE Christmas Grub STL link in bio. Inset image of regular grub, accompanied by text: Includes non-denominational grub for those who don't celebrate!

My hand holding the christmas grub ornament. Wood table in background.

Grub on christmas tree, at night. Partially illuminated by christmas lights.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Dave Zanatta @mimusselman.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Aquatic Zoologist position with Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) careers.msu.edu/en-us/job/52... @freshwaterscience.bsky.social

careers.msu.edu

MSU Careers Details - Conservation Associate-Fixed

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Sean Keogh @phishbiologist.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Hi all! Please check out our new research in Molecular Ecology where we found the divergence history of a widespread aquatic mollusk was characterized by fission-fusion cycles consistent with Pleistocene river rearrangements. #molluscmonday #freshwatermussels onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Dave Zanatta @mimusselman.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Check out these freshwater musselheads 🦪, snaily folk 🐚🐌, and groups! Let me know if you would like to be added. go.bsky.app/NjUGvWf

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

For the first time I’m attending a conference as a presenter AND a vendor. If you’re at the Southeastern Fishes Council meeting in Little Rock come by and buy some fish! Stuff that doesn’t sell here will make their way to my Etsy shop eventually. #SFC2024

Table filled with 3D printed fish and other animals.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Kieran 🦘🇨🇦 @hellbendermuseum.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Murray Hardyhead and Australian smelt models. I developed a technique to imply a greater sense of internality to small translucent fish. All now on display at Oxford Uni Museum of Natural History

Models of Murray Hardyhead, which is a small translucent fish with a greenish-black line down the centre. 3 in the photo, white background.

Models of Australian Smelt, which is a small translucent fish with a orange line down the centre. Dark speckles sparingly throughout and a bluish eye. 3 in the photo, white background.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Feeling nostalgic, thinking it's time to post some old favorites for the BlueSky community >>> One of the most stunning #flies (maybe insects in general) I've seen: #Leucotabanus annulatus, a horse fly (Tabanidae). Males are naturally white, while females are a bit more drab gray/brown. Raleigh, NC

a horse fly entirely covered in white hairs, with huge brown eyes that make up most of the head and clear wings, resting on bark

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Tiktaalik #3DPrint. Might turn this one into another faux taxidermy mount at some point. Digital sculpt by Rick Stikkelorum, available on Sketchfab. 3D printed and painted by Gnarly Larvae Studio. #SciArt 🐡

3D printed model of the head and front fins of Tiktaalik. Painted glossy brown.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

“Life is like a box of caudates.” #SciArt 🐡

Gold box with plastic models of a mudpuppy, axolotl, North American Hellbender, Japanese Giant Salamander, Yellow Spotted Salamander, and Jefferson Salamander.

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

“Life is like a box of caudates.” #SciArt 🐡

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Darren Naish @tetzoo.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

This is not a drill, a mummified sabretooth cat has been published from the #Pleistocene permafrost of Russia. It's a Homotherium cub! The team (Lopatin et al.) reckon it's Homotherium latidens. It's too young to have enlarged upper canines. Paper is OA ... www.nature.com/articles/s41... cont...

nature.com

Mummy of a juvenile sabre-toothed cat Homotherium latidens from the Upper Pleistocene of Siberia - Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports - Mummy of a juvenile sabre-toothed cat Homotherium latidens from the Upper Pleistocene of Siberia

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Chris Martin @fishspeciation.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

@sternarchella.bsky.social is finally here - it’s time to restart FISH Twitter !!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳 Fishsky?! Here’s a list of mostly evolution/ecology folks who love #fishes! #fish #scalybois #fishsky #evolution #ecology #evosky #evo 🧪🔬🧬 go.bsky.app/ULRG7Wf

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Chris Mah @echinoblog.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

During my many museum visits-you see some CRAZY stuff! Here's a goniasterid starfish, Ceramaster patagonicus-but with only FOUR ARMS! SEA SQUARE? Ocean RAVIOLI? ha! #echinoday (specimen at California Academy of Sceinces)

4 armed sea star with distinct border appearing like a square rather than a star

Oral surface of a sea star with only 4 arms rather than 5- Square like rather than star shaped

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

CG Partridge @partridgecg.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Hey everyone. Here is my first attempt at an environmental DNA (eDNA) starter pack. Sorry if there is another one going around. If you would like to be added, let me know and I'll eventually figure out how. go.bsky.app/JWwncz6

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Jonathan Tonkin @jdtonkin.bsky.social · 29/10/2024

💦🐟🦐🏞️🌊 I started a freshwater science starter pack. Hit me up if you want to join it -- it's very early and I quickly cobbled the first few members together. go.bsky.app/K5ubDhb

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Dave Hayes @gnarlylarvae.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

“If you’re cold, they’re cold. Bring them in.” Thinking of changing my shop name to “Not to Scale.” Yellow Spotted Salamander digital sculpt by @lincolnsavi.bsky.social 3D printed and painted by Gnarly Larvae Studio.

Man holding comically large model of a Yellow Spotted Salamander.

Large model of a Yellow Spotted Salamander.

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Reposted by Dave Hayes

Adam Summers @fishguy.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

We also dissect morphology. In this case the eye heater rete mirabile from a bigeye thresher (Alopias supercilliousus). From a Baja California Sur specimen caught in a gill net. 🧪

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