iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I'm excited to share the latest article by @sjbpaleo.bsky.social , “Quantitative GIS based correlation of the Cliff House Sandstone between Tsaya and Chaco Canyons, New Mexico.” doi.org/10.3390/stra...

092

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

San Juan Basin Paleontology Project @sjbpaleo.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

📢 New publication alert! 📢 We’re thrilled to share our latest article, “Quantitative GIS based correlation of the Cliff House Sandstone between Tsaya and Chaco Canyons, New Mexico.” www.mdpi.com/3042-884X/1/... It examines regional continuity of Cliff House Sst. in the western San Juan Basin, NM

121

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

San Juan Basin Paleontology Project @sjbpaleo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Fossil teeth & microvertebrates are surprisingly scarce in the Menefee Formation, with isolated teeth and small bones rarely preserved. We were thrilled to locate one productive microsite where we can collect sediment and screen-wash to look for tiny specimens that don’t preserve well on the surface

131

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

San Juan Basin Paleontology Project @sjbpaleo.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Happy birthday to our co‑director, Brent Adrian — a driving force behind our basin‑wide paleo efforts and a steadfast champion of science. His field leadership, research insights, and enthusiasm for discovery help shape the future of our project. Here’s to another year of discovery!

021

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Nice write-up by Midwestern University on the recent summit for rural STEM educators: www.midwestern.edu/news-stories...

020

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

Wiley Life Sciences @wileylifesci.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A striking discovery in snake anatomy! In this @anatrecord.bsky.social Editor's Pick, researchers describe previously undocumented "quasi-haemapophyses" in the mid-trunk vertebrae of Atractaspis corpulenta kivuensis, revealing an extraordinary vertebral morphology. Read more: bit.ly/4A6KhUY

032

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

San Juan Basin Paleontology Project @sjbpaleo.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Shout out to our amazing geology team, Zeke O'Callaghan, Ronni Chavez & Madison Baaré, who have been mapping the complex stratigraphic transition b/w the Menefee Fm & overlying Cliff House Sandstone in Tsaya Canyon. They’re presenting our findings at the next Geological Society of America conference

031

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

San Juan Basin Paleontology Project @sjbpaleo.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

🛡️ New microCT scans are giving us our first look inside the armor of the nodosaur Invictarx zephyri! These heavily armored, plant eating dinosaurs roamed the San Juan Basin (and elsewhere in North America) during the Cretaceous.

141

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

🐶Excited to share that our chapter on canid anatomy and special senses has been published in a new volume on Canine Science! link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...

030

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

San Juan Basin Paleontology Project @sjbpaleo.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

🐢 Memorable moment from our recent field season from a terrestrial locality in the Menefee Formation, another Campanian unit in the San Juan Basin. One of the highlights of the summer was the discovery of a remarkably complete baenid turtle shell preserved in a hard sandstone ledge

051

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I had a wonderful time working w/educators last week at the National Rural STEM Summit. In my workshop, "Innovative Anatomy: Animal Skulls & Evolutionary Biology in the Classroom," we explored how skeletal specimens can be powerful tools for teaching anatomy, evolution, ecology & comparative biology

062

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

San Juan Basin Paleontology Project @sjbpaleo.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

🦈Highlights from our recent SJB field season this past summer, including explorations of our marine Cliff House "Hills Have Eyes" locality, practically exploding w/marine vertebrates, including chondrichthyans (cartilaginous fishes), actinopterygians (ray-finned fishes) & a few mosasaur specimens

131

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Don't miss this banger AR issue! From the dinosaur cognition debate to updates on Dunkleosteus anatomy to hadrosaur crests, the issue contains tons of exciting new paleo and evolutionary biology papers, many of which are open access: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19328494...

033

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

San Juan Basin Paleontology Project @sjbpaleo.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

🐢San Juan Basin Paleo Project abstracts accepted for #SVP2026! We evaluated the Coniacian-Santonian turtle fauna of the Crevasse Canyon Formation (New Mexico), including evidence for one of the earliest known plastomenid turtles and a reassessment of the baenid turtle "Neurankylus notos"

031

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

🦖 We've started an account for the San Juan Basin Paleontology Project, @sjbpaleo.bsky.social. We'll be sharing updates on our fieldwork, fossil studies, and other related research. Follow to keep up with our paleo adventures in the Late Cretaceous SJB of New Mexico! 🐢🦈🐊🐟

0154

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

IPC7 @ipc7.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

📣 We’re thrilled to announce that the 6th Circular of the IPC7 is now available! Don’t miss out on the latest updates as we prepare to welcome paleontologists from around the world to Cape Town, South Africa in 2026! 📥 Download -> www.ipc7.site

173

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

Skye McDavid @skyemcdavid.com · 03/09/2026

SVP Sues the Trump Administration for Shrinking Bears Ears National Monument Now THIS is what I want my membership dues going towards @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social vertpaleo.org/svp-sues-the...

vertpaleo.org

SVP Sues the Trump Administration for Shrinking Bears Ears National Monument – Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

16232

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Congratulations to my colleague & friend, Dr. Randy Nydam on his new position as Senior Assoc Dean for Academic Affairs at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine! It has been a privilege to work with Randy & learn from one of the most knowledgeable anatomy educators & squamate paleontologists I know

030

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Catch-up post from my recent trip to the amazing Melbourne Museum. #FossilFriday

182

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

🐢San Juan Basin Paleo Project abstracts accepted for #SVP2026! We re-evaluated the Coniacian-Santonian turtle fauna of the Crevasse Canyon Formation (New Mexico), including evidence for one of the earliest known plastomenids and a reassessment of "Neurankylus notos"

030

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

On a recent trip to Melbourne, I was excited to meet an icon. “Horridus” is an authentic67 Ma Triceratops horridus skeleton on permanent display at Melbourne Museum. Each element has been scanned, and several are presented as interactive, rotating holograms. The exhibit is incredibly immersive!

04210

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

The Anatomical Record @anatrecord.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Pleased to share our latest special issue: Feeding biomechanics in vertebrates & beyond! The issue brings together studies spanning insects, fishes & mammals to explore feeding biomechanics anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19328494... Guest Editors: Böhmer & Winkler

01713

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Juan (JC) Cruz & Jessica Cavaliere combined anatomical dissections and CT data to study the manus of the tamandua anteater. Their work revealed that the enlarged third digit used for insect foraging is supported by extensive supernumerary muscle bellies and tendons

000

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Isabel Piccinini used CT data to investigate the vestibular system of the American mink and found that the morphology of the bony labyrinth varies significantly among water basins

000

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

So proud of our Summer Veterinary Research Scholars! Today they gave their practice poster presentations before heading off to present their research at an upcoming national conference. Great work and safe travels to Isabel Piccinini, JC Cruz & Jessica Cavaliere! @squeacslab.bsky.social

220

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) paper now in @anatrecord.bsky.social's Feeding Biomechanics Special Issue! Using dissection & diceCT, we show powerful bites aren't just about bigger muscles—muscle architecture, skull mechanics & fascia may be key🐺 anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

03413

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Honored to have been part of this award-winning special issue and grateful to see our work recognized with a 2026 APEX Award for Publication Excellence! Congratulations to the guest editors, authors, reviewers, and everyone who contributed to highlighting the incredible fossil record of China

040

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

The Anatomical Record @anatrecord.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

📢 Call for Papers: The Anatomical Record is seeking submissions for a Special Issue on Strepsirrhine Anatomy, Ecology, and Evolution. We welcome original research, reviews & commentaries exploring strepsirrhine functional anatomy, phenotypic plasticity & evolutionary history 🐒 📅 Deadline: November 1

022

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Excited to receive print copies of the latest issue of Lithodendron, which includes our recent article on Campanian Ophiomorpha fossils from the Menefee Fm.-Cliff House Sandstone transition, San Juan Basin, New Mexico! Link to the article: petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/lithodendron...

020

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Excellent time at San Diego Natural History Museum's "Nat at Night" event last weekend, featuring dire wolves, Ankylosaurus, Lambeosaurus, assorted turtles, grey whales, and more! 🦖🐢🐋

030

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

The Anatomical Record @anatrecord.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Check out our new August issue! anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19328494... The cover features a new 3D anatomical atlas of the heads of the veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus by Alice Leavey et al.: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

062

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

The Anatomical Record @anatrecord.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

⭐ We're pleased to share that our Impact Factor has increased to 2.6! While IF is only one bibliometric measure of journal influence, it's still encouraging to see this positive trajectory. Thank you to our authors, reviewers, editorial board members & readers for their contributions and support!

051

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

If you work on Campanian taxa, ecosystems, biogeography, WIS dynamics, endemism, trophic structure, dispersal, or underexplored stratigraphy, we’d be thrilled to receive your work. 🗓️Deadline: Dec 1, 2026

000

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

📢Call for Papers! Following up on our successful session at the recent GSA Rocky Mountain section meeting, we're excited to announce we're assembling a Special Issue of The Anatomical Record: The Campanian Crucible: A synthesis of vertebrate paleobiogeography and ecosystem dynamics in Laramidia

142

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

🦈 San Juan Basin Paleo Project's outreach fossil prep activity at the latest SPS meeting was a great time! Ben Goode gave an excellent presentation on our recent Cliff House research. Then we set up a hands-on activity where attendees could prep & extract fossil teeth from blocks we collected

030

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

The Anatomical Record @anatrecord.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

📣 New issue out now! The Anatomical Record (Vol. 309, Issue 7) From duck-billed dinosaur bone microstructure 🦖 to dire wolf debates 🐺 and rare cetacean anatomy 🐬—explore the latest in evolutionary & integrative anatomy. 🔗 anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19328494...

021

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

🐉 Had a blast doing STEM outreach at Phoenix Fan Fusion! We brought real animal skulls for a “Predator vs Prey” challenge & 3D‑printed a Gungan, Predator alien & dragon‑looking (but real!) Pachycephalosaurus. Turns out Predator isn’t built for predation…and Gungans are basically all cartilage!

0100

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

These findings help refine our understanding of shoreline environments and marine life during a complex interval of the Western Interior Seaway.

000

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

By analyzing burrow morphology and distribution of Ophiomorpha burrows across multiple sites, we identified two ichnospecies (O. nodosa and O. annulata) and found notable regional differences that point to varying depositional conditions across the basin.

110

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Excited to share the Menefee Paleontology Project’s latest publication! 🦐 We explored Upper Cretaceous Cliff House Sandstone in NM San Juan Basin & uncovered new insights into ancient marine ecosystems preserved in this dynamic coastal environment: petrifiedforestfieldinstitute.org/lithodendron...

171

Reposted by Heather F. Smith. Ph.D.

The Anatomical Record @anatrecord.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Our June issue is now out! anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/19328494... The cover article by Taylor et al. features a new bone and cartilage staining protocol for large avian specimens: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

051

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

The Menefee Paleo Project wrapped up our awesome 3-week New Mexico research trip with a productive collections visit at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. We even met a few San Juan Basin celebrities, the holotypes of Bistahieversor and Menefeeceratops!

041

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Our second week in the field kicked off with a move up-section into the Cliff House Sandstone. We focused on a gorgeous marine assemblage packed with chondrichthyans, marine reptiles (incl mosasaurs) & bony fishes Huge thanks to Bravo Crew for the muscle, sharp eyes, and great energy all week!

052

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Super proud of the Menefee Paleo project crew who did an awesome job presenting at the GSA Rocky Mountain section meeting!

040

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

What a fantastic few days at GSA Rocky Mountain Section meeting! Our Campanian Crucible session delivered ten sharp, engaging talks spanning new geochronology, dinosaurs, turtles, and Campanian mammals, and 4 excellent posters. Huge thanks to all presenters, poster authors, and attendees!

030

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

The Menefee Paleo Project just wrapped up an incredible first week of 2026 fieldwork with our awesome crew. Huge thanks to the amazing Menefee team for the hard work, good humor, & long days under the sun of the New Mexico badlands. Can’t wait to welcome the Week 2 Bravo crew! #Menefee2026

070

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

🦖 2026 Field season is almost here for the Menefee Paleontological Project! 🐊 We're heading out to San Juan Basin, NM this weekend, where we’ll be working on Campanian fauna from Menefee & Cliff House Sandstone Fms. Hoping to find more dinos, crocs, sharks, mosasaurs, and of course, turtles! 🐢

040

Heather F. Smith. Ph.D. @heatherfsmith.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Our latest work highlights new San Juan Basin discoveries, including: 🦖 New nodosaurid material 🐢 New well-preserved shell of the baenid Scabremys 🦈 First record of the durophagous mosasaur Globidens from New Mexico 🌊 New stratigraphic insights into Menefee–Cliff House Sandstone transition

020