iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

SaurianCYH @sauriancyh.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

21st century retrosaurs 7. Hatzegopteryx thambema

A winged mammalian creature standing on a rocky mountaintop, with a skeleton at its feet. Behind it are hills, the sea, and a starry night sky.
The creature has a long snout with a pair of fangs sticking out at the end, wolf-like ears, and a small dog like tail. Its wing is made up of membranes between its forelimbs, its long fourth finger connected to the ankle, and the trunk. It stands upright on its hindlimbs like a person.

03112

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

#FossilFriday The Dimetrodon mount for the @NMNH prior to its installation

Mounted skeleton of the fin-backed protomammal Dimetrodon

18322

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Ausarchosaur @ausarchosaur.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

A couple months ago a friend of mine found records of predation on armadillos by black and white Argentine tegus (Salvator merianae).

2308

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Alex Ries @alexries.com · 30/08/2026

Alien of the Day This GORGEOUS portrait of a bolt-tongue by Wayne Barlowe, from his famous book 'Expedition'. Superior use of textures; something very difficult to master in my experience!

Painting of an alien predator with a bright red arrow shaped tongue

734961

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Richy Craven @richycraven.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Sam Neil has so many great performances that it feels almost reductive to focus on one scene. Except it's one of the most iconic scenes in movie history and all of it, The groundbreaking CGI, the sweeping John Williams score *doesn't* work without the authentic joy and wonder of Neill's performance

402774831

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Dr. Amelia R. Zietlow 🦎 @tyrantlzrdqueen.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

It's been far too long since Tylosaurus news...so here's another NEW TYLOSAURUS PAPER! 🦎 From me & Mike² (Everhart & Polcyn) For the first time in over 150 years, the holotype of Tylosaurus proriger is fully described & figured in detail. Incredible artwork by Andrey Atuchin

111642

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Xavier A. Jenkins @semifossorial.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Our paper on turtle origins is finally out in Current Biology, with two major implications for our understanding of reptile evolution 🐢 #Paleontology #Turtles #Evolution www.cell.com/current-biol...

A pair of Eunotosaurus by Gabriel Ugueto: a sense of scale is provided by Glossopterus leaves in the fore-and-background and by a prosbolid hemipteran insect

Phylogeny of major reptile groups, showing turtles (Pantestudines) as early archosauromorphs and the putative stem-turtle Eunotosaurus as a millerettid stem reptile

16634173

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Last year I started a series of dinosaur line-arts, four species per paper sheet. This is first batch: Compsognathus longipes (based on German specimen), Sinoceratops zhuchengensis, Maiasaura peeblesorum and Hypsilophodon foxii. Done with black ballpoint pen. #paleoart

0326

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Asiatyrannus xui (or, according to the latest research, Tarbosaurus juvenile) from last year. This specimen was found in same formation with long-snouted Qianzhousaurus. Initially it was described as distinct small-ish taxon. Paint 3D. #paleoart #dinosaur

Black and white drawing of juvenile tyrannosaurid theropod.

0102

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Armin Reindl @arminreindl.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

New paper just dropped finally describing a complete specimen of Dakosaurus maximus and what a beauty it is. Some highlights, in addition to this being a long time coming, is the presence of bitemarks on the face and chondrichthyan material in the stomach doi.org/10.26879/1577

Skeletal reconstruction of specimen DMA-JP-2009/001. Like other metriorhynchids its long with a streamlined body, triangular and deep skull with large eyes, long teeth, a tail fluke and very short arms.

The fossil of DMA-JP-2009/001 as it is preserved. The skeleton is complete and posed in a U-shape, with the head curving up to the right and the tail to the left. A scalebar is shown equivalent to 1 meter.

18925

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Another obligatory New Year art. 🙂 Since 2026 is the Year of the Horse, I decided to choose one of the many extinct horse species. This is Mesohippus bairdi, which lived during the Early Oligocene in North America. Happy holidays! #happynewyear2016 #yearofhorse

A New Year's drawing of early horse with a red scarf adorned with white snowflakes. The horse walks through shallow snow, withsnow from a recent snowfall visible on its upper parts.

0130

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

A charging Tarbosaurus bataar. I painted this piece as an exercise in fullbody black and white art without lines. As usual, I used various brushes. I also practiced painting the ground kicked up by the animal's feet. #paleoart #dinosaur

A monochrome painting of attacking tyrannosaurid dinosaur. Done in Adobe Photoshop.

0339

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Daspletosaurus torosus, a type species of its genus, from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada. The holotype was found in the Oldman Formation in 1921. Daspletosaurus had relatively long forelimbs for a tyrannosaurid and quite massive build. #paleoart #dinosaur

A ballpoint pen drawing of front half on tyrannosaurid body with speculative display feathers and keratinous facial integument, including tight soft tissues on lower jaw.

0328

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Long-snouted tyrannosaurid Qianzhousaurus sinensis attacks high-crested oviraptorid Corythoraptor jacobsi. Qianzhousaurus belongs to Alioramini, a clade of gracile tyrannosaurid with probable preference to small and agile prey. Late Cretaceous of China. #paleoart #dinosaurs

A drawing depicting predator-prey relationships between bigger long-snouthed tyrannosaurid and smaller feathered oviraptorid with high head crest. Done with black ballpoint pen.

29019

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

The Tyrannosaurus rex is moving away from the viewer to the left. I started this drawing spontaneously and without references, and then adjusted the proportions. I'm not very happy with the position of the right leg, and the shading is a bit sloppy. #paleoart #dinosaur #trex

Drawing of walking Tyrannosaurus rex done with black ballpoint pen.

0123

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Painting of the front half of Giganotosaurus carolinii, a large carcharodontosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. It was among the largest theropods ever existed and rivaled big T. rex specimens in size. #paleoart #dinosaur #giganotosaurus

Painting of a giant theropod with a green upper body and an ochre-yellow belly and throat, as well as beige keratin head ornamentation. Done in Pait Tool Sai 2.0.

18020

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

A portrait sketch of Cryolophosaurus elliotti, a remarkable theropod from the Early Jurassic of Antarctica. This dinosaur is known for its tuft-shaped crest, positioned above the eyes. It was given informal name "Elvisaurus" due this feature. #paleoart #dinosaur #jurassic

Portrait sketch of crested theropod with speculative protofeathers, scaleless parts of neck and scaly snout. Done in Paint Tool Sai 2.0.

0288

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

A sketch of a Tyrannosaurus rex pulling at the hide of its prey. The front upper teeth of tyrannosaurids were D-shaped in cross-section and used for carving and scraping meat from bones. Some dinosaur bones even bear teeth marks left by this behavior. #paleoart #dinosaur #tyrannosaurus #trex

A black and white sketch of feeding Tyrannosaurus rex with shading. Done in Paint 3D.

0177

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Portrait of hadrosauroid Cariocecus bocagei from Early Cretaceous of Portugal. It's known by partial articulated skull from Papo Seco Formation. Cariocecus had low head profile, without crests or bulbous nose. Done in Krita. #paleoart #dinosaur

Portrait of ornithopod dinosaurs with sharp beak, covered with scales of ochre, orange, and various shades of brown.

0103

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Portrait of Torvosaurus tanneri, big megalosaurid theropod from Morrison formation. It was massive predator which coexisted with array of other theropods, including smaller megalosauroid Marshosaurus. Done as experiment with style. #paleoart #dinosaur

Portrait of big scaly theropod with various shades of greens. Done in Adobe Photoshop.

211022

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Literally Miguel 🇻🇪 @literallymiguel.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

a sebecid and a dyrosaurid squabble over a delicious turtle #paleoart

320653

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Joschua Knüppe @joschuaknuppe.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Adding to the collection of theropods with weird hands described this year. Duonychus, Mexidracon and the already posted Manipulonyx.

620667

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Joschua Knüppe @joschuaknuppe.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

Manipuloyx, a new alvarezsaur with really fascinating hands! The condition of the fingers isn't that unusual for the clade but the OSTEODERMS on the hand are new!

17474124

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

The Anatomical Record @anatrecord.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

New research on juvenile Redondasaurus fossils from Chinle Fm. reveals that immature phytosaurs show a mosaic of traits seen in both early and late-diverging species. Links b/w growth & morphological evolution in Phytosauria. Goldsmith & Stocker: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

0154

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Chindesaurus bryansmalli, a basal predatory dinosaur from the Late Triassic of Arizona. Its holotype, a partial postcranial skeleton, was nicknamed "Gertie". Chindesaurus was classified as herrerasaurid, but recent analyzes recovered it as Tawa hallae relative. #paleoart

Black and white lateral drawing of primitive predatory dinosaur with speculative protofeathery integument. Done in Adobe Photoshop.

0185

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Monochrome portrait of Saurornitholestes langstoni, a dromaeosaurid from the Late Cretaceous of North America. It's known by many fossils, including almost complete skeleton. The relatively boxy skull of this specimen was described in 2019. Keratinous snout tip is speculative. #paleoart

Grey monochrome portrait of feathered dromaeosaurid dinosaur with mohawk and exposed front teeth. Done in Adobe Photoshop.

081

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Yawning Prognathodon overtoni for friends's Birthday. Prognathodon is a genus with a complex taxonomy. Some of its species have been reclassified as separate genera, while others are the opposite, such as this one, previously known as Brachysaurana. Done in Paint Tool Sai 2.0. #paleoart

0266

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

A portrait of Khankhuuluu mongoliensis (or "Mongolian dragon prince"), a tyrannosauroid from the Bayanshiree Formation. Its remains were previously described as belonging to Alectrosaurus, but are now classified as a separate genus. Done in Paint 3D. #paleoart #dinosaur

Sketch of a feathered predatory dinosaur on an ocher background.

0152

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Alberta Claw @albertonykus.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

New skull material of the early therizinosaurian dinosaur Falcarius: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... 🧪 (📷 @freewillie643.bsky.social & Zanno)

Known bones in a reconstructed skull of the herbivorous theropod dinosaur Falcarius, shown in multiple views.

05715

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Stephanie Baumgart, PhD 🦖🦆 @stephanopteryx.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Just in time for spooky season: DINOSAUR "MUMMIES!" Unlike Egyptian mummies, these don't have squishy bits preserved, but the rock around these carcasses had clay capturing texture of scales, a midline crest w/ keratin spikes, &, brand new, feet w/ hooves! 🧪⚒️🦕🦖 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Illustration of Edmontosaurus walking through a muddy substrate, leaving footprints behind. A dead Edmontosaurus is in the background on its side.

216250

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Ausarchosaur @ausarchosaur.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Dire wolf/wolves by Mark Hallett. Had no idea the pack hunt drawing at the bottom right was a thing, so this was a pleasant surprise.

09827

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Prehistorica (Christian M.) @prehistorica.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Papiliomaris kluessendorfae, first reported in 1985 as the Waukesha "Butterfly Animal", was recently described as a strange bivalved arthropod with three pairs of large, feathery appendages. Some reports indicate it could reach up to 20cm wide.

413239

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Portrait of Tameryraptor markgrafi, a carcharodontosaurid from the Late Cretaceous of Bahariya Formation (Egypt). Its remains have long been attributed to Carcharodontosaurus, but it is distinguished by the presence of a small horn on its nose and symmetrical teeth. #paleoart #dinosaur

Black and white portrait of big predatory dinosaur with small nasal horn. Done in Paint 3D.

0477

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

An adult Ceratosaurus nasicornis caught juvenile Torvosaurus tanneri. These theropods, like an Allosaurus, were found in the famous Morrison Formation, but their remains are much less common. Despite some differences in food sources, they competed and killed each other from time to time. #paleoart

A black and white drawing of horned Ceratosaurus with its prey, juvenile Torvosaurus tanneri which has mor gracile appearance than adult. TIntegument of latter is based on skin impressions of possible megalosauroidean Juravenator starki from Germany. Done in Paint.

03311

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Kenneth De Baets @djbirddanerd.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

The first #leech body #fossil predates estimated hirudinidan origins by 200 million years peerj.com/articles/199... @peerj.bsky.social #Annelida

13215

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Armin Reindl @arminreindl.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

A happy day 2 of #Croctober (lets see how long I can keep this going) Crocs are well known for their parenting, but did you know that we even have fossils of them on their nest? This specimen comes from Germany and clearly shows a Diplocynodon mother that died on her nest

A photograph and a line drawing of a fossil crocodilian (Diplocynodon) curled up above its nest. The head is moderately long and somewhat blunt and the body curles around the animal so that the tail curves around the skull. The illustration highlights the presence of several eggs surrounding the fossil.

23112

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Portrait of dinosauromorph Pisanosaurus mertii from the Late Triassic of Argentina. It was either basal ornithishian (as classified initially) or silesaurid. In any case this animal was herbivore or omnivore a little more than a meter long. Neck filaments are speculative. #paleoart #dinosaur

Black and white portrait of dinosauromorpf with partially feathered neck and scaly head. Done in Paint.

0455

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Serjoscha Evers @sirjoscha.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

News @ Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken (UMO) in Bayreuth: new ichthyosaur, Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis, named today after UMO's prime excavation site, the Jurassic clay pit Mistelgau. @olorotitan.bsky.social beautifully reconstructed the to-be fossil on a belemnite battleground typical for the locality.

Freshly deceased Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis on a Jurassic sea floor covered in Belemnite rostra (a "belemnite battleground"). Artwork by Andrey Atuchin.

27728

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Ben Miller @extinctmonsters.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

The big tableau of early Permian synapsids in the next gallery unified a bunch of mounted skeletons that had previously been in separate cases. A nearby lab area covered the concept of extinction ("the fate of all species") in general terms.

Desert-y platform with various four-legged skeletons, some with big dorsal fins.

2455

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Armin Reindl @arminreindl.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Croc fans simply can't catch a break, after Kostensuchus in late August and Paarthurnax just a week ago we got ANOTHER fossil croc published Meet Thikarisuchus, a very small neosuchian from the Cenomanian of Montana

a 3D reconstruction of the skull of Thikarisuchus in lateral view, it is shown with enormous eyes, an overall oval head shape, tapering and short rostrum and heterodont teeth consisting of pointed anterior and bulbous posterior teeth

a 3D reconstruction of Thikarisuchus in dorsal view, the skull is broadly triangular with a tapering snout tip that is still fairly broad and large eyes

2267

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Steve Brusatte @stevebrusatte.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

A megaraptoran skeleton! From the end of the Cretaceous! Excited about the announcement of Joaquinraptor, the top predator down south when tyrannosaurs ruled the north. The Schwarzengger to T. rex's DeVito (at least in the arms category). My thoughts: www.livescience.com/animals/dino...

livescience.com

Gigantic dinosaur with 'claws like hedge trimmers' found with croc leg still in its jaws in Argentina

Speedy megaraptor Joaquinraptor casali had big arms and claws like hedge trimmers that would have made T. rex's forelimbs look puny.

618761

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Duonychus tsogtbaatari, a therizinosaurid from the Late Cretaceous of Bayanshiree Formation (Mongolia). It's known by partial postcranial skeleton including dorsal vertebrae and both forelimbs. Duonychus has only two manual digits, with big and curved claws. #paleoart #dinosaur

Black and white drawing of feathered therizinosaurid with didactyl manus. Done in Adobe Photoshop.

0359

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

radish cellar @jrtsk.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Prognathodon currii swimming near small Enchodus pack. Art was inspired by some Pseudorca photoes. #paleoart #mosasaur #prognathodon #mesozoic

Prognathodon currii is a mosasaur species. Here, it swims near pack of aulopiform fish from genus Enchodus.

1198

Reposted by Ildar Gismatullin

Cary Woodruff @doublebeam.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

#ZAVACEPHALE IS FINALLY OUT! 🥳 Our first definitive Early Cretaceous pachycephalosaur! (~15 my older than the previous oldest pachycephalosaurs) And the first hand material for the clade! I can't tell y'all how much of a pleasure it was to review this paper! ☺️

214447

Ildar Gismatullin @ildarotyrannus.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Portrait of Riparovenator milnerae, a baryonychine spinosaurid from Early Cretaceous of Isle of Wight. Remains of this theropod previously were assigned to Baryonyx. In this work I painted color on a black base - an unusual experience! Done in Adobe Photoshop. #paleoart #dinosaur

Portrait of spinosaurid theropod with green, light grey and golden colors.

1175