iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 14h

GAR WEEK 2026 is coming!!! Gar Week is November 16-20, 2026! @garlab.bsky.social Trailer here👇

04413 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Fall colors really coming in on our young-of-year Alligator Gars @garlab.bsky.social 🍂🍁

2498 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I’m teaching Intro to Marine Biology this semester and used these images in my first lecture. Unsure if either of them increased or decreased my credibility 😅😅😅 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social

A freshwater biologist and marine biologist sit on a shark-tagging vessel “RV Garvin” with the “Gar” crossed out.

Meme from the “Marine Biologist” episode of Seinfeld.

5624 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Some familiar fishy faces at the Minnesota State Fair! Check out a standout Longnose Gar and Emerald Bowfin among many other Minnesota fishes at the @minnesotadnr.bsky.social fish pond! Their indoor exhibits also included Emerald Bowfin, Shovelnose Sturgeon, and Shortnose Gar!

58312 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Beware this AI slop garbage by “Raph Francis,” one of MANY books “written” by the same “author” in a very short time, covering everything from mantises to grouse to leopard seals (each in their on books). Infuriating to see content I’ve dedicated a career to show up in AI trash 😡😡😡

AI slop cover art for an AI slop book about Alligator Gar.

AI slop description for an AI slop book about Alligator Gar.

26721 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Way to bend the knee to stupidity Google 🤦‍♂️

Google map mislabeling Lake Ontario as Lake America, which is something only stupid people are doing.

9613 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Me (left, 1985) and my son (right, 2025) knew the same Optimus Prime. RIP Peter Cullen (1941-2026) “Be strong enough to be gentle”

A child dressed in a costume of the Transformers character Optimus Prime.

A child wearing a mask of the Transformers character Optimus Prime.

0365 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I recently returned to Michigan to collect Spotted Gars (focus species of my PhD) for new research @garlab.bsky.social! It’s been 18 years (!!!) since finding my very first Spotted Gar, grateful to be continuing our native fish conservation work today!

2633 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Spotted a friend along the trail 🐸🧐

Flowers and woodland plants along a trail in Minnesota. Look for the basking treefrog on a leaf!

A Gray Treefrog basks in the sun on a leaf.

2548 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Spotted Gars in Michigan are where it’s at! Getting back after these fish for the first time in 16 years (since my PhD research on the species)! Their patterns really pop in Michigan’s clear-water inland lakes! Fish will be used in age/growth/climate adaptation research @garlab.bsky.social!

911923 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Luna Moth!!! Was really excited to see my favorite moth species (thanks to grad student G.Gonzales for finding it) on our way to fieldwork last week! First one I’ve seen in person in over 15 years (was well on its way out, but still cool to see!)🦋

Excited fish scientist holds his favorite moth species.

4769 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Fish scientist here, I agree with others that you saw a needlefish, member of the family Belonidae. They superficially look like the freshwater gars, but much slimmer and translucent as you described. Cool fish!

3640 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

We indeed found a baby Alligator Gar, providing evidence of succession spawning on the restored floodplain site! Already 14 inches (35 cm) long and only two months! Here it is:

A fish scientist holds a baby Alligator Gar.

4443 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

BUCKET. LIST. Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to see a live wild Alligator Snapping Turtle! Today it finally happened!!! Later released by anglers 🐢

A fish scientist holds an Alligator Snapping Turtle.

1828819 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

TOMORROW: the @garlab.bsky.social team returns to the Alligator Gar Rodeo… yes, it’s a real thing, and we get lots of valuable data from it, also great SciComm/outreach opportunity (it will be our 4th rodeo *not our first rodeo 😅*) Stay tuned!

Gar scientist holds open the jaws of an Alligator Gar (fish).

Photo credit: Madison Sinopoli

25411 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I mean, it’s what I used in my early days in the [gar]field in graduate school 😎👍

River ecology field equipment on a boat.

1191 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Believe it or not we have addressed this! Here you go: single gar = gar multiple gars, same species = garrison multiple gars, different species = garmada

Graphic showing the different terminology for a single gar, a group of gar of the same species, and group of gar of multiple species. They are called the following, respectively: gar, garrison, garmada.

301120346 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The new @garlab.bsky.social measuring boards from Osprey Crafts are looking FINtastic! 📏🐟

Several fish measuring boards on a table.

1282 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

A native fish species is eating some of the most damaging invasive species in the Great Lakes…AND making a significant impact! Freshwater Drum: The overlooked native fish that has been crushing trillions of Zebra & Quagga Mussels in Lake Erie www.canr.msu.edu/news/freshwa...

An angler holds a Freshwater Drum prior to release.

1184495909 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Used this image in a paleontology conference talk, but it’s honestly how I feel/what I recall every time I’m next to one of these living fossils. Sam Neil’s portrayal of that childhood fascination, I have no words 🥹

Text on a slide reads:
“I’m not a paleontologist, however…
‘Same energy’”
Referring to next photo of fish scientist next to an Alligator Gar, similar to Sam Neill as Dr. Alan Grant next to Triceratops in Jurassic Park.

Photo of fish scientist next to an Alligator Gar, similar to Sam Neill as Dr. Alan Grant next to Triceratops in Jurassic Park.

37213 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Smol toad at one of our sampling sites 🐸

Small toad sits in the hand of a scientist shortly before release.

510213 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

All species of gars have long snouts relative to most fish. Even the “shortnose” gar has a long snout, but the Longnose Gar has a significantly longer and narrower snout compared to other gar species. Here’s a comparison with a Shortnose Gar (photo 1) and also a gar scientist (photo 2) 😅

Dorsal view comparison the heads of a Longnose Gar and Shortnose Gar.

4254 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

“Intergarlactic” Check out some Shortnose Gars from the Minnesota River during @garlab.bsky.social native fish research! @lollardfish.bsky.social & @noorwrites.bsky.social joined us that day too!

38013 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

ConGARtulations Matt! Grateful for all the work you’ve done for conservation and science communication at TNC (and beyond). Looking forward to the next time we can hang out!

Two fish conservationists hold bowfins on a Louisiana bayou.

Two fish conservationists pose with a Longnose Gar on a Texas river.

042 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

There were more people at the DNR Fish Pond at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair (as there should be)! Their Reflecting Pool was much clearer too…AND HAD GAR 😎👍

223542 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

My daughter found a friend on the way to camp today; I was happy that she *did* 🦗

1400 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Electrofishing to study Minnesota’s native rough fish! Video by @noorwrites.bsky.social @startribune.com accompanying @lollardfish.bsky.social’s story on @garlab.bsky.social conservation research! Story Link: www.startribune.com/fishing-angl...

16421 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

From the GARgantuan to the handheld! Over the past 8 months we’ve encountered our largest gar (Alligator Gar in October) to one of the smallest (Shortnose Gar, today). My hand for “scale.”

Fish scientist’s hand on the head of a giant Alligator Gar (safely released after measurements).

A very small, 36 mm Shortnose Gar in the palm of a fish scientist.

316832 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

CANNOT believe I didn’t remember to get your book signed on THIS day or when you were in my office! Guess we’ll just have to connect again 😎👍

Two fish enthusiasts (both also academics) hold two Shortnose Gars on the Minnesota River.

120 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Native rough fish research enlists Minnesota anglers www.outdoornews.com/2026/06/25/n... Story in Outdoor News (print too!) about @garlab.bsky.social collaboration with citizen science anglers and @bellmuseum.bsky.social for native fish outreach & conservation! By Justin Runberg

News print story about native fish conservation.

0203 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Can confirm freshwater folks do return in one piece after marine research trip with @whysharksmatter.bsky.social. Also note David was willing to “vandalize” his team’s own research vessel for anti-gar propaganda 😅😅😅

Two scientists, one freshwater and one marine, sit on a marine science vessel named “Garvin”. To spite the freshwater scientist, who studies gar, the marine scientist has crossed out the “gar” in Garvin with tape. Don’t worry, the two scientists are long-time friends.

Scientists collect data on a large nurse shark prior to release back into water.

0243 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Native rough fish story by @lollardfish.bsky.social in today’s Star Tribune! Like our favorite living fossils, PRINT media is persistent and probably even more relevant in these AI times 📰👍

News paper image of a story on native rough fish in Minnesota, including Shortnose Gar.

27211 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Indeed, gar are good to eat! Popular food fish in many parts of Mexico and Central America. They have boneless “back strap” white meat; good in stew, smoked, curry, fried, grilled, empanadas, tamales (I’ve tried all these) 🐟🍽️👍

Fish scientist eats a grilled Tropical Gar in Mexico.

2367 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

“The Reflecting Pool merely adopted the algae, Gar was born in it, molded by it”

1769 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Do NOT listen to Big Shark & @whysharksmatter.bsky.social propaganda🦈 INSTEAD, fill the Reflecting Pool with GARS; they breathe air, live in fresh or saltwater, have armored scales, and poisonous eggs.They’ll keep costs down and Kid Rock out. I have an unbiased, no-bid recommendation for this job.

A fish scientist holds a large Alligator Gar (fish) in a lake.

12469127 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Check out this Minnesota crossover (on the Minnesota River) today! @lollardfish.bsky.social x @garlab.bsky.social 😎👍

Two fish enthusiasts, an historian and an ecologist, hold Shortnose Gars (fish) with a river in the background.

3291 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

FIFA x @garlab.bsky.social MEXICO: Tropical, Spotted, Longnose, and Alligator Gars 4/5

Map of the Mexico overlaid with images of a Tropical Gar, Spotted Gar, Longnose Gar, and Alligator Gar indicating their occurrence in the country.

1728 0

Dr. Solomon David @solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

FIFA x @garlab.bsky.social USA: Spotted, Longnose, Shortnose, Florida, and Alligator Gars 3/5

Map of the continental United States overlaid with images of a Spotted Gar, Longnose Gar, Shortnose Gar, Florida Gar, and Alligator Gar indicating their occurrence in the country.

3808 0