Dana Korneisel

@danakorneisel.bsky.social

Paleontology Postdoc Uppsala University • PhD Carleton U • M.S. VT • Early tetrapods, neck evodevo, taphonomy • Aerialist • Author of "Dana digs Dinos" • She/Her

Got to see a second slow worm today! They may look like snakes, but limblessness has evolved many times in Squamates (the snake and lizard family), and this guy is a limbless lizard. Moved across the road after filming.

What mammal has the longest neck? In terms of the number of vertebrae, it’s not the giraffe. They have 7 neck vertebrae, like us. Sloths, however, can have up to 10! Three toed sloths are the only mammal group that have more than 7. Who has the shortest neck? Also sloths! Two toeds can have 5!

A Three toed sloth on a branch extending its neck out.

It is a very happy #fossilfriday as I sent back a revised manuscript last night, a years-in-the-making review that is the reason I find my phone full of pictures like this every time I've been to a museum: "Asiatosuchus" depressifrons anterior cervical vertebrae (sans proatlas)

Atlas, axis, and cervical vertebra 3 of a fossil crocodylian

I never met Richard Fortey but his "Life" was what re-sparked an earlier interest in paleontology during my teenage years. This read got my dad to take me on a fossil-hunting trip with the rockounding club at my local library and steered me back towards science as a career. Thanks and RIP.

Paul Barrett@profpaulbarrett.bsky.social · 2y ago

Really sad to report that our friend and colleague Richard Fortey passed away this morning after a short battle with cancer. We’ll all miss his wit and wisdom. Here he is checking out a dino footprint we found while filming together on the Isle of Wight