Today I learned that Disk-winged Bats evolved suction cups for their arms and legs.

Am happy to say that #SVPCA 2026 >is< happening: a one-day event, 10th September, at the Uni. of Southampton. Registration opens very soon so, if you're on the SVPCA mailing list or FB group, expect details imminently. I'll post links etc. here too. For now, here's the shiny new conference logo...

This is where I was at today. They even played the Jurassic Park theme tune. 🦖 #CrystalPalacePark

Mark Witton@markwitton.bsky.social · 3w ago

Heading back early* from the big shindig to celebrate the restoration of Crystal Palace Park and the @cpdinosaurs.bsky.social. I'm proud to have played a part in a huge effort to repair and restore the Dinosaurs... *Stupid trains.

Happy to see some love for graptolites! #Graptolife

franz@franzanth.bsky.social · last mo.

Be not afraid.

Today's lunch spot is a slight upgrade from eating at my desk. (Watching c. 20,000 guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, gulls etc. at RSPB South Stack with @gizz47.bsky.social.)

Here's @markwitton.bsky.social mobbed by fans at #DinosaurHighway2026. Photo courtesy of the lovely @gizz47.bsky.social.

One of the saddest things about the spread of AI imagery is that so many people now seem to assume that a human being couldn't possibly create something cool. They think that now there's an 'easy' way to do 'art', that everyone is doing that, and real artists somehow no longer exist. Bizarre.

Jason Sanford@jasonsanford.bsky.social · 2mo ago

FYI to the world: The cover art for the new edition of Plague Birds is not AI generated. Two people messaged me asking, so I want to be clear the art is purely human created. Marcela Bolívar created the art for this cover and didn't use any AI at all. 1/

Went to the unveiling of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History's new palaeo exhibits this evening with @gizz47.bsky.social. Excellent new displays of British dinosaur material, well worth checking out even if you've visited umpteen times before.

Was amazed to find a Harris hawk visiting the garden this morning, presumably a lost pet. It hung around for 20 minutes or so, making low-energy efforts at the neighbour's quail pen. No interest in our chickens.

Kolby making friends at the polling station. Don't forget to vote, folks! #DogsAtPollingStations #DemocracyDog 🐶

A timeline of every animal ever sent into space 🧪

A visual timeline of every animal ever sent into space

From Laika the dog to Ham the chimpanzee, animals have blasted off—and died—pioneering space travel for us. See what we still send up today.

nationalgeographic.com

This made national news yesterday but I figure it's worth sharing to ensure maximum exposure. Time to take down our bird tables, folks: they're spreading diseases that are decimating bird populations. www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...

Magpies have been secretly building a nest in the neighbour's tree. Can you spot it? It's so well disguised.

Rave worm! What a gorgeous display this polychaete worm’s setae is giving under UV light! #marineplankton 🦑

Fantastic news in the UK today - the government has apparently ditched its plan to force creatives to 'opt out' if they don't want AI companies training on their life's work. www.thetimes.com/uk/technolog... 🧵 1/4

News on #SVPCA, a (mostly) UK-based annual meeting devoted to vertebrate palaeontology. Things have been quiet about the meeting for the last 18 months, but a team of us are working to pick up where we left off. More details to follow ASAP, hopefully very soon. #FossilFriday #paleontology #fossil

Next time you doubt you are the right person for a job, remember: Chupa Chups make toothpaste.

In which I provide a few thoughts on the new Spinosaurus species, S. mirabilis. www.newscientist.com/article/2516... I also stressed the deep connections between one of the study authors - Nathan Myhrvold - and Geoffrey Epstein to New Scientist. They didn't mention it, neither has anyone else.

New fossils may settle debate over mysterious sail-backed spinosaurs

Spinosaurs have sometimes been portrayed as swimmers or divers, but a new species of these dinosaurs bolsters the idea that they were more like gigantic herons

newscientist.com

And so begins the countdown to the frightnerman, doomsage, horrormeister. Thanks to @gizz47.bsky.social for this evening of terror, fear and blood. Blood? Blood. Crimson, copper-smelling blood. His blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. And bits of sick.

The real secret of how work gets done around here: the pets guide our fingers when using computers. The truth, finally, is out. With @gizz47.bsky.social

The best type of tree! #PigeonSky 🕊️

Tony Wells@tonyjwells.bsky.social · 7mo ago

A cold snap followed by some mild weather has caused the local pigeon tree to bloom much too early. #Birds #Pigeons #Trees #Manchester #Parks #UK

There's a Hellraiser mite!!

Frank Ashwood@frankashwood.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Has world news got you thinking an eternity with Pinhead and the Cenobites actually sounds quite pleasant? Then why not go support the Hellraiser mite in this year's NZ Bug of The Year competition! You get 3 votes, and there's also a GIANT earthworm... 🧪🪱 bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/vote-here-20...

The world feels rough right now So please enjoy this shrimp, filmed off Cozumel, Mexico. It may be a larval reef shrimp, but we don’t know what species or how long it lives or what it eats. The world is still full of wonder and beauty and mystery. 🎥 @pedrovalenciam scuba diver on Insta

Brundle's Christmas present came early. With @gizz47.bsky.social.

New #paleoart for #FossilFriday: the giant Meganeuropsis hawks Dunbaria in Early Permian Kansas, reaching to trap it with long, spiny legs. This image is set at the coast to reflect the marine occurrences of Meganeuropsis and Dunbaria fossils - not all Carbo-Permian insects lived in swamps! #sciart

Hey authors! Check to see if Anthropic stole your book to train their slop generator on. You’re entitled to $1500 per stolen Work. Look up your work, and if you’re in the database, file a claim secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/

The geology department at the University of Leicester, where myself and countless others did our palaeontology PhDs, is at serious risk of closure Please show your support by signing the below! c.org/KtYyZB8dHk

Save Geology at the University of Leicester

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

c.org

Have you completed or commissioned a piece of palaeoart in the last year? Nominations are now open for The Marsh Palaeoart Award! 🎨🦕🌿🐌🐟🎨 You can self-nominate, or nominate an artist you think deserves recognition. Check out our website for more details - palaeosoc.org/grants-prize...

It's been a while since I smacked @deanrlomax.bsky.social in the head, but I managed to catch up with him at #2025SVP #SVP2025. You can't escape, Dean!

Kicking off #2025SVP with a Palaeoart workshop hosted by @markwitton.bsky.social. Smuggled in our #SVPCA mugs for rebellious reasons. 🦕🦖