Chris Tijani Barker
@christijanibarker.bsky.social
Palaeontologist | PhD | Scientific consultant and author | Visiting researcher at University of Southampton | Spinosaurs, theropods, crocodylomorphs & Wealden Supergroup faunas
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🇫🇷 🇹🇳 🇬🇧
Pinned
Our new paper on a tiny Wealden 🐊 is now out, with @tetzoo.bsky.social, @neilgostling.bsky.social and co. As a critical taxon close to the origins of the living croc lineage, we used microCT to build a comprehensive morpholgical atlas to reassess its evolutionary relationships. tinyurl.com/4t592crr
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
I and colleagues are working on a response to Frédéric Pittet's new article on spinosaurid rostra and sensory abilities; we've found several aspects that overlap with our own in-prep work on baryonychine crania. And, no, it isn't so much on the taxonomy :) #dinosaurs
June 29, 2026 at 2:53 PM
I and colleagues are working on a response to Frédéric Pittet's new article on spinosaurid rostra and sensory abilities; we've found several aspects that overlap with our own in-prep work on baryonychine crania. And, no, it isn't so much on the taxonomy :) #dinosaurs
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
This work is led by @neilgostling.bsky.social and @christijanibarker.bsky.social and we've enjoyed working with colleagues, amateur and professional, throughout the region. We have more spinosaurid work in prep right now and look forward to telling you all about it :)
June 29, 2026 at 3:10 PM
This work is led by @neilgostling.bsky.social and @christijanibarker.bsky.social and we've enjoyed working with colleagues, amateur and professional, throughout the region. We have more spinosaurid work in prep right now and look forward to telling you all about it :)
The new Eustreptospondylus mount I helped reconstruct with colleagues at Replicate3D has now been officially unveiled at Oxford Natural History Museum. We surface scanned the holotype and rearticulated/sculpted various bits in Blender, including the skull. A really fun project to be involved with!!
June 8, 2026 at 8:35 PM
The new Eustreptospondylus mount I helped reconstruct with colleagues at Replicate3D has now been officially unveiled at Oxford Natural History Museum. We surface scanned the holotype and rearticulated/sculpted various bits in Blender, including the skull. A really fun project to be involved with!!
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
It's true, my 'Theropod dinosaur diversity of the lower English Wealden', co-authored with @christijanibarker.bsky.social @neilgostling.bsky.social and colleagues, is a #TopViewedArticle at #PapersinPalaeontology, and here's the certificate to prove it... congrats to us all. #dinosaurs #fossils
May 15, 2026 at 8:57 AM
It's true, my 'Theropod dinosaur diversity of the lower English Wealden', co-authored with @christijanibarker.bsky.social @neilgostling.bsky.social and colleagues, is a #TopViewedArticle at #PapersinPalaeontology, and here's the certificate to prove it... congrats to us all. #dinosaurs #fossils
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
Our giant paper on a small crocodyliform is out! We have a comprehensive atlas of the osteology and neuroanatomy of Koumpiodontosuchus. Amazing work from @christijanibarker.bsky.social @tetzoo.bsky.social Mark Young Katy Rankin, et al
@sotonbiosciences.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
@sotonbiosciences.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
April 14, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Our giant paper on a small crocodyliform is out! We have a comprehensive atlas of the osteology and neuroanatomy of Koumpiodontosuchus. Amazing work from @christijanibarker.bsky.social @tetzoo.bsky.social Mark Young Katy Rankin, et al
@sotonbiosciences.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
@sotonbiosciences.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
Our new giant ZJLS paper on the Wealden croc Koumpiodontosuchus is out, and thus.... tetzoo.com/blog/2026/4/... A great study led by @christijanibarker.bsky.social and @neilgostling.bsky.social
Koumpi the Wealden Croc: Tons of New Data and Phylogeny Resolved — Tetrapod Zoology
A very long article on a very small croc…
tetzoo.com
April 13, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Our new giant ZJLS paper on the Wealden croc Koumpiodontosuchus is out, and thus.... tetzoo.com/blog/2026/4/... A great study led by @christijanibarker.bsky.social and @neilgostling.bsky.social
Our new paper on a tiny Wealden 🐊 is now out, with @tetzoo.bsky.social, @neilgostling.bsky.social and co. As a critical taxon close to the origins of the living croc lineage, we used microCT to build a comprehensive morpholgical atlas to reassess its evolutionary relationships. tinyurl.com/4t592crr
April 12, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Our new paper on a tiny Wealden 🐊 is now out, with @tetzoo.bsky.social, @neilgostling.bsky.social and co. As a critical taxon close to the origins of the living croc lineage, we used microCT to build a comprehensive morpholgical atlas to reassess its evolutionary relationships. tinyurl.com/4t592crr
This final version of this work is now available as a PDF. On behalf of my co-authors, I'd like to thank the editors and reviewers for their expertise and handling of the manuscript. www.ameghiniana.org.ar/index.php/am...
January 5, 2026 at 7:52 AM
This final version of this work is now available as a PDF. On behalf of my co-authors, I'd like to thank the editors and reviewers for their expertise and handling of the manuscript. www.ameghiniana.org.ar/index.php/am...
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
I'm not at Pal Ass (the annual Palaeontological Association meeting) but I'm there in spirit as our group's #spinosaurid talk happened today ('A decade of spinosaurids: is the UK a centre for a golden age in spinosaurid research?'), given by Neil Gostling @neilgostling.bsky.social. cont...
December 14, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I'm not at Pal Ass (the annual Palaeontological Association meeting) but I'm there in spirit as our group's #spinosaurid talk happened today ('A decade of spinosaurids: is the UK a centre for a golden age in spinosaurid research?'), given by Neil Gostling @neilgostling.bsky.social. cont...
Did spinosaurids really survive into the latest Cretaceous? The postprint for our latest work on these incredible dinosaurs is out today, where @neilgostling.bsky.social, @tetzoo.bsky.social and I examine claims of spino persistance beyond the Cenomanian www.ameghiniana.org.ar/index.php/am...
December 12, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Did spinosaurids really survive into the latest Cretaceous? The postprint for our latest work on these incredible dinosaurs is out today, where @neilgostling.bsky.social, @tetzoo.bsky.social and I examine claims of spino persistance beyond the Cenomanian www.ameghiniana.org.ar/index.php/am...
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
New Rauhut et al. PalaeoE paper on Iberian spinosaurids is really interesting but odd that they only cite us (Barker et al. 2021) once, and only in connection with an anatomical trait. I'm biased, but Barker et al. is an important paper in European spinosaurid studies www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New spinosaurids from the Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, UK) and the European origins of Spinosauridae - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - New spinosaurids from the Wessex Formation (Early Cretaceous, UK) and the European origins of Spinosauridae
www.nature.com
September 18, 2025 at 10:43 AM
New Rauhut et al. PalaeoE paper on Iberian spinosaurids is really interesting but odd that they only cite us (Barker et al. 2021) once, and only in connection with an anatomical trait. I'm biased, but Barker et al. is an important paper in European spinosaurid studies www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
This has been a week of mostly #crocodyliforms and #spinosaurids. A lot of great stuff in the works with @christijanibarker.bsky.social @neilgostling.bsky.social and others.... stay tuned.
July 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
This has been a week of mostly #crocodyliforms and #spinosaurids. A lot of great stuff in the works with @christijanibarker.bsky.social @neilgostling.bsky.social and others.... stay tuned.
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
Great day in the Palaeo lab at Dinosaur Isle with @christijanibarker.bsky.social and @jamesmacdonell.bsky.social looking at Isle of Wight dinosaurs. Keep an eye out for some exciting developments...
@sotonbiosciences.bsky.social @unisouthampton.bsky.social
@sotonbiosciences.bsky.social @unisouthampton.bsky.social
July 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Great day in the Palaeo lab at Dinosaur Isle with @christijanibarker.bsky.social and @jamesmacdonell.bsky.social looking at Isle of Wight dinosaurs. Keep an eye out for some exciting developments...
@sotonbiosciences.bsky.social @unisouthampton.bsky.social
@sotonbiosciences.bsky.social @unisouthampton.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
In 2022, I and colleagues published our study of a new gigantic spinosaurid theropod from the Isle of Wight's Vectis Formation. The remains were fragmentary, and we've always hoped that new material might come to light. And that's where I'll end things and press 'Post'.... tetzoo.com/blog/2022/6/...
A Giant Spinosaurid Dinosaur from the Cretaceous of the Isle of Wight — Tetrapod Zoology
Yup, another new dinosaur from the Cretaceous of the UK…
tetzoo.com
May 21, 2025 at 3:14 PM
In 2022, I and colleagues published our study of a new gigantic spinosaurid theropod from the Isle of Wight's Vectis Formation. The remains were fragmentary, and we've always hoped that new material might come to light. And that's where I'll end things and press 'Post'.... tetzoo.com/blog/2022/6/...
Our open access article on early spinosaur brains and senses, coauthored by myself, @neilgostling.bsky.social, @tetzoo.bsky.social, @witmerlab.bsky.social and others, is apparently a #TopViewedArticle in the Journal of Anatomy. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Modified skulls but conservative brains? The palaeoneurology and endocranial anatomy of baryonychine dinosaurs (Theropoda: Spinosauridae)
Spinosaurids were unusual large-bodied tetanuran theropods with semi-aquatic ecologies. The neuroanatomy of baryonychine spinosaurids has yet to be studied, and may inform about the early evolution o....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
April 16, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Our open access article on early spinosaur brains and senses, coauthored by myself, @neilgostling.bsky.social, @tetzoo.bsky.social, @witmerlab.bsky.social and others, is apparently a #TopViewedArticle in the Journal of Anatomy. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
Hidden in Stone at God's House Tower features work from Archaeology and @sotonbiosciences.bsky.social of @unisouthampton.bsky.social. Here are some pieces inspired by the research in my lab, by @christijanibarker.bsky.social during his PhD... The Spinosaur Ceratosuchops... Work by Karen Fawcett
April 12, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Hidden in Stone at God's House Tower features work from Archaeology and @sotonbiosciences.bsky.social of @unisouthampton.bsky.social. Here are some pieces inspired by the research in my lab, by @christijanibarker.bsky.social during his PhD... The Spinosaur Ceratosuchops... Work by Karen Fawcett
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
Had a fantastic evening at God's House Tower (Southampton) for Hidden in Stone, a new exhibition arranged by @neilgostling.bsky.social, bringing attention to south coast fossils including Wealden spinosaurids, the Isle of Wight Paleogene and Pleistocene, and more. Aaand...
April 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Had a fantastic evening at God's House Tower (Southampton) for Hidden in Stone, a new exhibition arranged by @neilgostling.bsky.social, bringing attention to south coast fossils including Wealden spinosaurids, the Isle of Wight Paleogene and Pleistocene, and more. Aaand...
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
Hidden in Stone includes appropriate coverage of Wealden spinosaurids (the work of @christijanibarker.bsky.social @neilgostling.bsky.social myself and others), with replica fossils of #Ceratosuchops and items relevant to Bill Walker's discovery of #Baryonyx in the 1980s...
April 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Hidden in Stone includes appropriate coverage of Wealden spinosaurids (the work of @christijanibarker.bsky.social @neilgostling.bsky.social myself and others), with replica fossils of #Ceratosuchops and items relevant to Bill Walker's discovery of #Baryonyx in the 1980s...
First visit to the Oxford Clay Fm. (Callovian, Jurassic) around Tidmoor Point - covered in mud but highly productive, with lots of ammonite and belemnite fragments as well as a shark tooth (?Sphenodus).
March 17, 2025 at 11:08 AM
First visit to the Oxford Clay Fm. (Callovian, Jurassic) around Tidmoor Point - covered in mud but highly productive, with lots of ammonite and belemnite fragments as well as a shark tooth (?Sphenodus).
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
We have a rich fossil heritage on the south coast, marine reptiles, dinosaurs, the first humans on these islands... And everything in between. Come and find out about it at our new exhibition, running from April 4th to June 1st.
godshousetower.org.uk/eventer/exhi...
@unisouthampton.bsky.social
godshousetower.org.uk/eventer/exhi...
@unisouthampton.bsky.social
March 8, 2025 at 11:02 AM
We have a rich fossil heritage on the south coast, marine reptiles, dinosaurs, the first humans on these islands... And everything in between. Come and find out about it at our new exhibition, running from April 4th to June 1st.
godshousetower.org.uk/eventer/exhi...
@unisouthampton.bsky.social
godshousetower.org.uk/eventer/exhi...
@unisouthampton.bsky.social
Saw a whole bunch of kids books I've written/consulted on out in the wild: these are all DK tomes, including the recent 2024 addition to the Find My Favourite series aimed at younger readers 🦖🦕
December 28, 2024 at 3:26 PM
Saw a whole bunch of kids books I've written/consulted on out in the wild: these are all DK tomes, including the recent 2024 addition to the Find My Favourite series aimed at younger readers 🦖🦕
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
The fossilized tyrannosaur teeth are thought to date to around 135 million years ago and represent a first of its kind discovery.
Dinosaur teeth discovered by quarryman revealed to be tyrannosaur's
The fossilized tyrannosaur teeth are thought to date to around 135 million years ago and represent a first of its kind discovery.
www.newsweek.com
December 6, 2024 at 5:21 PM
The fossilized tyrannosaur teeth are thought to date to around 135 million years ago and represent a first of its kind discovery.
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
Spinosaurs, dromaeosaurs & tyrannosaurs in the lower English Wealden: analysis of a tooth-based fauna from the Wadhurst Clay Formation onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... @neilgostling.bsky.social @christijanibarker.bsky.social @tetzoo.bsky.social
December 5, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Spinosaurs, dromaeosaurs & tyrannosaurs in the lower English Wealden: analysis of a tooth-based fauna from the Wadhurst Clay Formation onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... @neilgostling.bsky.social @christijanibarker.bsky.social @tetzoo.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
Great to be involved in this research along with @christijanibarker.bsky.social, @tetzoo.bsky.social @simonwills.bsky.social, Lucy Handford, Christope Hendricks, Phil Hadland, Dave Brockhurst and @neilgostling.bsky.social.
The #MachineLearning we used will continue to improve with more data!
The #MachineLearning we used will continue to improve with more data!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 5, 2024 at 2:05 PM
Great to be involved in this research along with @christijanibarker.bsky.social, @tetzoo.bsky.social @simonwills.bsky.social, Lucy Handford, Christope Hendricks, Phil Hadland, Dave Brockhurst and @neilgostling.bsky.social.
The #MachineLearning we used will continue to improve with more data!
The #MachineLearning we used will continue to improve with more data!
Reposted by Chris Tijani Barker
New at Tetrapod Zoology... A New Theropod Dinosaur Assemblage from the Older Part of the English Wealden. Tantalizing remains demonstrate new, earliest Cretaceous spinosaurids, tyrannosauroids and more... tetzoo.com/blog/2024/12... #dinosaurs #fossils
A New Theropod Dinosaur Assemblage from the Older Part of the English Wealden — Tetrapod Zoology
What, you want more new theropod dinosaurs from the English Lower Cretaceous? Today sees the publication of our group’s ongoing analysis of theropod diversity within the Wealden Supergroup of southe...
tetzoo.com
December 5, 2024 at 8:12 AM
New at Tetrapod Zoology... A New Theropod Dinosaur Assemblage from the Older Part of the English Wealden. Tantalizing remains demonstrate new, earliest Cretaceous spinosaurids, tyrannosauroids and more... tetzoo.com/blog/2024/12... #dinosaurs #fossils