Declan Rourke
@declan78.bsky.social
@ualberta masters student in the Currie Lab Studying Ornithomimids. Friendly Neighborhood Paleontologist. All views are my own
Reposted by Declan Rourke
Very excited to see this paper finally come out! Tromerosaurus solumons gen. et sp. nov. Beautiful paleoart of a beautiful specimen by Henry Sharpe
October 4, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Very excited to see this paper finally come out! Tromerosaurus solumons gen. et sp. nov. Beautiful paleoart of a beautiful specimen by Henry Sharpe
Want to know what’s going on with North American Ornithomimid Taxonomy and Ornithomimosaur evolution? Come by my talk at SVP on Saturday November 14th in Dinosauria 4: A mostly “bird hipped bonanza” #SVP2026
September 18, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Want to know what’s going on with North American Ornithomimid Taxonomy and Ornithomimosaur evolution? Come by my talk at SVP on Saturday November 14th in Dinosauria 4: A mostly “bird hipped bonanza” #SVP2026
#FossilFriday here is Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis a genus of scorpion from the early Carboniferous of Scotland. Pulmonoscorpius was one of the largest scorpions to ever live with an estimated length of 70cm.
August 7, 2026 at 4:07 PM
#FossilFriday here is Pulmonoscorpius kirktonensis a genus of scorpion from the early Carboniferous of Scotland. Pulmonoscorpius was one of the largest scorpions to ever live with an estimated length of 70cm.
Reposted by Declan Rourke
New research out today! Some animals have three eyes?! This eye isn't for "seeing" per se, but it's connected to a part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature. So if you see a lizard basking out in the sun to get warm, oftentimes this eye plays a central role.
But there's more...
But there's more...
August 5, 2026 at 1:05 PM
New research out today! Some animals have three eyes?! This eye isn't for "seeing" per se, but it's connected to a part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature. So if you see a lizard basking out in the sun to get warm, oftentimes this eye plays a central role.
But there's more...
But there's more...
Reposted by Declan Rourke
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...
#Paleontology #Turtles #Evolution
www.cell.com/current-biol...
May 28, 2026 at 2:45 PM
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...
#Paleontology #Turtles #Evolution
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Happy #FossilFriday here is Guidraco venator, a genus of Pterosaur from the early Cretaceous of China. Also One of a few Pterosaur genera that made its appearance the Netflix documentary #thedinosaurs
May 22, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Happy #FossilFriday here is Guidraco venator, a genus of Pterosaur from the early Cretaceous of China. Also One of a few Pterosaur genera that made its appearance the Netflix documentary #thedinosaurs
Happy #FossilFriday here is Attenborosaurus a genus of Pliosaurid Plesiosaur from the early Jurassic of England. Named after the legendary Sir David Attenborough who turns 100 today
May 8, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Happy #FossilFriday here is Attenborosaurus a genus of Pliosaurid Plesiosaur from the early Jurassic of England. Named after the legendary Sir David Attenborough who turns 100 today
Reposted by Declan Rourke
New paper! We conducted a preliminary histological survey of the vertebrates from the Late Triassic Pebbly Arkose Formation of Zimbabwe. This assemblage (230 Ma) contains the oldest-known definitive dinosaurs from Africa!
doi.org/10.1111/joa....
doi.org/10.1111/joa....
April 30, 2026 at 6:08 PM
New paper! We conducted a preliminary histological survey of the vertebrates from the Late Triassic Pebbly Arkose Formation of Zimbabwe. This assemblage (230 Ma) contains the oldest-known definitive dinosaurs from Africa!
doi.org/10.1111/joa....
doi.org/10.1111/joa....
Happy #FossilFriday from the Royal Tyrrell Museum! Today is also the first day of CSVP, looking forward to a great conference! #paleontology #CSVP2026 #SVP
May 1, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Happy #FossilFriday from the Royal Tyrrell Museum! Today is also the first day of CSVP, looking forward to a great conference! #paleontology #CSVP2026 #SVP
Happy #FossilFriday! Here is Hyperodapedon a genus of Rhynchosaur from the late Triassic of Europe and Asia. Art by Gabriel Ugueto
April 17, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Happy #FossilFriday! Here is Hyperodapedon a genus of Rhynchosaur from the late Triassic of Europe and Asia. Art by Gabriel Ugueto
Reposted by Declan Rourke
Institute of Paleobiology of the Polish Academy of Sciences & the University of Warsaw invite participats for paleontological excavations, in July-August. Accommodation and meals are provided. The digs uncover Triassic vertebrates in Polish Silesia.
Details in thread 🧵
Details in thread 🧵
March 26, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Institute of Paleobiology of the Polish Academy of Sciences & the University of Warsaw invite participats for paleontological excavations, in July-August. Accommodation and meals are provided. The digs uncover Triassic vertebrates in Polish Silesia.
Details in thread 🧵
Details in thread 🧵
Happy #FossilFriday meet Kaprosuchus saharicus! Nicknamed the “Boar croc” Kaprosuchus lived during the late Cretaceous of Niger 🇳🇪 roughly 95 million years ago. Kaprosuchus is a member of the Mahajangasuchidae an early branch of notosuchian crocodiles
April 10, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Happy #FossilFriday meet Kaprosuchus saharicus! Nicknamed the “Boar croc” Kaprosuchus lived during the late Cretaceous of Niger 🇳🇪 roughly 95 million years ago. Kaprosuchus is a member of the Mahajangasuchidae an early branch of notosuchian crocodiles
Happy #FossilFriday here is Diplocaulus a genus of lepospondyl amphibian from the Late Carboniferous and early Permian period. A distinctive feature of Diplocaulus are its long horns at the back of the skull that are formed by elongation of the squamosal and tabulars
March 27, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Happy #FossilFriday here is Diplocaulus a genus of lepospondyl amphibian from the Late Carboniferous and early Permian period. A distinctive feature of Diplocaulus are its long horns at the back of the skull that are formed by elongation of the squamosal and tabulars
Happy #FossilFriday here is Coelophysis! A genus of Triassic dinosaur that lived in what is now New Mexico. Coelophysis is one of the best sampled dinosaur genera with dozens of individuals discovered from the Ghost Ranch locality in New Mexico.
March 6, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Happy #FossilFriday here is Coelophysis! A genus of Triassic dinosaur that lived in what is now New Mexico. Coelophysis is one of the best sampled dinosaur genera with dozens of individuals discovered from the Ghost Ranch locality in New Mexico.
Happy #fossilfriday here is the spectacular Dire Wolf wall at the La Brea Tar pits Museum
February 27, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Happy #fossilfriday here is the spectacular Dire Wolf wall at the La Brea Tar pits Museum
Very sad news in Paleo, Hans Dieter-Sues passed away today. Hans was a phenomenal Paleontologist and wonderful person who will be dearly missed
February 23, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Very sad news in Paleo, Hans Dieter-Sues passed away today. Hans was a phenomenal Paleontologist and wonderful person who will be dearly missed
Reposted by Declan Rourke
Terrible news that Hans-Dieter Sues has died. Way too young.
Hans (on the right) & Sasha Averianov (left) invited me to study Timurlengia with them. I'll always appreciate it.
Hans was eminent, always nice and cheerful to me, a man of ethics and faith. RIP.
Hans (on the right) & Sasha Averianov (left) invited me to study Timurlengia with them. I'll always appreciate it.
Hans was eminent, always nice and cheerful to me, a man of ethics and faith. RIP.
February 23, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Terrible news that Hans-Dieter Sues has died. Way too young.
Hans (on the right) & Sasha Averianov (left) invited me to study Timurlengia with them. I'll always appreciate it.
Hans was eminent, always nice and cheerful to me, a man of ethics and faith. RIP.
Hans (on the right) & Sasha Averianov (left) invited me to study Timurlengia with them. I'll always appreciate it.
Hans was eminent, always nice and cheerful to me, a man of ethics and faith. RIP.
Happy #FossilFriday here is Microraptor a genus a Dromaeosaur from the early Cretaceous of China. A unique feature of Microraptor is the presence of flight feathers on the legs in addition to the arms.
February 6, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Happy #FossilFriday here is Microraptor a genus a Dromaeosaur from the early Cretaceous of China. A unique feature of Microraptor is the presence of flight feathers on the legs in addition to the arms.
Reposted by Declan Rourke
Astronomers are planning ambitious telescopes to search for signs of life on distant planets.
A newly discovered world might just be the perfect target. Learn more: https://scim.ag/3Z75OMi
A newly discovered world might just be the perfect target. Learn more: https://scim.ag/3Z75OMi
January 30, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Astronomers are planning ambitious telescopes to search for signs of life on distant planets.
A newly discovered world might just be the perfect target. Learn more: https://scim.ag/3Z75OMi
A newly discovered world might just be the perfect target. Learn more: https://scim.ag/3Z75OMi
Happy #FossilFriday here is Mesosaurus tenuidens a genus of Aquatic para reptile from the early Permian of South Africa and South America. Mesosaurus fossils were instrument in proving continental drift as remains were found in two widely separated regions
January 16, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Happy #FossilFriday here is Mesosaurus tenuidens a genus of Aquatic para reptile from the early Permian of South Africa and South America. Mesosaurus fossils were instrument in proving continental drift as remains were found in two widely separated regions
Happy #FossilFriday here is Beelzebufo ampinga an extinct genus of Hyloid frog from the late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Beelzebufo was the largest frog to ever live with an estimated size of 42 cm and likely preyed on juvenile dinosaurs.
January 9, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Happy #FossilFriday here is Beelzebufo ampinga an extinct genus of Hyloid frog from the late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Beelzebufo was the largest frog to ever live with an estimated size of 42 cm and likely preyed on juvenile dinosaurs.
Reposted by Declan Rourke
A shake-up of the dinosaur family tree! Rhabdodontids are not ornithopods. They are ceratopsians.
There were horned dinosaurs in Europe! As shown by a new fossil of Ajkaceratops from Hungary!
Check out our new study, led by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social ⤵️
There were horned dinosaurs in Europe! As shown by a new fossil of Ajkaceratops from Hungary!
Check out our new study, led by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social ⤵️
January 7, 2026 at 4:32 PM
A shake-up of the dinosaur family tree! Rhabdodontids are not ornithopods. They are ceratopsians.
There were horned dinosaurs in Europe! As shown by a new fossil of Ajkaceratops from Hungary!
Check out our new study, led by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social ⤵️
There were horned dinosaurs in Europe! As shown by a new fossil of Ajkaceratops from Hungary!
Check out our new study, led by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social ⤵️
Reposted by Declan Rourke
A #PrehistoricPlanet Christmas, borrowed from jurassic_world_clipz on TikTok :) Merry Christmas everyone!
December 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A #PrehistoricPlanet Christmas, borrowed from jurassic_world_clipz on TikTok :) Merry Christmas everyone!
Reposted by Declan Rourke
I want to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays with this quick sketch of two Microraptorine dinosaurs in the snow ❄️. I hope everybody is having a great day and enjoying the presents! 🎁 🎄 🎅
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
December 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I want to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays with this quick sketch of two Microraptorine dinosaurs in the snow ❄️. I hope everybody is having a great day and enjoying the presents! 🎁 🎄 🎅
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!