Richard Dearden
@euphanerops.bsky.social
Fan of fossil fishes. NERC Independent Research Fellow at University of Birmingham. Using fossil and living taxa to understand the evolution of sharks, rays, and chimaeras. Also paint miniatures very slowly.
Pinned
Richard Dearden
@euphanerops.bsky.social
· Apr 30
New #OA paper in @royalsocietypublishing.org #RSOS: we use CT to describe a 3D shark from the Cretaceous Chalk, giving a rare skeletal perspective on shark evolution.
A bit of the backstory in 🧵below featuring
🦴 MYSTERY FOSSILS
🦈 CUTE SHARKS
🦷 CHALK DENTISTRY
doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
(1/13)
A bit of the backstory in 🧵below featuring
🦴 MYSTERY FOSSILS
🦈 CUTE SHARKS
🦷 CHALK DENTISTRY
doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
(1/13)
Fan of weird end-Permian-surviving fossil sharks? Check out our preprint describing the first endoskeletal fossils of Carnian jalodontiform Keuperodus brodiei. #FossilFriday
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Led by Ryan Tokeley (no bsky), based on his great masters project work @nitroshutter.bsky.social
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Led by Ryan Tokeley (no bsky), based on his great masters project work @nitroshutter.bsky.social
September 18, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Fan of weird end-Permian-surviving fossil sharks? Check out our preprint describing the first endoskeletal fossils of Carnian jalodontiform Keuperodus brodiei. #FossilFriday
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Led by Ryan Tokeley (no bsky), based on his great masters project work @nitroshutter.bsky.social
doi.org/10.64898/202...
Led by Ryan Tokeley (no bsky), based on his great masters project work @nitroshutter.bsky.social
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Re-interpretation of oral anatomy of Silurian heterostracan Athenaegis chattertoni from Northwest Territories, Canada onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #FossilFriday @agneselanzetti.bsky.social @palaeostephan.bsky.social @euphanerops.bsky.social @lisaschnetz.bsky.social @datadryad.bsky.social
September 18, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Re-interpretation of oral anatomy of Silurian heterostracan Athenaegis chattertoni from Northwest Territories, Canada onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #FossilFriday @agneselanzetti.bsky.social @palaeostephan.bsky.social @euphanerops.bsky.social @lisaschnetz.bsky.social @datadryad.bsky.social
Check out our new paper in @thepalass.bsky.social Palaeontology, led by @lisaschnetz.bsky.social describing the mouthparts of the oldest articulated heterostracan Athenaegis.
Oral plates are organised more like those of the later pteraspids but lack key pteraspid features like ternimal hooks.
Oral plates are organised more like those of the later pteraspids but lack key pteraspid features like ternimal hooks.
Second new paper this week: Reconstructing the oral apparatus of the Silurian heterostracan Athenaegis. Led by @lisaschnetz.bsky.social and in collaboration with many colleagues, including @euphanerops.bsky.social (who rendered the animation) and @nitroshutter.bsky.social
September 18, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Check out our new paper in @thepalass.bsky.social Palaeontology, led by @lisaschnetz.bsky.social describing the mouthparts of the oldest articulated heterostracan Athenaegis.
Oral plates are organised more like those of the later pteraspids but lack key pteraspid features like ternimal hooks.
Oral plates are organised more like those of the later pteraspids but lack key pteraspid features like ternimal hooks.
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Second new paper this week: Reconstructing the oral apparatus of the Silurian heterostracan Athenaegis. Led by @lisaschnetz.bsky.social and in collaboration with many colleagues, including @euphanerops.bsky.social (who rendered the animation) and @nitroshutter.bsky.social
September 18, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Second new paper this week: Reconstructing the oral apparatus of the Silurian heterostracan Athenaegis. Led by @lisaschnetz.bsky.social and in collaboration with many colleagues, including @euphanerops.bsky.social (who rendered the animation) and @nitroshutter.bsky.social
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Another big potential #FishJob
Curator of Fishes (or Mammals, but let it be ichthyology) at the American Museum of Natural History
careers.amnh.org/postings/4925
Curator of Fishes (or Mammals, but let it be ichthyology) at the American Museum of Natural History
careers.amnh.org/postings/4925
Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor, Vertebrate Zoology
The Division of Vertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) seeks an outstanding tenure-track Assistant Curator/Assistant Professor in either the Department of Ichthyology or M...
careers.amnh.org
September 15, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Another big potential #FishJob
Curator of Fishes (or Mammals, but let it be ichthyology) at the American Museum of Natural History
careers.amnh.org/postings/4925
Curator of Fishes (or Mammals, but let it be ichthyology) at the American Museum of Natural History
careers.amnh.org/postings/4925
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Calling creatives! 🎹 🎶 Could you create a 30 second musical intro for our palaeontology podcast? We can pay for your services, but our budget is 🤏
September 16, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Calling creatives! 🎹 🎶 Could you create a 30 second musical intro for our palaeontology podcast? We can pay for your services, but our budget is 🤏
Reposted by Richard Dearden
New paper out today! Led by Daniel Schwarz, we retrodeformed the skull and reconstructed the cranio-mandibular musculature of the giant stem-amphibian Mastodonsaurus giganteus. Our results show that Mastodonsaurus had a powerful bite and a crocodile-
like bite-and-hold feeding style.
like bite-and-hold feeding style.
September 15, 2026 at 8:04 AM
New paper out today! Led by Daniel Schwarz, we retrodeformed the skull and reconstructed the cranio-mandibular musculature of the giant stem-amphibian Mastodonsaurus giganteus. Our results show that Mastodonsaurus had a powerful bite and a crocodile-
like bite-and-hold feeding style.
like bite-and-hold feeding style.
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Join us on Mon, 28 Sept, at 5:30pm for Dr Manfredo Capriolo's Lapworth Lecture, exploring a magmatic perspective on carbon emissions from the North Atlantic Igneous Province.
The lecture is free and open to all, available to watch on campus or on Zoom.
For more info: www.birmingham.ac.uk...
The lecture is free and open to all, available to watch on campus or on Zoom.
For more info: www.birmingham.ac.uk...
September 10, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Join us on Mon, 28 Sept, at 5:30pm for Dr Manfredo Capriolo's Lapworth Lecture, exploring a magmatic perspective on carbon emissions from the North Atlantic Igneous Province.
The lecture is free and open to all, available to watch on campus or on Zoom.
For more info: www.birmingham.ac.uk...
The lecture is free and open to all, available to watch on campus or on Zoom.
For more info: www.birmingham.ac.uk...
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Interested in fossil arthropods, palaeoecology, dispersal, and interesting methods? 🦀 🌎
I'm hiring a 4-year, fully funded PhD student at the University of Geneva as part of my European Research Council (ERC) grant.
Deadline: 16th October.
Reach out if any questions!
www.unige.ch/sciences/ter...
I'm hiring a 4-year, fully funded PhD student at the University of Geneva as part of my European Research Council (ERC) grant.
Deadline: 16th October.
Reach out if any questions!
www.unige.ch/sciences/ter...
September 7, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Interested in fossil arthropods, palaeoecology, dispersal, and interesting methods? 🦀 🌎
I'm hiring a 4-year, fully funded PhD student at the University of Geneva as part of my European Research Council (ERC) grant.
Deadline: 16th October.
Reach out if any questions!
www.unige.ch/sciences/ter...
I'm hiring a 4-year, fully funded PhD student at the University of Geneva as part of my European Research Council (ERC) grant.
Deadline: 16th October.
Reach out if any questions!
www.unige.ch/sciences/ter...
Reposted by Richard Dearden
⚠️BIOINFORMATCIS JOB ALERT⚠️
Come and join us @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
We are recruiting a Lecturer in Bioinformatics.
Details here: www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested!
Come and join us @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
We are recruiting a Lecturer in Bioinformatics.
Details here: www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested!
Details | Working at Bristol | University of Bristol
www.bristol.ac.uk
September 7, 2026 at 8:49 AM
⚠️BIOINFORMATCIS JOB ALERT⚠️
Come and join us @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
We are recruiting a Lecturer in Bioinformatics.
Details here: www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested!
Come and join us @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
We are recruiting a Lecturer in Bioinformatics.
Details here: www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested!
Reposted by Richard Dearden
🎓 Looking for a #PhD in Earth & Environmental Sciences starting Autumn 2027?
Applications now open for CENTA Science Opportunity Scholarships for Home-fee applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds.
✅ Stipend
✅ Fees paid
✅ Research & conference funding
centa.ac.uk/apply/
#DiversityInSTEM
Applications now open for CENTA Science Opportunity Scholarships for Home-fee applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds.
✅ Stipend
✅ Fees paid
✅ Research & conference funding
centa.ac.uk/apply/
#DiversityInSTEM
Apply – CENTA
centa.ac.uk
September 4, 2026 at 9:25 AM
🎓 Looking for a #PhD in Earth & Environmental Sciences starting Autumn 2027?
Applications now open for CENTA Science Opportunity Scholarships for Home-fee applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds.
✅ Stipend
✅ Fees paid
✅ Research & conference funding
centa.ac.uk/apply/
#DiversityInSTEM
Applications now open for CENTA Science Opportunity Scholarships for Home-fee applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds.
✅ Stipend
✅ Fees paid
✅ Research & conference funding
centa.ac.uk/apply/
#DiversityInSTEM
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Double preprint alert! 🚨
Squishy in the slishy 🌊
We used jellyfish and their paleoenvironments to better constrain paleogeographic reconstructions and tidal simulations throughout the entire Cambrian period.
Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support with this study!
Squishy in the slishy 🌊
We used jellyfish and their paleoenvironments to better constrain paleogeographic reconstructions and tidal simulations throughout the entire Cambrian period.
Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support with this study!
Constraining Palaeogeography and Palaeotides for the Cambrian using cnidarian medusae
The ocean tides influence key Earth system processes at a range of spatial and temporal scales. It is known that the geometry of ocean basins is the leading controller of tidal energetics, so well-con...
www.biorxiv.org
September 3, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Double preprint alert! 🚨
Squishy in the slishy 🌊
We used jellyfish and their paleoenvironments to better constrain paleogeographic reconstructions and tidal simulations throughout the entire Cambrian period.
Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support with this study!
Squishy in the slishy 🌊
We used jellyfish and their paleoenvironments to better constrain paleogeographic reconstructions and tidal simulations throughout the entire Cambrian period.
Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support with this study!
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Double preprint alert! 🚨
Jaws: Baby shark 🦈
We used micro-CT scanning to examine the tessellated calcified cartilage in the jaws of 10 young chondrichthyans in 3D. We found some surprises—like chunky trabeculae in a baby nurse shark!
Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support!
Jaws: Baby shark 🦈
We used micro-CT scanning to examine the tessellated calcified cartilage in the jaws of 10 young chondrichthyans in 3D. We found some surprises—like chunky trabeculae in a baby nurse shark!
Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support!
Early Ontogenetic Development of Tessellated Calcified Cartilage in Chondrichthyans
Tessellated calcified cartilage (TCC) is a hallmark of the chondrichthyan skeleton, yet its development early in ontogeny across the four major groups (batoids, galeomorphs, squalomorphs, and holoceph...
www.biorxiv.org
September 3, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Double preprint alert! 🚨
Jaws: Baby shark 🦈
We used micro-CT scanning to examine the tessellated calcified cartilage in the jaws of 10 young chondrichthyans in 3D. We found some surprises—like chunky trabeculae in a baby nurse shark!
Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support!
Jaws: Baby shark 🦈
We used micro-CT scanning to examine the tessellated calcified cartilage in the jaws of 10 young chondrichthyans in 3D. We found some surprises—like chunky trabeculae in a baby nurse shark!
Many thanks to all my co-authors for their help and support!
Reposted by Richard Dearden
🧪So happy this is finally out after almost four years!
We try to bring some order to the messy taxonomy of an iconic jawless fish. 🐟
Thanks to @evopalaeo.bsky.social, Madleen, Mike, @fossilrob.bsky.social & to all who contributed to this research!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
We try to bring some order to the messy taxonomy of an iconic jawless fish. 🐟
Thanks to @evopalaeo.bsky.social, Madleen, Mike, @fossilrob.bsky.social & to all who contributed to this research!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The taxonomy and phylogeny of British ‘cephalaspids’
Osteostracans are considered the sister group of jawed vertebrates and are phylogenetically the earliest branching vertebrate lineage to exhibit true paired fins with endoskeletal support. This means...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 26, 2026 at 7:32 AM
🧪So happy this is finally out after almost four years!
We try to bring some order to the messy taxonomy of an iconic jawless fish. 🐟
Thanks to @evopalaeo.bsky.social, Madleen, Mike, @fossilrob.bsky.social & to all who contributed to this research!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
We try to bring some order to the messy taxonomy of an iconic jawless fish. 🐟
Thanks to @evopalaeo.bsky.social, Madleen, Mike, @fossilrob.bsky.social & to all who contributed to this research!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Open Palaeontology has a new look 💜 Our brand-new website is live! Same mission as ever: Diamond Open Access palaeo research — free to publish, free to read, for everyone. Come explore ➡️ www.openpalaeo.org #PaleoSky #OpenAccess #Palaeontology
Cahiers de l'ILTP
Open Palaeontology is an international Diamond Open Access journal promoting open science in palaeontology
www.openpalaeo.org
August 26, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Open Palaeontology has a new look 💜 Our brand-new website is live! Same mission as ever: Diamond Open Access palaeo research — free to publish, free to read, for everyone. Come explore ➡️ www.openpalaeo.org #PaleoSky #OpenAccess #Palaeontology
Reposted by Richard Dearden
🎉 Registration for PalAss 2026 is officially OPEN! 🦖🦴
We are delighted to announce that registration for the 70th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association is now open! 🎓✨
📍 University of Oxford, UK
📅 8–11 December 2026 ⬇️ palass.org/annual-meeti...
We are delighted to announce that registration for the 70th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association is now open! 🎓✨
📍 University of Oxford, UK
📅 8–11 December 2026 ⬇️ palass.org/annual-meeti...
August 24, 2026 at 6:49 PM
🎉 Registration for PalAss 2026 is officially OPEN! 🦖🦴
We are delighted to announce that registration for the 70th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association is now open! 🎓✨
📍 University of Oxford, UK
📅 8–11 December 2026 ⬇️ palass.org/annual-meeti...
We are delighted to announce that registration for the 70th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association is now open! 🎓✨
📍 University of Oxford, UK
📅 8–11 December 2026 ⬇️ palass.org/annual-meeti...
Reposted by Richard Dearden
We currently have TWO collections-based vacancies at National Museums Scotland!
As part of the upcoming DiSSCo UK program, we’re seeking a Digitiser and Senior digitiser to work with our insect collection:
careers.nms.ac.uk/vacancies
(Apply by 31st August)
#Digitisation #Insects #MuseumJobs
As part of the upcoming DiSSCo UK program, we’re seeking a Digitiser and Senior digitiser to work with our insect collection:
careers.nms.ac.uk/vacancies
(Apply by 31st August)
#Digitisation #Insects #MuseumJobs
August 24, 2026 at 12:27 PM
We currently have TWO collections-based vacancies at National Museums Scotland!
As part of the upcoming DiSSCo UK program, we’re seeking a Digitiser and Senior digitiser to work with our insect collection:
careers.nms.ac.uk/vacancies
(Apply by 31st August)
#Digitisation #Insects #MuseumJobs
As part of the upcoming DiSSCo UK program, we’re seeking a Digitiser and Senior digitiser to work with our insect collection:
careers.nms.ac.uk/vacancies
(Apply by 31st August)
#Digitisation #Insects #MuseumJobs
Reposted by Richard Dearden
A new fossil from the Eocene of Iran provides new insights regarding the evolution of the morphologically bizarre tube-eye fish onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology
August 24, 2026 at 1:22 PM
A new fossil from the Eocene of Iran provides new insights regarding the evolution of the morphologically bizarre tube-eye fish onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Our latest: Xinyuan Meng @bristolpalaeo.bsky.social describes Bataspis crux, expanding galeaspid (jawless fish) disparity with a bat-like head adapted for dynamic lift. Xinyuan's study was aided by @ferronhg.bsky.social Davide Pisani, Zhikun Gai and myself. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
August 4, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Our latest: Xinyuan Meng @bristolpalaeo.bsky.social describes Bataspis crux, expanding galeaspid (jawless fish) disparity with a bat-like head adapted for dynamic lift. Xinyuan's study was aided by @ferronhg.bsky.social Davide Pisani, Zhikun Gai and myself. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Richard Dearden
How many #sharks should there be on a coral #reef? Our new publication in Science tackles this question using thousands of fossil shark dermal denticles—tiny, tooth-like scales that are shed and preserve in sediments—from Panama's two oceans.
Check it out here: doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Check it out here: doi.org/10.1126/scie...
August 13, 2026 at 9:08 PM
How many #sharks should there be on a coral #reef? Our new publication in Science tackles this question using thousands of fossil shark dermal denticles—tiny, tooth-like scales that are shed and preserve in sediments—from Panama's two oceans.
Check it out here: doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Check it out here: doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Reposted by Richard Dearden
A new #palaeohistology paper out from Sophie Sanchez & other great colleagues on the "Ossification of the #pectoral fin of Glyptolepis: implications for the evolution of the #lungfish appendicular skeleton". Happy to have played a very small part in this cool study link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Ossification of the pectoral fin of Glyptolepis groenlandica: implications for the evolution of the lungfish appendicular skeleton - Developmental Biology Advances
Lungfishes are commonly considered to be the sister group to tetrapods. They appeared around 415 million years ago, then rapidly evolved, diversified and spread. Although many morphological characteri...
link.springer.com
August 13, 2026 at 7:02 AM
A new #palaeohistology paper out from Sophie Sanchez & other great colleagues on the "Ossification of the #pectoral fin of Glyptolepis: implications for the evolution of the #lungfish appendicular skeleton". Happy to have played a very small part in this cool study link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Richard Dearden
consult.education.gov.uk/gcse-and-a-l...
The DfE consultation on the proposed subject content for a new GCSE in natural history closes *4 Sep 2026*
The DfE consultation on the proposed subject content for a new GCSE in natural history closes *4 Sep 2026*
GCSE natural history proposed subject content
- Department for Education
- Citizen Space
Find and participate in consultations run by the Department for Education
consult.education.gov.uk
August 10, 2026 at 1:33 PM
consult.education.gov.uk/gcse-and-a-l...
The DfE consultation on the proposed subject content for a new GCSE in natural history closes *4 Sep 2026*
The DfE consultation on the proposed subject content for a new GCSE in natural history closes *4 Sep 2026*
Reposted by Richard Dearden
⚠️Please repost!⚠️
Over 99% of species that ever lived are extinct. Without palaeontology, the new Natural History GCSE will only cover a snapshot of life's history.
We're making the case for fossils in the new GCSE 🦴🐚🌿
teach.ocr.org.uk/palaeontolog...
The consultation is open now! Have your say👇
Over 99% of species that ever lived are extinct. Without palaeontology, the new Natural History GCSE will only cover a snapshot of life's history.
We're making the case for fossils in the new GCSE 🦴🐚🌿
teach.ocr.org.uk/palaeontolog...
The consultation is open now! Have your say👇
GCSE Natural History - Palaeontology - Joseph Keating
Joseph Keating puts forward a case for including palaeontology in the new GCSE Natural History curriculum due to its unique deep-time perspective.
teach.ocr.org.uk
August 10, 2026 at 1:33 PM
⚠️Please repost!⚠️
Over 99% of species that ever lived are extinct. Without palaeontology, the new Natural History GCSE will only cover a snapshot of life's history.
We're making the case for fossils in the new GCSE 🦴🐚🌿
teach.ocr.org.uk/palaeontolog...
The consultation is open now! Have your say👇
Over 99% of species that ever lived are extinct. Without palaeontology, the new Natural History GCSE will only cover a snapshot of life's history.
We're making the case for fossils in the new GCSE 🦴🐚🌿
teach.ocr.org.uk/palaeontolog...
The consultation is open now! Have your say👇
Reposted by Richard Dearden
🌍 @naturalis.bsky.social is hiring a Postdoc for the ERC Synergy Project #PROTOS (Prof. van Zuilen team) to investigate silica sinters, biosignatures & early Earth environments using experimental geochemistry and advanced imaging techniques.
⏳ Apply by 15 August.
🔗 www.naturalis.nl/en/about-us/...
⏳ Apply by 15 August.
🔗 www.naturalis.nl/en/about-us/...
August 7, 2026 at 10:34 AM
🌍 @naturalis.bsky.social is hiring a Postdoc for the ERC Synergy Project #PROTOS (Prof. van Zuilen team) to investigate silica sinters, biosignatures & early Earth environments using experimental geochemistry and advanced imaging techniques.
⏳ Apply by 15 August.
🔗 www.naturalis.nl/en/about-us/...
⏳ Apply by 15 August.
🔗 www.naturalis.nl/en/about-us/...
Reposted by Richard Dearden
Excited to share our first evo-devo modeling study exploring the developmental origins of the evolutionary transition from dentine–enameloid to dentine–enamel in vertebrates! 🦷
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
August 5, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Excited to share our first evo-devo modeling study exploring the developmental origins of the evolutionary transition from dentine–enameloid to dentine–enamel in vertebrates! 🦷
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...