Amanda K. Pinion
@akpinion.bsky.social
PhD in Ecology & Conservation Biology. Ichthyology, phylogenetics and systematics. Mostly posting about fishes.
akpinion.com Senckenberg Natural History Museum in Dresden, Germany.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=10zv6gkAAAAJ
akpinion.com Senckenberg Natural History Museum in Dresden, Germany.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=10zv6gkAAAAJ
Pinned
Amanda K. Pinion
@akpinion.bsky.social
· Nov 13
We have been looking at a lot of fishes from India recently. This one is fresh off the scanner, 𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑜 𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑎, an eel-loach described in 2012 from the Western Ghats of India. Check out the swimbladder capsule on this guy… (live photo by Ralf Britz)
9 years ago (2016) - Yegua Creek, Brazos River
November 6, 2025 at 11:18 AM
9 years ago (2016) - Yegua Creek, Brazos River
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
Our new open-access book has been published today. Please download and share
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
October 31, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Our new open-access book has been published today. Please download and share
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
When it comes to creative and artistic works I have NO interest in anything included in the AI catchall (caveats required because machine-learning has its place WRT handling data). I will never use it. Do I want an AI copilot? No no no, no I do not; I despise the fact that I am even asked.
July 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
When it comes to creative and artistic works I have NO interest in anything included in the AI catchall (caveats required because machine-learning has its place WRT handling data). I will never use it. Do I want an AI copilot? No no no, no I do not; I despise the fact that I am even asked.
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
I'm a little wrong here, y'all! We have a couple more weeks to fight for the IMLS. It'll be through the House Appropriations Committee on July 21. Get on the phone. Get in inboxes.
Your messaging? The Murder Bill is going to make libraries *even more crucial* now.
appropriations.house.gov/schedule
Your messaging? The Murder Bill is going to make libraries *even more crucial* now.
appropriations.house.gov/schedule
July 3, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I'm a little wrong here, y'all! We have a couple more weeks to fight for the IMLS. It'll be through the House Appropriations Committee on July 21. Get on the phone. Get in inboxes.
Your messaging? The Murder Bill is going to make libraries *even more crucial* now.
appropriations.house.gov/schedule
Your messaging? The Murder Bill is going to make libraries *even more crucial* now.
appropriations.house.gov/schedule
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
did some reporting on the impact of DOGE's cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the court cases that are preserving the agency (for now), Trump's threats to slash federal arts spending, and the importance of IMLS to libraries and schools everywhere: slate.com/life/2025/05...
Why Would Trump Dismantle This Tiny Little Agency That Does So Much Good?
Judges are on the IMLS’ side. But the budget battle is still to come.
slate.com
May 8, 2025 at 3:17 PM
did some reporting on the impact of DOGE's cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the court cases that are preserving the agency (for now), Trump's threats to slash federal arts spending, and the importance of IMLS to libraries and schools everywhere: slate.com/life/2025/05...
New paper out by Kole Kubicek, Ralf Britz & Kevin Conway in Biology Letters
🧬 Heterochrony & Innovation: What the Pectoral Fin Spine of Catfish Reveals About Evolution
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1...
🧬 Heterochrony & Innovation: What the Pectoral Fin Spine of Catfish Reveals About Evolution
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1...
May 23, 2025 at 8:39 AM
New paper out by Kole Kubicek, Ralf Britz & Kevin Conway in Biology Letters
🧬 Heterochrony & Innovation: What the Pectoral Fin Spine of Catfish Reveals About Evolution
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1...
🧬 Heterochrony & Innovation: What the Pectoral Fin Spine of Catfish Reveals About Evolution
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1...
I do not ever, ever, EVER want to use Microsoft Copilot. In too much of a hurry to figure out how to turn it off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Middle finger to microsoft
Middle finger to microsoft
April 20, 2025 at 8:09 AM
I do not ever, ever, EVER want to use Microsoft Copilot. In too much of a hurry to figure out how to turn it off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Middle finger to microsoft
Middle finger to microsoft
An action of desperation- searching ".cr2" in my Dropbox folder.... looking for a single photo. Needle in a haystack
April 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
An action of desperation- searching ".cr2" in my Dropbox folder.... looking for a single photo. Needle in a haystack
www.npr.org/2025/04/17/n...
But worry not - dems will soon be on board, as signalled by their reception of the bullshit ideas peddled by the authors of "Abundance". Nature will be the first to suffer while the left tries to scrape their wav back
But worry not - dems will soon be on board, as signalled by their reception of the bullshit ideas peddled by the authors of "Abundance". Nature will be the first to suffer while the left tries to scrape their wav back
Destroying endangered species' habitat wouldn't count as 'harm' under proposed Trump rule
The Trump administration is reinterpreting a key word in the Endangered Species Act that could have big consequences for the habitats of species at risk.
www.npr.org
April 17, 2025 at 1:01 PM
www.npr.org/2025/04/17/n...
But worry not - dems will soon be on board, as signalled by their reception of the bullshit ideas peddled by the authors of "Abundance". Nature will be the first to suffer while the left tries to scrape their wav back
But worry not - dems will soon be on board, as signalled by their reception of the bullshit ideas peddled by the authors of "Abundance". Nature will be the first to suffer while the left tries to scrape their wav back
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
Bad media science takes can kill off whole species.
Gene edited puppies are NOT actually dire wolves, any more than an especially hair mouse is a mammoth.
Endangered Species Act is NOT rendered moot by this publicity stunt
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Gene edited puppies are NOT actually dire wolves, any more than an especially hair mouse is a mammoth.
Endangered Species Act is NOT rendered moot by this publicity stunt
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Trump team cites wolf ‘de-extinction’ as it seeks to cut endangered species list
The interior secretary hailed a biotech company’s claim to have brought back the dire wolf, while the administration and GOP push to roll back species protections.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 11, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Bad media science takes can kill off whole species.
Gene edited puppies are NOT actually dire wolves, any more than an especially hair mouse is a mammoth.
Endangered Species Act is NOT rendered moot by this publicity stunt
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Gene edited puppies are NOT actually dire wolves, any more than an especially hair mouse is a mammoth.
Endangered Species Act is NOT rendered moot by this publicity stunt
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Quite certain there has been a recent influx of bots to Bluesky, based on my recent follows and the content of their pages.
April 11, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Quite certain there has been a recent influx of bots to Bluesky, based on my recent follows and the content of their pages.
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
Of course mainstream media keeps rolling over for Colossal, providing uncritical hype and coverage in exchange for exclusivity and “wow.” What Colossal is doing is wrong and they can’t even deliver what they promise. How many times do we have to go over this?
April 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Of course mainstream media keeps rolling over for Colossal, providing uncritical hype and coverage in exchange for exclusivity and “wow.” What Colossal is doing is wrong and they can’t even deliver what they promise. How many times do we have to go over this?
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
Ancient rat brains ever crossed your mind? If so, you're in luck! Here, brain morphology of Pliocene spiny rats Eumysops chapalmalensis was studied using endocasts, uncovering unique morphology that may indicate a niche not explored by extant species! 🌍🧪🐀
academic.oup.com/zoo...
academic.oup.com/zoo...
April 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Ancient rat brains ever crossed your mind? If so, you're in luck! Here, brain morphology of Pliocene spiny rats Eumysops chapalmalensis was studied using endocasts, uncovering unique morphology that may indicate a niche not explored by extant species! 🌍🧪🐀
academic.oup.com/zoo...
academic.oup.com/zoo...
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
When I came to Berlin 25 years ago, moor frogs (Rana arvalis) were quite common. After years of predation by invasive racoons (so sweet...) and serious droughts, the populations have collapsed. What to do? No idea.... #stadtnatur, #berlinbiodiversity, #berlin, #urbanbiodiversity
March 31, 2025 at 8:05 PM
When I came to Berlin 25 years ago, moor frogs (Rana arvalis) were quite common. After years of predation by invasive racoons (so sweet...) and serious droughts, the populations have collapsed. What to do? No idea.... #stadtnatur, #berlinbiodiversity, #berlin, #urbanbiodiversity
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
And here's @joshtpm.bsky.social wrestling with the question. To me, the key sentence is: "The current executive orders explicitly say that the end game is a government the size of the shutdown size."
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/looki...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/looki...
Looking Squarely at a Shutdown
It’s hard to write clearly when you’re being flooded with new information....
talkingpointsmemo.com
March 14, 2025 at 7:34 PM
And here's @joshtpm.bsky.social wrestling with the question. To me, the key sentence is: "The current executive orders explicitly say that the end game is a government the size of the shutdown size."
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/looki...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/looki...
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
I'm a lifelong collector, reader and user of field guides.
At a young age, as much as anything, field guides ignited a love of wildlife and travel.
At a young age, as much as anything, field guides ignited a love of wildlife and travel.
A Lifelong Love of Field Guides
A celebration of field guides, the little books that changed the way we interact with nature.
blog.nature.org
March 8, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I'm a lifelong collector, reader and user of field guides.
At a young age, as much as anything, field guides ignited a love of wildlife and travel.
At a young age, as much as anything, field guides ignited a love of wildlife and travel.
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
The new anthology “Voices of the Rio Grande Valley: Vol.1” lifts up the regional stories written by the folks who’ve lived them.
‘Voices of the Rio Grande Valley’ uplifts stories from the people of an often-overlooked region
The collection of creative nonfiction stories is written both for the community and those interested in the region.
txst.us
March 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The new anthology “Voices of the Rio Grande Valley: Vol.1” lifts up the regional stories written by the folks who’ve lived them.
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
One of my former students. I’m so proud, and so angry.
Yet another dedicated scientist and public servant, this time from US Fish and Wildlife, showing up unpaid after she was fired to volunteer to protect an endangered species.
What are we even doing here.
🎁 link: 🧪
What are we even doing here.
🎁 link: 🧪
After Elon Musk Fired Her, She Kept Showing Up to Work—for Free
The billionaire and his followers are out to cull federal employees they think are lazy and overpaid. But without people like Bianca Sicich, the Attwater’s prairie chicken could go extinct.
www.texasmonthly.com
March 6, 2025 at 2:17 AM
One of my former students. I’m so proud, and so angry.
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
Let's talk about this Nature piece in more detail.
I've rarely read something so anti-scientific anywhere short of the National Review.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I've rarely read something so anti-scientific anywhere short of the National Review.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Three AI-powered steps to faster, smarter peer review
Tired of spending countless hours on peer reviews? An AI-assisted workflow could help.
www.nature.com
March 6, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Let's talk about this Nature piece in more detail.
I've rarely read something so anti-scientific anywhere short of the National Review.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I've rarely read something so anti-scientific anywhere short of the National Review.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
So that's the beginning of the end for US Old Growth Forests then, prepare for massive biodiversity and carbon loss, here billed as the opposite www.whitehouse.gov/presidential... 🌎
Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
March 2, 2025 at 1:33 PM
So that's the beginning of the end for US Old Growth Forests then, prepare for massive biodiversity and carbon loss, here billed as the opposite www.whitehouse.gov/presidential... 🌎
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
Hey everyone! @co2ley.bsky.social — who was fired by NOAA yesterday as the Director of the Ocean Acidification Program — is now here on Bluesky! Follow her! Also, someone please offer Sarah a job! 🌊
Thanks for the shoutout. Yesterday was quite a day. Working on how to create good trouble today.
February 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Hey everyone! @co2ley.bsky.social — who was fired by NOAA yesterday as the Director of the Ocean Acidification Program — is now here on Bluesky! Follow her! Also, someone please offer Sarah a job! 🌊
Reposted by Amanda K. Pinion
Women in natural history have long been overlooked. FIND researches their stories and brings them into focus. 👩🔬✨
@svmering.bsky.social explores this in her talk:
🎤 "Invisible – Forgotten – Rediscovered" (in German)
📅 5 March 2025, 18:30
📍 @nhmwien.bsky.social
Watch on the NHM YouTube channel! ▶️
@svmering.bsky.social explores this in her talk:
🎤 "Invisible – Forgotten – Rediscovered" (in German)
📅 5 March 2025, 18:30
📍 @nhmwien.bsky.social
Watch on the NHM YouTube channel! ▶️
February 28, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Women in natural history have long been overlooked. FIND researches their stories and brings them into focus. 👩🔬✨
@svmering.bsky.social explores this in her talk:
🎤 "Invisible – Forgotten – Rediscovered" (in German)
📅 5 March 2025, 18:30
📍 @nhmwien.bsky.social
Watch on the NHM YouTube channel! ▶️
@svmering.bsky.social explores this in her talk:
🎤 "Invisible – Forgotten – Rediscovered" (in German)
📅 5 March 2025, 18:30
📍 @nhmwien.bsky.social
Watch on the NHM YouTube channel! ▶️
Four years ago to the day, me in Friday Harbor and him in Texas. We are still doing Zoom dates but now I’m in Germany… Bonus FHL fish from that time
February 28, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Four years ago to the day, me in Friday Harbor and him in Texas. We are still doing Zoom dates but now I’m in Germany… Bonus FHL fish from that time