Roxanne Armfield
@dinoroxy.bsky.social
Squamate palaeontologist, currently working with numerous snakes at Yale University.
🐍🐍🐍
Frequently found conversing with rocks, fossils and other inanimate objects. (She/Her)
🐍🐍🐍
Frequently found conversing with rocks, fossils and other inanimate objects. (She/Her)
Pinned
Roxanne Armfield
@dinoroxy.bsky.social
· Dec 23
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
We've just set up a Bluesky for @nu-mechanobiology.bsky.social - give it a follow if you're in the #mechanobiology space!
October 6, 2025 at 8:45 PM
We've just set up a Bluesky for @nu-mechanobiology.bsky.social - give it a follow if you're in the #mechanobiology space!
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
Benson, R.B.J., Walsh, S.A., Griffiths, E.F. et al. Mosaic anatomy in an early fossil squamate. Nature (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Mosaic anatomy in an early fossil squamate - Nature
Breugnathair elgolensis gen. et sp. nov., an early squamate identified from a newly discovered Middle Jurassic skeleton on the Isle of Skye, provides new evidence on the origins of snakes.
doi.org
October 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Benson, R.B.J., Walsh, S.A., Griffiths, E.F. et al. Mosaic anatomy in an early fossil squamate. Nature (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
More recent Luke news: I made some music and you can listen to it!
https://lukejohns.online/blog/bits_peaces/
https://lukejohns.online/blog/bits_peaces/
September 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
More recent Luke news: I made some music and you can listen to it!
https://lukejohns.online/blog/bits_peaces/
https://lukejohns.online/blog/bits_peaces/
It's the 9th of #ssSnaketember and it's a day for looking at #InvasiveAlienSpecies
Burmese Pythons are native to India & southeast Asia. In these areas the #snakes have a #conservation status of 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List.
[1/9]
#Herpetology #SciComm #snake
Burmese Pythons are native to India & southeast Asia. In these areas the #snakes have a #conservation status of 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List.
[1/9]
#Herpetology #SciComm #snake
September 10, 2025 at 1:27 AM
It's the 9th of #ssSnaketember and it's a day for looking at #InvasiveAlienSpecies
Burmese Pythons are native to India & southeast Asia. In these areas the #snakes have a #conservation status of 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List.
[1/9]
#Herpetology #SciComm #snake
Burmese Pythons are native to India & southeast Asia. In these areas the #snakes have a #conservation status of 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List.
[1/9]
#Herpetology #SciComm #snake
“Hearing” is #ssSnaketember the 8th’s theme!
Whilst #snakes do not have external "sticky out" ears, they can still hear. It is a myth that snakes are deaf, however they do have some quirks in relation to their methods of hearing.
[1/6]
#Herpetology #SciComm #Snake
Whilst #snakes do not have external "sticky out" ears, they can still hear. It is a myth that snakes are deaf, however they do have some quirks in relation to their methods of hearing.
[1/6]
#Herpetology #SciComm #Snake
September 8, 2025 at 10:35 PM
“Hearing” is #ssSnaketember the 8th’s theme!
Whilst #snakes do not have external "sticky out" ears, they can still hear. It is a myth that snakes are deaf, however they do have some quirks in relation to their methods of hearing.
[1/6]
#Herpetology #SciComm #Snake
Whilst #snakes do not have external "sticky out" ears, they can still hear. It is a myth that snakes are deaf, however they do have some quirks in relation to their methods of hearing.
[1/6]
#Herpetology #SciComm #Snake
The 7th #ssSnaketember is a day for Growling!
Even though many humans have never encountered a "real" #snake, thanks to film and TV, you will have probably heard a snake hiss.
But did you know that some #snakes can growl too?
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
Even though many humans have never encountered a "real" #snake, thanks to film and TV, you will have probably heard a snake hiss.
But did you know that some #snakes can growl too?
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
September 8, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The 7th #ssSnaketember is a day for Growling!
Even though many humans have never encountered a "real" #snake, thanks to film and TV, you will have probably heard a snake hiss.
But did you know that some #snakes can growl too?
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
Even though many humans have never encountered a "real" #snake, thanks to film and TV, you will have probably heard a snake hiss.
But did you know that some #snakes can growl too?
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
#ssSnaketember the 6th is the day for Flying!
This #snake believes it can fly, believes it can touch the sky. Thinks about it every night & day, just to spread its wings and … oh wait ..,
This isn't flying, this is falling with style.
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
This #snake believes it can fly, believes it can touch the sky. Thinks about it every night & day, just to spread its wings and … oh wait ..,
This isn't flying, this is falling with style.
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
September 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM
#ssSnaketember the 6th is the day for Flying!
This #snake believes it can fly, believes it can touch the sky. Thinks about it every night & day, just to spread its wings and … oh wait ..,
This isn't flying, this is falling with style.
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
This #snake believes it can fly, believes it can touch the sky. Thinks about it every night & day, just to spread its wings and … oh wait ..,
This isn't flying, this is falling with style.
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
#ssSnaketember is back from weekend hiatus!
Two #ssSnaketember days have passed, but that’s no reason to miss out on #snake facts.
We’ll be brining you a special triple-filled day to make up for it!
#MondayMotivation #Herpetology #SciComm
Two #ssSnaketember days have passed, but that’s no reason to miss out on #snake facts.
We’ll be brining you a special triple-filled day to make up for it!
#MondayMotivation #Herpetology #SciComm
a cartoon of a green snake with a red tongue and the word yasss coming out of its mouth .
ALT: a cartoon of a green snake with a red tongue and the word yasss coming out of its mouth .
media.tenor.com
September 8, 2025 at 9:51 PM
#ssSnaketember is back from weekend hiatus!
Two #ssSnaketember days have passed, but that’s no reason to miss out on #snake facts.
We’ll be brining you a special triple-filled day to make up for it!
#MondayMotivation #Herpetology #SciComm
Two #ssSnaketember days have passed, but that’s no reason to miss out on #snake facts.
We’ll be brining you a special triple-filled day to make up for it!
#MondayMotivation #Herpetology #SciComm
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
Finally got around to updating my website after the move to Boston. To celebrate, here's a blog post about driving a silly little car across Canada:
https://lukejohns.online/blog/a_big_move/
https://lukejohns.online/blog/a_big_move/
There and Back Again... and There Again
First off, I’d like to offer a humble apology to all of my avid readers (who?) for my prolonged absence. In my defence, a Big Life Event™ got in the way. I’ll start this update by describing the BLE and then get sidetracked by a completely unecessary story of sentimentality, daring and hubris. Enjoy! Big Life Event So what’s new? In a breathtaking display of comic timing and self-preservation, I and my fiancée both moved to the USA to start postdoctoral academic jobs… in June 2025. More specifically, I’m now a postdoctoral research fellow at the new(ish) Institute for Mechanobiology at Northeastern University in Boston, where I can keep messing around with hips for a couple of joints. Maybe I could even peek at other joints too!
lukejohns.online
September 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Finally got around to updating my website after the move to Boston. To celebrate, here's a blog post about driving a silly little car across Canada:
https://lukejohns.online/blog/a_big_move/
https://lukejohns.online/blog/a_big_move/
The 5th of #ssSnaketember is for Egg Eaters!
Can I offer you a nice egg in this trying time? Probably the best chat up line to use on a Dasypeltis #snake.
This group of snakes are also known as the Egg Eating Snakes.
But how does a snake eat something so round?
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
Can I offer you a nice egg in this trying time? Probably the best chat up line to use on a Dasypeltis #snake.
This group of snakes are also known as the Egg Eating Snakes.
But how does a snake eat something so round?
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
September 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The 5th of #ssSnaketember is for Egg Eaters!
Can I offer you a nice egg in this trying time? Probably the best chat up line to use on a Dasypeltis #snake.
This group of snakes are also known as the Egg Eating Snakes.
But how does a snake eat something so round?
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
Can I offer you a nice egg in this trying time? Probably the best chat up line to use on a Dasypeltis #snake.
This group of snakes are also known as the Egg Eating Snakes.
But how does a snake eat something so round?
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
The 4th of #ssSnaketember is here and we're taking some Deep Dives!
How low can you go? Could you dive into The Twilight Zone?
No, I'm not talking about swimming to a 5th dimension, but into the depths of the ocean.
Piece of cake if you're a Hydrophis sea #snake
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
How low can you go? Could you dive into The Twilight Zone?
No, I'm not talking about swimming to a 5th dimension, but into the depths of the ocean.
Piece of cake if you're a Hydrophis sea #snake
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
![Scene from "The Twilight Zone" TV series. Black and white image. [Right, foreground] Man with suit, tie and large glasses stands with his fingers interlaced. [Background] A desolate sky gives way to the ruin of a brick building, surrounded by the rubble of society. Shot from "Time Enough at Last" episode.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:i4odzftxfrihzvqjtdenoalf/bafkreiezpjgrlk2gw3ziuuwqkoyjdh5y4xnkguxh7ycbk5z2tuhme73ddy@jpeg)
September 4, 2025 at 9:43 PM
The 4th of #ssSnaketember is here and we're taking some Deep Dives!
How low can you go? Could you dive into The Twilight Zone?
No, I'm not talking about swimming to a 5th dimension, but into the depths of the ocean.
Piece of cake if you're a Hydrophis sea #snake
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
How low can you go? Could you dive into The Twilight Zone?
No, I'm not talking about swimming to a 5th dimension, but into the depths of the ocean.
Piece of cake if you're a Hydrophis sea #snake
[1/7]
#Herpetology #SciComm
#ssSnaketember the 3rd is about #Conservation!
So how are #snakes doing? For a start, they need a new PR team!
A dislike of snakes by humans can hinder research & preservation projects. Add that to the secretive nature of many snakes & conservation becomes a difficult topic.
[1/6]
#Herpetology
So how are #snakes doing? For a start, they need a new PR team!
A dislike of snakes by humans can hinder research & preservation projects. Add that to the secretive nature of many snakes & conservation becomes a difficult topic.
[1/6]
#Herpetology
September 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
#ssSnaketember the 3rd is about #Conservation!
So how are #snakes doing? For a start, they need a new PR team!
A dislike of snakes by humans can hinder research & preservation projects. Add that to the secretive nature of many snakes & conservation becomes a difficult topic.
[1/6]
#Herpetology
So how are #snakes doing? For a start, they need a new PR team!
A dislike of snakes by humans can hinder research & preservation projects. Add that to the secretive nature of many snakes & conservation becomes a difficult topic.
[1/6]
#Herpetology
2nd of #ssSnaketember! Time for Batesian Mimicry!
"It's red & black, stay back!" - is what these snakes want you to think.
A Batesian mimic is another term for "a critter in disguise". These snakes have patterns that make them look like a more dangerous type of #snake
[1/6]
#Herpetology #SciComm
"It's red & black, stay back!" - is what these snakes want you to think.
A Batesian mimic is another term for "a critter in disguise". These snakes have patterns that make them look like a more dangerous type of #snake
[1/6]
#Herpetology #SciComm
September 2, 2025 at 5:42 PM
2nd of #ssSnaketember! Time for Batesian Mimicry!
"It's red & black, stay back!" - is what these snakes want you to think.
A Batesian mimic is another term for "a critter in disguise". These snakes have patterns that make them look like a more dangerous type of #snake
[1/6]
#Herpetology #SciComm
"It's red & black, stay back!" - is what these snakes want you to think.
A Batesian mimic is another term for "a critter in disguise". These snakes have patterns that make them look like a more dangerous type of #snake
[1/6]
#Herpetology #SciComm
Happy 1st of #ssSnaketember! Today’s theme is Asymmetry!
Take a face. The left and right side will often be mirror images. Not the case for the face of the Keeled Slug #Snake.
These snakes have up to 50% more teeth on the right side of their jaw than their left
But WHY?
[1/5]
#Herpetology #SciComm
Take a face. The left and right side will often be mirror images. Not the case for the face of the Keeled Slug #Snake.
These snakes have up to 50% more teeth on the right side of their jaw than their left
But WHY?
[1/5]
#Herpetology #SciComm
September 1, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Happy 1st of #ssSnaketember! Today’s theme is Asymmetry!
Take a face. The left and right side will often be mirror images. Not the case for the face of the Keeled Slug #Snake.
These snakes have up to 50% more teeth on the right side of their jaw than their left
But WHY?
[1/5]
#Herpetology #SciComm
Take a face. The left and right side will often be mirror images. Not the case for the face of the Keeled Slug #Snake.
These snakes have up to 50% more teeth on the right side of their jaw than their left
But WHY?
[1/5]
#Herpetology #SciComm
#ssSnaketember is migrating to Bluesky, and it’s bigger than ever!
We’ll be bringing you an awesome #snake story, every weekday, for the rest of the month!
I can promise that there will be noodles, and there will be highly boopable snoots.
Come for the #snoots, stay for the #science! 🐍
#SciComm
We’ll be bringing you an awesome #snake story, every weekday, for the rest of the month!
I can promise that there will be noodles, and there will be highly boopable snoots.
Come for the #snoots, stay for the #science! 🐍
#SciComm
a green snake with a red tongue is surrounded by yellow letters that say yasss
Alt: An excited coiled green snake with a red tongue is surrounded by yellow letters that say "yasss"
media.tenor.com
September 1, 2025 at 11:46 AM
#ssSnaketember is migrating to Bluesky, and it’s bigger than ever!
We’ll be bringing you an awesome #snake story, every weekday, for the rest of the month!
I can promise that there will be noodles, and there will be highly boopable snoots.
Come for the #snoots, stay for the #science! 🐍
#SciComm
We’ll be bringing you an awesome #snake story, every weekday, for the rest of the month!
I can promise that there will be noodles, and there will be highly boopable snoots.
Come for the #snoots, stay for the #science! 🐍
#SciComm
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
MUSEUM JOB KLAXON!
Very excited about bringing this new post in to the team. If you've got good natural history collections management skills and solid leadership experience, we'd love to hear from you! #MuseumJobs
Very excited about bringing this new post in to the team. If you've got good natural history collections management skills and solid leadership experience, we'd love to hear from you! #MuseumJobs
📢WE'RE HIRING📢Could you be our new Senior Collections Lead? Would you enjoy working with one of the UK's most important natural history collections? Apply by 22 June to look after our amazing Collections Management, Care & Conservation team. @camunivmuseums.bsky.social www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/51272/
June 4, 2025 at 12:33 PM
MUSEUM JOB KLAXON!
Very excited about bringing this new post in to the team. If you've got good natural history collections management skills and solid leadership experience, we'd love to hear from you! #MuseumJobs
Very excited about bringing this new post in to the team. If you've got good natural history collections management skills and solid leadership experience, we'd love to hear from you! #MuseumJobs
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
🚨New publication alert!🚨 A big one! It might just be my *biggest* one: doi.org/10.1093/iob/... IMPORTANT THREAD! From the moment Dave Blackburn set me loose at the Florida Museum, I had a marvelous time using diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced CT (diceCT) to create anatomical datasets 🧪1/6
April 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
🚨New publication alert!🚨 A big one! It might just be my *biggest* one: doi.org/10.1093/iob/... IMPORTANT THREAD! From the moment Dave Blackburn set me loose at the Florida Museum, I had a marvelous time using diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced CT (diceCT) to create anatomical datasets 🧪1/6
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
To sum up where we are
Colossal: We made a dire wolf.
Scientists: Ha ha, no, you really didn’t.
Public: If you did, it was a pretty bad idea all around.
MAGA: Great news! I guess we don’t need the Endangered Species Act anymore.
Colossal: We made a dire wolf.
Scientists: Ha ha, no, you really didn’t.
Public: If you did, it was a pretty bad idea all around.
MAGA: Great news! I guess we don’t need the Endangered Species Act anymore.
Turns out it was dumb to CRISPR up a transgenic wolf & claim it’s a deextinctified species when really you just copied your imaginary dire wolf phenotype.
The cookie tyrant/former chimney sweep at Interior just shit on the endangered species act since Colossal can just make more.
The cookie tyrant/former chimney sweep at Interior just shit on the endangered species act since Colossal can just make more.
April 9, 2025 at 6:00 AM
To sum up where we are
Colossal: We made a dire wolf.
Scientists: Ha ha, no, you really didn’t.
Public: If you did, it was a pretty bad idea all around.
MAGA: Great news! I guess we don’t need the Endangered Species Act anymore.
Colossal: We made a dire wolf.
Scientists: Ha ha, no, you really didn’t.
Public: If you did, it was a pretty bad idea all around.
MAGA: Great news! I guess we don’t need the Endangered Species Act anymore.
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
This robin has excellent taste in real estate.
(That’s 'Monty,' the bronze cast of an Edmontosaurus on UTK's campus.)
📸 McClung Museum
(That’s 'Monty,' the bronze cast of an Edmontosaurus on UTK's campus.)
📸 McClung Museum
April 7, 2025 at 9:28 PM
This robin has excellent taste in real estate.
(That’s 'Monty,' the bronze cast of an Edmontosaurus on UTK's campus.)
📸 McClung Museum
(That’s 'Monty,' the bronze cast of an Edmontosaurus on UTK's campus.)
📸 McClung Museum
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
OK so where are we on this snake-predicted stock market graph? 📉🐍
*yes, the snake was climbing the side of a tree like this!
*yes, the snake was climbing the side of a tree like this!
April 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
OK so where are we on this snake-predicted stock market graph? 📉🐍
*yes, the snake was climbing the side of a tree like this!
*yes, the snake was climbing the side of a tree like this!
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
Every year UTCT teaches NSF sponsored short courses on high-resolution X-ray CT, taught by UTCT staff (including me!). Applications for the 2025 courses are now open! See below for the biological/paleontological course info, & we also have a geological one. If you'd like to apply, send me a DM 🩻☢️🦴
April 4, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Every year UTCT teaches NSF sponsored short courses on high-resolution X-ray CT, taught by UTCT staff (including me!). Applications for the 2025 courses are now open! See below for the biological/paleontological course info, & we also have a geological one. If you'd like to apply, send me a DM 🩻☢️🦴
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
Quoting Physics Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton: “I can repeat my own opinion, which is that if the [Royal Society] gives fellowships for promoting science they should take them away for demoting science,”
Precisely.
Precisely.
Royal Society decides not to take disciplinary action against Elon Musk
Fellows argue Musk has violated code of conduct but council believes investigation ‘could do more harm than good’ www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Fellows argue Musk has violated code of conduct but council believes investigation ‘could do more harm than good’ www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Royal Society decides not to take disciplinary action against Elon Musk
Exclusive: Fellows argue Musk has violated code of conduct but council believes investigation ‘could do more harm than good’
www.theguardian.com
March 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Quoting Physics Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton: “I can repeat my own opinion, which is that if the [Royal Society] gives fellowships for promoting science they should take them away for demoting science,”
Precisely.
Precisely.
Reposted by Roxanne Armfield
Brilliant news! At last, confirmation that the Govt *will* go ahead with the #NaturalHistoryGCSE 🎉 We have to get to know our fellow travellers on this planet again. Young people who know & love nature are far more likely to protect & restore it - as well as enjoying better physical & mental health
Department for Education confirms launch of natural history GCSE
Campaigners have been calling for the qualification for years but plan stalled despite a curriculum being drawn up
www.theguardian.com
March 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Brilliant news! At last, confirmation that the Govt *will* go ahead with the #NaturalHistoryGCSE 🎉 We have to get to know our fellow travellers on this planet again. Young people who know & love nature are far more likely to protect & restore it - as well as enjoying better physical & mental health