Duncan McIlroy
@dmcediacaran.bsky.social
Ediacaran palaeobiologist at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Working on beautiful fossils in Newfoundland & UK alongside amazing students/colleagues with strong local community partnerships to support GeoEducation GeoConservation & ethical GeoTourism
Happy #FossilFriday we just got page proofs of our paper on the diversity and geochronology of our #InnerMeadow site so let’s celebrate by sharing the first #Erniettomorph from the #Ediacaran of Newfoundland, #Phyllozoon (right) with a bonus #Bradgatia top left.
January 23, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Happy #FossilFriday we just got page proofs of our paper on the diversity and geochronology of our #InnerMeadow site so let’s celebrate by sharing the first #Erniettomorph from the #Ediacaran of Newfoundland, #Phyllozoon (right) with a bonus #Bradgatia top left.
Happy #FossilFriday from a wet cold La Niña Newfoundland. How about a new #Ediacaran fossil teaser, from a brand new fossil site north of St. John’s? This is one of several remarkable fossils that came out of a rockfall and discovered by my PhD student Pascal Olschewski. A new species of #Arborea!
January 16, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Happy #FossilFriday from a wet cold La Niña Newfoundland. How about a new #Ediacaran fossil teaser, from a brand new fossil site north of St. John’s? This is one of several remarkable fossils that came out of a rockfall and discovered by my PhD student Pascal Olschewski. A new species of #Arborea!
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
For @newscientist.com magazine, the writer and journalist Miriam Frankel recently interviewed me and several other astrobiologists about the search for alien life. You can read her excellent article here (paywalled): www.newscientist.com/article/2507...
The essential guide to proving we’ve found alien life
From mudstones on Mars to strange gases in exoplanet atmospheres, tentative evidence for extraterrestrial life is starting to come thick and fast. But when we've found it, how will we know for sure?
www.newscientist.com
January 10, 2026 at 5:14 PM
For @newscientist.com magazine, the writer and journalist Miriam Frankel recently interviewed me and several other astrobiologists about the search for alien life. You can read her excellent article here (paywalled): www.newscientist.com/article/2507...
Just before Christmas we published a new rangeomorph genus #Aninoides, the first new rangeomorph genus that has been introduced for a while I believe.
I promised to explain the name after the break so here we are!
Happy New Year and happy #FossilFriday!
I promised to explain the name after the break so here we are!
Happy New Year and happy #FossilFriday!
January 9, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Just before Christmas we published a new rangeomorph genus #Aninoides, the first new rangeomorph genus that has been introduced for a while I believe.
I promised to explain the name after the break so here we are!
Happy New Year and happy #FossilFriday!
I promised to explain the name after the break so here we are!
Happy New Year and happy #FossilFriday!
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
Aninoides: a new rangeomorph genus from the upper Ediacaran of Newfoundland onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology @dmcediacaran.bsky.social
December 23, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Aninoides: a new rangeomorph genus from the upper Ediacaran of Newfoundland onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology @dmcediacaran.bsky.social
Our final #Ediacaran palaeontology paper of the year! Introducing #Aninoides coombsorum gen et sp nov
Such a beautiful fossil. At the moment only known from our Inner Meadow site, Newfoundland. Paper led by PhD student Simon Rosse-Guillevic
Not OA sadly :-(
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Such a beautiful fossil. At the moment only known from our Inner Meadow site, Newfoundland. Paper led by PhD student Simon Rosse-Guillevic
Not OA sadly :-(
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
December 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Our final #Ediacaran palaeontology paper of the year! Introducing #Aninoides coombsorum gen et sp nov
Such a beautiful fossil. At the moment only known from our Inner Meadow site, Newfoundland. Paper led by PhD student Simon Rosse-Guillevic
Not OA sadly :-(
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Such a beautiful fossil. At the moment only known from our Inner Meadow site, Newfoundland. Paper led by PhD student Simon Rosse-Guillevic
Not OA sadly :-(
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
This will be my last #FossilFriday of the year. I’m going to try to tune out as much as possible now to make the most of the rest of this year with family.
Leaving you with this shot of a #Trepassia and an #Arborea spinosa from our Inner Meadow site.
Leaving you with this shot of a #Trepassia and an #Arborea spinosa from our Inner Meadow site.
December 19, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This will be my last #FossilFriday of the year. I’m going to try to tune out as much as possible now to make the most of the rest of this year with family.
Leaving you with this shot of a #Trepassia and an #Arborea spinosa from our Inner Meadow site.
Leaving you with this shot of a #Trepassia and an #Arborea spinosa from our Inner Meadow site.
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
❓ Did you miss our recent public talk by Dr Duncan McIlroy on Charnwood Forest's newest fossil?
🌟 We've got you covered - watch the recording on our Youtube channel and discover the wonders of our fossil, Charnia brasieri!
🌐 youtube.com/live/poR8iv7...
🌟 We've got you covered - watch the recording on our Youtube channel and discover the wonders of our fossil, Charnia brasieri!
🌐 youtube.com/live/poR8iv7...
December 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM
❓ Did you miss our recent public talk by Dr Duncan McIlroy on Charnwood Forest's newest fossil?
🌟 We've got you covered - watch the recording on our Youtube channel and discover the wonders of our fossil, Charnia brasieri!
🌐 youtube.com/live/poR8iv7...
🌟 We've got you covered - watch the recording on our Youtube channel and discover the wonders of our fossil, Charnia brasieri!
🌐 youtube.com/live/poR8iv7...
This #FossilFriday I am teasing some images of a forthcoming new Ediacaran genus. It is a relative of #Charnia which has hogged attention these last 3 years. My PhD student Simon is lead author. It lived on the deep dark ocean floor of the #Ediacaran Fermeuse Formation in Nfld (Inner Meadow).
December 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This #FossilFriday I am teasing some images of a forthcoming new Ediacaran genus. It is a relative of #Charnia which has hogged attention these last 3 years. My PhD student Simon is lead author. It lived on the deep dark ocean floor of the #Ediacaran Fermeuse Formation in Nfld (Inner Meadow).
I am really looking forward to giving this talk. Charnwood is where I first saw Ediacaran fossils (with the late Prof. Martin Brasier in October 1992).
The first Ediacaran fossil I saw in the field that day was actually a giant specimen of what is now Charnia brasieri :-).
The first Ediacaran fossil I saw in the field that day was actually a giant specimen of what is now Charnia brasieri :-).
👉 Join us this evening for a free online talk by Prof Duncan McIlroy, as he shares the story of Charnwood Forest's newest fossil: Charnia brasieri!
📅 Tuesday 9 December, 7.30pm
🌐 Book you place now: www.charnwoodforest.org/event/free-o...
📅 Tuesday 9 December, 7.30pm
🌐 Book you place now: www.charnwoodforest.org/event/free-o...
December 9, 2025 at 10:46 AM
I am really looking forward to giving this talk. Charnwood is where I first saw Ediacaran fossils (with the late Prof. Martin Brasier in October 1992).
The first Ediacaran fossil I saw in the field that day was actually a giant specimen of what is now Charnia brasieri :-).
The first Ediacaran fossil I saw in the field that day was actually a giant specimen of what is now Charnia brasieri :-).
This #Ediacaran #FossilFriday beauty was uncovered the 1st day Inner Meadow. We are so looking forward to sharing this one with the world. A new genus related to #Charnia (in press) it will be named for its comet-like shape, but the disc here is accidental (none of the other 9 specimens have it).
November 28, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This #Ediacaran #FossilFriday beauty was uncovered the 1st day Inner Meadow. We are so looking forward to sharing this one with the world. A new genus related to #Charnia (in press) it will be named for its comet-like shape, but the disc here is accidental (none of the other 9 specimens have it).
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
👉 Join us for a free online talk by Prof Duncan McIlroy, as he shares the story of Charnwood Forest's newest fossil: Charnia brasieri!
📅 Tuesday 9 December, 7.30pm
🌐 Book you place now: www.charnwoodforest.org/event/free-o...
📅 Tuesday 9 December, 7.30pm
🌐 Book you place now: www.charnwoodforest.org/event/free-o...
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
👉 Join us for a free online talk by Prof Duncan McIlroy, as he shares the story of Charnwood Forest's newest fossil: Charnia brasieri!
📅 Tuesday 9 December, 7.30pm
🌐 Book you place now: www.charnwoodforest.org/event/free-o...
📅 Tuesday 9 December, 7.30pm
🌐 Book you place now: www.charnwoodforest.org/event/free-o...
what a great crowd out to learn about #Charnia brasieri at the GeoCentre tonight and the celebratory cake from emthefairycakemother.
I can confirm that C. brasieri was delicious. I’ve decided that #Ediacaran organisms became extinct because they tasted so good.
I can confirm that C. brasieri was delicious. I’ve decided that #Ediacaran organisms became extinct because they tasted so good.
November 25, 2025 at 1:38 AM
what a great crowd out to learn about #Charnia brasieri at the GeoCentre tonight and the celebratory cake from emthefairycakemother.
I can confirm that C. brasieri was delicious. I’ve decided that #Ediacaran organisms became extinct because they tasted so good.
I can confirm that C. brasieri was delicious. I’ve decided that #Ediacaran organisms became extinct because they tasted so good.
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
Paleo folks: Please recommend researchers (incl yourselves) interested in phylogenetic reconstruction in deep time, molecular clocks (discord w/ fossil clocks), foundational/methodological issues in phylo/paleo-reconstruction & who'd be interested in hanging w/ historians & philosophers of science ⚒️
November 24, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Paleo folks: Please recommend researchers (incl yourselves) interested in phylogenetic reconstruction in deep time, molecular clocks (discord w/ fossil clocks), foundational/methodological issues in phylo/paleo-reconstruction & who'd be interested in hanging w/ historians & philosophers of science ⚒️
This week I found a partial #Charnia brasieri hiding in plain sight 🥷 in the cast of the #Ediacaran Mistaken Point E Surface that is housed at @johnsongeocentre.bsky.social where I’m giving a talk about C brasieri on Monday! Happy #FossilFriday
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
This week I found a partial #Charnia brasieri hiding in plain sight 🥷 in the cast of the #Ediacaran Mistaken Point E Surface that is housed at @johnsongeocentre.bsky.social where I’m giving a talk about C brasieri on Monday! Happy #FossilFriday
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
My alma mater, Leicester University, is dissolving its Geology Department leading to the loss of 14 staff. Palaeo is being completely axed, despite Leicester's long and storied history in this area (and its current strengths). Please sign this petition!!: www.change.org/p/save-geolo...
Sign the Petition
Save Geology at the University of Leicester
www.change.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:10 AM
My alma mater, Leicester University, is dissolving its Geology Department leading to the loss of 14 staff. Palaeo is being completely axed, despite Leicester's long and storied history in this area (and its current strengths). Please sign this petition!!: www.change.org/p/save-geolo...
Some more #Charnia content this #FossilFriday, but this time Charnia grandis reins. stat. It had been synonymized with C.masoni and mostly used for gigantic specimens of what is now C.brasieri but its strange rhomboidal branches are very distinct. the 1st branches are 45o and 2nd are at 90o
November 14, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Some more #Charnia content this #FossilFriday, but this time Charnia grandis reins. stat. It had been synonymized with C.masoni and mostly used for gigantic specimens of what is now C.brasieri but its strange rhomboidal branches are very distinct. the 1st branches are 45o and 2nd are at 90o
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
My students have set up a petition to persuade the University of Nottingham not to close our Plant Biology BSc course
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
Sign the Petition
Reconsider the potential suspension of Plant Biology Courses at UoN
c.org
November 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
My students have set up a petition to persuade the University of Nottingham not to close our Plant Biology BSc course
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
c.org/VPhzVVrHPS
Please consider signing
A nice little article highlighting the British (charnian) specimen of Charnia brasieri from the bbc :-)
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bradgate Park fossil named by researchers
Experts say the species lived on the seafloor around 560 million years ago.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:09 PM
A nice little article highlighting the British (charnian) specimen of Charnia brasieri from the bbc :-)
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
🥳 NEW FOSSIL! Researchers from Canada have named a new species of fossil from the 560 million year old rocks of Charnwood Forest!
🌟 Its called Charnia brasieri, shaped like a frond, and could grow to a metre long.
🌐 Read more on our website: www.charnwoodforest.org/researchers-...
🌟 Its called Charnia brasieri, shaped like a frond, and could grow to a metre long.
🌐 Read more on our website: www.charnwoodforest.org/researchers-...
November 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM
🥳 NEW FOSSIL! Researchers from Canada have named a new species of fossil from the 560 million year old rocks of Charnwood Forest!
🌟 Its called Charnia brasieri, shaped like a frond, and could grow to a metre long.
🌐 Read more on our website: www.charnwoodforest.org/researchers-...
🌟 Its called Charnia brasieri, shaped like a frond, and could grow to a metre long.
🌐 Read more on our website: www.charnwoodforest.org/researchers-...
This #FossilFriday I’m excitedly sharing a new #Ediacaran #Charnia brasieri named for my PhD Supervisor & friend Martin Brasier who died 2014. I’ve wanted to name something for him ever since but I wanted it to be something special. When I saw the first one from Inner Meadow I knew it was the 1 🧵
October 31, 2025 at 1:34 AM
This #FossilFriday I’m excitedly sharing a new #Ediacaran #Charnia brasieri named for my PhD Supervisor & friend Martin Brasier who died 2014. I’ve wanted to name something for him ever since but I wanted it to be something special. When I saw the first one from Inner Meadow I knew it was the 1 🧵
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
Fossils are cultural objects - and this is not some woke b*llshit that people come up nowadays to spoil the fun in #palaeontology; this classification actually has a long history.
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
A classification unearthed: the history of palaeontological objects as cultural property in international law
Abstract. Fossils are an overlooked yet threatened category of cultural property. This article traces how they became protected by international law under
doi.org
October 28, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Fossils are cultural objects - and this is not some woke b*llshit that people come up nowadays to spoil the fun in #palaeontology; this classification actually has a long history.
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
If you're curious how fossils became #culturalproperty under int'l law, check my new paper: doi.org/10.1093/lril...
A bit late on #FossilFriday but this Ediacaran Mistaken point specimen has been on my desk haunting me this last month. It is the paratype of #Beothukis mistakensis. All know specimens of this sp. on the E Surface are oriented nearly perpendicular to the palaeocurrent doi.org/10.3389/fear...
October 24, 2025 at 6:55 PM
A bit late on #FossilFriday but this Ediacaran Mistaken point specimen has been on my desk haunting me this last month. It is the paratype of #Beothukis mistakensis. All know specimens of this sp. on the E Surface are oriented nearly perpendicular to the palaeocurrent doi.org/10.3389/fear...
Reposted by Duncan McIlroy
Have you completed or commissioned a piece of palaeoart in the last year? Nominations are now open for The Marsh Palaeoart Award! 🎨🦕🌿🐌🐟🎨
You can self-nominate, or nominate an artist you think deserves recognition. Check out our website for more details - palaeosoc.org/grants-prize...
You can self-nominate, or nominate an artist you think deserves recognition. Check out our website for more details - palaeosoc.org/grants-prize...
October 22, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Have you completed or commissioned a piece of palaeoart in the last year? Nominations are now open for The Marsh Palaeoart Award! 🎨🦕🌿🐌🐟🎨
You can self-nominate, or nominate an artist you think deserves recognition. Check out our website for more details - palaeosoc.org/grants-prize...
You can self-nominate, or nominate an artist you think deserves recognition. Check out our website for more details - palaeosoc.org/grants-prize...