Matt Friedman
@friedmanlab.bsky.social
Vertebrate evolutionary biologist | Professor University of Michigan | Director & Curator UMMP | he/him/his
Reposted by Matt Friedman
Lophophorata is monophyletic!
Super excited to see this work out in Current Biology - we sequenced a phoronid genome and used shared chromosome fusions to confirm the monophyly of Lophophorata.
A big team effort from the Luo Lab @yjluo.bsky.social!
More here: authors.elsevier.com/c/1m3mV3QW8S...
Super excited to see this work out in Current Biology - we sequenced a phoronid genome and used shared chromosome fusions to confirm the monophyly of Lophophorata.
A big team effort from the Luo Lab @yjluo.bsky.social!
More here: authors.elsevier.com/c/1m3mV3QW8S...
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Lophophorata is monophyletic!
Super excited to see this work out in Current Biology - we sequenced a phoronid genome and used shared chromosome fusions to confirm the monophyly of Lophophorata.
A big team effort from the Luo Lab @yjluo.bsky.social!
More here: authors.elsevier.com/c/1m3mV3QW8S...
Super excited to see this work out in Current Biology - we sequenced a phoronid genome and used shared chromosome fusions to confirm the monophyly of Lophophorata.
A big team effort from the Luo Lab @yjluo.bsky.social!
More here: authors.elsevier.com/c/1m3mV3QW8S...
Reposted by Matt Friedman
My advice for #2025SVP would be aimed not to students, who are excellent in our society and I am sure will do great but on senior academics. During Q&A, please resist the urge to grandstand or grill. Be polite, constructive, and supportive. That’s how we build a stronger, kinder community. #SVP2025
Many of our student attendees will be giving their first talk or poster this meeting! What advice you give them to help make it the best experience possible?
#2025SVP
#2025SVP
November 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Some Met fishes.
November 10, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Some Met fishes.
Oh my. Remember mailing the physical submission (3 loooong MS copies) back in the heady days of steam. 20 years on, I'm still pretty happy about how this one turned out. Thanks for the highlight, @journalsystpal.bsky.social!
To mark the 85th SVP Meeting 2025, we've assembled an open access collection of landmark JSP vertebrate palaeontology papers.
Next, Friedman (2007) investigates 𝙎𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙩𝙝𝙮𝙨, the oldest known coelacanth — and early bony fish relationships buff.ly/EGlBuN3
#PaleoSky #FossilFish #CoelacanthChronicles
Next, Friedman (2007) investigates 𝙎𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙩𝙝𝙮𝙨, the oldest known coelacanth — and early bony fish relationships buff.ly/EGlBuN3
#PaleoSky #FossilFish #CoelacanthChronicles
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Oh my. Remember mailing the physical submission (3 loooong MS copies) back in the heady days of steam. 20 years on, I'm still pretty happy about how this one turned out. Thanks for the highlight, @journalsystpal.bsky.social!
Reposted by Matt Friedman
New paper out! It was an honor to collaborate with the legend Leah Krubitzer on this review to show that paleontologists and neurobiologists working together can only improve our understanding of brain evolution 🧠
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Full access to the paper: rdcu.be/eK167
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Full access to the paper: rdcu.be/eK167
The functional adaptations of mammalian brain structures through a behavioural ecology lens - Nature Reviews Biodiversity
Palaeontologists and comparative neurobiologists share a common interest in the evolution of the mammalian brain, but often fail to realize the benefits of this shared interest. This Review draws thes...
www.nature.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:52 AM
New paper out! It was an honor to collaborate with the legend Leah Krubitzer on this review to show that paleontologists and neurobiologists working together can only improve our understanding of brain evolution 🧠
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Full access to the paper: rdcu.be/eK167
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Full access to the paper: rdcu.be/eK167
Also struck by this on my visit yesterday.
November 8, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Also struck by this on my visit yesterday.
No secret that there's a lot of amazing stuff at AMNH. Some of my favorites are these massive chimneys recovered from hydrothermal vents of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, more than a mile beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
November 8, 2025 at 3:38 PM
No secret that there's a lot of amazing stuff at AMNH. Some of my favorites are these massive chimneys recovered from hydrothermal vents of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, more than a mile beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
Reposted by Matt Friedman
Results from tonights Flocking #paleostream!
Nanotyrannus, Pteranodon, Phosphorosaurus and Helicoprion!
Nanotyrannus, Pteranodon, Phosphorosaurus and Helicoprion!
November 8, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Results from tonights Flocking #paleostream!
Nanotyrannus, Pteranodon, Phosphorosaurus and Helicoprion!
Nanotyrannus, Pteranodon, Phosphorosaurus and Helicoprion!
Most unexpected discovery at AMNH? My missing copy of "Gaining Ground" . . . in Roger Benson's office 😂
November 8, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Most unexpected discovery at AMNH? My missing copy of "Gaining Ground" . . . in Roger Benson's office 😂
Reposted by Matt Friedman
New paper in JSP: Gonçalves & Luccisano reassess the taxonomy and phylogeny of Aeduellidae, Carboniferous ray-finned fish from Decazeville Basin, France 🐟
Results hint at a North American origin… or convergent traits that muddy the family waters.
Read the study: buff.ly/huDEsiU #paleosky #fossilfish
Results hint at a North American origin… or convergent traits that muddy the family waters.
Read the study: buff.ly/huDEsiU #paleosky #fossilfish
November 3, 2025 at 10:53 AM
New paper in JSP: Gonçalves & Luccisano reassess the taxonomy and phylogeny of Aeduellidae, Carboniferous ray-finned fish from Decazeville Basin, France 🐟
Results hint at a North American origin… or convergent traits that muddy the family waters.
Read the study: buff.ly/huDEsiU #paleosky #fossilfish
Results hint at a North American origin… or convergent traits that muddy the family waters.
Read the study: buff.ly/huDEsiU #paleosky #fossilfish
Secret Smilodon at the Met. Make a point to find it whenever I go.
November 8, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Secret Smilodon at the Met. Make a point to find it whenever I go.
November 7, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Reposted by Matt Friedman
I dream of being a long snouted predator in the backwaters of Laurentian rivers, but for now I crush shells with my round teeth and am sad #garweek #scheenstiaposting #totalgroupginglymodi
November 5, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I dream of being a long snouted predator in the backwaters of Laurentian rivers, but for now I crush shells with my round teeth and am sad #garweek #scheenstiaposting #totalgroupginglymodi
Here's another one you won't have seen: a waiting-to-be-prepared specimen from the Green River Fm. Probably Cuneatus. Maybe they'll be ready for #GarWeek next year!
November 3, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Here's another one you won't have seen: a waiting-to-be-prepared specimen from the Green River Fm. Probably Cuneatus. Maybe they'll be ready for #GarWeek next year!
Reposted by Matt Friedman
Local news story on why MotE/ PRI is special:
$̳1̳ ̳m̳i̳l̳l̳i̳o̳n̳ left to raise before the end of 2025 to save the Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca, NY.
#SavePRI 🧪⚒️ #museums #dinosaurs #Mastodon #Ithaca
#fingerlakes
www.wbng.com/2025/10/27/m...
$̳1̳ ̳m̳i̳l̳l̳i̳o̳n̳ left to raise before the end of 2025 to save the Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca, NY.
#SavePRI 🧪⚒️ #museums #dinosaurs #Mastodon #Ithaca
#fingerlakes
www.wbng.com/2025/10/27/m...
Museum of Earth could be met with possible foreclosure
The PRI has until Dec. 31, 2025 to raise $1 million or the only collections based national history museum between New York City and Buffalo will be forced into foreclosure.
www.wbng.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Local news story on why MotE/ PRI is special:
$̳1̳ ̳m̳i̳l̳l̳i̳o̳n̳ left to raise before the end of 2025 to save the Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca, NY.
#SavePRI 🧪⚒️ #museums #dinosaurs #Mastodon #Ithaca
#fingerlakes
www.wbng.com/2025/10/27/m...
$̳1̳ ̳m̳i̳l̳l̳i̳o̳n̳ left to raise before the end of 2025 to save the Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca, NY.
#SavePRI 🧪⚒️ #museums #dinosaurs #Mastodon #Ithaca
#fingerlakes
www.wbng.com/2025/10/27/m...
Reposted by Matt Friedman
Capitol pressroom interview with the Paleontological Research Institution's director Warren Allmon about PRIs connections to science education throughout NY and the fundraising campaign for the next 60 days to make sure the end of the year isnt the end of PRI
capitolpressroom.org/2025/10/31/u...
capitolpressroom.org/2025/10/31/u...
Upstate natural history museum at risk of closing
Paleontological Research Institution Director talks about the work his organization does and explains why they're in need of funding to keep their door open.
capitolpressroom.org
November 2, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Capitol pressroom interview with the Paleontological Research Institution's director Warren Allmon about PRIs connections to science education throughout NY and the fundraising campaign for the next 60 days to make sure the end of the year isnt the end of PRI
capitolpressroom.org/2025/10/31/u...
capitolpressroom.org/2025/10/31/u...
Reposted by Matt Friedman
@friedmanlab.bsky.social @rodrigoichthys.bsky.social @fishfetisher.bsky.social I’m finding your GARS at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History! Hope you’ll share some for #GarWeek next week!
November 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM
@friedmanlab.bsky.social @rodrigoichthys.bsky.social @fishfetisher.bsky.social I’m finding your GARS at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History! Hope you’ll share some for #GarWeek next week!
Spooky note left on my door yesterday.
November 1, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Spooky note left on my door yesterday.
Emily gave a great talk for this week's departmental seminar. Got a new lab photo to mark the occasion . . .
October 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Emily gave a great talk for this week's departmental seminar. Got a new lab photo to mark the occasion . . .
Reposted by Matt Friedman
Nobody makes good fossil fish masks so this year I knocked out a Protosphyraena for myself!
A little cardboard and superglue goes a long way when paired with obsession
A little cardboard and superglue goes a long way when paired with obsession
October 31, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Nobody makes good fossil fish masks so this year I knocked out a Protosphyraena for myself!
A little cardboard and superglue goes a long way when paired with obsession
A little cardboard and superglue goes a long way when paired with obsession
Reposted by Matt Friedman
A spooky fossil for Halloween!
The Carboniferous swamps of the north of England were full of creepy crawlies... This is one of them, a spider-like creature called Mesotarbus.
📍 Westhoughton
🏛️ Manchester Museum
📷 GB3D Fossils
#FossilFriday
The Carboniferous swamps of the north of England were full of creepy crawlies... This is one of them, a spider-like creature called Mesotarbus.
📍 Westhoughton
🏛️ Manchester Museum
📷 GB3D Fossils
#FossilFriday
October 31, 2025 at 10:30 AM
A spooky fossil for Halloween!
The Carboniferous swamps of the north of England were full of creepy crawlies... This is one of them, a spider-like creature called Mesotarbus.
📍 Westhoughton
🏛️ Manchester Museum
📷 GB3D Fossils
#FossilFriday
The Carboniferous swamps of the north of England were full of creepy crawlies... This is one of them, a spider-like creature called Mesotarbus.
📍 Westhoughton
🏛️ Manchester Museum
📷 GB3D Fossils
#FossilFriday
Reposted by Matt Friedman
Holosteans are weird. Try to guess what this cursed bone is. From a modern fish, if that helps
October 30, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Holosteans are weird. Try to guess what this cursed bone is. From a modern fish, if that helps
Reposted by Matt Friedman
I love working at a museum because that means I get to create fantabulous SciComm activities 🐟🐡 Visitors will have the chance to match 3D printed living and extinct fish jaws to what they think the fish eats, based on jaw and tooth shape.
October 30, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I love working at a museum because that means I get to create fantabulous SciComm activities 🐟🐡 Visitors will have the chance to match 3D printed living and extinct fish jaws to what they think the fish eats, based on jaw and tooth shape.
Reposted by Matt Friedman
My first book chapter should be out soon and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with everyone!
October 26, 2025 at 11:22 PM
My first book chapter should be out soon and I’m really looking forward to sharing it with everyone!
Reposted by Matt Friedman
@behrenskristen.bsky.social told me about the theme today being Opah!!!! It's one of my favorite marine fish cause theyre kinda weird. Drawing I did for FAO a few years ago. #SundayFishSketch
October 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
@behrenskristen.bsky.social told me about the theme today being Opah!!!! It's one of my favorite marine fish cause theyre kinda weird. Drawing I did for FAO a few years ago. #SundayFishSketch