Dean Schnabel
@sassypn.bsky.social
🇩🇪 | Science Enthusiast | Skeletal Artist | He/Him | There will be apple blossoms on Mars! 🚀 | | Internationalist 🚩🇵🇸
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Dean Schnabel
@sassypn.bsky.social
· Oct 21
Hey there! Im Dean though you probably know me as Sassy. Im a student paleoartist from Germany working on reconstructions of primarily pterosaurs and late Jurassic Europe.
Torvosaurus gurneyi is a large theropod from the Late Jurassic of Portugal. Dozens of isolated remains all across the European Archipelago may indicate that this animal has a far wider distribution than just the Iberian Island, however more diagnostic material is needed.
June 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Torvosaurus gurneyi is a large theropod from the Late Jurassic of Portugal. Dozens of isolated remains all across the European Archipelago may indicate that this animal has a far wider distribution than just the Iberian Island, however more diagnostic material is needed.
Reposted by Dean Schnabel
There’s so many amazing invertebrates known from Jurassic rocks in Europe, but they rarely if ever get artistic attention. So, here’s a sketch of Abyssophthalmus mirus being a pain on Protospinax’s snout as it’s attempting to have a crab dinner. #jurassic #solnhofen #paleoart #crab
June 12, 2025 at 8:29 PM
There’s so many amazing invertebrates known from Jurassic rocks in Europe, but they rarely if ever get artistic attention. So, here’s a sketch of Abyssophthalmus mirus being a pain on Protospinax’s snout as it’s attempting to have a crab dinner. #jurassic #solnhofen #paleoart #crab
Abyssophthalmus is a surprisingly large genus of crab from the Late Jurassic of Europe, known primarily from reef deposits like most jurassic crabs we also lack information on it's anatomy beyond the carapace. Those are reconstructed after members of the extant Homolodromioidea
June 12, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Abyssophthalmus is a surprisingly large genus of crab from the Late Jurassic of Europe, known primarily from reef deposits like most jurassic crabs we also lack information on it's anatomy beyond the carapace. Those are reconstructed after members of the extant Homolodromioidea
Asteracanthus is a large hybodont with a widespread distribution in the Late Jurassic. Often confused with Strophodus a large and almost complete skeleton of this taxon from the Solnhofen Archipelago has illuminated it's relationship to other species at the time.
June 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Asteracanthus is a large hybodont with a widespread distribution in the Late Jurassic. Often confused with Strophodus a large and almost complete skeleton of this taxon from the Solnhofen Archipelago has illuminated it's relationship to other species at the time.
The Late Jurassic Reef age lead to the intense radiation of the galatheoideans like squat lobsters, one of the most speciose munidopsid genera is Gastrosacus known from fossil deposots across europem One species, G. wetzleri is known from beyond just the cephalothorax
May 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The Late Jurassic Reef age lead to the intense radiation of the galatheoideans like squat lobsters, one of the most speciose munidopsid genera is Gastrosacus known from fossil deposots across europem One species, G. wetzleri is known from beyond just the cephalothorax
Despite being marine animals, teleosaurs are even rarer in the Solnhofen Limestones than Dinosaurs. One elusive member of this clade is Aeolodon known by two skeletons, one from Daiting Germany and one from Canjuers france. This clade of teleosaurs was likely pelagic, adapted to the open ocean.
May 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Despite being marine animals, teleosaurs are even rarer in the Solnhofen Limestones than Dinosaurs. One elusive member of this clade is Aeolodon known by two skeletons, one from Daiting Germany and one from Canjuers france. This clade of teleosaurs was likely pelagic, adapted to the open ocean.
The Late Jurassic "Reef age", an era of unprecedented reef growth across the world lead to the intense radiation of dozens of clades, among them hermit crabs. Gastrodorus is a more basal member of the paguroidea, with a more elongated carapace.
May 3, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The Late Jurassic "Reef age", an era of unprecedented reef growth across the world lead to the intense radiation of dozens of clades, among them hermit crabs. Gastrodorus is a more basal member of the paguroidea, with a more elongated carapace.
Antrimpos is large and relatively common shrimp with a wide temporal distribution, three species are known from the Late Jurassic of Southern Germany primarily distinguished by the number and arrangement of their dorsal spines.
April 19, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Antrimpos is large and relatively common shrimp with a wide temporal distribution, three species are known from the Late Jurassic of Southern Germany primarily distinguished by the number and arrangement of their dorsal spines.
A majority of all Rhamphorhynchus specimens are juveniles, some specimens however represent adults of greater size. One very fragmentary specimen consisting of two vertebra from Ettling however, is 180% larger than the second largest Rhamphorhynchus, indicating an enormous size!
April 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A majority of all Rhamphorhynchus specimens are juveniles, some specimens however represent adults of greater size. One very fragmentary specimen consisting of two vertebra from Ettling however, is 180% larger than the second largest Rhamphorhynchus, indicating an enormous size!
Juravenator is a theropod known by wonderfully complete juvenile specimen from Schamhaupten, Juravenator is of mysterious affinity but it may be a juvenile Megalosauroid. The specimen is famous for preserving a variety of soft tissues including scales and feathers.
April 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Juravenator is a theropod known by wonderfully complete juvenile specimen from Schamhaupten, Juravenator is of mysterious affinity but it may be a juvenile Megalosauroid. The specimen is famous for preserving a variety of soft tissues including scales and feathers.
Skeletal of Strobilodus, a large caturoid that inhabited the seas of late Jurassic Europe, Strobilodus is among the largest osteichthyian predators of this time. Several complete skeletons are known, by far the largest specimen appears to be an unpublished skull from England
March 28, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Skeletal of Strobilodus, a large caturoid that inhabited the seas of late Jurassic Europe, Strobilodus is among the largest osteichthyian predators of this time. Several complete skeletons are known, by far the largest specimen appears to be an unpublished skull from England
The Lithographic Limestones of Late Jurassic Europe are home to a wide variety of jellyfish. Alot of the taxa from this time are dubious, so I only illustrated some, due to the difficulty of reconstructing jellyfish based on fossils keep in mind that these are very simplified.
March 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The Lithographic Limestones of Late Jurassic Europe are home to a wide variety of jellyfish. Alot of the taxa from this time are dubious, so I only illustrated some, due to the difficulty of reconstructing jellyfish based on fossils keep in mind that these are very simplified.
Reconstruction of Uncina ultima, unfortunately this species is only known from a single isolated P1 chela, however it is immensely interesting because this Genus was previously only known from the early Jurassic. This means that this is a ghost clade of 30 million years!
March 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Reconstruction of Uncina ultima, unfortunately this species is only known from a single isolated P1 chela, however it is immensely interesting because this Genus was previously only known from the early Jurassic. This means that this is a ghost clade of 30 million years!
Skeletal of Torvoneustes jurensis, a rather large metriorhynchid from Kimmeridgian Reuchenette Formation in Switzerland, famous for its many marine turtles (Unfortunately not all ribs and vertebrae are figured in the paper, so most might be more incomplete than shown here)
March 16, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Skeletal of Torvoneustes jurensis, a rather large metriorhynchid from Kimmeridgian Reuchenette Formation in Switzerland, famous for its many marine turtles (Unfortunately not all ribs and vertebrae are figured in the paper, so most might be more incomplete than shown here)
Skeletal Reconstruction of Lusognathus, a large gnathosaurine from the Iberian island of L. Jurassic Europe
March 8, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Skeletal Reconstruction of Lusognathus, a large gnathosaurine from the Iberian island of L. Jurassic Europe
Slight update to my skeletal of Cricosaurus albersdoerferi, mostly just changed the rib articulation and some other tiny details. Cute little dolphin croc look at it 🙂
March 7, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Slight update to my skeletal of Cricosaurus albersdoerferi, mostly just changed the rib articulation and some other tiny details. Cute little dolphin croc look at it 🙂
Skeletal Reconstruction of Aegirosaurus, this tiny Ichthyosaur from the Solnhofen Archipelago is known from several well preserved skeletons. Maybe this taxon was more adapted to shallow waters around the islands in comparison to larger contemporary Ichthyosaurs?
March 5, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Skeletal Reconstruction of Aegirosaurus, this tiny Ichthyosaur from the Solnhofen Archipelago is known from several well preserved skeletons. Maybe this taxon was more adapted to shallow waters around the islands in comparison to larger contemporary Ichthyosaurs?
Skeletal Reconstruction of the angel shark Pseudorhina. Two species of this genus are known from the late Jurassic of Europe, defferentiated by dental morphology, size and proportions. The role of this taxon in the ecosystem would have been the same as for modern angel sharks.
March 1, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Skeletal Reconstruction of the angel shark Pseudorhina. Two species of this genus are known from the late Jurassic of Europe, defferentiated by dental morphology, size and proportions. The role of this taxon in the ecosystem would have been the same as for modern angel sharks.
Reposted by Dean Schnabel
Happy #FossilFriday!
Today, we have a size chart of Middle Jurassic British Pterosaurs, which I made as an anatomical reference. Featured are Ceoptera, Dearc, Klobiodon (restored based on Rhamphorhynchus) and a basal pterodactyloid known from footprints. #paleoart #paleontology #sciart #pterosaurs
Today, we have a size chart of Middle Jurassic British Pterosaurs, which I made as an anatomical reference. Featured are Ceoptera, Dearc, Klobiodon (restored based on Rhamphorhynchus) and a basal pterodactyloid known from footprints. #paleoart #paleontology #sciart #pterosaurs
February 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Happy #FossilFriday!
Today, we have a size chart of Middle Jurassic British Pterosaurs, which I made as an anatomical reference. Featured are Ceoptera, Dearc, Klobiodon (restored based on Rhamphorhynchus) and a basal pterodactyloid known from footprints. #paleoart #paleontology #sciart #pterosaurs
Today, we have a size chart of Middle Jurassic British Pterosaurs, which I made as an anatomical reference. Featured are Ceoptera, Dearc, Klobiodon (restored based on Rhamphorhynchus) and a basal pterodactyloid known from footprints. #paleoart #paleontology #sciart #pterosaurs
Palaeastacus is a relatively common erymid lobster from the L. Jurassic of the Solnhofen Archipelago. Most specimens of P. fuciformis are rather small, one arm from a different species hailing from Brunn, P. rothgangerae implies that this genus could grow to impressive sizes.
February 8, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Palaeastacus is a relatively common erymid lobster from the L. Jurassic of the Solnhofen Archipelago. Most specimens of P. fuciformis are rather small, one arm from a different species hailing from Brunn, P. rothgangerae implies that this genus could grow to impressive sizes.
Reconstruction of the two described Galatheoideans from the Solnhofen Limestone. These tiny crustaceans are incredibly diverse in reef deposits elsewhere, wheras the Solnhofen Archipelago has brought forth a low species diversity. However this is likely preservational bias.
January 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reconstruction of the two described Galatheoideans from the Solnhofen Limestone. These tiny crustaceans are incredibly diverse in reef deposits elsewhere, wheras the Solnhofen Archipelago has brought forth a low species diversity. However this is likely preservational bias.
Reconstruction of Teudopsinia grossheidei. This is potentially the smallest octobrachian of the Solnhofen Archipelago, known from dozens of well preserved specimens.
January 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reconstruction of Teudopsinia grossheidei. This is potentially the smallest octobrachian of the Solnhofen Archipelago, known from dozens of well preserved specimens.
Skeletal Reconstruction of Alcmonavis, a theropod dinosaur from the Mörnsheim Formation in an uncertain phylogenetic position. Known from unfortunately only a single wing this bird-like animal was a larger neighbour to its more famous relative Archaeopteryx
January 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Skeletal Reconstruction of Alcmonavis, a theropod dinosaur from the Mörnsheim Formation in an uncertain phylogenetic position. Known from unfortunately only a single wing this bird-like animal was a larger neighbour to its more famous relative Archaeopteryx
Speculative Reconstruction of Aviatyrannis, a small Kimmeridgian Theropod from the Guimarota coal mines originally described as a tyrannosauroid, as an ornithomimosaur based on Hattori et al., 2023
January 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Speculative Reconstruction of Aviatyrannis, a small Kimmeridgian Theropod from the Guimarota coal mines originally described as a tyrannosauroid, as an ornithomimosaur based on Hattori et al., 2023