Skye McDavid
@skyemcdavid.com
scientific illustrator dabbling in paleontological research: pterosaurs, dinosaurs, other fossil reptiles, zoological nomenclature. French New Yorker.📍NY Metro. she/her; elle 🏳️🌈 eng/fra
https://www.skyemcdavid.com/links
https://www.skyemcdavid.com/links
Pinned
Skye McDavid
@skyemcdavid.com
· Nov 5
Of course the big paper on Azhdarchoid phylogeny comes out while I'm at a museum on a research visit (looking at Azhdarchoid cervicals, obviously) but now I'm back at the hotel so it's time to write a proper thread! 1/28
Reposted by Skye McDavid
Reposted by Skye McDavid
Google Docs spelling and grammar check feature has gone noticeably downhill in recent years... but it is seriously struggling with a document that is mostly in English but with bits of German.
February 9, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Google Docs spelling and grammar check feature has gone noticeably downhill in recent years... but it is seriously struggling with a document that is mostly in English but with bits of German.
accidentally sent a cat video to a work chat instead of to my gf, oops
February 9, 2026 at 5:46 PM
accidentally sent a cat video to a work chat instead of to my gf, oops
Honestly, depends on the situation. I love them both.
All aboard the New Haven Line for National Pizza Day!
Linking New York and New Haven, it's the ultimate connection between two of America’s pizza giants.
But we want to know: Which do you prefer?
Linking New York and New Haven, it's the ultimate connection between two of America’s pizza giants.
But we want to know: Which do you prefer?
February 9, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Honestly, depends on the situation. I love them both.
Reposted by Skye McDavid
The one rule regarding dinosaur integument is that we should never underestimate its diversity
February 6, 2026 at 3:43 PM
The one rule regarding dinosaur integument is that we should never underestimate its diversity
Reposted by Skye McDavid
I have nothing of substance to add re: the condemnation of paleo associations with Epstein, but as the initiator of one of the more recent high-profile SVP ethics cases who spent months going through their process, I have some thoughts re: SVP's handling of ethics cases/reports.
A thread 🧵:
A thread 🧵:
Really SVP? You’re just going to ignore decades of sexual and academic misconduct, marrying a student AT one of your conferences, and every report I’ve filed (implying that’s what you do with reports) to defend famous Horner? You’d rather have pedophiles than students is your message?
February 5, 2026 at 3:05 PM
I have nothing of substance to add re: the condemnation of paleo associations with Epstein, but as the initiator of one of the more recent high-profile SVP ethics cases who spent months going through their process, I have some thoughts re: SVP's handling of ethics cases/reports.
A thread 🧵:
A thread 🧵:
Reposted by Skye McDavid
What it’s like being friends with me.
February 5, 2026 at 2:35 PM
What it’s like being friends with me.
SVP Members!
I encourage you to join today's town hall on zoom at 12PM ET, and demand that leadership take action to protect our members and attendees at the 2026 Annual Meeting in Cleveland, in light of recent developments regarding the Epstein Files and what occurred at the 2024 Meeting in MN.
I encourage you to join today's town hall on zoom at 12PM ET, and demand that leadership take action to protect our members and attendees at the 2026 Annual Meeting in Cleveland, in light of recent developments regarding the Epstein Files and what occurred at the 2024 Meeting in MN.
February 5, 2026 at 1:53 PM
SVP Members!
I encourage you to join today's town hall on zoom at 12PM ET, and demand that leadership take action to protect our members and attendees at the 2026 Annual Meeting in Cleveland, in light of recent developments regarding the Epstein Files and what occurred at the 2024 Meeting in MN.
I encourage you to join today's town hall on zoom at 12PM ET, and demand that leadership take action to protect our members and attendees at the 2026 Annual Meeting in Cleveland, in light of recent developments regarding the Epstein Files and what occurred at the 2024 Meeting in MN.
Reposted by Skye McDavid
Earlier, I spotted a snake with tiny gorgons for hair. When I looked at her, the pebble in my pocket turned to flesh.
February 4, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Earlier, I spotted a snake with tiny gorgons for hair. When I looked at her, the pebble in my pocket turned to flesh.
Reposted by Skye McDavid
(1) Another long 🧵 because @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social finally put out a statement on Jack Horner's association with Jeffrey Epstein and this is about the most spineless pooh poohing of a serious safety and moral issue I have read. I guess studying vertebrates does not require a backbone...
February 4, 2026 at 8:11 PM
(1) Another long 🧵 because @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social finally put out a statement on Jack Horner's association with Jeffrey Epstein and this is about the most spineless pooh poohing of a serious safety and moral issue I have read. I guess studying vertebrates does not require a backbone...
Reposted by Skye McDavid
It's defensive. Also it is notable there is no mention in this post of SVP condemning the abuses linked to these files (even in general).
February 4, 2026 at 5:25 PM
It's defensive. Also it is notable there is no mention in this post of SVP condemning the abuses linked to these files (even in general).
Tickets booked for PaleoFest 2026! See you in Rockford, Illinois in March!
February 4, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Tickets booked for PaleoFest 2026! See you in Rockford, Illinois in March!
Reposted by Skye McDavid
Really SVP? You’re just going to ignore decades of sexual and academic misconduct, marrying a student AT one of your conferences, and every report I’ve filed (implying that’s what you do with reports) to defend famous Horner? You’d rather have pedophiles than students is your message?
February 4, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Really SVP? You’re just going to ignore decades of sexual and academic misconduct, marrying a student AT one of your conferences, and every report I’ve filed (implying that’s what you do with reports) to defend famous Horner? You’d rather have pedophiles than students is your message?
Reposted by Skye McDavid
Needless to say I feel the same, and reading the email left me feeling extremely betrayed by a community I thought I could trust. I do not think I will be renewing my SVP membership at this point.
Is @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social being serious here?
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
February 4, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Needless to say I feel the same, and reading the email left me feeling extremely betrayed by a community I thought I could trust. I do not think I will be renewing my SVP membership at this point.
Is @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social being serious here?
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
February 4, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Is @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social being serious here?
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
No, the presence of a name on an email doesn't establish wrongdoing. But the *content* of those emails is what so many members, including myself, are outraged about. This response does nothing but further degrade my confidence in SVP leadership
Was reviewing a colleague's manuscript (no spoilers but it's exciting!) when Merlin jumped up on my desk and started looking at the manuscript too.
His review: minor revisions, would eat the pterosaur if it weren't fossilized, authors should include more cats.
His review: minor revisions, would eat the pterosaur if it weren't fossilized, authors should include more cats.
February 4, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Was reviewing a colleague's manuscript (no spoilers but it's exciting!) when Merlin jumped up on my desk and started looking at the manuscript too.
His review: minor revisions, would eat the pterosaur if it weren't fossilized, authors should include more cats.
His review: minor revisions, would eat the pterosaur if it weren't fossilized, authors should include more cats.
Reposted by Skye McDavid
reading about organisms that aren’t your specialty is like
margins of the quorbus eplungulate, ploobular processes bent posteriorly towards the foobulum
define term “eplungulate”
- lacking plungae. synonym: thubulous
margins of the quorbus eplungulate, ploobular processes bent posteriorly towards the foobulum
define term “eplungulate”
- lacking plungae. synonym: thubulous
February 2, 2026 at 10:14 PM
reading about organisms that aren’t your specialty is like
margins of the quorbus eplungulate, ploobular processes bent posteriorly towards the foobulum
define term “eplungulate”
- lacking plungae. synonym: thubulous
margins of the quorbus eplungulate, ploobular processes bent posteriorly towards the foobulum
define term “eplungulate”
- lacking plungae. synonym: thubulous
This is NOT what we mean by temperature-controlled storage!
Apparently he keeps the type material of the ornithischian Drinker in his oven. (He doesn't use his oven, as an oven, clearly.)
February 2, 2026 at 4:50 PM
This is NOT what we mean by temperature-controlled storage!
Reposted by Skye McDavid
Men of academia: please know that we see how you react to news of big names associating with Epstein.
We see who says ”you have to look for grant money wherever you can”, ignoring that inviting Epstein to conferences, gatherings, fields sites, etc. puts the young women at those events in danger. 1/
We see who says ”you have to look for grant money wherever you can”, ignoring that inviting Epstein to conferences, gatherings, fields sites, etc. puts the young women at those events in danger. 1/
February 1, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Men of academia: please know that we see how you react to news of big names associating with Epstein.
We see who says ”you have to look for grant money wherever you can”, ignoring that inviting Epstein to conferences, gatherings, fields sites, etc. puts the young women at those events in danger. 1/
We see who says ”you have to look for grant money wherever you can”, ignoring that inviting Epstein to conferences, gatherings, fields sites, etc. puts the young women at those events in danger. 1/
I've previously complained that every time I publish with JVP, the outsourced typesetting firm "corrects" my name to the wrong spelling. But this time they also "corrected" my email address to something that isn't my address and I somehow missed that on the proof so it's out in the wild.
February 2, 2026 at 4:38 PM
I've previously complained that every time I publish with JVP, the outsourced typesetting firm "corrects" my name to the wrong spelling. But this time they also "corrected" my email address to something that isn't my address and I somehow missed that on the proof so it's out in the wild.
This is actually amazing. Congestion pricing in Manhattan is resulting in less congestion in outer boroughs and suburbs. As someone who frequently drives between Wch and Bk/Qns, this is great news. And the congestion pricing toll is still less expensive than a Metro North rail ticket!
Early concerns suggested congestion pricing could worsen traffic in the Bronx, Brooklyn and New Jersey.
Bloomberg reviewed the data and found drivers outside the congestion zone are actually seeing benefits.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Bloomberg reviewed the data and found drivers outside the congestion zone are actually seeing benefits.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Congestion Pricing’s Unexpected Winners: Suburban Drivers
NYC’s controversial toll program hasn’t just sped up trips inside Manhattan, a new paper finds. It’s easing traffic in outer boroughs and neighboring counties.
www.bloomberg.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:08 PM
This is actually amazing. Congestion pricing in Manhattan is resulting in less congestion in outer boroughs and suburbs. As someone who frequently drives between Wch and Bk/Qns, this is great news. And the congestion pricing toll is still less expensive than a Metro North rail ticket!
Reposted by Skye McDavid
It’s tangential to his relationship with Epstein, but remember Jack Horner rose to fame by claim jumping Marion Brandvold. She found Egg Mountain and the baby Maiasaura, loaned them to Jack, and had to sue to get them back - returned in 2004.
Dinosaur dispute settled; bones returned to woman who found them
LIVINGSTON - The brown cardboard carton in the corner of Fred Paoli's law office has an unusual marking on its side.
www.bozemandailychronicle.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:06 PM
It’s tangential to his relationship with Epstein, but remember Jack Horner rose to fame by claim jumping Marion Brandvold. She found Egg Mountain and the baby Maiasaura, loaned them to Jack, and had to sue to get them back - returned in 2004.
Reposted by Skye McDavid
Alickmeron Sen & Ray, 2025 is an objective junior synonym of Alwalkeria Chatterjee & Creisler, 1994: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol 0, No 0 - Get Access www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Alickmeron Sen & Ray, 2025 is an objective junior synonym of Alwalkeria Chatterjee & Creisler, 1994
The appendicular material assigned to Alwalkeria maleriensis was recently reanalyzed and concluded that the taxon was founded on a chimera of probable herrerasaurid dinosaur and pterosauromorph mat...
www.tandfonline.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Alickmeron Sen & Ray, 2025 is an objective junior synonym of Alwalkeria Chatterjee & Creisler, 1994: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol 0, No 0 - Get Access www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Alickmeron Sen & Ray, 2025 is an objective junior synonym of Alwalkeria Chatterjee & Creisler, 1994 @slvrhwk.bsky.social @ijreid.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
February 2, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Alickmeron Sen & Ray, 2025 is an objective junior synonym of Alwalkeria Chatterjee & Creisler, 1994 @slvrhwk.bsky.social @ijreid.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....