Tess Gallagher
@tessasaurus.bsky.social
Paleontologist that specializes in Diplodocus skin. Currently working at Edelman Fossil Museum
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
New paper to reflect on during the International Women in Science Day.
🧪⛏️⚒️🦕🦖
"Barriers Affecting Mexican Women in Paleontology: Challenges and Proposals for Building a Women’s Support Network"
paleontologiamexicana.geologia.unam.mx/index.php/pa...
🧪⛏️⚒️🦕🦖
"Barriers Affecting Mexican Women in Paleontology: Challenges and Proposals for Building a Women’s Support Network"
paleontologiamexicana.geologia.unam.mx/index.php/pa...
Vista de Barreras que afectan a las mujeres mexicanas en la paleontología: desafíos y propuestas para formar una red de apoyo femenina
paleontologiamexicana.geologia.unam.mx
February 11, 2026 at 10:00 PM
New paper to reflect on during the International Women in Science Day.
🧪⛏️⚒️🦕🦖
"Barriers Affecting Mexican Women in Paleontology: Challenges and Proposals for Building a Women’s Support Network"
paleontologiamexicana.geologia.unam.mx/index.php/pa...
🧪⛏️⚒️🦕🦖
"Barriers Affecting Mexican Women in Paleontology: Challenges and Proposals for Building a Women’s Support Network"
paleontologiamexicana.geologia.unam.mx/index.php/pa...
Happy International Women In Science Day! I had an amazing time speaking with fellow female scientists and paleoartists on todays paleoart panel with @extinctfineart.bsky.social . Pictured here is me and one of the key Diplodocus skin specimens that led to our recent discovery on Dippy Colors 🦕🌈
February 12, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Happy International Women In Science Day! I had an amazing time speaking with fellow female scientists and paleoartists on todays paleoart panel with @extinctfineart.bsky.social . Pictured here is me and one of the key Diplodocus skin specimens that led to our recent discovery on Dippy Colors 🦕🌈
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
Happy International Women and Girls in Science Day!
Proud to work alongside so many brilliant women, past and present, and excited for the future scientists who will shape what comes next.
Proud to work alongside so many brilliant women, past and present, and excited for the future scientists who will shape what comes next.
February 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Happy International Women and Girls in Science Day!
Proud to work alongside so many brilliant women, past and present, and excited for the future scientists who will shape what comes next.
Proud to work alongside so many brilliant women, past and present, and excited for the future scientists who will shape what comes next.
If you enjoy a slow burn Eldritch horror I would recommend iron lung.
February 11, 2026 at 8:12 PM
If you enjoy a slow burn Eldritch horror I would recommend iron lung.
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
🌟The VCWAP community proudly celebrates and congratulates all women in science! 👩🏽🔬👩🏻🚀🔬✨
#womeninscience #celebration #international
#womeninscience #celebration #international
February 11, 2026 at 7:28 PM
🌟The VCWAP community proudly celebrates and congratulates all women in science! 👩🏽🔬👩🏻🚀🔬✨
#womeninscience #celebration #international
#womeninscience #celebration #international
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
Minimalist Microraptor
February 11, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Minimalist Microraptor
Chipping away at details ✍️
February 11, 2026 at 3:17 AM
Chipping away at details ✍️
Yes, I am slowly chipping away at the newest spiny weirdo. Environment is almost done, but I need to focus on finishing my grant proposal among other things.
February 10, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Yes, I am slowly chipping away at the newest spiny weirdo. Environment is almost done, but I need to focus on finishing my grant proposal among other things.
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
Paleontologists used to think that dino skin impressions required rapid burial, soon after death, to be preserved.
But now we know there’s not a single pathway to exceptional preservation, and desiccation often plays a role. Look at this chunk of hadrosaur tail, so dried the skin shrunk to bone. 🧪
But now we know there’s not a single pathway to exceptional preservation, and desiccation often plays a role. Look at this chunk of hadrosaur tail, so dried the skin shrunk to bone. 🧪
February 10, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Paleontologists used to think that dino skin impressions required rapid burial, soon after death, to be preserved.
But now we know there’s not a single pathway to exceptional preservation, and desiccation often plays a role. Look at this chunk of hadrosaur tail, so dried the skin shrunk to bone. 🧪
But now we know there’s not a single pathway to exceptional preservation, and desiccation often plays a role. Look at this chunk of hadrosaur tail, so dried the skin shrunk to bone. 🧪
A reminder that I will be speaking in the Women in Paleoart panel on February 11!
𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 - women in palaeo(art)
Annualy, on February 11th is "𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦" to raise awareness
that shaping a future where science and gender equality advance together has not been reached yet - by far.
Cont.
Annualy, on February 11th is "𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦" to raise awareness
that shaping a future where science and gender equality advance together has not been reached yet - by far.
Cont.
February 10, 2026 at 12:51 AM
A reminder that I will be speaking in the Women in Paleoart panel on February 11!
As a previous speaker at Dinocon, I am beyond delighted to hear this. Dinocon is taking necessary steps to keep this community safe. If you can, please support dinocon!
February 9, 2026 at 8:29 PM
As a previous speaker at Dinocon, I am beyond delighted to hear this. Dinocon is taking necessary steps to keep this community safe. If you can, please support dinocon!
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
Maybe a bit late for web timing, but ehy, NEW PAPER ON #fossilfriday!!!
I am proud to present you Haolong dongi gen. nov. sp. nov., a new hadrosauroid from the Early Cretaceous of China!
The specimen, almost complete, is a juvenile iguanodontian from the Yixian Formation of the Barremian (125 Mya).
I am proud to present you Haolong dongi gen. nov. sp. nov., a new hadrosauroid from the Early Cretaceous of China!
The specimen, almost complete, is a juvenile iguanodontian from the Yixian Formation of the Barremian (125 Mya).
February 6, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Maybe a bit late for web timing, but ehy, NEW PAPER ON #fossilfriday!!!
I am proud to present you Haolong dongi gen. nov. sp. nov., a new hadrosauroid from the Early Cretaceous of China!
The specimen, almost complete, is a juvenile iguanodontian from the Yixian Formation of the Barremian (125 Mya).
I am proud to present you Haolong dongi gen. nov. sp. nov., a new hadrosauroid from the Early Cretaceous of China!
The specimen, almost complete, is a juvenile iguanodontian from the Yixian Formation of the Barremian (125 Mya).
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
The new spiky iguanodontian #dinosaur #Haolong is really exciting, congrats to the team behind it. Thanks to Filippo Bertozzo and Pascal Godefroit for this help with this article... www.discoverwildlife.com/dinosaurs/ha... #Cretaceous #fossils #science #dinosaurs
Why this new 'spiny dragon' dinosaur found in China is such a huge deal | Discover Wildlife
The Iguanodon-like dinosaur had a covering of hollow spikes, according to new research.
www.discoverwildlife.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:17 PM
The new spiky iguanodontian #dinosaur #Haolong is really exciting, congrats to the team behind it. Thanks to Filippo Bertozzo and Pascal Godefroit for this help with this article... www.discoverwildlife.com/dinosaurs/ha... #Cretaceous #fossils #science #dinosaurs
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
The new iguanodont with novel skin coverings. In addition to the large scute-like scales on the tail, the body is covered with what the author's describe as "spikes". The largest ones are about 4 cm long but almost a cm thick, resembling short quills. The smaller ones are hair or eyelash-like.
February 9, 2026 at 12:04 AM
The new iguanodont with novel skin coverings. In addition to the large scute-like scales on the tail, the body is covered with what the author's describe as "spikes". The largest ones are about 4 cm long but almost a cm thick, resembling short quills. The smaller ones are hair or eyelash-like.
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
fantastic! we have a baby one that sometimes makes a cameo at events..
February 8, 2026 at 10:50 PM
fantastic! we have a baby one that sometimes makes a cameo at events..
Got to see the head of this mount back in december! Along with a few of the original bones!
February 8, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Got to see the head of this mount back in december! Along with a few of the original bones!
If I were to sell my artwork as stickers, which one would you be most willing to get? Keep in mind that i will probably remove the melanosome image from the Diplodocus one
February 8, 2026 at 9:26 PM
If I were to sell my artwork as stickers, which one would you be most willing to get? Keep in mind that i will probably remove the melanosome image from the Diplodocus one
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
February 7, 2026 at 3:29 AM
im going to have so much fun drawing this thing
February 7, 2026 at 1:02 AM
im going to have so much fun drawing this thing
So these structures may *look* like feathers/hair, but anatomically they are more similar to scales. Overall, a very welcome weirdo to the world of dinosaur skin (END🧵)
February 7, 2026 at 1:02 AM
So these structures may *look* like feathers/hair, but anatomically they are more similar to scales. Overall, a very welcome weirdo to the world of dinosaur skin (END🧵)
This is not the case for the spikes of Haolong. The spikes consist of layered cells, including a stratum corneum, stratum spinosum etc, with keratinocytes and visible nuclei. In other words, the spikes were living skin
February 7, 2026 at 1:01 AM
This is not the case for the spikes of Haolong. The spikes consist of layered cells, including a stratum corneum, stratum spinosum etc, with keratinocytes and visible nuclei. In other words, the spikes were living skin
Feathers and hair share a somewhat similar internal anatomy (emphasis on somewhat, there's a lot of variation out there). Both structures are made up of *dead cells*, which leave behind hollow vacuoles internally.
February 7, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Feathers and hair share a somewhat similar internal anatomy (emphasis on somewhat, there's a lot of variation out there). Both structures are made up of *dead cells*, which leave behind hollow vacuoles internally.
Mammals and birds have filaments (hair and feathers respectively) that gives them their fluffy look. This new iguanodontian also has structures that look like "filaments" from far away. HOWEVER, a closer look reveals they are very different structures
February 7, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Mammals and birds have filaments (hair and feathers respectively) that gives them their fluffy look. This new iguanodontian also has structures that look like "filaments" from far away. HOWEVER, a closer look reveals they are very different structures
happy #FossilFriday. It is very early in the year and I already have a favorite paper with the newly described Haolong. HOWEVER, this is *not* a feathered dinosaur! The structures on Haolong are very different from filaments. A 🧵
February 7, 2026 at 12:58 AM
happy #FossilFriday. It is very early in the year and I already have a favorite paper with the newly described Haolong. HOWEVER, this is *not* a feathered dinosaur! The structures on Haolong are very different from filaments. A 🧵
Reposted by Tess Gallagher
In light of today’s palaeo news, and whilst not claiming to be a visionary genius or anything (that’s for history to judge… 😉) I’m just gonna drop my illustration of a quilled and spiky iguanodon from back in 2021.
Sometimes you don’t need to be good. Just lucky.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Sometimes you don’t need to be good. Just lucky.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 6, 2026 at 5:56 PM
In light of today’s palaeo news, and whilst not claiming to be a visionary genius or anything (that’s for history to judge… 😉) I’m just gonna drop my illustration of a quilled and spiky iguanodon from back in 2021.
Sometimes you don’t need to be good. Just lucky.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Sometimes you don’t need to be good. Just lucky.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...