@ahmedoussou.bsky.social
Reposted
Good coverage of illegal export of Middle Jurassic & other fossils from Morocco, featuring our friends & collaborators Kawtar Ech-charay & Driss Ouarhache. Kudos to George Blasing for doing the right thing & returning fossils he had purchased outside of Morocco.
fr.le360.ma/culture/ce-q...
fr.le360.ma/culture/ce-q...
Ce que le trafic illicite de fossiles dit d’un marché parallèle bien installé au Maroc
Le Maroc voit chaque année partir des milliers de fossiles. Arrachés à la roche, revendus sur le marché international, ils rejoignent les vitrines de collectionneurs étrangers. La vente récente d’osse...
fr.le360.ma
November 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Good coverage of illegal export of Middle Jurassic & other fossils from Morocco, featuring our friends & collaborators Kawtar Ech-charay & Driss Ouarhache. Kudos to George Blasing for doing the right thing & returning fossils he had purchased outside of Morocco.
fr.le360.ma/culture/ce-q...
fr.le360.ma/culture/ce-q...
Reposted
In Fes, Morocco, today with @tweetisaurus.bsky.social for a conference at USMBA organised by our collaborator Abdessalam El Khanchoufi on the challenges of protecting palaeontological and archaeological heritage.
October 13, 2025 at 10:01 AM
In Fes, Morocco, today with @tweetisaurus.bsky.social for a conference at USMBA organised by our collaborator Abdessalam El Khanchoufi on the challenges of protecting palaeontological and archaeological heritage.
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After we published the new specimen of #Spicomellus a few weeks ago, we were contacted by George Blasing, who said he'd bought some on the commercial market, and wanted to return it to Morocco. It arrived last week. Thanks George for doing the right thing in the name of science!
October 10, 2025 at 1:24 PM
After we published the new specimen of #Spicomellus a few weeks ago, we were contacted by George Blasing, who said he'd bought some on the commercial market, and wanted to return it to Morocco. It arrived last week. Thanks George for doing the right thing in the name of science!
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Last but not least from the NHM field trip to Morocco - we visited a lake which had dried up after its water dwindled away.
It's a sight that could become more common around the world as a result of climate change, but there are ways to turn things around 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/mor...
It's a sight that could become more common around the world as a result of climate change, but there are ways to turn things around 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/mor...
The Moroccan lake on the front line of the climate crisis | Natural History Museum
Lake Aoua dried up after the source of its water dwindled, but there are plans to restore the lake to its former glory.
www.nhm.ac.uk
September 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Last but not least from the NHM field trip to Morocco - we visited a lake which had dried up after its water dwindled away.
It's a sight that could become more common around the world as a result of climate change, but there are ways to turn things around 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/mor...
It's a sight that could become more common around the world as a result of climate change, but there are ways to turn things around 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/mor...
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Every year, an incredible array of dinosaurs are uncovered all over the world.
While some end up in public collections, others end up for sale to the highest bidder.
Join us as we dig a bit deeper into the debate over the commercial fossil trade (1/6) 🧵
While some end up in public collections, others end up for sale to the highest bidder.
Join us as we dig a bit deeper into the debate over the commercial fossil trade (1/6) 🧵
September 3, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Every year, an incredible array of dinosaurs are uncovered all over the world.
While some end up in public collections, others end up for sale to the highest bidder.
Join us as we dig a bit deeper into the debate over the commercial fossil trade (1/6) 🧵
While some end up in public collections, others end up for sale to the highest bidder.
Join us as we dig a bit deeper into the debate over the commercial fossil trade (1/6) 🧵
Reposted
This is how much Spicomellus changed in the last four years: 2021 reconstruction by Joschua Knüppe on left based on single rib known then; 2025 reconstruction by Matt Dempsey based on new material on right.
My guess: when we get articulated material it's going to prove to be even weirder.
My guess: when we get articulated material it's going to prove to be even weirder.
August 31, 2025 at 7:53 PM
This is how much Spicomellus changed in the last four years: 2021 reconstruction by Joschua Knüppe on left based on single rib known then; 2025 reconstruction by Matt Dempsey based on new material on right.
My guess: when we get articulated material it's going to prove to be even weirder.
My guess: when we get articulated material it's going to prove to be even weirder.
Reposted
Congratulations @tweetisaurus.bsky.social on bringing Spicomellus afer to the world! Susie’s article is now out in Nature 👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also, www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Also, www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Punk rock' dinosaur with metre-long spikes discovered
The animal has come as a surprise to experts, who now have to rethink how these armoured dinosaurs evolved
www.bbc.co.uk
August 30, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Congratulations @tweetisaurus.bsky.social on bringing Spicomellus afer to the world! Susie’s article is now out in Nature 👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also, www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Also, www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted
For #FossilFriday some more images from the discovery & study of the new Spicomellus skeleton. An amazingly fun project with great people.
August 29, 2025 at 6:26 AM
For #FossilFriday some more images from the discovery & study of the new Spicomellus skeleton. An amazingly fun project with great people.
Reposted
Would you want to go on a dinosaur dig?
Our scientists have recently been working in Morocco to find out more about the country's fascinating dinosaurs - and we’ve got the inside story just for you!
Find out how they uncovered some of the strangest-ever dinosaur fossils 🧵 (1/5)
Our scientists have recently been working in Morocco to find out more about the country's fascinating dinosaurs - and we’ve got the inside story just for you!
Find out how they uncovered some of the strangest-ever dinosaur fossils 🧵 (1/5)
August 29, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Would you want to go on a dinosaur dig?
Our scientists have recently been working in Morocco to find out more about the country's fascinating dinosaurs - and we’ve got the inside story just for you!
Find out how they uncovered some of the strangest-ever dinosaur fossils 🧵 (1/5)
Our scientists have recently been working in Morocco to find out more about the country's fascinating dinosaurs - and we’ve got the inside story just for you!
Find out how they uncovered some of the strangest-ever dinosaur fossils 🧵 (1/5)
Reposted
More on Spicomellus, the weird wacky spiky punk-rock porcupine of a dinosaur, from the mad minds of @tweetisaurus.bsky.social & @richardjbutler.bsky.social
Crazier than any of those hybrids we had in Jurassic World: Rebirth?
My thoughts for @nbcnews.com
www.nbcnews.com/science/scie...
Crazier than any of those hybrids we had in Jurassic World: Rebirth?
My thoughts for @nbcnews.com
www.nbcnews.com/science/scie...
Spikes, a tail weapon and a shield: Was this the world's weirdest dinosaur?
The Spicomellus is “totally unlike anything else that we have ever seen,” said a co-lead of a study on the dinosaur, which lived some 165 million years ago.
www.nbcnews.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:39 PM
More on Spicomellus, the weird wacky spiky punk-rock porcupine of a dinosaur, from the mad minds of @tweetisaurus.bsky.social & @richardjbutler.bsky.social
Crazier than any of those hybrids we had in Jurassic World: Rebirth?
My thoughts for @nbcnews.com
www.nbcnews.com/science/scie...
Crazier than any of those hybrids we had in Jurassic World: Rebirth?
My thoughts for @nbcnews.com
www.nbcnews.com/science/scie...
Reposted
It's a journey that wouldn't have been possible without help of many people in Morocco, not least Professor Driss Ouarhache.
His knowledge of the region's geology helped to track down the bones to the mudstone slopes of the Middle Atlas, revealing a dinosaur hotspot in the process. (2/4)
His knowledge of the region's geology helped to track down the bones to the mudstone slopes of the Middle Atlas, revealing a dinosaur hotspot in the process. (2/4)
August 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM
It's a journey that wouldn't have been possible without help of many people in Morocco, not least Professor Driss Ouarhache.
His knowledge of the region's geology helped to track down the bones to the mudstone slopes of the Middle Atlas, revealing a dinosaur hotspot in the process. (2/4)
His knowledge of the region's geology helped to track down the bones to the mudstone slopes of the Middle Atlas, revealing a dinosaur hotspot in the process. (2/4)
Reposted
Out today in Nature is the most exciting dinosaur paper I've ever been involved in - led by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social we describe a partial skeleton of the UTTERLY BIZARRE Spicomellus from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco, the oldest known ankylosaur. (1/x)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Out today in Nature is the most exciting dinosaur paper I've ever been involved in - led by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social we describe a partial skeleton of the UTTERLY BIZARRE Spicomellus from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco, the oldest known ankylosaur. (1/x)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted
If you like the new specimen of #Spicomellus, check out this film of us excavating the specimen, by Ben Webber at the @nhm-london.bsky.social youtu.be/TEeCFl0MJ0A?...
New dinosaur is unlike anything we've ever found | Unique armoured dinosaur discovered in Morocco
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
youtu.be
August 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
If you like the new specimen of #Spicomellus, check out this film of us excavating the specimen, by Ben Webber at the @nhm-london.bsky.social youtu.be/TEeCFl0MJ0A?...
Reposted
It also highlights the incredible significance of Moroccan palaeontology. A very sad part of this story is that Spicomellus fossils - very likely parts of exactly the same skeleton that we describe - are for sale having been illegally poached & smuggled. I hope these find their way back to Morocco.
August 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
It also highlights the incredible significance of Moroccan palaeontology. A very sad part of this story is that Spicomellus fossils - very likely parts of exactly the same skeleton that we describe - are for sale having been illegally poached & smuggled. I hope these find their way back to Morocco.
Reposted
Have you ever heard of #Spicomellus?
It’s one of the world’s strangest dinosaurs. Its rib bone has spikes fused to it - something unheard of in any other animal!
But now, more of the skeleton has been uncovered - and it's even stranger than anyone imagined... (1/4) 🧵
It’s one of the world’s strangest dinosaurs. Its rib bone has spikes fused to it - something unheard of in any other animal!
But now, more of the skeleton has been uncovered - and it's even stranger than anyone imagined... (1/4) 🧵
August 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Have you ever heard of #Spicomellus?
It’s one of the world’s strangest dinosaurs. Its rib bone has spikes fused to it - something unheard of in any other animal!
But now, more of the skeleton has been uncovered - and it's even stranger than anyone imagined... (1/4) 🧵
It’s one of the world’s strangest dinosaurs. Its rib bone has spikes fused to it - something unheard of in any other animal!
But now, more of the skeleton has been uncovered - and it's even stranger than anyone imagined... (1/4) 🧵
Reposted
Hi all, me, @richardjbutler.bsky.social and the amazing UK-US-Moroccan team are delighted to announce that.. we have a new specimen of Spicomellus AND IT'S WAY WEIRDER AND WAY COOLER THAN WE EVER IMAGINED!!
August 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Hi all, me, @richardjbutler.bsky.social and the amazing UK-US-Moroccan team are delighted to announce that.. we have a new specimen of Spicomellus AND IT'S WAY WEIRDER AND WAY COOLER THAN WE EVER IMAGINED!!
Reposted
Reposted
Really pleased to see this paper out! Our exciting Middle Jurassic Moroccan site now has a steg, ank, cerapodan ornithischian and turiasaurian sauropod, some of which are the oldest of their clades. And there's more cool stuff to come, folks!
This is one I'm really excited about! A few years back, I was fortunate enough to join an expedition to Morocco led by @tweetisaurus.bsky.social and @Palaeo_Bham. We were in Morocco hunting for other things, but these three teeth were found, & I *vividly* remember holding them and going "Holy sh#t!"
August 7, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Really pleased to see this paper out! Our exciting Middle Jurassic Moroccan site now has a steg, ank, cerapodan ornithischian and turiasaurian sauropod, some of which are the oldest of their clades. And there's more cool stuff to come, folks!
Reposted
Oh no! 🖤
Remembering Dr Tony Thulborn (1944–2025) - a pioneer in Australian palaeontology and a leading figure in the study of dinosaur tracks.
We are saddened to share the news that Dr Richard Anthony ‘Tony’ Thulborn passed away suddenly on 22 July 2025.
We are saddened to share the news that Dr Richard Anthony ‘Tony’ Thulborn passed away suddenly on 22 July 2025.
July 24, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Oh no! 🖤
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Reconstructing dinosaur locomotion. Read the #BiologyLetters review: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... #palaeontology #biomechanics
May 14, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reconstructing dinosaur locomotion. Read the #BiologyLetters review: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... #palaeontology #biomechanics
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Sorry for self promotion. But @tweetisaurus.bsky.social & me just published an article that might be of interest 🙂 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
New frontiers in dinosaur exploration | Biology Letters
Two hundred years after the naming of the first dinosaur, taxonomic studies remain
an important component of dinosaur research. Around 50 new dinosaurs are named each
year and are discovered from acro...
royalsocietypublishing.org
May 15, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Sorry for self promotion. But @tweetisaurus.bsky.social & me just published an article that might be of interest 🙂 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
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A new study by Smyth and colleagues identifies pterosaur trackmakers and shows that several lineages of Jurassic and Cretaceous pterosaurs independently evolved to thrive in terrestrial ecosystems, foraging on foot rather than on the wing!
www.cell.com/current-biol...
#paleontology #science 🧪
www.cell.com/current-biol...
#paleontology #science 🧪
Identifying pterosaur trackmakers provides critical insights into mid-Mesozoic ground invasion
Smyth et al. show that pterosaur footprints can be assigned to specific groups using
diagnostic traits shared with body fossils. Tracks correspond to clades predicted
as the most terrestrially capable...
www.cell.com
May 1, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A new study by Smyth and colleagues identifies pterosaur trackmakers and shows that several lineages of Jurassic and Cretaceous pterosaurs independently evolved to thrive in terrestrial ecosystems, foraging on foot rather than on the wing!
www.cell.com/current-biol...
#paleontology #science 🧪
www.cell.com/current-biol...
#paleontology #science 🧪
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📘 If you're into geology, natural heritage, and protecting unique landscapes — this book is for you!
Book edited by Reynard & Brilha is a comprehensive guide to identifying, assessing, and conserving geoheritage sites
🌍📚
#Geoheritage #NatureConservation #AcademicBooks
Book edited by Reynard & Brilha is a comprehensive guide to identifying, assessing, and conserving geoheritage sites
🌍📚
#Geoheritage #NatureConservation #AcademicBooks
April 10, 2025 at 6:40 AM
📘 If you're into geology, natural heritage, and protecting unique landscapes — this book is for you!
Book edited by Reynard & Brilha is a comprehensive guide to identifying, assessing, and conserving geoheritage sites
🌍📚
#Geoheritage #NatureConservation #AcademicBooks
Book edited by Reynard & Brilha is a comprehensive guide to identifying, assessing, and conserving geoheritage sites
🌍📚
#Geoheritage #NatureConservation #AcademicBooks
Reposted
Paper out today in which we describe the world's oldest cerapodan dinosaur specimen. Morocco's El Mers 3 Fm might be the world's most important Middle Jurassic terrestrial ecosystem
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
The world’s oldest cerapodan ornithischian dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco | Royal Society Open Science
The cerapodan dinosaurs were an ornithischian clade that achieved a global distribution in the Cretaceous Period. The ichnological record suggests that these dinosaurs had evolved by the Middle Jurassic, but only a single cerapodan body fossil, an ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
March 12, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Paper out today in which we describe the world's oldest cerapodan dinosaur specimen. Morocco's El Mers 3 Fm might be the world's most important Middle Jurassic terrestrial ecosystem
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...