Robert Boessenecker, Dr. of Whaleontology ™️
@coastalpaleo.bsky.social
Marine mammal paleontologist, artist, snorkeler, beachcomber, tidepool enthusiast. Blog: www.coastalpaleo.blogspot.com
My take, as a watercolorist and scientist - is that they could have finished the whole thing using watercolor, and a little bit of digital touchup in photoshop - in about 3-5 more hours of effort. I did this one in about three hours (with many breaks) for my #fossilexplainer book:
November 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
My take, as a watercolorist and scientist - is that they could have finished the whole thing using watercolor, and a little bit of digital touchup in photoshop - in about 3-5 more hours of effort. I did this one in about three hours (with many breaks) for my #fossilexplainer book:
#whalewednesday On our visit to the @nhm-london.bsky.social last week, @tetrameryx.bsky.social and I finally got to see "Hope" the blue whale! Quite a stunning display, though the hall is still absurdly large. I think they need to stick a second whale in there 👀
November 26, 2025 at 4:26 PM
#whalewednesday On our visit to the @nhm-london.bsky.social last week, @tetrameryx.bsky.social and I finally got to see "Hope" the blue whale! Quite a stunning display, though the hall is still absurdly large. I think they need to stick a second whale in there 👀
One of the incredible treasures we saw last week at the @nhm-london.bsky.social were some of Charles Darwin's actual pigeons - ones that factored into his formulation of Natural Selection, published in Origin of Species 166 years ago today. @tetrameryx.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 10:29 PM
One of the incredible treasures we saw last week at the @nhm-london.bsky.social were some of Charles Darwin's actual pigeons - ones that factored into his formulation of Natural Selection, published in Origin of Species 166 years ago today. @tetrameryx.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 7:47 PM
#fossilfriday Sarah stands in for scale against the surprisingly large skeleton of the Jurassic pliosaur Rhomaleosaurus cramptoni, on display in the "Mary Anning hall" at @nhm-london.bsky.social. This is a cast of the type, from the Whitby Mudstone of Yorkshire. @tetrameryx.bsky.social #2025SVP
November 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
#fossilfriday Sarah stands in for scale against the surprisingly large skeleton of the Jurassic pliosaur Rhomaleosaurus cramptoni, on display in the "Mary Anning hall" at @nhm-london.bsky.social. This is a cast of the type, from the Whitby Mudstone of Yorkshire. @tetrameryx.bsky.social #2025SVP
#fossilfriday This year at #2025svp I presented on these adorable little mandibles I discovered with @tetrameryx.bsky.social during some spring break fieldwork in Santa Cruz, CA - Pithanotaria, dwarf fur seal, 6-7 my, Purisima Formation
November 14, 2025 at 9:03 AM
#fossilfriday This year at #2025svp I presented on these adorable little mandibles I discovered with @tetrameryx.bsky.social during some spring break fieldwork in Santa Cruz, CA - Pithanotaria, dwarf fur seal, 6-7 my, Purisima Formation
The welcome reception a couple nights ago at #2025svp! On display in hr Lapworth Museum is a familiar "face" from our days at MSU & MOR, a cast of the Allosaurus "Big Al".
November 14, 2025 at 6:30 AM
The welcome reception a couple nights ago at #2025svp! On display in hr Lapworth Museum is a familiar "face" from our days at MSU & MOR, a cast of the Allosaurus "Big Al".
#fossilfriday An early fossil dolphin earbone (tympanic bulla) with the middle ear sinus just completely filled with little fecal pellets, revealed by acid preparation. From the Oligocene (26 myo) Pysht Formation of Washington. More on my blog: coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/11/acid...
November 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
#fossilfriday An early fossil dolphin earbone (tympanic bulla) with the middle ear sinus just completely filled with little fecal pellets, revealed by acid preparation. From the Oligocene (26 myo) Pysht Formation of Washington. More on my blog: coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/11/acid...
Just saw the new Prehistoric Planet trailer and you may have missed it, but this is, for me, the most important part.
Steller's sea cow finally brought back to life, at least on screen.
Steller's sea cow finally brought back to life, at least on screen.
November 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Just saw the new Prehistoric Planet trailer and you may have missed it, but this is, for me, the most important part.
Steller's sea cow finally brought back to life, at least on screen.
Steller's sea cow finally brought back to life, at least on screen.
Fossilized masses of little tiny egg-shaped poops keep showing up in surprising places - inside fish braincases, inside pulp cavities of whale and dolphin teeth, and now, within the middle ear sinus of an extinct dolphin. Who, uh, dealt these? coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/11/acid...
November 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Fossilized masses of little tiny egg-shaped poops keep showing up in surprising places - inside fish braincases, inside pulp cavities of whale and dolphin teeth, and now, within the middle ear sinus of an extinct dolphin. Who, uh, dealt these? coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/11/acid...
incredible
November 4, 2025 at 11:33 PM
incredible
I picked up my poster for #2025SVP and it looks SO NICE 🥰 I'm very excited! Hope to see you there - my poster session is on the first day (Wednesday) so please stop by, though I know many of us will be distracted by catching up with old friends! 🐬🦖
November 4, 2025 at 6:44 PM
I picked up my poster for #2025SVP and it looks SO NICE 🥰 I'm very excited! Hope to see you there - my poster session is on the first day (Wednesday) so please stop by, though I know many of us will be distracted by catching up with old friends! 🐬🦖
Still more sea lions... here was an adult female giving me some serious side eye 🤿🐬🦑
November 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Still more sea lions... here was an adult female giving me some serious side eye 🤿🐬🦑
New blog post: invertebrate fecal pellets discovered inside ~28 million year old dolphin earbones - revealed by acid preparation. Who dealt 'em? Really brings a whole new meaning to "that sounds like shit". 💩💩💩 Read it here: coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/11/acid...
November 3, 2025 at 6:49 PM
New blog post: invertebrate fecal pellets discovered inside ~28 million year old dolphin earbones - revealed by acid preparation. Who dealt 'em? Really brings a whole new meaning to "that sounds like shit". 💩💩💩 Read it here: coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/11/acid...
I have finally gotten back to work on drafting more #fossilexplainer comics for the book - I've been feeling like illustrating key taphonomic concepts. Here's nos. 63 and 64, on preservation bias - soft v. hard tissue preservation, and preservation as it relates to environment 🐡🦖🧪 #sciart
November 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
I have finally gotten back to work on drafting more #fossilexplainer comics for the book - I've been feeling like illustrating key taphonomic concepts. Here's nos. 63 and 64, on preservation bias - soft v. hard tissue preservation, and preservation as it relates to environment 🐡🦖🧪 #sciart
This year's Jack-o-lantern - Mesoamerican skull (Mayan skull carving with Aztec motifs). Accidentally ended up looking like cover art for Ixnay on the Hombre by the Offspring (not a bad thing)
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This year's Jack-o-lantern - Mesoamerican skull (Mayan skull carving with Aztec motifs). Accidentally ended up looking like cover art for Ixnay on the Hombre by the Offspring (not a bad thing)
#fossilfriday A braincase of a dwarf cetotheriid baleen whale, Herpetocetus, that nearly survived to the current day! This specimen is from the Falor Formation of Humboldt County, CA, and is early Pleistocene in age (~2.1-0.7 Ma) based on volcanic ash correlations. On display at Sierra College.
October 31, 2025 at 5:43 PM
#fossilfriday A braincase of a dwarf cetotheriid baleen whale, Herpetocetus, that nearly survived to the current day! This specimen is from the Falor Formation of Humboldt County, CA, and is early Pleistocene in age (~2.1-0.7 Ma) based on volcanic ash correlations. On display at Sierra College.
re-sharing this old meme for no reason today
October 30, 2025 at 6:19 PM
re-sharing this old meme for no reason today
Fossil fur seal bones with unusual circular punctures - not from sharks, but mammals. Is this a result of predation (or infanticide) by another pinniped? Or predation by a terrestrial carnivore? Read more about the fur seal fossil record here: coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
October 28, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Fossil fur seal bones with unusual circular punctures - not from sharks, but mammals. Is this a result of predation (or infanticide) by another pinniped? Or predation by a terrestrial carnivore? Read more about the fur seal fossil record here: coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
🦖🐬🧪An incredible "fossil brain" of a fossil fur seal (Thalassoleon macnallyae) from the Pliocene Purisima Formation near Santa Cruz. This incredible specimen preserves a cranial endocast with exquisite detail. Read more about fossil fur seals on my blog: coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
October 27, 2025 at 3:26 PM
🦖🐬🧪An incredible "fossil brain" of a fossil fur seal (Thalassoleon macnallyae) from the Pliocene Purisima Formation near Santa Cruz. This incredible specimen preserves a cranial endocast with exquisite detail. Read more about fossil fur seals on my blog: coastalpaleo.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
I remember many of my punk friends in the 90s had this as a pin or a patch somewhere
October 26, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I remember many of my punk friends in the 90s had this as a pin or a patch somewhere
Finally finished this #fossilexplainer comic I started back in June. No. 62 - marine invertebrate borings/traces
October 26, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Finally finished this #fossilexplainer comic I started back in June. No. 62 - marine invertebrate borings/traces