Let's go!

Today's stop and the rest of the week is Karlsruhe. Busy with such a quantity of fossils!

Messel here we go! 🦉

🦅✨ Yesterday at #26CEO, F. J. Serrano delivered a fascinating closing talk on the evolution of powered flight in birds. 🔍 How did flight shape avian diversification and help modern birds survive mass extinctions? 🧐 Exciting insights! #FlapEvolProject #Paleontology

🚀 #FlapEvolProject debuta en #26CEO con aportaciones de Costa-Pérez y un servidor, explorando la evolución del sinsacro en las aves 🦴🦢 y la disparidad morfológica del húmero en Enantiornithes. 🔍✨ Mañana, más sobre la evolución del vuelo con la conferencia de clausura de F. J. Serrano. 🦅🎤

9/ Today, let’s take a moment to admire the evolutionary journey of the cheetah—a species that epitomizes the delicate interplay between structure, function, and survival. Truly a marvel of nature. #InternationalCheetahDay

7/ Specialized elbow joint: The cheetah’s elbow limits lateral movement, ensuring a stable and efficient posture during sprinting—critical for maintaining speed and accuracy while chasing prey. However, it constrains the prey grappling.

6/ Long limbs and explosive musculature: Its elongated legs provide an extended stride, while semi-retractable claws ensure enhanced traction. Muscular adaptations allow for rapid acceleration and bursts of speed.

4/ Dorsiflexed brain shape: Despite being relatively small, the cheetah's brain is dorsiflexed and optimized for the control of quick, precise movements in open landscapes.

Image from Figueirido et al 2022.

3/ Developed cerebellum: Compared to other felids, its cerebellum is specially adapted to improve balance and coordination, essential for executing swift, agile maneuvers at high speeds.

2/ Specialized brain: The cheetah’s unique pattern of gyri and sulci enhances sensory processing and motor coordination, crucial for the rapid and precise movements required during hunts.

1/ The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is renowned for its unmatched speed. However, this isn’t just about long legs. Its entire anatomy and neurophysiology are fine-tuned for high-speed pursuits.

Since today is International Cheetah Day—and as it happens to be my favorite felid—I’ve decided to write this thread highlighting its remarkable adaptations. Let’s delve into the evolutionary marvels of the fastest land animal:

Hoy en Calle Málaga, Mijas. Los viandantes graban a un buitre leonado.

This was my last birding trip in Portugal, at a place I strongly recommend visiting if you love birdwatching: Quinta de Marim.

Located within the Ria Formosa Natural Park, this spot beautifully combines wetlands with pine forests on sandy soils.