Nesslig
@nesslig20.bsky.social
Interests in Science. Biology in particular.
Left Social Democracy, World Citizen, Humanist, Egoistic Altruist, Optimistic Nihilist, Apistevist, and Pragmatist.
He/Him, They/Them
Left Social Democracy, World Citizen, Humanist, Egoistic Altruist, Optimistic Nihilist, Apistevist, and Pragmatist.
He/Him, They/Them
Evolution is not destiny.
As Gould argued, one could replay the tape of life and expect to see different results. The evolution of the pineal complex was not inevitable. What if vertebrates kept all four eyes, like most fictional creatures on Pandora (Avatar franchise)?
As Gould argued, one could replay the tape of life and expect to see different results. The evolution of the pineal complex was not inevitable. What if vertebrates kept all four eyes, like most fictional creatures on Pandora (Avatar franchise)?
February 12, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Evolution is not destiny.
As Gould argued, one could replay the tape of life and expect to see different results. The evolution of the pineal complex was not inevitable. What if vertebrates kept all four eyes, like most fictional creatures on Pandora (Avatar franchise)?
As Gould argued, one could replay the tape of life and expect to see different results. The evolution of the pineal complex was not inevitable. What if vertebrates kept all four eyes, like most fictional creatures on Pandora (Avatar franchise)?
Early vertebrates had FOUR eyes.
The two smaller eyes evolved into the pineal complex in later vertebrates. You also have this complex, but in all mammals, it only exhibit neuro-endocrine functions controlled by the day-night cycle.
NEWS: doi.org/10.1038/d415...
ARTICLE: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
The two smaller eyes evolved into the pineal complex in later vertebrates. You also have this complex, but in all mammals, it only exhibit neuro-endocrine functions controlled by the day-night cycle.
NEWS: doi.org/10.1038/d415...
ARTICLE: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
February 12, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Early vertebrates had FOUR eyes.
The two smaller eyes evolved into the pineal complex in later vertebrates. You also have this complex, but in all mammals, it only exhibit neuro-endocrine functions controlled by the day-night cycle.
NEWS: doi.org/10.1038/d415...
ARTICLE: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
The two smaller eyes evolved into the pineal complex in later vertebrates. You also have this complex, but in all mammals, it only exhibit neuro-endocrine functions controlled by the day-night cycle.
NEWS: doi.org/10.1038/d415...
ARTICLE: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
The oldest known lepidosaur and origins of lepidosaur feeding adaptations
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 13, 2025 at 7:19 PM
The oldest known lepidosaur and origins of lepidosaur feeding adaptations
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Spicomellus from middle Jurassic (168 – 165.3 million years ago), is now the oldest described Ankylosaur.
Ankylosaurs are famous for their defensive armor, with blunt tail-clubs. However, Spicomellus was instead very spiky all over it's body, likely for display.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Ankylosaurs are famous for their defensive armor, with blunt tail-clubs. However, Spicomellus was instead very spiky all over it's body, likely for display.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
August 29, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Spicomellus from middle Jurassic (168 – 165.3 million years ago), is now the oldest described Ankylosaur.
Ankylosaurs are famous for their defensive armor, with blunt tail-clubs. However, Spicomellus was instead very spiky all over it's body, likely for display.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Ankylosaurs are famous for their defensive armor, with blunt tail-clubs. However, Spicomellus was instead very spiky all over it's body, likely for display.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
A scene in South-America during the Middle Miocene (11-16 million years ago).
Purussaurus (a giant 4.8 meter long caiman)
feasting on a terror bird (large relatives to the seriemas).
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Purussaurus (a giant 4.8 meter long caiman)
feasting on a terror bird (large relatives to the seriemas).
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
August 29, 2025 at 8:05 PM
A scene in South-America during the Middle Miocene (11-16 million years ago).
Purussaurus (a giant 4.8 meter long caiman)
feasting on a terror bird (large relatives to the seriemas).
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Purussaurus (a giant 4.8 meter long caiman)
feasting on a terror bird (large relatives to the seriemas).
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
The emergence and demise of giant sloths
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
May 23, 2025 at 2:22 AM
The emergence and demise of giant sloths
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
New remarkably complete skeleton of Mixodectes reveals arboreality in a large Paleocene primatomorphan mammal following the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
March 12, 2025 at 1:05 AM
New remarkably complete skeleton of Mixodectes reveals arboreality in a large Paleocene primatomorphan mammal following the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A genome-based phylogeny for Mollusca is concordant with fossils and morphology
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
March 1, 2025 at 4:51 AM
A genome-based phylogeny for Mollusca is concordant with fossils and morphology
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The origin and early evolution of feathers: implications, uncertainties and future prospects
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
March 1, 2025 at 4:32 AM
The origin and early evolution of feathers: implications, uncertainties and future prospects
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
REVIEW: From organisms to biodiversity: the ecology of the #Ediacaran / #Cambrian transition
doi.org/10.1017/pab....
doi.org/10.1017/pab....
February 12, 2025 at 1:05 AM
REVIEW: From organisms to biodiversity: the ecology of the #Ediacaran / #Cambrian transition
doi.org/10.1017/pab....
doi.org/10.1017/pab....
Uncus dzaugisi - a new #Ediacaran fossil (560-550 Million years old) >12 Million years before the #Cambrian.
It's morphology suggests an affinity to #Ecdysozoa and possibly to nematodes specifically.
www.cell.com/cms/10.1016/...
It's morphology suggests an affinity to #Ecdysozoa and possibly to nematodes specifically.
www.cell.com/cms/10.1016/...
February 12, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Uncus dzaugisi - a new #Ediacaran fossil (560-550 Million years old) >12 Million years before the #Cambrian.
It's morphology suggests an affinity to #Ecdysozoa and possibly to nematodes specifically.
www.cell.com/cms/10.1016/...
It's morphology suggests an affinity to #Ecdysozoa and possibly to nematodes specifically.
www.cell.com/cms/10.1016/...
Cretaceous Antarctic bird skull elucidates early avian ecological diversity
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 7, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Cretaceous Antarctic bird skull elucidates early avian ecological diversity
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Complexity of avian evolution revealed by family-level genomes
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#evolution
#birds
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#evolution
#birds
January 28, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Complexity of avian evolution revealed by family-level genomes
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#evolution
#birds
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#evolution
#birds
Whence the birds: 200 years of dinosaurs, avian antecedents
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
January 23, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Whence the birds: 200 years of dinosaurs, avian antecedents
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Two New Silurian aculiferan fossils reveal complex early history of Mollusca
These 2 genera are named
"Punk ferox"
and
"Emo vorticaudum"
Don't know how I should feel about this.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
These 2 genera are named
"Punk ferox"
and
"Emo vorticaudum"
Don't know how I should feel about this.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Two New Silurian aculiferan fossils reveal complex early history of Mollusca
These 2 genera are named
"Punk ferox"
and
"Emo vorticaudum"
Don't know how I should feel about this.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
These 2 genera are named
"Punk ferox"
and
"Emo vorticaudum"
Don't know how I should feel about this.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I would also add this interesting paper, which suggests that since the diaphragm originates from cervical somites, the diaphragm is developmentally integrated with the cervicals. This could explain why mammals tend to have 7 neck vertebrae (with few exceptions).
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
January 15, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I would also add this interesting paper, which suggests that since the diaphragm originates from cervical somites, the diaphragm is developmentally integrated with the cervicals. This could explain why mammals tend to have 7 neck vertebrae (with few exceptions).
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
...after they came in South America during the Great American Biotic interchange (GABI) when the isthmus of panama formed.
This migration presented opportunities for many animals like our South American canines to adapt to new niches.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
8/FIN
This migration presented opportunities for many animals like our South American canines to adapt to new niches.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
8/FIN
January 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM
...after they came in South America during the Great American Biotic interchange (GABI) when the isthmus of panama formed.
This migration presented opportunities for many animals like our South American canines to adapt to new niches.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
8/FIN
This migration presented opportunities for many animals like our South American canines to adapt to new niches.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
8/FIN
How did they reach the islands? A study indicated that they diverged from an extinct mainland relative (Dusicyon avus) around 16,000 years ago, during the last Glacial Maximum. During this time, sea levels were much lower such that the island was separated by only 20 km.
doi.org/10.1038/ncom...
7/
doi.org/10.1038/ncom...
7/
January 15, 2025 at 10:01 PM
How did they reach the islands? A study indicated that they diverged from an extinct mainland relative (Dusicyon avus) around 16,000 years ago, during the last Glacial Maximum. During this time, sea levels were much lower such that the island was separated by only 20 km.
doi.org/10.1038/ncom...
7/
doi.org/10.1038/ncom...
7/
There was one species more closely related to the Maned wolf which became extinct in 1876: The Falkland Islands wolf or the warrah (Dusicyon australis)
As the name says, they lived on the Falkland islands. In fact they were the ONLY terrestrial mammal present, likely hunting penguins and seals.
5/
As the name says, they lived on the Falkland islands. In fact they were the ONLY terrestrial mammal present, likely hunting penguins and seals.
5/
January 15, 2025 at 9:49 PM
There was one species more closely related to the Maned wolf which became extinct in 1876: The Falkland Islands wolf or the warrah (Dusicyon australis)
As the name says, they lived on the Falkland islands. In fact they were the ONLY terrestrial mammal present, likely hunting penguins and seals.
5/
As the name says, they lived on the Falkland islands. In fact they were the ONLY terrestrial mammal present, likely hunting penguins and seals.
5/
Another one is the Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), which is surprisingly omnivorous (50% of it's diet is plant based)
Again, it isn't a 'wolf'. The wolf you know belongs to the group colored blue in the diagram shown before. The Bush dog is the closest living relative of the Maned wolf.
4/
Again, it isn't a 'wolf'. The wolf you know belongs to the group colored blue in the diagram shown before. The Bush dog is the closest living relative of the Maned wolf.
4/
January 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Another one is the Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), which is surprisingly omnivorous (50% of it's diet is plant based)
Again, it isn't a 'wolf'. The wolf you know belongs to the group colored blue in the diagram shown before. The Bush dog is the closest living relative of the Maned wolf.
4/
Again, it isn't a 'wolf'. The wolf you know belongs to the group colored blue in the diagram shown before. The Bush dog is the closest living relative of the Maned wolf.
4/
These include some odd balls. One of the is the Bush dog (Speothos venaticus). They have webbed feet that allow them to swim better than other canines, and they hunt large rodents, even Capybaras.
They are rather rarely spotted, first only known from fossils so it was believed they were extinct.
3/
They are rather rarely spotted, first only known from fossils so it was believed they were extinct.
3/
January 15, 2025 at 9:32 PM
These include some odd balls. One of the is the Bush dog (Speothos venaticus). They have webbed feet that allow them to swim better than other canines, and they hunt large rodents, even Capybaras.
They are rather rarely spotted, first only known from fossils so it was believed they were extinct.
3/
They are rather rarely spotted, first only known from fossils so it was believed they were extinct.
3/
...some foxes than other wolves (see the phylogenetic diagram). Basically a 'fox' is a small canine and a 'wolf' is a big one, and canines have gotten big a few times independently (one will see one example of that.
The ones colored green are the South American canines (subtribe Cerdocyonina).
/2
The ones colored green are the South American canines (subtribe Cerdocyonina).
/2
January 15, 2025 at 9:22 PM
...some foxes than other wolves (see the phylogenetic diagram). Basically a 'fox' is a small canine and a 'wolf' is a big one, and canines have gotten big a few times independently (one will see one example of that.
The ones colored green are the South American canines (subtribe Cerdocyonina).
/2
The ones colored green are the South American canines (subtribe Cerdocyonina).
/2
Canines are members of the subfamily 'Caninae'. One group of canines I would like to highlight here. Those that are native to South America.
The names 'fox' and 'wolf' are not phylogenetically consistent. For example foxes do not form one group, and some 'wolves' are more closely related to...
1/
The names 'fox' and 'wolf' are not phylogenetically consistent. For example foxes do not form one group, and some 'wolves' are more closely related to...
1/
January 15, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Canines are members of the subfamily 'Caninae'. One group of canines I would like to highlight here. Those that are native to South America.
The names 'fox' and 'wolf' are not phylogenetically consistent. For example foxes do not form one group, and some 'wolves' are more closely related to...
1/
The names 'fox' and 'wolf' are not phylogenetically consistent. For example foxes do not form one group, and some 'wolves' are more closely related to...
1/
Cursorial ecomorphology and temporal patterns in theropod dinosaur evolution during the mid-Cretaceous
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
January 15, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Cursorial ecomorphology and temporal patterns in theropod dinosaur evolution during the mid-Cretaceous
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...