Ruben Comitini
@rubencomitini.bsky.social
🎓 BSc in Natural Sciences in 🇮🇹
🎓 Ongoing MSc in Palaeontology in 🇫🇷
Palaeontology (dinos and other reptiles + fossil plants sometimes) | Clean tech and sustainability | Biodiversity and nature conservation | I'm gay 🏳️🌈 & love BL series 🏳️🌈🇹🇭 | K-pop & T-pop 🇰🇷🎸🇹🇭
🎓 Ongoing MSc in Palaeontology in 🇫🇷
Palaeontology (dinos and other reptiles + fossil plants sometimes) | Clean tech and sustainability | Biodiversity and nature conservation | I'm gay 🏳️🌈 & love BL series 🏳️🌈🇹🇭 | K-pop & T-pop 🇰🇷🎸🇹🇭
#FossilFriday: an ichnofossil - probably a crustacean burrow - from the Pliocene (the site is dated at 3.7-3.5 Ma) of the Cervo River "Canyon", Biella Province, Piedmont.
#ichnology #ichnofossil #tracefossil #invertebrate
#ichnology #ichnofossil #tracefossil #invertebrate
October 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
#FossilFriday: an ichnofossil - probably a crustacean burrow - from the Pliocene (the site is dated at 3.7-3.5 Ma) of the Cervo River "Canyon", Biella Province, Piedmont.
#ichnology #ichnofossil #tracefossil #invertebrate
#ichnology #ichnofossil #tracefossil #invertebrate
I haven't been posting for a while because I was moving to Lille, France to join a Master's Program in Palaeontology! Starting to live here has been tough, but I can't wait to start my studies...
August 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I haven't been posting for a while because I was moving to Lille, France to join a Master's Program in Palaeontology! Starting to live here has been tough, but I can't wait to start my studies...
In our most recent #fossil prospecting excursion we went to a #Carboniferous outcrop on the Little St. Bernard Pass (French-Italian border) together with french colleagues. What was once a coastal swamp covered by lush vegetation is now located at 2.2 km of altitude, surrounded by a scenic setting.
August 16, 2025 at 12:11 PM
In our most recent #fossil prospecting excursion we went to a #Carboniferous outcrop on the Little St. Bernard Pass (French-Italian border) together with french colleagues. What was once a coastal swamp covered by lush vegetation is now located at 2.2 km of altitude, surrounded by a scenic setting.
Today I'm observing multiple damselflies (Zygoptera) mating in my garden.
Very cool!
#insects #entomology
Very cool!
#insects #entomology
August 13, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Today I'm observing multiple damselflies (Zygoptera) mating in my garden.
Very cool!
#insects #entomology
Very cool!
#insects #entomology
#FossilFriday: a fragmentary leaf of a hackberry (Celtis, Cannabaceae) from the Pliocene of the Argille Azzurre Formation, found by me in Cuneo Province, Piedmont.
#paleobotany #fossil #Pliocene
#paleobotany #fossil #Pliocene
July 18, 2025 at 7:58 PM
#FossilFriday: a fragmentary leaf of a hackberry (Celtis, Cannabaceae) from the Pliocene of the Argille Azzurre Formation, found by me in Cuneo Province, Piedmont.
#paleobotany #fossil #Pliocene
#paleobotany #fossil #Pliocene
I have received my Bachelor's Degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Turin!
July 15, 2025 at 8:33 AM
I have received my Bachelor's Degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Turin!
#FossilFriday! Here is a picture of a fossil fruit of the aquatic angiosperm Trapa natans (a living species known as water caltrop or water chestnut - "castagna d'acqua" in Italian) that I have collected in Lower Pleistocene sediments (Gelasian, 2.4 Ma) in Biella Province, Piedmont.
July 11, 2025 at 10:55 AM
#FossilFriday! Here is a picture of a fossil fruit of the aquatic angiosperm Trapa natans (a living species known as water caltrop or water chestnut - "castagna d'acqua" in Italian) that I have collected in Lower Pleistocene sediments (Gelasian, 2.4 Ma) in Biella Province, Piedmont.
I recently bought "Uncovering dinosaur behavior" by @davehone.bsky.social (and illustrated magnificently by @serpenillus.bsky.social). And while I was there, I also bought "The tyrannosaur chronicles" which for some reason wasn't already in my library (as it should have). Both truly recommended!
July 9, 2025 at 8:24 AM
I recently bought "Uncovering dinosaur behavior" by @davehone.bsky.social (and illustrated magnificently by @serpenillus.bsky.social). And while I was there, I also bought "The tyrannosaur chronicles" which for some reason wasn't already in my library (as it should have). Both truly recommended!
REWILDING OUR GARDEN 🌿🌺🐝
To increase biodiversity in our garden we aren't just letting things grow... We're also creating a pond!
It's still work in progress ⛏️🌱
To increase biodiversity in our garden we aren't just letting things grow... We're also creating a pond!
It's still work in progress ⛏️🌱
May 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
REWILDING OUR GARDEN 🌿🌺🐝
To increase biodiversity in our garden we aren't just letting things grow... We're also creating a pond!
It's still work in progress ⛏️🌱
To increase biodiversity in our garden we aren't just letting things grow... We're also creating a pond!
It's still work in progress ⛏️🌱
The Park is also known for its rich flora, the most famous element of it being the hook pine (Pinus mugo subsp. uncinata), a comparatively rare conifer. Here is a monumental individual (with a very odd trunk shape), signaled by a panel, that says it is 96 years old and 15 m tall.
May 19, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The Park is also known for its rich flora, the most famous element of it being the hook pine (Pinus mugo subsp. uncinata), a comparatively rare conifer. Here is a monumental individual (with a very odd trunk shape), signaled by a panel, that says it is 96 years old and 15 m tall.
Among the things I was very pleased to see are abundant numbers of common frogs (Rana temporaria) in the Lake La Selva (1,803 m asl).
May 19, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Among the things I was very pleased to see are abundant numbers of common frogs (Rana temporaria) in the Lake La Selva (1,803 m asl).
Yesterday I visited a beautiful protected area near my house: the Mont Avic Natural Park (Aosta Valley, Italy). Instituted in 1989 and expanded twice in 2003 and 2023, it now covers 7,300 ha, bordering the Gran Paradiso National Park and with an altitude range between 1000 and 3185 m asl.
May 19, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Yesterday I visited a beautiful protected area near my house: the Mont Avic Natural Park (Aosta Valley, Italy). Instituted in 1989 and expanded twice in 2003 and 2023, it now covers 7,300 ha, bordering the Gran Paradiso National Park and with an altitude range between 1000 and 3185 m asl.
Leaving tomorrow for a road trip to Kraków, Poland! 🇵🇱
I'm planning to visit natural sites as well as historical ones during the few days I'll be there. Do you have any suggestion about geo-paleontological attractions in the area?
In the pictures, just an anticipation of things I hope to see.
I'm planning to visit natural sites as well as historical ones during the few days I'll be there. Do you have any suggestion about geo-paleontological attractions in the area?
In the pictures, just an anticipation of things I hope to see.
April 20, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Leaving tomorrow for a road trip to Kraków, Poland! 🇵🇱
I'm planning to visit natural sites as well as historical ones during the few days I'll be there. Do you have any suggestion about geo-paleontological attractions in the area?
In the pictures, just an anticipation of things I hope to see.
I'm planning to visit natural sites as well as historical ones during the few days I'll be there. Do you have any suggestion about geo-paleontological attractions in the area?
In the pictures, just an anticipation of things I hope to see.
For #StrataDay here are marine sediments from the Miocene of La Morra (Cuneo Province, Italy).
These are turbidites that include some fossiliferous lenses (not visible here) with mainly fossil plants and molluscs.
These are turbidites that include some fossiliferous lenses (not visible here) with mainly fossil plants and molluscs.
April 19, 2025 at 9:45 PM
For #StrataDay here are marine sediments from the Miocene of La Morra (Cuneo Province, Italy).
These are turbidites that include some fossiliferous lenses (not visible here) with mainly fossil plants and molluscs.
These are turbidites that include some fossiliferous lenses (not visible here) with mainly fossil plants and molluscs.
We are experiencing heavy rainfall (>150 mm in 6 hours in certain localities) and severe floodings here in Northern Piedmont. Motorways and railways are closed, as well as most bridges and many local roads. Had to go out to look for a second water pump.
April 17, 2025 at 10:07 AM
We are experiencing heavy rainfall (>150 mm in 6 hours in certain localities) and severe floodings here in Northern Piedmont. Motorways and railways are closed, as well as most bridges and many local roads. Had to go out to look for a second water pump.
For #MolluscMonday , here is a lymnaeid gastropod (the so-called pond snails).
April 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
For #MolluscMonday , here is a lymnaeid gastropod (the so-called pond snails).
Spent the morning looking for fossil fruits and seeds in Pliocene sediment samples for the "Palaeontological Monitoring" class with other students. Besides fruits and seeds, we also found other things, such as fungi, insects' coprolites and biting traces.
#paleobotany #ichnology
#paleobotany #ichnology
April 14, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Spent the morning looking for fossil fruits and seeds in Pliocene sediment samples for the "Palaeontological Monitoring" class with other students. Besides fruits and seeds, we also found other things, such as fungi, insects' coprolites and biting traces.
#paleobotany #ichnology
#paleobotany #ichnology
Traveling through the Apennines near the border between the regions of Piedmont, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. The thick fog didn't allow me to see much while we were driving through narrow and isolated mountain roads. Beautiful trees, though.
April 13, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Traveling through the Apennines near the border between the regions of Piedmont, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. The thick fog didn't allow me to see much while we were driving through narrow and isolated mountain roads. Beautiful trees, though.
Just went walking in Val Concei, Trentino (Italy). Tranquil place, and I see they've put "Bear Area" warning signs.
April 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Just went walking in Val Concei, Trentino (Italy). Tranquil place, and I see they've put "Bear Area" warning signs.
I was referring to this tweet by the US Secretary of Interior. It clearly says that this technology is the solution to conservation problems and that we shouldn't focus on "regulations" anymore.
April 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I was referring to this tweet by the US Secretary of Interior. It clearly says that this technology is the solution to conservation problems and that we shouldn't focus on "regulations" anymore.
Went on a trip in Biella Province on Sunday. Travelling on the "Panoramica Zegna" scenic road you can see a large part of the Western Po Valley and the arc made by the Western Alps around it. See alt text for a description of the large-scale geographic and geologic features identifiable from here.
April 2, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Went on a trip in Biella Province on Sunday. Travelling on the "Panoramica Zegna" scenic road you can see a large part of the Western Po Valley and the arc made by the Western Alps around it. See alt text for a description of the large-scale geographic and geologic features identifiable from here.
Wow, the new therizinosaur Duonychus... What a spectacular finding!
Read the paper here (it's OPEN ACCESS):
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
And here's the graphical abstract:
Read the paper here (it's OPEN ACCESS):
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
And here's the graphical abstract:
March 25, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Wow, the new therizinosaur Duonychus... What a spectacular finding!
Read the paper here (it's OPEN ACCESS):
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
And here's the graphical abstract:
Read the paper here (it's OPEN ACCESS):
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
And here's the graphical abstract:
Alpine ibexes or steinbocks (Capra ibex) in the wild. Seen yesterday in Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy.
This is the place where the last population (<100) survived when the species was on the brink of extinction in the XIX century. Now there are more than 50k individuals spread across the Alps.
This is the place where the last population (<100) survived when the species was on the brink of extinction in the XIX century. Now there are more than 50k individuals spread across the Alps.
March 24, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Alpine ibexes or steinbocks (Capra ibex) in the wild. Seen yesterday in Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy.
This is the place where the last population (<100) survived when the species was on the brink of extinction in the XIX century. Now there are more than 50k individuals spread across the Alps.
This is the place where the last population (<100) survived when the species was on the brink of extinction in the XIX century. Now there are more than 50k individuals spread across the Alps.
Seen from the car while travelling through the National Park...
March 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Seen from the car while travelling through the National Park...