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Vitor Silva
@vitor-silva.bsky.social
1.3K followers 230 following 63 posts
Paleoartist. Illustrator and sculptor.
https://vitor_silva.artstation.com/

#SciArt #Paleoart
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vitor-silva.bsky.social
Smilodon populator, the classic saber-toothed tiger. Done in cold porcelain, 1:10 scale.

More pics: vitor_silva.artstation.com/projects/WXn...

#SciArt #Paleoart
November 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
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Edmontosaurus annectens is in the news, and it made me remember of this oldie (2016) work. Something unusual tried here that got more or less confirmed from the new mummies is how a midline crest starts at the neck, and near the hips starts to transition to spikes that cover the tail!
Edmontosaurus annectens sculpture showing a midline crest/frill that starts on the neck, and at the hips starts transitioning to feature scales/spikes that cover the tail. That transition was nothing too crazy to speculate back then, as the neck frill was reported in the "Trachodon" mummy, and there was an E. annectens tail preserving the feature scales. Yet, these details were rarely, if ever, combined in reconstructions, and it is always nice to see an unusual guess going in the right direction!
October 23, 2025 at 8:14 PM
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The Middle Miocene of Patagonia, Argentina. A warm environment with open areas, few trees, and covered by low vegetation.

A land full of exquisite animals, many living under the terror of the large predatory bird Kelenken.

Detail shots:
Kelenken Protypotherium and Peltephilus fight for the burrow. A Patagosmilus approaches from behind. A Theosodon herd feed while being stalked by Kelenken. A Neotamandua mother and its baby climb the tree. Astrapotherium group bathes in the lake. A Patagosmilus annoys a Neosteiromys.
October 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
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Patagonian Plains - Collón Curá Formation

New artwork for Tales from the Phanerozoic, a project by João Macêdo. Check out the Eocene chapter here, with the backstory of the scene and detailed information about its environment and creatures: sites.google.com/view/talesfr...

#SciArt #Paleoart
Patagonia, Argentina, during the Middle Miocene. A warm environment with open areas, few trees, and low vegetation. After the Age of Dinosaurs, the top of the food chain is once again occupied by a large terrestrial theropod: Kelenken, the largest of the "terror birds" (Phorusrhacidae). This nickname is no exaggeration: with a ~70 cm skull, sharp beak, standing over 2 meters tall, powerful claws, and legs suggesting high speed and agility for its size, it truly inspired fear in any potential prey. Two individuals appear, each separately surrounding a group of Theosodon, a macrauquenid that could reach 2 meters in length and ~1 meter at the shoulders. These camel-like mammals likely had a complex nasal structure resembling a trunk, but unable to grasp food (not a true proboscis, but a "prorhiscis", similar to moose, saigas, and sea lions). The herd feeds among Nothofagus trees, using the woods to try to evade the fast predatory birds. On the nearest tree, a mother Neotamandua hangs with her baby clinging to her back. In the lower right corner, small animals fight over a burrow. Two Protypotherium try to take over the hole dug by a horned armadillo, Peltephilus. It scares off several Panstrongylus bugs living inside, forcing them out. Focused on their dispute, they don’t see a predator creeping from behind: Patagosmilus, a saber-toothed marsupial. The notoungulates will flee in time while the armadillo will be attacked, but will escape after the first bite thanks to its armor. Another Patagosmilus appears on the other side, harassing the giant porcupine Neosteiromys. In the right corner, a group of Astrapotherium cools off in the water. These large mammals (~4 meters long) stand out with their tusks (larger in males) and a trunk likely used to gather food. Behind them, Podocarpaceae trees grow near the shore.
October 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
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Liopleurodon ferox, pliosaur that swam in European seas during the Middle and Late Jurassic.

Cold porcelain, 1:35 scale.

More photos: vitor_silva.artstation.com/projects/4NO...

#SciArt #Paleoart
September 4, 2025 at 2:40 PM
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A valley in Wyoming, USA, during the Eocene. The scene shows not only creatures known directly from the Bridger Formation, but also some "visitors" based on fossils from other nearby Formations of equivalent age to help visualizing the diverse fauna and flora of this time and place.

Detail shots:
A Tetheopsis, an Uintatherium pair and a Gastornis. A Sinopa looking up to a tree; a Saniwa drinks and rests on the shore; entering the forest, a Mesonyx follows a Orohippus herd. 2 Notharctus feed on a Sapindaceae tree leaves; on nearby branches of the same tree, a Zygodactylus pair tries to stop Titanomyrma ants to advance towards their nest. A Patriofelis catches a Chisternon turtle; erosion reveals a Torosaurus skull within the rocks of the lake shore.
August 3, 2025 at 3:59 PM
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Emerging Beasts - Bridger Formation

New artwork for Tales from the Phanerozoic, a project by João Macêdo. Check out the Eocene chapter here, with the backstory of the scene and detailed information about its environment and creatures: sites.google.com/view/talesfr...

#SciArt #Paleoart
A valley in Wyoming, USA, during the Eocene. The central figure is a "visitor", a large Tetheopsis, with a 90 cm skull and about 4 m in length. Known from the Washakie Formation, of near place and equivalent age, it may have passed through the Bridger Fm. Nearby, a pair of Uintatherium drink at the lake. These animals are slightly smaller, with 70 cm skulls and similar lengths. A Patriofelis, over 2.5 m long, comes from the water holding a prey, a Chisternon turtle. Also in the lake, a pair of small Aletornis birds capture mollusks. On the shore, a Saniwa lizard drinks and warms itself in the sun. In the upper left, a Vulpavus rests on a Lauraceae tree branch, unaware of the hyaenodont Sinopa watching it from below. Two female Notharctus, primates around 40 cm long (not counting the tail), feed on Sapindaceae tree leaves. Nearby in the same tree, a pair of Zygodactylus. birds try to stop Titanomyrma ants (3 cm workers) from reaching their nest. On the forest ground, a 2 m long Boavus slithers through the dry leaves. Near it, closer to the viewer, a wasp-mimicking bug, a Chimaeroblattina, flies. In the left corner background, the ungulate predator Mesonyx follows a herd of Orohippus, small equids. Also present is the large bird Gastornis, foraging for plants in the center, behind the lake. Though not directly from the Bridger Fm., its presence is inferred from the nearby Green River Fm., like the Zygodactylus, Titanomyrma, and Chimaeroblattina. Plants include sequoias, Sabalites palms and ferns on the forest floor, elements known from the rare flora fossils of the Bridger Fm. Again inspired by the Green River Fm., a more diverse angisperm forest is shown for this time and place, with trees like oak, cinnamon, and maple, the other mentioned Sapindaceae and Lauraceae, plus some cucurbits near the ground. Among the rocks on the lake shore, erosion reveals a glimpse to the past, a Torosaurus skull.
August 3, 2025 at 3:59 PM
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Atopodentatus unicus, a marine herbivore with a bizarre hammer-shaped snout. This basal sauropterygian lived during the Middle Triassic in what is now China.

Cold porcelain, 1:8 scale.
More photos: vitor_silva.artstation.com/projects/rly...

#SciArt #Paleoart
July 2, 2025 at 12:46 AM
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Detail shots:
Nanuqsaurus with Pachyrhinosaurus calf prey. Alaskacephale appear behind Pachyrhinosaurus herd VS young Nanuqsaurus A preening Alaskan Troodon. A Cimolodon duo is on the branch above An Ornithomimid herd, a burrowing Thescelosaurid and a wandering Therizinosaurid
June 3, 2025 at 12:12 PM
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Cold Cretaceous - Prince Creek Formation

New artwork for Tales from the Phanerozoic, a project by João Macêdo. Check out the Late Cretaceous chapter for detailed information about the environment and its creatures: sites.google.com/view/talesfr...

Click the Alt text for a looong image description.
Late Cretaceous in what is now Alaska, at the highest paleolatitude ever inhabited by dinosaurs. In a foggy, cold landscape under a prolonged night that lasts for months, the aurora borealis shines over a prehistoric ecosystem facing its harshest season. During winter, the average temperature could drop to 2 °C or lower, occasionally reaching even -10 °C for short periods. Snow could have been present, and is illustrated still at a relatively light amount and not fully covering the ground. Ferns and horsetails lie dormant underground in their rhizomes, while shrubs like Hollickia persist. The forest is composed of small deciduous conifers including Parataxodium. At the front, a classic dinosaur clash: an adult Nanuqsaurus and her two offspring attack a herd of Pachyrhinosaurus. The adult grabs a calf while the juveniles distract the herd. The theropods soon retreat, but the small reward from this hunt will belong only to the hungry mother. Startled by the chaos, the small mammal Unnuakomys flees its hiding place, only to be caught by a Saurornitholestes, who risks approaching the giants driven by its hunger. A Sikuomys stays still and safe at a tree base. On the oposite side, two Cimolodon watch from a branch a large Alaskan Troodon resting beneath them. More dinosaurs are present: a group of Alaskacephale runs through the center of the scene. A nearby Thescelosaurid clears out its burrow while looking at a shadowy figure among the trees - a Therizinosaurid, which presence is speculative. In the distance, several Ornithomimids search for food among the remaining conifer leaves. At the far left, a herd of Alaskan Edmontosaurus wander also after food. In the background, another speculative addition: a large Azhdarchid pterosaur walks near the hadrosaurs.
June 3, 2025 at 12:12 PM
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Sculpture in epoxy of Fercus, original character created by @freakyraptor.bsky.social as part of her animated series project School of Insanity (www.instagram.com/escola_da_in...).

More photos: vitor_silva.artstation.com/projects/mAO...
November 4, 2024 at 11:21 PM
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Hello! A Pinned post to introduce myself!

I am Vitor Silva, a paleoartist from Brazil. I work mainly with digital paintings and traditional sculptures, and will focus mostly on paleoart in this profile (with something different once in a while 😄)

My ArtStation gallery: vitor_silva.artstation.com
Daspletosaurus checking the nest temperature. Crato Formation. Tupandactylus feeding on Welwitschiostrobus, Lacusovagus flying afar. Santa Maria Formation: a Staurikosaurus pair, one of them has catched a Clevosaurus; a Dynamosuchus feeding on an Aetosauroides, and a Rauisuchus looking to steal the prey; groups of Exaeretodon, Hyperodapedon, Hyperodapedon and Ixalerpeton; a Saturnalia and a Trucidocynodon; flora is composed mostly of Dicroidium (long, palm-like trees), as well Ginkgoites trees, Podozamites (conifers), Cladophlebis (ferns), Neocalamites (large horsetails) and Taeniopteris (bramble-like plants far away). Parasaurolophus 1/30 scale sculpture.
October 21, 2024 at 8:03 PM
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So, a 100+ years paleontology mystery has been solved, and we now know the head of Arthropleura!

Here's an updated version of a previous illustration of the Carboniferous swamps of Scotland.

#SciArt #Paleoart
Carboniferous swamps: Arthropleura and Balanerpeton are over a fallen a log; On a tree, a Pulmonoscorpius catches a Westlothiana; A Crassigyrinus head and the Tristychius' fins are seen over the water surface; far away, a Hibbertopterus crawls out of the water; the forest is composed of the large trees Lepidodendron, Sigillaria, Calamites and Cordaites; smaller plants are the "seed fern" Medullosa and the horsetail Sphenophyllum.
October 16, 2024 at 9:09 PM
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Jeholopterus ningchengensis, an anurognathid pterosaur that lived in China during the Middle Jurassic.

Cold porcelain, 1:2 scale.

#SciArt #Paleoart
October 8, 2024 at 5:36 PM
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The finished work is a diorama piece:
September 14, 2024 at 12:26 AM
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Well, since we have videos now, here is an oldie from 2017 :)

#SciArt #Paleoart
September 14, 2024 at 12:23 AM
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Adding some detail shots here too.

Also, glad to see this site more alive than ever! I've been enjoying here more than Xwitter for a while, since before its fall in Brazil, though BlueSky was still missing people. Hopefully more and more new users will arrive and stay here from now on!
Kronosaurus Thapunngaka Platypterygius hunting a Pachyrhizodus school, with Australopachycormus, Cooyo and Mythunga interfering. Beudanticeras and Eromangasaurus
September 8, 2024 at 11:17 PM
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Agitated Seas - Toolebuc Formation

Detail shots and description: vitor_silva.artstation.com/projects/6Lb...

Artwork for Tales from the Phanerozoic, a project by João Macêdo. More info on the backstory of the scene, its environment and creatures: sites.google.com/view/talesfr...

#SciArt #Paleoart
- Summary of the featured animals: Kronosaurus hunting Eromangasaurus and Thapunngaka flying over; Platypterygius hunting a Pachyrhizodus school, with Australopachycormus, Cooyo and Mythunga interfering; Notochelonys, Richmondichthys and the amonites Myloceras and Beudanticeras swimming by; Inoceramus scattered through the seafloor and, finally, Muttaburrasaurus, Kunbarrasaurus and Nanantius on the shore.
September 8, 2024 at 11:11 PM
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Loooong description: vitor_silva.artstation.com/projects/rJk...

And some detail shots:
March 8, 2024 at 4:29 PM
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Jurassic, Golden Age - Tendaguru Formation

New artowork for Tales from the Phanerozoic, a project by João Macêdo about stories of the life on Earth. Check out the backstory of this scene and information about its environment and creatures here:
sites.google.com/view/talesfr...
March 8, 2024 at 4:28 PM
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Gerrothorax, a ~1 m long temnospondyl that lived from the Early to the Late Triassic where today are Germany, Sweden, Greenland, and Thailand.

1/5 scale model
More pics: vitor_silva.artstation.com/projects/58G...

#SciArt #Paleoart
December 4, 2023 at 2:57 PM
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This is the reworked version of the illustration, updating (among other details) Dunkleosteus and Titanichthys after Engelman (2023), making them shorter and stockier than before
Artwork for Tales from the Phanerozoic - check it for more details about the scene bit.ly/3sGGQa0

#SciArt #Paleoart 2/2
November 26, 2023 at 10:29 PM
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Life and Death in the Devonian - Cleveland Shale, Late Devonian (Famenian) where it would become Ohio, USA

A mother Titanichthys clarki, a big (~4 m) placoderm, gives birth while attracting unwanted attention. The water is full of predator interested both in the old giant and in the newborn (1/2)
An old Titanichthys clarki mother gives birth near the water surface. Attracted by the blood, 3 Cladoselache approach from the left, and a Gorgonichthys comes from the right, going towards the shark-like trio. A Dunkleosteus comes from the background, aiming for the mother, and further away 4 Titanichthys agassizi swim while filter feeding
November 26, 2023 at 10:28 PM
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Aegirocassis, who some people (myself included) like to call "whale-shrimp"

It is a giant (~2 m long) filter feeding radiodont known from the Lower Ordovician of Morocco

1/7 scale model
More pics: vitor_silva.artstation.com/projects/q9r...

#SciArt #Paleoart
November 18, 2023 at 11:38 AM
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Deinonychus, whose discovery, back in 1969, challenged the views of dinosaurs as sluggish, cold-blooded animals, and was crucial to understand their connection with birds.

#SciArt #Paleoart
November 6, 2023 at 2:24 PM