Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
@zoojlinnsoc.bsky.social
An international Zoological journal covering systematic & evolutionary research from species both alive and extinct 🐆🦋🪲🦇🦕
Homepage: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean
Blog: https://www.linnean.org/news/categories/the-paper-trail
Homepage: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean
Blog: https://www.linnean.org/news/categories/the-paper-trail
Why crayfish, what big antennae you have!
Crayfish rely heavily on chemical & mechanical senses, using their antennae & antennules to do so. Here, 1526 specimens from 93 species were studied, finding cave-dwelling species had longer antennae! 🌍 🧪 🦐
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Crayfish rely heavily on chemical & mechanical senses, using their antennae & antennules to do so. Here, 1526 specimens from 93 species were studied, finding cave-dwelling species had longer antennae! 🌍 🧪 🦐
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
November 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Why crayfish, what big antennae you have!
Crayfish rely heavily on chemical & mechanical senses, using their antennae & antennules to do so. Here, 1526 specimens from 93 species were studied, finding cave-dwelling species had longer antennae! 🌍 🧪 🦐
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Crayfish rely heavily on chemical & mechanical senses, using their antennae & antennules to do so. Here, 1526 specimens from 93 species were studied, finding cave-dwelling species had longer antennae! 🌍 🧪 🦐
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Dung, dung, dungggg!
Aphodiini (dung beetles) are important decomposers & comprise ~2,200 species, yet are still a bit of a mystery. Here, their molecular phylogeny is reconstructed to explore the evolutionary history of their nesting behaviour & body size! 🧪 🌍 💩
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Aphodiini (dung beetles) are important decomposers & comprise ~2,200 species, yet are still a bit of a mystery. Here, their molecular phylogeny is reconstructed to explore the evolutionary history of their nesting behaviour & body size! 🧪 🌍 💩
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Dung, dung, dungggg!
Aphodiini (dung beetles) are important decomposers & comprise ~2,200 species, yet are still a bit of a mystery. Here, their molecular phylogeny is reconstructed to explore the evolutionary history of their nesting behaviour & body size! 🧪 🌍 💩
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Aphodiini (dung beetles) are important decomposers & comprise ~2,200 species, yet are still a bit of a mystery. Here, their molecular phylogeny is reconstructed to explore the evolutionary history of their nesting behaviour & body size! 🧪 🌍 💩
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
It's #WombatDay! Famed for their cubed poop, these guys have surprisingly similar forelimb myology to koalas...helping to unravel their evolutionary past! Read about it below 👇🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
It's #WombatDay! Famed for their cubed poop, these guys have surprisingly similar forelimb myology to koalas...helping to unravel their evolutionary past! Read about it below 👇🌍🧪
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
Are you a PhD student ready to publish a paper? Submit your research to our journal today & enter one of our new journal prizes, celebrating PhD student work in #Biology! 🧪🌍👇
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/p...
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/p...
September 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Are you a PhD student ready to publish a paper? Submit your research to our journal today & enter one of our new journal prizes, celebrating PhD student work in #Biology! 🧪🌍👇
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/p...
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/p...
It's a match!
An ornithological mystery 180 years in the making has finally been solved, as the skin of the final (reliably known) female Great Auk has been recovered from the Natural History Museum of Cincinnati! 🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
#FossilFriday! #MAFSUK
An ornithological mystery 180 years in the making has finally been solved, as the skin of the final (reliably known) female Great Auk has been recovered from the Natural History Museum of Cincinnati! 🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
#FossilFriday! #MAFSUK
September 26, 2025 at 7:01 AM
It's a match!
An ornithological mystery 180 years in the making has finally been solved, as the skin of the final (reliably known) female Great Auk has been recovered from the Natural History Museum of Cincinnati! 🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
#FossilFriday! #MAFSUK
An ornithological mystery 180 years in the making has finally been solved, as the skin of the final (reliably known) female Great Auk has been recovered from the Natural History Museum of Cincinnati! 🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
#FossilFriday! #MAFSUK
As a Learned Society, our journals provide vital income that funds our charitable endeavours and community engagement. By reviewing for us, you give back to our community and contribute to our mission of creating a world where nature is understood, valued, and protected. (2/2)
September 17, 2025 at 9:01 AM
As a Learned Society, our journals provide vital income that funds our charitable endeavours and community engagement. By reviewing for us, you give back to our community and contribute to our mission of creating a world where nature is understood, valued, and protected. (2/2)
The rise of [the] beetles (Coleoptera) represents one of the most remarkable musical periods...I mean phenomena in the history of life: from membranous forewings to hardened elytra, they learned how to conquer wood-related niches, aiding in their success! But how and why? 🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
August 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
The rise of [the] beetles (Coleoptera) represents one of the most remarkable musical periods...I mean phenomena in the history of life: from membranous forewings to hardened elytra, they learned how to conquer wood-related niches, aiding in their success! But how and why? 🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Body shape, a key trait in fish (they'd do wonders on Hinge), varies between geographic regions & sexes, reflecting adaptations to local environments. Here, body-shape variation among 3-spine sticklebacks was studied, revealing shape was mostly affected by sexual dimorphism! How? (1/2) 🧪🌍
August 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Body shape, a key trait in fish (they'd do wonders on Hinge), varies between geographic regions & sexes, reflecting adaptations to local environments. Here, body-shape variation among 3-spine sticklebacks was studied, revealing shape was mostly affected by sexual dimorphism! How? (1/2) 🧪🌍
Dyrosauridae are one of few large marine vertebrate clades to survive the K-Pg extinction, yet their early Cretaceous diversification is still poorly understood. Here, a new specimen from Angola is described & distinguished from known taxa, being placed in Hyposaurinae! 🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
August 21, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Dyrosauridae are one of few large marine vertebrate clades to survive the K-Pg extinction, yet their early Cretaceous diversification is still poorly understood. Here, a new specimen from Angola is described & distinguished from known taxa, being placed in Hyposaurinae! 🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING (about this before now)...a new stem group of sphenisciforms (ancestral penguins) from Paleocene NZ, with 4 new genera & species has been described, showing previously unknown features of early penguins!
Smile and wave boys, smile and wave...🌍 🧪 🐧
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Smile and wave boys, smile and wave...🌍 🧪 🐧
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
August 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING (about this before now)...a new stem group of sphenisciforms (ancestral penguins) from Paleocene NZ, with 4 new genera & species has been described, showing previously unknown features of early penguins!
Smile and wave boys, smile and wave...🌍 🧪 🐧
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Smile and wave boys, smile and wave...🌍 🧪 🐧
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
As for their function? Strong evidence was found for longer & more numerous whiskers on invertivorous species & those foraging in the air, suggesting they assist prey capture. What's more, species living in dense habitats had longer whiskers, pointing to a role in sensory navigation! (5/6)
August 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
As for their function? Strong evidence was found for longer & more numerous whiskers on invertivorous species & those foraging in the air, suggesting they assist prey capture. What's more, species living in dense habitats had longer whiskers, pointing to a role in sensory navigation! (5/6)
Interestingly, whilst there was significance in the number of whiskers at both genus & family level, this was only true at genus level for the length of whiskers, suggesting they have evolved only recently & independently among families! (4/6)
August 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Interestingly, whilst there was significance in the number of whiskers at both genus & family level, this was only true at genus level for the length of whiskers, suggesting they have evolved only recently & independently among families! (4/6)
Using phylogenetics, Prof Piotr Minias and co took it upon themselves to investigate their functional evolution in Old World passerines, the largest order of birds with high phylogenetic diversity. But what were they looking for? (2/6)
August 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Using phylogenetics, Prof Piotr Minias and co took it upon themselves to investigate their functional evolution in Old World passerines, the largest order of birds with high phylogenetic diversity. But what were they looking for? (2/6)
How many hippos did Sicily home? Using a jaw from Amoroso Cave, morphological comparisons revealed the presence of at least 2 taxa! Further research can help uncover the palaeobiology & environment of Pleistocene Sicily...🌍🧪🦛
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
July 30, 2025 at 10:01 AM
How many hippos did Sicily home? Using a jaw from Amoroso Cave, morphological comparisons revealed the presence of at least 2 taxa! Further research can help uncover the palaeobiology & environment of Pleistocene Sicily...🌍🧪🦛
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
What's more, another specimen found in the stomach of a sperm whale from the Antarctic was not found to fit into any Oegopsid family, described here as a new species: Mobydickia poseidonii! I wonder if you can guess the inspiration...(2/2) 🐋🦑🧪
@linneansociety.bsky.social
@cefafalopodo.bsky.social
@linneansociety.bsky.social
@cefafalopodo.bsky.social
July 28, 2025 at 9:01 AM
What's more, another specimen found in the stomach of a sperm whale from the Antarctic was not found to fit into any Oegopsid family, described here as a new species: Mobydickia poseidonii! I wonder if you can guess the inspiration...(2/2) 🐋🦑🧪
@linneansociety.bsky.social
@cefafalopodo.bsky.social
@linneansociety.bsky.social
@cefafalopodo.bsky.social
Cryptic biodiversity challenges assessments of global biodiversity & ecosystem health, including in the ocean. Here, morphology & DNA of Ancistrocheirus lesueurii was studied, revealing ~6 cryptic species! You've gotta be squidding me...🌍🧪🦑 (1/2)
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
July 28, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Cryptic biodiversity challenges assessments of global biodiversity & ecosystem health, including in the ocean. Here, morphology & DNA of Ancistrocheirus lesueurii was studied, revealing ~6 cryptic species! You've gotta be squidding me...🌍🧪🦑 (1/2)
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
A new genus of heptaperid catfish from Colombia, forgotten like your typical middle child, is described here using samples from the Magdalena basin & ichthyological collections. Using molecular analysis, 4 new endemic species are identified! Another catfish-tery solved...🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
July 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A new genus of heptaperid catfish from Colombia, forgotten like your typical middle child, is described here using samples from the Magdalena basin & ichthyological collections. Using molecular analysis, 4 new endemic species are identified! Another catfish-tery solved...🌍🧪👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Leafhoppers, those tiny jumpy insects inhabiting the Old World tropics, are good models for understanding biogeographic forces shaping this region. Here, phylogenetics helped identify the origin of the Roxasella lineage as mainland SE Asia & describe 12 new species! 🧪🌍👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
July 23, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Leafhoppers, those tiny jumpy insects inhabiting the Old World tropics, are good models for understanding biogeographic forces shaping this region. Here, phylogenetics helped identify the origin of the Roxasella lineage as mainland SE Asia & describe 12 new species! 🧪🌍👇
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
doi.org/10.1093/zool...
Froget it's Monday by learning about subtropical Proceratophrys frogs! Found in the Araucaria Forest, DNA evidence suggests their diversity is the result of marine transgression, highlighting the role of climate in diversification!
A ribbiting read 👇🐸🌍🧪
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
A ribbiting read 👇🐸🌍🧪
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
July 21, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Froget it's Monday by learning about subtropical Proceratophrys frogs! Found in the Araucaria Forest, DNA evidence suggests their diversity is the result of marine transgression, highlighting the role of climate in diversification!
A ribbiting read 👇🐸🌍🧪
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
A ribbiting read 👇🐸🌍🧪
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
Titanosaur-sum discovery! Well-preserved tracks of Nemegt sauropods from S Mongolia have revealed novel insights into soft tissue anatomy & function, including scales that may have helped with scratch digging on sandy surfaces! 🧪🌍🦕
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
July 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Titanosaur-sum discovery! Well-preserved tracks of Nemegt sauropods from S Mongolia have revealed novel insights into soft tissue anatomy & function, including scales that may have helped with scratch digging on sandy surfaces! 🧪🌍🦕
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
@linneansociety.bsky.social
Don't froget it's #WorldBiodiversityDay today, and over at the LinnSoc we're highlighting our semi-aquatic cousins...🌍🧪🐸
May 22, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Don't froget it's #WorldBiodiversityDay today, and over at the LinnSoc we're highlighting our semi-aquatic cousins...🌍🧪🐸
Barn owls have long tarsometatarsus bones enabling swift flight in dense environments, perfect for hunting rodents. However, other species have a shorter tarsometatarsus helping with strength & stability. As such, Strigiformes diet preference likely diverged early! (2/2) 🌍🧪
academic.oup.com/zoo...
academic.oup.com/zoo...
May 1, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Barn owls have long tarsometatarsus bones enabling swift flight in dense environments, perfect for hunting rodents. However, other species have a shorter tarsometatarsus helping with strength & stability. As such, Strigiformes diet preference likely diverged early! (2/2) 🌍🧪
academic.oup.com/zoo...
academic.oup.com/zoo...
You've probably seen owls have long legs, but did you know the proportion of their hindlimbs is related to their prey? Comparing 18 Strigiformes species, owls were shown to have short femurs & tarsometatarsus, but a long tibiotarsus, highlighting adaptations to different diets! How? A 🧵(1/2) 🧪
May 1, 2025 at 11:19 AM
You've probably seen owls have long legs, but did you know the proportion of their hindlimbs is related to their prey? Comparing 18 Strigiformes species, owls were shown to have short femurs & tarsometatarsus, but a long tibiotarsus, highlighting adaptations to different diets! How? A 🧵(1/2) 🧪
A digital cast of its frontal cortex found it to be much less developed than that of modern wolves & wild dogs, highly social species. As this portion of the brain plays a crucial role in expressing complex social behaviours & relationships, Eucyon was likely an opportunistic, solo hunter! 🧪 (4/5)
April 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
A digital cast of its frontal cortex found it to be much less developed than that of modern wolves & wild dogs, highly social species. As this portion of the brain plays a crucial role in expressing complex social behaviours & relationships, Eucyon was likely an opportunistic, solo hunter! 🧪 (4/5)
It is the most complete Eucyon specimen ever found in Europe! Tomographic analyses & 3D graphics helped reveal anatomical details never seen before. From this, evolutionary relationships between species can be reconstructed, opening new avenues for future research! 🌍🧪(3/5)
April 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
It is the most complete Eucyon specimen ever found in Europe! Tomographic analyses & 3D graphics helped reveal anatomical details never seen before. From this, evolutionary relationships between species can be reconstructed, opening new avenues for future research! 🌍🧪(3/5)