PARADIVE UW

A 480 million year old parasitic spionid annelid The Paleozoic fossil record provides unique insights into the evolution of life history traits through the direct preservation of interspecific intera…

🪱🦪 New Fossil evidence from Morocco’s Fezouata Shale show spionid-like worms boring into Babinka bivalve shells — direct evidence of Early Ordovician parasitism, pushing back their origin by >60 million years!
#Paleozoic #Paleontology #FossilFriday

doi.org/10.1016/j.is...

Reconstruction of Late Miocene mesopelagic fish-dominated ecosystem in Caribbean Panama. The illustration highlights key taxa, including lanternfish, hatchetfish, billfish, Isistius sharks, Otodus megalodon, Isthminia panamensis, and Lepidochelys sea turtle. Artwork by Yun-Kae Kiang. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20155/fig-18

Otoliths of Diaphus (Myctophidae) from the Upper Miocene Chagres Formation, Caribbean Panama. (A–C) Diaphus aequalis Schwarzhans & Aguliera, 2013, ASIZF 0100963–0965. (D–F) Diaphus apalus Schwarzhans & Aguliera, 2013, ASIZF 0100966–0968. (G–K) Diaphus barrigonensis Schwarzhans & Aguliera, 2013, ASIZF 0100969–0973. (L–O) Diaphus dumerilii (Bleeker, 1856), ASIZF 0100974–0977. Images are inner views. Scale bar = one mm.

Lin & O’Dea show #Remarkable #dominance of #myctophid #otoliths in Upper #Miocene Chagres Formation, #Caribbean #Panama: doi.org/10.7717/peer...
#Biodiversity suggests pre-Isthmus #upwelling with efficient transfer from high #PrimaryProduction to predators shaping Ecosystem. #Paleontology #Taxonomy

YouTube video by djbirddanerd I am paleontologist. Who is a paleontologist? Who is not a paleontologist?

Who is and who is not a paleontologist? #Paleontology #Paleobiology #Fossils

Ammonoid Paleobiology: From anatomy to ecology This two-volume work is a testament to the abiding interest and human fascination with ammonites. We offer a new model to explain the morphogenesis of septa and the shell, we explore their habitats by the content of stable isotopes in their shells, we discuss the origin and later evolution of this important clade, and we deliver hypotheses on its demise. The Ammonoidea produced a great number of species that can be used in biostratigraphy and possibly, this is the macrofossil group, which has been used the most for that purpose. Nevertheless, many aspects of their anatomy, mode of life, development or paleobiogeographic distribution are still poorly known. Themes treated are biostratigraphy, paleoecology, paleoenvironment, paleobiogeography, evolution, phylogeny, and ontogeny. Advances such as an explosion of new information about ammonites, new technologies such as isotopic analysis, tomography and virtual paleontology in general, as well as continuous discovery of newfossil finds have given us the opportunity to present a comprehensive and timely "state of the art" compilation. Moreover, it also points the way for future studies to further enhance our understanding of this endlessly fascinating group of organisms.

10 years ago, our co-edited Topics in Geobiology volumes on #Ammonoid #Paleobiology came out:

From anatomy to ecology:
doi.org/10.1007/978-...
From macroevolution to paleogeography: doi.org/10.1007/978-...

In the last months of 2025, i will explore new discoveries on these topics in a thread:

Just in time for #FossilFriday 🦖 What are the big questions in #paleontology today?

dx.doi.org/10.1017/pab.2025.10042

Nearly 200 scientists worldwide came together to map where our field is headed. Here’s the story 👇

Fossils for Future: the billion-dollar case for paleontology’s digital infrastructure
DOI: doi.org/10.32942/X2D...

Huge thanks to @palaeopercs.bsky.social for inviting and hosting me! If you missed my talk on Tuesday, you can now catch up via their YouTube channel 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x19X...

Dollo meets Bergmann: morphological evolution in secondary aquatic mammals | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Secondary transitions to aquatic environments are common among vertebrates, and aquatic lineages display several adaptations to this realm, some of which might make these transitions irreversible. At ...

Evolution is like clay being shaped. It can be molded into many forms, but once fired in the kiln, there’s no going back. A new study shows the same is true for some mammals that fully embraced life in the ocean. 🌊🐋 #Evolution #Science #OceanHoptimism

Coprolite 💩 happens. Just published: Analyzing #coprolites: Different methods for the study of coprolites in #Vertebrate Ichnology: doi.org/10.1016/B978...

Talking about an #invertefest: Pea clams seem to be able to regularly survive passage through the digestive tract of whitefishes...

A dense accumulation of fossil belemnite rostra (including also some encrusting bivalves) from the Pliensbachian-Toarcian GSSP of Peniche Portugal (see https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.190494).

Talking about another true #invertefest: belemnite "battlefields" or "Schlachtfelder". Despite the name, they are generally used to refer to dense accumulations of #fossil #cephalopod rostra, which can be formed under various mechanisms. Irrespectively, they are a great way to obtain large samples.

First discovery of parasite eggs in a vertebrate coprolite of the Late Triassic in Thailand A paleoparasitological investigation of a vertebrate coprolite from the Huai Hin Lat Formation (Upper Triassic) was carried out. Five morphotypes of potential parasite eggs or sporocysts were identifi...

Phytosaurs are my favorite group of extinct reptiles, so for #FossilFriday here’s a throwback to when we found parasites in a coprolite possibly from a phytosaur!! #science #fossils #paleontology #parasites journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

Some of the largest known cephalopods as examples for the four studied groups. a, Endoceras giganteum, UMMNH 2019.0385, Platteville, Illinois (display in the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History). b, Deiroceras hollardi, PIMUZ 31922, Early Devonian, Jebel Mdouar, Morocco (display in the Museum of Natural History, University of Zurich). c, Cenoceras rumelangense, Bajocian, Dorset, UK (W. Grulke collection). d, ventral and e, lateral view of Parapuzosia seppenradensis, Campanian, Seppenrade, Germany, displayed at the LWL museum in Münster. f, Megateuthis elliptica, SMNS 60752, Bajocian, Bopfingen-Oberdorf; Germany (display at the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart). g, Leptotheutis gigas, Tithonian, Solnhofen (display in the Schaulager Ruhrmuseum, Essen). All photos except a belong to CK. Photo in a by courtesy of J. Bauer (University of Michigan Museum of Natural History).

Maximum body sizes in lengths and diameters through the Phanerozoic. a, linear plot. Grey silhouette of a 1.8 m tall person for scale. b, logarithmic plot. c, environmental parameters such as sea-level and sea surface temperatures (blue lines) and the European rock record (brown line). Red lines represent mass extinctions.

🌊🦑 For 500+ million years, #cephalopods have shaped ocean ecosystems as active predators.
In our study, we trace body #size fluctuations of cephalopods—from ancient shelled cephalopods to today’s squids & octopuses—using maximum body volume for comparability across groups. doi.org/10.1038/s415...

Parasites of Fossil Vertebrates: What We Know and What Can We Expect from the Fossil Record? Parasites are ubiquitous in extant ecosystems and vertebrate animals often harbour rich parasite communities. However, the geological record of parasites is extremely sparse as their very nature means...

Interesting, you may want check out our book volumes on fossil parasites particularly the chapter by @the-episiarch.bsky.social who did a very similar more evidence based exercise: doi.org/10.1007/978-...

Evolutionary Transitions of Parasites between Freshwater and Marine Environments Abstract. Evolutionary transitions of organisms between environments have long fascinated biologists, but attention has been focused almost exclusively on

Our study explores how #parasite traits, life #cycles, and #host relationships shape shifts between #marine and #freshwater habitats: doi.org/10.1093/icb/...

Final days (Deadline: August 15) to apply for a 4-year #PhD position to work on inclusions in Permian-Triassic coprolites and how they can inform us on the impact of mass #extinction of parasite-host associations.

Glad to see this finally available as a preprint. Unique fingerprint of marine ectotherm body size during hyperthermal crises which studies generality of the Lilliput effect and it potential link with climate warming. #paleontology #paleobiology #ecology #evolutionarybiology

We are looking for a #PhD Student in our group on "Environmental versus host controls on #parasite diversity in #Permian-#Triassic #vertebrate #coprolites" in the NCN project "The impact of mass #extinctions on parasite #diversity and #evolution".

www.biol.uw.edu.pl/staze-stypen...

@djbirddanerd.bsky.social of
@ibe-warszawa.bsky.social
discusses the 'Palaeoparasitological potential of Permian-Triassic #vertebrate #coprolites' at #EAVP2025

#Turtle expert Milan Chroust presents his #EAVP2025 poster, 'Heosemys mossoczyi, a puzzling geoemydid #turtle from the #Pliocene of #Poland'

I am #paleontologist and my research focuses on the diversity and evolution of two #fossil groups - shelled cephalopods with better record and soft-bodied parasites with a poorer record. I was recently asked how and why i started studying the helminths if i am expert on the ammonoids and belemnites?

Aquatic Parasitology: Ecological and Environmental Concepts and Implications of Marine and Freshwater Parasites A unique open access collection on ecological and environmental parasitology in marine and freshwater. Covers climate change and parasite conservation.

Must read comprehensive #OpenAccess book was just published on Aquatic Parasitology by @nicojsmit.bsky.social and @berndsures.bsky.social: Ecological and Environmental Concepts and Implications of Marine and Freshwater Parasites edited by Nico J. Smit, Bernd Sures doi.org/10.1007/978-...

The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism This book highlights and reviews the potential of the fossil record to calibrate the origin and evolution of parasitism, and the techniques to understand the development of parasite-host associations ...

Last Thursday (8/5), it was the 4-year anniversary of the publication of our Topics in #Geobiology volume on The #Evolution and #Fossil Record of #Parasitism: Identification and Macroevolution of Parasites. doi.org/10.1007/978-... with @realhuntley.bsky.social Thanks all contributors #paleobiology

Friends of the Week! Bat flies are creepy as hell. #parasites #bats #insects #biology #science Art: @asturart.bsky.social

Our report on #PalGes 2024 - Joint Meeting of Polish Paleobiologist and the 95th Annual Meeting of the Paläontologische Gesellschaft was just published in Folia Malacologica: doi.org/10.12657/fol... #Paleobiology This years meeting will be at Geo4Göttingen: www.geo4goettingen2025.de/tablet/index...

Fig. 13. Illustration of some of the taphonomic processes discussed with images of the fossil results. a, b, Early Devonian of the Tafilalt, Morocco. c, Middle Triassic of central Europe. d, Middle Jurassic of the Causses, France. e, Early Cretaceous of Heligoland, Germany. https://doi.org/10.18261/let.58.2.1

Taphonomic and reworking processes isolating #cephalopod septa and chamber #fillings: doi.org/10.18261/let...

#paleontology #paleobiology #taphonomy #phragmocone #cephalopods

Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes Scientific Reports - Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes

Symbiotic interactions on middle #Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest #parasitism on #deuterostomes. External pathological outgrowths in echinoderm plates associated with perturbations in microstructure and growth suggest an epibiont negatively impacting its host: rdcu.be/ei75y #paleobiology

Biotic interactions and their consequences for macroevolution: learning from the fossil record and beyond doi.org/10.1017/pab....; need for increased effort surrounding the understanding of ecological details, integration of different types of information, and model-based approaches in #paleobiology

Applications for Unitas Malacologica Travel Grants to attend the World Congress of Malacology in São Paulo, Brazil from 4th-8th August 2025, are now open!
www.unitasmalacologica.org/projects.html
wcm2025.com.br

What do barnacles parasitize?

✅️ corals
✅️ burrowed into whale flesh (and sharks, and turtle shells)

Some that no longer resemble arthropods
✅️ inside of/mimicking sea stars shape
✅️ inside of crabs, making them turn into females and reproduce barnacle babies instead of their own

❎️ you?

#Crustmas 🧪🦑