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Tess Gallagher

@tessasaurus.bsky.social

Paleontologist that specializes in Diplodocus skin. Currently working at Edelman Fossil Museum

1,591 Followers  |  164 Following  |  158 Posts  |  Joined: 24.09.2023
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Posts by Tess Gallagher (@tessasaurus.bsky.social)

The oldest known fossilized amniote cloaca. (Lorenzo Marchetti/Natural History Museum, Berlin)

The oldest known fossilized amniote cloaca. (Lorenzo Marchetti/Natural History Museum, Berlin)

The resting trace of an early reptile. (Lorenzo Marchetti/Natural History Museum, Berlin)

The resting trace of an early reptile. (Lorenzo Marchetti/Natural History Museum, Berlin)

At the tip of this arrow, there is a 290 million years old impression of a cloaca from a fossilised reptile of the Goldlauter Formation in Germany.

It’s the oldest known butthole.

#PaleoSky βš’οΈ

24.02.2026 12:16 β€” πŸ‘ 184    πŸ” 51    πŸ’¬ 11    πŸ“Œ 12
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Scientists face fallout for past associations with Epstein Jack Horner, who was a consultant for the Jurassic Park films, is among the researchers whose work or careers have been affected because of revelations from newly released documents.

Jack Horner "is no longer employed by Chapman University."

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

27.02.2026 11:53 β€” πŸ‘ 66    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
A silly simple pen drawing of a paper-clip-shaped ammonite with eyes like those of Clippy the office assistant. A speech bubble reads "It looks like you're evolving. Would you like help?"

A silly simple pen drawing of a paper-clip-shaped ammonite with eyes like those of Clippy the office assistant. A speech bubble reads "It looks like you're evolving. Would you like help?"

Yes yes yes

22.02.2026 00:52 β€” πŸ‘ 159    πŸ” 62    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

*taps sign*

we raised over $15k for Transgender Law Center last year! If you want to help support the org and look great doing it, the shirt is still live!

26.02.2026 22:52 β€” πŸ‘ 610    πŸ” 486    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 4
Art Comission by James Stryker
Colors suggested by @cascoclauda :3

Art Comission by James Stryker Colors suggested by @cascoclauda :3

Outmuscled

(Argentinosaurus & co.)

26.02.2026 11:56 β€” πŸ‘ 266    πŸ” 83    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 2
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Follow the Yellow Leaf Road πŸƒ

Haolong dongi

23.02.2026 19:08 β€” πŸ‘ 103    πŸ” 25    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0

I'll be attending the Virtual Conference for Women in Archeology and Paleontology! Come say hi and see my artwork!

23.02.2026 14:32 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Meet 14 women paleoartists!
March 4, 3:20pm-5:00pm (UTC+1)
March 6, 10:50am-12:30pm
Little details so as not to reveal everything, artworks by, from top
to bottom, Sandra HΓ€hle, Axelle Gardin, Sandra GarcΓ­a DomΓ­nguez,
Ainhoa Lekuona, Marie Thureau, Tess Gallagher & Sara Citron.

Meet 14 women paleoartists! March 4, 3:20pm-5:00pm (UTC+1) March 6, 10:50am-12:30pm Little details so as not to reveal everything, artworks by, from top to bottom, Sandra HΓ€hle, Axelle Gardin, Sandra GarcΓ­a DomΓ­nguez, Ainhoa Lekuona, Marie Thureau, Tess Gallagher & Sara Citron.

🎨✨ Get ready to discover more about the world of paleoart at #6thvcwap ! πŸ¦•πŸ–ŒοΈ
Explore the artworks of 14 women paleoartists, engage in discussions on GatherTown, and cast your vote for your favorite piece!
@evolsara.bsky.social @tessasaurus.bsky.social @axellegardin.bsky.social @metanagon.bsky.social

23.02.2026 08:27 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
Natalia at Haron Island, azure waters

Natalia at Haron Island, azure waters

Map of one tree island research station

Map of one tree island research station

LSF equipment for water use

LSF equipment for water use

Hello from remote publicly inaccessible One Tree Island, where I'll be assisting fluorescent studies on reefal health and echinoids.

22.02.2026 05:40 β€” πŸ‘ 146    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 2
Three Spinosaurus mirabilis chitter and bellow at each other set against a twilight backdrop.

Three Spinosaurus mirabilis chitter and bellow at each other set against a twilight backdrop.

The three princes of Farak confer in the dying light.

#sciart #paleoart

22.02.2026 12:09 β€” πŸ‘ 157    πŸ” 47    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 2

So jealous!! I hope you have a fun time.

21.02.2026 00:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I believe papers about extinct charismatic vertebrates should be held to the same publishing standards and norms as other taxonomic groups. It's objectively bizarre that papers describing a single species gets published in Science/Nature as if that's considered of broad paleobiological significance

20.02.2026 15:48 β€” πŸ‘ 121    πŸ” 23    πŸ’¬ 9    πŸ“Œ 3

Glad I'm not the only one. Still a cool critter but a bit surprised it's in science?

20.02.2026 23:54 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Yall ever realize how common it is for news articles to give Watson and Crick full credit for "discovering" DNA, despite everyone and their mother knowing that it was Rosalind Franklin? Oh, and turns out Watson was at Epstein's house lol.

20.02.2026 16:34 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
Sandbox VR promo text quoting Dr Darren Naish, with a portrait photo at left.

Sandbox VR promo text quoting Dr Darren Naish, with a portrait photo at left.

Hey look, it's me! Age of Dinosaurs takes your group on a breath-taking expedition to the heart of the prehistoric world. Come face-to-face with dinosaurs to discover how they truly lived while searching for answers that could save the future.

19.02.2026 13:34 β€” πŸ‘ 34    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Former Microsoft executive’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein comes under scrutiny Seattle Times business reporter Alex Halverson has written about connections between Epstein and former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold.

If the paleo community is going to be serious about Horner’s connection to Epstein, we also have to be serious about Myhrvold’s, because guess who contributed photos of animals mating to Epstein’s birthday book and has been appearing in new paleo papers this year - including the new Spinosaurus.

19.02.2026 22:19 β€” πŸ‘ 441    πŸ” 217    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 2
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Just got my hot-off-the-press copy of the new edition of Dinosaurs: How They Lived and Evolved, written by @tetzoo.bsky.social and yours truly, with gorgeous new cover art from @bobnichollsart.bsky.social: finally, a sauropodomorph on the cover πŸ¦•πŸ¦•πŸ¦• On sale soon!

18.02.2026 11:13 β€” πŸ‘ 219    πŸ” 59    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 4
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--> , thermoregulatory structures, due to their blood filled nature, or all of the above. Whichever it is, this new discovery shows us that our understanding of integument in Dinosaurs and other extinct creatures is incredibly limited and still full of surprises…

17.02.2026 23:41 β€” πŸ‘ 28    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Haolong dongi, the β€œPorcupine” Iguanodont. At about 2.5 meters long, not much would stand out about this Hadrosauroid had we just their skeletal remains, but thanks to the preservational nature of the Yixian Formation, we’ve come to uncover amazing details about the anatomy of this animal #sciart 🧡>

17.02.2026 23:41 β€” πŸ‘ 105    πŸ” 42    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0
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Along with overlapping dorso-caudal scutes and large flattened caudal scales, Haolong was covered in small spines. The purpose of these is so far unclear, however the current hypotheses land on them being defensive structures, display structures->

17.02.2026 23:41 β€” πŸ‘ 22    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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"I may have a slightly different opinion..."

For February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I invited several female* artists and scientists to join a panel discussion on this important topic. We talked about π’˜π’π’Žπ’†π’ π’Šπ’ 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒆𝒐(𝒂𝒓𝒕).

17.02.2026 08:16 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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I always thought the term β€œbillfish” implied toothlessness, and while that’s true for swordfish, all the other billfishes are exactly the opposite: their mouthes and bills are COVERED in tiny teeth.

They also have these awful tooth filled pockets all along their bills. Awful.

16.02.2026 23:23 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Or collections manager

16.02.2026 17:36 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The February Exhibit is online! πŸ–ΌοΈ

As part of the permanent exhibition, I am so excited to show a LOT of new artwork by amazing female* artists.

Check them out here extinctfineart.com/view-gallery/

If you would like to exhibit some artwork or know someone - please get in touch!

#palaeoart
cont..

16.02.2026 16:20 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Question for fellow Paleontologists. What is the likelihood of getting a curator position without having a PhD?

16.02.2026 17:31 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

Sadly at this point I dont see myself going to SVP this year because of this shenanigans.

15.02.2026 16:50 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A scene depicting a white spotted horse fighting a smilodon. The smilodon is thrown onto the ground, it's paws outstretched and claws out. The horse is rearimg over it, ready to stomp. The background is a forest.

A scene depicting a white spotted horse fighting a smilodon. The smilodon is thrown onto the ground, it's paws outstretched and claws out. The horse is rearimg over it, ready to stomp. The background is a forest.

another equine commission :D
As I was told, these are characters from the game Ecos la Brea, and the horse is defending his herd!

| #art #digitalart #feralart #horse #horseart #equineart |

12.02.2026 19:02 β€” πŸ‘ 73    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

SVP has finally put out the statement they should have put out 9 days ago, instead of the disgraceful one they put out originally. This is better, but it's not enough. If SVP wants to regain its members' trust without increasing transparency, we need to see results, not promises.

13.02.2026 21:57 β€” πŸ‘ 73    πŸ” 14    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 4