Cary Woodruff
@doublebeam
A dino paleontologist who loves to research & share all things sauropod (🦕) related. Curator of Vert. Paleo. at Frost Science in Miami, FL USA.
A reminder, but back in 2022, we honored Dr. Fauci as the human scale bar in our sauropod respiratory infection paper. "Human scale bar is the exemplar of pandemic education and rationalism, Dr. Anthony Fauci." 🧵
A true pilgrimage to paleo Mecca. This is *THE* type locality of the Morrison Formation. I laughed. I cried. I prayed to the Old Gods (Marsh, Cope, Hatcher, Gilmore, Lull, & Mook) for Morrison success, & I may have left an offering. Thanks to Amy Atwater for this opportunity!!!!
This made me laugh for a good 5 minutes 🤣 Although asking if someone thinks Brontosaurus was a real dinosaur is really a better first date question.
Giraffe-like regional cervical elongation AND *multiple sets of gastral baskets* - from an early sauropodomorph?!?! (plus tons of other cool stuff) The axial osteology of Macrocollum by Fonseca et al. is a great read, and an awesome study!
I JUST GOT AN ORIGINAL COPY OF J.B. HATCHER'S 1901 MONOGRAPH ON DIPLODOCUS CARNEGII!!!!! *AND* IT WAS SIGNED BY HATCHER!!!!!!!!!
This study found that between the known species of cassowaries, biofluorescent patterns differed significantly between species.
I'll also add this Stegoceras by RCI. Yes, not a typical pachycephalosaur pose, but this is the only pachycephalosaur mount I know of in the world that has the ossified myosepta included. Such a small detail, but one that makes this mount an absolute jewel.
Had a great trip up to the @AMNH! Never enough time here, but loads of great research projects kick started! 🦕🦖🦴🔬⛏️
#3) One big f-ing stego Sadly, it's only know from partial forelimbs, but we document a stego that based on limb dimension is ~38% longer than the average stego. Assuming we could generally scale isometrically (don't come at me!), that all equals the largest specimen thus far.
#2) Turiasaurs in the Morrison?! Maybe...🤷♂️ We documented several "heart-shaped" teeth from Colorado that are *identical* to turiasaurs. No turiasaurs are definitely known from the formation, so who might be the owner of these teeth?
#1) The 1st Barosaurus from Montana A *GREAT* collaboration with the @elevationscience.bsky.social and @cincymuseum.bsky.social crew, we document the 1st Barosaurus known from the "The Treasure State", which isn't too shocking, but a wonderful surprise. (& thanks @BLM_MTDKs!)
Like all of us, I've seen the video of the ICE agent that murdered Renee Good walking away from the scene like a hundred times....but I JUST noticed what's in the background.
The last day in the fossil prep lab at Frost Science of 2025 was pretty good....
But in comes the new Williams & Harris paper! Not only is this the anatomical expertise rightfully needed, but they did phenomenal morphologic and histologic assessments. (love me some Fig 2 BTW)
I got into this from Ankole-Watusi cattle. This debate has long centered around a 'were they more like crocs or birds?' perspective, & I wanted to see what tissues were/were not associated with bifid spines (which Watusi have).
This has been a dream book with my bestest friends Ted & Annie Rechlin of Rextooth Studios! Out Dec 15. More info and to pre-order from Rextooth Studios: rextooth.com/mynewbook
Hunter goes on most of my digs, and this book teaches kids not only how we find and dig up dinosaurs, but also how we study them - all from his perspective! AND this book chronicles an actual new sauropod we're working on!
For #FossilFriday, my *secret project* that I've been dying to share with y'all is finally here! 🥁🥁🥁🥁 HUNTER! Or, more specifically, Hunter the Dino-Digging Dog! 🧵
Hunter's favorite category is the Sporting Group. 🐕🏆 @TheNatlDogShow
I have laughed at this WAY more than I should! The satire in this is 🤌🏆
1) #Huayracursor_jaguensis is a new sauropodomorph from the Late Triassic of Argentina. For any early dino that is an INSANELY complete skeleton! And check out those cervicals! Definitely an important taxon for understanding the evolutionary history of pod neck elongation.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HUNTER!!!!!! The big man turns **6** today! **SIX** Seems like just yesterday he was small enough to be my carry-on....😅 Here's to my love and the bestest boy on his bestest day, and may it be filled with tennis balls and cheeseburgers!
hamoni: in honor of Bob Harmon. Bob was the former head of the MOR lab and field program, and he was the best field mentor I've ever had. I learned so much from Bob, and I am the crew chief I am today thanks to his tutelage. Thank you Bob, for everything. (📷 by A. Bailleul)
Now, on to the name: Brontotholus, which means Thunder Dome. Yes, a bit of a nod to the classic sauropod named "Brontosaurus", but primarily in homage to the classic 1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.