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kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
Neil Kelley
@kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
630 followers 960 following 99 posts
A vertebrate paleontologist in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at Vanderbilt University with an affinity toward salty reptiles and an irreverent internet presence. Like Nardwuar meets AS Romer minus the fame & charisma.
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kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
Neil Kelley @kelleypaleolab.bsky.social · Feb 5
Famed paleontologist Alfred Romer stands inside the jaws of a mounted fossil skeleton of the giant marine reptile Kronosaurus with a bemused look on his face.
Reposted by Neil Kelley
biodiversitypix.bsky.social
🦉 Die Raubvögel Deutschlands und des angrenzenden Mitteleuropas;.
Cassel [Germany]Verlag von Theodor Fischer, 1876..

[Source]
Illustration of a Strix uralensis owl perched on a moss-covered tree stump in a natural clearing. The owl features detailed brown and cream streaked feathers, prominent facial disc, and intense forward gaze. In the background, trees and a flying bird are visible under a cloudy sky. The artwork is a vintage 1876 chromolithograph from "Die Raubvögel Deutschlands und des angrenzenden Mitteleuropas," showcasing the owl in its typical woodland habitat.
November 17, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
cintylee.bsky.social
Billion year old shallow water stromatolitic carbonates contact metamorphosed. Green layers with diopside and occasional grossular garnet. Sedimentary layers are preserved, including ripples! Franklin Mountains, El Paso, Texas.
November 13, 2025 at 2:28 PM
kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
𝐓𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
I'm trying to be less terminally online
Maybe it's easy in the sense that
The constellation of bullshit
Seems evermore beyond my grasp
So, I'm like the doomed astronaut
Drifting away from the discourse
But then there's the terminal part
November 13, 2025 at 10:52 PM
kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
Always love a paper full of scrappy fossils!
November 13, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
amniotalab.bsky.social
Don’t miss our colleague Tomás Fornari at #2025SVP! He is presenting about tooth replacement patterns in marine reptiles🦷
November 13, 2025 at 9:43 AM
kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
Nice view of the deepwater laminated argillaceous limestone facies of the Hermitage Formation! See: tennesseefossils.com/Formations/M...
November 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
lapworthmuseum.bsky.social
Our new temporary exhibition Feeding Without Jaws is open TODAY!

Come and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of ancient fish.

We are open 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 12pm-5pm Sat-Sun and are free to visit 🐟

#LapworthRocks #FeedingWithoutJaws #NewExhibition #SVP2025 #Palaeontology #Paleontology
November 12, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
biodiversitypix.bsky.social
🦌 Animal guide, North American wild animals
Worcester, Mass.: C. K. Reed, 1915.

[Source]
Illustration of a large North American moose standing on a forested riverbank. The moose is depicted in profile, showing its broad, flat antlers with multiple tines, dark brown fur, and muscular build. In the background, dense coniferous trees and misty hills are visible, suggesting a natural wilderness habitat. The scene conveys the moose's size and presence in a serene, wild environment.
November 11, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
sylvia-plath-bot.bsky.social
The blue sisters sent me to another school.
November 9, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
biodiversitypix.bsky.social
🦖 A monograph of the fossil Reptilia of the Liassic formations
London, Printed for the Palæontographical society, 1861-81.

[Source]
Illustration of the fossilized skeleton of Plesiosaurus rostratus embedded in rock, showing a long neck, broad ribcage, four flipper-like limbs, and an elongated skull with sharp teeth. Surrounding the main specimen are detailed close-ups of various reptilian teeth and jaw fragments, numbered for reference. The engraving is from an 1861-81 monograph on fossil Reptilia of the Liassic formations, emphasizing anatomical features and scale for scientific study.
November 7, 2025 at 11:23 AM
kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
I spotted this albino/leucistic alligator gar at @tnaquarium.bsky.social yesterday! Very auspicious omen for #garweek
An albino alligator gar floating in an aquarium.
November 6, 2025 at 7:17 PM
kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
Gerontocracy… good?
November 4, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
journalsystpal.bsky.social
In honour of the 85th Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology 2025, we have assembled a collection of landmark vertebrate palaeontology papers published by JSP

First up: A new phylogeny of ichthyosaurs by B.C. Moon buff.ly/0XLPtMf

#2025SVP #Paleosky @moononthebones.bsky.social #NHM
November 4, 2025 at 1:09 PM
kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
Bro,
boschbot.bsky.social BoschBot @boschbot.bsky.social · 16d
Temptation of St Anthony
Temptation of St Anthony
October 31, 2025 at 5:56 PM
kelleypaleolab.bsky.social
I realize this streaming service is toxic but for those who partake here’s an hour+ of Hybrid Moments covers: open.spotify.com/playlist/40D...
October 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
boschbot.bsky.social
Garden of Earthly Delights
Garden of Earthly Delights
October 31, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
biodiversitypix.bsky.social
🦕 Flora fossilis formationis oolithicae =.
Padova: Tip. del Seminario, 1856/1868-1873/1885..

[Source]
Historical illustration depicting six numbered fossilized Jurassic plant specimens preserved in stone slabs. The fossils mainly show various fern-like leaves with detailed pinnate leaflets in dark shading against lighter stone backgrounds. Some slabs have cracks or breaks, adding to the aged appearance. Specimen 5a features multiple intricate branching fronds densely covered with small leaflets, while specimens 1, 2, 3, and 4 show single elongated leaves with symmetrical leaflets. Smaller fragments (5b and 6) display isolated leaf parts or sporangia. The image highlights fossil flora typical of the Jurassic period, emphasizing detailed botanical structure and preservation.
October 31, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
fossilsinthills.bsky.social
A spooky fossil for Halloween!

The Carboniferous swamps of the north of England were full of creepy crawlies... This is one of them, a spider-like creature called Mesotarbus.

📍 Westhoughton
🏛️ Manchester Museum
📷 GB3D Fossils

#FossilFriday
October 31, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
stevehaddock.bsky.social
🐌 I guess National Snail Day is a good time to share the overwhelming diversity of •pelagic gastropods• we saw in the Gulf of California, Mexico, last month. We used scuba and trawls on the R/V Sally Ride, supported by NSF grants and expertise of Brad Seibel and Amy Maas. 🦑🧪
Collage of 24 specimens of pelagic gastropods, including heteropods, gymnosome and thecosome pteropods, a pseudothecosome, and a nudibranch.
May 30, 2024 at 5:37 AM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
houdzgeorge.bsky.social
Delighted to see this new paper out on the Cretaceous turtle Rhinochelys from the Lebanese Lagerstätten in Nammoura (approx 100 mya).

This is the oldest direct evidence of sea turtle soft tissues, and shows that sea turtles lost their scales 4 independent times

doi.org/10.1016/j.is...
October 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
arctomet.bsky.social
Bazzi, M., Siversson, M., Wintner, S. et al. Early gigantic lamniform marks the onset of mega-body size in modern shark evolution. Commun Biol 8, 1499 (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s420...
Early gigantic lamniform marks the onset of mega-body size in modern shark evolution - Communications Biology
The earliest appearance of mega-body size in sharks is pushed back by 15 million years with the discovery of new fossils from Northern Australia. Using a comprehensive dataset of living sharks to esti...
doi.org
October 26, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
ruralindexing.bsky.social
Danz Video
Oconto, WI
October 26, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
lkfazio.bsky.social
"Vanderbilt is failing in its moral responsibility to push back against rising authoritarianism and political coercion."

My effort to convince Vanderbilt (and all universities) to take a stand for the rule of law, the Constitution, and our democracy.

www.tennessean.com/story/opinio...
Here's why Vanderbilt's response to the Trump higher ed 'compact' is not enough | Opinion
With the deadline looming for colleges to sign Trump's "compact," Vanderbilt must resist, says one university professor.
www.tennessean.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
evolutionvu.bsky.social
If you're in #Nashville this weekend, come see us at Fossils at the Fort this Saturday at Fort Negley from 10am - 1pm! #Evolution
A wide slide with two photos and orange text reading Fossils at the Fort (Negley) 10am - 1pm. Photos are both of the grassy area near the fence with a table set up with evolution-y stuff and folks from evolutionary studies leading outreach activities.
October 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by Neil Kelley
biodiversitypix.bsky.social
🦄 Arcana, or, The museum of natural history: .
London: Printed by George Smeeton for James Stratford, 1811..

[Source]
Historical illustration of a leafy sea dragon, a marine fish resembling a seahorse, with an elongated, curved body covered in a segmented, ridged armor. It has a long snout, a wide eye, and leaf-like appendages extending from its body and tail, aiding camouflage among seaweed. The background is a plain, aged parchment with text noting the title "SEA HORSE" and publication details from 1811. The artwork captures intricate details of the creature’s texture and unique form, emphasizing its resemblance to foliage and its naturalistic scientific representation from the early 19th century.
October 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM