Xavier Jenkins
@semifossorial.bsky.social
Paleontologist | NSF EAR Postdoctoral Fellow @AMNH | PhD @ ISU | Reptile origins, sensory evolution, and all things Permian 🦎🐢🐊
Pinned
Xavier Jenkins
@semifossorial.bsky.social
· Aug 28
It’s finally out!
Our work addressing the origins of reptiles is published in PCJ! peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10....
We use novel info gleaned from the scan data of dozens of stem reptiles to substantially revise our understanding of early reptile evolution #paleontology #herpetology
Our work addressing the origins of reptiles is published in PCJ! peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10....
We use novel info gleaned from the scan data of dozens of stem reptiles to substantially revise our understanding of early reptile evolution #paleontology #herpetology
Buffa et al.’s paper on the enigmatic Permian reptile 🦎 Galesphyrus and the origin of Neodiapsida is out in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology! Read the thread 👇 for some important takeaways from our study
@valentinbuffa.bsky.social
#Paleontology #Reptile #Permian
doi.org/10.1080/1477...
@valentinbuffa.bsky.social
#Paleontology #Reptile #Permian
doi.org/10.1080/1477...
November 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Buffa et al.’s paper on the enigmatic Permian reptile 🦎 Galesphyrus and the origin of Neodiapsida is out in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology! Read the thread 👇 for some important takeaways from our study
@valentinbuffa.bsky.social
#Paleontology #Reptile #Permian
doi.org/10.1080/1477...
@valentinbuffa.bsky.social
#Paleontology #Reptile #Permian
doi.org/10.1080/1477...
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
DR. TSOGTBAATAR FUNDRAISER: gofund.me/c8d8d1ab7
Donate to Help Dr. Tsogtbaatar, Icon of Mongolian Paleontology, organized by Lindsay Zanno
Renowned Mongolian paleontologist Dr. Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar is fig… Lindsay Zanno needs your support for Help Dr. Tsogtbaatar, Icon of Mongolian Paleontology
gofund.me
October 8, 2025 at 1:19 AM
DR. TSOGTBAATAR FUNDRAISER: gofund.me/c8d8d1ab7
It’s finally out!
Our work addressing the origins of reptiles is published in PCJ! peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10....
We use novel info gleaned from the scan data of dozens of stem reptiles to substantially revise our understanding of early reptile evolution #paleontology #herpetology
Our work addressing the origins of reptiles is published in PCJ! peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10....
We use novel info gleaned from the scan data of dozens of stem reptiles to substantially revise our understanding of early reptile evolution #paleontology #herpetology
August 28, 2025 at 12:22 PM
It’s finally out!
Our work addressing the origins of reptiles is published in PCJ! peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10....
We use novel info gleaned from the scan data of dozens of stem reptiles to substantially revise our understanding of early reptile evolution #paleontology #herpetology
Our work addressing the origins of reptiles is published in PCJ! peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10....
We use novel info gleaned from the scan data of dozens of stem reptiles to substantially revise our understanding of early reptile evolution #paleontology #herpetology
Huge thanks to Michel Laurin for his recommendation of my work on reptile origins in PCI Paleontology! First of many works to come (:
Also thanks to Valentin Buffa, David Majanović, and others for their reviews (:
paleo.peercommunityin.org/articles/rec...
Also thanks to Valentin Buffa, David Majanović, and others for their reviews (:
paleo.peercommunityin.org/articles/rec...
August 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Huge thanks to Michel Laurin for his recommendation of my work on reptile origins in PCI Paleontology! First of many works to come (:
Also thanks to Valentin Buffa, David Majanović, and others for their reviews (:
paleo.peercommunityin.org/articles/rec...
Also thanks to Valentin Buffa, David Majanović, and others for their reviews (:
paleo.peercommunityin.org/articles/rec...
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
And I named one of them!!! Meet Aulacephalodon kapoliwacela - the Iron Hog - the first and so far only geikiid known from the Luangwa Basin! I worked on this taxon for my Master's thesis, and it's been lovely
August 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
And I named one of them!!! Meet Aulacephalodon kapoliwacela - the Iron Hog - the first and so far only geikiid known from the Luangwa Basin! I worked on this taxon for my Master's thesis, and it's been lovely
Now introducing Amenoyengi mpunduensis ('many-tooth from Mpundu'), a small moradisaurine captorhinid from the late Permian of Zambia with multiple rows of teeth! #Permian #Paleontology 😄
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
August 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Now introducing Amenoyengi mpunduensis ('many-tooth from Mpundu'), a small moradisaurine captorhinid from the late Permian of Zambia with multiple rows of teeth! #Permian #Paleontology 😄
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
Other new species from Permian Zambia described in the JVP memoir include the temnospondyl Rhineceps karibaensis, the gorgonopsid Arctops umulunshi, and the captorhinid Amenoyengi mpunduensis
August 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Other new species from Permian Zambia described in the JVP memoir include the temnospondyl Rhineceps karibaensis, the gorgonopsid Arctops umulunshi, and the captorhinid Amenoyengi mpunduensis
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
In what may be one of Earth’s craziest forms of mimicry, researchers in 2023 reported a species of rove beetle that grows a termite puppet on its back to fool real termites into feeding it.
Learn more during #InsectWeek: scim.ag/40mj1S8
Learn more during #InsectWeek: scim.ag/40mj1S8
Beetle grows ‘termite’ on back to steal food
Puppet helps insect trick real termites into feeding it
scim.ag
June 25, 2025 at 7:38 PM
In what may be one of Earth’s craziest forms of mimicry, researchers in 2023 reported a species of rove beetle that grows a termite puppet on its back to fool real termites into feeding it.
Learn more during #InsectWeek: scim.ag/40mj1S8
Learn more during #InsectWeek: scim.ag/40mj1S8
Happy to announce that this fall I’ll be a Kalbfleisch and Frick Postdoctoral Research fellow at the American Museum of Natural History @amnh.org
I’ll work with Dr. Roger Benson on more early reptile evolution, sensory anatomy, and more. Super excited!
I’ll work with Dr. Roger Benson on more early reptile evolution, sensory anatomy, and more. Super excited!
May 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Happy to announce that this fall I’ll be a Kalbfleisch and Frick Postdoctoral Research fellow at the American Museum of Natural History @amnh.org
I’ll work with Dr. Roger Benson on more early reptile evolution, sensory anatomy, and more. Super excited!
I’ll work with Dr. Roger Benson on more early reptile evolution, sensory anatomy, and more. Super excited!
Successfully passed my dissertation defense here at ISU! These past five years have been amazing. Fell in love with research, started my family with @thezoiejenkins.bsky.social , and couldn’t have asked for a better advisor in @gondwannabe.bsky.social #Dissertation #PhD
April 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Successfully passed my dissertation defense here at ISU! These past five years have been amazing. Fell in love with research, started my family with @thezoiejenkins.bsky.social , and couldn’t have asked for a better advisor in @gondwannabe.bsky.social #Dissertation #PhD
Gemini is using Pterosaur Heresies as one of it's sources now. Extremely concerning...
March 26, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Gemini is using Pterosaur Heresies as one of it's sources now. Extremely concerning...
Extremely detailed paper on the anatomy Thadeosaurus, with increased phylogenetic support for Tangasauridae 🦎 🌊 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The neodiapsid Thadeosaurus colcanapi from the upper Permian of Madagascar
The enigmatic neodiapsid Thadeosaurus colcanapi (Lower Sakamena Formation, southwestern Madagascar), sole species of the genus Thadeosaurus, is revised here. The attribution of 12 of the 21 referred ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
March 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Extremely detailed paper on the anatomy Thadeosaurus, with increased phylogenetic support for Tangasauridae 🦎 🌊 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site is looking for help with funding and crews to excavate an ~1/2 acre of bone beds in the Early #Jurassic (~200 million). We need big excavation equipment. Check out fossils and how you can help in the images attached.
February 4, 2025 at 10:23 PM
The St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site is looking for help with funding and crews to excavate an ~1/2 acre of bone beds in the Early #Jurassic (~200 million). We need big excavation equipment. Check out fossils and how you can help in the images attached.
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
Postdoc on stegosaurs with Roger Benson at the AMNH careers.amnh.org/postings/4384
Kenneth C. Griffin Postdoctoral Fellow for Paleontology
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, and has as its mission to discover, interpret and disseminate information about human cult...
careers.amnh.org
March 6, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Postdoc on stegosaurs with Roger Benson at the AMNH careers.amnh.org/postings/4384
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
Here is my reconstruction of Millereta rubidgei, an early #reptile from Late Permian South Africa. It has osteoderms on its head.
I was commissioned to do this recon for a redescription published yesterday! Congrats to @semifossorial.bsky.social and colleagues for such a cool paper!
#paleoart
I was commissioned to do this recon for a redescription published yesterday! Congrats to @semifossorial.bsky.social and colleagues for such a cool paper!
#paleoart
March 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Here is my reconstruction of Millereta rubidgei, an early #reptile from Late Permian South Africa. It has osteoderms on its head.
I was commissioned to do this recon for a redescription published yesterday! Congrats to @semifossorial.bsky.social and colleagues for such a cool paper!
#paleoart
I was commissioned to do this recon for a redescription published yesterday! Congrats to @semifossorial.bsky.social and colleagues for such a cool paper!
#paleoart
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
Gabriel is one of the best! 📌
March 4, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Gabriel is one of the best! 📌
And our amazing artwork of Milleretta, brought to life by
@serpenillus.bsky.social
😀 #Permian #Fossil #Reptile #Paleontology
@serpenillus.bsky.social
😀 #Permian #Fossil #Reptile #Paleontology
March 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM
And our amazing artwork of Milleretta, brought to life by
@serpenillus.bsky.social
😀 #Permian #Fossil #Reptile #Paleontology
@serpenillus.bsky.social
😀 #Permian #Fossil #Reptile #Paleontology
Our description of Milleretta rubidgei, a 252 million-year old reptile, is out! academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
#Permian #Reptile #South Africa
#Permian #Reptile #South Africa
March 4, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Our description of Milleretta rubidgei, a 252 million-year old reptile, is out! academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a...
#Permian #Reptile #South Africa
#Permian #Reptile #South Africa
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
Hi! I'm a palaeontologist who has just joined Bluesky. My lab recently published a paper on gorgonopsian osteohistology.
doi.org/10.1111/joa....
doi.org/10.1111/joa....
The osteohistology of gorgonopsian therapsids and implications for Permo‐Triassic theriodont growth
Permian gorgonopsian therapists had rapid, annually interrupted growth and show longer lifespans than early Triassic therapists.
doi.org
February 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Hi! I'm a palaeontologist who has just joined Bluesky. My lab recently published a paper on gorgonopsian osteohistology.
doi.org/10.1111/joa....
doi.org/10.1111/joa....
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
We're looking for help with the excavation of bone beds at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site in SW Utah. We need heavy excavation equipment to move a large fossil-rich rock pile and in place rock above the bone beds. The City will break ground for an electrical substation in early April.
An early independent evaluation of the scientific significance of the St. George Dinosaur Discovery site. Minimize the loss of unique basal Jurassic data. www.academia.edu/49770819/The...
@andrewtracks.bsky.social @paleontologizing.bsky.social @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @ichnologist.bsky.social
@andrewtracks.bsky.social @paleontologizing.bsky.social @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @ichnologist.bsky.social
February 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
We're looking for help with the excavation of bone beds at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site in SW Utah. We need heavy excavation equipment to move a large fossil-rich rock pile and in place rock above the bone beds. The City will break ground for an electrical substation in early April.
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
Important #fossilfriday for me, as one of my new papers has finally been published in PlosOne!
Thanks to all my coauthors Pascal Godefroit, Kecheng and Nathan Vallée Gillette 🤩
We described a new skull of the early ornithopod Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis from China…
Thanks to all my coauthors Pascal Godefroit, Kecheng and Nathan Vallée Gillette 🤩
We described a new skull of the early ornithopod Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis from China…
January 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Important #fossilfriday for me, as one of my new papers has finally been published in PlosOne!
Thanks to all my coauthors Pascal Godefroit, Kecheng and Nathan Vallée Gillette 🤩
We described a new skull of the early ornithopod Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis from China…
Thanks to all my coauthors Pascal Godefroit, Kecheng and Nathan Vallée Gillette 🤩
We described a new skull of the early ornithopod Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis from China…
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
A detailed thread on a new study of recumbirostran Hapsidopareion. Well done @semifossorial.bsky.social !
Our anatomical description of Hapsidopareion is out in Papers in Palaeontology! Thanks to collaborators and mentors @gondwannabe.bsky.social, Arjan Mann, and @hanssues.bsky.social and ISU undergraduate coauthors for their massive help with segmentation! 😄https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1610
January 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A detailed thread on a new study of recumbirostran Hapsidopareion. Well done @semifossorial.bsky.social !
Reposted by Xavier Jenkins
Our anatomical description of Hapsidopareion is out in Papers in Palaeontology! Thanks to collaborators and mentors @gondwannabe.bsky.social, Arjan Mann, and @hanssues.bsky.social and ISU undergraduate coauthors for their massive help with segmentation! 😄https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1610
January 7, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Our anatomical description of Hapsidopareion is out in Papers in Palaeontology! Thanks to collaborators and mentors @gondwannabe.bsky.social, Arjan Mann, and @hanssues.bsky.social and ISU undergraduate coauthors for their massive help with segmentation! 😄https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1610