John (Conway) discussed why pterosaur palaeoart – sorry – palaeontography – would benefit from a far more scientific approach. He’s dead right: pterosaurs are frequently portrayed with entirely incorrect proportions, muscle construction and unlikely colour schemes.

And: another write-up by Dave Hone with great coverage… and links to abstracts… in Chinese…

Argh. Looking forward to the detailed papers, particularly of water-launching pterosaurs and Helmut Tischlinger’s UV lit discovery of oversized headcrests.

Michael Keesey has been doing interesting things with phylogenetic trees, but now he’s gone and created a tree of animated animals. Click the image above for a full post of his phun phylogenies. Among the highlights: Marvin the Martian out in left field.

I’m willing to believe that - as BP claims -  this was an overanxious photographer trying to polish his photo. Bu that doesn’t lessen the repercussions… it’s even more frightening to think what skilled photographers and editors are perhaps already doing.

Pete Larson correctly praises the unknown fossil collector in this video of a beautifully exhibited specimen. This fossil is particularly glaring in the effort, skill and commitment that must have been necessary to have it exist in this form, so it is extremely unfortunate that the collector is unnamed.
I say this because it is unfortunately the case that museums are quick to look down upon commercially driven collectors, yet all too often are unwilling to credit the collectors who are willing to share their (extremely) hard earned finds.

Click the beepBall to read my post at AWN.