Mark witton

Brain 1: "Right, you need an image for your tyrannosaurid facial tissue post." Brain 2: "OK, here're some Tyrannosaurus rex in a really dark and back-lit scene. Their faces are in shadow, and you can't really see the features." Brain 1: "This is perfect. After all, only losers want to see the faces of animals in posts about facial tissues." Brain 2: "Exactly. Hey, since when did I have two brains?" Brain 3: "Beats me." Discussing the craniofacial tissues of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs is the…

If we accept that the distinctive ventral projections of the gigantic and ventrally displaced cervical ribs of apatosaurs were likely the base of some form of soft-tissue rugosity — such as k…

Using the gloom of the overcast evening, an Albertosaurus gives chase to a lone Saurolophus.

Paleontology Aficionado on Instagram: "Snacking Giganotosaurus #latecretaceous #mesozoic #theropod #carcharodontosauria #giganotosaurini #giganotosaurus #argentina by: Mark Witton"

Finally: a modern book devoted to everyone's favourite mid-20th Century Czech palaeoartist, Zdeněk Burian. It's big, it's expensive, and it's amazing. For palaeoart fans, it's an essential purchase. As much as I’m a fan of 19th century palaeoart, the 20th Century is where our efforts to reconstruct fossil organisms really take off and stretch their wings. In its early decades, Charles R. Knight led a charge to reinvigorate and re-legitimise palaeoart after enthusiasm for illustrating the…

Background: Javelina Formation forest. Mid-ground: the 4.6 m wingspan, super-famous azhdarchid pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus sp. Foreground: lunch. As a consultant, the pterosaur I get asked about more than any other is the azhdarchid Quetzalcoatlus. In recent weeks I've been speaking to two completely independent media producers about this animal, and I think just about all my prior TV and film work has involved it somehow, even if not prominently. I suppose Quetzalcoatlus is so popular because…