Dinosaurs and more...

This is Kyptoceras amatorum, a protoceratid from the Early Pliocene of North America. #extinct #protoceratidae https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_VBDAPDWo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) was larger than the grizzly and widely distributed in Europe and Asia during the pleistocene period. They died out 24,000 years ago.#cavebear #bear #pleistocene #megafauna #extinct https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_UVjTvJjW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Bluebird hermit crab (Pagurus samuelis) (at Salt Point State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjeAutxPX_n/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The sky this evening https://www.instagram.com/p/Cibh8K8r7yd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Ophiacodonts are a group of very primitive Synaptics that lived in the late Catboniferous and Early Permian periods. They are an early offshoot of the lineage that eventually led to mammals and us. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiZArx_LURb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Early tetrapods series: Whatcheeridae and other tetrapods from the Romer's gap. CZJ for scale. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiZAawFrJ9d/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Following up on the series of early tetrapods, here is a sampling of colosteids, baphetids and the unique and awesome Crassigyrinus... and as usual CZJ for scale. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiZAJ7qrcYb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

After the "fishapods", here are the earliest stegocephalians, the stem tetrapods... https://www.instagram.com/p/Chin_v4vlGY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

And here is a sampling of "fishapods" with CZJ for scale... https://www.instagram.com/p/Chh0HwpLwGu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Prehistoric critter of the day: the "fishapod" Qikiqtania wakei was closely related to and lived alongside Tiktaalik but unlike Tiktaalik was fully aquatic and unable to walk on land. https://www.instagram.com/p/Chhu5LcLDaT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Prehistoric critter of the day: this little aquatic amphibian called Melanerpeton tenerum, from the Early Permian of Saxony, is the earliest known vertebrate for which the color pattern can be reconstructed. The skin pattern has indeed been preserved in one of the fossils. https://www.instagram.com/p/ChfJ_mZLsx4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Prehistoric critter of the day: Among all the different kinds of vertebrates, the sea turtle Ocepechelon has the most unique mouth. It's snout is shaped like a bony pipette, which is a quality it shares with the pipefishes and beaked whales. https://www.instagram.com/p/ChNh_S1PAxo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The moon tonight... https://www.instagram.com/p/ChMD-dmuaFe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Barred owl (Strix varia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg-BF15vMJ-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This year's strawberry moon is a supermoon... https://www.instagram.com/p/Cexc8Ixrr-m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Pacific hagfish, Monterey Bay aquarium https://www.instagram.com/p/Cet7Ihev3-s/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Lumpfish, Monterey Bay Aquarium https://www.instagram.com/p/Cet67nyP6WF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=