Simon Scarpetta

Evolutionary Biologist, herpetologist, paleontologist | Assistant/term Professor at University of San Francisco | I like to catch salamanders

[Simon Scarpetta @SimonScarpetta]

Our paper on the biogeographic origin of Fijian iguanas was published in @PNASNews!

We provide phylogenomic, fossil, and geologic evidence that iguanas rafted over 8000km from North America to Fiji.

Let me know if you’d like a copy!

https://t.co/hlTNiaIRa0

[Tiago R. Simões @paleoTsimoes]

Here is the cutest phylogeny I ever worked on: total-evidence dating and biogeography of hamsters (led by colleagues at Montpellier and Madrid): https://t.co/6pXIXjg5h5

[Simon Scarpetta @SimonScarpetta]

Happy to share our most recent paper on the evolution of iguanian lizards: phylogenomics and biogeography of dragon lizards (agamids)!

New phylogenetic framework for the group, supermatrix timetree, and Laurasian origins

@systbiol @SkinkBen
https://t.co/3Z9Nyq8eQG

[Donald Miles @LizardProf]

The genetics, evolution, and maintenance of a biological rock-paper-scissors game | Science https://t.co/0Td7tBAYRn

[Tiago R. Simões @paleoTsimoes]

Almost as a small Christmas miracle, our second (and final) response to the supposed presence of varanoids in the Triassic: https://t.co/sA6OgOVBjR
With M. Caldwel, @SimonScarpetta, @ChaseBrownstein, D. Meyer, and M. Lee

[Simon Scarpetta @SimonScarpetta]

Thanks for having me, Tiago!

[Tiago R. Simões @paleoTsimoes]

Today we had @SimonScarpetta from USF delivering a talk here at EEB @Princeton on the technical and empirical challenges in sorting the phylogenomics and biogeography of iguanas...rafting over 8,000 km from North America to Fiji!

[PNASNews @PNASNews]

In this issue: Speciation and secondary contact in sun skinks, quantification of terrestrial dissolved organic matter in the ocean, and a slick math trick offers a new way to return a rotated object to its original state. In PNAS: https://t.co/XSg0OvW6md

[Tiago R. Simões @paleoTsimoes]

Our latest paper, now on how to conciliate apparently discrepant evolutionary rate patterns in squamates, but which may well apply to any study system with @MCZpaleo and former student Arthur Brum
#macroevolution

https://t.co/i2pUbAmL2L

[Tiago R. Simões @paleoTsimoes]

Important updates on EvoPhylo (release 0.3.5)! https://t.co/VurKJ3rBaa
Nothing like a sleepless night to fix some bugs and add new features. Website with updated articles too: https://t.co/HN3S1gz3KV

[Chase Brownstein @ChaseBrownstein]

Pleased to announce that our second pass analysis of †Cryptovaranoides is out @eLife! In it, we provide more evidence that this taxon is not a squamate, and challenge the referral of isolated bones to the hypodigm
https://t.co/dIH0NEIPgc
#science #paleontology

[Science Friday @scifri]

A recent study suggests that millions of years ago, iguanas in North America hitched a ride on a raft and cruised across the Pacific Ocean to Fiji. Dr. @SimonScarpetta from @usfca joins us to discuss the reptiles’ adventure.

https://t.co/NJ3DYUmSir

[Chase Brownstein @ChaseBrownstein]

New paper with Mike Caldwell, Mike Lee, @LizardManMeyer @paleoTsimoes @SimonScarpetta - in it, we respond to claims that †Cryptovaranoides is a squamate, and show that they are indefensible. https://t.co/MLjFcy5ivx

[SI Scholarly Press @ScholarlyPress]

Are you interested in fossils? Check out this new release from SISP! The Cumberland Bone Cave Local Fauna (CBCLF) is the most significant Irvingtonian vertebrate fauna in the eastern United States north of Florida. https://t.co/W51bgqjt3K

[Chase Brownstein @ChaseBrownstein]

Excellent new paper from @SimonScarpetta and co on the Pleistocene fauna of Maryland!
https://t.co/OsxbgAZc13

Some highlights: high-res photos of †Aenocyon armbrusteri, †Platygonus vetus

This fauna was WEIRD!

[PNASNews @PNASNews]

Read highlights in this week’s issue of PNAS: We examine how epithelial cells can produce electrical signals, create pockets of audible sound, and study the long-distance origin of Fijian iguanas. https://t.co/fw7xqbcgUZ

[Simon Scarpetta @SimonScarpetta]

Our paper on the origin of Fijian iguanas made the cover of @PNASNews!! This incredible picture was taken by coauthor Robert Fisher at @USGS.

Link to the study:
https://t.co/hlTNiaIRa0

[PNASNews @PNASNews]

A genetic study sheds light on how iguanas—large terrestrial reptiles—reached Fiji. Phylogenomic analysis suggests Fijian iguanas likely rafted more than 8,000 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean from North America over 30 million years ago. In PNAS: https://t.co/M6wSGNFBWJ

[PNASNews @PNASNews]

In this issue: Long-distance origin of Fijian iguanas, grass-fed and industrial beef carbon-intensiveness, and Neolithic pig husbandry in Northwest Europe. https://t.co/zTWDAZfGYW

[ignacio quintero @ignacioqevo]

Happy to share our new preprint: `The rise, decline and fall of clades' with @JyAndreoletti, Daniele Silvestro and @HMorlon , where we study how the biodiversity of clades rise and fall, and the processes behind these patterns. 1/5 https://t.co/adeXIMThkw

[Simon Scarpetta @SimonScarpetta]

@MVZUCB @UCBerkeley @usfca @USGS

[Simon Scarpetta @SimonScarpetta]

Our paper on the biogeographic origin of Fijian iguanas was published in @PNASNews!

We provide phylogenomic, fossil, and geologic evidence that iguanas rafted over 8000km from North America to Fiji.

Let me know if you’d like a copy!

https://t.co/hlTNiaIRa0

[Jonathan Goldenberg @JGoldenbergEvo]

🧵 1/ New study on squamate color evolution hits the press: we show that brightness variation in lizards & snakes is strongly linked to habitat openness 🌞 https://t.co/Jxd46s0rkb