Scott Persons

I'm a paleontologist who studies dinosaur locomotion and predator-prey arms races.

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

There is a new face hanging out @CofCLibraries. Today, we installed the skeleton of Dorudon -- a 35 million-year-old whale. Look really closely and you can see its wee vestigial back legs.
#fossils #Science #evolve #paleo

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

No matter how bad some of your relatives’ table manners may be, they are nothing compared to an opossum’s. This is my little rescue buddy Curtis. #Happythanksgiving2019 #dinnertime #rescue #wildliferescue #turkeyday

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

This is Hannah (the dog) and Hannah (the Styracosaurus). The latter is also the skull poking up in my profile image.
#gooddog #dogbone #Dog #dinosaur #Fossil #Science

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

Tip of the tyrannosaur – a caudal vertebra exposed on the surface. Back from #DinosaurProvincialPark. Good year. Besides this, our team scored a pachy dome, ankylosaur tail club, and various claws and teeth.
#dinosaur #Fossil #science #fieldwork

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

I don’t know a thing about #NBAFinals, but I wouldn’t want to play defense against this Deinonychus @HMNS. Serrated and recurved teeth – like a Komodo Dragon’s. Hooked hand claws with high-leverage flexor tendons. And that raptorial foot! #RaptorsvsWarriors #FossilFriday

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

Got your nose! @RTMP a skull of the horned dinosaur Centrosaurus, with the front of its snout removed. Giving us a look at the internal cavity.
#FossilFriday #dinosaurs

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

The grand frill of Chasmosaurus belli @ROM reminds me of a legionary scutum. Unlike the contemporaneous ceratopsian Centrosaurus, Chasmosaurus is not found in mass monospecific (all one species) bonebeds. As horned dinos go, it was more of an introvert. #FossilFriday #DINO

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

My #TEDx “Fossils, Feathers, and Sex Appeal” is now up! Join me for a leisurely stroll through the adaptive landscape (mind the gap and watch out for hopeful monsters). https://t.co/jItOSyTA9U #dinosaurs #science #feathers #UAlberta

[Nancy Carlson @nancyjcarlson]

There’s nothing like a Dino lesson @RoyalAlberta with @WScottPersons 🦖🦕 @CBCEdmonton

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

Speaking of #RoyalBaby, here is a photo op with the crown prince Guanlong – a wolf-sized early tyrannosauroid, from the Jurassic of China. #FossilFriday #DINO #science

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

The “Dragon’s Tomb”: a big chunk of fossil skin from Saurolophus sits in the Gobi Desert. #FossilFriday

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

@afriendlywhit @MostlyMammoths

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

The @hmns Stegosaurus mounted almost ballerina-like and rearing on its hind feet. Do I think the heavily-armored dinosaur could strike such a pose? Yes, I do. The mount also highlights how tiny Stegosaurus feet are, with only 3 toes! Take note #JurassicWorld
#FossilFriday #DINO

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

@hmns Stegosaurus mounted almost ballerina-like and rearing back on its hind feet. Do I think the heavily-armored dinosaur could strike such a pose? Yes, I do. The mount also highlights how tiny Stegosaurus feet are, with only 3 toes! Take note #JurassicWorld
#FossilFriday #DINO

[Quirks & Quarks @CBCQuirks]

Big, old and banged-up — Canada is home to the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus Rex

https://t.co/SlcATp6zez

@WScottPersons @UAlberta
@royalsaskmuseum

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

I think we’re going to need bigger calipers. . .
A paleontologist in need of a haircut (that’s me) measuring the jaw of Scotty the T. rex, at #TrexDiscoveryCentre in Eastend.
#RoyalSaskMuseum #FossilFriday #dinosaur #ScottyTrex

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

@demoormj @Superraptor53 Dr. Greg Erickson had a histological look. No medullary bone was found.

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

@Superraptor53 My bets estimation puts the weight at around 8,800 kg, the length at 13 meters, and the gender at ???. Scotty is robust, which some would argue makes it a female (the medullary specimen is also robust), but Scotty’s sexual identity remains in question. And I’m cool with that.

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

@LauraK9doc Sure. Impacted tooth, infected jaw, broken ribs, and a big chunk seems to have been taken out of a few tail vertebrae (maybe another T. rex bite. . . maybe).

[Scott Persons @WScottPersons]

It is my paleontological pleasure to share a new paper on “Scotty”. This is a T. rex of extraordinary size (8,800+ kg) and age (28+ years old). Scotty’s skeleton is riddled with pathologies. It was hard to be the king.
https://t.co/MgqheWF8pL
#FossilFriday #Massive2019 #science