#cleaned fossil specimen

[uk-fossils]

Haugia variabilis Somerset Fossil Ammonite – Jurassic Beacon Limestone – Ilminster UK – Genuine UKFossils Specimen

Haugia variabilis Fossil Ammonite

Formation: Beacon Limestone

Age: Jurassic Period (Toarcian Stage)

Location Found: Ilminster, Somerset, UK

Discovery Date: 13 May 2024

Discovered & Prepared by: Alister (discovery) & Alison (cleaned, prepped, and treated)

Scale Cube = 1cm – Full sizing shown in photo

Includes Certificate of Authenticity

Unearth a stunning piece of British palaeontological history with this Haugia variabilis ammonite fossil from the renowned Beacon Limestone Formation of Ilminster, Somerset. Dating back to the Toarcian Stage of the Lower Jurassic, approximately 180 million years ago, this extinct cephalopod is a member of the Hildoceratidae family, known for its compressed, involute shell and strong ribbing—a distinctive marker of its genus.

This beautifully preserved specimen was discovered on 13 May 2024 by our dedicated fossil team members Alister and Alison, and has been professionally cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison to reveal its exquisite natural detail.

The genus Haugia is named in honour of French palaeontologist Édouard Haug, and is a prized find among Jurassic ammonite collectors due to its defined ribbing and rarity in some localities. This particular specimen offers a superb example of the species' shell morphology and preservation, making it an excellent addition to any fossil collection.

Ideal for:

Collectors of UK Jurassic fossils

Museum displays

Educational collections

Natural history gifts

Enthusiasts of ammonites and marine life

ACTUAL AS SEEN:

The photograph provided shows the exact specimen you will receive. This fossil has been carefully hand-selected and professionally photographed. Measurements are as accurate as possible, but please note that minor deviations may occur due to natural shape. Colour and tone may vary slightly depending on lighting conditions and device screens.

Our Guarantee:

All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and include a Certificate of Authenticity. We do not sell replicas or synthetic materials—only authentic, responsibly sourced fossils, cleaned and prepared by our in-house experts.

[albino-parakeet]

Trying to draw a Tanaka version to match the 'Hikaru' and Yoshiki drawings I drew a bit ago.

And of course with my luck I have a migraine that is making me smell cigarette smoke.

The universe giving me the immersion of sitting close to this guy who chain smokes like his life depends on it.

[knuppitalism-with-ue]

Please welcome Franconiasaurus brevispinus!

A new plesiosaur from the early Jurassic of Germany and a important missing link in plesiosaur evolution! Congratulations to the three authors, here the paper for those who haven't seen it

I have a rather personal connection to this specimen because me and Sven were on a road trip to the EAVP meeting in Munich when we came across this fossil in Bayreuth. It was quite the surprise walking into the collection and finding this, already largely out of the matrix.

It was quite funny to see Sven dive right in and after roughly 15 min of looking at it proclaiming, "pretty sure that's a new genus", I think we had a name for it already on the drive back

Franconiasaurus wasn't an apex predator, that time hadn't come yet for plesiosaurs, but it fills an important evolutionary gap between basal and more derived plesiosaur clades of the Jurassic. Here a little overview of animals that lived with it. This formation, the Jurensismergel, isn't as productive as the underlying Posidonia shale, but it's also a thinner, and less studied formation. Quite a few fossils still await a proper description or a name. These Temnodontosaurus for example.

A little background for my illustration. The Jurensismergel appears to preserve largely a deep water environment but I wanted to show the animal not in a blue void or with some dark sludge near the bottom so I gave it a patch reef to rest on, sourced from some locally available Muschelkalk. The whole presentation is very much inspired by the collection of the Museum in Bayreuth. down to the Temnodontosaurus rostrum jutting out of the ground here. Saurichthys is known from the Jurensismergel but the Dapedium and other fish were burrowed from Posidonia.

when you zoom in you can see crustaceans climbing over and cleaning the Franconiasaurs.

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - May 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles! (EDIT: this was originally accidentally posted with only 3 articles, ig my internet farted, please rb this version with all 5 instead!)

1. Solar apprenticeships give Virginia students a head start on clean energy

“A regional partnership working to add solar panels to commercial buildings in the region aims to train young people as they go, developing workforce skills in anticipation of increasing demand for renewable energy-focused jobs in the heart of coal country, where skill sets and energy options are both changing. […] On top of hourly pay, apprentices get free equipment and a transportation subsidy, along with nine community college credits at Mountain Empire Community College, which provides classroom training before students step onto the job site.”

2. Generic drugs can be reliably supplied at big savings, study finds

“A new study finds that CivicaScript, a not-for-profit drug manufacturer in the US, can reliably supply essential generic medicines at a price that saves patients over 60%, and public and private insurers over 90%[….] The researchers say that CivicaScript's success proves that prioritizing patient access over investor profit in the generic pharmaceutical industry is not only possible, but also could be highly productive and cost efficient.”

3. This flat-bodied South African gecko was a 'lost' species. It's been found again after 34 years

“[The species was discovered] in northeastern South Africa in 1991 only to not be seen again. [In April 2025, scientists] saw 20-30 specimens and captured and photographed seven, [… and] the data they collected, including tissue samples, should allow them to confirm it is a distinct species. […] A mole that lives in sand dunes was found in 2021 after having not been seen for more than 80 years, and a butterfly, a lizard and a frog species have also been found again in the last four years after being lost to conservationists for decades.”

4. Australian researchers to trial flat-packed, lower-cost concentrated solar technology

““Industrial process heat accounts for a staggering 25% of global energy use and 20% of CO2 emissions,” explained [one of the researchers]. [… This new technology can] generate temperatures between 100-400 degrees celsius, highlighting its potential for reducing several industries’ reliance on fossil fuels. With these sorts of temperatures, the proprietary CST modules would be ideal for several processes such as grain & pulse drying, sterilising and wastewater treatment.”

5. Morocco unveils policies it hopes bolster the care and management of stray dogs

“[…] Morocco’s updated approach balanced public safety, health and animal well-being [… by ensuring that stray dogs] are examined, treated [(vaccinated and neutered)] and ultimately released with tags that make clear they pose no danger. […] It’s designed to gradually reduce the stray dog population while minimizing the need for euthanasia.”

May 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[outerwildsgeology]

Meet the Founders: Mohs

Outer Wilds Geological Survey Founder: Mohs, drawn by @dekkiidan Howdy! Thanks so much for stopping by the Outer Wilds Geological Survey database, it's always great to know there are folks out there interested in the amazing stories and secrets that our local, and not so local, geology can tell us!

Anyways, I'm Mohs - nice to meet you! I'm one of the founders of the survey alongside my good pal and esteemed colleague and pilot, Lari. Ah, yeah, most folks already know, I'm not a fan of flying . . . but that's why Lari is our pilot and not me. Besides, how can I solve the mysteries of the Quantum Shards with only the samples we have on Timber Hearth when there are more outcrops out there waiting to be analysed? Conclusion:- I can't! Unfortunately. And, you know, Lari hasn't crashed us! No yet, anyway.

Geology wise, my main areas of expertise lie in what most folks would call laboratory and technician work, so things like sample and specimen prep, sorting out thin sections for microscopy, and sawing large samples to get a nice clean surface for proper observational analysis. This is why you're more likely to find me in the museum prep. room than out in the field. Don't get me wrong, I love field work too, especially when Lari and I are wrangling a particularly tricky outcrop, or if there are fossils involved; but somebody has to ensure the survey sample and field note collections are properly organised, analysed and documented. And, I'm not sure if you've ever seen Lari or Hornfels' own collections, whether that be geological, astronomical or research based, but - well let's just say, I don't think they're the right hearthians for keeping things organised. Sorry Lari! Sorry Hornfels!

I'm also currently working on a research paper and presentation regarding Quantum Geology that has recently come along in leaps and bounds thanks to Hal and the hatchling's translation tool titled -

"Quantum Geology: A morphological mystery, or lost in translation?"

Because, you know, based on some of the latest translations, I really don't think the Nomai fully understood the complex nature of these curious shards, and I would love to crack the mystery of their formation and origins!

Ah, apologies, I got a little carried away there, heh! Well, if you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with either of us, we'll do our best to shed some light on the mysteries and puzzles of the amazing geological history of our solar system! And if you have any questions about Quantum Geology, or even want to share theories, I'm all ears!

Thanks again for stopping by!

[saritapaleo]

Archovember 2024 Day 4 - Preondactylus buffarinii

Preondactylus buffarinii was a tiny pterosaur native to Late Triassic Italy. The holotype had a wingspan of 45 cm (1.48 ft), though a second referred specimen had an estimated wingspan of 1.5 m (4.9 ft), which would mean the holotype is likely a juvenile. However, it is debated that the second specimen may not be the same species. Preondactylus had single-pointed teeth, and likely preyed on fish, arthropods, or both. It is known for its short, “primitive” wings, though it was still considered a capable flier. Some consider Preondactylus to be the most basal flying pterosaur, and it may be the oldest known.

The first fossil specimen of Preondactylus to be discovered had a bit of a tragic history, being accidentally broken into pieces while being extracted from a thin slab of limestone. After the stone was finally reassembled, it was cleaned off with water… which washed the bone away. All that was left was the imprint left on the stone, which was then made into a cast. A second (possible) specimen was found… in the fossilized gastric pellet of a predatory fish, which must have eaten the pterosaur and then vomited out the indigestable material. The third specimen consists only of a partial skull.

The Forni Dolostone Formation was a lagoon or shallow marine ecosystem. Preondactylus could have lived alongside fellow early pterosaurs Austriadactylus, Seazzadactylus and Eudimorphodon. Other reptiles included the tanystropheid Langobardisaurus and the drepanosaur Megalancosaurus. Fish like Sargodon, Thoracopterus, and Holophagus swam throughout the lagoon. Arthropods that Preondactylus could have preyed on included the spider Friularachne and a variety of crustaceans like the Glyphea Preondactylus is munching on above.

This art may be used for educational purposes, with credit, but please contact me first for permission before using my art. I would like to know where and how it is being used. If you don’t have something to add that was not already addressed in this caption, please do not repost this art. Thank you!

[glaucophane]

Don't Lick The Science (to see if it's a bone)

Although you can determine whether an object is a rock or a bone, here's an incomplete list of reasons not to do so:

It might be covered in animal urine/dung, if found outside

It's definitely covered in bat guano, if recovered from a cave

Just in general, it might be unsanitary and make you sick

You don't want someone else to handle something covered in your slobber

Human saliva could damage fragile specimens

Students in geology labs will baste hand samples with hydorchloric acid to see if the mineral reacts; these hand samples are not cleaned between lab sessions

There's a nonzero chance that the fossil will be radioactive

[blueiscoool]

Rare Mammoth Fossil Found by Coal Miners in North Dakota

Coal miners in North Dakota made an incredibly rare find earlier this year: a well-preserved, seven-foot-long tusk of an ancient mammoth.

The North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS) said in a press release on Monday that the miners discovered the fossil at the Freedom Mine near Beulah over the Memorial Day weekend.

A team led by paleontologists from the NDGS recovered more than twenty bones from the mammoth skeleton, including ribs, a shoulder blade, a tooth, and parts of the hips. The team spent 12 days excavating the old streambed where the skeleton was buried.

“Most of the mammoth fossils known from North Dakota are isolated bones and teeth,” said Clint Boyd, a senior paleontologist for the NDGS. “This specimen is one of the most complete mammoth skeletons discovered in North Dakota, making it an exciting and scientifically important discovery.”

After being stabilized in protective plaster jackets, the bones were transported to the Paleontology Lab at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck. There, they will undergo the slow and meticulous process of cleaning the attached sediment and stabilizing the delicate bones.

While that work continues, staff from the NDGS and the Freedom Mine are working together to develop a plan to integrate these fossils into an educational outreach program.

The goal is to ensure as many people as possible can see this specimen and learn what it tells us about life in North Dakota during the Ice Age.

Mammoths lived in North Dakota during the Pleistocene Epoch, commonly called the Ice Age, and went extinct around 10,000 years ago. Several species of mammoth lived in North America, including the Woolly Mammoth and the Columbian Mammoth. They lived alongside other iconic animals like saber-toothed tigers and giant sloths.

Once the bones are fully cleaned, paleontologists will be able to identify which species was collected from the mine.

[uk-fossils]

Lytoceras Fossil Ammonite - Beacon Limestone, Jurassic, Ilminster Somerset UK - Genuine Specimen with Certificate

This listing features a superbly preserved Lytoceras fossil ammonite, discovered on 18 April 2025 by our expert fossil hunting team Alister and Alison at Ilminster, Somerset, United Kingdom. This elegant marine fossil has been carefully cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison, revealing its graceful spiral and natural shell features.

Lytoceras is a genus of ammonites that lived during the Jurassic period, recognised by its smooth, involute whorls and flowing shell pattern. These cephalopods belonged to the Lytoceratidae family and thrived in open marine environments. Their fossils are typically found in limestone deposits like the Beacon Limestone Formation, which is renowned for its rich marine fossil assemblages.

You will receive the exact fossil specimen shown in the photos, displayed with a 1cm scale cube for accurate sizing.

Geological & Fossil Context:

Species: Lytoceras sp. (Ammonite)

Type: Fossilised marine cephalopod

Formation: Beacon Limestone

Location: Ilminster, Somerset, United Kingdom

Age: Jurassic (~201–174 million years ago)

Fossil Features:

Preservation: Excellent, with characteristic coiling and natural ornamentation

Preparation: Expertly cleaned and stabilised by Alison

Condition: Fully conserved, ready for display or academic use

Product Highlights:

100% Genuine Fossil Ammonite

Discovered and prepared by Alister & Alison

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

A striking specimen from one of Somerset’s most iconic Jurassic fossil sites

The Beacon Limestone at Ilminster is a classic British Jurassic locality, and this Lytoceras ammonite captures the elegance and detail of ancient marine life. Whether for study, display, or collection, this specimen is a timeless addition.

Please refer to the photos for exact scale and condition. The specimen shown is the one you will receive.

Own a beautifully preserved slice of prehistoric ocean life with this authentic Lytoceras fossil ammonite from Ilminster, Somerset.

[mediasaurs]

T. rex Madness Semi-Final: Fossil Specimen (Sue FMNH PR 2081) vs. Prehistoric Planet (Flirt Man)

Fossil Specimen (Sue FMNH PR 2081) – Arguably the most famous of all T. rex specimens. Discovered in 1990 through impressive luck and observation by the fossil’s namesake, Sue Hendrickson, Sue is also one of the best T. rex fossils, being 90% complete by bulk. Following a lengthy dispute over ownership, Sue was put up for auction, inciting fears that the fossil would end up in a private collection. With the help of various donors, Sue was purchased by the Field Museum in Chicago, and has been a fixture there ever since. Sue’s bones show signs of various injuries, including a parasitic infection in the skull. In 2018, Sue was moved to a new room at the Field Museum, featuring an updated assembly and an informational exhibit featuring the world in which Sue lived.

Prehistoric Planet (Flirt Man) – Standing in contrast with Hank, and having no commonly used fan-nickname, Flirt Man is an older, single T. rex just minding his own business, cleaning his wounds after a narrow victory over a Triceratops, when a female of his kind appears on the scene. Prehistoric Planet excels at showing varied behaviors and avoiding unnecessary dino fights, and this scene is no exception. Rather than coming to blows, the older male presents his neck and courts the female instead and, based on his impressive battle scars, she accepts his offer. Thus, a new generation of T. rexes will be born. No doubt, Flirt Man will have his own adventures in fatherhood in the months to come.

[cosmica-galaxy]

Pitching a fanfic idea that I've been thinking of for Skibidi Toilet the past few hours. Wonder what you all think about it. It's a story in which the skibidi war was won and it's set many years into the future in which the alliance and units are now the dominant race on the planet. Humans are extinct…until a pair of drillmen archeologists find a fossil of a human in some unearthed part of their expedition site. They study the fossil and remembered that Skibidis were the fabled enemy of the alliance in the war some hundreds of years ago…but this "skibidi" had a full body of calcium and no mechanical parts. So they take it to their lab for analysis.

They research it and find that--no--it's NOT a skibidi and they're curious as to what it actually is. If it's some other variant of biped that existed alongside the alliance once upon a time, they would make the discovery of their generation. But they need more than just bones to prove that their theory is correct. In fact, they just happened to be working with some prototype "reanimation" technology that was greenlit for use on their expedition, as it's part of the historical society that these drillmen were hired to work for. So they go to try and "reanimate" the fossil into a living being again. However, the reanimation process is taxing and difficult, as it requires the base of elements that make up a human. Carbon, Phosphate, ect. So it takes a few tries without ruining or damaging the specimen they managed to unearthed and they manage to finally effectively "clone" the fossil, revealing the first human that has been revived using this new technology. As a result of their reanimation, the human has a "clean slate", in which they approach the world as if it was brand new (in a sense that it literally is) and they imprint on the units that revived them, mostly the scientists. They have no memories of their past life or history, so they are primarily a subject that the research team experiments with and studies. The human is in their care for most of the time and due to their curious nature, they will get into a few misadventures of their own.

[ahopelessblogaboutdinosaurtrain]

Some random behind the scenes for The Runaways that didn't make it into the author's notes thus far:

On the journey to Troodon Town, between the storm sequences and Buddy & Annie attempting to hijack a time tunnel, there was going to be a sequence where Buddy & Annie accidently stumbled into another tyrannosaurus rex's territory and ate some carrion - only to realize after they ate that they were in another t-rex's turf. Too late! He found them out and is giving chase! Said t-rex was going to be directly based on the Scotty fossil - one of the largest t-rex specimens ever discovered. Of course the t-rex teens would escape, with them both saving the other's life once during the sequence. I decided to cut the whole thing out because I felt like the Pteranodon and T-Rex family's side of the narrative had run out of time before plot advancement. And with the two POVs running parallel to each other another sequence on Buddy & Annie's end would be hard to pull off.

I kept thinking "MINE MINE MINE" from Finding Nemo writing the raptor pack in The Tale Of Two Runaways.

For the sequence with Icarus, I initially was going to have Icarus meet Tiny in Troodon Town and lure her with the lie that he had seen Buddy. Tiny would have been portrayed easily falling for it, lack of street smarts, then getting attacked by Icarus once alone in the crags. That changed, and for the better, as this version of Tiny got smarter about this stuff from her time spent on the Train the past two years. I also wanted to portray her as less naive and more outright foolish and angry when she defies the Conductor's orders.

My original title for The Runaways was Uprooted Tracks. I felt like it didn't fit.

The name "Lorimer" means "a bridle maker" or "a harness maker."

The Conductor and Tiny are written to have a close mentor and student bond.

Buddy was initially going to try to drown himself in the large pond he found in the crags, then pull himself back up to the surface after the flashback. I chickened out of writing him actually attempting this.

There was going to be a second flashback after the flashback of Buddy's first hunt in Buddy's Choice. After the hunt, while eating, Annie would see Buddy just zoned out and still haunted, still a bloody mess. She would walk out and start cleaning him up, being soft and thanking him for saving her life. But I felt like it wouldn't fit in the chapter and couldn't find a good place to plop it in the following chapters.

Between The Ugly Truth and Icarus Tiny and Annie were going to pass each other walking and mutter "bitch..." under their breaths from their fight in The Ugly Truth. Couldn't find a good place for it.

I severely hate how much I neglected Don and giving him an arc in this fic, and am struggling to rectify it now. It's one of the reasons I have massive writer's block for chapter 22!

My favorite scenes to write in this entire fic include:

- The hadrosaur hunting scene.

- The triceratops hunting scene.

- Lorimer's introduction in Hunters.

- The flashback in Buddy's Choice.

- The trial scene in Clipped Wings.

- Buddy and Tiny being reunited in Icarus.

- The family reunion in Return From Darkness.

- Buddy and Annie's playfight in Storm Zone.

This entire fic is written with themes of grace, regret and forgiveness, bitterness, redemption, and second chances.

This fic is actively in its climax and I HAVE WRITER'S BLOCK HALP-

[specksizedgoddess]

Once upon a time there was a tiny speck of a girl. She'd scamper about the floor, living off crumbs and lint. While she cobbled together a meager existence she dreamt of being noticed by the owner of the apartment. She learned her schedule, when she showered (almost never), when she'd have floor time, when she'd eat raw ramen in bed or at her computer, even how long it'd take for her to burp after drinking an energy drink. Eventually the mote built up enough courage to approach the slobbish girl. She hiked all day to reach the spot where they'd typically lay down, waited, then once she was in place, began climbing her thigh, each oily hair like a handle for the tiny buggirl to ascend. Though the little thing picked quite a day because she was greeted by a twitching girldick and hand after finally summiting her thighs. After admiring for a while---a real girl, satisfying her real needs---, the giant stopped without finishing, and the bug continued to make her trek. Across the crumb-covered belly, the greasy bra, the sticky chest, finally she made it up to the girl's face. Nervous but eager, the tiny thing tried to speak up, "...h... uh... h-Hi!"

Her advance was immediately met with a yelp and jolt from the girl, the tiny bug cast to the floor, bones broken. After searching briefly, she found you amidst the clutter. She stared at you, her giant eyes consuming your bloody vision. You spoke up again, trying to introduce yourself and how much you loved her. Still bewildered, she got a loose candy wrapper and picked you up and placed you into an empty shot glass at her desk. That little cup became your home while you recovered. You'd watch her watch streams, she'd put crumbs in there--giant ones, her fingers unable to create crumbs small enough for your--as well as the occasional drop of water. Even after you had recovered, you didn't leave. She was noticing you, caring for you, even if only as a curious pet-like-thing.

As time went on, however, more cans built up around your glass enclosure. She got lost in her shows and games for longer and longer, your novelty having worn off and your insignificance forestalling her ability to even remember you were there in the first place. You waited, desperate to be seen again, until you were too emaciated to escape that tiny cup. The last thing you remembered before you dried out into a speck of dust, was touching yourself as you watched her jerk off to some porn--the cans and junk around you blocking your view of the screen. Though you did receive a proper sendoff--one befitting a horny speck of worthless dust. Long after you were gone, after she got another energy drink and was finally able to satisfy her needs as a real girl, she needed something to catch her mess... and how convenient, an empty shot glass was right within arm's reach.

And so would have ended the tale of the little horny speck, buried 6 mm under, though in cum rather than dirt, and with a eulogy that the speck could have predicted given the timing of her most recent energy drink: a fat, wet burp. "Would have ended", only that the cum dried and more was layered on as time marched on. Until the thing was a fossil under layers of sediment. A potentially precious specimen---had the girl not then thrown out the ruined shotglass rather than clean it.

~Love you 🐍💜

HSCJDBJDJVJCJDJCJDJCDJD OH MY GOD

FAVE FAVE VERY QUICKLY ADDING THIS TO MY FAVES TAG <33333333

I DONT EVEN HAVE ANY WORDS THIS IS JUST. MMMMPH <3

Oh to be an obsessive little bug of a girl, absolutely obsessed with someone... staring up at them every day, moaning with every action, they dont even know I exist... memorizing everything, touching myself, desperately fantasizing about them- finally working up the courage to talk to her...

Oh my GOSH I ffucking. moaned out loud at the "real girl" comment 😵‍💫

Happily waving, introducing myself, holding back my exitement... pretty soon, I'm spending every second in that glass, eagerly whimpering and staring at her- I never imagined I would get so close, let alone eat crumbs given by HER... I'm a moaning mess, exitedly watching everything she does...

And of COURSE I'm still happy when I'm weak from hunger~ just the honor of being hers, of being so close........ my last moments spent happy and horny~ she even gave me a proper sendoff, how thoughtful.... hchshchxhchds NEED OH MY GOD

[giacosketch]

Hi, I'm back and I drew a Chasmosaurus!

Hey hi!

It's been a while, huh? I'm going to dust off this old blog and see how things go. I like being able to archive my work, and having the opportunity to talk about it is also pretty nice :)

So anyways here's something I drew recently;

The Chasmosaurus!

Known for its huge, square like head, the Chasmosaurus is a ceratopsid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Period in North America.

Recently i went to the Royal Ontario Museum to film a project for school. While i was there i was looking at the Chasmosaurus mount they had on display.

I've seen it before. I love going to the ROM, and I've always liked this mount. It has a nice bit of motion in the pose. When I saw it, it looked as if the left front leg was raised, like it was mid-stride, and the head being slightly cocked down, as if it was grazing or showing off its massive frill.

Looking at it now, I can tell it's more of a flat pose, but the damage was done. I wanted to draw this!

I went home with the idea in my head, and a day or so later, I whipped up this pencil drawing.

I added a few things that the original fossil didn't have, such as the Chasmosaurus's horns. I'll admit I wasn't sure whether this was a male or female fossil, nor that the horns could've been lost to time on this specimen. I also added spikes/horns on the side of the frills that the original fossil also didn't have. I also included small hints of picpycnofibers on the back of the animal, a trait that many ceratopsians had.

when I was happy with the pencils, I moved onto the inks

I had fun with this. I live streamed the inking process over on my Instagram (@giaccosketch) i used two zebra brush pens to ink this.

and then I cleaned it up in Photoshop

BAM!

Blacked out some of the cross-hatching, as it didn't really translate well in the scan. I also cleaned up some of the lines and scan debris. I think I did a good job!

After I was done, I sent this over to Procreate and coloured it all in. I used a colour palette I made a while back for some fan art.

After some time, the final product came out, and I was really happy with it! This was the first time in a long while that I went through a whole process like this for a piece, and I think I'm going to do it again really soon.

Thanks for reading; I hope you liked what I had to say. See you next time!

[avacynthia]

@rockheadcd // monthly check-in continued from here!!

[sms: Cynthia] Excellent, I'll see you later this afternoon. Best of luck in your battles today.

[sms: Cynthia] The Amber will be our little secret until you can see it for yourself, of course. Restoration isn't out of the question, but I'll let you be the judge of that once you look it over.

[sms: Cynthia] This specimen requires an expert's appreciation, after all.

And with those parting texts fired off, Cynthia officially sets the rest of her travel day into motion: a quick stop at the Resort Area villa to clean up, followed by a long-overdue visit to Sinnoh's industrious mining town. (With the fossil securely wrapped and stored in her jet-black carrying bag, the champion can't help but feel excited for later--Roark's enthusiasm is certainly contagious!)

---

The Oreburgh Gym Leader is in the thick of battle with an upstart challenger when Cynthia casually sweeps into the craggy establishment, a smile already on her lips as she takes in the action. Despite the League limiting the levels of his Gym-sanctioned team, Roark's penchant for battling is on full display, as always. (That Cranidos can pack a serious punch...)

The young trainers sitting in the arena's humble stands try their best to play it cool, but--the champion is visiting here, oh my gosh--many fail to hide their starstruck expressions. Cynthia offers all of them a courteous wave and nod before making her usual check-in rounds, scanning the Gym's dusty perimeter and peeking into Roark's...cluttered office.

By the time she's done with her quick evaluation, the Gym battle is reaching its conclusion as well. Cynthia takes a seat with the rest of the audience, watching with rapt, invested attention as the match reaches its climax. Even now, this battle--and the intensity and skill informing it--makes her veins thrum with electricity, her fingers instinctively twitching towards her own Pokemon belt. God.

This feeling, this thrill...it never gets old.

[burdened-boy]

/ S / K / U / L / L /

[ think fast, @paleobird ]

"I don't know what I can give you for this," the pawn shop keeper muttered, training a flashlight on the skull, "Twenty dollars? I have no idea if its real."

An hour earlier, Limbo's shovel hit something hard in the dirt. He took a moment from digging a suspiciously human-sized hole, and pulled a football-sized skull, of seemingly avian origin, from the ground. Using the same hose to rinse the trunk of his car out, the hitman cleaned off the specimen, finding that it was almost fully intact.

Now, he was back in the city, standing outside of the pawn shop, having not traded the fossil for cash. It has to be worth something; when was the last time birds were that big?

Limbo would dedicate one more stop to trying to find a home for this bird, or it was going in the river. He had things to do.