The overall tone is highly positive, with discussions emphasizing the significance of the find—such as the earliest evidence of sand dune adaptation by ancient amniotes—that shifts understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. Words like 'cool', 'first', and 'significant' convey excitement and highlight the intellectual and scientific impact of the research, fostering deep engagement among enthusiasts and scholars.
AgreementStrong agreement
Most discussions highlight the significance of the findings, with many emphasizing that the discovery extends the known history of amniotes inhabiting desert environments by at least eight million years, demonstrating strong support for the publication's
InterestHigh interest
The discussions show high interest, with many posters expressing fascination with the ancient trackways and praising the discovery as remarkable and cool, indicating curiosity and engagement.
EngagementHigh engagement
Several comments reference specific details of the findings, such as mention of the different footprint patterns and implications for understanding early reptile adaptation, reflecting deep involvement.
ImpactHigh impact
Discussions frequently suggest that the research has substantial implications for paleontology and our understanding of early vertebrate adaptation to dry environments, implying high perceived impact.
Abstract in brief
This study reports the discovery of two ancient tetrapod (four-legged animal) trackways in eolian (wind-blown) sandstone from the Pennsylvanian period in the Grand Canyon, representing the earliest known fossil evidence of amniotes (reptiles and their relatives) living in sand dune environments.
The two trackways show different patterns, with one indicating a shallow undertrackway with a sideways drifting footprint pattern possibly used to navigate a slope, and the other being a deeper undertrackway with aligned claw marks, suggesting the animals moved directly uphill at a slow speed.
These findings extend the known history of amniotes inhabiting desert dune ecosystems to at least 8 million years earlier than previously thought, indicating that early reptiles or synapsids adapted to living in dry, sandy environments during the Pennsylvanian Epoch.
Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos #scicomm https://t.co/QqnjbE29kV
Aug 21, 2020 · 412 likes · 74 shares · 2,686,509 followersView post →
JH
John Hawks
@johnhawks · X
Grand Canyon trackway discovery: "They represent the earliest known occurrence of dunefield-dwelling amniotes―either basal reptiles or basal synapsids―thereby extending the known utilization of the desert biome by amniotes by at least eight million years" https://t.co/VLo02IlB9v https://t.co/ZYdZ2hgPoG
Aug 20, 2020 · 24 likes · 8 shares · 28,402 followersView post →
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Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
@TomHoltzPaleo · X
#PLOSONE: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Ca ... https://t.co/ohRLi0xPrZ
Aug 20, 2020 · 22 likes · 7 shares · 32,084 followersView post →
This video explores the interactions between prehistoric predators like Dilophosaurus and giant caimans, highlighting recent findings of predation in Miocene South American wetlands, including early crocodilians preying…
This video explores recent discoveries in paleontology, including dinosaur extinction, ancient predator-prey behaviors, and the ecological dynamics of prehistoric wetlands, shedding light on the interactions and…
Eolian processes meet fossil trackways! The best of both worlds! Rowland et al., PLOS ONE: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways
https://t.co/tuyqduKxXn
Aug 24, 2020 · 16 likes · 3 shares · 12,973 followersView post →
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Gwenaëlle, PhD
@getneuro · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 24, 2020 · 74 shares · 3,219 followersView post →
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geocappiello
@geocappiello · X
#24August #August24
"Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways"
S. M. Rowland et al
PLoS ONE 15(8): e0237636
https://t.co/HTqqCJ6l7O
@GCanyonNews #fossilfootprints #Pennsylvania #GrandCanyon #paleontology https://t.co/vGkV9k6cPH
Aug 24, 2020 · 3 likes · 1 share · 1,906 followersView post →
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BeanAwake
@BeanAwake · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 24, 2020 · 74 shares · 183 followersView post →
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EduMaritime
@edumaritime · X
Top story: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways https://t.co/LUVXih1EX5, see more https://t.co/JDo3bLVujG
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 23, 2020 · 74 shares · 27,472 followersView post →
US
University of Bristol Earth Sciences
@UoBEarthScience · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 23, 2020 · 74 shares · 4,545 followersView post →
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Talla Hopper
@TallaHopper · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 23, 2020 · 74 shares · 822 followersView post →
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Nicholas Fletcher
@nkfletch00 · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 23, 2020 · 74 shares · 508 followersView post →
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Tim Shin
@gneiss_tim · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 23, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,274 followersView post →
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Megan O'Sullivan
@PoseySessions · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 23, 2020 · 74 shares · 2,678 followersView post →
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H UGATTO
@Bacomeiser · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 154 followersView post →
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Scott Melnyk
@IchnoMelnyk · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 354 followersView post →
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Jacob Rudolph
@gr8fuljake85 · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 190 followersView post →
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Andrew Lonero
@And1129 · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,878 followersView post →
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Sam
@tehsma · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 395 followersView post →
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Datu Adiatma
@mas_datu · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 521 followersView post →
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Graham Ramsay
@grahamramsay · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 137 followersView post →
PL
PlanetEarth@Lakehead
@PlanetEarthGeol · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,003 followersView post →
BD
Barbara Wortham, Ph.D.
@BabsWortham · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 567 followersView post →
AG
African Geoscientists
@AFRICANGeosci · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,209 followersView post →
LM
❄️ Liz Madsen ❄️☃️
@Paleonut_ · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 2,124 followersView post →
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@Kaskir
@Kaskir6 · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 22 followersView post →
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corcendare
@corcendare · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 77 followersView post →
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Colin Morley
@wessexougs · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 247 followersView post →
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Christopher Dean
@PrincessQuatris · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 983 followersView post →
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chez starbuck
@lili_gasparr · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 357 followersView post →
DH
Dr. Khánh Tô (she/her)
@TheKhanine · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 611 followersView post →
AD
Anna-phibian Croco Deyle
@AnnaDeyle · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 3,356 followersView post →
BH
Based Hatter
@BasedHatter · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 4,492 followersView post →
HF
Heather Furlong
@Heather_F4 · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 316 followersView post →
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Dr Liam Herringshaw
@fossiliam · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 2,312 followersView post →
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Lisa Boulanger
@BoulangerLab · X
I noticed this trackway as I hiked up Bright Angel Trail in Sept 2016, but had no idea it was so recently exposed. Cool to learn it may have been made by a basal amniote sidestepping up steep sand. https://t.co/nHgiX2BYnL https://t.co/x84Ixgsu4f
Aug 22, 2020 · 1 like · 1,466 followersView post →
BS
[bB][oO][nN]{2}\S{1,3}
@SNUGSFBay · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 4,152 followersView post →
PI
Pureblood Tom (#imissmyemptyfreeways)
@tomgarseeya · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 309 followersView post →
XR
Xena Warrior Queen "Je ne regrette rien!"
@XnaWarriorQueen · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,338 followersView post →
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scyrene
@scyrene · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,860 followersView post →
CF
Critical Gravitas Support Failure
@lowongravitas · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 27 followersView post →
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Michael Saggio
@MichaelSaggio · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 794 followersView post →
MU
m@d#u
@SacriliciousM · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 279 followersView post →
AS
Andrej Spiridonov
@AndrejSpiridon4 · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,815 followersView post →
SP
Space Pirate
@Drebin405 · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 14 followersView post →
FL
Fossil Locator
@FossilLocator · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 17,793 followersView post →
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FrecklesXX20
@FrecklesXX20 · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 6,479 followersView post →
EM
Emily G Mitchell
@EGMitchell · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 2,624 followersView post →
JC
Jose Cuevas
@JoeMCuevas · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 697 followersView post →
SH
Scott Hartman
@skeletaldrawing · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 15,501 followersView post →
JD
Jess Miller-Camp, Ph.D.
@DeadGators · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 718 followersView post →
DA
Dr. Darren Abbey
@thebiologistisn · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 8,457 followersView post →
LD
Lee Drake
@Lee__Drake · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 2,215 followersView post →
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AlexRyH
@AlexRyH · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 103 followersView post →
MC
Matt Challacombe
@MattChallacombe · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,940 followersView post →
MS
Meikedit.bsky.social
@Michelle_dit · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 479 followersView post →
LR
Leigh Anne Riedman
@NeoprotFossil · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 419 followersView post →
DS
Dr. Darcy Shapiro
@darcy_shapiro · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,495 followersView post →
ZG
Zuni Dinosaur Institute for Geosciences
@ZDIG_Official · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 796 followersView post →
AP
Ashley W Poust
@AshPoust · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 2,508 followersView post →
CB
Chase Brownstein
@ChaseBrownstein · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 1,766 followersView post →
JM
Jonathan Mitchell
@JonSMitchell · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 22, 2020 · 74 shares · 279 followersView post →
JH
Jeff Karp (Pronouns: he/him/his)
@MrJeffKarp · X
Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Ca ... https://t.co/HAZB0P3gBy
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 21, 2020 · 74 shares · 240 followersView post →
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Jellenne
@Jellenne · X
RT @Cara_TXZEAL: Geek Alert ...
Paleontology
Grand Canyon
Reptile aka tretrapod track fossils
These trackways are the first tetrapod tr…
Aug 21, 2020 · 3 shares · 48,946 followersView post →
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Cara TXZEAL
@Cara_TXZEAL · X
Geek Alert ...
Paleontology
Grand Canyon
Reptile aka tretrapod track fossils
These trackways are the first tetrapod tracks reported from the Manakacha Formation and the oldest in the Grand Canyon region.
https://t.co/AOo86yPL9G
Aug 21, 2020 · 5 likes · 3 shares · 13,710 followersView post →
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Igor Carron
@IgorCarron · X
RT @MCHammer: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos…
Aug 21, 2020 · 74 shares · 5,300 followersView post →
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MC HAMMER e/acc
@MCHammer · X
Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways #Hamm400aos #scicomm https://t.co/QqnjbE29kV
Aug 21, 2020 · 412 likes · 74 shares · 2,686,509 followersView post →
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Darío Estraviz López
@DarioEstraviz · X
RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Ca ... https:…
Aug 21, 2020 · 7 shares · 2,949 followersView post →
AS
African Synchrotron
@AfSynchrotron · X
Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Canyon trackways https://t.co/tlAEf5RD6Q via @PLOSOne https://t.co/mYNc6I317a
RT @johnhawks: Grand Canyon trackway discovery: "They represent the earliest known occurrence of dunefield-dwelling amniotes―either basal r…
Aug 20, 2020 · 8 shares · 1,197 followersView post →
JH
John Hawks
@johnhawks · X
Grand Canyon trackway discovery: "They represent the earliest known occurrence of dunefield-dwelling amniotes―either basal reptiles or basal synapsids―thereby extending the known utilization of the desert biome by amniotes by at least eight million years" https://t.co/VLo02IlB9v https://t.co/ZYdZ2hgPoG
Aug 20, 2020 · 24 likes · 8 shares · 28,402 followersView post →
CO
Colecionadores de Ossos
@Colecionadores2 · X
RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Ca ... https:…
Aug 20, 2020 · 7 shares · 6,259 followersView post →
RC
Richard_Carr
@EmuLarge · X
RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Ca ... https:…
Aug 20, 2020 · 7 shares · 1,855 followersView post →
DS
Dr. Claudia Serrano
@paleoduck · X
RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Ca ... https:…
Aug 20, 2020 · 7 shares · 637 followersView post →
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SJW Godzilla Punishes Hubris
@majingojira1 · X
RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Ca ... https:…
Aug 20, 2020 · 7 shares · 481 followersView post →
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Andrew Milner
@AndrewTracks · X
RT @TomHoltzPaleo: #PLOSONE: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Ca ... https:…
Aug 20, 2020 · 7 shares · 1,420 followersView post →
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Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
@TomHoltzPaleo · X
#PLOSONE: Early adaptation to eolian sand dunes by basal amniotes is documented in two Pennsylvanian Grand Ca ... https://t.co/ohRLi0xPrZ
Aug 20, 2020 · 22 likes · 7 shares · 32,084 followersView post →
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Pennsylvania Grand Canyon Trackways: Ancient Basal-Amniote ...
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https://journals ... org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal .pone.0237636 This is the more layman's and a lot more interesting article about it.