A new genus of terrestrial lizard is named after Edward O. Wilson, Faculty Emeritus in the MCZ. Wilsonosaura is dedicated to Prof. Wilson in recognition of his lifelong contributions to biodiversity research and conservation. The genus is described in the journal Salamandra. 

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The MCZ is now accepting applications for a Vertebrate Paleontology Technician and Preparator. 

The Vertebrate Paleontology Technician and Preparator operates and manages the Paleontology Preparation Laboratory and cares for fossils in the vertebrate paleontology collection. Research priorities of the department are established by the Faculty-Curator, Stephanie Pierce.

... Read more about Now accepting applications for Vertebrate Paleontology Technician and Preparator

A recent study from MCZ Faculty-Curator of Lepidoptera, Naomi Pierce, and collaborators, looked at tissues in butterfly wings that are supplied by circulatory, neural and tracheal systems, indicating that the wing is a dynamic, living structure. Behavioral assays show that butterflies use wings to sense visible and infrared radiation, responding with specialized behaviors to prevent overheating of their wings. The study is published in... Read more about Living portions of butterfly wings prevent overheating

Congratulations to Stephanie Pierce, MCZ Faculty-Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, recipient of the 2019 Fannie Cox Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching for her exceptional teaching in introductory science courses. Courses Stephanie teaches include How to Build an Animal, Vertebrate Evolution, and The Fishy Aspects of the Human Body.  Read more about Stephanie Pierce awarded prize for Excellence in Science Teaching

With profound sadness, we note the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Jim McCarthy, on December 11th after a protracted illness. Jim was a towering figure, whose impact as a scholar, policy advisor, and human being was extraordinary. The MCZ community is greatly diminished by his loss, and we will all feel Jim’s absence deeply.

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A new paper co-authored by MCZ Postdoctoral Fellow Tiago R. Simões (in the Stephanie Pierce Lab) describes snake fossils recently excavated in Argentina, helping to answer long-standing questions regarding the early evolution of snakes. The paper was published in Science and featured in the... Read more about A new light on the evolution of the snake body plan

The lab of MCZ Faculty-Curator of Ichthyology, George Lauder, and a team of researchers from the University of Virginia, developed a robotic tuna that can accurately mimic both the highly efficient swimming style of tuna and their high speed. The robot and related research is described in Science Robotics and the... Read more about Robotic tuna can help us understand the physics of how fish move