John Nyakatura

Historical illustration titled "Toothless Animals and Duck-Bill" from 1889, featuring five animals in a natural landscape. A bristly armadillo (Dasypus setosus) is depicted near the center on grassy terrain, showing its distinct armored, segmented shell and short legs. Surrounding it are a great ant-eater with black and white fur and a long snout, a duck-bill platypus near water, a scaly ant-eater with brown overlapping scales, and a three-toed sloth with a baby clinging to its back in a tree. The scene blends detailed animal features with rocky cliffs, grass, and a water body in the background.

🛡 Natural history of the animal kingdom for the use of young people
Brighton: E. & J.B. Young and Co., 1889.

[Source]

a group of goats standing in a grassy field looking at the camera Alt: a group of goats running towards the camera

I don't think that the reviewers asking me for higher animal numbers really understand how many 40 goats are. Do you know the CHAOS that comes with dealing with 40 GOATS in an experimental setting!
Mice people cannot comprehend.
3 goats alone ate a tarp, a clock, and 2 expensive accelerometers!

Climbing behaviors of tree-dwelling mammals unlock insights on early primate evolution Researchers have shed new light on the features that enable tree-dwelling mammals to move effectively through their environments, providing insights into the evolution of the distinct upright postures seen in primates.

Comparisons of climbing behaviors in arboreal mammals indicate that adaptations for vertical descent, including upright postures, played a key role in early primate evolution. doi.org/hbppbb

Our paper, based on a uniquely large dataset of vertical descent behaviours in arboreal mammals, is published in @elife.bsky.social. The findings offer fresh perspectives on reconstructing postures in early primates.
You can find the accompanying press release here: elifesciences.org/for-the-pres...

Scaling of internal joint distance in the elbow of small‐ to medium‐sized mammals: Implications for range of motion analyses We investigated the internal joint distances (IJDs) of the humero-ulnar and humero-radial joint, within a sample of 15 small- to medium-sized mammals and report isometric results. We also found that ...

Scaling of internal joint distance in the elbow of small‐ to medium‐sized mammals: Implications for range of motion analyses - Scheidt - Journal of Anatomy - Wiley Online Library onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Graph showing the estimated metabolic costs of different seabirds (including the extinct Pelagornis) flying with their bill partly submerged underwater. Points above a dashed line indicate that this behavior is energetically unlikely.

Biomechanical and energetic considerations indicate that the giant extinct seabird Pelagornis could not feed like a skimmer: royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article... 🪶🧪 (📷Hellyer-Price et al.)

Muybridge series of pictures of a bird in flight

Muybridge series of pictures of an elephant walking

Muybridge series of pictures of a horse jumping

After teaching my motor control lecture, I was pleasantly surprised to run into some Muybridge originals at the Birmingham Museum of art (for free)!
Before his photos in 1878, we didn't know how horses galloped because it was too fast to capture, which is why they look so odd in old paintings! 🧪

Scaling of internal joint distance in the elbow of small‐ to medium‐sized mammals: Implications for range of motion analyses We investigated the internal joint distances (IJDs) of the humero-ulnar and humero-radial joint, within a sample of 15 small- to medium-sized mammals and report isometric results. We also found that ...

Our latest paper is just out 🤩!
If you enjoy functional morphology and comparative biomechanics, Adrian's work on the internal joint spacing and its implications for modelling range of motion in the joints of mammals, will be something for you.
Cheers!

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Why does biology keep building things out of tiles? Science talks with two scientists about finding the beauty in nature’s mosaics

More info on our recent paper in this interview in Science...

Why does biology keep building things out of tiles? | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

Explore our interactive online catalogue of biological tilings:
🔗 tessellated-materials.mpikg.mpg.de
If you know of a biological tiling example we’ve missed, we’d love to hear from you—feel free to get in touch so we can include it!

Tiled material systems: Exploring biodiversity and multifunctionality of a universal and structural motif Abstract. Humans are drawn to patterns and hierarchies in nature, mimicking them particularly in decoration and architecture. Natural patterns, however, ar

Thrilled our multi-year work on biological tilings is out in @pnasnexus.org!
From virus shells to dinosaurs, seeds to fish scales—tilings are everywhere in biology.
Explore the paper and our interactive catalogue (link following in next post):
doi.org/10.1093/pnas...

🚨 Final Call!
Don't miss your last chance to submit a poster abstract for the Annual Meeting of the German Zoological Society 🦎🐦🧬
Contribute your research, connect with colleagues — and be part of it!
Submission closes tomorrow. Be there or be square!

Journal of Zoology is now on Bluesky! Follow us to discover what we've published recently in our scientific journal covering all areas of #zoology - and find out more about us at zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1469... @zslscience.bsky.social

Our paper reviewing the neurophysiology of swallowing just came out! We detail 70 years of progress towards understanding neuromotor functioning in feeding, and highlight several emerging technologies for the future

Check it out at the link below -
journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10....

Abstracts due today!
Join us in Berlin to explore the full spectrum of zoological research. Expect excellent speakers, an unforgettable evening beneath iconic dinosaur exhibits, engaging city excursions, satellite symposia etc..
Limited slots remain for talks and posters—submit yours now.
#DZG2025

Whoop whoop!

Kate Marvel & Friends: Feeling Climate Change The climate scientist is joined by a group of special guests to share insights, data, and stories that reflect how it feels to live in a changing world.

Today's the day!
www.nypl.org/events/progr...

Gentle reminder: #DZG2025 in Berlin!

The extended Early Bird registration is ending soon. Nab the reduced rate NOW and join us in Berlin. 🤩

dzg-meeting.de

We are lucky to have Merly Vogt (Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Munich) and @beetzjerome.bsky.social (Uni Wuerzburg) as speakers for the neurobiology section 🤗

Wow! Happy to see that the subject groups invited such high-profile speakers as "headliners" for their sections.

Make sure to nab the reduced fee!
#DZG2025 in Berlin

Lower gallery of the Museum of Zoology

📢WE'RE HIRING📢Could you be our new Senior Collections Lead? Would you enjoy working with one of the UK's most important natural history collections? Apply by 22 June to look after our amazing Collections Management, Care & Conservation team. @camunivmuseums.bsky.social www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/51272/

Ever wondered how the shape of the genital bone in male Harbour #seals develops throughout #ontogeny?

Berghäuser, Wölfer, Böhmer @vertevo.bsky.social & @johnnyakatura.bsky.social @jzoology.bsky.social 2025 Morphology & development of the baculum in harbour seals P. vitulina doi.org/10.1111/jzo....

Sounds like a plan :-)

Why join #DZG2025 in Berlin? Reason #4: A wonderful public lecture (open to everyone without registration).

dzg-meeting.de
#share #like

Why join #DZG2025 in Berlin? Reason #3: Insightful excursions to diverse (biologically relevant) places in Berlin. Check out our website!
E.g., the Ihnestraße Memorial

dzg-meeting.de
#share #like

Bird feeders have caused a dramatic evolution of California hummingbirds Beaks have grown longer and larger, and ranges have expanded to follow the feeders

Bird feeders have caused a dramatic evolution of California hummingbirds | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪

New paper alert! @keifferwilliams.bsky.social has spent many years refining the application of complexity measures to highly variable 🐟🦷 he explains how you can do it in his first chapter of his PhD in @sicbjournals.bsky.social

Why join #DZG2025 in Berlin? Reason #2: Ice-Breaker event in the @mfnberlin.bsky.social spectacular dinosaur hall!
For example…
#share #like

dzg-meeting.de

Come and work with us for a few months on a standalone project! Up to £3,000 (c. 3560 EUR) available for students or postdocs to visit a new lab like ours 👀 Deadline 6th June, but get in touch with me ASAP to discuss your ideas and interests!