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New species of #Jurassic mammal from the #Scotland! My co-authors and I have just published on Borealestes cuillinensis, from #IsleofSkye. With a stunning #palaeoart reconstruction by @Matt_Humpage. (Video in thread 
) #MesozoicMammals #mammals #fossils https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/advance-article/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa144/6118471?searchresult=1
) #MesozoicMammals #mammals #fossils https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/advance-article/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa144/6118471?searchresult=1
Check out this video about the new discovery! There are two fossil skeletons, both from Skye. One belongs to B. serendipitus, but the new species B. cuillinensis is smaller, with differences in the teeth & skull.
B. cuillinensis was found by @ButlerLabBham in 2018. We realised it was a new species when we examined the CT scans. We named it after the stunning Cuillin mountains (An Cuiltheann). They watch over our site, & the fossil teeth resemble their peaks. #MesozoicMammals #IsleofSkye
The fossils are not complete, but we were able to reconstruct the skull for each species. These were then used by @Matt_Humpage to create digital models, which are available free on @Sketchfab. B. cuillinensis: https://skfb.ly/6YxSy B. serendipitus: https://skfb.ly/6YxSA
None of this would be possible without the help of lots of people: @JohnMuirTrust & @nature_scot for access, our funders, Mike Waldman & our fieldwork teams for their hard work, our insightful reviewers, lab technicians, & many others who contributed along the way. Tapadh leibh!
