Uploaded December 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Paleontologists today look at more than just fossil evidence to learn about organisms that lived millions of years ago. For this episode we visited Dr. Katrina Jones at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology to learn how she dissects and examines animals living today in the search for answers about the movements and evolution of early synapsids!

The specimens in this episode were found dead in the wild, and legally obtained with government-issued salvage permits. Do not touch, pick up, or otherwise attempt to obtain parts of or entire animals you may find dead without properly authorized permits.

This is part two in a three-part series supported in part by The Field Museum, the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, and The National Science Foundation (!!!!). Watch Part 1 here: youtu.be/opBalCaq5m8

Big thanks to Drs. Ken Angielczyk, Stephanie Pierce, and Katrina Jones for their immense help and accommodation during the creation of this series.

Want to learn more about this research? Here's the gist:

Mammals are known for their great range of locomotor behaviors, including unique gaits such as galloping and bounding. These gaits are made possible by the subdivision of the backbone into two distinct regions: the thoracic region, which bears ribs and aids in breathing; and the lumbar region, which is ribless, highly mobile and functions in locomotion. Combined, these two sections of the backbone allow mammals to breathe and move simultaneously, permitting the use of high speed gaits for prolonged periods of time. But, how did this key mammalian trait evolve? Using cutting-edge 3D technology, along with the rich fossil record of mammals and their ancestors, this research will trace the origin and evolution of the mammalian backbone and its link with the development of mammal-specific locomotor behaviors. The work will deepen our understanding of the history of a key characteristic of mammals and part of the skeleton that is of great medical importance.
Retrieved from: http://1.usa.gov/1MHCXQm

"Dimetrodon is Not a Dinosaur"
youtu.be/-tdVPiyVDsQ

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Producer, Writer, Creator, Host:
Emily Graslie

Producer, Editor, Camera, Graphics:
Brandon Brungard
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This episode is supported in part by:
The Field Museum in Chicago, IL
(http://www.fieldmuseum.org)

And filmed on location at:
The Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University
(http://www.mcz.harvard.edu/)

The National Science Foundation:
Grants NSF EAR-1524938 and EAR-1524523
(http://www.nsf.gov)