Larisa DeSantis

By Fabiana Fragoso, PhD – ESI Scientific Communications Volunteer For more than a century, paleontologists have debated what the prehistoric mammals known as “hell pigs” were actually eating. Despite their nickname, these animals were actually more closely related to whales and hippos than to modern pigs. With unusually long… Read More

By Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Archaeotherium, better known by the irresistibly dramatic nickname “Hell Pigs,” belong to an extinct group of mammals from the Eocene and Oligocene. The animals were neither hellish nor pigs, but their odd mix of features has made them a favorite for researchers. Graduate… Read More

DeSantis and Gnash with a saber-toothed cat! Nashville, TN – April 4, 2025 – A innovative study led by researchers from Vanderbilt University sheds new light on the dietary ecology of the iconic saber-toothed cat, Smilodon. The study, published in a special issue on sabertoothed organisms in The Anatomical Record,… Read More

By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator The National Center for Science Education supports teachers in accurately conveying what can often be seen as the difficult or even politicized concepts in science. Making strides to help teachers understand topics like climate change and evolution are high priorities for the… Read More

On Saturday, 3/26/22, a handful of members of the Evolutionary Studies Initiative took a field trip to Coon Creek Science Center (CCSC) to dig for fossils. It was a beautiful day where many trainees that have never studied paleontology got to get out and do some field work. Attendees… Read More