Ichthyoconodon

Manipulonyx by Conner Ashbridge.

Alvarezsaurids are highly unusual dinosaurs in that they have short but powerful forelimbs with thick claws. Typically they are interpreted as analogous to modern anteaters and similar mammals, using their claws to dig for termites and ants. However, a 2025 paper on the newly discovered Manipulonyx, a taxa with odd carpal spikes, have noted that the forelimbs are too short to reach termite mounds. Instead, these animals are interpreted as egg eaters, using the forelimbs to grab and pierce dinosaur egg shells.

While an interesting hypothesis, I feel it has its own share of problems. If alvarezsaurid arms are two short to reach termite mounds, they surely are also too small to reach eggs, as most dinosaurs (including some Mesozoic birds) burried their eggs on the ground. I also question the ecology of an obligate egg-eater; there are modern snakes of the genus Dasypeltis and Elaschistodon that do feed primarily on eggs, but they’re cold blooded animals. An endothermic dinosaurs would likely have to feed on multiple eggs per day, and there would have been times of absence like dry seasons or harsh winters.

Additionally, dinosaurs usually develop hand spikes when engaging in interpecific combat; many modern birds with spurs can attest to this. I doubt that the spikes of Manipulonyx, being hard and inert, would have been better to collect eggs than to simply fight other Manipulonyx.

Overall, the mystery of alvarezsaurid diet continues.

Two half-brothers, one white and one indigenous, receive a grant for their movie “Endless Cookie” (meta I know) and the movie is about the day to day after that.

This is clearly a deeply personal movie, seeing as the characters are based on real people, and for that there’s a sweet touch to the writting and charactierisation. I will say though, that it gets very surreal at times, and the pacing could use some work.

The animation is gorgeous and fluid. The character designs not to much, but they add to the surreal feel.

A strong recommendation.

As foretold by a constellation, Kayara is destined to become a great runner, but the position of chasqui is male-only in the Inca Empire. Will she break the mold?

As you can guess, this is a girl empowerment movie, and I feel it does it’s job well without being too preachy. The characters have realistic motivations and emotions.

The animation is alright, working with the budget they had. The character designs are somewhat caricaruresque, which further helps this movie to stand out.

Overall a great piece educating the audience about pre-colonial South America, and thus a must watch.

El Guapo (real name Judas) lives in a demented and vice-driven version of Tijuana, Mexico. He comes into conflict with the titular cartel, the Narco Vampires, and comedy, drama and sexy times ensue.

This movie is unapologetically adult, with barely dressed women, swearing and gratitious violence galore. The animation aids in this, as there is a lot of surreal weirdness to drive the almost drug-fueled spectacle to life. And in spite of it, there are legitimately mature themes; you just have to dig through a lot of black comedy to get there.

A strong recommendation provided you’re not a kid.

Murdoch drove by the lanes of Payton. He checked his watch:

“Right on point.”

He looked at the sun, now laying low on the horizon. The shortest day of the year was almost over, and he got out of the car to bask in it’s rays. He took a seat on a nearby bench, thinking about everything and nothing all at once. He closed his eyes, the sun’s warmth in his eyelids and the flashing afterimage a bright gold in his vision.

“Excuse me, can I sit here?” a voice said.

Murdoch calmly opened his eyes and turned his head. A lynx, not much older than himself and dressed for athleticism, was still jogging.

“Sure” the fox said.

“Thank you” he said, sitting on the bench.

For a moment there was an awkward silence.

“So, you seem quite fit” said Murdoch, with a sly grin on his face.

“Oh, thank you. I find it easier to jog in winter, since it’s not so hot.”

“I suppose the longer nights help.”

“Yeah. I’m from Canada, so I enjoy these cold nights. Handle them better than most of my friends.”

“Interesting. Whelp, I guess it will be downhill from today, since the winter solstice just ended.”

“Oh, didn’t notice that. I thought it was going to be on Christmas?”

“Nah, it’s almost always today or yesterday every year. I keep track for… personal reasons.”

“You’re one of those pagan folks?”

“You could say that. Does it bother you?”

“Not at all! I’m Christian myself, but I like to hear wisdom from other faiths.”

“Now that’s nice. I wish more people were as open minded as you.”

“Well, I have to be. I’m also in a relationship with a man, so no use in being bigoted.”

“Ah, same here. Guess Payton attracts gay folk like moths to a candle.”

“Bisexual, actually, but yeah.”

Another silence passed.

“Well, I have to get going. My name’s TJ.”

“Murdoch.”

They shook paws – despiste the exercise, TJ’s were not sweaty in the least because they couldn’t be – and exchange phone numbers. After that TJ went on his merry way, leaving Murdoch to contemplate on their meeting.

Just so, the sun dipped bellow the horizon. And a lovely stoat welcomed him back home.

Turns out I’m Mardu. Previous result was Jeskai, so it seems that Red/White is my consistent alignment

Princess Saira starts the story having broken up with her partner due to her smothering and insecure nature, and over the course of this movie she learns to be more confident and love herself.

Lesbian Space Princess has a style of humor that can be quite surreal at times, but it foremostly doesn’t trade the emotional center of this piece.

A high recommendation.

Sydney and TJ were in their bedroom.

Dawn just started to break, waking the more sensitive feline. Both he and his husband were sensitive to the heat, but TJ felt light more intimately. Maybe it was his spirituality, maybe because his species was adapted to long stretches of day and night. Whatever the reason, he turned to face Sydney, and soft purred. He tried to not wake him up yet, but passing his paw through those strong arms was impossible to resist.

He laid his head on Sydney’s chest, feeling his heartbeat. They quickly noted that their heartbeats tended to match, a sign that they were good matches for one another.

Sydney yawned and opened his bright blue eyes, matching TJ’s own. The two snouts met in a passionate kiss, a sign that they were well alive for each other. The kiss lasted but a minute, a trail of saliva falling on the bed.

“Good morning, handsome” Sydney said.

TJ puffed. He wanted to take the lead.

“Good morning, my love.”

Sydney chuckled, and the two embraced, holding each other tightly. Sydney kissed TJ softly on his head, then his cheek. TJ held Sydney’s paw on his own and kissed it.

“Maybe I’m brainless/Maybe I’m wise.”

“Aw, that movie really left an impression on you, didn’t it babe?”

“Elphaba shouldn’t have left the fight” TJ pouted.

“Yet she did, and the problems magically solved themselves.”

“I know, it’s just not good seeing the marginalised not having their happy ending.”

“What do you mean, she has scarecrow dick.”

Both chuckled, before kissing again.

“I love kissing you” TJ said.

“Same, babe. Our mouths weren’t made for eating, but for love…”

Sydney’s stomach then rumbled.

“I’ll go prepare breakfast, my treat.”

Before TJ could protest Sydney left.

It was a short wait, but every second without him still hurt the lynx in a way. They shared a couple of hasbrowns and bacon.

Outside, the winter sun rose, but TJ dared it not to set.

For ten thousand lifetimes

I tried and applied

To all under the sun:

Cloud

Water

Earth

Metal

Air

Flame

Yet it is the last that endures,

Though not in a recognisable phase.

I’m crowned by the sun,

Even as clouds conspire,

Oceans twirl,

Cold bites.

I have had many loses,

But not anymore,

Not as the heat consumes,

The light scars the clouds.

I’m power,

I’m immense,

I’m a star of my own consequence.

My anger clears my mind,

Does away with the trivial

And respite.

Wings unfolded,

The phoenix rises.

A recent study describes a tooth from a South American multituberculate. Previous multituberculate fossils have been found in Australia (Corriebaatar), India (Indobaatar) and Madagascar (a femur from the Maevarano Formation), with this fossil not only proving their presence in South America but also directly establishing a clade previously thought only to have occured in the northern hemisphere: Ptilodontoidea.

As to how this affects my lovely spec evo project Multituberculate Earth? Not much, as I already have a clade of gondwannan ptilodontoidean multies, and it’s nice to have science reinforce my work. The study does suggest that ptilodontoideans likely became extinct in the southern hemisphere during the KT event, so the Paleocene origin I gave the group kinda goes both ways.

Overall a good discovery that highlights the diversity of this group of mammals.