Brian Beatty, Ph.D., specializes in evolutionary biology, paleontology, anatomy, and paleopathology. His research focuses on marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, and manatees, as well as hoofed mammals such as camels, deer, and extinct forms. In addition to teaching courses on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and gross anatomy, Brian serves as managing editor of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology and runs his own blog, The Aquatic Amniote, where he shares news and insights about marine mammals, marine reptiles, and the evolution of aquatic amniotes.
He is also a research collaborator for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and a research associate for the Virginia Museum of Natural History and the University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center.
Brian received his Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Kansas, master’s degree in anatomy at Howard University, and bachelor’s degree in zoology with a minor in geology at the University of Florida.
Some Recent Projects/Research
- Evolution and development of whale, dolphin, and porpoise skulls
- Using dental microwear as a record of animal-environment interaction
- Paleontological field projects, discovering fossils in Jamaica, Baja California Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, and Southeastern North America.
- Works with NYITCOM faculty and students on topics of clinical importance in orthopedics, including neurovascular variations of muscles of the hand and knee.
Recent Publications or Presentations
- Beatty, B.L. & Cockburn, T. (in press). “New insights on desmostylian origins and ontogeny from a partial skeleton of Behemotops (Desmostylia, Mammalia) from Vancouver Island, British Columbia.” Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
- Ciano, J. & Beatty, B.L. (in press). “Regional quantitative histological variations in human oral mucosa.” The Anatomical Record.
- Young, M., Beatty, B. L. Brusatte, S. Steel, L. (in press). “First evidence of denticulated dentition in durophagous/macrophagous teleosaurid crocodylomorphs (Teleosauridae: Machimosaurus).” Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.
- Lambert, O., Bianucci, G. and Beatty, B. L. 2014. “Bony outgrowths on the jaws of an extinct sperm whale support macroraptorial feeding in several stem physeteroids.” Naturwissenschaften 101:517-521.
- Racicot, R. A., Deméré, T. A., Beatty, B. L., Boessenecker, R. W. (2014). “Unique Feeding Morphology in a New Prognathous Extinct Porpoise from the Pliocene of California.” Current Biology 24(7): 774-779.
Honors & Awards
- NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine Standard of Excellence Award
- Guest Professor, College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
Courses Taught at New York Tech
- LBD 506 Nervous System and Behavior
- LBD 505 Musculoskeletal System
- MMPU 820 Anatomy Laboratory Trainer I