Ricardo Ely

Ely
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Ricardo Ely graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2017 with a degree in Biology. He did research with Dr. Judd Case on a dromaeosaurid from James Ross Island, Antarctica, as well as on fossil lizard material from the Etadunna and Namba Formations of South Australia, dating to the Late Oligocene. His research include various tetrapod groups throughout the Phanerozoic, particularly dinosaurs, vertebrate paleontology, evolutionary biology, macroevolution, and in paleobiodiversity patterns in response to abiotic factors such as climate change and tectonic processes.

Ricardo began at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, in the Fall of 2017 in the Department of Animal Biology’s Master’s of Science program with full funding. He is currently a PhD candidate. Ricardo was also admitted to a PhD program at the University of College London and a MS in Geology at Indiana University.


McNair Faculty Research Mentor 2016: Dr. Judd Case – Biology
Research Title: Basal Deinonychosaur from the Early Maastrichtian, Antarctic Peninsula and the Biostratigraphy of the Latest Cretaceous Dinosaur Fauna of Antarctica

Abstract: We offer a re-description of an early Maastrichtian, gigantic, basal deinonychosaur from James Ross Island, Antarctica. In 2004, researchers found the remains of a theropod previously referred to Dromaeosauridae, a clade which includes Velociraptor and Deinonychus. Referral to this clade is not supported in our phylogenetic analysis due to certain aberrant morphological features. Turner et al. (2012) notes the lack of a distal, ginglymoid articulation of metatarsal II signifies a placement at least within Deinonychosauria, but not Dromaeosauridae. The specimen also lacks an enlarged ungual of the second pedal digit. Our phylogenetic analysis reveals this theropod to be the basalmost deinonychosaur, a sister taxon to the clade Troodontidae+Dromaeosauridae. However, bootstrapping supports a trichotomy of this theropod, Troodontidae, and Dromaeosauridae with 77% of bootstrapping replicates. We also offer the first biostratigraphic placement of most Campanian-Maastrichtian, non-avian Antarctic dinosaurs and can determine the contemporaneous dinosaur fauna of this theropod.

To learn more about Dr. Judd Case and Ricardo Ely’s research, check out this article in the Spokesman Review.


Ricardo Ely, McNair Scholar, and Judd A. Case Publish New Findings!

Phylogeny of a new gigantic paravian (Theropoda; Coelurosauria; Maniraptora) from the Upper Cretaceous of James Ross Island, Antarctica   Mentor: Dr. Judd A Case, Dept. of Biology at Eastern Washington University   A description with phylogenetic analyses is provided for Imperobator antarcticus, gen. et sp. nov., an early Maastrichtian, basal paravian (Theropoda; Maniraptora) from the Naze Peninsula, … Read more

Ricardo has been accepted into University College London

Ricardo has been accepted into the University College London for a Masters program! This is exciting for him as it is such a wonderful opportunity! Awesome job Ricardo.

Ricardo was accepted into Indiana University

Ricardo Ely has been accepted into the Masters of Science in Geology program at Indiana University! Great job Ricardo!

Ricardo is Accepted into the University of Illinois

Ricardo Ely has been accepted into the University of Illinois in Champaign’s Ph.D. program in Animal Biology. What great news Ricardo! Congratulations!

Ricardo Presents at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Salt Lake City, Utah

McNair Scholar, Ricardo Ely, presented his research October 28th at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Salt Lake City, Utah. He delivered a poster presentation with his advisor Dr. Judd Case on a Theropod Dinosaur from James Ross Island, Antarctica.