John Fronimos
Education
PhD, Geology University of Michigan 2016
MS, Geosciences Texas Tech University 2010
BS, Geology University of Texas at San Antonio 2008
Professional Experience
Lecturer
Auburn University
2020–Present
Visiting Assistant Professor
Vassar College
2017–2020
Lecturer
Eastern Michigan University
2016–2017
Innovation
Dr. John Fronimos is a paleontologist whose research focuses on the systematics, evolution and biomechanics of giant sauropod dinosaurs. He studies the biological factors that contributed to their evolutionary success and enabled them to become the largest land animals in Earth’s history.
His work also examines sauropods from the end of the Cretaceous Period to determine whether these animals were declining or thriving before the asteroid impact that led to their extinction. His research has taken him to the deserts of West Texas for fieldwork and to museum collections across North America, South America and Europe.
Selected publications
- Fronimos, J. A. and Woodward, H. N. (2025). Ontogenetic assessment from dorsal ribs in a mature titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, e2559012.
- Fronimos, J. A. (2023). Patterns and function of pneumaticity in the vertebrae, ribs and ilium of a titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 43, e2259444.
- Fronimos, J. A. (2021). Morphology and neurovascular anatomy of a titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) osteoderm from the Upper Cretaceous of Big Bend National Park, Texas. Cretaceous Research, 120, 104670.
- Fronimos, J. A. and Wilson, J. A. (2017). Concavo-convex intervertebral joints stabilize the vertebral column in sauropod dinosaurs and crocodylians. Ameghiniana, 54, 151–176.
- Fronimos, J. A. and Wilson, J. A. (2017). Neurocentral suture complexity and stress distribution in the vertebral column of a sauropod dinosaur. Ameghiniana, 54, 36–49.
- Fronimos, J. A., Wilson, J. A. and Baumiller, T. K. (2016). Polarity of concavo-convex intervertebral joints in the necks and tails of sauropod dinosaurs. Paleobiology, 42, 624–642.
