Staff & Faculty Directory

Todd Green investigates comparative and functional anatomy of extinct and extant archosaurs, a group that includes avian dinosaurs (birds), non-avian dinosaurs, crocodylians, and pterosaurs. Green’s research focuses particularly on the group of birds known as paleognaths, which include tinamous, moas, elephant birds, ostriches, rheas, kiwis, emus, and cassowaries. To better interpret the biological roles of anatomical structures in the fossil record, he studies modern analogs from ontogenetic, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives.

The functional significance of bizarre ornaments, such as the cranial casques of cassowaries—rare, flightless birds from the rainforests of Australasia—are poorly understood in even modern representatives. Green’s recent work describing the development of cassowary casques uses techniques such as micro-CT imaging, geometric morphometric shape analysis, gross dissection, and fieldwork with live animals. These investigations have helped shed light upon cassowary biology, as well as the potential biological roles of their ornaments. Such insight is essential for making meaningful comparisons between modern cassowary casques and the ornaments of extinct, non-avian dinosaurs. Understanding how headgear originates and changes in evolutionary time aids in our understanding of ecomorphology and developmental patterning in deep time.

Green received a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in 2020, a M.S. in Zoology in 2012, a B.S. in Biology and Zoology, as well as a Minor in Geology in 2008 from Colorado State University. Outside of academia he also has interests in science outreach, biological art, photography, hiking, and ice hockey.