Jessie Maisano
Research Associate
The University of Texas at Austin

B.A. Geology, Kent State University (1994)
M.Phil. Vertebrate Paleontology, Yale University (1997)
Ph.D. Vertebrate Paleontology, Yale University (2000)

DigiMorph Contributions

DigiMorph brought me to the High-Resolution X-ray CT Facility at The University of Texas at Austin in January 2000 as a postdoctoral fellow. I have helped to oversee the scanning, image processing, and incorporation of specimens into DigiMorph. I have also taken an active part in producing the imagery, specimen summaries, and pages for the website.

From January 2004 to April 2012 I was a collaborator on the National Science Foundation Assembling the Tree of Life Initiative grant entitled The Deep Scaly Project: Resolving Squamate Phylogeny using Genomic and Morphological Approaches. My collaborators were Jacques Gauthier of Yale University, Maureen Kearney of the Field Museum (now with the National Science Foundation), Tod Reeder of San Diego State University, Olivier Rieppel of the Field Museum, Jack Sites of Brigham Young University, and John Wiens of SUNY Stonybrook. For Deep Scaly we scanned almost 200 Recent and fossil squamate taxa, which are gradually being posted to DigiMorph.

I am now the manager of the High-Resolution X-ray CT Facility (UTCT).

Research Interests

My research focuses on the skeletal morphology of lizards. Of particular interest are 'extra-skeletal' systems (e.g., osteoderms, endolymphatic system) and the postnatal development of the skeleton (e.g., secondary centers, sesamoids, terminal fusions), which I investigate using a combination of cleared and double-stained specimens and high-res CT.

Publications

Howarth, G. H., Sobolev, N., Pernet-Fisher, J. F., Ketcham, R. A., Maisano, J. A., Pokhilenko, L. N., Taylor, D., and L. A. Taylor. 2015. 3-D X-ray tomography of diamondiferous mantle eclogite xenoliths, Siberia: a review. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 101:39-67.

Howarth, G. H., Sobolev, N. V., Pernet-Fisher, J. F., Barry, P. H., Penumadu, D., Puplampu, S., Ketcham, R. A., Maisano, J. A., Taylor, D., and L. A. Taylor. 2014. The secondary origin of diamonds: multi-modal radiation tomography of diamondiferous mantle eclogites. International Geology Review 56:1172-1180.

Meyer, M., Elliott, D., Wood, A. D., Polys, N. F., Colbert, M., Maisano, J.A., Vickers-Rich, P., Hall, M., Hoffman, K. H., Schneider, G., and S. Xiao. 2014. Three-dimensional microCT analysis of the Ediacara fossil Pteridinium simplex sheds new light on its ecology and phylogenetic affinity. Precambrian Research 249:79-87.

Wan, B., Xiao, S., Yuan, X., Chen, Z., Pang, K., Tang, Q., Guan, C., and J. A. Maisano 2014. Orbisiana linearis from the early Ediacaran Lantian Formation of South China and its taphonomic and ecological implications. Precambrian Research 255:266-275.

Zolensky, M., Mikouchi, T., Fries, M., Bodnar, R., Jenniskens, P., Yin, Q-z., Hagiya, K., Ohsumi, K., Komatsu, M., Colbert, M., Hanna, R., Maisano, J., Ketcham, R., Kebukawa, Y., Nakamura, T., Matsuoka, M., Sasaki, S., Tsuchiyama, A., Grounelle, M., Le, L., Martinez, J., Ross, K., and Z. Rahman. 2014. Mineralogy and petrography of C asteroid regolith: the Sutter's Mill CM meteorite. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 49:1997-2016.

Stilson, K., Bell, C., and J. Maisano. 2014. Morphological data for Cryptagama aurita yield new insights into the endemic Australian agamid lizard radiation. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34:235A.

Chaudhary, K., Cardenas, M. B., Wolfe, W. W., Maisano, J. A., Ketcham, R. A., and P. C. Bennett. 2013. Pore-scale trapping of supercritical CO2 and the role of grain wettability and shape. Geophysical Research Letters 40:1-5.

Gauthier, J. A., Kearney, M., Maisano, J. A., Rieppel, O., and Behlke, A. D. B. 2012. Assembling the squamate tree of life: perspectives from the phenotype and the fossil record. Peabody Museum of Natural History Bulletin 53:3-308.

Wake, D. B., Rovito, S. M., Maisano, J. A., and J. Hanken. 2012. Taxonomic status of the enigmatic salamander Cryptotriton adelos (Amphibia: Plethodontidae) from northern Oaxaca, Mexico, with observations on its skull and postcranial skeleton. Zootaxa 3579:67-70.

Gauthier, J., Kearney, M., Maisano, J., and O. Rieppel. 2012. Assembling the squamate tree of life: perspectives from the phenotype and the fossil record. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 32:99A.

Molineux, A., Scott, R., Maisano, J., Ketcham, R., and L. Zachos. 2010. Blending rudists with technology; non-destructive examination of the internal and external structures of rudists using high quality scanning and digital imagery. Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences 19:757-767.

Zolensky, M., Herrin, J., Mikouchi, T., Ohsumi, K., Friedrich, J., Steele, A., Rumble, D., Fries, M., Sandford, S., Milam, S., Hagiya, K., Takeda, H., Satake, W., Kurihara, T., Colbert, M., Hanna, R., Maisano, J., Ketcham, R., Goodrich, C., Le, L., Robinson, G., Martinez, J., Ross, K., Jenniskens, P., and M. H. Shaddad. 2010. Mineralogy and petrography of the Almahata Sitta ureilite. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 45:1618-1637.

Maisano, J. A. 2010. DigiMorph.org, a voxel-based digital library of morphology. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 42:669.

Rieppel, O., Kley, N. J., and J. A. Maisano. 2009. Morphology of the skull of the white-nosed blindsnake, Liotyphlops albirostris (Scolecophidia: Anomalepididae). Journal of Morphology 270:536-557.

Maisano, J. A. 2008. A protocol for clearing and double-staining squamate specimens. Herpetological Review 39:52-54.

Rieppel, O., Gauthier, J., and J. A. Maisano. 2008. Comparative morphology of the dermal palate in squamate reptiles, with comments on phylogenetic implications. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152:131-152.

Maisano, J. A., and O. Rieppel. 2007. The skull of the Round Island Boa, Casarea dussumieri Schlegel, based on high-resolution X-ray computed tomography. Journal of Morphology 268:371-384.

Maisano, J. A., Kearney, M., and O. Rieppel. 2007. Variation in the inner ear skeleton in squamates: a preliminary report. Journal of Morphology 268:1102.

Molineux, A., Scott, R. W., Ketcham, R. A., and J. A. Maisano. 2007. Rudist taxonomy using X-ray computed tomography. Palaeontologia Electronica 10.3.13A.

Rieppel, O., and J. A. Maisano. 2007. The skull of the rare Malaysian snake Anomochilus leonardi Smith, based on high-resolution X-ray computed tomography. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 149:671-685.

Rieppel, O., Conrad, J. L., and J. A. Maisano. 2007. New morphological data for Eosaniwa koehni Haubold, 1977 and a revised phylogenetic analysis. Journal of Paleontology 81:760-769.

Maisano, J. A., Kearney, M., and T. Rowe. 2006. Cranial anatomy of the spade-headed amphisbaenian Diplometopon zarudnyi (Squamata, Amphisbaenia) based on high-resolution X-ray computed tomography. Journal of Morphology 267:70-102.

Bever, G. S., C. J. Bell, and J. A. Maisano. 2005. The ossified braincase and cephalic osteoderms of Shinisaurus crocodilurus (Squamata: Shinisauridae). Palaeontologica Electronica 8.1.14.

Evans, S. E., Lally, C., Chure, D. C., Elder, A. and J. A. Maisano. 2005. A Late Jurassic salamander (Amphibia: Caudata) from the Morrison Formation of North America. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 143:599-616.

Kearney, M., Maisano, J. A., and T. Rowe. 2005. Cranial anatomy of the extinct amphisbaenian Rhineura hatcherii (Squamata, Amphisbaenia) based on high-resolution X-ray computed tomography. Journal of Morphology 264:1-33.

Bell, C. J., Evans, S. E., and J. A. Maisano. 2003. The skull of the gymnophthalmid lizard Neusticurus ecpleopus (Reptilia: Squamata). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 139:283-304.

Stuppy, W. H., Maisano, J. A., Colbert, M. W., Rudall, P. J., and T. B. Rowe. 2003. Three-dimensional analysis of plant structure using high-resolution X-ray computed tomography. Trends in Plant Science 8:2-6.

Maisano, J. A. 2002. Postnatal skeletal ontogeny in Callisaurus draconoides and Uta stansburiana (Iguania: Phrynosomatidae). Journal of Morphology 251:114-139.

Maisano, J. A. 2002. Postnatal skeletal ontogeny in five xantusiids (Squamata: Scleroglossa). Journal of Morphology 254:1-38.

Maisano, J. A. 2002. The potential utility of postnatal skeletal developmental patterns in squamate phylogenetics. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22:82A.

Maisano, J. A. 2002. Terminal fusions of skeletal elements as indicators of maturity in squamates. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22:268-275.

Maisano, J. A. 2002. The potential utility of postnatal skeletal developmental patterns in squamate phylogenetics. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 136:277-313.

Maisano, J. A., Bell, C. J., Gauthier, J. A., and T. Rowe. 2002. The osteoderms and palpebral in Lanthanotus borneensis (Squamata: Anguimorpha). Journal of Herpetology 36:678-682.

Maisano, J. A. 2001. A survey of state of ossification in neonatal squamates. Herpetological Monographs 15:135-157.

Maisano, J. A. 2001. Digital preparation of a beautifully preserved rhineurid (Squamata: Amphisbaenia) via high-resolution CT. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 21:76A.

Maisano, J. A. 2000. Postnatal skeletal development in squamates: Its relationship to life history and potential phylogenetic informativeness. Ph.D. Dissertation, Yale University. 1227 p.

Rowe, T. B., Colbert, M., Ketcham, R., Maisano, J., and P. Owen. 2001. High-resolution X-ray computed tomography in vertebrate morphology. Journal of Morphology 248:277-278.