A paleontologist who unearthed a Cretaceous ammonite in Hokkaido (10 years ago)

Photo from a post by @ammo_ammo_ammo

The photo that became a hot topic was posted by paleontologist Daisuke Aiba, who studies the evolution and ecology of ammonites. In response to the call for "researcher's formal wear," Mr. Aiba presented a photo of himself with a giant ammonite on a riverbank!

While the sheer power of the ammonite drew a flood of surprised comments like, "This is amazing," and "It's huge!", many people were captivated by the surreal contrast of his deadpan expression while making a double peace sign. Comments poured in, such as, "You should look happier," "The deadpan face slowly gets to you," and "I love how the face and pose don't match."

The giant ammonite was found alone during his student days

A photo taken after bringing the excavated ammonite back to his lodging

Mr. Aiba worked at the Mikasa City Museum in Hokkaido for eight years and is now continuing his research at the Fukada Geological Institute in Tokyo. The viral photo was taken in Tomamae Town, Hokkaido, when Mr. Aiba was a graduate student at Yokohama National University. At the time, he was staying long-term in Haboro Town, immersed in fieldwork, when he discovered this giant ammonite while surveying alone. He mentioned that excavating it from the hard rock was a challenge, and carrying it to his car was quite an ordeal.

However, Mr. Aiba received a shock when he started working at the Mikasa City Museum the following year. "The Mikasa City Museum had even bigger and more amazing ammonites lying around everywhere. I lost interest in this one, stashed it away somewhere, and now I have no idea where it is. Since then, even if I find a large ammonite, I don't take it home; I leave it for the next person to find," he said.

"Most beautiful in its natural state"

A photo from the actual excavation of the ammonite

Taking the opportunity of this viral topic, Mr. Aiba also provided a photo of the ammonite as it was embedded in nature before excavation. "They are most beautiful in their natural state," he says. In 2024, he published a book titled "Introduction to Ammonitology," which provides a detailed explanation of ammonites.

Many people were charmed by Mr. Aiba's single photo, which is packed with his passion for ammonites and his sense of humor.