The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s longstanding curator and world-renowned paleontologist, Dr. Hans-Dieter Sues, died on February 18, 2026, at the age of 68, following a brief illness. His death has left the scientific community mourning a brilliant mind and cherished collaborator.
He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1984 and went on to hold key positions at major institutions. He served as curator of vertebrate palaeontology at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, then as curator of vertebrate paleontology and chair of the Section of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh.
In 2005, he returned to the Smithsonian as Associate Director for Research and Collections at the National Museum of Natural History before transitioning back to the Department of Paleobiology in 2009.
Dr. Sues authored or co-authored more than 150 scientific papers, along with numerous books and monographs on Mesozoic and early Cenozoic vertebrates. His fieldwork took him across North America, China, and eastern Europe, focusing on the evolution of reptiles, early dinosaurs, and the reptile-to-mammal transition. His work provided key insights into ancient ecosystems and the origins of modern vertebrates.
One of his most notable contributions was the 2014 co-description of Anzu wyliei, a 500-pound oviraptorosaur from the Hell Creek Formation in North Dakota. Nicknamed the “chicken from hell” for its unusual appearance and size, this feathered dinosaur offered critical evidence of the dinosaur-bird link and ranks among the most complete large oviraptorosaurs ever discovered. In 2002, the dome-headed pachycephalosaur genus Hanssuesia was named in his honor.
Sues combined rigorous science with a deep commitment to public education and mentorship. He trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom now hold prominent positions in museums and universities. Colleagues remember him for his intellectual generosity, always sharing data, ideas, and credit while mentoring emerging professionals with warmth and humility.
Tributes emphasizing his revolutionary influence have been released by the Smithsonian Institution, Royal Ontario Museum, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and professional groups. His work continues to influence our knowledge of the origins of vertebrates, dinosaur evolution, and Mesozoic life. The paleontology community mourns the death of a leader whose compassion, collegiality, and scholarship set a standard that will last.