Joy Reidenberg

Joy S. Gaylinn Reidenberg is an American comparative anatomist specializing in the vocal and breathing apparatus of mammals, particularly cetaceans. She is best known as the Comparative Anatomist in the TV science documentary series Inside Nature's Giants where she has dissected a number of animals varying in species. In addition, Reidenberg has also contributed to several other TV documentaries centered around animal life and anatomy. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards ranging from academic honors to film and recognition awards. In 2024, she has also participated in the first dissection of a rare species of whale.

Education

Reidenberg became interested in animal science and art as a high school student. She earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1983, a master's from the Icahn [School of Medicine at Mount Sinai|Mount Sinai School of Medicine] Graduate Program in Biological Sciences in 1985, and a doctorate in Biomedical Sciences: Anatomy in 1988. There, she worked with anthropologist Jeffrey Laitman.

Career

Media

In 2009, a British production company now known as Windfall Films approached her about coming to Ireland on short notice to help dissect a 19.8 m fin whale that had washed up on the south coast. She conducted the dissection, and the company was so happy with her performance that they asked her to become a regular contributor to Inside Nature's Giants, dissecting a variety of animals, and explaining their anatomy. These animals include: fin whale, sperm whale, lion, tiger, elephant, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, python, great white shark, giant squid, camel, kangaroo, cassowary, baboon, leatherback sea turtle, polar bear, race horse, giant jungle insects. Reidenberg has also starred in the 4-episode series "Sex in the Wild", also known as "Born in the Wild", about animal reproduction in elephants, orangutans, dolphins, and kangaroos. She was also featured in a 3-day live series called "Big Blue Live" on PBS about marine life in Monterey Bay, California. In November 2013, she held a TED Talk about the respiratory functions of whales and how they are used in communication and echolocation.
She has also made appearances in many other TV documentaries on PBS, BBC, CBC, SBS, NatGeo, Science Channel, Discovery, Channel 4, and many other networks, including:Mythical Beasts], in various episodes.Lost Beasts Unearthed, in various episodes.

An episode of Nature, titled "The Whale Detective"
An episode of Natural World, titled "Humpback Whales: A Detective Story"
In episode 2 of Brave New World with Stephen Hawking.
An episode of Wild Alaska Live.
An episode of NOVA titled "When Whales Could Walk."
An episode of The Nature of Things titled "The Mystery of the Walking Whale."

Academic

Reidenberg works in New York City and is a professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai's Center for Anatomy and Functional Morphology, where she teaches in the Structures Course. She was also the Course Director for General Anatomy at the New [York College of Podiatric Medicine]. from 2014 to 2020.

Spade-toothed whale dissection

On December 2, 2024, Joy Reidenberg participated in a week-long dissection of a 5-meter male spade-toothed whale in New Zealand. She was one of three US anatomists to join the dissection, led by Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, partnering with Te Papa Atawhai, the Tuhura Otago Museum, and the University of Otago. The dissection was the first of its kind, as only 6 specimens of the species have been recorded as of 2024. She was fascinated by working with the Māori people, along with learning their beliefs and practices.