Scientists reveal new insights into a crocodile-sized sea-dwelling reptile that lived 242 million years ago in southern China. The 'hammerhead' creature, Atopodentatus unicus, used its unique jaw to scrape and filter-feed on plants from the ocean floor.
A recent study analyzed genome-wide data from 51 ancient Eurasians, providing insights into the genetic history of modern humans in Eurasia before agriculture began. The findings indicate a decrease in Neandertal ancestry and suggest natural selection against certain variants.
Scientists find 21-million-year-old fossil evidence of mammals traveling from South America to North America. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of Western Hemisphere monkeys, revealing they stopped migrating north due to a barrier of North American vegetation.
The discovery of the fossil monkey provides evidence for the interchange of mammals between South and North America, challenging long-held views of South America as an island continent. The new genus and species, Panamacebus transitus, suggests that monkeys may have unintentionally rafted across on mats of vegetation.
Researchers found that bird-like dinosaurs with toothless beaks were able to survive on seeds after the meteor impact, while those with teeth went extinct abruptly. The study suggests that dietary adaptations played a crucial role in the survival of modern birds.
Researchers found that young birds can produce mature flight strokes despite underdeveloped muscles and wings. Leg-wing cooperation enables juvenile birds to flap like adults, improving traction as they climb.
The discovery of seven fossil teeth in the Las Cascadas Formation reveals a long-lost monkey species on the North American continent before the Isthmus of Panama connected it to South America. The new species, Panamacebus transitus, was named after Panama and its movement across the ancient seaway.
New research on Asilisaurus fossils reveals that early dinosaurs grew at a faster rate than previously thought and didn't follow the expected pattern of size being a predictor of maturity. The study found that muscle scars on fossil bones were more related to growth patterns than sex differences.
Researchers from Yale, Oxford, and Imperial College London describe a new species of ancient arthropod that carried its young in capsules tethered to its body. The creature, named Aquilonifer spinosus, lived about 430 million years ago and had unique brooding strategies to protect its eggs and embryos from predators.
A team of international scientists has created the first 3D atlas of the dodo's skeletal anatomy, using two exceptional skeletons that have remained unstudied for over a century. The atlas provides accurate relative proportions and describes several previously unknown bones, opening new pathways for paleobiology and evolution research.
Field Museum scientists, along with colleagues, have solved the mystery of the Tully monster, a bizarre aquatic animal found in Illinois 307 million years ago. The team determined that the monsters are jawless fish similar to today's lampreys, based on analysis of over 2,000 specimens from the Field's collection and X-ray scans.
A newly discovered Microwhip scorpion fossil from the Mesozoic period has been found in Burmese amber. The fossil, named Electrokoenenia yaksha, is a tiny, yellowish creature that lived alongside dinosaurs 100 million years ago.
Researchers analyze Kolponomos fossils and compare them to those of Smilodon, finding similarities in jaw structure suitable for anchoring against prey. The study suggests that Kolponomos may have used an anchor-biting strategy to pry hard-shelled invertebrates from rocks.
A University of Queensland-led study has discovered two new species of extinct kangaroos that couldn't hop but may be ancestral to modern wallabies and kangaroos. The ancient creatures lived around 15-23 million years ago in a densely forested landscape, outcompeting their fanged cousins.
A team of researchers found gene flow from early modern humans into Neanderthals around 100,000 years ago. This discovery challenges previous estimates and suggests that some modern humans may have left Africa earlier than thought.
Researchers discovered a new species of extinct worm lizard in Texas, dubbed the 'Lone Star' lizard. The discovery sheds light on how certain animal groups responded to climate change in the past and provides insight into potential future adaptations.
The European Research Council has granted Dr. Thomas Tütken a Consolidator Grant to investigate when the first land-based vertebrates began to use plants as a food source. By analyzing fossil teeth, he aims to reconstruct past food webs and extinction patterns of early land vertebrates.
A new species of duck-billed dinosaur, Eotrachodon orientalis, has been identified from the Appalachian region, providing insight into its origins and dispersal. The discovery sheds light on how these dinosaurs spread across the world after the seaway lowered, opening a land corridor to western North America.
Researchers found that Pangea's assembly and unique climate conditions led to the creation of coal deposits. The study challenged a popular hypothesis suggesting an evolutionary lag between plant life and microbial decomposition.
A team of researchers tracked a rare 66-million-year-old tyrannosaur footprint trail in Wyoming, shedding new light on the dinosaur's speed and hunting habits. The study suggests that even young tyrannosaurs were capable of rapid movement, challenging previous theories about their sluggish nature.
Researchers have published the results of their scientific findings on a juvenile Chasmosaurus, one of the rarest dinosaur discoveries. The study provides new insights into the evolution and life history of horned dinosaurs.
A nearly complete skeleton of a well-preserved early carnivorous mammal, Galecyon, has shed light on the ecology and evolutionary relationships of hyaenodontids. The fossil, dating back to the Eocene Epoch, suggests that these ancient animals were adaptable ground-dwelling creatures, unlike their tree-climbing or runner relatives.
A newly discovered skeleton of the hyaenodontid Galecyon provides insight into the ecology and evolution of early mammalian carnivores. The study reveals diverse habitat preferences among early hyaenodontids, explaining how they coexisted despite similar diets and body sizes.
Scientists have reevaluated the emergence of early dinosaur relatives and their connection to the first dinosaurs. The new findings suggest a shorter time gap between the two, dating back around 234-236 million years, contradicting previous estimates.
A recent study by an international group of evolutionary biologists has convincingly refuted the proposition that comb jellies are the phylogenetically oldest extant metazoan group. Sponges are now reaffirmed as the first phylum to diverge from the common ancestor of metazoans, restoring the classical view of early animal evolution.
A study found that fossilized bees from 50 million years ago were finicky about the pollen they fed their larvae, always collecting it from the same plants. The bees also ate a wide variety of things on their own flights, showing they didn't waste time searching for specific food sources.
Scientists have found definitive evidence that ancient brain tissue can fossilize. A team of researchers has discovered seven fossils of the extinct arthropod species Fuxianhuia protensa, which contain preserved brains. The brains were preserved as flattened carbon films and demonstrate a density similar to modern crustacean brains.
The study found that mammal body size decreased by 10-20% during warm periods in the Bighorn Basin, with some lineages experiencing dwarfing. The findings add to evidence of a link between climatic change and animal populations.
A new study on the fossil bone growth of Ophiacodon, a distant relative of mammals, reveals that it was at least partly 'warm-blooded', challenging the long-held theory of its origin. The findings suggest that mammalian endothermy evolved earlier than previously thought, dating back to the late Carboniferous period.
Researchers have discovered that ancient elasmosaurs, such as Aristonectes and Morturneria, used a comb-like structure in their jaws to strain out food particles from the water. This unique feeding style is similar to that of modern baleen whales and allows for efficient collection of food particles.
Paleontologists discover two new transitional species of duckbilled dinosaurs with intermediate characteristics, suggesting a shift in growth patterns and development over time. The findings provide insights into the evolution of hadrosaurid dinosaurs, highlighting the importance of heterochrony in understanding evolutionary processes.
Researchers analyzed over 500 mummified seal remains to understand the impact of changing ice conditions on their diet and ecology. Crabeater seals showed little isotopic change, while Weddell seals underwent a shift in dietary values, indicating adaptations to a changing environment.
Fossils of ancient sharks estimated to be between 18 and 26 feet in length, with the largest specimen being 25% bigger than today's largest predatory shark. The discovery pushes back the fossil record of giant sharks by 170 million years.
Researchers found a decrease in weaning age among fossil mammoths, suggesting human overhunting was the primary cause of their extinction. The study used nitrogen isotopes preserved in tusks to estimate weaning ages and found a significant decrease from 7 to 4 years.
New data suggests that ancient humans played a role in the extinction of large mammals, birds and lizards in Australia. The study's findings place human predation as the most likely cause, with a 10,000-year lag between human arrival and impact on megafauna.
A recent discovery of an Ornithomimus dinosaur with preserved tail feathers and soft tissue is shedding light on the convergent evolution between dinosaurs and birds. The findings suggest that these dinosaurs used feathered regions to regulate body temperature, similar to modern ostriches.
A new fossil discovery of an adolescent Tyrannosaurus rex fills a critical gap in the species' growth stages, supporting research on its evolution. The find, named 'Jane', shows features intermediate between juvenile and adult T. rex, resolving decades-long debate.
Researchers discovered that dinosaurs utilized their elaborate nasal passages as heat exchangers to maintain optimal brain temperatures. This innovative mechanism allowed them to regulate their body temperature efficiently, solving the long-standing puzzle of how dinosaurs kept their brains from overheating despite their large bodies.
Researchers studied a 320-million-year-old fossil using X-ray microscopy, revealing evidence of its digestive system for the first time. The discovery sheds light on the early evolutionary history of echinoderms and highlights previously unknown differences between ancient and modern species.
A team of scientists has unearthed a 2-foot-long, 76-million-year-old fossil of an extinct turtle species with a unique pig-like snout, providing valuable insights into the evolution of turtles. The discovery sheds light on the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on ancient ecosystems.
Researchers found that weaning age decreased by about three years over 30,000 years leading up to the woolly mammoth's extinction. This shift suggests hunting pressure was a primary cause of extinction, contradicting previous hypotheses pointing to climate change.
A 125-million-year-old fossilized mammal named Spinolestes xenarthrosus has remarkably preserved fur, hair follicles, hedgehog-like spines, organs, and even a fungal hair infection. The study pushes back the earliest record of preserved mammalian hair structures by over 60 million years.
A team of researchers found a fossilized mammal from the Cretaceous period that may have suffered from a fungal infection affecting its fur. The Spinolestes had fused hairs resembling hedgehog spines and reinforced spine structures, indicating a unique adaptation to its environment.
The Digital Atlas of Ancient Life app enables anyone to discover and classify fossils with the eye of a scientist, featuring pictures, maps, and information on fossil origins. The app is available for download and can be used by farmers, amateur paleontologists, teachers, and biologists to learn about fossils in the field.
A new study on Homo naledi foot bones reveals that the species was well adapted for standing and walking on two feet but also likely comfortable climbing trees. The analysis provides insight into the skeletal form and function that may have characterized early members of our genus.
Scientists utilize advanced molecular techniques to clarify dinosaur color, distinguishing melanosomes from microbial coats. By analyzing keratin and ToF-SIMS results, researchers confirm the presence of melanin in fossilized feathers, shedding light on ancient color patterns.
A study of 50 Maiasaura tibiae fossils revealed bird-level growth rates and a six-year window of peak physical fitness. The researchers also found that sexual maturity occurred within the third year of life and the average adult mass was 2.3 tonnes in eight years.
A new study documents rare early Jurassic corals from New York Canyon in west-central Nevada, shedding light on coral recovery after the end-Triassic mass extinction event. The findings provide valuable information on biotic responses during this critical period.
Researchers have described a new hadrosaur species, Ugrunaaluk kuukpikensis, which grew up to 30 feet long and lived in darkness for months during the Cretaceous Period. The discovery provides evidence of a distinct, polar fauna in what is now northern Alaska.
Bunostegos' forelimb anatomy reveals unique characteristics allowing it to stand with legs under the body. This finding indicates the earliest known example of an upright posture in pre-reptiles, dating back 260 million years.
Fossil skulls from 35 million year old sediments in Antarctica have shed light on the changes in penguin brains that accompanied their transition to water. The findings indicate that early penguins had many of the adaptations of living forms, while having a few unique traits not seen in modern ones.
Scientists have identified a new species of pre-mammal, Ichibengops, which lived around 255 million years ago. The species features a unique groove above its teeth, potentially for transmitting venom.
Researchers observed beak-to-beak mating, den co-occupancy, and extended spawning in captive adult Larger Pacific Striped Octopuses, supporting previously recorded anecdotes. These findings provide insight into the behavior of this species, which remains undescribed.
New research on Smilodon fatalis reveals that the saber-toothed cat's permanent upper canines didn't fully develop until about three years of age. The growth rate was double that of an African lion's teeth, at 6 millimeters per month.
A 49,000-year-old milk-and-ochre-based paint has been discovered in South Africa, predating the introduction of domestic cattle. The use of this paint raises questions about its purpose and significance.
Researchers reconstructed dinosaur tracks at a 154-million-year-old quarry site, suggesting carnivorous dinosaurs hunted herbivorous island-dwelling dinosaurs. The digital model reveals that the predators could have immigrated via a land bridge as sea levels dropped.
The study reveals that wild climate swings in the tropics made it difficult for large, warm-blooded dinosaur herbivores to survive. The researchers found that wildfires swept the landscape during arid regimes, continually reshaping vegetation available for plant-eating animals.
Researchers have discovered a 425-million-year-old fossil of an ancient tongue worm parasite, providing significant insights into the origins of parasitism. The new species, Invavita piratica, is remarkably well-preserved and has been found attached to its host animal, an ostracod, in Herefordshire, England.
The discovery of a partial left femur from a theropod dinosaur in Washington state provides valuable insights into the region's Late Cretaceous period. The fossil is approximately 80 million years old and is believed to have belonged to a smaller than T. rex species, with characteristics unique to theropods during that time.
A new species of dinosaur, Saurornitholestes sullivani, discovered by University of Pennsylvania researcher Steven Jasinski had an unusually large olfactory bulb, implying a powerful sense of smell. This keen sense may have made the species an intimidating predator.