A unique combination of ecological, environmental, and behavioral factors led to the abundant production and preservation of Early Triassic swim tracks. Delayed ecologic recovery, depositional environments, and tetrapod swimming behavior contributed to their formation.
A new study by PETA found a staggering 73% increase in the number of animals used in US laboratories between 1997 and 2012, despite industry claims of reduced animal use. Mice usage accounted for a 72.7% increase due to genetic modification experiments.
Researchers at Aarhus University have made a comprehensive description of the proteins in gila lizard venom, which could lead to the development of new types of drugs. The study identified nineteen new proteins with potential pharmaceutical applications, including treatments for blood clots and pain relief.
A new species of Ichthyosaurus has been identified in a British marine reptile fossil, shedding light on the diversity of ichthyosaurs during the early Jurassic period. The discovery was made possible by advances in analysis and comparison with other groups of reptiles.
Research reveals that the variety and adaptability of interlocking protein building blocks make up the feather's success. Birds have dozens of smaller variations within each type of brick, represented by the many differing copy numbers in their gene.
George Mason University researchers have discovered peptides in alligator blood that can effectively fight bacterial infections. These peptides, part of the innate immunity system, could potentially be developed into new treatments for wound infections and biothreat agents.
A new study led by University of Maryland School Medicine researcher Joana C. Silva found that five common Plasmodium species have not changed which animals they infect for at least 3 million years. This suggests that host switching by malaria-causing parasites is not a common event on an evolutionary time scale.
In the Early Triassic period, a prolonged period of delayed ecological recovery led to the widespread production and preservation of vertebrate swim tracks. This was due to minimal sediment mixing in stressful environments, which created firm-ground substrates ideal for recording subaqueous trace fossils.
Studies on lungfish and salamander hearing shed light on the evolution of aerial hearing in early terrestrial vertebrates, suggesting they could have detected airborne sound without a tympanic middle ear. The research provides insight into the development of hearing 250-350 million years ago.
Feral cats feed on a wide range of native species, including endangered birds and mammals. A study suggests that controlling rabbit populations could harm native mammals instead, highlighting the need for multi-species pest control approaches.
A new species of large reptile, Nundasuchus songeaensis, has been discovered with steak-like teeth and bony plates on its back. This carnivorous predator lived before dinosaurs took over the world, helping to fill gaps in the reptile family tree.
The study found that disease was the primary culprit, accounting for 26% of mass die-offs, while direct human effects and biotoxicity from algae blooms contributed significantly. The number of mass mortality events has been increasing by about one event per year over 70 years.
A large-scale survey of venom variation in two snake species reveals no local co-adaptations in eastern coral snakes, challenging traditional views on venom evolution. The consistent venom mix across Florida will aid antivenom development and inform conservation efforts for the declining eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
Researchers found snakes' vertebral bones have the same number of regions and patterns as limbed lizards, contradicting the idea that snakes evolved from a simplified body form. The study suggests that Hox genes are functioning in snakes to control subtle changes in shape.
A new species of short-necked marine reptile, Eohupehsuchus brevicollis, has been discovered in Hubei Province, China. The specimen features a short neck with six cervical vertebrae and broken digits, suggesting the break occurred prior to death.
A team of scientists has developed a detailed map of the bird genome, shedding light on their evolution and diversification. The study reveals that birds have lost hundreds of genes compared to humans, leading to unique traits such as lighter skeletons and respiratory systems.
A team of scientists completed the largest whole genome study of a single class of animals to date, sequencing and comparing full genomes of 48 bird species. The study resolves early branches in the tree of life of modern birds, providing new insights into their evolutionary history and adaptation to different lifestyles.
Researchers reconstructed a partial genome of the common ancestor of crocodiles, birds, and dinosaurs, showing an exceptionally slow rate of genome evolution in crocodilians. The team found that population sizes declined sharply during the last ice age, with alligator populations experiencing a continuous decline.
A new fossil analysis reveals that Vintana sertich was a badger-sized, herbivorous animal with keen senses of smell and vision. The study sheds light on the diversity of Mesozoic mammals and their paleoecology.
A UT Arlington team developed a new model for snake venom evolution, suggesting that venom genes evolved independently in distinct lineages of reptiles. The study found similar expression levels of venom gene families in python oral glands and brain tissue, challenging the traditional view of a core venom system developing first.
Researchers Jan Boeyens and Francis Thackeray found a connection between the Golden Ratio, space-time, and a biological species constant. The study suggests that concepts associated with relativity and quantum mechanics can be integrated through the number 1.618.
Researchers found differences in grasshopper types and numbers between undisturbed and post-agricultural woodlands, challenging conventional ecological wisdom. The study suggests new strategies are needed to promote ecological recovery in disturbed environments.
A team of scientists has reconstructed a detailed 'tree of life' for turtles, revealing their closest relatives across the animal kingdom. The study uses next-generation sequencing technologies to refute long-held debates about turtle evolution and places turtles in a new group called 'Archelosauria'.
A rarely seen tapeworm, Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, has been sequenced for the first time, revealing its genetic secrets. The parasite was detected in a UK resident's brain after traveling 5cm from one side to the other.
A Tel Aviv University study found that reptiles with reduced reproductive rates and plant-rich diets lived longer than those with faster growth and early reproduction. Herbivorous reptiles consumed fewer calories and took a more leisurely pace, leading to increased longevity.
Scientists at the University of Utah have found that iguanas, not known for high-capacity aerobic fitness, have bird-like breathing patterns in their lungs. This discovery bolsters the case that unidirectional airflow evolved long before the first birds, suggesting a common ancestor among lizards, snakes, crocodiles, and dinosaurs.
Scientists have found that turtles breathe with the aid of a muscle sling attached to their shell, which contracts and relaxes to aerate the lungs. The origin of this unique ventilatory apparatus was discovered in the ancient fossil reptile Eunotosaurus africanus.
A new study suggests that pterodactyls' inability to take off with wingspans over 12m led to their size limits. The research used computer modeling and found that even the largest pterosaur models could sustain flight using intermittent powered flight, but took-off proved too challenging.
Allocating $45-76 billion to protected areas annually could help manage them effectively, ensuring their contribution to the planet's well-being is met. Many threatened species and plants rely on well-managed protected areas for survival.
A new fossil discovery links dolphin-like ichthyosaurs to their terrestrial ancestors, revealing a previously unknown stage in their evolution. The 248-million-year-old fossil has flexible flippers and a shorter snout than its marine counterparts, suggesting it could have moved on land with ease.
A Rutgers researcher and team of scientists have proven the existence of a new frog species living in wetlands from Connecticut to North Carolina. Named Rana kauffeldi, it was initially dismissed by naturalist Carl Kauffeld's claim in 1937.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee discovered that certain species of cichlid fish exhibit playful behavior, such as attacking a thermometer. This finding suggests that play is not unique to humans and may be an essential part of animal biology.
A recent study reveals that two viruses have led to the collapse of three amphibian species and impacted six others in northern Spain, causing severe disease and mass mortality.
Researchers analyzed Madagascar's lizard, snake, frog, and tortoise populations to understand how biodiversity hotspots come to be. Climate change and land use affect different species differently, with some doing better while others decline.
Paleontologists discover a tooth embedded in a rauisuchid's bone, showing phytosaurs targeted both aquatic and terrestrial prey. The find provides evidence for the interaction between these two top predators on land and sea, forcing a reevaluation of ancient ecosystems.
A study in Diversity and Distributions documents the discovery of 27 new vertebrate species in Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountains, including 23 amphibians and reptiles. The region's exceptional biodiversity is attributed to factors such as forest extent, elevational range, and rainfall.
Researchers use fossils to reconstruct ancient ecosystems on the Bahamian island of Abaco, where megafauna like crocodiles and tortoises once flourished. The study's findings suggest that reptiles played a dominant role in these ecosystems, providing vital clues for conservation efforts.
A Dartmouth-led study finds that tropical reptiles can adapt quickly to climate change through natural selection. Researchers measured the thermal physiology of brown anole lizards and found that those who ran fastest at warmer temperatures had a higher survival rate, suggesting they may be better equipped to cope with heat stress.
Researchers have discovered a novel virus in ball pythons that could be the source of severe respiratory disease, with implications for public health and animal care. The virus, named ball python nidovirus, has been sequenced and found to be similar to toroviruses, which infect mammals and fish.
Researchers at McGill University studied a living fish, Polypterus, to understand the evolution of tetrapods. The fish showed significant anatomical changes, including modified fins and increased support during walking.
Researchers found Giant South American river turtles have a repertoire of vocalizations for different behavioral situations, including caring for young. The study reveals unique insights into their behavior, with female turtles using specific sounds to call to their newly hatched offspring and synchronize movements.
A team of scientists discovered the bones of 49 ancient flying reptiles from a new species of pterosaur, Caiuajara dobruskii, in southern Brazil. The bones revealed features such as a bony expansion and rounded depressions on the skull, suggesting this species may have been gregarious and able to fly at a young age.
The Reptile Database has recorded over 10,000 known species, making it the most diverse vertebrate group after fish and bird species. The 10,000th species, Cyrtodactylus vilaphongi, is a tiny gecko discovered in Laos.
Researchers found that greater mouse-eared bats can calibrate their inner compass using the polarized light of the evening sky. The bats deviated from the control group when exposed to a 90-degree shifted polarization pattern, indicating they used this visual cue for orientation.
Scientists have discovered that greater mouse-eared bats use polarization patterns in the sky to navigate, calibrating their internal magnetic compass. The bats' ability to detect polarised light remains a mystery, but researchers hope this breakthrough will aid in protecting declining bat populations.
Researchers from the University of Bristol and China studied trackways formed on an ancient seabed to determine how nothosaurs, marine reptiles that lived during the age of dinosaurs, propelled themselves through water. The evidence suggests that these creatures moved over the seafloor by rowing their forelimbs in unison.
Researchers have found the first three-dimensionally preserved pterosaur eggs in China, providing new insights into the flying reptiles' reproductive strategy, development, and social behavior. The discovery suggests that pterosaurs lived together in gregarious colonies, with males and females having distinct head crest features.
A new species of Mediterranean worm lizard, Blanus mendezi, has been identified with the discovery of its first intact skull, providing insights into the evolution of this poorly known group of reptiles. The fossil, dated to 11.6 million years ago, features a well-preserved skull and vertebrae, shedding light on the species' history.
A new study published in the Geological Society of America Bulletin documents the discovery of forty-six ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs in southern Chile. The skeletons are associated with ammonites, belemnites, and other fossils, providing insights into the marine ecosystem of Early Cretaceous times.
Researchers discovered spirochete-like bacteria in 15-20 million-year-old Dominican Republic amber, which causes Lyme disease. The findings indicate that Lyme disease-causing bacteria have been around for at least 15 million years.
A massive tooth fossil of the prehistoric marine predator Dakosaurus maximus has been discovered in Dorset, UK. The tooth, measuring approximately 5.5 cm long, is believed to have belonged to a creature that swam alongside killer whales and ate large fish whole.
A Dartmouth-led study suggests that turtles share a more recent common ancestor with birds and crocodilians than with lizards and snakes. The research resolves a long-standing evolutionary debate, providing new insights into the relationships among reptile groups.
Researchers have discovered two new US turtle species, the Suwannee and Apalachicola alligator snapping turtles, which are found in the southeastern United States. These ancient reptiles were previously thought to be a single species, but genetic analysis reveals deep evolutionary divisions between them.
The international research team has discovered and named the earliest and most primitive pterodactyloid species, Kryptodrakon progenitor, which lived above the earth 163 million years ago. The fossil was found in northwest China and revealed that pterodactyloids originated and evolved in terrestrial environments.
A 20-year study found greatly reduced green turtle catch rates in Nicaragua's legal, artisanal fishery, likely resulting from over-fishing. The catch rates declined by 56% over two decades, posing a concern for conservationists and local communities.
The discovery of Eocasea martini reveals how carnivores gave rise to terrestrial herbivores for the first time on land. This 300-million-year-old fossil shows that herbivory arose independently at least five times, including twice in reptiles, and led to a significant shift in early ecosystems.
A new family tree of hummingbirds reveals a rapid diversification rate, with over 140 new species emerging in the Andes and more than 338 recognized species worldwide. The study shows that hummingbirds continue to evolve and generate new species today, driven by coevolution with plants.
Researchers discovered that alligators use air-filled channels in their ear canal to amplify pressure differences, allowing them to pinpoint the source of sounds. This mechanism is similar to birds' interaural canals and may be an evolutionary adaptation from dinosaur ancestors.
A new study by UBC researchers found that cold-blooded animals worldwide have similar heat tolerance limits, with tropical species relying on behavioral thermoregulation. The authors recommend protecting migration corridors and habitats that provide shade, especially in the tropics.
A study of 36 species found that climate change increases extinction risk by 28% by 2100, but existing conservation methods can identify vulnerable species. The research identifies key factors such as small range and population size that predispose species to high extinction risk.