A new species of raptor dinosaur, Linheraptor exquisitus, has been discovered by a GW Ph.D. candidate and UCL grad student. The exceptionally well-preserved fossil provides valuable insights into the evolution of related dinosaurs.
A new species of dromaeosaurid, Linheraptor exquisitus, has been discovered in Inner Mongolia with a near complete skeleton found since 1972. The fossil reveals unique features, including an antorbital fenestra, and is closely related to Velociraptor.
A panel of international experts confirms that an asteroid collision caused the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction, which killed off the dinosaurs and over half of Earth's species. The Chicxulub asteroid impact triggered a global winter, causing widespread destruction and paving the way for mammals to dominate the planet.
A team of researchers, including UC San Diego's Richard Norris, presents new evidence linking an asteroid impact to the mass extinction that wiped out dinosaurs and other organisms 65.5 million years ago. The study highlights a unique layer of debris in deep-sea sediments that correlates with abrupt environmental changes.
Researchers found a proto-dinosaur called Asilisaurus kongwe, which lived about 243 million years ago and shared characteristics with dinosaurs. The discovery sheds light on the diversification of relatives of crocodilians and dinosaurs, suggesting rapid evolution and greater dietary flexibility.
The discovery of Asilisaurus kongwe, a dinosaur-like animal, pushes back the age of known dinosaurs by 10 million years. Fossil evidence suggests that silesaurs, close relatives of dinosaurs, may have diverged from common ancestors by 240 million years ago.
A nearly complete fossilized snake from India, Sanajeh indicus, has been discovered coiled around a sauropod dinosaur egg and a freshly hatched hatchling. The find provides critical information about the early diversification of snakes and how they evolved to eat large prey.
A nearly complete fossilized skeleton of a primitive snake coiled inside a dinosaur nest was discovered in India, showing that ancient snakes ate dinosaur hatchlings. The study suggests that the ecosystem of predators during the hatching season supported hundreds or thousands of defenseless baby sauropods.
A newly discovered fossil snake from India, named Sanajeh indicus, was found coiled around a crushed dinosaur egg next to a freshly hatched sauropod. The arrangement of the bones and delicate structures suggests that the snake ingested the half-meter-long hatchling due to its large size.
Researchers mapped chicken retinas, discovering a complex pattern of color receptors that maximizes their ability to see colors. This superior vision may help birds find mates and feed on colorful fruit, and could lead to insights into treating human genetic disorders.
A new analysis of a fossil specimen called microraptor suggests that small, feathered species must have been gliders that came down from trees. The research supports the idea that some species believed to be dinosaurs may have descended from birds.
A team of Yale scientists has deciphered the color palette of a 150-million-year-old feathered dinosaur, Anchiornis huxleyi, revealing rich patterns and colors previously unknown. The analysis suggests that dinosaur feathers evolved for communication, rather than just flight.
A GW research team has discovered a new species of dinosaur, Haplocheirus sollers, that links to bird evolution. The Late Jurassic fossil, found in China, shows early evolutionary stages in bird-like dinosaurs.
Researchers identify color patterns in dinosaur feathers, revealing that they originated for display purposes before becoming useful for flight and insulation.
Researchers found that air flows in one direction through alligators' lungs, a trait shared with birds. This unidirectional airflow may have helped archosaurs dominate Earth after the Permian-Triassic extinction, which wiped out 70% of land life.
A team of researchers from Kansas and China have discovered a venomous, birdlike raptor that lived 128 million years ago in China. The discovery sheds new light on the evolution of modern birds and the tactics used by their ancient ancestors.
A University of Florida researcher has co-authored a study tracing the evolution of modern opossums back to the extinction of dinosaurs, with evidence supporting North America as their center of origin. The findings are based on high-resolution CT scans of a 55-million-year-old skull found in Wyoming.
The reconstructed skeleton of Paluxysaurus jonesi enables Texans to see their state dinosaur in three dimensions for the first time. Scientists discovered that the dinosaur had a long neck like Brachiosaurus, a tail almost as long but not gigantic, and relatively long front arms.
A recent study suggests that a protozoan parasite may have contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs. The parasite, which infects birds and eats away at their jawbones, could have been transmitted through head biting among dinosaurs. The similarity between fossilized jawbones and modern-day samples supports this theory.
A rare primitive theropod, Tawa hallae, has been discovered in New Mexican sediments from the Upper Triassic period, forcing a redefinition of early dinosaur evolution. The fossil finds evidence of air sacks and pneumatization in birds, showing that these traits are more primitive than previously thought.
The discovery of Tawa hallae, a 213-million-year-old carnivorous dinosaur from New Mexico, reveals that early dinosaurs originated in South America and dispersed across Pangea before splitting into separate continents. Fossil analysis suggests that climate, possibly related to latitude, controlled the distribution of some reptile species.
Researchers have discovered a new primitive dinosaur species, Tawa hallae, in northern New Mexico with nearly complete skeletons providing insights into the evolutionary path of dinosaurs towards birds. The species, likely a meat-eater, had air sacs in its braincase and neck areas.
The discovery of Tawa, a new meat-eating dinosaur, has resolved a long-standing debate about the evolutionary relationships between dinosaurs. The fossil remains reveal that Tawa shares characteristics with both theropod and non-theropod dinosaurs, confirming Herrerasaurus as a member of the theropod lineage.
Five ancient crocs, including BoarCroc and DuckCroc, have been discovered in the Sahara with unique features such as armored snouts and broad forebrains. The discovery provides insight into a previously unknown world of crocodilians that inhabited Gondwana 100 million years ago.
Research suggests that many dinosaur species were probably endothermic, with the potential for athletic abilities rivalling those of present-day birds and mammals. This would have allowed them to inhabit colder habitats, but also required a constant supply of fuel due to rapid metabolisms.
A study suggests that many dinosaurs were probably endothermic, athletic animals due to their high energy requirements during walking and running. This trait may have enabled them to thrive in various habitats, including colder regions, allowing them to cover the entire Mesozoic landscape.
Spanish researchers found the last European hadrosaurs in the Iberian Peninsula, coexisting with evolved species and primitive members. The fossils, including a newly discovered lambeosaurine, suggest a connection between Asia and Europe during the Late Cretaceous period.
A new species of ankylosaur, Tatankacephalus cooneyorum, has been discovered in central Montana, providing insights into the evolution of armored dinosaurs. The fossil features a protective armor and horn-like plates, showcasing the complexity of these prehistoric creatures.
A new study reveals that two recently named dinosaurs may actually be juvenile or subadults of already known taxa, wiping out a third of named species. The research analyzed three dome-headed dinosaurs and found that their bizarre head ornaments changed dramatically with age and sexual maturity.
A team of researchers is exploring the fossil record of ancient plants in Patagonia, Argentina, which could provide insights into plant evolution, distribution, and ecology. The study aims to determine if a major plant extinction occurred when dinosaurs went extinct and how long it took for recovery.
A massive impact crater off the coast of India is being studied as a potential cause of the mass extinction event that led to the demise of the dinosaurs. The Shiva basin, located in western India, is believed to have been created by an object at least 40 kilometers in diameter.
The study finds that Archaeopteryx grew slowly, taking 970 days to mature, similar to dinosaurs, and its bone growth rate was three times slower than living birds. This challenges the common perception of Archaeopteryx as a bird-like creature.
A new study found that Archaeopteryx, the iconic first bird, actually grew much slower than modern birds and had more reptilian features. This challenges the long-held assumption that rapid bone growth was necessary for flight.
A University of Alberta researcher has discovered 70 million year old evidence of dinosaur cannibalism in southern Alberta. The jawbone of a Gorgosaurus contained a tooth from another meat-eating dinosaur, suggesting a violent encounter between two dinosaurs.
Researchers analyzed a fossilized tracksite in southern Africa, discovering how early dinosaurs adjusted their movements to cope with slippery and sloping terrain. The study provides insight into the later evolution of the group, highlighting differences in walking styles between ornithischians and theropods.
A new species of tyrannosauroid dinosaur, Raptorex kriegsteini, has been discovered in China that predates the Tyrannosaurus rex by tens of millions of years. The fossil, which is only three meters long, exhibits the same physical traits as T. rex, including an oversized skull and powerful jaws.
Theropod dinosaurs likely targeted young and small dinosaur species as a primary food source, exploiting their softer bones. This hypothesis is supported by fossil finds and stomach contents, suggesting that giant carnivores mainly fed on juvenile animals, not large herbivorous dinosaurs.
A recent study found that only one group of mammals - humans, mice, and their close relatives - have seen their genomes decrease in size since the dinosaurs went extinct. This trend continues today, with human genomes undergoing a contraction, although noticeable changes won't be observed for several million years.
Paleontologist Anthony Martin's discovery of dinosaur burrows in Victoria, Australia, suggests that burrowing behaviors were shared by different species across hemispheres and spanned millions of years. The findings indicate that small ornithopod dinosaurs may have dug into river banks to survive extreme environments.
A new study by the University of Leicester has found evidence that duck-billed dinosaurs, such as Hadrosaurs, had a unique way of eating. The researchers used microscopic analysis of scratches on dinosaur teeth to understand their feeding mechanisms and place them in ancient ecosystems.
A new study by George Mason University researchers challenges the long-held notion that dinosaurs were massive creatures. They found that using a flawed statistical model led to overestimations of dinosaur weight, revealing some species may have been smaller than initially thought.
Researchers have identified the largest carnivorous dinosaur tooth in Spain, measuring 9.83cm, and attributed it to the Allosauroidea clade. The tooth's features provide key information about its former owner, a large predatory theropod that likely belonged to the same group as Turiasaurus riodevensis.
Scientists re-examined data to discover a flawed statistical model used for calculating dinosaur mass, leading to revised estimates of Apatosaurus louisae at 18 tonnes instead of 38 tonnes. This finding has significant implications for various theories about dinosaur biology.
A new species of parrot-beaked dinosaur, Psittacosaurus gobiensis, has been discovered in the Gobi Desert with characteristic skull traits and associated gizzard stones suggesting a diet rich in nuts and seeds. The unique chewing style of the dinosaur provides insight into its feeding habits.
Researchers at Oregon State University have made a groundbreaking discovery about bird physiology, finding that birds' lung structure and musculature are critical to their flight capacity. This study suggests that birds did not descend from theropod dinosaurs but instead evolved on a parallel path.
New research by Princeton University geoscientist Gerta Keller suggests that volcanoes, not an asteroid, were the likely culprits in the demise of the Earth's giant reptiles. The study found 'biotic evidence' and 'aftermath' sediments indicating a massive die-off occurred much later than previously thought.
New research suggests that dinosaur bones from the Ojo Alamo Sandstone may date from after the extinction event, and could indicate that some species survived for up to half a million years. The study uses chemical investigations and evidence of rock age to support the hypothesis.
A new species of early T.rex relative, Xiongguanlong, and a giant ornithomimosaur, Beishanlong grandis, are described as part of a study on theropod dinosaurs from China. These discoveries provide insight into the evolution of tyrannosaurs, revealing that massive skulls evolved from animals with long, slender snouts.
A team of scientists studied how alligators grow and develop in different oxygen levels, discovering that low oxygen environments result in enlarged bellies and smaller organs, but also larger hearts. The study provides insights into the adaptations of dinosaurs to survive in a world with fluctuating oxygen levels.
A new fossil discovery at the Homer Site in Montana has revealed that Triceratops, a three-horned dinosaur, were likely social animals that congregated in small herds. The find indicates that juvenile Triceratops lived and traveled together, suggesting a unique behavior among ceratopsid relatives.
Researchers have discovered a new species of carnivorous dinosaur, Hesperonychus elizabethae, in North America. The miniature predator, weighing around two kilograms and standing 50 centimeters tall, was likely to hunt insects and small mammals.
A 90-million-year-old dinosaur herd composed entirely of juveniles of the Sinornithomimus species was discovered in the Gobi Desert. The site provides a rare snapshot of social behavior, suggesting that immature individuals were left to fend for themselves when adults were preoccupied with nesting or brooding.
Researchers used laser scanning to reconstruct five dinosaurs' bodies, including T. rex and Acrocanthosaurus. The study found that smaller T. rex specimens weighed between 5.5-7 tonnes, while larger ones could have reached 8 tonnes.
Researchers at Stanford University are using synchrotron X-ray technology to reveal previously unknown details about dinosaur fossils and ancient documents. By analyzing the chemical elements left behind in fossilized bones, scientists hope to gain new insights into the evolution of dinosaurs and their relationships with modern birds.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Bath and London's Natural History Museum found that dinosaur fossils match their evolutionary trees remarkably well. The study used statistical data from fossils of four major dinosaur groups to confirm the accuracy of current views on their evolution.
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that Triceratops used their three horns for battle scars, contradicting the notion that they only displayed them. The researchers found that the squamosal bone was injured 10 times more frequently in Triceratops than its closely-related dinosaur Centrosaurus.
Researchers link polygamy and paternal care in modern birds to their dinosaur ancestors. Studies found that male dinosaurs in nests had large egg clutches, suggesting multiple females contributed eggs and the males guarded them.
A study by Texas A&M University researcher Jason Moore suggests that male dinosaurs may have cared for and watched over eggs, similar to female birds. The findings are based on the examination of six well-preserved dinosaur egg nests, which indicate that males likely played a key role in incubating the eggs.
A Montana State University study found that males from three types of dinosaurs were sole care givers for their mate's eggs, possibly having multiple mates. The researchers examined fossil evidence and compared clutch sizes to adult sizes in the dinosaurs and their closest living relatives, birds and crocodiles.
Dinosaurs had more air cavities in their heads than expected, which may have helped lighten the load of their heads and enabled them to move their heads quickly. These sinus cavities also played a biomechanical role by making bones hollow, similar to hollow beams used in construction.