A new review highlights the importance of geohistorical data in conservation biology, providing insights into species responses to climate change. Fossil records show that some species persisted in suitable habitats despite range contractions, while others went extinct due to human activities.
A new species of pterosaur, Gwawinapterus beardi, has been discovered on Hornby Island off Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The fossil, dated to 70 million years ago, features small teeth and a wing span of approximately 3 metres.
Researchers discovered that extinct ammonites had jaws and teeth adapted for eating small plankton using synchrotron scans. The study provides new insights into why ammonites went extinct 65.5 million years ago due to an asteroid impact.
Woolly mammoths living north of the Arctic Circle began weaning infants up to three years later than modern African elephants, potentially contributing to their eventual extinction. This adaptation to harsher environment and prolonged nursing may have made them more vulnerable to climate change and human hunting.
The newly identified genus Koreaceratops hwaseongensis is the first ceratopsian dinosaur from the Korean peninsula, featuring a parrot-like face and unique fan-shaped tail. It lived approximately 5-6 feet long and weighed around 60-100 pounds, indicating it was relatively small compared to its giant relatives.
Research by University of Alberta graduate student Scott Persons reveals T.rex's long tail was a key factor in its exceptional speed. The dinosaur's caudofemoralis muscles, attached to upper leg bones, provided the power stroke for fast forward movement.
The Morrison Natural History Museum has discovered infant dinosaur footprints, representing baby sauropods, in the Late Jurassic period. The tracks suggest that Morrison was an apatosaur nursery, with evidence of a running trackway demonstrating only hindpaw tracks.
A team of researchers has uncovered well-dated human fossils in southern China, pushing back the known emergence of modern humans by at least 60,000 years. The discovery indicates that early modern humans co-existed with late archaic humans for tens of millennia across Eurasia.
A vast amber deposit from western India has revealed a new light on the history of the sub-continent, challenging the assumption that India was an isolated island-continent. The discovery indicates that tropical forests are older than previously thought and have close evolutionary relationships with fossils from other continents.
Researchers pinpointed the exact date of a February 2009 asteroid collision using computer simulations and OSIRIS camera system images. The debris trail's three-dimensional shape, visible from a unique Rosetta space probe viewpoint, helped reconstruct the collision in detail.
The discovery of well-preserved ammonites at cold methane seeps in the ancient seaway that covered North America during the Cretaceous Period has provided new insights into their paleobiology. These organisms thrived in these environments, consumed small prey, and often survived predation attempts.
A 55-million-year-old extinct mammal, Labidolemur kayi, has been found to share a common ancestor with rodents and primates. The study reveals minute details in the skull, including bone structures smaller than one-tenth of a millimeter, which provide valuable information for understanding the origin of primates.
Researchers have found that Labidolemur kayi shares similarities in bone features with other mammals, indicating its living relatives are rodents, rabbits, flying lemurs, tree shrews and primates. The study provides valuable information for understanding the origin of primates.
A new species of dinosaur, Sarahsaurus, discovered in Arizona challenges conventional wisdom about dinosaurs' spread across the world. The fossil suggests that dinosaurs took advantage of a natural catastrophe to move into North America, rather than overpowering other species.
The discovery of ancient dinosaur footprints in Poland pushes the timeline for the emergence of dinosaurs by 5-9 million years. The oldest evidence, Sphingopus footprints, dates back to 246 million years ago and provides insight into the evolution of bipedal dinosaurs.
A new species of dinosaur, Sarahsaurus, discovered in Arizona suggests that dinosaurs did not spread globally by overpowering other species but instead took advantage of a natural catastrophe. The fossil, which lived around 190 million years ago, shows that sauropodomorphs started out small and later evolved to large size.
Two new species of horned dinosaurs, Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops, have been discovered in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. The dinosaurs possess unique horn structures, with short eye horns projecting strongly to the side, and one horn over the nose, making them the most ornate-headed dinosaurs known.
New research reveals tyrannosaur diversity, including smaller species and earlier ancestors, has significantly expanded our understanding. A comprehensive evolutionary tree shows the group's complexity, challenging popular perceptions of T. rex as a singular apex predator.
A new species of predatory dinosaur, Balaur bondoc, has been discovered in Romania with unusual features such as a re-evolved functional big toe with a large claw. Its unique anatomy suggests it was adapted for strength over speed and likely hunted in a different way than its relatives.
Researchers discovered a nearly complete jaw from the hyena-like animal, Palaeonictis wingi, which evolved to half its ancestors' size during a 200,000-year period of global warming. The study suggests other factors may have played a critical role in its evolution.
Researchers from Arizona State University analyzed fossilized animal bone fragments to find evidence of sharp-edged stones being used to remove flesh and marrow. This discovery pushes back the origins of technology and carnivory by 800,000 years.
Researchers have unearthed hundreds of fossils of the extinct Nimbadon lavarackorum at a 15-million-year-old cave site in Queensland. The discovery provides a rare glimpse into the life cycle of this ancient marsupial, from baby to elderly adult, and sheds light on the evolution of Australia's unique flora and fauna.
Researchers have found that Triceratops and Torosaurus are the same dinosaur, but at different stages of growth. The discovery contributes to a theory that dinosaur diversity was highly depleted at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
A new dinosaur species with a heart-shaped frill has been discovered in Canada's Alberta and Saskatchewan provinces, named Mojoceratops perifania. The species is related to Triceratops but appeared 10 million years earlier, survived for only one million years.
Researchers found tooth marks on bones from large dinosaurs and a small marsupial, dated around 75 million years ago. The marks were likely made by ancient mammals, such as multituberculates, which gnawed on the bones for minerals.
Researchers Wang and Chang have found Pliocene cyprinid fish fossils in the Kunlun Pass Basin, suggesting relatively extensive water systems in the area during the Pliocene. The study suggests a more humid climate and less amplitude of uplift compared to previous proposals.
Azendohsaurus is redefined as a non-dinosaur, primitive reptile with convergent features to herbivorous dinosaurs. The species lived during the time of dinosaur origin and was an efficient herbivore.
A team of paleontologists, geochemists, and physicists used X-ray technology to analyze the Thermopolis Archaeopteryx fossil, revealing half a dozen chemical elements that were part of the living animal itself. The study confirms that feathers in the fossil are actual fossilized feathers containing phosphorus and sulfur.
A new genus and species of flying reptile, Aetodactylus halli, has been discovered in Texas, providing insights into the diversity of pterosaurs during the Cretaceous Period. The specimen is estimated to be around 3 meters long and had a unique jaw structure with 54 teeth sockets, differing from other ornithocheirid species.
Researchers discovered a nearly complete juvenile Diplodocus skull that reveals drastic changes in skull shape during normal growth. The discovery provides new insights into the feeding behavior of young Diplodocus, which may have been choosier browsers selecting high-quality plant parts.
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.
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.
A team of researchers, including University of Michigan paleontologists, has discovered a new species of herbivorous sauropod dinosaur, Abydosaurus mcintoshi. The fossilized remains, found near the Carnegie Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument, provide valuable insights into the evolution of these massive creatures and their diets.
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.
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 team of paleontologists has discovered a new dinosaur species, Abydosaurus, with four intact skulls found in eastern Utah. The discovery provides clues about how the largest land animals ate their food and offers insights into the evolution of sauropod teeth.
Researchers from UF and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute found a 60-million-year-old fossil of Cerrejonisuchus improcerus, an ancient crocodile relative that was likely preyed upon by Titanoboa. The study provides new insights into the diversity of ancient South American rainforest ecosystems.
Researchers identify color patterns in dinosaur feathers, revealing that they originated for display purposes before becoming useful for flight and insulation.
John Flynn, Frick Curator of Fossil Mammals and Professor at the American Museum of Natural History, has been awarded the distinction of Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Flynn's research focuses on vertebrate paleontology, especially carnivore evolution and faunal succession in South America.
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 newly examined fossil of Miacis uintensis reveals that some early carnivores were built to walk on the ground at least part of the time. The analysis suggests that adaptations for terrestrial or semi-terrestrial locomotion were more common than previously suspected in early fossil carnivores.
Skull fragments of prehistoric koalas from the Riversleigh rainforests suggest they had a 'lazy' lifestyle and produced loud calls like modern koalas. However, they did not share the specialized eucalyptus leaf diet.
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.
Scientists unveil the story of a 4.5 million-year-old whale, shedding light on fossilization and taphonomic processes. The study provides insights into the ecological phases associated with whales in the past.
University of Alberta graduate students re-examined a 76 million-year-old armadillo-like dinosaur and found that the original researcher, William Parks, was correct in his identification. The species was previously misidentified as Euoplocephalus in the 1970s.
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 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 study analyzes OES beads from SDG site, concluding that the two pathways of manufacture differed in drilling and trimming stages. The findings suggest prehistoric artisans had excellent skills, using standardized bead sizes to convey messages.
Researchers compared four types of raptors' claws and killing techniques, revealing unique adaptations for each species. The study, published in PLoS One, provides new insights into raptor-prey interactions and may apply to dinosaur research.
Researchers Arnie Miller and Michael Foote analyzed fossil data from epicontinental seas and open-ocean-facing coastlines during three 'Big Five' mass extinction events. They found higher extinction rates in open-ocean settings, indicating these environments were more susceptible to mass-extinction-causing agents.
Geochemical analysis of rare ancient soils provides new data on Central Africa's paleoclimate during the Late Jurassic period. The findings indicate an extremely arid climate with minimal rainfall and few vegetation species, contrasting with the lush tropical rainforest it is today.
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 long-forgotten fossil skull has provided crucial clues to the early stages of tyrannosaur evolution. Proceratosaurus, an ancient ancestor of Tyrannosaurus rex, shares many features with its famous descendant, including powerful biting apparatus and a bulky skull.
Researchers used portable 3D laser scanners to capture and preserve a 110-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur footprint, providing valuable data for scientific research and education. The preserved track will be made available for download, allowing others to study and analyze the specimen.
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 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 species of mammal, Maotherium asiaticus, has been discovered in China, providing insight into the evolution of the mammalian middle ear. The fossil's ear structure shows a unique connection to the lower jaw, similar to embryonic mammals and pre-mammalian ancestors.
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 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.
A new species of horned tyrannosaur, Alioramus altai, has been discovered in Asia, exhibiting a unique set of adaptations for meat-eating. The fossil, found in the Gobi Desert, shows a gracile cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex with slender teeth and small muscle attachments.