The discovery of a 170-million-year-old dinosaur tracksite in the Gypsum Spring Formation sheds light on the geographic distribution of dinosaurs during the Middle Jurassic period. The site preserves evidence that some dinosaurs may have been swimmers, with estimated speeds of up to 9.2 kilometers per hour.
Massive sheets of lava produced by flood basalt eruptions generated intense heat, pushing ash and gas into the upper atmosphere and causing dramatic global-scale climate shifts. These events are now believed to have contributed to mass extinctions, including those that wiped out dinosaurs.
A 290 million-year-old reptile's nearly complete skeleton reveals it was a bipedal runner that probably used its speed to escape predators. Its unique posture, with long legs and short arms, indicates an upright locomotion similar to humans'.
A 290-million-year-old, upright-lizard-like reptile has been found, predating the age of dinosaurs by at least 60 million years. The discovery provides strong evidence for the early evolution of herbivorous reptiles on land, suggesting that bipedalism evolved independently in different animal groups.
Researchers argue that sauropods, like Barosaurus, required a horizontal neck to function on land due to heart size and metabolic rates. This finding contradicts the common depiction of long-necked dinosaurs raising their heads to browse from trees.
Researchers found similarities in bone structure among coelurosaurs, suggesting birds evolved from a group of dinosaurs. The study also sheds light on the debate over dinosaur metabolic rates, finding irregular collagen fiber bundles similar to those in modern birds.
Fossil evidence suggests that reptiles existed before dinosaurs and sported feathers, challenging the theory of bird evolution from dinosaurs. The discovery of 'Longisquama' features key clues indicating that its appendages were indeed feathers.
Scientists have found fossils of an ancient, feathered animal that lived 220 million years ago, which may be the ancestor of birds. The discovery challenges widely accepted theories about the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds.
The discovery of ancient fossils in central Asia shows that birds' ancestors had the earliest known feathers, which predate dinosaurs. This challenges the long-held theory that birds evolved directly from theropod dinosaurs.
Researchers have found no evidence of gradual dinosaur extinction but rather a catastrophic event. Scientists also explore the formation of the Hawaiian volcanic Island of Hilo Ridge, which challenges previous theories on its origin.
A team of scientists has discovered a 66-million-year-old Thescelosaurus with a complete fossilized heart, suggesting the dinosaur's circulatory system was more advanced than that of reptiles. The finding supports the hypothesis that dinosaurs were warm-blooded and could have had metabolic rates higher than typical reptiles.
A team of scientists, including Montana State University's David Varricchio, discovered a wealth of information about skeletal changes in dinosaurs. The study found that some lineages remained relatively static for tens of millions of years, while others changed rapidly, providing new insights into dinosaur evolution.
The discovery provides a detailed picture of life during the earliest days of dinosaurs and mammals. The newly found fossils are from the Middle to Late Triassic period, around 230 million years ago, and include two new dinosaurs that appear to be older than previously recorded species.
A team of scientists discovered the oldest known dinosaur fossils in Madagascar, dating back to 230 million years ago. The fossils were found by a young local boy named Mena who led researchers to a hill with a mound of bones, sparking an eight-year dig that yielded spectacular results.
A team of paleontologists has discovered jaws from two of the oldest dinosaurs ever found, along with eight other prehistoric animals, in a rich bed of fossils in Madagascar. The discovery provides a unique glimpse into the mid-late Triassic Period and illuminates scientific understanding of this era.
Three tiny teeth found in a piece of lower jawbone from a small Jurassic period mammal on Madagascar's island, contradicting widely-held ideas on mammalian evolution. The discovery more than doubles the age of the oldest known mammal from Madagascar and provides new insights into early branching events in the family tree of mammals.
Recent dinosaur fossil finds suggest dinosaurs developed new abilities through opportunistic approach, rather than gradual adaptation. The breakup of supercontinent Pangaea led to regional extinctions and replacements by other species, shaping the evolution of new species.
Chinese and U.S. researchers have discovered a previously unknown species of primitive bird with the world's oldest surviving horny beak, dating back 130 million years. The discovery adds weight to the argument that birds descended from earlier reptile ancestors rather than dinosaurs.
The lecture featured expert discussions on the connections between dinosaurs, Neanderthals, and human evolution. Key findings highlight the importance of studying ancient species to better understand our own ancestry.
Researchers discovered three-dimensional record of locomotor behavior in Triassic-period dinosaurs preserved in fossil footprints. The tracks showed that both theropod dinosaurs and birds moved their feet in a similar way, with the toes collapsing together below the surface as the entire foot emerged.
A team of scientists, led by Frankie Jackson of Montana State University, has uncovered a vast dinosaur nesting site in Patagonia, containing over 200 eggs and fossilized skin. The discovery provides valuable insights into the behavior, biology, and nesting strategies of long-necked sauropod dinosaurs.
A newly discovered fossil provides unprecedented insights into the biology of theropod dinosaurs, revealing they had high metabolic rates and lacked bird-like lungs. The findings confirm that these ancient reptiles were cold-blooded, contradicting previous theories about their potential avian ancestry.
A new fossil discovery provides unprecedented insights into dinosaur biology, metabolism, and lifestyle. The analysis reveals that theropod dinosaurs were cold-blooded but had the potential for high levels of oxygen exchange, similar to birds and mammals.
A team of scientists, including MSU's Frankie Jackson, discovered a rare dinosaur embryo in Patagonia, Argentina, with implications for understanding sauropod reproduction. The find confirms the identity of the embryo as belonging to a type of plant-eating dinosaur.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery of dinosaur embryos with fossilized skin, providing the first glimpse into the soft tissue covering baby dinosaurs. The ancient eggs were found to contain patches of delicate skin and tiny teeth, shedding light on the reproductive habits of giant plant-eating sauropods.
A team of researchers announces the discovery of thousands of eggs and dozens of unhatched dinosaur embryos containing fossilized skin, representing a number of scientific firsts. The embryos belong to giant plant-eating dinosaurs called sauropods and are found in the southern hemisphere.
A new species of spinosaurid dinosaur, Suchomimus tenerensis, is discovered in the Ténéré Desert with a long, narrow, crocodile-like skull. The fossil remains suggest that this predator had curved claws like giant meathooks and was about 11 meters long.
A geologist suggests that a comet impact that wiped out the dinosaurs may also be responsible for giant boulders found in Arkansas. The rocks were likely carried inland by a tsunami wave from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
Researchers suggest Tyrannosaurus rex lacked lips and Triceratops didn't have cheeks, contradicting long-held beliefs. The study's findings have implications for scientists studying these dinosaurs and those recreating them in art and media.
Dinosaur tracks in Alaska provide evidence of a previously unknown high latitude dinosaur region. The discovery includes four-toed tracks suggestive of armored or horned dinosaurs and pebbly texture skin impressions, revealing the diversity of ancient species that flourished in the Arctic.
A team of researchers has discovered a nearly complete skull of the large predatory dinosaur Majungatholus, which lived during the Late Cretaceous period. The fossil, found on the island of Madagascar, sheds light on the habits and characteristics of this enigmatic theropod dinosaur.
Scientists propose that interplanetary dust accumulation could have triggered gradual extinctions, such as the demise of dinosaurs, and influenced Earth's climate over long periods. The research challenges current understanding of the Milankovich Effect, which is believed to drive climate change on a 100,000-year scale.
A massive gene study suggests that mammals first evolved around 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous era, much earlier than previously estimated. The research used genetic data from over 10,000 species to infer origin dates, contradicting fossil-based estimates that linked mammal evolution to mass extinctions.
The discovery of 92-million-year-old fossil ants in New Jersey amber confirms the existence of ants during the Age of Dinosaurs. The fossils show a metapleural gland, essential for ants' social system and ecological dominance.
A new study reports that ancient dinosaurs were killed by sudden avalanches of water-soaked sand flowing down the sides of dunes, burying their bodies swiftly. The research also uncovered the first dinosaur footprints ever found in the Gobi Desert.
Researchers challenge the theory that birds evolved from dinosaurs, citing evidence of finger identity differences between bird and dinosaur embryos. The study found that bird wings correspond to human thumb, index, and middle fingers, while little fingers are lost.
Dr. Roger J. Cuffey and his students have identified dinosaur footprints at Pipe Spring National Monument, offering a unique opportunity to study the tracks of an ancient three-toed beast. The findings suggest that the animal was likely a medium to large theropod, possibly the Eubrontes species.
Dr. Patricia Gensel and her husband discover ancient arthropods in Canada, including scorpions and millipedes that lived on land over 200 million years before dinosaurs appeared. The fossils provide conclusive proof of large land-dwelling arthropods existing early in the Paleozoic era.
A University of Florida scientist has discovered that ancient oysters grew faster over time, revealing a key mechanism in the evolution of larger animal species. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that gradual growth drove evolutionary changes.
Paleontologist Dr. Roger Cuffey compares the diversity of dinosaurs and proboscideans, finding a similar pattern of decline over 5 million years. The study suggests that both groups were affected by complex factors, including food supply and habitats, leading to their extinction.