A new statistical approach reveals primates originated 85 million years ago, rather than 65 million, due to gaps in the fossil record. This challenges traditional methods of interpreting fossils and constructing evolutionary trees, including the human lineage.
Researchers found that snakes relying on ambush foraging are more likely to be threatened due to habitat destruction and prey scarcity. The study identified six species not listed as threatened but with similar ecological traits, highlighting the need for closer management.
A new study maps prime regions for plant-eating mammals, revealing areas with high conservation value. The researchers predict that less than 1.2% of the earth's surface will support uniquely diverse grazing ecosystems by 2025.
A new theory proposes that modern birds' evolution of flight was driven by their parenting skills, which led them to settle in trees for better protection. This contradicts two leading theories on avian flight and is supported by evidence from Archaeopteryx fossils.
The newly discovered species, Sphaerodactylus ariasae, is the smallest of all 23,000 species of reptiles, birds, and mammals. The tiny lizard can curl up on a dime or stretch out on a quarter, measuring only 16mm long.
The discovery of the Jaragua Sphaero, a lizard measuring about three quarters of an inch from snout to tail, highlights the Caribbean's unique species diversity. Rapid population growth, agricultural practices, and lack of access to data contribute to the region's biodiversity loss.
In a breakthrough study, researchers at The Wistar Institute demonstrated the remarkable regenerative powers of MRL mice in healing heart tissue without drugs or cell transfer. After two months, damaged heart tissue looked normal and functioned well.
The National Science Foundation has funded a study that sheds light on the soft tissue biology of dinosaurs, specifically their nasal structures. The research, led by Lawrence Witmer, provides clues to how air flowed and affected olfaction and heat exchange in these prehistoric creatures.
A new study in the journal Science found that dinosaurs' fleshy nostrils were typically positioned forward of their bony nose openings. This finding has implications for how dinosaurs breathed, smelled, and regulated body temperature and water loss, potentially providing clues to their adaptations to different environments.
A nearly complete long-necked sauropod dinosaur was recently unearthed in Madagascar, providing the first comprehensive view of a titanosaur skull. The discovery, announced by NSF-funded scientists, confirms a close relationship between titanosaurs and brachiosaurs, revolutionizing our understanding of Mesozoic reptiles.
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.
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'.
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.
Partners in Amphibians and Reptile Conservation (PARC) received an Environmental Merit Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency Region 4. The organization, formed in 1999, has made significant contributions to long-term conservation of amphibians, reptiles, and their habitats through public/private partnerships.
The article highlights the growing crisis of reptile extinction, citing habitat loss, invasive species, and human activities as major threats. Dr. Whit Gibbons' research suggests that reptiles are in greater danger of extinction than amphibians due to similar but more severe impacts from environmental factors.
Researchers use 18th-century formula to reconcile DNA study discrepancies and create more consistent picture of evolution's history. By considering all possible evolutionary trees, Bayesian mathematics allows for a more accurate understanding of the evolutionary history of life.
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.
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.
The Chinese alligator is critically endangered with fewer than 150 remaining in the wild. Conservationists believe that restoring populations through habitat improvements and captive breeding can help stage a comeback for this culturally significant species.
Scientists have documented reversible bone shrinkage in Galapagos iguanas during El Niño years. The reptiles adapt by shrinking to reach an optimal body size for survival, with significant increases in survival rate and efficiency. Researchers now seek the underlying mechanisms behind this remarkable adaptation.
Gavin Miller's robotic snakes replicate slithering and sidewinding motions, paving the way for advanced robotics. The designs' potential applications extend beyond toys to include planetary exploration and handling diverse terrains.
The X and Y chromosomes are thought to have originated from a pair of identical autosomes, diverging over 300 million years through four discrete stages. This divergence led to the formation of distinct sex chromosomes, with X-Y genes serving as fossils for reconstructing their evolutionary history.
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 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.
Sixty experts agree that half of the world's turtle species are at risk of extinction due to human consumption. The main causes of decline are linked to ecological change, while exploitation drives 50% of threatened turtles to extinction.
A new species of fossil animal has been discovered in South Africa, revealing the country as the birthplace of all mammals. The Anomocephalus africanus discovery reinforces the idea that distant ancestors of mammals originated from this region.
A study by Cornell University ecologists estimates that non-indigenous species in the US cost $123 billion annually. These invasive species, including weeds, insects, and mammals, cause significant economic damage and threaten native ecosystems.
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.
Fossils of crocodile-like champsosaurs, turtles and fish found in high Canadian Arctic reveal extremely warm temperatures. The findings suggest that volcanic eruptions dumped large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing global warming.
A biodegradable oil spill cleanup product has been developed using milled bagasse, a waste byproduct of the sugar industry. The product creates an environment that sustains bacteria to digest spilled oil, making it effective in vegetated wetlands.
A new Ohio University study reveals that alligators evolved from semi-erect to sprawl postures, contrary to the conventional theory of animal posture evolution. Researchers analyzed alligator movement and found that their walking patterns are more similar to those of salamanders and lizards than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered ancient reptile nests in Arizona's Petrified Forest, dating back 220 million years. The finds push the fossil record of reptile nesting behavior back by 110 million years.
A gene-transfer system invented by Dusty Miller has been recognized as the 'Nobel Prize of Applied Research'. The Retro-X System is a retroviral gene-transfer kit used in gene-therapy research, allowing for stable gene expression and long-term therapeutic results.
Researchers find that native animals are more common in areas with native vegetation than in areas with exotic vegetation or grazing. They also discover that DDT may still be affecting reproduction of double-crested cormorants, while tree swallows can serve as sentinels for PCB contamination in aquatic environments.
Researchers have designed a new crab trap that significantly reduces turtle mortality by allowing turtles to access air during low and high tide. The modified trap has caught over 1,000 turtles in two years with only one loss, while increasing the number of crabs caught.
African tortoise ticks found on imported reptiles in Florida may carry heartwater, an exotic disease that kills livestock and wildlife. The US is considered a serious threat to the cattle, sheep, and goat industries, with no practical treatment for infected animals.
Researchers have discovered that changing as few as six genes can rapidly change the pattern of spots on a butterfly's wings, leading to new species formation. This study provides insight into the genetic and molecular basis of animal evolution, seasonal variation, and geographical separation.
Scientists have discovered that Archaeopteryx, the famous link between birds and reptiles, did not give rise to modern birds. Instead, they appear to have descended from a different, unknown ancestor with many characteristics of modern birds. This discovery challenges the classic view of bird evolution.
A University of Michigan study analyzes data from various studies to show that whole-body metabolic rate changes over the course of the menstrual cycle, becoming about 7 percent lower after menstruation. This metabolic cycling saves an amount of energy equivalent to six days' worth of food over four menstrual cycles.