Scientists have discovered two new species of spinosaurid dinosaurs on the Isle of Wight, providing significant insights into the UK's spinosaurid population. The newly found fossils, including Ceratosuchops and Riparovenator, measure around nine meters in length and suggest a diverse ecosystem with multiple predators.
A new study suggests that modern snakes originated from a few species that survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event, which wiped out dinosaurs and other species. Snakes began to diversify into new habitats and exploit new prey, leading to the emergence of diverse lineages such as vipers, cobras, and pythons.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals a surprising diversity of Cretaceous reptiles at an Argentina fossil site. The research expands the known diversity of reptiles at the Cerro Fortaleza locality, which previously only preserved skeletal remains of giant sauropods.
A new study describes two dinosaurs from Appalachia, including a tyrannosaur with distinct features and a herbivorous hadrosaur, providing insight into the evolution of Eastern North American dinosaurs. These fossils help fill a gap in the fossil record and demonstrate geographic isolation's impact on dinosaur evolution.
New research from Portland State University suggests that Allosaurus, a large carnivorous dinosaur, acquired most of its calories by scavenging on sauropod carcasses. The study's agent-based model and morphological analysis support this hypothesis, challenging 150 years of established thought about Allosaurus' ecological role.
Researchers have discovered three new species of ancient mammals in North America, hinting at rapid evolution following the mass extinction of dinosaurs. The creatures, which include the 'Hobbit'-named Beornus honeyi, differ from earlier known mammals and suggest that mammals diversified more rapidly than previously thought.
Three new fossil mammal species, including Beornus honeyi, Miniconus jeanninae, and Conacodon hettingeri, have been discovered at an ancient riverbed site in southern Wyoming. The species lived after a mass extinction event and were ancestors of today's hoofed animals.
Scientists have discovered three new dinosaur fossils in Northwest China, representing two new species: Silutitan sinensis and Hamititan xinjiangensis. The findings shed light on sauropods in the region and increase the known diversity of Mesozoic reptiles in the area.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that shark diversity remained relatively constant during the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period. However, some groups of apex predators suffered selective extinctions, while others increased in diversity after the K-Pg boundary.
A new species of pterosaur, Thapunngaka shawi, was discovered in Queensland with a 7-meter wingspan, showcasing the fearsome beast's spear-like mouth and powerful flight capabilities. The fossil, found on Wanamara Country, near Richmond, contributes to Australia's understanding of pterosaur diversity.
Researchers discovered a rare bird fossil with nearly complete skull, allowing them to compare ancient bird brains to living birds. The study suggests that complex brain structure may have played a key role in the survival of bird ancestors during the mass extinction event.
Researchers found that large asteroids from the outer half of the main asteroid belt strike Earth at least 10 times more often than previously calculated
Alvarezsaur dinosaurs reduced in size from turkey-sized to chicken-sized around 95 million years ago when they transitioned to an ant-based diet. Their bodies also underwent significant changes, including modified claws and a shift from flesh-eating to termite consumption.
A 200-million-year-old South African dinosaur, Heterodontosaurus tucki, breathed by expanding its chest and belly, unlike birds which use air sacs. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of how dinosaurs breathed and could help paleontologists understand what features allowed certain species to survive or go extinct.
A new fossil discovery has revealed that dinosaurs did not breathe in the same way, with Heterodontosaurus having unique paddle-shaped ribs and expanded belly to breathe. The study provides insight into the biology of ornithischian dinosaurs and fills gaps in knowledge about their evolution.
Scientists studying fossilized dinosaur eggshells from Mexico have identified nine amino acids and evidence of ancient protein structures, providing insights into the early lives of these creatures. The analysis also sheds light on the fossilization processes and the role of minerals in preserving organic compounds.
Dinosaurs were in decline 76 million years ago due to extinctions outpacing speciations, with herbivores being particularly affected. The asteroid impact may have been the final blow, triggered by a 7°C drop in global temperature and changes in oceanic circulation patterns.
Researchers found multiple dinosaur species that reproduced in Arctic, including hadrosaurids, ceratopsians, and tyrannosaurs. The discovery provides evidence of year-round residency by dinosaurs in extremely cold environments.
A research team from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Florida State University has found evidence that nearly all types of Arctic dinosaurs reproduced in the region and likely remained there year-round. The discovery contradicts previous hypotheses that the animals migrated to lower latitudes for the winter, suggesting they were ...
A 120-million-year-old fossil of a tiny bird found in China shares structural and functional features with the massive Tyrannosaurus rex. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of birds from dinosaurian ancestors.
Researchers used a new technique to reconstruct the climate of Europe during the Cretaceous period, finding that temperatures fluctuated between 15°C and 27°C. This shows that seasonal differences remained constant despite rising average temperatures, leading to hotter summers and warmer winters.
A new study reveals that human impact on freshwater ecosystems is causing unprecedented rates of species loss, threatening entire ecosystems. The predicted recovery time for biodiversity decline may be longer than 12 million years, as seen in previous mass extinction events.
A new study suggests that it was not dinosaurs but other mammals that competed with modern mammals before and after the mass extinction of dinosaurs. The research identifies the evolutionary limits placed on different groups of mammals, revealing a more complex story of competition between distinct mammal groups.
Menefeeceratops sealeyi, a newly described horned dinosaur, lived in New Mexico 82 million years ago and is one of the earliest known ceratopsid species. The discovery provides important insights into the evolution of ceratopsid dinosaurs and their evolutionary relationships.
Researchers analyzed inner ear anatomy in extinct and living species to understand dinosaur sensory biology and behavior. The studies found clear patterns relating the shape of the semi-circular canal and cochlea to movement ability and hearing high-frequency sound.
A new study found that the tiny desert-living dinosaur Shuvuuia had extraordinary vision and owl-like hearing for nocturnal life in the Mongolian desert. The team measured the size of the eyes and inner ears of over 100 bird and dinosaur species, revealing that Shuvuuia's lagena was almost identical in relative size to today's barn owl.
A new genus and species of hadrosaur, Yamatosaurus izanagii, has been identified in Japan, revealing insights into the herbivores' migration from Asia to North America. The discovery also highlights an evolutionary step as dinosaurs transitioned from bipedalism to quadrupedalism.
A researcher from the University of Malaga challenges a 2020 study suggesting powered flight may have evolved independently in non-avian dinosaurs. New data analysis by Francisco Serrano and Luis M. Chiappe refutes this hypothesis, stating that current evidence does not support it.
New research reveals that dinosaurs kept a joint in their lower jaw steady like an alligator, not flexible like a snake, to chomp through bone. The study's findings suggest that bones along the inside of the jaw acted as a strain sink to counteract bending at the intramandibular joint.
A single footprint from a tiny cat-sized stegosaur has been discovered in China, revealing characteristics similar to other stegosaur footprints but with a heel-lifted gait. The finding suggests that young stegosaurs may have walked on two legs or used a 'toe-walking' posture.
The study provides precise geochronological constraints on the duration of the Yixian Formation and its units, revealing a shorter duration than previously estimated. The results suggest a rapid bio-diversification event during this period, supported by the exceptionally preserved volcanic-influenced ecosystem.
Researchers analyzed ankylosaurid skeleton from Mongolia's Baruungoyot Formation, finding evidence of adaptations for digging. The discovery sheds light on the behavior and habits of these ancient creatures.
Researchers found that stegosaurs ate tough food, likely plant-based, and had complex jaw movements, including a longitudinal phase. They also discovered that their teeth formed quickly, suggesting they may not have suffered from caries.
The first herbivorous dinosaurs in East Greenland arrived 214 million years ago, coinciding with a drastic drop in atmospheric CO2 levels. This climate shift made it difficult for them to disperse from their original habitat, resulting in a 15-million-year journey.
A rare oviraptorid dinosaur fossil was found in southern China, showing the animal sitting on a nest of at least 24 eggs with well-developed embryos. The fossil provides significant insights into the reproductive biology of non-avian theropod dinosaurs.
A study of prehistoric teeth sheds new light on the diets of ancient lizards and snakes, revealing they already had a full spectrum of diet types, including flesh-eating and plant-based. The research found that these species had achieved modern levels of dietary specialization by 100 million years ago.
A new study reconstructs the ancient habitat of early dinosaurs in the UK around 200 million years ago. The research reveals that small dinosaurs and lizard-like animals coexisted on flooded tropical islands, contradicting previous assumptions about their desert habitats.
The study reveals that Plateosaurus trossingensis had a unique combination of features, with differences in characteristics attributed to natural variation between individuals and bone deformation during fossilization. The researchers found that there is no evidence for multiple species within the same genus.
A new study reveals that megatheropods like Tyrannosaurus rex shaped dinosaur communities by filling ecological niches, explaining low species diversity among smaller dinosaurs. Communities worldwide lacked mesocarnivores due to the flood of resources from rapidly growing juveniles.
Researchers found a pattern where carnivorous dinosaur communities lacked medium-sized species between 100-1000kg, with juvenile megatheropods filling the gap. This discovery suggests that growth and development played a significant role in shaping ecosystem dynamics.
The study documents the discovery of Purgatorius fossils, which are estimated to be 65.9 million years old, providing insight into primates' evolution and diversification after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. The findings suggest that primates likely emerged by the Late Cretaceous period and lived alongside large dinosaurs.
A team of researchers, including Graduate Center professor Stephen Chester, analyzed fossils of Purgatorius, the oldest genus in a group of early-known primates. The discovery provides insight into how life on land recovered after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that wiped out dinosaurs.
A study found dinosaurs' dispersal coincides with a significant drop in atmospheric CO2 levels around 214 million years ago. This suggests prior climatic barriers prevented their expansion into the Northern Hemisphere for 15 million years.
A new study suggests that a 15-million-year journey was aided by a drop in atmospheric CO2 levels around 214 million years ago. The lower CO2 may have reduced climatic barriers, making it easier for sauropodomorph dinosaurs to migrate from Argentina and Brazil to Greenland.
Researchers use innovative 3D imaging technology to analyze joint mobility in living animals and apply patterns to reconstruct extinct dinosaurs' walking and running cycles. The study provides new perspectives on understanding animal biomechanics and its applications in evolutionary transitions.
The new Parasaurolophus skull reveals the structure of its iconic tube-shaped nasal passage, showing that the crest functions primarily as a sound resonator and visual display used to communicate within species. The discovery provides long-awaited answers about the evolution of this bizarre feature.
Research suggests that crocodiles' slow evolutionary rate is a result of their versatile body plan, allowing them to adapt to environmental changes. This efficiency may explain why they thrived during the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs perished.
Researchers discovered a nearly complete skeleton of Adalatherium, a giant mammal that defies explanation due to its unusual trunk vertebrae and limbs. The creature's front legs were adapted for sprinting, while its hind legs resembled those of crocodiles.
Plant communities shifted towards more terrestrial plants and trees, despite dramatic climate changes. Researchers found that rainfall patterns remained relatively minor and short-lived during the mass extinction event.
A study published in Biology Letters reveals that ancient synapsids, such as gorgonopsians and Dimetrodon, shared serrated tooth structures with theropod dinosaurs. These findings suggest that convergent evolution led to similar adaptations in these distinct groups of predators.
Gorgonopsians, a lineage more related to humans than dinosaurs, evolved the first complex tooth serration made of enamel and dentine, discovered in a new Harvard-led study. This finding indicates that gorgonopsians developed this specialized structure early in amniote evolution.
The graphic novel 'Europasaurus - Life on Jurassic Islands' provides a realistic look at the life of this dwarfed giant dinosaur and other prehistoric creatures. The book contains scientifically accurate information about the Mesozoic era, verified by international experts.
A new study from the University of Bath and Natural History Museum found that dinosaurs were not declining in diversity at the time of their extinction. The researchers used statistical modelling to assess dinosaur family trees and found no evidence of decline, contradicting previous studies. If the asteroid impact hadn't occurred, din...
The discovery of Ajnabia odysseus in Morocco suggests that dinosaurs crossed hundreds of kilometers of open water to colonize Africa. The tiny duckbill was likely a powerful swimmer, with large tails and powerful legs, and may have simply swum the distance.
A new study reveals that mammals developed social behavior much earlier than previously thought, interacting with dinosaurs in tightly packed clusters. The fossils, which are about 75.5 million years old, show evidence of multiple mature adults and subadults congregating, indicating a complex social structure.
Scientists used a new method to show that pterosaurs gradually improved their flight performance over millions of years, adapting their body shape and size to use 50% less energy. The study also revealed that one group of pterosaurs, azhdarchoids, did not improve their flying abilities despite growing in size.
Researchers compare microstructure and composition of five Mexican dinosaur eggs to determine the unknown eggshell's species. The study finds that the unknown sample closely resembles ornithopod shells, supporting hypothesis it belongs to the hadrosaur family.
A team of scientists discovered that scansoriopterygids, a group of bat-winged theropod dinosaurs, were capable of clumsy gliding due to their unique wing shape. Despite their gliding abilities, they were unable to achieve powered flight and eventually became an evolutionary dead-end.
Two small dinosaurs, Yi and Ambopteryx, had bat-like wings but struggled to fly, instead gliding between trees. Their unique wing membranes allowed them to glide, but not powered flight. The study supports that dinosaurs evolved flight in multiple ways before modern birds evolved.
Researchers discovered that Yi and Ambopteryx, two small dinosaur species from Late Jurassic China, evolved the ability to glide but were poorly capable of powered flight. They relied on gliding as an escape mechanism to stay out of danger while struggling to compete with other tree-dwelling dinosaurs and early birds.