A new species of ancient lizard, Kopidosaurus perplexus, has been discovered with a unique skull shape featuring curved teeth. The fossil's placement on the tree of life is uncertain, with three different evolutionary trees suggesting multiple possible positions.
Scientists have uncovered a 5-million-year-old relative of the living honey badger, Mellivora capensis, from the early Pliocene locality of Langebaanweg in South Africa. The fossil discovery provides insight into the evolution and diversity of mustelids during this time period.
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.
Researchers discovered Denisovan DNA in sediments from the Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau, revealing that Denisovans occupied the region for a long time and had adapted to the high-altitude environment. The findings support the idea that Denisovans had a wide geographic distribution beyond Siberia.
A new species of ancient marine reptile, Brevicaudasus jiyangshanensis, has been identified in China, featuring a short, flattened tail used for balance. This adaptation allowed the creature to float motionless underwater, conserving energy while searching for prey.
Researchers used fossil records to estimate extinction risk in marine bivalves, finding that many harvested species are widespread and tolerant of environmental changes. However, the study highlights the need for more complete data on human impact to inform conservation efforts.
Fossils found in Antarctica reveal the largest individuals of an extinct group of seabirds, which lived for up to 60 million years, dwarfing today's largest bird. The discovery sheds light on bird evolution and highlights the diversity of Antarctic birds during a warmer climate 50 million years ago.
The discovery confirms that African crocodiles of the genus Crocodylus inhabited Europe during the late Miocene, with fossils found in Italy and Spain. The remains suggest a dispersal from Africa to Europe via sea, supported by modern crocodile behavior and anatomical similarities with other extinct species.
Fossils found in southeastern Yunan Province, China, reveal monkeys existed in Asia alongside apes, and are believed to be ancestors of modern East Asian monkeys. These ancient primates were well adapted for movement both on land and in trees, with a versatile diet that allowed them to thrive in diverse environments.
A research team led by the University of Bonn has reconstructed four newly found beetle species using computer tomography, providing insights into their morphology and evolutionary history. The study suggests that beetles suffered a decrease in diversity during the Cretaceous period as plants transitioned from gymnosperms to angiosperms.
Research on ancestral wolf species reveals evidence of food-sharing and family care, as evidenced by healed injuries. Fossil specimens from China and California show similar dental infections and leg fractures to modern wolves.
A new genus of mosasaur, Gnathomortis stadtmani, has been discovered with a formidable biteforce and transitional characteristics between earlier and later mosasaurs. The species is estimated to have swum in Colorado seas between 79-81 million years ago.
The Geological Society of America's annual meeting, GSA Connects Online 2020, features 3,000 papers from 38 geoscience disciplines. The event showcases cutting-edge research in climate science, hydrology, paleontology, and more.
Researchers analyzed fossil bones of Panthasaurus maleriensis, an ancestor of modern amphibians, and found phases of rapid and slow growth depending on the climate. The study provides valuable insight into the prehistoric past, with the Indian site showing evidence of both young and adult animals.
A new species of freshwater Crustacea, Phallocryptus fahimii, has been identified in the Lut desert in Iran. The discovery highlights the resilience of crustaceans to extreme environments. Found in a small seasonal lake, these animals are adapted to survive for decades in arid conditions.
The Natodomeri fossil site in northwest Kenya is yielding a complete skull and partial skeleton of an early modern human, as well as extensive archeological material. The site's discovery provides a unique opportunity to compare early humans from the same time period but existing in different places.
Paleontologists used a new approach to estimate sexual variation in dinosaur fossils, finding patterns in size differences between males and females. The study suggests that using effect size statistics can produce accurate estimates of sexual dimorphism even with limited fossil data.
A new fossil discovery has provided critical evidence for the evolution of the mammalian middle ear, revealing the first unequivocal evidence of the five auditory bones from an extinct group. The findings have narrowed the morphological gap between ancient and modern mammals.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Tanja Wintrich discovered that even Tyrannosaurus rex could have suffered a slipped disc, as ancient reptiles had intervertebral discs similar to those in humans. This finding provides new insights into human spine mobility and medicine.
The publication provides a comprehensive overview of pennaraptoran theropods, covering their fossil record, systematics, anatomy, and early flight studies. Key findings include the identification of key avian traits that originated deep within theropod evolution and the discovery of unique reproductive strategies.
A new study confirms Deinosuchus had the head size and jaw strength to prey on dinosaurs. The massive creature lived in North America during the late Cretaceous period, up to 33 feet in length, making it one of the largest crocodylian genera ever in existence.
An international study reconstructs powered flight potential in theropod dinosaurs, finding it evolved at least three times. Many ancestors of bird relatives experimented with wing-assisted locomotion before flight evolved.
A research team led by Dr. Alida Bailleul has found that ovarian follicles can be preserved in fossils more than 120 million years old, confirming the function of a single functional ovary in birds. The study uses scanning electron microscopy and other methods to analyze fossilized tissues and compare them to extant bird follicles.
Researchers have discovered a single-letter change in DNA that alters the way zebrafish build their spines, leading to shorter bodies and tortured-looking spines. This mutation has similarities with fossil specimens of ancestral fish, revealing insights into spine evolution and development.
A new analysis of Dilophosaurus fossils reveals the largest land animal of its time had much in common with modern birds, including powerful muscles and air-filled bones. The study also sheds light on how Dilophosaurus evolved and its place in the family tree.
A newly described species from Madagascar suggests that dinosaurs and pterosaurs originated from extremely small ancestors. The discovery sheds light on the origins of flight in pterosaurs and the presence of 'fuzz' on the skin of both groups.
Researchers analyzed volcanic tuff in European Russia's continental formation, determining the precise age of upper layers at 253.95 million years. This discovery allows for direct comparison of fauna associations and thaw lengths in European Russia during late Permian.
A team of researchers at Harvard University has used MicroCT technology to study the head morphology of Leanchoilia illecebrosa, an ancient arthropod species. The study reveals that the species had a labrum, a flap-like structure overlying the mouth opening in most modern arthropods.
Scientists have found that the first dinosaurs laid soft-shelled eggs, contradicting long-held assumptions. The study analyzed the eggs of two non-avian dinosaurs and found they resembled those of turtles in terms of microstructure and mechanical properties.
Researchers found high frequencies of theropod bite marks on large-bodied sauropods, armored Mymoorapelta, and other dinosaurs at the Mygatt-Moore Quarry site. The data suggests an ecosystem where dinosaur remains lay out for months, providing a food source for multiple predators and scavengers.
A recent study has uncovered evidence of ancient cultivated rice in Central Asia, dating back to the Kushan period. The discovery sheds new light on the spread of rice agriculture and its role in early global trade.
A new study uncovers genetic relationships of ancient humans in northern and southern China, showing a closer connection between present-day East Asians and Neolithic populations. The research highlights the impact of population movement on human history, revealing continuity back 9,500 years.
International researchers discovered a nearly complete skeleton of Adalatherium, a 66-million-year-old mammal that lived among dinosaurs and massive crocodiles. The finding sheds light on the evolutionary history of gondwanatherians, an extinct group of mammals known from isolated teeth and jaw fragments.
The Kem Kem Group, a region famous for its Jurassic-era fossils, is reviewed in this comprehensive monograph. The study describes the paleoenvironments and fauna of the area, including massive theropod dinosaurs and sail-backed Spinosaurus.
Researchers study pterosaur fossils to understand their wing anatomy and flight capabilities, revealing novel tactics for bioinspired flight technology. By analyzing the morphology and predicted flight mechanics of these ancient creatures, scientists may be able to overcome hurdles still hindering man-made flight.
A fossil trove from Southern Gondwana has shed light on the ecology of ancient Australia and New Zealand, preserving the oldest known animals and plants. The findings include rare 'frozen behaviour' of long-legged flies, oldest known fossil ants, and first Australian fossils of a tiny insect species.
A newly discovered sandgrouse fossil from six to nine million-year-old rocks in western China sheds light on the arid habitats near the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The fossil, named Linxiavis inaquosus, provides key insights into the evolution of sandgrouse and their adaptation to dry environments.
A new species of quail-sized fossil bird from 44 million year old sediments in Utah has strong links with other extinct species from Namibia and Uzbekistan. The fossil fills a nearly 15 million-year gap in the galliform lineage in North America, revealing flexibility in the ecology and diet of early paraortygid birds.
Researchers have discovered remarkably well-preserved cartilage cells linked by an intercellular bridge and containing internal dark structures morphologically consistent with chromosomes. The team also found evidence of original molecules preserved in the dinosaur's cartilage, including a reaction to antibodies of Collagen II.
A new study has shed light on why the world's oceans are home to an astonishing array of species, with slow and steady evolution playing a key role in their diversity. The research analyzed over 20,000 fossil marine animals and found that ecologically flexible groups tend to be more resistant to extinction.
The discovery of Vellbergia bartholomaei, a tiny Middle Triassic lizard from Germany, provides new information about the early evolution of lepidosauromorphs. The species' unique characteristics suggest it may be a common ancestor of modern lizards and tuataras, revealing key findings in reptile evolution.
Researchers discovered a rare disease called Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in the fossilized tail of a young dinosaur that lived in Canada 60 million years ago. The study found that the disease has survived for over 60 million years and still affects humans, particularly children under 10.
According to new research, Gulf coast mollusks were able to survive past periods of climate change, including the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), which warmed the planet by 9-14 degrees Fahrenheit. The study suggests that these resilient communities may adapt again to today's climate change.
A German research team has identified bony fish as particularly sensitive to climate change, with snails and oysters being less threatened. The study combines fossil data with experimental studies, providing a basis for future collaboration and more precise predictions of species extinction.
A new study from Harvard University and the Field Museum of Natural History sheds light on how changes in spines happened in mammal evolution. Researchers found that regions evolved long before new spinal functions, suggesting a combination of developmental changes and adaptive pressures played a significant role.
A 700,000-year-old fossil bone found in Japan indicates that a close relative of the modern dovekie was once thriving in the Pacific Ocean. The discovery suggests that dovekies were more abundant in Japan and the Pacific than previously thought.
A new species of prehistoric scorpion, Parioscorpio venator, is discovered with characteristics similar to present-day scorpions and horseshoe crabs. The fossils suggest that scorpions may have adapted to life on land earlier than previously thought, possibly using similar pathways as modern horseshoe crabs.
Researchers from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences studied two mid-sized, immature T. rex skeletons to understand the tyrant king's teenage years. The team found that the small T. rex were growing as fast as modern-day warm-blooded animals and underwent drastic changes as they matured.
A Chinese fossil specimen was misidentified as an ancient spider species, with experts at the University of Kansas using fluorescence microscopy to uncover its true nature as a heavily altered crayfish. The study highlights the potential for fossils to be intentionally or unintentionally misrepresented.
The newly discovered Asfaltoventor vialidadi from Patagonia exhibits a unique blend of skeletal traits, challenging current understanding of tetanuran relationships. This finding supports the concept of evolutionary experimentation during periods of rapid diversification and mass extinctions.
A new study describes a 480-million-year-old fossil named Athenacrinus broweri, which helps rewrite the family tree of sea lilies. The fossil's arm structure reveals that modern sea lilies evolved from ancient ancestors with plates in their bodies similar to those found in earliest crinoid arms.
Researchers found that herbivorous dinosaurs developed similar skull features and bite styles, such as elongated skulls and grinding teeth, in response to eating plants. These convergent evolutionary strategies suggest a trade-off between biting speed and efficiency for these slow-moving animals.
The new species Origolestes lii, a stem therian mammal from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota, provides evidence for the separation of hearing and chewing modules. The discovery bridges the morphological gap between transitional and definitive mammalian middle ear evolution.
A new species of multituberculate mammal, Jeholbaatar kielanae, has been discovered with a distinct middle ear that suggests specialization for feeding. The fossil provides solid evidence of the morphology and articulation of middle-ear bones in multituberculates.
Researchers have found a well-preserved Styracosaurus skull with asymmetrical horns, challenging traditional identification methods. The discovery reveals morphological variability in dinosaur skulls, leading to reevaluation of previously assumed species.
A new study suggests people have been eating only oysters in months with the letter 'r' - September to April - for at least 4,000 years. Researchers analyzed snail parasites on discarded shells to determine the seasonal pattern of oyster harvesting.
Researchers discover avian predentary was covered by keratinous beak, mobile and proprioceptive, representing a unique feeding adaptation. The finding sheds light on the evolution of bird skull structure.
Researchers studied a small, toothless beak-like structure in prehistoric birds from the Cretaceous period. The predentary, found only in ancient ornithuromorphs, may have aided prey capture with proprioceptive capability and kinetic movement.
The discovery of Peregocetus pacificus, an amphibious whale from middle Eocene deposits in Peru, provides evidence of the earliest known quadrupedal whales crossing the South Atlantic from Africa to South America. The fossil specimen reveals webbed feet and terrestrial locomotion abilities, dating back over 40 million years.
A new sphenisciform fossil from New Zealand further resolves the bauplan of extinct giant penguins, characterized by elongated beaks and longer hindlimbs. The fossil, found in the North Island, provides key insights into the diversity of ancient penguin species.