A new sauropod species, Galeamopus pabsti, has been described from 150 million-year-old fossils in Wyoming, USA. The discovery expands the already unexpected diversity of 'whiplash dinosaurs', known for their elongated necks and tails.
A new species of ancient reptile, Teleocrater rhadinus, has been described, filling a critical gap in the fossil record. The carnivorous reptile was approximately 7-10 feet in length and walked on four crocodile-like legs, challenging preconceptions about early dinosaur relatives.
Researchers have found a carnivorous dinosaur relative with a crocodilian body plan, forcing them to re-evaluate their understanding of dinosaur evolution. The discovery sheds light on the complex history and traits of early ancestors.
A new species, Teleocrater rhadinus, discovered in Tanzania, has a long neck and tail, but walks on four legs like a crocodile. The finding sheds light on the distribution and diversity of ancestors of birds, crocodiles, and dinosaurs.
The newly-discovered Teleocrater rhadinus is a six-foot-long lizard-like carnivore that has unexpectedly crocodile-like features, causing scientists to reassess the earliest stages of dinosaur evolution. It shares more features with its distant crocodilian cousins than previously thought.
Researchers found signs of fault displacement at well-known rock outcrops in Colorado marking the end-Cretaceous asteroid impact. The study suggests massive seismic waves could have generated earthquakes as far away as Colorado.
A HKU palaeontologist and his team reconstructed the first highly detailed body outline of a feathered dinosaur using high-definition images of its preserved soft tissues. The technique, known as Laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF), reveals the shape of the dinosaur's wings, legs and foot scales with unprecedented detail.
A paleontologist at the Canadian Museum of Nature argues that decades of research on sex differences among dinosaurs is based on flawed data. The scientist's report highlights issues with small sample sizes and statistical analysis methods, leading to invalid conclusions about sexual dimorphism in dinosaurs.
A new study from the University of Cambridge and Natural History Museum proposes a major overhaul of the traditional dinosaur classification system. The researchers conclude that Ornithischia and Theropoda should be grouped together under the name Ornithoscelida, with dinosaurs potentially originating in the northern hemisphere.
New NASA research on Mars volcano Arsia Mons suggests its peak volcanic activity occurred around 150 million years ago, similar to the time of Earth's Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that led to the demise of dinosaurs. The study provides valuable insights into the Red Planet's history and interior structure.
Researchers discovered that ancient dinosaurs inherited bipedalism from smaller proto-dinosaurs, who developed strong tail muscles. This adaptation allowed early dinosaurs to run faster and for longer distances. However, mammals lost this trait due to the need for burrowing adaptations, which required strong front limbs and short tails.
Researchers estimate dinosaur age by analyzing bone structures and repair procedures, with a similar process occurring in humans. The study's findings have implications for understanding the natural life span of dinosaurs.
A new species of lizard, Magnuviator ovimonsensis, discovered in Montana's Egg Mountain fossil site, reveals significant gaps in understanding lizard diversity during the Cretaceous Period. The nearly complete fossils show that this ancient offshoot of iguanian lizards lived in a semi-arid environment with dinosaurs and other creatures.
Researchers from the University of Bath will investigate mass extinction using genetic and fossil analyses to understand patterns of extinction and species formation. They hope to find evidence of higher extinction rates before the K-Pg boundary, shedding light on recovery rates after the event.
The study reveals that sulfuric acid droplets formed after the asteroid impact caused long-lasting cooling, which likely contributed to the death of land-living dinosaurs. Marine ecosystems were also severely affected by the ocean circulation disturbances caused by surface cooling.
Groundbreaking study establishes a timeline for dinosaur incubation, suggesting 3-6 months. Researchers analyzed dinosaur embryo fossils using CT scans and microscopes to determine growth lines on teeth.
Research on dinosaur embryos shows that non-avian dinosaurs took 3-6 months to hatch, similar to reptiles. This finding suggests prolonged incubation may have affected their ability to compete with rapidly evolving bird populations, contributing to the mass extinction event.
Researchers have found that ceratosaurian theropod dinosaurs had teeth as young juveniles that were gradually lost as they grew up. The discovery reveals a unique developmental process where the toothed jaws of juvenile individuals transition to a completely toothless beaked jaw in more mature individuals.
Researchers linked RBC size to oxygen delivery efficiency in extinct mammals and birds using fossilizable indicators. They found that these organisms had smaller RBCs and were likely better athletes than earlier terrestrial vertebrates.
Researchers discovered that a dinosaur species, Limusaurus inextricabilis, lost its teeth in adolescence and did not grow another set as adults. The finding suggests a significant shift in diet from babies to adulthood, potentially explaining why birds have beaks but no teeth.
Two new horned dinosaur tribes, Nasutoceratopsini and Centrosaurini, have been named by scientists. The new tribes are characterized by distinct skull features, with Nasutoceratopsini having large shields extending from their skulls and shorter jaws than Centrosaurini.
A new study describes an early marsupial relative called Didelphodon vorax with the strongest bite force of any mammal ever recorded. It had a powerful bite and could eat a variety of foods, including small dinosaurs.
Researchers discovered that early dinosaurs had a far higher level of variation in growth patterns than birds and crocodiles. This variation may have allowed them to survive harsh environmental challenges, but its evolutionary origin remains unclear.
A well-preserved dinosaur fossil discovered in southern China provides valuable insights into the evolution of a family of feathered dinosaurs before the mass extinction event. The discovery, named Tongtianlong limosus, sheds light on how these creatures diversified and flourished just before their extinction.
Researchers have discovered a new lagerpetid and saurischian dinosaur together, providing insights into the evolution of dinosaurs. The findings suggest that dinosaurs and their precursors coexisted during the earliest stages of dinosaurs' rise, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers reconstructed the body cavity volume in over 120 tetrapods and found that herbivores have twice as large bodies as carnivores of similar size. The study reveals a fundamental difference in morphological principles between mammals and other tetrapods, with possible implications for respiratory systems.
A team of scientists used chemical composition of fossil eggs to determine if they were laid by different mothers, finding that oviraptorid dinosaurs exhibited communal nesting behavior. The study sheds light on the evolutionary history of this unique behavior.
A new study finds that bird-like dinosaurs were social animals, living and dying together in groups. The discovery of a rare bonebed in Mongolia highlights the increasing trend of gregariousness in dinosaurs and emphasizes the need to protect against fossil poaching.
Paleontologists discover dinosaur bones and trackways in Denali National Park, providing new insights into the region's ancient ecosystem. The finds are significant as they confirm the presence of dinosaur fossils in the area, supporting the hypothesis that a distinct polar fauna existed during the Late Cretaceous Period.
Researchers found the unique impression of skin scales from a large herbivore sauropod, possibly a titanosaurus, in sandstone rocks. The discovery is significant as it provides evidence of one of the last dinosaurs to live on Earth before their extinction.
The discovery of a 66-million-year-old bird fossil in Antarctica reveals the oldest known syrinx, a vocal organ that produces bird calls. The finding indicates that this organ may have originated late in the evolution of birds, suggesting that other dinosaurs were unable to produce similar sounds.
A newly described species of extinct reptile from the Triassic period in Texas had a strikingly dome-shaped head, similar to that of dinosaurs. The study found internal partitions or zones in the skull, which were similar to those of pachycephalosaur dinosaurs.
A team of paleontologists identified a new species of extinct reptile, Triopticus primus, estimated to be 230 million years old. The fossil bears an extremely thickened skull roof similar to pachycephalosaur dinosaurs and many other extinct animals resemble later dinosaurs.
A team of paleontologists has assigned a new genus to the largest predatory dinosaur ever found in Germany, dating back to the Middle Jurassic. The fossil, named Wiehenvenator albati, is estimated to be around 8-10 meters long and weighs over 2 tons.
A team of scientists discovered that ants first switched to farming fungi 55-60 million years ago, marking the beginning of a mutual adaptation. Leafcutter ants have since developed industrial-scale farming, producing protein-rich bulbs and thriving on an enormous scale.
A new theropod dinosaur discovered in Patagonia has forelimbs most similar to those of T. rex, indicating independent evolution of this unusual trait. The study suggests that small T. rex-like arms may have evolved multiple times, adding evidence to the evolutionary history of these dinosaurs.
A new hypothesis proposes that soot ejected by the Chicxulub asteroid impact caused global cooling, drought, and limited photosynthesis in oceans. This rapid climate change is believed to have led to the mass extinction of dinosaurs and ammonites.
A new study reveals that plant-eating ornithopod dinosaurs experienced four evolutionary bursts, with improved jaws and efficiency playing a key role. Despite rapid plant evolution during the Mesozoic, these herbivores remained successful, with some species even specializing in conifer digestion.
A newly-discovered Patagonian allosaurid named Gualicho has short, two-fingered claws similar to those of T. rex, but its unique limbs evolved independently rather than arising from a common ancestor. The dinosaur's unusual features make it a 'mosaic dinosaur', with characteristics found in different kinds of theropods.
The study found that the distinctive ball-and-socket vertebrae arrangement in sauropods allowed for greater flexibility and reduced stress on the spine. This design enabled the evolution of long-necked sauropod dinosaurs, which reached lengths of over 100 feet and weighed up to 70 metric tons.
Researchers discovered that closed-mouth vocalization evolved at least 16 times in archosaurs, including birds and crocodiles. This behavior is often used for mating displays or territorial defense, producing sounds that are typically quieter and lower in pitch than those made through an open beak.
A new study published in Nature Communications suggests that a combination of volcanic eruptions and an asteroid impact led to the mass extinction of dinosaurs. The research, conducted by University of Florida geochemist Andrea Dutton, used a novel technique called clumped isotope paleothermometry to analyze ancient ocean temperatures.
Researchers have uncovered a well-preserved fossil of a previously unknown bird species, Calciavis grandei, dating back to the Eocene epoch. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary history of large flightless birds and provides new anatomical data for resolving contentious debates among paleontologists.
Researchers discovered a non-cancerous facial tumor in the fossilized jaw of Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a primitive duck-billed dinosaur, providing evidence that dinosaurs were prone to tumors. The discovery sheds new light on ancient diseases and tumours in extinct species.
New research suggests mammals evolved and diversified after the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago, contradicting a long-held scientific theory. Fossil records support this finding, which was achieved by recalibrating DNA evolution rates using reliable fossil data.
Researchers found placental mammals evolved at a constant rate before the extinction event but accelerated rapidly after, resulting in diverse modern groups like bats and cats. The team analyzed fossils from the Cretaceous to present day, finding a massive spike in evolution rates after dinosaur extinction.
Scientists from Wits University discovered that mammal-like reptiles evolved hair around 240-246 million years ago, assisting their survival. This discovery suggests a possible link between the evolution of hair and whiskers with the development of mammals.
Over 90% of mammal species were wiped out by the asteroid that killed dinosaurs, but they recovered rapidly and diversified in different regions. The recovery took just 300,000 years, with small mammals being key survivors.
A study of over 6,000 Antarctic marine fossils reveals a dramatic 65-70% reduction in species 66 million years ago, coinciding with the end of the Cretaceous Period and the extinction of dinosaurs. The research suggests that the mass extinction event was just as rapid and severe in polar regions as elsewhere on Earth.
Researchers analyzed CT scans of Pawpawsaurus's skull and found its sense of smell was sharper than some dinosaur predators but less keen than Ankylosaurus. The dinosaur lacked a club tail, but its enlarged nasal cavity may have helped it detect prey or avoid predators.
A new marine reptile fossil, Sclerocormus parviceps, challenges the idea of slow evolution. The ichthyosauriform had a short snout and whip-like tail, suggesting rapid diversification at the end of the Lower Triassic period.
A new species of horned dinosaur, Machairoceratops cronusi, has been discovered in southern Utah with distinctive back spikes. The discovery increases known centrosaurine diversity and may provide insights into the early evolutionary history of horned dinosaurs.
A new species of horned dinosaur, Spiclypeus shipporum, has been identified with a unique 'spiked shield' on its head frill. The dinosaur lived around 76 million years ago and showed signs of arthritis and bone infection.
Researchers discovered an evolutionary link between dinosaurs and dung beetles, with the first molecular evidence indicating their origins in the Lower Cretaceous period. The study suggests that the incorporation of flowering plants in dinosaurs' diet led to a new niche for evolution.
Researchers found that muscle destruction must precede ligament destruction for vertebral retraction to occur. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding the death of dinosaurs like Sinosauropteryx.
Researchers have sequenced the mitochondrial genome of the Hispaniolan solenodon, revealing that it diverged from other living mammals 78 million years ago. The venomous mammal survived asteroid impact and human colonization, but is now threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators.
The discovery of a young Rapetosaurus dinosaur provides insights into the early lives of sauropod giants. The findings suggest that these animals developed quickly to function on their own, similar to birds and herding mammals.
Scientists have discovered REM and slow-wave sleep in bearded dragons, a finding that suggests brain sleep dates back at least to the evolution of amniotes. The study's authors believe that this common origin is more plausible than convergent evolution, given the early branching out of reptiles.
Researchers used network theory to depict dinosaur movement worldwide, finding some regions, like Europe, had extensive fossil records. The study also showed that all connections between Europe and other continents during the Early Cretaceous period were out-going.
Researchers found that bird-like dinosaurs with toothless beaks were able to survive on seeds after the meteor impact, while those with teeth went extinct abruptly. The study suggests that dietary adaptations played a crucial role in the survival of modern birds.