Researchers found that young birds exhibit mature flight stroke early in development by leveraging leg and wing power, challenging existing ideas about flight origin. This discovery could provide insights into the evolution of flight in ancient theropod dinosaurs.
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.
Analysis of a new fossil suggests that giant dinosaurs like Rapetosaurus krausei were born with adult-like body proportions, allowing for early independence. This finding implies that parental care was less crucial for these species compared to others.
Dinosaurs were already experiencing an evolutionary decline, with many species going extinct faster than new ones emerged. This suggests that the asteroid impact may not have been the sole cause of their extinction.
A team of researchers from Cardiff University has provided new evidence on how deep sea creatures survived the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs. The study found that some forms of algae and bacteria were living in the aftermath of the disaster, providing a slow trickle of food for creatures near the seafloor.
New research on Asilisaurus fossils reveals that early dinosaurs grew at a faster rate than previously thought and didn't follow the expected pattern of size being a predictor of maturity. The study found that muscle scars on fossil bones were more related to growth patterns than sex differences.
Researchers used computer models to analyze the evolution of sauropod dinosaurs' bodies, finding that changes in shape coincided with major events in their history. The study reveals a link between size, weight distribution, and body shape, shedding light on the success of titanosaurs.
A new analysis suggests that malaria evolved in insects over 100 million years ago, with the first vertebrate hosts being reptiles and later dinosaurs. Understanding this ancient history may hold clues to interrupting malaria transmission through its most common vector, the Anopheles mosquito.
New research reveals that human-driven carbon release rate is 10 times faster than any event since the age of dinosaurs. The study uses sediment cores and numerical simulations to extract rates of change, showing a maximum sustained carbon release rate of about one-tenth the current rate.
Researchers discovered two genes, Pitx1 and Tbx5, responsible for developing feathered feet in pigeons. The study suggests that these genes may have played a role in the evolution of feathers in dinosaurs and early birds. The findings provide insight into how skin regions can be controlled to produce scales or feathers.
A newly discovered dinosaur, Timurlengia euotica, lived about 90 million years ago and fills a 20 million-year gap in the fossil record of tyrannosaurs. The species had developed keen senses and cognitive abilities, including low-frequency hearing, which positioned it to take advantage of opportunities to reach the top of its food chain.
A newly discovered species of horse-sized dinosaur provides key insights into the evolution of Tyrannosaurus rex as a top predator. The discovery reveals that tyrannosaurs developed huge body sizes rapidly at the end of the age of dinosaurs, with their keen senses enabling them to dominate the food chain.
Scientists from three Brazilian universities and one UK university discovered a new fossil reptile, Teyujagua paradoxa, which lived 250 million years ago. The species is intermediate between primitive reptiles and archosauriforms, a group that includes dinosaurs and birds.
A newly discovered Microwhip scorpion fossil from the Mesozoic period has been found in Burmese amber. The fossil, named Electrokoenenia yaksha, is a tiny, yellowish creature that lived alongside dinosaurs 100 million years ago.
New research reveals that ichthyosaurs, highly diverse during their reign, were negatively affected by global changes leading to their extinction. A two-phase event suppressed ecological diversity and wiped out the group at the beginning of the Late Cretaceous period.
Marina Suarez aims to understand how the Earth functions with high levels of carbon dioxide and how it recovers from extreme conditions. Her research in paleoclimatology will inform current studies on climate change, a pressing global concern.
A fossilized femur bone has revealed the massive size of an abelisaur, potentially one of the largest ever found. The discovery helps researchers determine the maximum sizes these dinosaurs may have reached during their peak.
A new study of fossil tracks in northern China suggests that sauropod dinosaurs were walking, not swimming, despite previous theories. The tracks, dating back over 120 million years, show four or five claw marks at the front and are matched perfectly by the feet of medium-sized sauropod dinosaurs.
Researchers discovered a unique trumpet-like nasal passage in ancient wildebeest-like animals (Rusingoryx atopocranion), similar to that of hadrosaur dinosaurs. The finding suggests that the animals may have used vocalizations to communicate over large distances, potentially making their calls safer from predators.
An international team of researchers embarks on a monthlong expedition to Antarctica in search of ancient fossils, hoping to answer questions about the origins of modern bird and mammal groups. The team aims to uncover evidence of mammals from the Cretaceous period, which could shed light on evolutionary diversifications in Antarctica.
A new species of duck-billed dinosaur, Eotrachodon orientalis, has been identified from the Appalachian region, providing insight into its origins and dispersal. The discovery sheds light on how these dinosaurs spread across the world after the seaway lowered, opening a land corridor to western North America.
A new carnivorous dinosaur species, Dracoraptor hanigani, has been uncovered in south Wales, potentially dating back to the earliest days of the Jurassic Period. The fossil, discovered in 2014, represents one of the most complete theropod specimens from Wales and may be one of the oldest known Jurassic dinosaurs in the UK.
A team of researchers tracked a rare 66-million-year-old tyrannosaur footprint trail in Wyoming, shedding new light on the dinosaur's speed and hunting habits. The study suggests that even young tyrannosaurs were capable of rapid movement, challenging previous theories about their sluggish nature.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London found that Protoceratops' large bony frill increased in size as the animal matured, suggesting it played a role in attracting mates. The study provides the first demonstration of sexual selection in dinosaurs and sheds light on the evolution of ornamental structures.
Researchers have published the results of their scientific findings on a juvenile Chasmosaurus, one of the rarest dinosaur discoveries. The study provides new insights into the evolution and life history of horned dinosaurs.
A study led by CU Denver professor Martin Lockley found evidence of dinosaur mating displays in 100 million-year-old rocks. The discovery provides physical proof of courtship behavior in dinosaurs, filling a missing gap in our understanding of their behavior.
The study analyzed the fossil record and found a burst of evolution into new forms, followed by specialization that resulted in modern mammal groups. The team built an updated tree of life containing over 177 species, revealing a significant increase in mammal diversity after the extinction event.
Researchers have discovered a new species of plant-eating dinosaur, Hualianceratops wucaiwanensis, that sheds light on the ceratopsian family tree. The findings suggest that Jurassic period dinosaurs may have had more species diversity than previously thought, with at least four lineages present by the beginning of the Jurassic Period.
Scientists have reevaluated the emergence of early dinosaur relatives and their connection to the first dinosaurs. The new findings suggest a shorter time gap between the two, dating back around 234-236 million years, contradicting previous estimates.
A newly discovered collection of rare dinosaur tracks in Scotland is helping scientists shed light on some of the biggest animals to have lived on land. The footprints, made by plant-eating sauropods around 170 million years ago, suggest these dinosaurs grew to at least 15 meters in length and weighed over 10 tonnes.
Scientists have confirmed that blood vessel-like structures found in an 80 million-year-old hadrosaur fossil are original to the animal, not biofilm or contaminants. The discovery provides insight into how proteins can modify and change over millions of years.
A rare fossil from eastern North America of a dog-sized horned dinosaur has been identified by a scientist at the University of Bath. The discovery highlights an east-west divide in North American dinosaur evolution, suggesting that dinosaurs in Appalachia evolved differently from those in western North America.
A study found a strong correlation between eggshell porosity and covered or exposed nest types among extant archosaurs. This suggests that eggshell porosity may be used as a proxy for nest type, allowing researchers to infer the type of nest built by extinct archosaurs.
Researchers have reclassified a Canadian 'dinosaur' fossil as Dimetrodon borealis, featuring distinctive blade-like teeth. The discovery sheds new light on the animal's relationship to mammals and dinosaurs, and provides insight into its evolutionary history.
A new study provides a quantitative estimate of the effects of continental flood basalts on climate, vegetation, and oceans during the time of the dinosaurs. The researchers found that temperatures would cool by as much as 4.5 degrees Celsius due to volcanic gas emissions but return to normal within 50 years after an eruption ceased.
A new short-crested lizard, Probrachylophosaurus bergei, has been found in Montana, exhibiting an intermediate nasal crest between non-crested ancestors and larger crests of adult Brachylophosaurus. This discovery provides insights into the evolution of dinosaur species and sheds light on the transitional forms between different groups.
Research found that theropod dinosaurs like T. rex and Allosaurus could open their jaws wide due to their powerful muscles, while herbivorous Erlikosaurus had limited jaw movement. This study provides new insights into the relationship between dinosaur diet and jaw musculature.
Paleontologists discover two new transitional species of duckbilled dinosaurs with intermediate characteristics, suggesting a shift in growth patterns and development over time. The findings provide insights into the evolution of hadrosaurid dinosaurs, highlighting the importance of heterochrony in understanding evolutionary processes.
A recent discovery of an Ornithomimus dinosaur with preserved tail feathers and soft tissue is shedding light on the convergent evolution between dinosaurs and birds. The findings suggest that these dinosaurs used feathered regions to regulate body temperature, similar to modern ostriches.
Researchers discovered that dinosaurs utilized their elaborate nasal passages as heat exchangers to maintain optimal brain temperatures. This innovative mechanism allowed them to regulate their body temperature efficiently, solving the long-standing puzzle of how dinosaurs kept their brains from overheating despite their large bodies.
A team of scientists has unearthed a 2-foot-long, 76-million-year-old fossil of an extinct turtle species with a unique pig-like snout, providing valuable insights into the evolution of turtles. The discovery sheds light on the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on ancient ecosystems.
New study finds a cyclical pattern between impact craters and extinction events every 26 million years, suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship. This cosmic cycle is linked to periodic motion of the sun and planets, affecting life on Earth over the past 260 million years.
A team of researchers from Caltech analyzed eggshells from sauropod dinosaurs, bird-like oviraptorid dinosaurs, and Titanosaurs to determine their body temperatures. The results showed that smaller dinosaurs had lower basal metabolisms, while larger ones maintained warm temperatures similar to modern mammals.
Researchers discovered that some dinosaurs, like oviraptorid theropods, had intermediate body temperatures between endotherms and ectotherms. They found evidence of higher temperatures in fossil eggshells, suggesting these animals may have been more active than previously thought.
A team of scientists has discovered a group of perinatal Saurolophus angustirostris dinosaurs found at the Dragon's Tomb site in Mongolia. The young dinosaurs, likely from the same nest, exhibit characteristics similar to those of adult Saurolophus angustirostris, including an upwardly directed snout and poorly developed crest.
Researchers from UCLA report that some dinosaurs had the ability to warm themselves by drawing heat from the sun, contradicting previous theories. The study found that these dinosaurs had higher body temperatures than modern alligators and crocodiles, suggesting they were more active.
Researchers at Florida State University have created the first complete bird family tree, showing that all land birds diverged from a group of dinosaurs. The study reveals unexpected relationships between different bird species, including the connection between hummingbirds and nightjars.
A 125-million-year-old bird fossil from Spain provides a unique glimpse into the anatomy of early bird flight. The discovery supports the notion that some ancient birds were capable of aerodynamic feats similar to those of modern birds.
A study of 50 Maiasaura tibiae fossils revealed bird-level growth rates and a six-year window of peak physical fitness. The researchers also found that sexual maturity occurred within the third year of life and the average adult mass was 2.3 tonnes in eight years.
New evidence shows that asteroid impact on Earth 66 million years ago accelerated volcanic eruptions in India for hundreds of thousands of years. The eruptions, known as the Deccan Traps, likely suppressed recovery of life for 500,000 years after the KT boundary.
The Queensland University of Technology has created a virtual dinosaur zoo featuring five iconic Australian species, including Australovenator and Muttaburrasaurus. The interactive learning display allows for realistic movements and behaviors, backed by the latest research and evidence.
Researchers have described a new hadrosaur species, Ugrunaaluk kuukpikensis, which grew up to 30 feet long and lived in darkness for months during the Cretaceous Period. The discovery provides evidence of a distinct, polar fauna in what is now northern Alaska.
A team of scientists from North Carolina State University and the University of Alberta compared Jurassic and Cretaceous ankylosaur specimens to determine how their tails evolved. They found that the tail stiffened before the growth of the osteoderm knob, with handle-like vertebrae appearing in early ankylosaurs.
A new study by UK scientists found that geographically widespread animals are not immune to extinction during global mass extinction events. In contrast, they discovered that widely distributed animals are just as likely to suffer extinction as those with smaller geographic ranges.
Two carnivorous dinosaurs, measuring 1.6m and 1.1m at hip height, left 50 fossilized footprints in Germany, revealing slow speeds of 6.3km/h and 9.7km/h for the large and small species, respectively. The analysis provides insight into their daily life, including social behavior and hunting habits.
Researchers have identified six additional species of carnivorous theropods from isolated teeth in the South Pyrenees Basin in Spain. The study quadrupled the known diversity of dinosaur fossils in the area, providing new insights into the evolution and extinction of these creatures.
A new study reveals that the distinctive, saw-like tooth structure of theropod dinosaurs enabled them to effectively process food, contributing to their success as predators. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of dinosaur dentition and has implications for our understanding of these ancient creatures.
A newly identified species of feathered dinosaur has been found to have complex, quill pen-like feathers and short wings, challenging previous assumptions about the diversity of winged dinosaurs. The discovery, published in Scientific Reports, provides new insights into the evolution and biology of these fascinating creatures.
A new species, Wendiceratops pinhornensis, discovered in Alberta, Canada, reveals hook-like horns and a prominent nasal horn, shedding light on nose horn evolution in the Triceratops family. The findings add to growing research suggesting high diversity of ceratopsids associated with rapid evolutionary radiation.
A new species of horned dinosaur, Wendiceratops pinhornensis, has been discovered with a unique nose horn and striking frill ornamentation. The find sheds light on the evolution of these distinctive features in the Triceratops family, providing insights into the group's early skull development.