Researchers have identified a new species of prehistoric crocodile, Deltasuchus motherali, from a fossil site in north central Texas. The species, which lived around 95 million years ago, is estimated to have grown up to 20 feet long and ate a wide variety of prey, including turtles and dinosaurs.
A new study reveals a clear relationship between the frontal bones and forebrain as well as parietal bones and midbrain in dinosaurs and birds. The research used CT scanning techniques to analyze embryos of lizards, alligators, and birds, confirming the link found in reptiles.
Polypterids, known as living fossils, are repositioned on the fish evolutionary tree, shifting their origin and that of modern ray-finned fishes. The study uses CT scans to analyze fossil skulls and DNA sequences, revealing ancient cousins and specializations that evolved later.
A 132 million-year-old plesiosaur fossil was discovered in northern Germany and identified as a new species, Lagenanectes richterae. The ancient creature had a long neck, short jaws with specialized teeth, and internal channels for electroreceptors.
Researchers studying a 400 million year old bony fish from Estonia believe they have found evidence for the origins of teeth using advanced synchrotron microtomography. This discovery may cast light on the possible origin of teeth from dermal odontodes, and evolutionary relationship between dentitions of all jawed animals.
The Institute for the Study of Mongolian Dinosaurs' Moveable Museum travels across rural Mongolia, offering engaging exhibits and workshops to promote paleontology and protect local fossils. The museum aims to inspire local kids to become paleontologists and support conservation efforts.
Researchers shed light on the extinct cave bear's primarily herbivorous diet and small brain relative to its body size. New studies suggest a less energy-rich diet and highly seasonal environment contributed to its unusually small brain, with findings also indicating longer gestation periods and slower sexual maturity.
A new study found that Solenodon, a venomous shrew-like mammal, has survived human arrival in the Caribbean by adapting to a flexible diet. The research suggests that this flexibility allowed Solenodon to thrive despite human-induced climate change and invasive species on the islands.
A new study compares the recovery of land-dwelling vertebrates from different localities in southern Pangaea, finding stark differences in ecological diversity levels. The research suggests that carnivores and archosaurs were diverse and abundant in Zambia and Tanzania but relatively uncommon or absent in South Africa.
Researchers used synchrotron microtomography to analyze fossilized feces, providing clues on ancient food webs and ecosystems. The study reveals delicate remains of beetles and fish in coprolites from the Upper Triassic bone beds in Poland.
A newly discovered dinosaur fossil from Mongolia shows three juvenile oviraptors roosting together, suggesting a unique behavior among bird-line theropods. The specimen provides valuable insights into the origins of communal roosting in birds and sheds light on the social habits of ancient dinosaurs.
A team of divers has discovered a wealth of fossil remains in Mexico's Hoyo Negro cave, shedding light on the region's ecosystem during the end of the last Ice Age. The finds include early human remains, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats.
A new discovery in Dinosaur Provincial Park reveals the existence of two previously unknown species: Latenivenatrix mcmasterae and Stenonychosaurus inequalis. These findings challenge current understanding of the Troodontid family tree in North America.
Researchers have identified a rare pterosaur pelvis in Alberta's Dinosaur Provincial Park, showing that these ancient reptiles were well adapted for walking on land. The study provides evidence that azhdarchids likely used their powerful hindlimbs to transport themselves on the ground.
The study found a strong correlation between predator size and the diameter of drill holes, suggesting that larger predators have hunted smaller prey in the past. The researchers believe that growing bigger predators may not need to switch to larger targets due to more nutritious small prey.
Researchers have identified a new genus and species of ancient marine reptile called Luskhan itilensis, discovered in the Volga River region. The discovery sheds light on the ecomorphological diversity of pliosaurs, suggesting that their evolutionary history was more complex than previously thought.
Researchers found that as predators grew in size, they targeted smaller prey rather than larger quarry, suggesting a shift in ecological dynamics. The study's findings support the escalation hypothesis, which posits that top-down pressure from larger predators drove key evolutionary developments in prey species.
A new fossil discovery in New Mexico reveals that the earliest primates, known as plesiadapiforms, were adapted to living in trees. The 62-million-year-old skeleton shows flexible joints for climbing and clinging to branches, contradicting previous theories of terrestrial lifestyles.
The publication of rare species' location data can inadvertently contribute to poaching and further species declines. Biologists must reevaluate their publishing culture to protect endangered species.
A rare tooth discovery in Mississippi, USA, has revealed that horned dinosaurs, closely related to Triceratops, roamed freely across eastern North America during the Late Cretaceous period. The fossil, dated to around 68-66 million years ago, challenges previous assumptions about the separation of western and eastern continents.
Researchers from the Universities of Cape Town and Bonn suggest that warm-bloodedness may have originated 20-30 million years ago in land animals. This is based on analysis of long-extinct animal fossils, which show signs of fibrolamellar bone structure indicative of warm-bloodedness.
Researchers found T. rex could generate forces equal to three small cars while simultaneously applying world-record tooth pressures. The dinosaur's long conical teeth allowed it to drive open cracks in bone and produce catastrophic explosions.
A UCR study reveals that the Ediacaran-era fossil animal Dickinsonia developed in a highly regulated way using a similar genetic toolkit to today's animals. The research helps place Dickinsonia in the early evolution of animal life, showcasing its complex growth and development.
A new species of ancient snake, Zilantophis schuberti, has been discovered in eastern Tennessee with distinctive wing-shaped projections on its vertebrae. The species lived around 5 million years ago and is closely related to rat snakes and kingsnakes.
A new study links high-altitude cooling around Antarctica to climate change in the subtropics, affecting Southeast Asia's rainfall patterns. The research uses sediment cores from the Australian continental shelf, providing a long-term history of climate changes.
A new fossil cichlid discovered in East Africa provides insights into the evolutionary history of the cichlid family. The analysis of its unique 'mosaic-like' set of characters supports the idea that interspecies hybridization played a prominent role in their evolution.
Researchers at the University of Alberta successfully reunited a headless Corythosaurus skeleton with its skull, previously collected in 1920. This discovery highlights the growing field of study in paleontology and showcases new methods for matching specimens.
A new tyrannosaur species, Daspletosaurus horneri, has been discovered with an unusual mode of evolution called anagenesis. The research reveals a complex sensory web derived from the trigeminal nerve, similar to humans, and a lipless mask of large scales covering its face.
Researchers uncover 16 million-year-old fossils of a small crocodile, Diplocynodon ratelii, which is similar to modern-day caimans. The discovery provides new insights into the early Miocene ecosystem in Catalonia, Spain.
A new species of bird, Eoconfuciusornis, has been found with exceptionally preserved soft tissues, including feathers, skin, and collagen. The discovery provides valuable insights into the evolution of flight in birds, revealing unique features such as wing patagia and plumage patterns.
The study found that Hawaii's older islands have experienced a decline in species diversity over millions of years due to shrinking land areas. The research used a new method to analyze species diversity on the different islands and concluded that most groups are now in long-term evolutionary decline.
A new study confirms that sharks arose from a group of bony fishes called acanthodians, using an extraordinarily well-preserved fossil of an ancient sharklike fish. The research identifies the fossil as an important transitional species pointing to sharks as acanthodians' living descendants.
A new species of ancient fish from southern China has been discovered, exhibiting unique 'shield scale' characteristics. This finding suggests that jawed vertebrates may have evolved earlier than previously thought, with possible implications for our understanding of their origins.
Two early Late Pleistocene crania from Lingjing, China exhibit a morphological mosaic with similarities to Neandertals and eastern Eurasian humans. The fossils provide insight into the biology and population history of early Late Pleistocene eastern Eurasia.
Researchers found that mollusk fossils accurately record spatial diversity patterns in marine ecosystems, providing insights into past and present changes. The study suggests that mollusks can be used to understand ecosystem shifts and inform conservation efforts.
A new species of lobopodian, Ovatiovermis cribratus, has been discovered in the Burgess Shale, providing insights into the ecology and relationship of these ancient creatures. The discovery reveals that strong recurved claws may have allowed them to anchor themselves on hard surfaces and filter food from water.
A new species of extinct otter, Siamogale melilutra, has been discovered in China with a body size comparable to that of a wolf. The discovery provides insights into the evolutionary history and functional morphology of this ancient lineage.
The discovery of Siamogale melilutra, a 3 times larger than modern otters, reveals insights into the evolutionary history and functional morphology of this new species. The fossil's characteristics suggest adaptations for eating large shellfish and freshwater mollusks.
A fatty molecule thought to be unique to flowering plants has been found in bacteria from the Adriatic Sea, solving a 20-year-old paleontological mystery. The discovery challenges the assumption that isoarborinol's presence indicates land and flowering plant life.
A new $100,000 grant will support research training and educational outreach in vertebrate paleontology at the University of Kansas. Students will participate in fieldwork in Wyoming and Turkey to study early mammal evolution and migration.
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.
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.
Researchers found a benign tumor, called a compound odontoma, in a fossilized gorgonopsian jaw from 255 million years ago. The discovery suggests that this type of tumor may have existed before the first mammals evolved.
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.
A team of international scientists has discovered beta-keratin in a 130 million-year-old bird feather fossil, providing evidence that melanosomes are present in these structures. This finding sheds new light on the molecular preservation of tissues in ancient fossils.
Researchers found evidence of a diaphragm-like structure in early pelycosaurs, dating back over 300 million years. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the evolution of respiratory systems and warm-bloodedness.
A team of researchers from the University of Oregon has discovered microfossils in Australian rocks that suggest life in soils may have existed on Earth over 3,000 million years ago. The findings indicate that ancient ecosystems thrived in terrestrial environments, challenging traditional views of early life on Earth.
A 110-million-year-old snake-like reptile fossil from Brazil, named Tetrapodophis, has been reexamined by researchers. The fossil lacks many key snake features, such as recurved teeth and a snake-like skull, instead displaying traits similar to water-dwelling reptiles.
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 team of paleontologists discovered a 40-million-year-old sirenian fossil in a Spanish paving stone, providing insights into the evolution of ancient marine mammals. The 'Girona Sea Cow' is believed to be one of the oldest sea cow fossils found in Europe.
A genuine fossilized brain from a 133 million-year-old dinosaur has been discovered in Sussex, England, revealing remarkable preservation of the fine network of blood vessels. The brain structure and meningeal arrangement show striking similarity to modern birds and crocodilians, suggesting functional parallels.
A new study suggests that early tetrapod ancestors may have been seeing like land-based animals before they were moving like them. The research found that large eyes evolved in aquatic tetrapods millions of years before the animals were fully terrestrial, allowing for a greater visual range and diverse behavior.
Researchers modelled the locomotion of early tetrapods using a living mudskipper and robot simulator. They found that tail use greatly improved terrestrial locomotor performance on soft substrates, especially on slopes and sandy surfaces.
Researchers discovered that giant extinct salmon used their large spike-like teeth for fighting and display against each other during the breeding season. The findings indicate a significant change in tooth shape before migration, suggesting these fish underwent developmental changes prior to migrating upriver.
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.
The discovery of Qilinyu rostrata expands our understanding of maxillate placoderms and reveals a complex relationship between marginal jaw bones and gnathal plates. The study finds that the maxilla, premaxilla, and dentary are homologous to the gnathal plates of placoderms, suggesting a shared dental arcade.
A new species of ancient armored fish, Bothriolepis rex, was discovered by a team of scientists from Drexel University and other institutions. The fish is estimated to be around 5.5 feet long, making it the largest known member of the Antiarchi group, which dates back to the Devonian Period.
Scientists have discovered a new species of fossil crocodile that had complex, mammal-like teeth, which allowed it to crunch through the exoskeletons of insects. The tiny 'crocodile' was less than 2 feet in length and lived in the Kem Kem Beds in Morocco during the Cretaceous period.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recognized outstanding science communicators with the 2016 Communication Awards. Deborah Cramer won for her book 'The Narrow Edge,' while NPR's Christopher Joyce and Alison Richards took home the award for their film/TV series 'Close Listening: Decoding Nature Through Sound.'
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.