A new Yale study contradicts the long-held theory that an asteroid strike drove the rapid evolution of tunas and other large predators after the K-Pg extinction. Instead, the research reveals that these animals' body plans evolved over tens of millions of years, with increases in size occurring sporadically throughout their lineage.
A recent study overturns the idea that flowering plants didn't evolve large fruits and seeds until after the mass extinction of dinosaurs. The research found that these modern reproductive strategies may have emerged much earlier, around 74 million years ago.
A unique plant fossil cache in New Mexico reveals angiosperms flourished 10 million years before dinosaurs' demise, contradicting the view that they only took over after their extinction. The discovery showcases a thriving forest dominated by flowering plants with large fruits, challenging the traditional narrative.
A new study reveals that species with larger brains produce fewer but larger offspring, leading to the evolution of larger eggs. The research analyzed data from mammals, birds, and reptiles, suggesting that brain evolution drove changes in reproduction across dinosaurs and birds.
Researchers have found a new species of dinosaur, Jian changmaensis, which is believed to be the missing predator that hunted early birds. The dinosaur had long feathers on its front and back limbs, giving it four 'wings' that may have been used for gliding.
Researchers found a clear spike in fungal microfossils following the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. This global event, occurring tens of thousands of years before the extinction, suggests that volcanism may have contributed to the mass extinctions in that period.
A new fossil species, Plumadraco, has been found with the longest tail feathers ever recorded on a fossil bird. The analysis suggests that the bird's tail feathers were used for attracting mates, and the color of the feathers was probably dark brown or black.
Labrujasuchus expectatus, a bizarre creature with tiny arms and a toothless mouth, has been discovered in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. The species fills the gap between two earlier shuvosaurs, providing insight into convergent evolution and the diversification of ancient animals.
Tiny forelimbs in meat-eating dinosaurs, including T. rex, were linked to strong skulls and jaws used for attacking large prey. The study found a correlation between reduced forelimb size and skull robustness, suggesting that tiny arms evolved as a byproduct of powerful heads.
A new species of hamster-sized mammal, Cimolodon desosai, has been discovered in the Upper Cretaceous El Gallo Formation of Baja California. The fossil, estimated to be 75 million years old, was found alongside dinosaur fossils and provides insights into the survival strategies of early mammals.
A joint research team has rediscovered a dinosaur tracksite in the Saizhurakh area of northern Mongolia, revealing footprints of both large herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs. The site provides clear evidence that large dinosaurs inhabited regions as far north as northern Mongolia during the Early Cretaceous period.
Muttaburrasaurus, Australia's largest plant-eating dinosaur, had a unique toothy beak that allowed it to browse for specific leaves and seeds, and its inner ear suggests it may have walked on hind legs to crop food. The discovery also reveals a keen sense of smell, with large olfactory bulbs and complex air chambers in the nose.
A Virginia Tech student's discovery of a rare, ancient meat-eating dinosaur sheds light on the evolution and spread of dinosaurs during the Jurassic period. The species, Ptychotherates bucculentus, had massive cheekbones and a short snout, indicating constant evolution in early dinosaurs.
A new Spinosaurus species discovered in Niger suggests a third phase of evolution for the massive fish-eating dinosaurs. The fossil find indicates that spinosaurs like S. mirabilis specialized as shallow water predators in northern Africa and South America.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo used CT scans to study Triceratops' nasal anatomy, revealing a specialized structure called a respiratory turbinate. This unique feature helped regulate temperature and moisture levels in the dinosaur's large skull.
A rare fossil discovery in Montana State University's Museum of the Rockies has shed new light on the feeding habits of Tyrannosaurus. The embedded tooth in an Edmontosaurus skull suggests a face-to-face encounter between the two species, revealing a terrifying picture of the last moments of the duck-billed dinosaur.
The earliest known bird, Archaeopteryx, had unique mouth features such as oral papillae, tongue bones, and bill-tip organs. These structures suggest that early birds evolved specialized ways to find and digest food efficiently, which is key to flight. The discovery provides new criteria for identifying dinosaur fossils as birds.
A 230-million-year-old footprint discovered in Brisbane is now recognized as Australia's oldest dinosaur fossil. The small, two-legged dinosaur, likely an early sauropodomorph, stood about 75-80 cm tall and weighed around 140 kg.
Dinosaur fossils with preserved feathers indicate these species lost the ability to fly, challenging previous theories on flight origins. The study provides a rare glimpse into ancient creatures' functioning, suggesting complex wing evolution in dinosaurs and birds.
Dinosaurs operated with a 'latchkey kid' approach, with young offspring independent and foraging alone after just a few months. This led to an increased number of functional species in dinosaur fossil communities compared to modern mammals.
A study published in PLOS One reports over 16,000 dinosaur footprints discovered at the Carreras Pampas tracksite in Bolivia. The footprints indicate that dinosaurs walked, ran, swam, and even performed sharp turns along an ancient shoreline.
A unique looping trail of ancient footprints in Colorado has provided insights into the behavior of a long-necked dinosaur, including possible evidence of limping. The analysis of over 130 footprints revealed subtle patterns, such as variations in footprint width and step length differences between left and right feet.
A team of international scientists reconstructed size evolution in ancient sharks using interdisciplinary analysis. The study revealed that modern sharks experimented with enormous body sizes much earlier in their evolutionary history than previously suspected.
Researchers found over 800 vertebrate fossils from a small area, including dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. The discovery provides valuable insights into the evolution of European dinosaur faunas during the Late Cretaceous period.
A newly discovered carnivorous lizard, Tainrakuasuchus bellator, lived 240 million years ago and resembled a dinosaur due to its armour-plated body. The species was among the top predators of its time in Brazil during the Triassic Period.
A new fossil discovery confirms Nanotyrannus as a distinct species from Tyrannosaurus rex, challenging decades of research on T. rex growth. The fossil reveals that Nanotyrannus was physically mature at age 20 and had distinct skeletal features incompatible with T. rex.
A study from Baylor University and New Mexico State University reveals that dinosaurs in North America were not fading away before the asteroid impact, but instead living in vibrant ecosystems. The research found that dinosaur communities across the continent were divided into bioprovinces based on temperature differences.
A new study has precisely dated New Mexico fossils to around 66.4-66 million years ago, showing diverse dinosaur species thriving in the region until the end of the Cretaceous Period. This finding challenges the long-held idea that non-avian dinosaurs were in a gradual decline before extinction.
A University of Michigan study reveals that the sudden loss of dinosaurs allowed forests to flourish, stabilizing sediments and creating broad meanders in rivers. This change had a profound impact on landscapes, demonstrating how life can alter its environment through catastrophic events.
A new study from North Carolina State University has confirmed the presence of hemoglobin in bone extracts from two dinosaurs, Brachylophosaurus canadensis and Tyrannosaurus rex. The researchers used Resonance Raman (RR) imaging to detect heme bound to globin proteins and heme bound to goethite, a mineral associated with iron oxidization.
A new method reconstructs carbon dioxide levels and photosynthesis from fossilized tooth enamel, shedding light on the climate of the Mesozoic era. The analysis found that atmospheric CO2 levels were four times higher in the late Jurassic period and three times higher in the late Cretaceous period than they are today.
A new analysis of 18 species of carnivorous dinosaurs reveals that not all giant predators had strong bites, but instead specialized in different feeding styles. This study demonstrates the diversity of feeding strategies among giant carnivores, challenging the assumption that one 'best' skull design existed for being a predatory giant.
Researchers found that different species of dinosaurs had distinct preferences for plant parts, including leaves, buds, and woody tissues. This discovery helps explain how so many large herbivores coexisted in the same ecosystem without competing for resources.
Researchers found that a specific wrist bone, called pisiform, appeared in bird ancestors millions of years earlier than previously thought. This discovery suggests that the integration of this bone into the wrist was crucial for stabilizing wings during flight, tying arm musculature to wrist motion.
A recent study published in Current Biology found that sauropods, a type of herbivorous dinosaur, relied heavily on their gut microbes for digestion. The analysis of plant fossils in the dinosaur's gut suggests that they engaged in minimal oral processing and instead ate bulk feeders.
Scientists have discovered fossils of multiple bird species in the Arctic, including diving birds and gull-like birds, that were breeding during the time of the dinosaurs. The findings push back the known record of birds nesting in polar regions by 25-30 million years.
Researchers have discovered footprints of ankylosaurid armoured dinosaurs, known as Ruopodosaurus clava, in the Canadian Rockies. The 100-million-year-old fossilized footprints provide evidence that tail-clubbed ankylosaurs were alive and well in North America during a previously unknown period.
A new study led by UCL researchers found that the quality of the dinosaur fossil record worsened during the final 6 million years prior to the asteroid impact. The team analyzed over 8,000 fossils and estimated that dinosaurs may have been doing better than previously suggested in the lead-up to the asteroid impact.
A new study in PLOS One reveals over 130 dinosaur footprints on the Isle of Skye, providing insight into their distribution and behavior. The trackways suggest large theropods like Megalosaurus and sauropods like Cetiosaurus strolled through ancient subtropical lagoons.
Researchers have discovered that a specific gene pathway is crucial for feather formation, dating back to the origins of proto-feathers in dinosaurs. The study provides insights into how genetic interactions evolved to allow for the emergence of complex structures like feathers.
Research from the University of Chicago and University of Missouri reveals how modern birds' larger brains led to changes in their skulls, jaw muscles, and feeding mechanics. This evolution allowed for the development of cranial kinesis, enabling birds to move different parts of their skull independently.
A University of Queensland researcher has identified 66 fossilized footprints from 47 individual 3-toed dinosaurs that walked along a waterway during the Early Jurassic period. The footprints provide an unprecedented snapshot of dinosaur abundance, movement and behaviour from this time period.
Researchers have discovered fossilized eggs from three feathered bird-like dinosaurs, two herbivorous dinosaurs, and a previously unknown crocodile-like species in the Cedar Mountain Formation. The findings provide valuable insights into the diversity of ancient life forms and their habitats.
Fossil discovery in Australia rewrote the evolutionary history of theropod dinosaurs, revealing a predator hierarchy unique to Cretaceous Australia. The findings showcase the world's oldest known megaraptorid fossils and the first evidence of carcharodontosaurs in Australia.
A new study describes a nearly complete bird skull from Antarctica, revealing insights into the early evolution of today's birds and avian diversity. The skull belongs to Vegavis iaai, an extinct duck-like bird that lived during the Late Cretaceous period.
Researchers suggest earliest dinosaurs emerged in hot, arid environments of low-latitude Gondwana, filling gaps in fossil record. This finding provides a potential origin for the iconic creatures, contradicting previous assumptions.
Researchers have discovered a new dinosaur species in present-day Wyoming that challenges the mainstream view on dinosaur emergence and spread. The 230-million-year-old fossil remains suggest dinosaurs were present in the northern hemisphere millions of years earlier than previously known.
Climate scientists from Utrecht University and the University of Manchester conclude that massive volcanic eruptions had little to no effect on dinosaur mass extinction. The team reconstructed air temperatures for the time period covering both volcanic eruptions and the meteorite impact, showing that temperatures had already stabilized...
Research led by the University of Southampton reveals a whole community of meat-eating dinosaurs, including tyrannosaurs, spinosaurs and Velociraptor-like theropods, in sediments dating back to 135 million years ago. The discovery sheds light on the diversity of theropod groups in southern England during this time period.
Researchers at Uppsala University analyzed fossilized feces of dinosaurs, revealing undigested food remains and plants, which helped recreate the structure of ecosystems during the Late Triassic period. The study suggests that early herbivorous dinosaurs' love for plant shoots was crucial to their evolutionary success.
Researchers have created an acoustic model of the Parasaurolophus' crest, a unique feature of the duck-billed dinosaur. The model replicates the sounds produced by the crest, providing insights into the animal's communication and social behavior.
Researchers found that certain dinosaurs' shortened fibulae, a part of the lower leg bone, enabled birds to twist and turn with greater mobility. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of bird-like knees and their adaptations for navigating and interacting with their environment.
Researchers have discovered a remarkably well-preserved fossil bird from the Mesozoic Era, which has been digitally reconstructed to reveal its brain structure. The discovery, named Navaornis hestiae, fills a 70-million-year gap in our understanding of how birds evolved and provides insights into their cognitive abilities.
The Yixian Formation fossils in China are preserved due to rapid sedimentation and oxygen-free pockets, rather than volcanic events. The study's findings suggest that multiple periods of intense rainfall led to the burial of deceased creatures, preserving soft tissues.
A new fossil mammal, Heleocola piceanus, has been discovered in Colorado, dating back to the Late Cretaceous period. The animal, estimated to weigh 2 pounds or more, is a rare find among mammals from this time period.
Scientists discovered two new species of predatory birds in the Hell Creek Formation, which lived alongside dinosaurs like T. rex 68 million years ago. The fossils indicate that these birds could have hunted small mammals and baby dinosaurs using their powerful foot bones.
A discovery of 18 theropod tracks and four ornithopod tracks in the Wonthaggi Formation reveals that large carnivores roamed polar environments, feeding on prey like smaller dinosaurs, fish, and turtles. The finds confirm that a variety of dinosaurs lived and walked on the ground where their bones were found.
A new theropod dinosaur, Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus, has been discovered in Kyrgyzstan with a unique 'eyebrow' feature. The species belongs to the metriacanthosaurids and is closely related to large predatory dinosaurs of East Asia.
Scientists discovered that Komodo dragons' serrated teeth are tipped with iron, giving them razor-sharp cutting edges. This unique feature may provide clues about how carnivorous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex killed and ate their prey.