Research reveals that snake embryos coil in a right-handed spiral due to the detachment of the slow-growing gut, which tethers the lengthening body. This coiling force directs the embryo to grow to the opposite side of the yolk, resulting in half of near-hatching embryos being right-handed and the other half left-handed.
Researchers from the Canadian Museum of Nature have described a nearly complete fossil skeleton of an extinct rhinoceros species, named Epiatheracerium itjilik, from the Haughton Crater in Nunavut. The Arctic rhino lived about 23 million years ago and is closely related to other European rhino species.
A new study uses computer modeling to estimate the maximum possible size of Tyrannosaurus rex, suggesting it could be 70% heavier than current estimates. The researchers found that finding an animal in the top 99.99% of body size would require excavating fossils for another 1,000 years.
A rare fossil discovered in China's Liaoning Province reveals a dramatic moment when a carnivorous mammal attacked a plant-eating dinosaur, challenging the view that dinosaurs had few threats from their mammal contemporaries. The well-preserved fossil shows the mammal gripping the jaw of the larger dinosaur and biting into its ribs.
Researchers found that predators play a crucial role in regulating small mammal populations, contradicting previous assumptions about the importance of herbivore-plant interactions. The study's unique Arctic vole ecosystem provided a simple model to test predator-prey dynamics, shedding light on population cycles and climate variability.
Researchers used CT scans to digitally reconstruct the brain, inner ear, and surrounding bones of two well-preserved Daspletosaurus specimens, finding more variation in braincase structure than expected. The study suggests that these variations may provide insights into the sensory biology and life of the dinosaur.
A Canadian researcher has reclassified a rare bee thought to be one of the rarest in the world, discovering it is an unusual specimen of a widespread species. The discovery was made using DNA barcoding and morphological analysis, confirming that the bee is part of the California digger-cuckoo bee genus.
A new study reveals that gray wolves adapted their diet over thousands of years, shifting from a reliance on horses during the Pleistocene to caribou and moose today. The researchers found that horses accounted for half of the ancient wolf diet, while modern diets consist mainly of caribou and moose.
New fossil discoveries of over 300 million-year-old lampreys have upended the long-held theory on vertebrate origin, showing that ancient lamprey hatchlings were unlike their modern larvae counterparts. The findings suggest that extinct armored fishes might represent better candidates for the root of the vertebrate family tree.
Researchers engineered a single-gene mutation in zebrafish, producing jawless mutants resembling ancient fish from the Silurian and Devonian Periods. The mutations allowed these modern fish to thrive despite their inability to close their jaws, revealing insights into developmental plasticity and evolutionary strategies.
Researchers propose using lichens to assess old-growth forest conservation value, offering a more nuanced approach to measuring biodiversity. This method, developed by Dr. Troy McMullin and Dr. Yolanda Wiersma, uses suites of lichen species associated with old-growth areas to develop an index of ecological continuity.
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 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 from the Canadian Museum of Nature and Fisheries and Oceans Canada describe a new species of giant file clam, Acesta cryptadelphe, found in deep waters off Newfoundland. The clam is genetically distinct from other known species, with characteristics similar to scallops.
Thomas Cullen's research found evidence of sexual dimorphism in seals between 20-27 million years ago, suggesting that early pinnipeds formed harems. This discovery sheds light on the history of pinnipeds and has major implications for the future of the species due to climate change.
A new study by Dr. Jordan Mallon reveals that large plant-eating dinosaurs specialized in eating different types of vegetation to coexist successfully. The research, which analyzed nearly 100 dinosaur skulls, supports the concept of niche partitioning and provides insight into the ecological roles of these ancient creatures.
A team led by Dr. Natalia Rybczynski has identified the first evidence for an extinct giant camel in Canada's High Arctic, dating back 3.4 million years. The discovery extends the range of camels in North America northward by 1,200 km and suggests a possible adaptation to polar environments.
Scientists have discovered hundreds of migratory bird bones in the Bluefish Caves, indicating a diverse avian fauna. The findings contradict earlier ideas that the region was a marginal habitat, suggesting an environmental richness supporting multiple feeding niches.