A 50-year study reveals that areas with high species diversity in south-west Germany are losing species richness, highlighting the importance of local context in biodiversity conservation. The study emphasizes the need to consider ecological characteristics and evolutionary distinctiveness when developing conservation measures.
A team of international researchers has uncovered a unique fossil from China that preserves the digestive system of an ancient marine reptile. The study provides insight into the early adaptations of long-necked marine reptiles to life in the oceans, contradicting previous assumptions about their limited aquatic capabilities.
Researchers assessed olfactory abilities in extinct mammals like early whales, sabre-toothed cats, and Tasmanian tigers using skull and genetic studies. The study provides a reliable method for reconstructing the sense of smell in extinct species.
A team of researchers has discovered a unique fossil structure in the early Middle Triassic reptile Mirasaura grauvogeli, which challenges our understanding of reptile evolution. The fossil's complex skin appendages, resembling feathers but without branching, suggest that such structures evolved independently of bird feathers.