Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart

Spectacular discovery provides insight into the internal organs of a marine reptile

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.

SourceStaatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart·JournalScience Advances·TypeCase study·DateJul 29, 2026

Olfaction written in bones: New insights into the evolution of the sense of smell in mammals

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.

SourceStaatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 8, 2025

A ‘wonder’ fossil changes our understanding of reptile evolution

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.

SourceStaatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart·JournalNature·DateJul 23, 2025