Articles tagged with Fossil Records
A research team has published a paper in Science that uses molecular biology to fill gaps in the evolutionary history of bats. The study reveals that megabats originated from four major lineages of microbats, which emerged around 52-50 million years ago.
A research team has published a paper in Science magazine that uses molecular biology to illuminate the evolutionary history of bats. The study reveals that large fruit-eating bats (megabats) emerged from four major lineages of smaller, night-flying bats (microbats), with the latter originating around 52-50 million years ago.
A new study suggests that global warming will lead to a dramatic decline in reindeer populations, with their numbers dwindling dramatically as they move further north. The research, published in Conservation Biology, analyzed the fossil record of reindeer found in southwestern France and correlated it with summer climate data.
Research refutes old idea that dinosaurs were declining in diversity during their time on Earth. Early dinosaur diversity increased dramatically throughout the Cretaceous period, reaching 245 genera.
A study on bats revealed a key region of growth plate that allowed digits to grow longer, suggesting rapid evolution. Genetic studies show that bats are closest to ferungulates, not primates or shrews.
Researchers analyzed data from 96,545 galaxies to track star formation history. They found that massive galaxies formed stars earlier than smaller ones, and star formation has decreased since then, contributing to the gradual dimming of the universe.
Evo-devo biologists led by Raff will use mechanistic tools to address major historical questions about multicellular animals, the Cambrian radiation, and animal larvae. The approach may reveal complex features in animal development evolved more quickly than expected.
Researchers analyzed over 250 dinosaur genera, finding the fossil record to be moderately complete, but highly congruent with existing family tree relationships. This study provides valuable insights for paleontologists studying dinosaur evolution.
Newly discovered primate fossils in Egypt double the known age of bushbabies and lorises, suggesting they may have originated in Indo-Madagascar instead of Africa. This finding pushes back the divergence times and origins of primates, including human ancestors, to around 90 million years ago.
Researchers have found that fossils in storm beds are not randomly distributed, but instead follow a non-random pattern, preserving the original structure of ancient sea floor habitats. This study provides valuable insights into understanding ecological relationships and movement of organism habitats through space and time.
A preliminary study of the Paleobiology Database reveals that fragile fossils occur as frequently as durable ones, contradicting the expectation that tough skeletons would be more common. This finding suggests that the fossil record may be a more reliable source of information than previously thought.
A new statistical approach reveals primates originated 85 million years ago, rather than 65 million, due to gaps in the fossil record. This challenges traditional methods of interpreting fossils and constructing evolutionary trees, including the human lineage.
Recent dinosaur fossil finds suggest dinosaurs developed new abilities through opportunistic approach, rather than gradual adaptation. The breakup of supercontinent Pangaea led to regional extinctions and replacements by other species, shaping the evolution of new species.
A mathematical model resolves a scientific debate on the origins of modern placental mammals, suggesting that a 65-million-year gap in the fossil record is unlikely due to incomplete preservation. The study finds that the quality of the mammalian fossil record is more consistent with genetic data than previously thought.