Articles tagged with Paleobiology
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.
New research finds megalodon preyed upon a variety of species, including fish, sharks, and even crustaceans, contrary to the long-held belief that it targeted large marine mammals. The discovery was made by analyzing zinc isotopes in fossilized teeth, providing insights into the prehistoric shark's ecological versatility.
Scientists have named a new species of fish from the Cretaceous Period, Sivulliusalmo alaskensis, which is the oldest salmonid in the fossil record. The discovery provides insight into the evolutionary history of the salmon family and suggests that they likely originated in the North.
Researchers found that ancient Homo sapiens used tailored clothing and ochre-based sunscreens to protect themselves from harmful UV light during the Laschamps excursion. This period of reduced magnetic field strength allowed more cosmic radiation to reach Earth's surface, potentially contributing to the decline of Neanderthals.
A 131-million-year-old pregnant ichthyosaur named Fiona has been studied for her well-preserved skeleton, which provides details about the anatomy of these marine predators. The researchers also found evidence of her final meal and a healed injury in her fin bones.
University of Leicester researchers use UV torches to reveal tiny details distinguishing Pterodactylus from other fossils, uncovering nearly 50 'hidden' relatives and reconstructing its life history from hatchling to adulthood.
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.
A team of researchers discovered fossil amphibians preserved in cylindrical burrows in Wyoming, providing insights into their adaptation to extreme seasonal conditions. The ancient creatures, about a foot long, had underdeveloped arms and likely used their heads to dig burrows during the dry season.
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.
A new study offers insight into how some colony-forming animals, like ants or bees, may have evolved their own system for divvying up work millions of years ago. Bryozoans, small aquatic animals, discovered to have evolved unique abilities after losing feeding ability, survived by sharing resources with other members of the colony.
A team of researchers has unveiled a spectacular new fossil arthropod named Lomankus edgecombei, preserved entirely in fool's gold. The specimen belongs to a group called megacheirans, which were thought to be extinct during the Ordovician Period.
Researchers found that thalattosuchian sinuses reduced during semi-aquatic phases and then diminished further as they became fully aquatic. This allowed them to develop extracranial sinuses, which might have helped drain salt glands and alleviate 'encrustation' problems.
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 team of researchers discovered that a 'tag-team' between the oceans and continents led to severe environmental crises, causing mass extinctions of marine species. The study found that chemical weathering pulses disrupted the oceans, leading to anoxic events that had profound impacts on marine ecosystems.
A team of sedimentologists and stratigraphers found that gap regularity, not incompleteness, determines evolutionary history reconstruction. Incompleteness can be overcome with geological knowledge, enabling accurate reconstruction of evolution hundreds of millions of years ago.
Scientists at the University of Malaga have uncovered a natural quicksand trap in the 'elephant graveyard' of Orce, dated to over 1.4 million years ago. The discovery provides insights into human presence in Western Europe and competition with large carrion hyenas for meat resources.
A new species of extinct crocodile relative, Benggwigwishingasuchus eremicarminis, has been discovered in Nevada, USA. The species reveals that pseudosuchian archosaurs ruled the shores across the Middle Triassic globe between 247.2 and 237 million years ago.
Lokiceratops rangiformis, a plant-eating dinosaur with large horned frill and asymmetrical caribou-like antlers, has been discovered in Montana. The species' unusual features may have played a role in mate selection or species recognition.
The newly discovered Lokiceratops rangiformis is a massive horned dinosaur found in the badlands of northern Montana. It boasts two enormous blade-like horns on its frill, as well as an asymmetric spike, making it one of the most ornate species ever found.
Scientists discovered a bizarre arachnid with up-armored legs in the Mazon Creek locality in Illinois, dating back to the Carboniferous period. The fossil, named Douglassarachne acanthopoda, has a unique body plan that defies categorization into known arachnid orders.
Researchers have reconstructed the mouth of an ancient jawless fish using CT scanning techniques, suggesting it was a filter-feeder rather than a scavenger or hunter. The study reveals that early vertebrates had a diverse range of feeding behaviors before jawed animals evolved.
A new study has analyzed fossil records of marine invertebrates over the past 485 million years, identifying key traits that affect resilience to extinction. The research suggests that species with restricted thermal ranges are at greatest risk, and global biodiversity faces a harrowing future.
Paleontologists have discovered a new species of marine lizard with dagger-like teeth that lived near the end of the age of dinosaurs. This finding highlights a dramatically different ocean ecosystem to what we see today, with numerous giant top predators eating large prey.
A new analysis of Perucetus colossus, a 30 million year-old fossil whale, estimates its weight to be between 60-70 tons, significantly less than the original estimate of 180 metric tons. This revised size allows the whale to maintain neutral buoyancy in water and come to the surface to breathe.
Fossils of pony-sized duckbill dinosaurs in Morocco reveal a new species, Minqaria bata, with anatomy resembling European species. The discovery suggests that duckbills swam or floated across open water to colonize North Africa.
Researchers have uncovered evidence of complex microbial communities existing in ecosystems over 3 billion years ago, with a diverse carbon cycle involving various microorganisms. The study provides a rare glimpse into the Earth's early ecosystems and advances our understanding of ancient microbial ecosystems.
A new study published in Palaeontologia Electronica shows the Megalodon was more slender than earlier studies suggested, changing our understanding of its behavior and impact on ancient ocean life. The revised model suggests a longer digestive canal, potentially leading to less predation pressure on other marine creatures.
A team of researchers, led by Jordan Crowell and Stephen Chester, used modern CT scan technology to analyze the only known preserved picrodontid skull, revealing that they are not closely related to primates. The study highlights the importance of revisiting old specimens with updated techniques to examine them.
A team of international scientists found that Southeast Asian forests resisted 'savannisation' during the Last Glacial Maximum, maintaining a mosaic of diverse closed and open forest types. Maintaining forest diversity is key to preventing future 'savannisation' and protecting tropical rainforests in regions like South East Asia.
A new study has shed light on the convergent evolution of defensive enrollment in arthropods by analyzing 3D-preserved trilobite soft tissues. The fossils, which date back to the Ordovician Period, show that trilobites used a unique mechanism to protect their vulnerable soft tissues with their hard exoskeletons.
A recent study published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences found that AI technology can accurately identify prehistoric and modern African antelopes, with an accuracy rate of over 90% compared to humans. This breakthrough sheds light on ancient ecosystems and their impact on human evolution.
A breakthrough discovery has found a well-preserved juvenile Gorgosaurus skeleton with stomach contents that provide insight into the diet and ecological niches of Tyrannosauridae as they grow. The findings suggest that juvenile tyrannosaurs primarily preyed on small dinosaurs, differing from their adult counterparts.
The new species of mosasaur, named after the Norse sea serpent Jormungandr, is estimated to be around 24 feet long and has a mosaic of features seen in two iconic mosasaurs. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary history of these aquatic lizards and provides new insights into their relationships with other reptiles.
A new modeling method powered by interconnected processors removed human bias from the debate over dinosaurs' demise. The study suggests that the outpouring of climate-altering gases from the Deccan Traps alone could have been sufficient to trigger global extinction, consistent with volcanic eruptions contributing to the mass extinction.
A new study reveals that long-lived lakes played a crucial role in the evolutionary history of freshwater snails. These ancient ecosystems allowed species to 'experiment' over millions of years, resulting in unique morphological changes and special ecological adaptations.
Scientists discovered a new species of small plant-eating dinosaur, Vectidromeus insularis, on the Isle of Wight, which is the second member of the hypsilophodont family found on the island. The discovery suggests that Europe had its own distinct family of small herbivorous dinosaurs, unlike those found in Asia and North America.
Researchers discovered 'mummified' bees in their brood cells, preserving them for 3,000 years due to exceptional conservation. The bees' cause of death remains unknown but is linked to oxygen shortages and changing temperatures in southwest Portugal.
A team of researchers used CT scanning to reveal the soft anatomy of a 500-million-year-old fossil, Kylinxia. The discovery provides insight into the evolution of arthropods and their head structure.
Two new species of primitive carnivorous dinosaurs, belonging to the Abelisauridae family, have been discovered in Morocco. The findings suggest that dinosaurs thrived in North Africa until their mass extinction by an asteroid 66 million years ago, providing a diverse picture of African dinosaurs from the end of the age of dinosaurs.
Researchers discovered the largest known single dinosaur track site in Alaska, dubbed 'The Coliseum', which contains layer upon layer of prints preserved in rock. The site provides a unique record of multiple species of dinosaurs thriving in Interior Alaska nearly 70 million years ago.
A new species of extinct whale, Tutcetus rayanensis, has been discovered in Egypt's ancient sea, providing unprecedented insights into the life history and phylogeny of early whales. The discovery sheds light on the transition from land to sea and the evolution of whales.
A team of researchers from China and the UK has discovered that a group of ancient marine reptiles used whale-like filter feeding methods 250 million years ago. The Hupehsuchus skull shows adaptations similar to baleen whales, including grooves and notches along the jaws.
A team of scientists led by University of Alaska Fairbanks geology professor Sarah Fowell are collecting samples from beneath the sea floor to learn about vegetation and climate of region 25,000 years ago. The project will be shared via digital and social media channels.
New research by University College Cork scientists finds that pterosaurs had nurturing parental style but only in larger species. The study suggests that smaller pterosaurs did not practice parental care due to the limitations of egg size.
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.
Fossil discoveries in northern Panama Canal area suggest that marine species interchange persisted across shallow waters during the final stages of formation of the isthmus. The findings provide new insights into the connectivity between the Pacific and Caribbean marine faunas during this period.
A new study reveals that Megalodon, the iconic extinct shark, was not as fast as believed but had a mega-appetite that explained its gigantism. The discovery of tiny scales found in rock pieces surrounding fossil teeth suggests that Megalodon used its warm-bloodedness to promote visceral food processing and absorb nutrients.
Researchers reveal that Anomalocaris canadensis was likely a speedy swimmer targeting soft prey in the open water, rather than pursuing hard-shelled creatures on the ocean floor. The study's findings contradict previous assumptions about the predator's feeding behavior and highlight the complexity of Cambrian food webs.
Scientists have discovered the first known Jurassic vertebrate fossils in Texas, filling a significant gap in the state's fossil record. The fossils belong to a plesiosaur, an extinct marine reptile that roamed the region about 150 million years ago.
A 50-million-year-old katydid fossil found in Colorado reveals exceptionally preserved internal organs, including a testicle and digestive tract. The fossil belongs to the genus Arethaea and provides new insights into the evolution of this group of insects.
A new fossil discovery shows that a tiger-sized, saber-toothed creature called Inostrancevia migrated 7,000 miles to occupy a vacant ecosystem before going extinct. The arrival of this top predator indicates its vulnerability and serves as an analogue for modern apex predators facing extinction due to human activities.
Researchers discovered that Obamus coronatus, a half-inch long Ediacaran animal, preferred to live on specific parts of the sea floor in the company of other Obamus. This finding shows that even without modern descendants, ancient animals could exhibit sophisticated behavior and habitat selection.
Researchers found that golden fossils from Germany's Posidonia shale are primarily made up of phosphate minerals, hinting at the presence of oxygen in the environment. The discovery suggests that oxygen played a crucial role in driving chemical reactions needed for fossilization.
Researchers discovered two new species of extinct bats, Icaronycteris index and Icaronycteris gunnelli, in Wyoming fossils dating back 52 million years. The findings support the idea that bats diversified rapidly across multiple continents during this time.
A new species of ancient beaver, Anchitheriomys buceei, has been discovered in Texas and named after Buc-ee's. The beaver lived about 15 million years ago and was about 30% larger than modern beavers.
Scientists studied how the marsupial sabertooth's wide-set eyes and large canines affected its vision, finding that it could achieve about 70% visual field overlap through morphological compensation. This allowed it to be a successful active predator despite having orbits not favorably positioned for 3D vision.
A new study has uncovered a nearly complete specimen of the ancient 'marine crocodile', Turnersuchus hingleyae, from the Early Jurassic period in Dorset, UK. The find provides crucial insights into thalattosuchian evolution and origin, suggesting that these creatures likely emerged around 15 million years earlier than previously thought.
A study in Patagonia has uncovered fossils of theropod dinosaurs, including megaraptors with large sickle-like claws, and bird species from two distinct groups. These finds shed light on the diversity of ancient life in Patagonia before the mass extinction event.
A team of scientists found evidence that 37 ichthyosaurs died in the same location, suggesting they were migrating to give birth over hundreds of thousands of years. Geochemical tests revealed no signs of environmental disturbance or mass stranding events, pointing to a more plausible explanation for their demise.
Researchers have developed a robot capable of sorting, manipulating, and identifying microscopic marine fossils. Forabot uses robotics and artificial intelligence to automate the tedious process of evaluating foram shells and fossils.