Articles tagged with Paleontology
Scientists discovered a genetic change in Yersinia pestis that may have prolonged the duration of two major pandemics. The mutation, which reduces virulence, enables the bacteria to infect individuals for longer periods, potentially spreading farther in less densely populated environments.
A collection of fossils discovered in northern Alaska reveals that birds were nesting in harsh Arctic environments as early as 72.8 million years ago. This finding provides new insights into how modern birds adapted to polar ecosystems and offers clues about their evolutionary history.
A team of palaeontologists from Fundación Dinópolis has discovered a partial stegosaurian skull in Spain, revealing previously unknown aspects of the species' anatomy. The find has led to the proposal of a new evolutionary hypothesis and the definition of a new group called Neostegosauria.
A group of elasmosaur fossils has been formally identified as belonging to a new genus, Traskasaura sandrae. This ancient marine reptile, measuring 12 meters long and having heavy, sharp teeth, likely hunted prey from above using its strong swimming capabilities.
A recent study has discovered that cold-adapted species began evolving 2.6 million years ago, with many modern species emerging around 700,000 years ago. The research provides insights into the evolution of Arctic ecosystems and highlights the importance of understanding past adaptations to inform conservation efforts.
Scientists analyzed ancient DNA, fossil shape, and habitat data to determine the factors influencing the size of extinct giant ground sloths. The result shows that size differences among sloths have been primarily influenced by the types of habitats they lived in and climate change.
Researchers found that sloths' body size was largely influenced by their habitats, and human activities led to the rapid decline of large-bodied species. The study suggests that secluded forest canopies allowed small arboreal sloths to survive, while direct human pressures drove the extinction of giant terrestrial sloths.
New research from the University of Chicago reveals that dentine, the inner layer of teeth, first evolved as sensory tissue in ancient fish. Fossil studies confirm that early vertebrates used sensory organs in their armor to sense conditions in the water, similar to modern arthropods.
A joint Chinese-American research team has discovered the smallest known Archaeopteryx specimen, acquired by the Field Museum in 2022. The study provides crucial insights into the evolution of the skull and adaptations for flight during the transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds.
A new study combines Indigenous knowledge systems with Western genomics to uncover how megafauna were impacted during a period of substantial habitat change. Repeated trans-Beringian horse migrations between 50,000 and 13,000 years ago revealed genetic exchanges occurring in both directions.
A new study published in Marine Ecology Progress Series reveals that seagrass ecosystems along Florida's Nature Coast have remained relatively healthy over the last several thousand years. The research, conducted by conservation paleobiologists, used fossilized mollusk shells to infer ecosystem health and found that these communities a...
The study provides crucial insights into the evolution of the skull and adaptations for flight in the critical transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds. The Chicago Archaeopteryx specimen reveals an almost completely preserved skull with a palatal region intermediate between troodontids and more derived Cretaceous birds.
A new species of ancient tree frog, Litoria tylerantiqua, has been discovered in Australia, challenging previous estimates of when Australian and South American tree frogs separated. The fossil record indicates that the separation occurred approximately 22 million years ago, rather than 33 million years ago as previously thought.
Researchers have made new discoveries about the ancient bird Archaeopteryx, including its ability to fly and its evolutionary history. The Chicago specimen, a well-preserved fossil found in Germany, provides insights into the species' cranial kinesis and soft tissues, challenging previous assumptions about its behavior.
Newly discovered fossil tracks in Australia indicate that reptiles originated on land around 350 million years ago, pushing back their evolution by 35-40 million years. This discovery provides significant insights into the early evolution of tetrapods and challenges previous records of their emergence.
A team of scientists has discovered a prehistoric tegu fossil in the US, revealing that these charismatic lizards were once native to North America. The fossil, dated to the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum, is believed to have been present in present-day Georgia during a warm period, before global temperatures cooled and they disappeared.
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.
A new study from the University of Helsinki unravels the causes of ancient climate changes that led to severe droughts in North America thousands of years ago. Researchers used fossil pollen grains and machine learning algorithms to reconstruct moisture levels, confirming that conditions were below modern levels for thousands of years.
The PteridoPortal is an online repository of fern and lycophyte information, allowing researchers to access digitized specimens from 35 herbarium collections. This project has significantly impacted biodiversity research, enabling scientists to inventory species in Colombia and other countries.
The study suggests that T. rex and its cousins may have been better suited to cooler climates due to having feathers or a more warm-blooded physiology. The team found that megaraptors, a closely related group, were more widely distributed across the globe than previously thought, originating in Asia about 120 million years ago.
A new study analyzed phylogenetic relationships and predatory capabilities of Cretaceous marine reptiles, finding elevated rates of extinction targeting large and fast predators. The Cenomanian-Turonian transition, with high carbon dioxide concentrations and ocean anoxia, was associated with distinct bite force and species diversification
A recent study analyzed body size evolution in trilobites, a highly representative group of fossil invertebrates, and found that marine oxygen levels significantly influenced their body size. The research highlights the long-term impact of oxygen on the evolution of early metazoans.
A study from the University of Lausanne reveals that larger animals and those with higher protein content tend to create reducing conditions more rapidly, which slow down decay and trigger fossilization. This explains why some ancient fossils are dominated by arthropods and others remain lost to time.
A study by the University of Leicester has successfully linked fossilised footprints to distinct groups of pterosaurs, shedding light on their lifestyles and behaviors. The discovery supports the idea that pterosaurs underwent a major ecological shift during the middle part of the Mesozoic era.
LMU researchers recreated the first metabolic process of life on Earth, using iron and sulfur reactions to produce energy. The single-celled organism Methanocaldococcus jannaschii grew exponentially, utilizing hydrogen gas as an energy source.
A new study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences sheds light on how a 252-66 million-year-old 'marine revolution' influenced foraminifera diversity and survival. The study found that calcareous forams flourished after the MMR, becoming dominant types living today.
A research team discovered fossilized teeth and vertebrae in the Dominican Republic, confirming that large, terrestrial predators like sebecids once inhabited the Caribbean. This finding supports the GAARlandia hypothesis, suggesting temporary land bridges allowed animals to travel between South America and the Caribbean.
Researchers analyzed a rare fossil bone and found it shared characteristics with platypuses, suggesting that ancient echidnas originated from a semi-aquatic ancestor. This discovery adds weight to the idea that stem-monotremes started off as semi-aquatic animals.
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 Pleistocene-age hominin jawbone from Taiwan has been identified as belonging to a Denisovan, providing direct molecular evidence of their presence outside Siberia. The discovery offers new insights into the morphological traits of this enigmatic hominin lineage.
Researchers studying ancient rhino teeth found at Nebraska's Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park discovered that prehistoric rhinos lived in large herds. The animals' limited mobility suggests they didn't respond to the volcanic eruption or migrate seasonally, instead likely dying from prolonged exposure to ash and lack of food.
A study found that a hydrothermal system created by an asteroid impact helped marine life flourish in the Gulf of Mexico for at least 700,000 years. The system generated and circulated nutrients, supporting high-nutrient environments that favored certain types of plankton.
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.
Bacteria evolved oxygen tolerance over billions of years, preceding the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) by 1-2 billion years. This adaptation may have driven the origin of oxygenic photosynthesis in Cyanobacteria and influenced the Earth's atmosphere.
A new species of multisegmented fossil has been discovered in the Soom Shale with exceptionally preserved insides, including muscles, sinews, and tendons. The fossil, named Keurbos susanae, provides a unique glimpse into the evolutionary relationships of ancient arthropods.
A 30,000-year-old vulture fossil from Central Italy has preserved microscopic feather pigment structures in a mineral phase called zeolite. This new mode of preservation extends the understanding of soft tissue preservation in volcanic rocks.
Early mammals that lived alongside dinosaurs were likely covered in dark and dusky greyish-brown fur, hinting at their ecological niche as nocturnal animals. Their pelage coloration played an important role in communication, camouflage, thermoregulation, and protection.
Scientists suggest that wind turbine blades will fossilize into the far future due to their composition of fibreglass and epoxy resin. These relics will provide a unique puzzle for future paleontologists to reconstruct and understand the human-made technology behind them.
Researchers found highly efficient imaging systems in ancient insect larvae, comparable to modern antlions. The discovery supports earlier findings on the diversity of Cretaceous lacewings and provides the oldest fossil evidence of such eyes.
Researchers compared feathers and bodies of flightless birds and their flying relatives, finding that some features change relatively quickly. The study sheds light on evolution of complex traits that lose original function, and could help reveal which fossil birds were flightless.
Fossil discovery in Australia rewrote the evolutionary history of theropod dinosaurs, revealing a predator hierarchy unique to Cretaceous Australia. The findings showcase the world's oldest known megaraptorid fossils and the first evidence of carcharodontosaurs in Australia.
A nearly complete skull of the ancient apex carnivore Bastetodon has been discovered in the Egyptian desert, revealing a new species of hyaenodonta. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of hyaenodonts and their global distribution, with findings suggesting they spread from Africa to Asia, Europe, India, and North America.
Researchers will explore non-pathological inflammation in mammals to build on findings from bird studies, with implications for human health and skeletal growth. The project aims to investigate the role of inflammation in bone fusion events throughout the skeleton.
A fully preserved skull of Diatryma, a 45-million-year-old flightless bird, has been discovered in the Geiseltal Collection at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. The fossil, which was initially misclassified as a crocodile skull, provides new insights into the evolution of animals during the Eocene Epoch.
A new study identifies five snow leopard fossils in China, France, and Portugal dating back to one million years ago. The findings suggest that snow leopards adapted to rocky, barren terrains rather than high altitudes, contradicting traditional assumptions.
Close examination of kangaroo tooth microwear reveals a generalist diet among Australian species during the Late Pleistocene. The findings support the idea that human hunting, rather than climate adaptation, drove megafaunal extinction in Australia.
Researchers compiled a reference framework of isotope compositions indicating the type of diet for extant reptiles, providing a useful dataset to reconstruct the diet of fossil reptiles. The analysis showed that calcium isotope ratios are higher in insectivorous reptiles and lower in herbivores and carnivores.
Researchers have discovered a new dinosaur species in present-day Wyoming that challenges the mainstream view on dinosaur emergence and spread. The 230-million-year-old fossil remains suggest dinosaurs were present in the northern hemisphere millions of years earlier than previously known.
A new study reveals fossilized chewing lice eggs in mid-Cretaceous amber, associated with enantiornithine feathers. The discovery provides insight into early coevolution between bird hosts and ectoparasites, shedding light on the origins of modern lice.
A new study reveals the oldest known example of an evolutionary arms race in fossilized shells from the Cambrian period. The researchers found that a small shelled animal distantly related to brachiopods and an unknown marine animal were engaged in a microevolutionary arms race, with each species adapting and evolving in response to th...
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.
Scientists at La Brea Tar Pits have identified a mysterious fossil seed, unlocking key findings on past environmental changes and megafaunal extinction. The discovery highlights the vulnerability of junipers to modern climate change and informs conservation efforts.
A new study has uncovered the diversity of Proterozoic eukaryotes, showing that severe Cryogenian glaciations drove a pivotal shift in their evolution. The research provides valuable insights into the relationship between environmental changes and the evolutionary history of life on Earth.
The Virginia Tech analysis extends the chart of life by nearly 1.5 billion years, mapping the rise and fall of ancient life from the Proterozoic Eon. The study reveals that global ice ages accelerated the pace of evolution in species counts.
A nearly complete leg and well-preserved fossils from a small to medium-sized carnivorous animal were found in Mallorca. The discovery, dating back 270 million years, sheds light on the evolution of mammals.
A new study has uncovered a rare plant fossil with unusual flowers, fruits, and stems that does not belong to any living family or genus. The discovery suggests there may be more diversity in the fossil record of flowering plants than previously recognized.
A fossil therapsid was found in Mallorca with a skull hole for the jaw muscle and structures that evolved into mammals' middle ear bones. The discovery changes scientists' understanding of when therapsids evolved and tells us about where we come from.
Researchers discover 555-million-year-old worm-like organism, Uncus dzaugisi, in Precambrian rocks of Nilpena Ediacara National Park. This tiny fossil represents the oldest confirmed member of Ecdysozoa and offers direct evidence of early ecdysozan life forms from the Precambrian.
Researchers find fossil evidence of two distinct human species, Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, living contemporaneously near Lake Turkana in Kenya. The discovery sheds light on human evolution, cooperation, and competition among early hominins.
Researchers discover two distinct patterns of bipedalism among Pleistocene hominids in East Turkana region, suggesting contemporaneous use of lake habitats by different species. The findings provide evidence for the co-existence of multiple hominid lineages and challenge previous inferences based on fossil dates.