Articles tagged with Paleontology
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 new species of ancient alligator, Alligator munensis, is described from a fossilized skull in Thailand. The species is closely related to the Chinese alligator and has unique features such as a broad snout and large tooth sockets, suggesting it ate hard-shelled prey.
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.
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 new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirms that the Megalodon shark was warm-blooded, with a body temperature estimated at around 27°C. This discovery provides empirical evidence for the extinct species' internal heat production, shedding light on its biology and ecological role.
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.
Researchers discovered that the early avian bauplan was shaped by natural selection driven by powered flight, with forelimb evolution constrained to basic 'blueprint' needed for flight. The study found avialan-like limb proportions established earlier in forelimbs than hindlimbs in theropod history.
Researchers from Japan discovered that firebrats, an old insect lineage, have a midgut epithelium derived solely from yolk cells. This finding suggests the involvement of bipolar formation likely originated in Pterygota rather than Dicondylia.
A new study published in PeerJ Life & Environment reveals that several distinct spinosaur groups inhabited Cretaceous Britain. The analysis of a British spinosaur tooth shows that these groups did not all live at the same time, but rather inhabited the region over more than 15 million years.
Researchers studied bivalve evolution during the Cambrian Explosion and found they branched out slowly compared to other groups. The study suggests that the slow start may have been due to the absence of a key adaptation, such as an enlarged gill, which allowed them to filter out plankton from water.
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.
A new spinosaurid dinosaur species, Protathlitis cinctorrensis, has been identified in Spain, revealing insights into the evolutionary history of medium-to-large bodied spinosaurids. The discovery estimates the specimen to be around 10-11 meters long and suggests that spinosaurids may have originated in Europe before migrating to Afric...
A new species of mosasaur, Stelladens mysteriosus, has been discovered in Morocco with star-shaped 'screwdriver teeth'. The unique arrangement suggests a specialised feeding strategy or diet, but the exact prey remains unclear. This find adds to evidence that mosasaurs were evolving rapidly before their extinction 66 million years ago.
A new Ordovician eurypterid, Archopterus anjiensis, has been found in the Wenchang Formation of Anji County, Zhejiang Province. The discovery is significant for understanding early evolution of eurypterids in Gondwana.
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.
A team led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences has found a well-preserved 'Marine Dwarf World' from 462 million years ago at Castle Bank, Wales. The site features over 150 species, including arthropods, worms, sponges, and starfish, with many preserved in minute detail.
Researchers used mercury isotope data to push back the timeline of vascular plant colonization, finding extensive land colonization by early Silurian (~444 Ma). This discovery links terrestrial organism expansion to co-evolution of earth systems, particularly atmosphere-ocean-weathering processes.
A study of neuroptera larvae over 100 million years reveals a complex pattern of loss of morphological diversity, with some lines diversifying and gaining importance. The findings suggest that actual diversity was likely substantially greater in the past.
Researchers at ANU and AMRI used micro-CT scans to study a fossilized plesiosaur's stomach contents, finding 17 previously undiscovered fish vertebrae. This study provides insights into the evolutionary history of extinct organisms and helps predict how modern marine life may respond to climate change.
Researchers use 3D imaging technology to study Tully monsters and reject vertebrate hypothesis, but uncertainty remains about its exact classification as an invertebrate chordate or protostome. The study sheds light on the challenges of piecing together Earth's evolutionary history and highlights the importance of Mazon Creek fossils.
A new study has uncovered five new skulls of the Oligocene toothed baleen whale Coronodon from South Carolina, representing two new species and a young juvenile. The fossils provide key insights into the early growth and development of Neoceti whales.
Scientists discovered that savannah grasses existed in East Africa over 21 million years ago, transforming the landscape and driving skeletal adaptations in early hominoids. This finding challenges a longstanding theory and supports the idea that C4 grasses led to open landscapes that promoted hominoid evolution.
Early mammals reduced skull bones to redirect stresses during feeding, allowing brain size increase. The combination of miniaturization, reduced skull bones and insect-based diet enabled ancestors to thrive before dinosaurs' extinction.
A new study reveals that theropod dinosaurs had their large teeth completely covered by thin, scaly 'lips' when their mouths were closed. This finding challenges long-held depictions of these iconic predators and could have significant implications for our understanding of dinosaur dental anatomy and biomechanics.
A team of researchers from South Africa has discovered exceptional trace fossils that provide insight into the locomotion of ancient giant amphibians. The fossils, found on a rock surface once part of a tidal flat or lagoon, suggest these animals propelled themselves through water with continuous side-to-side tail motions.
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 genomic study of ancient humans on the Tibetan Plateau reveals a single origin for ancient humans, deriving from a northern East Asian population. The study also found distinct genetic patterns in different regions of the plateau, indicating three regional groups with unique historical patterns that began to merge after 2500 BP.
A team of Swedish and Norwegian palaeontologists has discovered remains of the earliest known ichthyosaur on the remote Arctic island of Spitsbergen. The discovery pushes back the origin and early diversification of ichthyosaurs to before the beginning of the Age of Dinosaurs.
A new fossil discovery dating back 247 million years provides the earliest evidence of dipterans, including mosquitoes and flies. The immature insect's preserved breathing system offers insights into its adaptations to a post-apocalyptic environment.
Researchers from iDiv and MLU found that species with extreme body size shifts have a higher risk of extinction on islands. The study analyzed over 1,200 extant and extinct island mammals and found a correlation between human colonization and increased extinction rates.
Researchers analyzed island mammal species, finding that those with extreme body size shifts are at higher risk of extinction. Conservation efforts should prioritize protecting insular giants and dwarfs, the last evolutionary marvels of island life.
A research team uncovered a specific kill mechanism responsible for several biotic disruptions during the late Devonian Period. The discovery linked sea level changes, climate fluctuations, and ocean chemistry to mass extinctions, with implications for today's oceans affected by global warming.
A team of paleontologists has discovered that countless sea anemone fossils were misinterpreted as jellyfish due to their soft bodies. However, when re-examined with a new perspective, the fossils were found to be anemones, showcasing the importance of fresh thinking in fossil interpretation.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University suggest that the length of the prehistoric fish Dunkleosteus terrelli was greatly exaggerated. The study proposes a new method to estimate the size based on the head, which is consistent among living fishes and smaller relatives. According to this method, Dunkleosteus was only 11-13 feet...
A study analyzing non-avialan theropod dinosaurs reveals that growth rate and duration played nearly equal roles in body size diversity. Contrary to expectations, changes in both factors contributed significantly to the evolution of giant and miniature sizes among these species.
A massive trove of global fossil data revealed variations in elasmobranch species recovery after the K-Pg mass extinction. Species with restricted ranges and old shark species showed higher extinction rates.
The study, conducted by the University of Malaga and others, analyzed the skeleton and brain architecture of Miracinonyx trumani, finding that it had retractable claws and was able to grapple with its prey like cougars. Its brain surface also showed differences from cheetahs, suggesting an intermediate form between the two species.
Researchers used nearly half a million fossils to solve a 200-year-old mystery about the distribution of species on Earth. They found that the modern-day diversity gradient may have arisen from the steepening of the latitudinal temperature gradient, promoting more ecological niches in tropical regions.
Researchers have reconstructed the brains of two British spinosaurs, uncovering details about their sensory abilities and brain organization. The study suggests that early spinosaurs retained many aspects of common theropod brains, challenging previous assumptions about their semi-aquatic lifestyle.
Researchers at Nyayanga, Kenya, have uncovered the earliest evidence of Oldowan tool use, dating back over 600,000 years. The discovery also includes contemporaneous Paranthropus fossils, providing insights into the adaptive advantage of early stone technology in hominin diet and foraging strategies.
A well-preserved fossil assemblage from China reveals a rapid recovery of the marine ecosystem after the Permian-Triassic mass extinction. The Guiyang Biota provides an unprecedented snapshot of a highly diversified marine ecosystem only one million years after the extinction event, forcing scientists to rethink their interpretations.
Researchers studied pollen data from North America's Neotoma Paleoecology Database to understand plant migration patterns and climate fidelity. Most plant species have exhibited long-term climate loyalty over the past 18,000 years, while some plants adapt locally in response to climate change.
A 319-million-year-old fossilized fish has provided the oldest example of a well-preserved vertebrate brain, shedding new light on the neural anatomy and early evolution of ray-finned fishes. The discovery reveals that brain evolution in these animals unfolded more complexly than previously thought.
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.
Researchers from McGill University found that changes in sea levels during the Ice Age affected crocodile gene flow, isolating Caribbean and Pacific populations with distinct genetic mutations. The study reveals the resilience of American crocodiles to climate swings and highlights the need for targeted conservation efforts in Panama.
The discovery of Funcusvermis gilmorei, a 220-million-year-old fossil, extends the history of caecilians by 35 million years and fills a gap in their evolutionary history. The fossil shares skeletal features with early frog and salamander fossils, strengthening evidence for a shared origin between caecilians and these groups.
A new species of pterosaur has been identified with over 400 tiny, hooked teeth, offering insights into its extraordinary feeding mechanism. The discovery suggests the pterosaur likely fed on tiny shrimp and copepods while wading through shallow lagoons.
A new study reveals that ancient chimaeras were suction feeders, contrary to their modern shell-crushing behavior. The research, led by the University of Birmingham, analyzed a rare three-dimensional fossil and found evidence supporting this alternative feeding method.
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 fossilized flower, dated to 40 million years ago, was found encased in amber. The rare flower is believed to be from an ancient evergreen plant related to the Asian species Symplocos.
A new biography of Mary Anning, written by George Roberts in the final years of her life, has been published for the first time. The manuscript reveals details of her discoveries of fossil reptiles, including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, as well as her struggles with breast cancer.
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.
Research reveals therian mammals (placental and marsupials) evolved in Gondwana 50 million years ago, diversifying before migrating to Asia. Advanced imaging techniques helped identify key fossil findings, rewriting the theory of mammal evolution.
The expansion of forests in Central Europe, circa 11,000 years ago, led to the decline and eventual extinction of large Ice Age mammals such as mammoth and bison. The growth of trees deprived these herbivores of their main food source, grass.
The discovery of two new palaeoscolecid worm species, Anguiscolex africanus and Wronascolex superstes, sheds light on the Ordovician period's marine life. The worms are found to be significantly larger than previously recorded specimens, hinting at 'polar gigantism' in response to Morocco's geographical location during that time.
A modelling study published in Scientific Reports found that diplodocid tails were unlikely to create a supersonic boom due to their slow movement speed. The authors simulated tail movements using a model and found that adding hypothetical structures to the end of the tail did not allow it to reach the speed of sound without breaking.
A 120-million-year-old bird fossil called Yuanchuavis kompsosoura reveals a mosaic of dinosaurian and bird traits, including a feathered body with wings, a toothed mouth, and an immovable dinosaurian palate. The study provides clues about the origin of cranial kinesis, a fundamental feature of modern bird skulls.
Scientists have solved a decades-long puzzle about why ancient tetrapod fossils in Ireland's Jarrow Assemblage had their internal bone structure altered. The team used CT scans and laser ablation to analyze the chemistry of the bones, finding evidence of superheated fluids that cooked and melted the bones.