Articles tagged with Paleontology
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
A new diapsid reptile species has been discovered in Oklahoma with evidence of dental pathology, providing insights into its biology and evolution. The fossil, dated to the early Permian period, was analyzed using neutron tomography and revealed abnormalities in its teeth.
A new species of ancient bird, Janavis finalidens, has been found with a mobile beak, challenging the long-held assumption that modern birds evolved from a 'ancient jaw' group. The fossil shows a fused palate bone, similar to those of ostriches and their relatives.
A new egg species, Ramoprismatoolithus okurai, has been identified from Early Cretaceous fossil eggshell fragments found in Japan. The analysis of the eggshell fragments and impressions suggests an affinity with the troodontids, a group of small non-avian theropod dinosaurs.
A new study on a 525-million-year-old fossil has shed light on the origin and composition of arthropod heads, resolving a century-old debate. The discovery of a delicately preserved nervous system in the fossil of Cardiodictyon catenulum, a tiny sea creature, suggests that the brain and trunk nervous system evolved separately.
A team of scientists has estimated the weight of a prehistoric salamander using five living animal analogues and 19 body mass estimation techniques. The study found that the large-bodied Eryops was around 160 kilograms, while the Paracyclotosaurus was roughly 260 kilograms.
A new species of ancient turtle, Leviathanochelys aenigmatica, has been discovered in Spain with an estimated body length of up to 3.74 meters. This specimen represents the largest marine turtle ever found in Europe and one of the largest worldwide, challenging previous records held by the extinct genus Archelon.
A new study suggests that ray-finned fish diversified earlier than previously thought, accumulating small changes before the Carboniferous period. The fossil specimen Palaeoneiros clackorum shows features typical of younger species, indicating a more complex picture of species diversification.
Researchers analyzed the survival mechanisms of snail species during the end-Triassic mass extinction event. Over half of other gastropod species were affected, with some species exhibiting adaptations that allowed them to thrive.
Scientists have discovered exceptionally well-preserved fossils in China that date back 514 million years, revealing the first animals to build hard and robust skeletons. The fossils show features characteristic of modern jellyfish and cnidarians, including a tubular structure made of calcium phosphate.
A new study reveals that mammal diversity declined over time, with faster evolutionary rates among social, aquatic, and herbivorous species. Using skull shapes of 322 living and extinct mammals, researchers found that the rate of change tapered off after a peak around the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction.
A new ancient whale genus has been discovered in Morocco, dating back to around 40 million years ago. The species likely employed manatee-like swimming and feeding habits.
A study published by the University of Zurich has found that vocal communication in vertebrates has a common and ancient evolutionary origin, dating back to around 407 million years ago. The research used vocal recordings and contextual behavioral information from 53 species across four major clades of land vertebrates.
Researchers digitally reconstructed a Jeholornis skull, shedding light on its vision and sense of smell. The study found that Jeholornis had a larger olfactory bulb than modern birds, suggesting it relied heavily on its sense of smell.
Researchers analyzed high-resolution photos of SUE's jaw with healed breaks in other fossil skeletons and compared them to trepanation holes made by Inca surgeons. The study found that SUE's injuries were consistent with these examples, suggesting the animal survived long enough for bones to begin repairing themselves.
Researchers studied the bones of an extinct amphibian species and found that its shoulder girdle was densely compact, similar to modern manatees. This adaptation allowed the creature to sink and hunt underwater, while its smaller legs and rounded skull suggest it may have only surfaced occasionally.
Scientists have discovered 439-million-year-old remains of a toothed fish in China that suggest the origins of modern osteichthyans and chondrichthyans. The fossils, named Qianodus duplicis, possessed spiral-like dental elements with multiple generations of teeth.
A team of scientists uncovered fossilized remains of galeaspids, a type of jawless fish that breathed new life into the long-standing fin and limb evolutionary hypothesis. The fossils revealed paired fins extending from head to tail, contradicting previous assumptions of their absence.
A team of researchers has discovered a 439-million-year-old ancient 'shark' that predates the earliest jawed fish and is believed to be humans' oldest jawed ancestor. The fossil, named Fanjingshania, features an external bony armor and multiple pairs of fin spines.
The discovery of complete early Silurian jawed fishes is a significant finding that sheds light on the origin of jaws in vertebrates. The two species, Xiushanosteus mirabilis and Shenacanthus vermiformis, have revealed key features about their body shape, form, and evolution.
A 518-million-year-old fossilized worm named Wufengella has shed light on the evolution of three major animal groups: brachiopods, phoronids, and bryozoans. The discovery reveals that these ancient animals shared a common ancestor with segmented worms.
A new analysis suggests that bird-hipped dinosaurs evolved from silesaurs, which were first identified two decades ago. The study reveals a 25-million-year gap in the fossil record, but provides insight into the early evolution of ornithischians.
Researchers found evidence of declining dinosaur diversity in central China, with only three species of eggs and low number of dinosaurs for the last 2 million years. This decline may have been caused by global climate fluctuations and massive volcanic eruptions.