Articles tagged with Dinosaurs
A study published in Developmental Biology found that the first bird to inhabit Earth used its hind legs to take off into the air. The researchers estimated that the ancient bird could have achieved a sustainable flight speed of seven meters per second with three bipedal leaps.
Asteroid impact created a massive dust cloud that trapped heat, causing widespread wildfires and spontaneous combustion. The cloud led to population collapse and atmospheric contamination, ultimately killing most dinosaurs and other species.
Researchers identified a rare CO chondrite meteorite as the probable impactor that struck Earth 66 million years ago, leading to the extinction of 75% of Earth's species. The study used advanced nickel isotope analysis to narrow down the composition of the deadly Cretaceous-Palaeogene meteorite.
A study in PLOS One identified T. rex as the likely cause of some tooth marks on fossils from Cretaceous-era Wyoming, providing insights into animal behavior and ecosystem dynamics. The researchers developed a guide to interpret tooth traces on fossils, distinguishing between natural and bite-related marks.
A recent study overturns the idea that flowering plants didn't evolve large fruits and seeds until after the mass extinction of dinosaurs. The research found that these modern reproductive strategies may have emerged much earlier, around 74 million years ago.
New research reveals that pterosaurs likely had more diverse wing shapes than previously thought, contrary to current reconstructions. The study analyzed nine popular pterosaurs, including the Pteranodon and Quetzalcoatlus, using a method called theoretical morphospace to create a map of all possible wing forms.
Researchers have found a new species of dinosaur, Jian changmaensis, which is believed to be the missing predator that hunted early birds. The dinosaur had long feathers on its front and back limbs, giving it four 'wings' that may have been used for gliding.
A new fossil species, Plumadraco, has been found with the longest tail feathers ever recorded on a fossil bird. The analysis suggests that the bird's tail feathers were used for attracting mates, and the color of the feathers was probably dark brown or black.
Tiny forelimbs in meat-eating dinosaurs, including T. rex, were linked to strong skulls and jaws used for attacking large prey. The study found a correlation between reduced forelimb size and skull robustness, suggesting that tiny arms evolved as a byproduct of powerful heads.
The discovery of Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, a 100-120 million-year-old sauropod, is the largest ever found in Southeast Asia. The dinosaur weighed around 27 tonnes and measured 27m long, making it 'the last titan' of Thailand.
A study of Maiasaura peeblesorum fossilized teeth reveals that juvenile dinosaurs likely received nutritious food while adults consumed tougher plant parts, indicating bird-like parental care. This behavior may have originated in dinosaurs and predates the emergence of birds.
A joint research team has rediscovered a dinosaur tracksite in the Saizhurakh area of northern Mongolia, revealing footprints of both large herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs. The site provides clear evidence that large dinosaurs inhabited regions as far north as northern Mongolia during the Early Cretaceous period.
A new species of baby dinosaur, Doolysaurus huhmini, has been discovered on Aphae Island in Korea, estimated to be around two years old. The fossil was analyzed using X-ray technology and revealed growth markers, gastroliths, and a possible fuzzy coat, providing insights into the dinosaur's diet and anatomy.
Researchers in Taiwan studied oviraptor incubation patterns, finding that oviraptors used the sun's warmth to hatch eggs, unlike modern birds. This study sheds light on the evolution of avian-style incubation and reveals that oviraptors may not have been as efficient at hatching eggs as modern birds.
A new study reveals that the ancient reptile Sonselasuchus, a relative of the crocodile, began life on four legs before learning to walk on two. The discovery was made by analyzing the proportions of the limb skeletons of different animals, suggesting that the creature's bipedal stance may have resulted from differential growth patterns.
Researchers have discovered that crocodiles' growth rates are flexible and change depending on environmental conditions, revealing new insights into their life history. The findings challenge traditional methods used to age dinosaurs, suggesting a reevaluation of how growth marks are interpreted.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo used CT scans to study Triceratops' nasal anatomy, revealing a specialized structure called a respiratory turbinate. This unique feature helped regulate temperature and moisture levels in the dinosaur's large skull.
A 230-million-year-old footprint discovered in Brisbane is now recognized as Australia's oldest dinosaur fossil. The small, two-legged dinosaur, likely an early sauropodomorph, stood about 75-80 cm tall and weighed around 140 kg.
A new study reveals that young sauropods were a key food source for Late Jurassic predators, with adults unable to care for their eggs and offspring. The research team mapped out a 'food web' of the time, finding that sauropods had a significant impact on their ecosystem.
The study reveals a 81m dinosaur trackway as the longest known in China and the fastest running theropod trackway from the Cretaceous period. The analysis indicates that medium-sized theropods ran at speeds of up to 45 km/h, while large theropods walked at slower speeds.
Most museum staff support behind-the-scenes tours to educate the public about their work and promote biodiversity. The tours can help improve teaching and public speaking skills, while also fostering a sense of reciprocity and responsibility among staff.
A new paper published in Science reveals that Nanotyrannus is nearly fully grown and not an immature T. rex, while also providing insights into how giant predators achieved terrifying sizes quickly.
Dinosaurs operated with a 'latchkey kid' approach, with young offspring independent and foraging alone after just a few months. This led to an increased number of functional species in dinosaur fossil communities compared to modern mammals.
A study published in PLOS One reports over 16,000 dinosaur footprints discovered at the Carreras Pampas tracksite in Bolivia. The footprints indicate that dinosaurs walked, ran, swam, and even performed sharp turns along an ancient shoreline.
A unique looping trail of ancient footprints in Colorado has provided insights into the behavior of a long-necked dinosaur, including possible evidence of limping. The analysis of over 130 footprints revealed subtle patterns, such as variations in footprint width and step length differences between left and right feet.
A new ichthyosaur species, Eurhinosaurus mistelgauensis, has been described from the Mistelgau fossil site in Bavaria, Germany. The species shares striking similarities with dolphins and tuna, featuring a pronounced overbite similar to modern swordfish.
A newly discovered pachycephalosaur fossil from Mongolia's Gobi Desert provides crucial insights into the dinosaur group's growth and development. The 15-million-year-old specimen, called Zavacephale rinpoche, is the oldest and most complete skeleton of this iconic dinosaur group found to date.
The discovery of Spicomellus afer reveals an armoured dinosaur with metre-long spikes on its neck and tail weapon, showcasing the diversity of ankylosaurs' armour. This find pushes back the evolution of ankylosaur tail weapons by over 30 million years.
A new method reconstructs carbon dioxide levels and photosynthesis from fossilized tooth enamel, shedding light on the climate of the Mesozoic era. The analysis found that atmospheric CO2 levels were four times higher in the late Jurassic period and three times higher in the late Cretaceous period than they are today.
A new analysis of 18 species of carnivorous dinosaurs reveals that not all giant predators had strong bites, but instead specialized in different feeding styles. This study demonstrates the diversity of feeding strategies among giant carnivores, challenging the assumption that one 'best' skull design existed for being a predatory giant.
A new study in PLOS One discovers a dinosaur tracksite in Alberta, Canada, showcasing the social interaction between different species 76 million years ago. The tracks reveal that multiple species, including ceratopsians and ankylosaurs, walked together, possibly as a defense strategy against predators.
Researchers found that different species of dinosaurs had distinct preferences for plant parts, including leaves, buds, and woody tissues. This discovery helps explain how so many large herbivores coexisted in the same ecosystem without competing for resources.
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.
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 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 have discovered footprints of ankylosaurid armoured dinosaurs, known as Ruopodosaurus clava, in the Canadian Rockies. The 100-million-year-old fossilized footprints provide evidence that tail-clubbed ankylosaurs were alive and well in North America during a previously unknown period.
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 new study led by UCL researchers found that the quality of the dinosaur fossil record worsened during the final 6 million years prior to the asteroid impact. The team analyzed over 8,000 fossils and estimated that dinosaurs may have been doing better than previously suggested in the lead-up to the asteroid impact.
Researchers found clear evidence of air sacs in fossilized alvarezsaurian bones, which may have helped modern birds fly. This discovery provides new insights into the evolution of bird flight and the role of 'hollow bones' in this process.
A new study in PLOS One reveals over 130 dinosaur footprints on the Isle of Skye, providing insight into their distribution and behavior. The trackways suggest large theropods like Megalosaurus and sauropods like Cetiosaurus strolled through ancient subtropical lagoons.
A mass mortality event occurred in Triassic Wyoming, where dozens of giant amphibians called metoposaurid temnospondyls died together on an ancient floodplain. The study provides a unique snapshot of a single population and doubles the known number of individuals of the species Buettnererpeton bakeri.
New research reveals mammals were shifting toward a more ground-based lifestyle several million years before the dinosaurs' mass extinction event. Analyzing small-fossilized bone fragments, scientists found signs of locomotory habit in end of limb bones from marsupial and placental mammals.
Researchers have discovered that a specific gene pathway is crucial for feather formation, dating back to the origins of proto-feathers in dinosaurs. The study provides insights into how genetic interactions evolved to allow for the emergence of complex structures like feathers.
A University of Queensland researcher has identified 66 fossilized footprints from 47 individual 3-toed dinosaurs that walked along a waterway during the Early Jurassic period. The footprints provide an unprecedented snapshot of dinosaur abundance, movement and behaviour from this time period.
Researchers have discovered fossilized eggs from three feathered bird-like dinosaurs, two herbivorous dinosaurs, and a previously unknown crocodile-like species in the Cedar Mountain Formation. The findings provide valuable insights into the diversity of ancient life forms and their habitats.
A recent study published by researchers at the University of Liverpool has confirmed that Mesozoic fossils, including dinosaur bones and teeth, still preserve their original organic materials. The team used advanced mass spectrometry techniques to identify preserved collagen remnants in a well-preserved Edmontosaurus fossil.
Researchers suggest earliest dinosaurs emerged in hot, arid environments of low-latitude Gondwana, filling gaps in fossil record. This finding provides a potential origin for the iconic creatures, contradicting previous assumptions.
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.
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.
Researchers have created an acoustic model of the Parasaurolophus' crest, a unique feature of the duck-billed dinosaur. The model replicates the sounds produced by the crest, providing insights into the animal's communication and social behavior.
Researchers found that certain dinosaurs' shortened fibulae, a part of the lower leg bone, enabled birds to twist and turn with greater mobility. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of bird-like knees and their adaptations for navigating and interacting with their environment.
A new pterosaur species reveals key transitional changes between early and later groups, shedding light on the evolution of these flying reptiles. The complete specimen helps bridge the gap in understanding how they transformed from smaller to larger sizes.
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.
The Yixian Formation fossils in China are preserved due to rapid sedimentation and oxygen-free pockets, rather than volcanic events. The study's findings suggest that multiple periods of intense rainfall led to the burial of deceased creatures, preserving soft tissues.
A new study finds that volcanic eruptions triggered a sudden and devastating cooling event, causing mass extinctions in the Triassic period. The research contradicts previous theories that suggested increased carbon dioxide led to warming temperatures.
A new fossil mammal, Heleocola piceanus, has been discovered in Colorado, dating back to the Late Cretaceous period. The animal, estimated to weigh 2 pounds or more, is a rare find among mammals from this time period.
The exhibit featured a live laboratory where paleontologists and volunteers cleaned and prepared specimens from the Montbrook site. Participants were excited to interact with scientists and answer questions about fossils.
A new study reveals that a giant meteorite impact, equivalent to four Mount Everests, triggered a tsunami that mixed ocean debris and heated the atmosphere. This led to a rapid recovery of bacterial life, with iron-metabolizing bacteria flourishing in its wake.
The Acoustical Society of America is hosting a virtual meeting from November 18-22, showcasing recent work on various topics including Alzheimer's disease detection and windfarms' impact on wildlife. Journalists can pre-register for press conferences and technical sessions.