Articles tagged with Dinosaurs
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Fossilized enantiornithine birds from the Hell Creek Formation exhibit powerful leg muscles and feet adapted for carrying heavy prey, similar to modern raptorial birds. These discoveries expand our understanding of Late Cretaceous bird diversity and evolution.
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.
Astronomers have reduced concerns about a potentially hazardous asteroid swarm near Earth after discovering fewer large space rocks than previously thought. The study found only a handful of asteroids, likely less than 14, that fit the large size class, suggesting a smaller parent object and reducing the risk of extinction-level events.
A University of Leicester study has found that the ability to walk efficiently on the ground played a crucial role in determining how large pterosaurs could grow. Early pterosaurs were adapted for climbing, but later species developed changes to their hands and feet that allowed them to thrive on land, leading to some becoming gigantic.
A study published in Science reveals that ancient asteroid impact may have led to the evolution of fungus-farming ants, which were able to cultivate fungi due to a shortage of food sources. The findings support the hypothesis that this relationship defines the emergence of agriculture.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests that South African rock art from the 19th century may be inspired by an extinct species of tusked animal called a dicynodont. The artwork, created by the San people, features a long-bodied animal with downward-turned tusks that is comparable to fossilized remains found in the region.
A discovery of 18 theropod tracks and four ornithopod tracks in the Wonthaggi Formation reveals that large carnivores roamed polar environments, feeding on prey like smaller dinosaurs, fish, and turtles. The finds confirm that a variety of dinosaurs lived and walked on the ground where their bones were found.
Scientists have discovered a new species of sauropod dinosaur, Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra, from the Cretaceous period in Spain. The fossil record reveals that Europe was home to both endemic and immigrant sauropods, challenging previous assumptions about regional isolation.
Researchers found that molecular interactions shield peptide bonds from water, allowing collagen to stay intact in ancient bones. This discovery could lead to the design of long-lived materials.
Researchers found an atomic-level interaction in collagen that defends it from water molecules, preventing hydrolysis and allowing it to survive for millions of years. This discovery provides evidence that the peptide bonds in collagen are resistant to breakage by water, contradicting previous expectations.
A team of geoscientists has identified the origin of the massive asteroid that wiped out 70% of Earth's species 66 million years ago. The study found the asteroid was a carbonaceous-type asteroid that formed outside Jupiter's orbit.
A new study uses computer modeling to estimate the maximum possible size of Tyrannosaurus rex, suggesting it could be 70% heavier than current estimates. The researchers found that finding an animal in the top 99.99% of body size would require excavating fossils for another 1,000 years.