Articles tagged with Dinosaurs
A University of Colorado researcher has discovered tracks of a previously unknown two-legged swimming dinosaur along the shoreline of an ancient inland sea that covered Wyoming 165 million years ago. The six-foot-tall bipedal creature, similar to a Coelosaur, likely waded along the shoreline and swam offshore to feed on fish or carrion.
A team of scientists led by Dr. Alan Feduccia found that fossilized patterns resembling feathers are more likely skin-related tissues, contradicting the theory of feathered dinosaurs. The study also revealed embryos of developing birds have distinct wing structures, making it unlikely for birds to evolve from flightless dinosaurs.
Research suggests that increased oxygen levels in Earth's atmosphere led to the emergence of large placental mammals, including massive sloths and saber-toothed cats. The study, published in Science journal, uses deep-sea core samples to track changes in oxygen content over 205 million years.
A recent restudy and reconstruction of a Mongolian sauropod skull adds to evidence for sauropod diversity at the end of the dinosaur era. The discovery highlights the existence of titanosaurs, a late surviving sauropod lineage that flourished during this period.
A new study reveals that predatory dinosaurs, such as T. rex, had a more complex air sac system similar to that in modern birds. The findings suggest that these ancient beasts may have been warm-blooded creatures, with a pulmonary machinery for enhanced gas exchange.
Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered a link between dinosaurs and living birds by finding medullary bone in a T. rex fossil, indicating the dinosaur was female and likely producing eggs. The presence of this tissue provides an objective means of sexing dinosaurs.
A team of paleontologists analyzed stegosaur plates to rule out thermoregulation as a function. Instead, they suggest that the plates may have been used for species recognition, similar to African antelopes. The analysis also found that scutes on other dinosaur ancestors had similar internal structures, supporting this theory.
Scientists have discovered a new species, Falcarius utahensis, in Utah that provides clues about the evolution of plant-eating dinosaurs. The dinosaur had leaf-shaped teeth and a larger gut to digest plant material, and its neck and forelimbs were more elongated for reaching plants.
Dr. Mary Schweitzer isolated intact soft tissue from a 68-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex femur, showing blood vessels and cell-like structures. The discovery, published in Science, suggests that dinosaur fossils may retain some of their original flexibility and resilience.
The discovery of Neuquenraptor argentinus provides the first uncontroversial evidence that raptors roamed beyond the Northern Hemisphere. The find reveals a common raptor ancestor likely existed on both Gondwana and Laurasia supercontinents before they split apart.
A new avian species called Vegavis iaai has provided unprecedented fossil proof that some close cousins to living bird species coexisted with dinosaurs during the Cretaceous period. The research, published in Nature, places Vegavis within the Anseriformes group and indicates its evolutionary relationship to ducks and geese.
Research refutes old idea that dinosaurs were declining in diversity during their time on Earth. Early dinosaur diversity increased dramatically throughout the Cretaceous period, reaching 245 genera.
A team of paleontologists has reestimated Seismosaurus's length to 110 feet, bringing it within range of the blue whale. The new estimate was achieved by scaling up a smaller Diplodocus dinosaur and comparing its caudal vertebrae.
The discovery of a prosauropod dinosaur, ancestral crocodilians and a mammal-like cynodont reveals diverse terrestrial faunas at the end of the Triassic period. The findings contradict previous assumptions about the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event.
Scientists charted T. rex life history for the first time, revealing a giant size due to an extraordinary growth spurt from 14 to 18 years of age. This was followed by about 10 years of little or no growth as an adult. The study provides insight into T. rex evolution, biology, biomechanics and population dynamics.
Researchers used growth line counts on T. rex and other relatives to estimate accelerated growth from age 14-18, gaining insight into how these dinosaurs became gargantuan. The study compares T. rex's growth rate to modern-day elephants.
Research team led by Mark Springer has traced solenodon origins to the Mesozoic era, 76 million years ago. The findings suggest that these shrew-like creatures branched off from insect-eating relatives and have remained biologically unchanged over millions of years.
Fossils of Rugops primus and Spinostropheus gautieri reveal that Africa separated from southern continents around 100 million years ago. The discoveries provide fresh evidence on the timing of continental drift, shedding light on how dinosaurs like Rugops and other animals used narrow land bridges to colonize adjacent continents.
The discovery of Suuwassea emilieae, a smaller relative of Diplodocus and Apatosaurus, provides significant insights into the fauna of the Morrison Formation. The new species features an anomalous second hole in its skull, which has puzzled paleontologists for years.
The web-based program calculates thermal radiation, seismic shaking, ejecta deposition, and air-blast effects based on user input distance from impact site. It provides detailed descriptions of damage severity, including ignition times for grass and wood, shaking intensity levels, and debris particle sizes.
Researchers analyzed over 250 dinosaur genera, finding the fossil record to be moderately complete, but highly congruent with existing family tree relationships. This study provides valuable insights for paleontologists studying dinosaur evolution.
Stephanie Novak, a doctoral candidate at Washington University in St. Louis, developed a novel model to determine classification of a new species based on skeletal differences. The Archosaurian Morphospecies Concept found that Postosuchus from different locations were part of the same species.
A team of scientists has found evidence that a massive ancient meteorite struck the Earth 251 million years ago, triggering climate change and volcanic activity. This led to the extinction of nearly nine-tenths of all life on Earth.
Researchers suggest that ultra-low oxygen and greenhouse warming sparked two mass-extinction events, killing 90% of species on Earth. The development of an unusual breathing system in some dinosaurs, still found in birds today, may have helped them survive harsh conditions.
Researchers have discovered that three species of cassowaries can produce low-frequency sounds that may be similar to those made by dinosaurs. The birds' helmet-like casques are thought to serve a function in sound reception and could provide clues about dinosaur communication.
A team of geologists has discovered a crab fossil within inches of a massive plant-eating dinosaur fossil in Egypt. The find, dating back to the Cretaceous Period, sheds light on the ecosystem where these species coexisted, revealing a diverse array of organisms including fish, sharks, and turtles.
Kirk Johnson's latest discovery of the rainforest in Denver provides answers to key questions about ancient landscaping and will aid scientists in predicting groundwater availability. The rainforest, one of the oldest-known on earth, is now on display at the DMNS, accompanied by a Web site and book.
Scientists have discovered that ancient birds used a unique 'wing-assisted incline running' behavior to help them climb vertical surfaces, which may be the key to explaining how dinosaurs learned to fly. This behavior, found in modern-day birds, involves rapid movement of the front appendages to gain foot traction as it climbs.
Researchers analyzed iridium levels and magnetic fields to correlate with plant and animal life, suggesting a comet or asteroid impact led to the rise of dinosaurs in the Jurassic period. This impact is thought to have cleared the way for other species to adapt, ultimately paving the way for dinosaur dominance.
A newly discovered dinosaur, Liaoceratops yanzigouensis, has provided valuable insights into the evolution of horned dinosaurs. Weighing only about seven pounds, it had rudimentary horns and a frill, unlike its larger cousin Triceratops.
A North Carolina State University graduate student has discovered a nearly hatched dinosaur embryo in a well-preserved dinosaur egg unearthed over 30 years ago in Alabama. The discovery, made by James Lamb, is the first of its kind in the eastern United States and provides new insights into dinosaurs' diets and climate.
The National Science Foundation has funded a study that sheds light on the soft tissue biology of dinosaurs, specifically their nasal structures. The research, led by Lawrence Witmer, provides clues to how air flowed and affected olfaction and heat exchange in these prehistoric creatures.
A new study in the journal Science found that dinosaurs' fleshy nostrils were typically positioned forward of their bony nose openings. This finding has implications for how dinosaurs breathed, smelled, and regulated body temperature and water loss, potentially providing clues to their adaptations to different environments.
Research by Lawrence Witmer reveals that many dinosaurs had large nasal passages, contrary to previous depictions. The study suggests that these passages were positioned closer to the mouths and farther from the eyes, which could have been important for heat exchange and other physiological processes.
A new study reveals that dinosaurs' noses were positioned closer to the mouth than previously thought, offering insights into their respiratory system and evolutionary advantages.
A nearly complete long-necked sauropod dinosaur was recently unearthed in Madagascar, providing the first comprehensive view of a titanosaur skull. The discovery, announced by NSF-funded scientists, confirms a close relationship between titanosaurs and brachiosaurs, revolutionizing our understanding of Mesozoic reptiles.
A 290-million-year-old, upright-lizard-like reptile has been found, predating the age of dinosaurs by at least 60 million years. The discovery provides strong evidence for the early evolution of herbivorous reptiles on land, suggesting that bipedalism evolved independently in different animal groups.
Researchers argue that sauropods, like Barosaurus, required a horizontal neck to function on land due to heart size and metabolic rates. This finding contradicts the common depiction of long-necked dinosaurs raising their heads to browse from trees.
Researchers have discovered a dinosaur fossil with a four-chambered heart, similar to those of birds and mammals. The discovery suggests that the dinosaur was warm-blooded, with a high metabolism, and may have had a more complex circulatory system than previously thought.
A team of scientists has discovered a 66-million-year-old Thescelosaurus with a complete fossilized heart, suggesting the dinosaur's circulatory system was more advanced than that of reptiles. The finding supports the hypothesis that dinosaurs were warm-blooded and could have had metabolic rates higher than typical reptiles.
Jobaria tiguidensis, a 70-foot-long plant-eater from the Cretaceous period, has been discovered with nearly complete skeletons of an adult and juvenile. The species' unique spoon-shaped teeth and short neck set it apart from other sauropods.
A team of scientists, including Montana State University's David Varricchio, discovered a wealth of information about skeletal changes in dinosaurs. The study found that some lineages remained relatively static for tens of millions of years, while others changed rapidly, providing new insights into dinosaur evolution.
The discovery provides a detailed picture of life during the earliest days of dinosaurs and mammals. The newly found fossils are from the Middle to Late Triassic period, around 230 million years ago, and include two new dinosaurs that appear to be older than previously recorded species.
A team of paleontologists has discovered jaws from two of the oldest dinosaurs ever found, along with eight other prehistoric animals, in a rich bed of fossils in Madagascar. The discovery provides a unique glimpse into the mid-late Triassic Period and illuminates scientific understanding of this era.
Scientists have discovered a new species of camel, dated two million years ago, with mountain goat-like features. Additionally, researchers have found dinosaur nesting grounds in Patagonia, providing insights into sauropod reproductive biology and behavior.
Recent dinosaur fossil finds suggest dinosaurs developed new abilities through opportunistic approach, rather than gradual adaptation. The breakup of supercontinent Pangaea led to regional extinctions and replacements by other species, shaping the evolution of new species.
A team of scientists, including MSU's Frankie Jackson, discovered a rare dinosaur embryo in Patagonia, Argentina, with implications for understanding sauropod reproduction. The find confirms the identity of the embryo as belonging to a type of plant-eating dinosaur.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery of dinosaur embryos with fossilized skin, providing the first glimpse into the soft tissue covering baby dinosaurs. The ancient eggs were found to contain patches of delicate skin and tiny teeth, shedding light on the reproductive habits of giant plant-eating sauropods.
A team of researchers announces the discovery of thousands of eggs and dozens of unhatched dinosaur embryos containing fossilized skin, representing a number of scientific firsts. The embryos belong to giant plant-eating dinosaurs called sauropods and are found in the southern hemisphere.
A geologist suggests that a comet impact that wiped out the dinosaurs may also be responsible for giant boulders found in Arkansas. The rocks were likely carried inland by a tsunami wave from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
Researchers suggest Tyrannosaurus rex lacked lips and Triceratops didn't have cheeks, contradicting long-held beliefs. The study's findings have implications for scientists studying these dinosaurs and those recreating them in art and media.
Dinosaur tracks in Alaska provide evidence of a previously unknown high latitude dinosaur region. The discovery includes four-toed tracks suggestive of armored or horned dinosaurs and pebbly texture skin impressions, revealing the diversity of ancient species that flourished in the Arctic.
A new study reports that ancient dinosaurs were killed by sudden avalanches of water-soaked sand flowing down the sides of dunes, burying their bodies swiftly. The research also uncovered the first dinosaur footprints ever found in the Gobi Desert.
University of Notre Dame paleontologist J. Keith Rigby discovered the largest Tyrannosaur skeleton on record, but it was found to be seriously damaged by poachers on a northeastern Montana cattle ranch. The damage includes two-thirds of the left side of the skull missing and both lower jaws also destroyed.
A nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil was discovered in northeastern Montana, measuring over 52 inches. The fossil exceeds all known measurements of the dinosaur and is believed to be one of the largest carnivores on the planet.
Scientists have discovered that Archaeopteryx, the famous link between birds and reptiles, did not give rise to modern birds. Instead, they appear to have descended from a different, unknown ancestor with many characteristics of modern birds. This discovery challenges the classic view of bird evolution.
Paleontologist Dr. Roger Cuffey compares the diversity of dinosaurs and proboscideans, finding a similar pattern of decline over 5 million years. The study suggests that both groups were affected by complex factors, including food supply and habitats, leading to their extinction.
Researchers estimate Tyrannosaurus Rex could exert a biting force of up to 3,011 pounds on its prey, with 58 definite T-rex bite marks found on a Triceratops pelvis. The powerful dinosaur's teeth were as strong as those of an alligator, suggesting it could have struggled with its prey.