Articles tagged with Skull
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Researchers found that carnivorous bats evolved distinctive skull shapes and strong bite forces to consume vertebrate prey. Larger animal-munching bats had longer snouts for bigger prey, while fish-eating bats had optimized jaws for a narrow gape to break down sharp bones.
Researchers found that raptors' skulls change shape predictably with species size, linking beak and skull shapes. This constraint may limit the evolutionary flexibility of birds of prey.
Scientists have discovered a new species of titanosaurian dinosaur, Sarmientosaurus musacchioi, with a complete skull and partial neck fossil from Argentina. The study found that the brain was small relative to its body but showed greater sensory capabilities, including enhanced vision and hearing.
Researchers from the University of Surrey developed a breeding strategy to reduce the risk of Chiari malformation in toy dogs. By cross-breeding Brussels Griffons with Australian Terriers, they created puppies with reduced symptoms of the debilitating condition, which affects 1 in 1280 humans.
Researchers have developed location-specific standards for identifying human remains based on X-rays of the spine, upper leg, or skull. These standards provide a consistent approach to identification with high accuracy and reduced misclassification rates. The study's findings have significant implications for forensic experts and can h...
A newly discovered species of horse-sized dinosaur provides key insights into the evolution of Tyrannosaurus rex as a top predator. The discovery reveals that tyrannosaurs developed huge body sizes rapidly at the end of the age of dinosaurs, with their keen senses enabling them to dominate the food chain.
Scientists from three Brazilian universities and one UK university discovered a new fossil reptile, Teyujagua paradoxa, which lived 250 million years ago. The species is intermediate between primitive reptiles and archosauriforms, a group that includes dinosaurs and birds.
Research published in Evolutionary Biology has found that dingoes are resistant to changes in their skull shape resulting from cross-breeding with domestic dogs. The study used CT scans and 3D shape analyses to determine that hybrid skulls are indistinguishable from those of pure dingoes.
Researchers analyzed the oldest known penguin fossil and found no significant changes in brain structure compared to modern penguins. The study suggests that becoming flightless did not directly impact brain anatomy, contradicting previous assumptions.
Two new fossil fish species of Rhinconichthys have been discovered from the Cretaceous Period, with a greatly expanded geographical range. The newly named R. purgatoirensis and R. uyenoi have tripled the number of species in the genus.
Researchers discovered a unique trumpet-like nasal passage in ancient wildebeest-like animals (Rusingoryx atopocranion), similar to that of hadrosaur dinosaurs. The finding suggests that the animals may have used vocalizations to communicate over large distances, potentially making their calls safer from predators.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have identified a population of stem cells capable of repairing skull formation and craniofacial bone repair in mice. This discovery contributes to an emerging field involving tissue engineering that uses stem cells to replace damaged bones in humans.
A new species of duck-billed dinosaur, Eotrachodon orientalis, has been identified from the Appalachian region, providing insight into its origins and dispersal. The discovery sheds light on how these dinosaurs spread across the world after the seaway lowered, opening a land corridor to western North America.
A 14,000-year-old thigh bone found in China suggests a mysterious pre-modern human species may have survived until the end of the last Ice Age. The bone has features similar to ancient human genera, including Homo habilis and early Homo erectus.
Scientists have uncovered a new, 160 million-year-old ceratopsian dinosaur from China with an 'ornamental' texture on its skull. The fossil, named Hualianceratops wucaiwanensis, provides insights into the early evolution of Ceratopsia and suggests that at least five ceratopsian lineages may have emerged during this period.
A new short-crested lizard, Probrachylophosaurus bergei, has been found in Montana, exhibiting an intermediate nasal crest between non-crested ancestors and larger crests of adult Brachylophosaurus. This discovery provides insights into the evolution of dinosaur species and sheds light on the transitional forms between different groups.
A new fossil discovery of an adolescent Tyrannosaurus rex fills a critical gap in the species' growth stages, supporting research on its evolution. The find, named 'Jane', shows features intermediate between juvenile and adult T. rex, resolving decades-long debate.
A team of scientists has unearthed a 2-foot-long, 76-million-year-old fossil of an extinct turtle species with a unique pig-like snout, providing valuable insights into the evolution of turtles. The discovery sheds light on the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on ancient ecosystems.
Researchers are working on a novel transparent skull implant made from yttria-stabilized zirconia, which could provide a 'window' to the brain and enable laser-based treatments of life-threatening disorders. The project aims to enhance material properties, shape the implant for better fitment, and study its response in animal studies.
Three new fossil whale species have been identified in New Zealand, providing insights into the evolution of baleen whales. The discovery includes two new genera and three species, including a transitional fossil between primitive toothed and modern baleen whales.
A new Canadian-developed rule will help emergency department physicians determine when to use radiography in young children with minor head injuries. The rule identifies children under 2 months old or those with parietal or occipital swelling as high-risk, warranting a skull radiograph.
A 260-million-year-old fossil species, Eunotosaurus africanus, provides crucial information into the origins of turtles. The study reveals that early turtles had a quicker bite than modern ones, with the skull of Eunotosaurus showing diapsid characteristics, challenging the long-held notion of turtles being an ancient reptile lineage.
Researchers analyze 260-million-year-old skull of Eunotosaurus africanus to understand turtle origins. They find evidence of diapsid condition, a characteristic shared with modern reptiles and birds.
Scientists discover new bat species from Lonchophylla genus in Brazil, with distinct characteristics including paler fur and skull differences. The unexpected finding sheds light on previously misidentified specimens, preserved in renowned collections.
Corina Logan's research using CT scans to measure endocranial volume found that external skull measurements are not accurate for predicting brain size in the great-tailed grackle. The study highlights the importance of validating and quantifying predictive accuracy of brain size proxies for each species and sex.
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that skull fractures can create distinct fracture patterns, also known as 'fracture prints', which can aid in determining the cause of head injuries. These findings could help investigators reconstruct events and solve child abuse cases with greater accuracy.
New biomechanical modeling reveals complex relationships between animal diets and skull shapes, with ancestry playing a stronger role than previously thought. The study distinguishes between hypercarnivores and generalists based on specific biomechanical attributes.
Researchers at UBC have discovered a single gene that causes brain swelling after trauma, providing a target for drug development. By turning off this gene, they successfully stopped swelling in rodent brains.
A study published in PLOS ONE created a 3D model of the Chinese giant salamander's bite, revealing its feeding mechanism involves capturing prey in front and biting quickly to the side when approaching. The analysis shows the salamander's unique skull architecture may be related to this ability.
A new study by palaeontologists from Portugal and the UK provides conclusive evidence that Brontosaurus is distinct from Apatosaurus, overturning over a century of research. The team applied statistical approaches to calculate differences between species and genera, revealing Brontosaurus as a unique genus.
Researchers have discovered two ancient human fossils in Laos that show early modern humans were physically quite diverse, with one jawbone exhibiting both archaic and modern human traits. The discovery adds to the evidence that early modern humans migrated through Southeast Asia earlier than previously thought.
A newly discovered crocodilian ancestor, Carnufex carolinensis, filled one of North America's top predator roles before dinosaurs arrived on the continent. The 9-foot long land-dwelling crocodylomorph likely preyed upon smaller inhabitants like armored reptiles and early mammal relatives.
A 360-million-year-old tetrapod's skull has been reconstructed using high-resolution X-ray CT scanning, revealing a more crocodile-like structure than previously thought. The study sheds new light on the anatomy and ecology of early tetrapods, including their feeding habits and adaptations for life on land.
A team of researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge created a 3D reconstruction of the skull of Acanthostega gunnari, a 360 million-year-old near-ancestor of land vertebrates. The new reconstruction shows that early tetrapods had more modern-like crocodile skulls than previously thought, with surprising results.
A 55,000-year-old human skull found in Israel provides key evidence that humans and Neanderthals coexisted in the region. The combined dating methods confirm the age of the skull, which is now believed to be from around 55,000 years ago.
A team of scientists has discovered a 55,000-year-old human skull at Manot Cave in Israel with distinctive modern human brain features. The findings support the hypothesis that early humans evolved in Africa or the Middle East rather than Europe.
Researchers at San Diego State University used computer simulations to discover that fin whale skulls can capture low-frequency energy and direct it to the ear bones. This bone conduction method is up to 10 times more sensitive than pressure mechanisms for hearing, solving a long-standing mystery about baleen whales' acoustic properties.
The discovery of a 55,000-year-old skull in Israel's Western Galilee provides direct anatomical evidence of modern human migration into Europe. The skull also suggests that modern humans interbred with Neanderthals in the Levant, contradicting previous narratives.
Fossilized remains of ancient snakes dating back 140-167 million years old have been discovered, revealing a complex evolutionary history and challenging current understanding of snake origins. The study suggests that the evolution of characteristic snake features occurred earlier than previously thought.
A 415 million-year-old fish fossil suggests that humans and sharks share more primitive features than previously thought. The ancient creature, named Janusiscus, has a mix of cartilaginous and bony fish-like characteristics, which challenges the current classification of sharks as 'primitive'.
Researchers have identified the first definite horned dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous period in North America, known as Aquilops americanus. This discovery sheds light on the biogeography of neoceratopsian dinosaurs and suggests a late Early Cretaceous intercontinental migratory event between Asia and North America.
Otago researchers have discovered a previously unknown genus of fossil baleen whales and two species within it, rewriting the history of New Zealand's ancient whales. The genus, Tohoraata, translates to 'Dawn Whale' in Māori, with the two identified species living between 27-25 million years ago.
A new study found that eels' biting behavior led to remarkable diversification of skull shapes, whereas suction feeding constrains most fish. The research mapped out evolutionary relationships among eel species and their relatives to understand the factors promoting morphological diversity.
A study reveals key details of prehistoric marine croc group Machimosaurus, showing adaptations for various habitats similar to modern-day crocodiles. The ancient species varied in body length and features, with some living in open seas and others in coastal environments.
Researchers from the University of Bristol and the Natural History Museum found that sauropod skulls were sophisticated cropping tools, allowing different species to coexist by partitioning their diets. The study used biomechanical techniques and CT scans to investigate the feeding mechanisms of these giant herbivores.
MIT researchers develop a scaling law to estimate the risk of brain injury for humans and animals, revealing that humans are more vulnerable due to thinner skulls. The method may aid in diagnosing traumatic brain injury and developing protective helmets.
A new armoured dinosaur, Ziapelta sanjuanensis, discovered in New Mexico shares similarities with ankylosaurid dinosaurs found in Alberta. The species boasts unique features, such as tall spikes on its cervical half ring and distinctive scales on its snout.
A new hadrosaur species, Rhinorex condrupus, with a unique nasal profile has been discovered in Utah. The species lived approximately 75 million years ago and is believed to have weighed over 8,500 lbs., helping fill gaps about habitat segregation during the Late Cretaceous period.
Scientists used CT scans and micro-CT imaging to analyze the King's skeletal remains, revealing three injuries that could have caused death quickly. The most likely causes of his death are two skull injuries from a sword or staff weapon, and a penetrating injury from an edged weapon.
Researchers have identified two significant risk factors for painful neurological diseases in toy breeds, including brachycephaly and skull doming. This study aims to provide guidance for breeders and veterinarians to select against these conditions and promote the welfare of affected breeds.
The study found that skull-base heating can result in hazardous temperature elevations when sonications are performed close to the skull-base. Three new methods to counteract this phenomenon were developed. Additionally, the formation of standing-waves is greatly reduced with specifically designed large-area ultrasound transducers.
A new study finds that human skulls changed in ways indicating a lowering of testosterone levels during the time culture was blossoming. The research team argues that human society advanced when people started being nicer to each other, leading to more cultural exchange and cooperation.
A 3D image of a Paleolithic child's skull shows compound fractures indicating blunt force trauma, likely caused by interpersonal violence. The child is believed to have suffered from severe traumatic brain injury, which may have impacted their social communication and behavior.
The three institutions are working together to develop less painful treatments for babies with fused skulls, reducing the need for annual surgeries. Researchers have established a Craniofacial Anomalies Registry and plan to expand their collaboration to include postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.
A 100,000-year-old archaic early human skull found in Northern China reveals a surprising presence of an inner-ear formation long thought to occur only in Neandertals. This discovery challenges current scenarios of later Pleistocene human population dispersals and interconnections.
A team of researchers, including Smithsonian paleoanthropologist Richard Potts, suggests that human traits evolved separately and at different times rather than all together. This flexibility likely enhanced the ability of human ancestors to adapt to unstable environments and disperse from Africa.
Researchers propose that human faces developed robust features to protect against facial injuries during hand-to-hand combat, challenging the long-held hypothesis that these traits arose from eating hard foods. The study's findings support the idea that violence played a significant role in shaping human evolution.
A new species of Mediterranean worm lizard, Blanus mendezi, has been identified with the discovery of its first intact skull, providing insights into the evolution of this poorly known group of reptiles. The fossil, dated to 11.6 million years ago, features a well-preserved skull and vertebrae, shedding light on the species' history.
A recent study by evolutionary biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows that a mutation in a single gene during development can lead to different consequences, including changes in jaw shape and feeding strategies. This genetic variation predicts differences in feeding mechanics and alters skull structure.
The Caribbean monk seal's extinction has been reclassified, with its DNA analysis revealing a closer relationship to the Hawaiian seal. The study led to the creation of a new genus, Neomonachus, highlighting the importance of conserving these endangered seals.