Articles tagged with Animal Fossils
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The earliest known bird, Archaeopteryx, had unique mouth features such as oral papillae, tongue bones, and bill-tip organs. These structures suggest that early birds evolved specialized ways to find and digest food efficiently, which is key to flight. The discovery provides new criteria for identifying dinosaur fossils as birds.
Researchers discovered metabolites in fossilized bones of animals that lived 1.3 to 3 million years ago, providing insights into their health, diets, and environments. The findings revealed warmer and wetter conditions compared to today.
Researchers at the University of Zurich examined fossil records worldwide and found a consistent pattern: young shark species are more likely to go extinct. This challenges the long-held assumption that older species are less vulnerable to extinction.
Researchers discovered fossilized bee nests in a Dominican Republic cave, containing pollen and matching modern bee nest structures. The nests, dated to around 20,000 years ago, were likely built by solitary bee species using saliva-dirt mixtures.
Researchers found a mosasaur tooth in North Dakota that revealed the giant reptile's ability to thrive in freshwater rivers. The study used isotope analyses to show that mosasaurs inhabited riverine environments in their final million years before extinction.
The discovery of a 66-million-year-old tooth in North Dakota, USA, reveals that mosasaurs may have hunted in freshwater environments as well as seas. The analysis of isotopes in the tooth's enamel suggests that the mosasaur preyed on freshwater animals and lived in a river-like area formerly connected to an ancient sea.
A new species of ancient sea cow has been discovered in Qatar, revealing that sea cows have shaped the Arabian Gulf's seagrass ecosystems for over 20 million years. The fossil site, Al Maszhabiya, yielded more than 170 different locations containing sea cow fossils.
A tiny fossil bird named Chromeornis funkyi has been discovered with a massive cluster of stones in its throat, suggesting it likely choked to death. The unusual find provides new insights into the evolution of dinosaurs and birds, revealing that this species may have died due to regurgitation of swallowed rocks.
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 University of Cambridge-led team analyzed giant anaconda fossils to determine their maximum size occurred 12.4 million years ago. The study found that ancient anacondas were four to five metres long, matching the size of modern anacondas, suggesting they have remained giants due to a suitable environment.
Researchers discovered a new 233-million-year-old nonflying relative of pterosaurs that provided breakthrough insights into the evolution of flight in these animals. The study found that pterosaurs evolved their own 'flight computers' from scratch, with unique brain structures and smaller brain sizes compared to birds.
A team of international scientists reconstructed size evolution in ancient sharks using interdisciplinary analysis. The study revealed that modern sharks experimented with enormous body sizes much earlier in their evolutionary history than previously suspected.
Researchers found over 800 vertebrate fossils from a small area, including dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. The discovery provides valuable insights into the evolution of European dinosaur faunas during the Late Cretaceous period.
Researchers have identified a tiny 'GPS' system in ancient magnetic fossils, suggesting that animals may have used the Earth's magnetic field to navigate long distances for at least 97 million years. The discovery provides direct evidence of magnetoreception and sheds light on how animals evolved this ability.
A recent study published in Science Bulletin has provided direct evidence for herbivory in pterosaurs, resolving a long-standing debate. Researchers discovered phytoliths and gastroliths in the stomach of Sinopterus, confirming its plant-based diet.
Researchers discovered a common parasite of modern oysters has been infecting bivalves for hundreds of millions of years. The parasite, belonging to the spionid group, has remained largely unchanged despite multiple mass extinction events.
A new fossil discovery confirms Nanotyrannus as a distinct species from Tyrannosaurus rex, challenging decades of research on T. rex growth. The fossil reveals that Nanotyrannus was physically mature at age 20 and had distinct skeletal features incompatible with T. rex.
Researchers used electron microscopy to investigate ammolite's structural properties, finding that the colors are caused by light reflecting off narrow gaps between aragonite plates. The findings could inform the development of non-fading colored paints.
Researchers have discovered a tiny foot bone in New Zealand that belongs to an extinct bird species with potentially unique courtship behaviors. The St Bathans bowerbird, found to be smaller than living species, has been given the name Aevipertidus gracilis.
A 430-million-year-old fossil found in Wisconsin reveals that ancient leeches feasted on smaller marine creatures, challenging the assumption that they are bloodsuckers. The absence of a forward sucker in the fossil suggests a different early lifestyle for the group known as Hirudinida.
A new study explores why certain parts of reptiles, such as lizard jaws and snake vertebrae, are more likely to be preserved as fossils. The research reveals that physical characteristics like bone density and body size, as well as the environment in which the animals lived and died, are major predictors of fossil completeness.
A team from the University of Liège has developed equations to estimate the size of large marine reptiles from incomplete fossil skeletons. This allows for a better understanding of the evolution and ecology of these marine predators.
Two baby pterosaurs, aged less than 20 cm with broken wings, were found to have died from powerful storms that also preserved hundreds of other fossils. The discovery explains why smaller fossils are well-preserved, as they were a direct result of storms.
Researchers have uncovered a new species of bettong and two new subspecies of woylie in Western Australia, revealing vital clues about the diversity of these critically endangered marsupials. The discovery has significant implications for conservation efforts, including breeding and translocation initiatives.
Researchers discovered a 310-million-year-old fossilized ray-finned fish, Platysomus parvulus, which had a unique 'tongue bite' mechanism to devour prey. This ancient fish's internal anatomy revealed a sophisticated arrangement of tooth plates and gill skeleton, providing insights into the evolution of fish feeding strategies.
A tiny fossil of a sea creature from over half a billion years ago sheds light on the evolution of arthropods, revealing a brain similar to that of living crustaceans. The discovery suggests that the split between the two largest groups of arthropods was more nuanced and complicated than previously thought.
Scientists reconstructed the brain, heart, and fins of a 400-million-year-old fish called Norselaspis glacialis. The study found that its acute senses and powerful heart evolved well before jaws and teeth, suggesting a fast-swimming lifestyle was key to evading predators.
Fossilized dinosaur teeth contain oxygen isotopes that indicate high carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere during the Mesozoic Era, which was four to three times higher than today. This data suggests dynamic climates with double primary plant production, contributing to their extinction.
The discovery of exceptionally preserved early animals in the Grand Canyon sheds new light on the evolution of life during the Cambrian period. The fossils, dating back 507-502 million years, reveal complex feeding styles and unique adaptations, including hair-like extensions on crustacean bodies.
A new analysis of a 500 million-year-old fossil suggests that arachnids, including spiders and scorpions, evolved in the ocean before adapting to land. The discovery was made by studying the brain and nervous system of an ancient marine arthropod called Mollisonia symmetrica.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have confirmed a more nuanced view of the Mazon Creek fossil site, using modern data analysis techniques to assess paleoenvironmental and taphonomic nature. The study reveals three identifiable paleoenvironments, including transitional habitats between nearshore and offshore zones.
A Smithsonian-led team has discovered North America's oldest known pterosaur, dating back to the late Triassic period around 209 million years ago. The fossilized jawbone of the new species was found alongside hundreds of other fossils, including a turtle with spike-like armor and an ancient frog relative.
A groundbreaking study of 7000-year-old fossilized coral reefs reveals that human fishing has transformed Caribbean reef food webs. Shark populations have declined by 75%, while prey fish species have doubled in abundance and grown 17% larger on modern reefs.
The discovery of thousands of animal bones at a remote garrison site in northeastern Mongolia sheds new light on the lives of soldiers and civilians who lived along the medieval Liao Empire's long wall. The analysis suggests a largely self-sufficient pastoral economy, with evidence of herding, hunting, fishing, and seasonal climate var...
Researchers have uncovered a new species of Swaindelphys, a large metatherian that lived around 60 million years ago in Texas' Big Bend National Park. The species, dubbed Swaindelphys solastella, is significantly larger than similar species known from the same period.
Scientists have discovered fossils of multiple bird species in the Arctic, including diving birds and gull-like birds, that were breeding during the time of the dinosaurs. The findings push back the known record of birds nesting in polar regions by 25-30 million years.
A nearly complete fossil of Westlothiana lizziae, a four-legged creature, has been dated to 346 million years ago, shedding new light on the evolution of amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals. This age places the specimens in Romer's Gap, a pivotal time period where water-dwelling fish transitioned to land animals.
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.
New research finds megalodon preyed upon a variety of species, including fish, sharks, and even crustaceans, contrary to the long-held belief that it targeted large marine mammals. The discovery was made by analyzing zinc isotopes in fossilized teeth, providing insights into the prehistoric shark's ecological versatility.
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.
New research from the University of Chicago reveals that dentine, the inner layer of teeth, first evolved as sensory tissue in ancient fish. Fossil studies confirm that early vertebrates used sensory organs in their armor to sense conditions in the water, similar to modern arthropods.
Researchers have made new discoveries about the ancient bird Archaeopteryx, including its ability to fly and its evolutionary history. The Chicago specimen, a well-preserved fossil found in Germany, provides insights into the species' cranial kinesis and soft tissues, challenging previous assumptions about its behavior.
A study by the University of Leicester has successfully linked fossilised footprints to distinct groups of pterosaurs, shedding light on their lifestyles and behaviors. The discovery supports the idea that pterosaurs underwent a major ecological shift during the middle part of the Mesozoic era.
A study from the University of Lausanne reveals that larger animals and those with higher protein content tend to create reducing conditions more rapidly, which slow down decay and trigger fossilization. This explains why some ancient fossils are dominated by arthropods and others remain lost to time.
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 used fossil data to predict the home range of Protemnodon, an extinct giant kangaroo, finding it had a smaller foraging range than expected. Climate change and habitat disruption led to local extinction when this small range could not find enough food.
A new species of multisegmented fossil has been discovered in the Soom Shale with exceptionally preserved insides, including muscles, sinews, and tendons. The fossil, named Keurbos susanae, provides a unique glimpse into the evolutionary relationships of ancient arthropods.
A 30,000-year-old vulture fossil from Central Italy has preserved microscopic feather pigment structures in a mineral phase called zeolite. This new mode of preservation extends the understanding of soft tissue preservation in volcanic rocks.
A nearly complete skull of the ancient apex carnivore Bastetodon has been discovered in the Egyptian desert, revealing a new species of hyaenodonta. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of hyaenodonts and their global distribution, with findings suggesting they spread from Africa to Asia, Europe, India, and North America.
A rare underwater fossil bed discovered by collectors in Florida's Big Bend region has preserved a unique window into the past. The site, dating back to the middle Irvingtonian North American land mammal age, offers insights into evolutionary transitions and speciation.
A fully preserved skull of Diatryma, a 45-million-year-old flightless bird, has been discovered in the Geiseltal Collection at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. The fossil, which was initially misclassified as a crocodile skull, provides new insights into the evolution of animals during the Eocene Epoch.
A study published in Science found that nitrogen isotopes in tooth enamel of Australopithecus individuals indicate a primarily plant-based diet. The analysis revealed low nitrogen isotope ratios similar to those of herbivores, suggesting that human ancestors did not regularly hunt large mammals.
Researchers compiled a reference framework of isotope compositions indicating the type of diet for extant reptiles, providing a useful dataset to reconstruct the diet of fossil reptiles. The analysis showed that calcium isotope ratios are higher in insectivorous reptiles and lower in herbivores and carnivores.
University of Leicester researchers use UV torches to reveal tiny details distinguishing Pterodactylus from other fossils, uncovering nearly 50 'hidden' relatives and reconstructing its life history from hatchling to adulthood.
Researchers have gained a better understanding of mosasaur evolution, relationships, and behaviors through advanced imaging technologies and comparative anatomy. A new study found evidence of cannibalism in mosasaurs and illuminated patterns of foraging area segregation and feeding diversity.
A new study reveals rare whitefly insect fossils found in Miocene age crater lake sediments at Hindon Maar, near Dunedin. The fossils, preserved in the position they lived and died, provide evidence of the ecological component of ancient forests on the South Island.
A team of researchers discovered fossil amphibians preserved in cylindrical burrows in Wyoming, providing insights into their adaptation to extreme seasonal conditions. The ancient creatures, about a foot long, had underdeveloped arms and likely used their heads to dig burrows during the dry season.
Researchers from UC Riverside have identified the oldest known ecdysozoan, Uncus dzaugisi, dating back to the Precambrian period. This discovery fills a significant gap in understanding the origins of this diverse animal group, which includes nematodes, arthropods, and scalidophora.
A fossilized leg bone of a massive terror bird, found in Colombia, provides new information about the region's wildlife during the Miocene epoch. The discovery suggests that this bird species was relatively uncommon among other animals in the area.
A 15-year study of an ancient ecosystem in Bolivia provides a comprehensive view of the Earth's past, revealing warmer temperatures and lower elevation. The team found fossils of diverse animals and plants, reconstructing the site as a dry forest or wooded savanna with palms and bamboos.