Articles tagged with Cretaceous Period
A University of Washington-led research team discovered well-preserved fossil feathers in a dinosaur coprolite, which could provide insight into why some birds survived the mass extinction. The feathers have features similar to modern birds' feathers, including a sponge-like center, and may have played a role in the extinction event.
Scientists discovered a 100-million-year-old beetle fossil that reveals early evolution of firefly sensory and signaling systems. The fossil preserves elaborate antennae and light-emitting organs, suggesting that lampyroid beetles relied heavily on pheromonal cues for mate searching.
Scientists used chemical clues in microscopic fossils to find evidence that ocean acidification caused one of the largest extinction events in planktic foraminifera history. The study suggests that volcanic eruptions and rising CO2 levels led to a decrease in shell-building ability, ultimately contributing to the extinction.
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.
A unique plant fossil cache in New Mexico reveals angiosperms flourished 10 million years before dinosaurs' demise, contradicting the view that they only took over after their extinction. The discovery showcases a thriving forest dominated by flowering plants with large fruits, challenging the traditional narrative.
A new species of long-necked dinosaur, Dasosaurus tocantinensis, was discovered in Northeast Brazil and found to be a close relative of a European species. The dinosaur is estimated to have been around 20 meters long and lived approximately 120 million years ago.
Termites became the backbone of tropical ecosystems after two diversification pulses following global extinctions. The traits that define modern termites, such as soil-eating and fungus agriculture, emerged in distinct pulses about 30 million years apart, according to a new study published in Current Biology.
New research reveals that life rebounded astonishingly quickly after the asteroid impact, with new species of plankton emerging in fewer than 2,000 years. The study uses an isotope marker to determine the age of sediments and finds that complex life reestablished within a geologic heartbeat.
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.
The discovery of Wadisuchus kassabi in the Campanian period (80 million years ago) sheds light on the origin and biogeography of Dyrosauridae, a group of ancient crocodiles that thrived in coastal and marine environments. The species highlights Egypt's Western Desert as a cradle of marine croc evolution.
Researchers have identified 21 bio-inclusions of ancient insect orders and plant fossils in Ecuador's Genoveva quarry, shedding light on a previously unknown ecosystem. The discovery provides a unique snapshot of the Cretaceous era and its biodiversity in the Southern Hemisphere.
Researchers found signs of osteomyelitis in sauropod fossils from the Cretaceous period, suggesting a fatal bone disease that killed animals quickly. The study identified three previously unknown manifestations of osteomyelitis and provides insights into the environment that favored pathogens.
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.
A new species of pterosaur, Nipponopterus mifunensis, has been discovered in Japan, providing crucial insight into the diversity and evolution of pterosaurs in East Asia. The fossil, found in the Mifune Group geological formation, features striking characteristics not seen in any previously known species.
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.
Scientists have discovered a 113-million-year-old hell ant fossil in Brazil, representing the earliest undisputable geological record of ants. The find showcases highly specialized anatomical features, suggesting unique hunting behaviors in ancient insects.
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.
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.
Paleontologists re-evaluate fossil records and discover a previously unknown predatory dinosaur species, Tameryraptor markgrafi, with significant differences from Carcharodontosaurus. The new findings suggest a more diverse dinosaur fauna in North Africa than previously thought.
Researchers found that thalattosuchian sinuses reduced during semi-aquatic phases and then diminished further as they became fully aquatic. This allowed them to develop extracranial sinuses, which might have helped drain salt glands and alleviate 'encrustation' problems.
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 have discovered that some pterosaurs flew by flapping their wings while others soared like vultures. The new findings were made possible by the discovery of remarkably well-preserved fossils in Jordan, including a species with a five-meter wingspan and unique internal structures.
Australian researchers have identified a new species of ancient 'echidnapus', which exhibits platypus-like anatomy alongside echidna-like features. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary history of monotremes, revealing six different egg-laying mammals living together in the same area over 100 million years ago.
A groundbreaking scientific drilling project has unearthed the world's longest geological record of the Cretaceous period, spanning over 50 million years. The project, led by Professor Wang Chengshan, has provided crucial insights into paleoclimate research and will continue to aid in predicting future climate trends.
A breakthrough discovery has found a well-preserved juvenile Gorgosaurus skeleton with stomach contents that provide insight into the diet and ecological niches of Tyrannosauridae as they grow. The findings suggest that juvenile tyrannosaurs primarily preyed on small dinosaurs, differing from their adult counterparts.
Researchers have discovered a series of bird footprints from the Early Cretaceous period in Victoria, Australia, indicating that diverse birds lived in southern polar environments during this time. The discovery provides new insights into the distribution and dispersal of early birds across landmasses.
A research team led by the University of Göttingen has discovered fossil spines that indicate the existence of irregular echinoids in the deep sea for at least 104 million years. The study provides insights into the past, including a mass extinction event that caused smaller species to thrive and changes in spine morphology.
Two new species of primitive carnivorous dinosaurs, belonging to the Abelisauridae family, have been discovered in Morocco. The findings suggest that dinosaurs thrived in North Africa until their mass extinction by an asteroid 66 million years ago, providing a diverse picture of African dinosaurs from the end of the age of dinosaurs.
Paleontologists discovered a tiny fossil mammal that thrived in Arctic conditions 73 million years ago. The 'ice mouse', weighing only 11 grams, likely weathered four months of winter darkness and freezing temperatures.
Two studies by UPV/EHU researchers analyze recent and past oceanographic information off the Basque coast based on microfauna present in sediments. The research found that planktonic foraminifera assemblages are good indicators of ocean currents and water masses reaching the Basque continental shelf today.
A new species of dinosaur, Iani smithi, has been discovered in Utah's Cedar Mountain Formation, providing insights into how dinosaurs weathered ecological change during the mid-Cretaceous period. The discovery suggests that several major groups of dinosaurs survived into the early Late Cretaceous despite the changes.
A new spinosaurid dinosaur species, Protathlitis cinctorrensis, has been identified in Spain, revealing insights into the evolutionary history of medium-to-large bodied spinosaurids. The discovery estimates the specimen to be around 10-11 meters long and suggests that spinosaurids may have originated in Europe before migrating to Afric...
Researchers used computer simulations to understand the formation of new subduction zones and the development of the Caribbean large igneous province. The study found that simultaneous subduction of two plates led to a major mantle flow, triggering the formation of a plume and extensive magmatic activity.
A recent geological study has confirmed that major changes in the global carbon cycle occurred on land during the early Cretaceous Period, matching those recorded in marine sedimentary rocks. The research, led by Matt Joeckel of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, used chemical and radioactivity-based analyses to find evidence of two d...
A team of researchers at Kyoto University found that the brown lemur is responsible for regenerating large fruit trees in Madagascar's Ankarafantsika National Park. The study shows that lemur seed dispersal can lead to a 1.5% survival rate of seeds, contributing significantly to forest diversity.
A fossil plant from California has shed light on the evolution of flowering plants, pushing back their origins by 80 million years. The discovery indicates that structurally complex rainforests may have existed as early as the Cretaceous period.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE reveals the discovery of 92 fossilized egg nests belonging to titanosaurs, some of India's largest dinosaurs. The finds provide insights into the reproductive habits and nesting behaviors of these prehistoric creatures, shedding light on their lives shortly before they went extinct.
Researchers have uncovered a rare piece of evidence showing Microraptor, a small feathered dinosaur, ate mammals. The preserved gut contents contain the foot of a small mammal, providing conclusive proof of a diverse diet for this species.
Australian scientists confirm that Theria (placental and marsupial mammals) evolved in Gondwana 50 million years ago before migrating to Asia. The discovery challenges long-held theories of mammal evolution.
A new species of herbivore, Transylvanosaurus platycephalus, has been revealed with a remarkably flat head. The discovery challenges the assumption that Europe had low diversity during the Late Cretaceous period.
Scientists discovered that the first complex, multicellular life forms on Earth were wiped out 550 million years ago due to oxygen loss in the oceans. The researchers used nearly every known Ediacaran animal's environment and habits to disprove previous explanations for their disappearance.
Fossils of ostrich-like dinosaurs from Mississippi provide valuable insights into the diversity and distribution of North American ornithomimosaurs. The discovery reveals that these dinosaurs lived side-by-side with multiple species, including giant body sizes weighing over 800kg.
A new study suggests that massive volcanic eruptions were the primary cause of mass extinctions, including the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. The research found a strong temporal connection between flood basalt eruptions and significant climatic events.
Researchers have discovered a massive new mosasaur species from Morocco, named Thalassotitan atrox, which filled the apex predator niche. The giant mosasaur had massive jaws and teeth like those of killer whales and hunted other marine reptiles.
Paleontologist Kevin Padian suggests that T. rex's short arms evolved to prevent accidental or intentional amputation during pack feeding, a behavior thought to be common among the species. This hypothesis proposes that the reduced forelimbs provided an adaptive advantage by reducing the risk of injury during intense feeding interactions.
A massive volcanic eruption at the end of the Triassic period caused a global cooling effect, leading to the mass extinction. The event paved the way for the rise of dinosaurs as their natural predators went extinct.
A newly described softshell turtle, Hutchemys walkerorum, lived in North Dakota 66.5 million years ago, surviving the end-Cretaceous mass extinction alongside Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. The find sheds light on the evolution of softshell turtles during this period.
A new species of stegosaur, Bashanosaurus primitivus, has been discovered in China, dating back to the Middle Jurassic period, around 168 million years ago. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of stegosaurs and suggests that they may have originated in Asia.
Ants have evolved a unique division of labor for over 100 million years, with fossil discoveries providing the first evidence of cooperative behavior in the early Cretaceous period. The study describes two new species of extinct ants, revealing intricate details about their anatomy and social structure.
A new plant species was discovered based on the presence of distinctive fruit capsules that likely exploded to disperse their seeds. The fossils were found in India's Deccan Traps, a complex mosaic of basalt rocks leftover from volcanic eruptions that lasted up to 1 million years.
The fossil of Callichimaera perplexa boasts remarkably large eyes that grow throughout development, unlike most crab species. Its exceptional vision suggests it was a highly visual, swimming predator.
A new marine reptile fossil from 130-million-year-old rocks in Colombia has revealed a unique dentition allowing it to eat large prey. The discovery clarifies the evolutionary tree of ichthyosaurs and tests new ideas on their evolution.
A new genus and species of iguanodontian dinosaur, Brighstoneus simmondsi, has been discovered on the Isle of Wight. The herbivorous dinosaur is estimated to be around 8 meters in length and weigh 900kg.
The discovery of two new species, a skink and a fish, sheds light on the variety of animals inhabiting North America during the Early Cretaceous Period. The findings confirm that North America had limited faunal diversity during this time, with many species similar to those found in other regions.
A newly discovered ancient crab fossil, Cretapsara athanata, has shed new light on the evolution of crabs. The 100 million-year-old fossil, found in amber, provides evidence that crabs transitioned to land around 100 million years ago, bridging a previously unknown gap in their evolutionary history.
A CT scan of an ancient reptile skull found nearly identical to one from much older elasmosaurids, indicating minimal evolutionary change over 22 million years. The discovery challenges the notion that such species would undergo significant changes in their morphology over extended periods.
Researchers analyzed ankylosaurid skeleton from Mongolia's Baruungoyot Formation, finding evidence of adaptations for digging. The discovery sheds light on the behavior and habits of these ancient creatures.
Scientists studied fossil vertebrae of a giant teenage shark, discovering it grew to 4-7m and lived 30 years. This rare find suggests ptychodontid sharks may have faced environmental changes that led to their demise.
A new species of dromaeosaurid, Dineobellator notohesperus, has been discovered in the Ojo Alamo Formation in New Mexico. The dinosaur's unique features, including curved vertebrae near the base of its tail, suggest increased agility and improved predation success.
A new hadrosaur species, Kamuysaurus japonicus, discovered in Japan's Hakobuchi Formation, reveals insights into hadrosaur diversity and evolution during the Late Cretaceous Period. The 72-million-year-old specimen showcases unique features, such as a small crest and forward-pointing neural spines.