Fossils

‘Last titan’: Southeast Asia’s biggest dinosaur discovered

Toothed platypuses swam with dolphins 25 million years ago

Fossils of a toothed platypus species, Obdurodon insignis, reveal that it lived 25 million years ago in a diverse ecosystem with other animals like lungfish, dolphins, and flamingos. The discovery provides new insights into the evolutionary history of modern platypuses.

Giant ichthyosaur with injuries discovered in Northern Bavaria, Germany

The fossil discovery of a giant ichthyosaur with injuries in Northern Bavaria has provided new insights into the species' anatomy and behavior. The animal's modified skeleton, likely caused by injuries, suggests that it may have had to change its diet to survive.

Researchers discover the fossil of a new hamster-sized mammal that lived alongside dinosaurs on the Pacific Coast

A new species of hamster-sized mammal, Cimolodon desosai, has been discovered in the Upper Cretaceous El Gallo Formation of Baja California. The fossil, estimated to be 75 million years old, was found alongside dinosaur fossils and provides insights into the survival strategies of early mammals.

Giant octopuses may have ruled the oceans 100 million years ago

Early octopuses were gigantic predators that hunted at the top of the food web, alongside large marine vertebrates. They had powerful jaws with extensive wear marks, indicating a strong biting force and aggressive feeding strategy.

Researchers identify new jellyfish species in fossils near Quebec City

Researchers have discovered a new species of basal medusozoan, Paleocanna tentaculum, in fossil specimens found in Saint-Joachim, Quebec. The ancient creature, closely related to modern jellyfish, is a rare find due to the limited preservation of soft-bodied organisms.

150-year-old museum specimen revealed as missing link in evolution of ancient fish

A new species of coelacanth has been identified from a 150-year-old fossil, bridging a 50-million-year gap in the evolutionary history of Latimeriidae. The discovery was made using modern imaging techniques and has provided crucial insights into the evolution of one of the world's most iconic fish lineages.

Student identifies new meat-eating dinosaur three times older than T. rex

A Virginia Tech student's discovery of a rare, ancient meat-eating dinosaur sheds light on the evolution and spread of dinosaurs during the Jurassic period. The species, Ptychotherates bucculentus, had massive cheekbones and a short snout, indicating constant evolution in early dinosaurs.

Breathing and moving in the ancient world of reptiles: What a mummified 289-million-year-old reptile can reveal about us today

A 289-million-year-old mummified reptile has provided scientists with a unique window into the evolution of breathing and movement in ancient reptiles. The study found that the reptile's respiratory system is similar to that of modern reptiles, birds, and mammals, suggesting an efficient mechanism for respiration.

Spectacular fossil treasure trove pushes back origins of complex animals

A newly discovered fossil site in southwest China reveals that many key animal groups evolved before the start of the Cambrian Period. The study found fossils of ancestors of modern starfish, sea cucumbers, and chordates, pushing back the timeline of complex animal life by at least 4 million years.

A 500-million-year-old clawed predator rewrites the origin of spiders and horseshoe crabs

A 500-million-year-old fossil reveals the earliest known chelicerate with a claw, pushing back the evolutionary history of chelicerates by 20 million years. This discovery sheds light on the assembly of the chelicerate body plan and their early ecological context.

Announcing T.R.A.C.I.N.G. Palaeontology 2027: How to improve the protection of palaeontological heritage

The project brings together eight perspectives to develop tools for documentation, legal clarity and traceability, supporting lawful activity and enforcement.

New ice age animals and slice of earth history found in central Texas water cave

A team of paleontologists has uncovered fossilized remains of giant tortoises, armadillos, and other Ice Age animals in a Central Texas water cave. The discovery, published in Quaternary Research, provides new insights into the region's past environment and animal community.

Fossil X-ray reveals new species of baby dino named for iconic Korean cartoon

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.

Hunted by neanderthals: Giant elephants traveled hundreds of kilometers across ice-age europe

Researchers analyzed the teeth of four European straight-tusked elephants, discovering they migrated up to 300km before reaching their final habitat. The study suggests organized hunting and cooperation between Neanderthals and the elephants.

“Peculiar” ancient ancestor of the crocodile started life on four legs in adolescence before it began walking on two

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.

3.67 million year old fossil, Little Foot, gets a virtual facelift

A digital reconstruction of Little Foot's face reveals surprising similarities with Ethiopian fossils, challenging previous assumptions about early human evolution. The study sheds light on the diversity of fossil hominin faces across Africa and highlights the importance of the face in understanding primate adaptation and interaction.

Miniscule fossil discovery reveals fresh clues into the evolution of the earliest-known relative of all primates

The discovery of miniscule Purgatorius fossils in Colorado provides fresh insights into the evolution of the earliest-known relative of all primates. The find suggests that archaic primates originated in the north and spread southward, diversifying soon after the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period.

This ancient plant-eater had a twisted jaw and sideways-facing teeth

The discovery of Tanyka's fossilized jawbone provides insights into the evolution of tetrapods. With its twisted jaw and sideways-facing teeth, Tanyka is a living fossil from an ancient lineage that thought had gone extinct.

Scientists lay out what we do and don’t yet know about moths and butterflies

Researchers shed light on moths & butterflies' evolution, conservation needs, and diverse feeding habits. Discoveries suggest that these insects obtained plant-digesting abilities from fungi, while mandibled moths were once more diverse but largely extinct.

Vertebrate paleontology has a numbers problem. Computer vision can help

A new study finds that fewer than 250 fossils are required to train an image-based AI algorithm, a significant improvement on previously thought numbers. The discovery could greatly speed up the identification process in vertebrate paleontology, where most fossils are fragmented and difficult to analyze.

‘Tiny’ dinosaur, big impact: 90-million-year-old fossil rewrites history

A nearly complete skeleton of Alnashetri cerropoliciensis has been discovered in Argentina, providing the first evidence of this enigmatic group of dinosaur. The fossil's age and anatomy reveal that these tiny animals existed when the continents were still connected as Pangaea.

Globe-trotting ancient ‘sea-salamander’ fossils rediscovered from Australia’s dawn of the Age of Dinosaurs

Fossils from the Lower Triassic of Western Australia confirm a cryptic marine temnospondyl community, showing that earliest sea monsters adapted to life in the sea and radiated rapidly into various ecological niches. The discovery also reveals worldwide dispersal of these ancient animals across supercontinents.

Look again! Those wrinkly rocks may actually be a fossilized microbial community

Researchers propose a new explanation for wrinkly textures in rocks, suggesting that microbes lived in deepwater environments and used chemosynthetic energy. This finding could lead to a reevaluation of fossil records and the classification of ancient formations.

Ancient fish ear stones reveal modern Caribbean reefs have lost their dietary complexity

A new study finds that food chains on modern Caribbean coral reefs are 60-70% shorter than they were 7,000 years ago. Individual fish have lost dietary specialization, leading to a compression of the distance between different trophic levels.

Football-sized fossil creature may have been one of the first land animals to eat its veggies

Scientists discovered a 307-million-year-old fossil of an early land vertebrate that evolved to eat plants, challenging previous assumptions about the origins of herbivory. The 'tyrant digger' had tough teeth on its roof and probably ate smaller animals along with vegetation.

UT San Antonio-led research team discovers compound in 500-million-year-old fossils, shedding new light on Earth’s carbon cycle

A UT San Antonio-led research team identified chitin in trilobite fossils over 500 million years old, offering new insights into fossil preservation and the long-term carbon cycle. This discovery has significant implications for understanding how organic carbon is stored in Earth's crust over geologic time.

The earliest known bird had complex tongue bones and fleshy “teeth” on the roof of its mouth—which might have helped it snag the food it needed for flight

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.

Baby dinosaurs a common prey for Late Jurassic predators

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.

A lost world: Ancient cave reveals million-year-old wildlife

Scientists have uncovered a treasure trove of 12 million-year-old bird and four frog species in a New Zealand cave, shedding light on the continent's ancient history. The findings suggest that catastrophic climate changes and volcanic eruptions led to frequent extinctions, with around 33-50% of species disappearing before human arrival.

Huayuan biota decodes Earth’s first Phanerozoic mass extinction

The Huayuan biota provides a rare snapshot of ancient ecosystems following the Sinsk Event mass extinction, featuring diverse animal species, complex food webs, and fully functional biological carbon pump mechanisms. The discovery sheds light on transoceanic dispersal events and refugia for faunal migration during this critical post-ex...

Fossils reveal ‘latitudinal traps’ that increased extinction risk for marine species

Researchers found that animals living on convoluted coastlines were more likely to go extinct than those living on north-south orientated coastlines. This study provides new insight into patterns of biodiversity distribution throughout Earth history and highlights the importance of coastline geometry for survival during climate change.

Unleashing floods: Researchers learn more about how fossils form

A new study at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities investigates how floodwaters transport and bury animal bones to understand fossil formation. The research provides clues for understanding animal extinction and environmental changes.

Early hominins from Morocco reveal an African lineage near the root of Homo sapiens

The study of new hominin fossils from Thomas Quarry I in Morocco reveals an African population near the base of the Homo sapiens lineage. The 773,000-year-old fossils provide insights into the shared ancestry of H. sapiens, Neandertals, and Denisovans.

Prehistoric elephant footprints documented for first time in fossil dunes in Murcia

A study has identified fossilized vertebrate footprints from the Quaternary period in fossil dune deposits in Murcia, attributed to the straight-tusked elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus. The trackway found at Torre de Cope suggests an adult elephant about 2.3 meters tall and weighing around 2.6 tonnes.

New fossil study illuminates on the evolutionary success of frogs

A new study has found that frogs have preserved their skin and eye structure over millions of years, with melanosomes showing similar shapes in fossil and modern specimens. This suggests that some species are maintaining ancestral traits instead of evolving new ones.

Metabolic analyses of animal fossils helps scientists reconstruct million-year-old environments

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.

These fossils were the perfect home for ancient baby bees

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.

Ancient manatee relative reveals that sea cows have engineered the Arabian Gulf’s seagrass ecosystems for over 20 million years

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.

Museums staff overwhelmingly in favor of behind-the-scenes tours

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.

This fossil bird choked to death on rocks, and no one knows why

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.

New study confirms Nanotyrannus holotype was distinct species from T. rex

A new study using hyoid bone analysis has confirmed that Nanotyrannus was a distinct species from T. rex, with the fossil standing at 18 feet tall compared to the massive 40-foot long T. rex. The findings provide conclusive evidence for the existence of Nanotyrannus and shed light on its growth patterns and ecosystem dynamics.

‘Free-range’ dinosaur parenting may have created surprisingly diverse ancient ecosystems

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.

Return of the short (tyrant) king: A new paper by Dinosaur Institute researcher shows Nanotyrannus was not a juvenile T. Rex

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.

‘You don’t need a big brain to fly’ and other lessons from the first flying reptiles

Researchers used CT scans to study brain cavities in ancient reptiles and found that pterosaurs had relatively small brains compared to birds. The study suggests that flight evolved independently in these groups without requiring significant brain changes.

Fossils reveal anacondas have been giants for over 12 million years

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.

New research by ASU paleoanthropologists gives valuable insight into how two ancient human ancestors coexisted in the same area

Researchers assign a hominin foot fossil from Lucy's time to a different species, providing evidence that two ancient human ancestors coexisted in the same region. The Burtele foot belongs to A. deyiremeda, which retained an opposable big toe for climbing but likely pushed off with its second digit on two legs.

Evolving a flight-ready brain – New study shows brain evolution in pterosaurs and birds took different paths

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.

Oldest modern shark mega-predator swam off Australia during the age of dinosaurs

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.

Cleveland’s famous sea monster gets a scientific update

A new study reveals that Dunkleosteus was an oddball among ancient armored fishes, with a cartilage-heavy skull and unexpected feeding behavior. The research places Dunkleosteus in proper evolutionary context, highlighting the diversity of arthrodire groups.

Ancient ‘animal GPS system’ identified in magnetic fossils

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.

Advanced imaging reveals new fungus species in 407-million-year-old plant fossil from Scotland

Researchers have identified a new species of ancient symbiotic fungus preserved within a 407-million-year-old plant fossil from Scotland. The discovery provides unprecedented three-dimensional insight into one of the earliest known plant–fungus partnerships, known as mycorrhiza.

Newly discovered predatory “warrior” was a precursor of the crocodile – and although it lived before the early dinosaurs, it looked just like one

A newly discovered carnivorous lizard, Tainrakuasuchus bellator, lived 240 million years ago and resembled a dinosaur due to its armour-plated body. The species was among the top predators of its time in Brazil during the Triassic Period.

Scientists discover chameleon’s telephone-cord-like optic nerves once overlooked by Aristotle and Newton

Chameleons have two long, coiled optic nerves that enable their remarkable ability to look in two different directions at once. Researchers used CT scanning technology to visualize the hidden structure, revealing a unique trait not seen in any other lizard.

Space dust reveals Arctic ice conditions before satellite imaging

Researchers analyzed sediment cores from three sites in the Arctic, finding that year-round ice coverage corresponded with less cosmic dust. This study suggests that tracking cosmic dust can help predict changes to sea ice coverage and understand warming trends.

Half-billion-year-old parasite still threatens shellfish

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.

Nanotyrannus confirmed: Dueling dinosaurs fossil rewrites the story of T. rex

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.

Palaeontology: How ammolite gemstones get their vivid colours

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 uncover oldest 3D burrow systems in Hubei's Shibantan Biota

Researchers uncovered the oldest known complex three-dimensional burrow systems in Hubei's Shibantan Biota, dating back approximately 550 million years. These trace fossils show that complex animal behaviors emerged nearly 10 million years earlier than previously thought.

Earliest long-snouted fossil crocodile from Egypt reveals the African origins of seagoing crocs

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.