Articles tagged with Fossils
A team of researchers, led by Jordan Crowell and Stephen Chester, used modern CT scan technology to analyze the only known preserved picrodontid skull, revealing that they are not closely related to primates. The study highlights the importance of revisiting old specimens with updated techniques to examine them.
Researchers have found evidence that Nanotyrannus lancensis is a separate species from Tyrannosaurus rex, with narrower jaws, longer legs, and bigger arms. The new analysis suggests these animals were nearly full-grown when they died, with estimates suggesting they reached 900-1500 kilograms and five metres in size.
Researchers find complex microbial communities forming giant mounds of rock in a harsh desert environment, resembling ancient stromatolites. The discovery provides an unprecedented look at the earliest stages of life on Earth and may hold clues about life on Mars.
Researchers uncover 10 new trilobite species in Thai sanctuary, shedding light on Cambrian-Ordovician period and connecting Thailand to parts of Australia. The discovery helps date the age of fossils and better understand global geography.
A new fossil assemblage in Brazil has added to the complexity of classifying silesaurid phylogeny, a family of dinosauriforms that lived during the Triassic period. The study suggests that these animals were part of the evolutionary history of dinosaurs, but their classification remains uncertain due to ambiguous anatomy.
Researchers recreated ancient seawater to study nutrient availability, finding a preference for metals like manganese and molybdenum. Greenalite formation removed zinc, copper, and vanadium from seawater, matching the metal choices of early lifeforms.
Frogs from the genus Eleutherodactylus are geologically the oldest Caribbean vertebrates to be found in Florida. They arrived in North America much earlier than previously thought, with evidence suggesting they reached the peninsula through overwater dispersal on flotsam or other buoyant debris.
Researchers have successfully engineered a soft robotic replica of a 450-million-year-old marine organism, pleurocystitid, to better understand its biomechanical factors and locomotion. The study introduces the field of Paleobionics, which uses Softbotics to explore evolution and animal design.
The new species of mosasaur, named after the Norse sea serpent Jormungandr, is estimated to be around 24 feet long and has a mosaic of features seen in two iconic mosasaurs. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary history of these aquatic lizards and provides new insights into their relationships with other reptiles.
A team of scientists discovered that the Malvinoxhosan biota, a group of extinct shellfish, declined in numbers due to rising sea levels and warming climate. The research suggests that these changes led to a collapse in polar ecosystems, highlighting the vulnerability of environments to environmental shifts.
Researchers discovered early Cambrian microfossils preserving introvert musculature of cycloneuralians, a group of animals that include roundworms and horsehair worms. The preserved musculature consists of four groups of muscles, differing from basal animals in terms of topology.
Researchers found preserved molecular fragments of the pigment phaeomelanin in 10-million-year-old frog fossils, which could help reconstruct ancient animal colors. This discovery may be a first step towards understanding the evolution of toxic phaeomelanin.
New research reveals similarities between dinosaurs and birds in terms of protein composition in their feathers. Analysis of fossil feathers from Sinornithosaurus and Confuciusornis showed beta-proteins, similar to those found in modern bird feathers.
A 455-million-year-old fossil fish provides a new perspective on how vertebrates evolved to protect their brains. The ancient jawless fish has a unique skull with separate cartilages encasing the brain, filling a gap in the evolutionary history of the vertebrate skull.
Scientists discovered a new species of small plant-eating dinosaur, Vectidromeus insularis, on the Isle of Wight, which is the second member of the hypsilophodont family found on the island. The discovery suggests that Europe had its own distinct family of small herbivorous dinosaurs, unlike those found in Asia and North America.
A 265-million-year-old fossil discovery in Brazil yields the oldest and largest known predator in South America, predating the rise of dinosaurs. The exquisitely preserved Pampaphoneus biccai had a skull over 40cm long and sharp canine teeth adapted for capturing prey.
A 2020 excavation at Auckland's Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant yielded an unprecedented 266 fossil species, including the world's oldest known flax snails and extinct sawshark spine. The discovery provides valuable insights into New Zealand's geological history.
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.
A new fossil ape named Anadoluvius turkae, discovered in Türkiye, pushes the origin of African apes and humans from Europe to Asia. The findings suggest that hominines evolved in western and central Europe before migrating to Africa.
Researchers discovered the largest known single dinosaur track site in Alaska, dubbed 'The Coliseum', which contains layer upon layer of prints preserved in rock. The site provides a unique record of multiple species of dinosaurs thriving in Interior Alaska nearly 70 million years ago.
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.
A team of scientists led by University of Alaska Fairbanks geology professor Sarah Fowell are collecting samples from beneath the sea floor to learn about vegetation and climate of region 25,000 years ago. The project will be shared via digital and social media channels.
A new species of armored reptile, Mambachiton, shows that the precursor to dinosaurs and pterosaurs had bony plates on its backbone, indicating that armor was ancestrally present in bird-line archosaurs. The loss and re-evolution of armor is an important aspect of dinosaur evolution.
New research by University College Cork scientists finds that pterosaurs had nurturing parental style but only in larger species. The study suggests that smaller pterosaurs did not practice parental care due to the limitations of egg size.
A new study reveals that Megalodon, the iconic extinct shark, was not as fast as believed but had a mega-appetite that explained its gigantism. The discovery of tiny scales found in rock pieces surrounding fossil teeth suggests that Megalodon used its warm-bloodedness to promote visceral food processing and absorb nutrients.
Researchers reveal that Anomalocaris canadensis was likely a speedy swimmer targeting soft prey in the open water, rather than pursuing hard-shelled creatures on the ocean floor. The study's findings contradict previous assumptions about the predator's feeding behavior and highlight the complexity of Cambrian food webs.
Scientists have discovered the first known Jurassic vertebrate fossils in Texas, filling a significant gap in the state's fossil record. The fossils belong to a plesiosaur, an extinct marine reptile that roamed the region about 150 million years ago.
A new study published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution suggests that animals first evolved around 574 million years ago. The researchers used advanced analytical techniques to investigate preservation conditions in Cambrian and Neoproterozoic rocks, finding that certain clays were essential for capturing early animal fossils.
Researchers have identified cut marks on a fossil leg bone that suggest butchery and likely cannibalism by humans' close evolutionary relatives around 1.45 million years ago. The analysis of 3D models revealed nine clear matches for stone tool damage, which was found to be located in areas suitable for removing flesh.
A team of researchers has discovered a nearly complete side-necked turtle fossil in the UK, dating back to the Lower Cretaceous period around 127 million years ago. The fossil was radiometrically dated using a new technique and provided valuable insights into its structure and composition.
A study using digital reconstructions of Australopithecus afarensis muscles suggests that the 3.2 million-year-old 'Lucy' hominin could walk upright as efficiently as modern humans. The research, published in Royal Society Open Science, used open-source data on Lucy's fossil to create a detailed model of her lower body muscle structure.
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...
A new species of mosasaur, Stelladens mysteriosus, has been discovered in Morocco with star-shaped 'screwdriver teeth'. The unique arrangement suggests a specialised feeding strategy or diet, but the exact prey remains unclear. This find adds to evidence that mosasaurs were evolving rapidly before their extinction 66 million years ago.
A new Ordovician eurypterid, Archopterus anjiensis, has been found in the Wenchang Formation of Anji County, Zhejiang Province. The discovery is significant for understanding early evolution of eurypterids in Gondwana.
Researchers discovered that Obamus coronatus, a half-inch long Ediacaran animal, preferred to live on specific parts of the sea floor in the company of other Obamus. This finding shows that even without modern descendants, ancient animals could exhibit sophisticated behavior and habitat selection.
Researchers found that golden fossils from Germany's Posidonia shale are primarily made up of phosphate minerals, hinting at the presence of oxygen in the environment. The discovery suggests that oxygen played a crucial role in driving chemical reactions needed for fossilization.
Researchers use 3D imaging technology to study Tully monsters and reject vertebrate hypothesis, but uncertainty remains about its exact classification as an invertebrate chordate or protostome. The study sheds light on the challenges of piecing together Earth's evolutionary history and highlights the importance of Mazon Creek fossils.
Recent studies published in Science have reconstructed early ape fossil sites in eastern Africa, showing a wide range of habitats existed before the emergence of bipedalism. Researchers gathered thousands of fossil remains and data to redefine the ancient environments.
Researchers discovered two new species of extinct bats, Icaronycteris index and Icaronycteris gunnelli, in Wyoming fossils dating back 52 million years. The findings support the idea that bats diversified rapidly across multiple continents during this time.
A new 52 million-year-old bat species has been discovered in Wyoming, shedding light on Eocene chiropteran diversification. The oldest known bat skeleton, this find provides valuable insights into the evolution of bats.
A research team from Germany, Austria, Canada, and the USA analyzed Troodon eggshells using a new method, revealing that they were produced at temperatures of 42°C and 30°C. The findings suggest that Troodon females laid eggs in communal nests, similar to modern ostriches.
Scientists studied how the marsupial sabertooth's wide-set eyes and large canines affected its vision, finding that it could achieve about 70% visual field overlap through morphological compensation. This allowed it to be a successful active predator despite having orbits not favorably positioned for 3D vision.
A new study reveals that the earliest fossils of Bryozoans, a group of tentacle-bearing animals, are actually green algae from China. The discovery suggests that evolution continued over a longer period after the Cambrian explosion and challenges conventional theories about the origins of animal life.
A team of paleontologists has discovered that countless sea anemone fossils were misinterpreted as jellyfish due to their soft bodies. However, when re-examined with a new perspective, the fossils were found to be anemones, showcasing the importance of fresh thinking in fossil interpretation.
Researchers used nearly half a million fossils to solve a 200-year-old mystery about the distribution of species on Earth. They found that the modern-day diversity gradient may have arisen from the steepening of the latitudinal temperature gradient, promoting more ecological niches in tropical regions.
Researchers studied pollen data from North America's Neotoma Paleoecology Database to understand plant migration patterns and climate fidelity. Most plant species have exhibited long-term climate loyalty over the past 18,000 years, while some plants adapt locally in response to climate change.
A new study has uncovered a nearly complete specimen of the ancient 'marine crocodile', Turnersuchus hingleyae, from the Early Jurassic period in Dorset, UK. The find provides crucial insights into thalattosuchian evolution and origin, suggesting that these creatures likely emerged around 15 million years earlier than previously thought.
Researchers analyzed ancient teeth from Homo erectus and great apes to reveal annual cycles in tooth enamel, providing insights into their diets and seasonal food supplies. The study shows that humans and great apes had distinct dietary patterns, with humans exhibiting less pronounced peaks and lower Sr/Ca values.
A fossilized flower, dated to 40 million years ago, was found encased in amber. The rare flower is believed to be from an ancient evergreen plant related to the Asian species Symplocos.
A study in Patagonia has uncovered fossils of theropod dinosaurs, including megaraptors with large sickle-like claws, and bird species from two distinct groups. These finds shed light on the diversity of ancient life in Patagonia before the mass extinction event.
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.
A team of scientists found evidence that 37 ichthyosaurs died in the same location, suggesting they were migrating to give birth over hundreds of thousands of years. Geochemical tests revealed no signs of environmental disturbance or mass stranding events, pointing to a more plausible explanation for their demise.
The discovery of two new palaeoscolecid worm species, Anguiscolex africanus and Wronascolex superstes, sheds light on the Ordovician period's marine life. The worms are found to be significantly larger than previously recorded specimens, hinting at 'polar gigantism' in response to Morocco's geographical location during that time.
Scientists have solved a decades-long puzzle about why ancient tetrapod fossils in Ireland's Jarrow Assemblage had their internal bone structure altered. The team used CT scans and laser ablation to analyze the chemistry of the bones, finding evidence of superheated fluids that cooked and melted the bones.
A new species of ancient bird, Janavis finalidens, has been found with a mobile beak, challenging the long-held assumption that modern birds evolved from a 'ancient jaw' group. The fossil shows a fused palate bone, similar to those of ostriches and their relatives.
A new egg species, Ramoprismatoolithus okurai, has been identified from Early Cretaceous fossil eggshell fragments found in Japan. The analysis of the eggshell fragments and impressions suggests an affinity with the troodontids, a group of small non-avian theropod dinosaurs.
A new study on a 525-million-year-old fossil has shed light on the origin and composition of arthropod heads, resolving a century-old debate. The discovery of a delicately preserved nervous system in the fossil of Cardiodictyon catenulum, a tiny sea creature, suggests that the brain and trunk nervous system evolved separately.
Researchers digitally reconstructed a Jeholornis skull, shedding light on its vision and sense of smell. The study found that Jeholornis had a larger olfactory bulb than modern birds, suggesting it relied heavily on its sense of smell.
Researchers analyzed high-resolution photos of SUE's jaw with healed breaks in other fossil skeletons and compared them to trepanation holes made by Inca surgeons. The study found that SUE's injuries were consistent with these examples, suggesting the animal survived long enough for bones to begin repairing themselves.
The discovery of fossil repositories in early Silurian strata sheds light on the rise of jawed vertebrates and fills gaps in the evolution of 'from fish to human'. Fossilized fishes from southwestern China provide a unique window into the proliferating 'dawn of fishes' around 440 million years ago.