Articles tagged with Fossils
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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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
A team of scientists uncovered fossilized remains of galeaspids, a type of jawless fish that breathed new life into the long-standing fin and limb evolutionary hypothesis. The fossils revealed paired fins extending from head to tail, contradicting previous assumptions of their absence.
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.
A 518-million-year-old fossilized worm named Wufengella has shed light on the evolution of three major animal groups: brachiopods, phoronids, and bryozoans. The discovery reveals that these ancient animals shared a common ancestor with segmented worms.
A new analysis suggests that bird-hipped dinosaurs evolved from silesaurs, which were first identified two decades ago. The study reveals a 25-million-year gap in the fossil record, but provides insight into the early evolution of ornithischians.
Scientists discover Opisthiamimus gregori, a new extinct species of lizard-like reptile that lived in Jurassic North America alongside dinosaurs. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of rhynchocephalians, an order that diverged from lizards over 230 million years ago.
Paleontologists at Tübingen University's Senckenberg Centre have discovered a previously unknown genus and species of dinosaur, Tuebingosaurus maierfritzorum. The herbivore lived in the Swabian Alb region from 203 to 211 million years ago, displaying similarities with large long-necked sauropods.
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.
Research team analyzed hundreds of new fossil specimens to clarify the anatomy and evolutionary affinity of Saccorhytus. They found evidence supporting its classification as an ecdysozoan, including a terminal mouth, cuticle integument, and radially arranged circumoral structures common to Cambrian and extant ecdysozoans.
Scientists discovered that an early bird species called Jeholornis ate fruits and seeds, helping plants dominate the world today. The bird's skull shape and stomach contents showed evidence of a seasonal diet with whole fruits during fruit season.
A team of UNLV-led researchers questions the hypothesis that modern humans experienced an evolutionary decrease in brain size during the transition to complex societies. They analyzed a dataset of early human fossil and museum specimens, finding no reduction in brain size over 30,000 years.
Scientists found parasite eggs in coprolites of giant short-faced hyena Pachycrocuta, dating back 1.5-1.8 million years. This discovery suggests that toxocariasis was a widespread disease among extinct hyenas.
The New Mexico site provides conclusive evidence for early human settlement in North America, dating back to 36,250-38,900 years ago. The site's fossil record includes blunt-force fractures, bone flake knives, and signs of controlled fire, which were not typical of earlier archaeological sites.
A new study found that North American mammal communities have become more than twice as homogenous as they were 10,000 years ago, primarily due to early human hunting and farming activities. The accelerated homogenization is likely linked to the spate of large-mammal extinctions, which increased similarity among remaining species.
A new study found evidence that multituberculates, an extinct group of mammals, likely reproduced in a placental-like manner. This discovery questions the long-held idea that marsupials were less advanced than placentals in terms of reproductive strategy.
Scientists used inner ear biomechanics to infer body temperatures in ancient mammals. Mammal ancestors didn't develop ideal inner ear structures for warm-bloodedness until 233 million years ago.
The Liexi Fauna discovery provides new evidence for the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, featuring a rich array of biomineralized fossils and non-mineralized tissues. The fauna reveals a flourishing Early Ordovician marine ecosystem with diverse organisms and varied lifestyles.
A Harvard researcher has been awarded a $1.1 million grant to study the evolution of aerial breathing in arthropods, exploring how they transitioned from water to land over 100 million years ago. The team aims to understand the role of atmospheric oxygen in facilitating this process and its impact on respiratory structures.
A new study reveals that Triassic dinosaur species endured freezing conditions due to their well-developed feathers. This adaptation allowed them to thrive in colder climates, while other reptiles perished. The discovery sheds light on the ecological rise of dinosaurs after the Triassic-Jurassic Extinction.
Researchers analyzed fossil corals to reveal changed ocean current circulation patterns. The data supports a scenario where the upper Pacific Ocean was more mixed during the last ice age, contributing to carbon storage and cooler climates.
Scientists have discovered evidence that yunnanozoans are the oldest known stem vertebrates, with cellular cartilages in the pharynx similar to those found in modern vertebrates. The team's findings support the evolutionary placement of yunnanozoans at the very basal part of the vertebrate tree of life.
A new giant dinosaur species has been discovered in Patagonia, providing insight into the evolution and biology of dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex. The research reveals that large carnivorous dinosaurs grew their skulls larger while their arms shortened over time.
Fossil frogs died during mating due to drowning as they were submerged by one or more males. The study suggests that the mating behaviours of modern frogs are ancient and have been in place for at least 45 million years.
Fossils from Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa reveal nearly four million years of hominin evolution. The new ages of Australopithecus-bearing deposits place the South African hominins as contemporaries of other early species, like Australopithecus afarensis, in east Africa.
Two new species of giant dwarf crocodiles, Kinyang mabokoensis and Kinyang tchernovi, were discovered in East Africa between 18 million and 15 million years ago. The ancient forms were massive predators that likely posed a significant threat to human ancestors.
Scientists found evidence of a vertebrate spiracle originating from fish gills in ancient Chinese fossils. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of the human middle ear and how it adapted to transport sound vibrations into the inner ear.
A new discovery in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has found the oldest known mayfly swarm, dating back to the Early Jurassic period. The finding reveals complex mating-swarm behavior in stem-group mayflies, highlighting the underappreciated ecological significance of insects in ancient ecosystems.
A new fossil discovery solves the giraffe evolutionary mystery by revealing that long necks evolved as a weapon in male courtship competition. The unique characteristics of the fossil, including its disc-like ossicone and complex joints, suggest an extreme adaptation for high-speed head-to-head impact.
A new study by an international collaboration of researchers highlights the legacy of colonialism in scientific practice across the Caribbean archipelago. The authors outline systemic issues related to perceptions and scientific practice, but also describe positive steps being taken in countries like Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas.