Articles tagged with Fossils
A study has discovered that humans are disrupting a fundamental pattern in ecosystems, which dates back at least 66 million years. The U-shaped relationship between diet and size in modern land mammals has been found to span across multiple vertebrate groups, including birds, reptiles, and fish.
Researchers at the University of Kansas discovered that microalgae-produced diatoms played a crucial role in preserving ancient spider fossils at Aix-en-Provence. The unique chemical process, similar to industrial vulcanization, stabilized carbon-based exoskeletons and promoted sulfurization, resulting in exceptional fossil preservation.
New research suggests diverse microbial life existed on Earth at least 3.75 billion years ago, dating back to a time when the planet was still forming. The study, led by UCL researchers, analyzed ancient rock formations and found evidence of complex structures that could not have been created through chemical reactions alone.
Scientists have discovered two complete ichthyosaur specimens from the Solnhofen area, preserving outer body shape and skin. The fossils, dated to around 150 million years old, provide new insights into the anatomy of these marine reptiles.
A new large early ichthyosauromorph, Baisesaurus robustus, has been discovered in the Lower Triassic rocks of Zhebao, Guangxi Province, extending its geographic distribution. The fossil is estimated to be around 3m long and shares similarities with Utatsusaurus from Japan.
For the first 10 million years after dinosaurs died out, mammals bulked up to boost their survival chances. Their brain sizes decreased as a result, with relative brain sizes of early mammals decreasing due to increased body size.
Researchers analyzed fossil collections from the Wonderwerk cave, discovering that barn owls remained a dominant predator throughout the Lower Palaeolithic era. The consistent presence of barn owl remains suggests reliable paleo-environmental results over nearly 2 million years.
A fossilized owl skeleton has been discovered in China's Tibetan Plateau, showcasing an extinct species that was active during the day. The study reveals that this ancient owl, Miosurnia diurna, was part of a group of owls that evolved to be diurnal.
Scientists confirm a brief rise in CO2 emissions before the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), an abrupt global warming event. The study reveals unique insights into how Earth's current climate could respond to continued carbon emissions.
Researchers describe a newly discovered saber-toothed mammal from the Eocene Period, offering insights into the evolution of meat-eaters. The fossil, Diegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae, was found in San Diego County and features specialized teeth for slicing flesh.
A new species of vampyropod cephalopod has been discovered in a 328-million-year-old fossil, providing evidence that the common ancestor of octopuses and vampire squids had 10 arms. The find pushes back the age of Vampyropoda by nearly 82 million years.
Researchers found exceptionally preserved fossils from different locations, suggesting that rising global temperatures during the Early Jurassic period may have created favorable conditions for fossilization. The study suggests that past climate change could have enabled exceptional preservation in various environments.
A recent study reveals that Megalodon's body size was influenced by water temperature, with individuals growing larger in cooler waters. The research suggests that Bergmann's rule may have played a role in the shark's gigantism.
Researchers from China, Germany, France and Spain uncovered the lifestyle of humans living in East Asia 40,000 years ago. The study found evidence of ochre processing, miniature stone tools and bone tools, demonstrating technological innovations and cultural diversification.
Researchers found physical differences in femur, dental structures across specimens suggesting re-categorization into three groups or species. Two new species, T. imperator and T. regina, are proposed based on analysis of 37 Tyrannosaurus specimens.
Scientists applied a social networking algorithm to the fossil record to track changes in ancient communities during mass extinctions. The study found that community losses did not always correlate with biodiversity decline, suggesting complex ecological interactions.
Researchers identified two new species of ancient bird fossils found in northwestern China. One species, Brevidentavis zhangi, had small peg-like teeth and a movable bony appendage at the tip of its lower jaw that may have helped it root for food.
A team of researchers developed an enhanced version of a modern forensic test to solve a 5000-year-old cold case. The test confirmed the cause of death for a Neolithic man whose remains were found in a mass grave on the coast of Northern Chile, suggesting he died by drowning in shallow saltwater.
Researchers discovered abnormal bone growths in a 150-million-year-old diplodocid dinosaur, suggesting an avian-style respiratory infection. The infection likely caused symptoms like coughing, trouble breathing, and fever, potentially leading to the animal's death.
A young diplodocid dinosaur with abnormal bony protrusions in its neck bones may have suffered from a fungal respiratory infection similar to aspergillosis. The study provides the first evidence of an avian-style respiratory infection in a non-avian dinosaur.
A new study using a two-dimensional drawing technique has found no general patterns in the fin and body shapes of five warm-blooded Lamniformes species to determine Megalodon's shape. The research challenges previous conclusions about the extinct shark's body form, suggesting that warm bloodedness does not make sharks differently shaped.
A study published in Scientific Reports uses fossilized mollusk shells to investigate ocean chemistry during the end-Permian mass extinction. The analysis found no signs of severe ocean acidification, contradicting previous theories.
A 100-million-year-old cockroach fossil provides insights into its sensory organs, which suggest the species lived in bright environments during the day. The study found that the extinct species had well-developed eyes and a unique pattern of receptors on its antenna, indicating it may have used these to communicate between sexes.
Researchers have discovered the earliest known ant mimics in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, extending the geological range of myrmecomorphy by approximately 50 million years. The study found that these ancient organisms closely mimic different hymenopteran models during different stages of development.
A massive fossil of the giant millipede Arthropleura has been discovered in Northumberland, England, revealing it was up to 2.7 meters long and weighed 50 kilograms. The find sheds new light on the animal's habitat and evolution, suggesting it preferred open woodland habitats near the coast.
Researchers have discovered the internal soft tissues of an exceptionally preserved 20-million-year-old ammonite fossil using advanced imaging techniques. The study reveals that these ancient cephalopods used hyponomes to jet propel themselves through water, similar to modern squid and octopuses.
A new study in Scientific Reports reveals the first palaeontological site with multiple, exceptionally complete dinosaur skeletons from Italy. The Villaggio del Pescatore site in north-eastern Italy has yielded seven individuals of Tethyshadros insularis, the biggest and most complete dinosaur ever found in Italy.
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 groundbreaking analysis of the fossilized remains of Effigia, a 205-million-year-old herbivore, has cast doubt on the prevailing notion that it fed by pecking at plant material. Instead, researchers suggest that its unique beak and jaw structure would have allowed it to nibble at soft, vulnerable tissues like young shoots or ferns.
The discovery of mineralized sponge fossils in Fontanarejo, Spain, has provided new insights into the evolution of living beings. The fossils, dated to around 530 million years ago, offer a unique window into the early Cambrian period.
A recent study published in eLife suggests that xylophagous beetles played a key role in the Permian carbon cycle and experienced severe ecological consequences due to end-Permian deforestation. This research provides new insights into the ecological response of insects to deforestation and global warming.
Researchers have developed a database of parasite-host interactions among ancient ocean animals, shedding light on the evolution of biodiversity and the impact of parasitism on ecosystems. The study suggests that parasites can positively stabilize coastal ecosystems, making them more stable despite individual harm to hosts.
Researchers uncover fossil remains of Issi saaneq, a long-necked herbivore that lived on Greenland during the Late Triassic Period. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary pathways and timeline of sauropods, iconic land animals that existed for nearly 150 million years.
A new study reveals that tusks originated from ancient mammals before the dinosaurs, with dicynodonts being their closest living relatives. The researchers defined what makes a tusk and found that some dicynodont teeth are indeed tusks, while others have large teeth.
A study published in Scientific Reports found fossilized remains of sauropodomorphs, including eggs and skeletal remains, that suggest the earliest evidence of herd living in dinosaurs. The fossils, dated to approximately 193 million years old, show age-specific clusters of individuals, indicating possible herding behavior.
A 'raptor-like' dinosaur was actually a timid, long-necked herbivore, according to recent reanalysis of fossil footprints found in an Australian coal mine. The Prosauropod, a plant-eating dinosaur with legs about 1.4 metres tall and a body length of six metres, is the earliest evidence of its kind in Australia, marking a 50-million-yea...
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 team of scientists has discovered the oldest modern-looking crab, Cretapsara athanata, preserved in 100-million-year-old amber. The fossil is remarkably complete, including delicate tissues and well-developed gills, revealing an aquatic to semi-aquatic animal that defies explanation for its preservation in tree resin.
A new species of mixopterid, Terropterus xiushanensis, has been found in South China's Lower Silurian deposits. The discovery expands our understanding of the morphological diversity and geographical distribution of mixopterids.
Scientists at Stanford University have discovered a pattern in how life reemerges after mass extinctions. In the past half-billion years, smaller marine genera were substantially more likely to be wiped out during mass extinction events, but during recovery intervals, originators tended to be tiny compared to holdover species.
An international team of scientists has resolved a half-century-old mystery by discovering that ancient burrow traces in Australian quartzite were made by crustaceans around 40 million years ago. The discovery was made possible by analyzing unusual radioactive minerals in the sand, which revealed that the burrows were more than a billi...
A 63-bone fossil discovery of Archaehierax sylvestris, a 25-million-year-old eagle-like raptor, has been made in South Australia. The species is one of the oldest eagle fossils known from this period and provides insight into raptor evolution in Australia.
Researchers discovered fossilized footprint tracks of straight-tusked elephants, indicating a Late Pleistocene nursery site in Huelva, Spain. The tracks suggest that young elephants, possibly up to two years old, were raised in this area, which may have provided a food source and reproductive habitat for female elephant herds.
Researchers have discovered a new species of otter in Germany that dates back to 11.4 million years ago. The Vishnu otter genus was previously known only from Asia and Africa, but this finding suggests they also occurred in Europe.
A new study suggests that modern snakes originated from a few species that survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event, which wiped out dinosaurs and other species. Snakes began to diversify into new habitats and exploit new prey, leading to the emergence of diverse lineages such as vipers, cobras, and pythons.
A study published in Scientific Reports discovered dental caries in prehistoric primates, indicating a high fruit diet or sugar-rich foods. The prevalence of caries fluctuated over time, suggesting changes in the primates' diet between sugary and non-sugary foods.
A well-preserved tapejarid skeleton from Brazil provides the first complete look at the entire body of Tupandactylus navigans, a flying reptile with a mix of terrestrial and aerial adaptations. The fossil's exceptional preservation reveals new details about its anatomy and potential flight capabilities.
Three new fossil mammal species, including Beornus honeyi, Miniconus jeanninae, and Conacodon hettingeri, have been discovered at an ancient riverbed site in southern Wyoming. The species lived after a mass extinction event and were ancestors of today's hoofed animals.
Scientists have discovered three new dinosaur fossils in Northwest China, representing two new species: Silutitan sinensis and Hamititan xinjiangensis. The findings shed light on sauropods in the region and increase the known diversity of Mesozoic reptiles in the area.
A new study suggests that small single-celled organisms may have formed larger multicellular life forms to better navigate icy waters. This shift in size allowed for increased propulsion and access to a wider range of food sources, giving early organisms an ecological advantage.