Articles tagged with Jurassic Period
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 study by Chinese scientists found that a climate shift around 167 million years ago created diverse habitats in the Yanliao region, fueling evolutionary breakthroughs. The shift led to changes in vegetation, reduced rainfall, and tectonic activity, creating new ecological niches for species to evolve.
Chinese researchers found well-preserved fossil fungal hyphae in a Jurassic petrified wood sample, providing the earliest evidence for this fungal group. The discovery suggests that blue-stain fungi originated during the Late Paleozoic or early Mesozoic era.
A University of Queensland researcher has identified 66 fossilized footprints from 47 individual 3-toed dinosaurs that walked along a waterway during the Early Jurassic period. The footprints provide an unprecedented snapshot of dinosaur abundance, movement and behaviour from this time period.
A new theropod dinosaur, Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus, has been discovered in Kyrgyzstan with a unique 'eyebrow' feature. The species belongs to the metriacanthosaurids and is closely related to large predatory dinosaurs of East Asia.
Researchers analyzed fossilized tooth roots of ancient mammals, finding growth rings that revealed lifespans of eight to fourteen years. These early mammals grew more slowly but lived substantially longer than their modern descendants.
Researchers found a link between ancient ocean oxygen depletion and the massive extinction of marine species during the Jurassic Period. The study provides insights into how human-made carbon emissions may lead to similar extinctions in the future.
A team of palaeontologists has unearthed a gigantic flying reptile from the Jurassic period with an estimated wingspan of more than three metres. The fossil is one of the largest pterosaurs ever found from that era and sheds light on the potential for larger Jurassic pterosaurs.
Researchers discovered ancient bird-like footprints in Southern Africa that date back over 210 million years, 60 million years before the earliest known bird fossil. The tracks were found at multiple sites and show a mix of dinosaur and bird-like characteristics.
New research shows climate change played a key role in dinosaurs' rise to success during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic periods. The planet's warming after the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction event allowed sauropod-like dinosaurs to thrive and expand across new territories, becoming the dominant species.
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.
A new study provides strong evidence that periodic volcanic activity in the Karoo province triggered multiple Jurassic extinctions. The research reveals that volcanism occurred over a longer period than previously thought, with three distinct stages of activity, and had a significant impact on the environment.
Researchers from Vrije Universiteit Brussel used new techniques to determine the age of limestone layers and fossils in Maastricht quarries, dating back to the last dinosaur age. The study found that the shallow sea was rich in oxygen, suitable for sustaining a diverse ecosystem.
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.
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 reveals that early dinosaurs, such as Mussaurus patagonicus, likely formed complex herds with adults foraging and taking care of young. Fossils found in southern Patagonia indicate an age segregation, suggesting a larger community structure where adults shared in raising the whole community.
Researchers analyzed over 2,300 fossil bones and found over 400 marks left by insects and snails, shedding light on paleo diversity and climate of the Jurassic period. The high number of insect traces suggests that dinosaur carcasses remained unburied for an extended period, providing valuable insights into prehistoric stench.
Researchers found over 50 dinosaur footprints on ancient coastal mudflats, including stegosaurian and theropod dinosaurs. The discovery expands the list of known dinosaurs living in the region during the Middle Jurassic Period.
Modern-day crocodiles and alligators originated from various ecosystems over time, including land, estuarine, freshwater, and marine environments. This challenges the long-held assumption of a simple evolutionary path from a land-based ancestor.
A newly discovered 180-million-year-old Jurassic fossil has identified a missing link between two distinct families of prehistoric crocodiles. The Magyarosuchus fitosi specimen, featuring a large portion of its backbone, suggests that it is an intermediate form between the armoured and unarmoured groups.
Fossil discoveries of Maiopatagium furculiferum and Vilevolodon diplomylos reveal ancient gliding behavior among extinct mammalian ancestors. These Jurassic mammals lived 100 million years before modern mammal fliers, with adaptations allowing them to thrive in a dinosaur-dominated landscape.
A new species of giant crocodile relative, named Razanandrongobe sakalavae, has been discovered in the Middle Jurassic of Madagascar. The fossilized remains of this prehistoric creature reveal massive jaw bones and serrated teeth similar to those of a T. rex, indicating that it was a formidable predator.
A new feathered dinosaur fossil found in China's Jurassic period pushes back the known origins of birds, which were previously thought to have evolved from theropod dinosaurs around 120-130 million years ago. The discovery provides additional evidence for a more complex evolution of flight.
Researchers have discovered a new primitive crab species, Cycloprosopon dobrogea, which existed over 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period. The discovery provides insights into the evolutionary history of arthropods, including crabs, and their role in shaping biodiversity.