Articles tagged with Paleontology
A new study found that dinosaurs and their prey likely ate seaweeds, which provides an explanation for the high carbon isotope signatures in their teeth. The research used fossils from coastal sites along the Western Interior Seaway and determined that the extra carbon source must have been low in the food chain to affect both aquatic ...
A 345-million-year-old fossil of Westlothiana lizziae, once considered the world's oldest reptile, has been rewritten. The study reveals primitive gills and fish-like teeth, suggesting the animal was aquatic or amphibious, not terrestrial. This challenges the long-held idea that reptiles originated on land.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that ancient ocean chemistry created a self-sustaining cycle that kept oxygen levels high after they first rose. This cycle, fueled by phosphorus recycling, allowed for biological productivity and maintained oxygen in the atmosphere.
Researchers describe Jeanerpeton mazonensis, a 309-million-year-old proto-amphibian discovered in Illinois, providing insights into ancient amphibian evolution. The fossil specimen features preserved scales, eye impressions, and gastralia, supporting its classification as a distinct species.
A recent study, led by Arizona State University, has revised scientists' understanding of bat origins, relationships, and evolutionary traits. The team combined genomic and fossil evidence to show that bats and mammalian flight most likely originated in Europe around 65 million years ago.
Scientists discovered a 518-million-year-old fossil that challenges the origins of starfish, revealing they ate using tentacles, not gills. The fossil, Yujingia glutenotunica, provides rare insight into the evolution of ambulacrarians, a group including starfish and sea stars.
Researchers analyzed fossil data from 7 human ancestors, finding Australopithecus had strong arms but human-like leg pattern, while early Homo had stronger legs and weaker arms, suggesting a major shift in movement and living habits around 2 million years ago. This finding supports the idea that bipedalism evolved gradually, with early...
A new species of 240-million-year-old prehistoric animal from Tanzania has been discovered, which could refine the age of one of the world's most significant fossil sites and reshape the timeline of early dinosaur evolution. The discovery links Tanzanian and South American fossil-bearing rocks, showing they are of equivalent age and co...
A team of palaeontologists has discovered the first Diplodocus fossil outside North America, found in Spain and dating back 150 million years. The fossil, which includes 14 exceptionally preserved caudal vertebrae and chevron bones, confirms that Diplodocus inhabited Europe during the Late Jurassic period.
A University of Washington-led research team discovered well-preserved fossil feathers in a dinosaur coprolite, which could provide insight into why some birds survived the mass extinction. The feathers have features similar to modern birds' feathers, including a sponge-like center, and may have played a role in the extinction event.
Ancient DNA analysis reveals genetic diversity in woolly rhinoceros fossils from mid-latitude Eurasia, contradicting the traditional Siberian origins theory. The study shows that the species' greatest genetic diversity arose in East Asia, while the Altai region served as a refugium and dispersal hub.
Researchers analyzed fossilized remains from Troodontid dinosaurs, revealing changes in hip and leg bones over time, shedding light on the species' development and potential health issues. The study's findings support the designation of a specific subset of fossils as the primary representative of Troodon formosus.
A new species of Jurassic squid-like animal, Wyoteuthis linsterorum, has been discovered in Wyoming, USA, with an unusually thick, barrel-shaped skeleton. The discovery, made by an international team of researchers, confirms the existence of an ancient family of belemnites previously thought to have disappeared millions of years earlier.
The fossil, known as Charnia, is 560 million years old and preserved in three-dimensional detail, providing rare insights into the earliest animals. Researchers discovered subtle ridges along its branches, which had not been detected in other fossils.
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology joins co-plaintiffs in suing the Trump Administration for shrinking Bears Ears National Monument, which lost nearly 3 million acres of national monument protections. The organization asserts that the President's proclamation reducing Bears Ears was illegal and violates the Antiquities Act.
A new stem-insect species, Chosha praecursor, reveals that insects did not immediately become fully terrestrial after colonizing land. Instead, they retained and remodeled ancestral aquatic features and passed through a prolonged semi-aquatic, amphibious phase.
Paleontologists used carbon-dating to analyze over 7,500 fossils, revealing how sediment accumulation rates affect the preservation of fossils. By understanding these rates, researchers can determine the age of a fossil assemblage and extract valuable data from it.
A new study sheds light on the diversity of ancient coastal ecosystems in Japan, revealing that iguanodontians of varying body sizes inhabited the coastal environments of East Asia. The fossil discovery provides valuable insights into the evolution and biogeography of these herbivorous dinosaurs.
High-resolution sediment samples off the coast of Brazil show that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation was more dynamic than previously thought during the Heinrich Event. The circulation was strengthened in two periods, impacting tropical precipitation patterns and carbon storage in the ocean.
Scientists propose a colossal cliff across ancient North America may have exposed Grand Canyon's oldest rocks nearly a billion years before it was carved by the Colorado River. The study suggests the 'great escarpment' of steep rocky cliffs formed when the supercontinent Rodinia broke apart 800 million years ago.
The 7th International Palaeontological Congress (IPC7) will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 30 to December 3, 2026. Researchers and experts will present their latest findings and projects, and discuss developments in the field of palaeoscience.
Researchers used fossilized leaf cells to recreate tree canopy of PETM, a period of global warming comparable to today's climate. The study found widespread browning of landscapes and reduced rainfall triggered by volcanic carbon release.
A new study found that European carnivorous mammals grew larger and more diverse in body mass after a global warming event, while their rivals remained diverse for millions of years. This suggests regional climate played a key role in determining who ruled as top predator, rather than universal competition.
A new study analyzing fossilized shark scales found that Pacific reefs naturally supported far more sharks than Caribbean reefs thousands of years ago. The research suggests that differences in ocean productivity have shaped shark populations over time, with Pacific reefs appearing more resilient to human impacts.
A new study provides compelling evidence that cynodonts, an ancestor of true mammals, may have been viviparous, giving birth to live young. The discovery sheds light on the reproductive mode of early mammalian ancestors and raises questions about other evolutionary traits.
Fossilized shark scales from Panama's Pacific and Caribbean coasts provide a window into ancient shark populations. The study reveals that the two regions once supported vastly different densities of sharks, with the Pacific coast having roughly 20 times more sharks than its Caribbean counterpart.
Researchers digitally reconstructed a dodo brain cavity to understand its sensory abilities, finding it may have had a flexible daily activity pattern and enhanced sense of smell. The study provides new clues on how the dodo foraged and interacted with its environment before disappearing in the late 17th century.
Researchers have discovered a new species of extinct amphibian, the spadefoot toad Spea labreae, from La Brea Tar Pits. The discovery highlights the impact of climate change on species distribution and provides insights into ancient environmental conditions.
A new study finds that fossilized feces played a crucial role in the Cambrian Explosion, a period when life on Earth diversified rapidly. The 'faecal revolution' suggests that the buildup of excrement encouraged marine life to evolve and diversify.
A new study from the University of Kansas has introduced a new species of ancient primate, Tetonius varleyorum, which suggests its evolution might be more complex than previously thought. The discovery of this fossil at Smiley Draw in Wyoming provides fresh detail to the biogeographic and evolutionary history of primates.
The study proposes a new hypothesis on the evolutionary history of dinosaur digestive systems by analyzing gastrolith shapes and dietary proxies. Herbivorous dinosaurs likely possessed rounded gastroliths with severe abrasion, suggesting mechanical grinding of plant material within their stomachs.
Mexico served as a long-term evolutionary hub where North American species adapted and diversified for millions of years before migrating to South America during the Great American Biotic Interchange. The findings suggest that prolonged diversification in Mexico contributed to the eventual prevalence of North American mammals in South ...
North and South American mammals interacted before the Panamanian land bridge formed, with evidence of North American animals clustering in southern Mexico around 7 million years ago. This research provides valuable insights into past environmental changes and biodiversity patterns.
Researchers found that North American mammals expanded their range southward much earlier than thought, with identical fossils discovered in Mexico dating back to 10 million years ago. This 'holding pen' era primed the pump for intermittent exchange between 7 and 3 million years ago.
A new fossil species, Eoceras shaanxiense, has been discovered in the early Cambrian of South China, providing insights into the earliest known siphuncle-bearing cephalopods. The find represents an intermediate evolutionary stage between earlier species and later species with more developed buoyancy systems.
A team of international researchers has uncovered a unique fossil from China that preserves the digestive system of an ancient marine reptile. The study provides insight into the early adaptations of long-necked marine reptiles to life in the oceans, contradicting previous assumptions about their limited aquatic capabilities.
A remarkably preserved Cretaceous mammal fossil in Mongolia's Gobi Desert is rewriting the chapter on mammal evolution. The discovery, published in Nature, reveals that zhelestids were not close relatives of modern placental mammals, but rather a distinct group of early mammals.
Asteroid impact created a massive dust cloud that trapped heat, causing widespread wildfires and spontaneous combustion. The cloud led to population collapse and atmospheric contamination, ultimately killing most dinosaurs and other species.
New evidence from Malta reveals that hunter-gatherers engaged in repeated long-distance sea journeys of at least 100km between Sicily and Malta for at least a millennium. This suggests that the Maltese Islands were part of a hitherto unknown, sustained long-distance sea voyaging network.
A study of ancient human relatives' fossil footprints reveals that a previously thought smaller species was actually larger, while also showing evidence of group travel. The tracks, preserved over 1.4 million years ago in northern Kenya, offer insights into the behavior and interactions of these early humans.
A new study documents fossil footprints of eight adult Paranthropus boisei individuals, indicating human-like body sizes and complex social structures. The discovery provides a rare snapshot of 'fossil behavior' from an ancient hominin group in northern Kenya.
Researchers used an AI tool to demonstrate that birds in Passeriformes evolved in rapid bursts and coincided with climate shifts throughout Earth's history. The findings suggest that environmental variation may be an important cause of changes in body shape.
A research team has identified four previously unrecognized fossil bones, including a premaxilla, from a rock containing mosasaur remains in Osaka Prefecture. The fossils exhibit distinctive features unlike those of known mosasaurs, raising the possibility that they represent a new species.
A new Yale study contradicts the long-held theory that an asteroid strike drove the rapid evolution of tunas and other large predators after the K-Pg extinction. Instead, the research reveals that these animals' body plans evolved over tens of millions of years, with increases in size occurring sporadically throughout their lineage.
A new study reveals two recurring dental designs in mammals, optimizing for either cutting or crushing performance. The tradeoff between these abilities has shaped the evolution of carnassial teeth, influencing dietary adaptability.
A study in PLOS One identified T. rex as the likely cause of some tooth marks on fossils from Cretaceous-era Wyoming, providing insights into animal behavior and ecosystem dynamics. The researchers developed a guide to interpret tooth traces on fossils, distinguishing between natural and bite-related marks.
A new study from Griffith University reveals how different cave environments leave distinct 'fingerprints' on skeletal remains, providing a powerful tool for reconstructing past environments and histories in challenging conditions. Bones preserved in underwater caves often preserve their structure and surfaces remarkably well, while un...
A new genus of giant salamander, Limnospondylus ajimuensis, has been identified from fossilized vertebrae found in the Ajimu region of Japan. The discovery sheds light on Japan's evolutionary history and highlights the importance of preserving extant species for the future.
Researchers discovered that ancient organism Spriggina floundersi preferred to bend to the right, showing the oldest known example of lateralized behavior. This finding provides new insights into the origins of left-right asymmetry in animals and suggests that behavioral preferences emerged earlier in evolutionary history than previous...
Scientists have discovered a 518-million-year-old fossil named Urokodia, which shows the earliest evidence of spiders' fangs. The fossils revealed two pincer-like limbs emerging behind the eyes, marking the beginning of chelicerae. This discovery sheds light on the origin of spider bites and book gills in the Chelicerate family.
An international team of scientists has rediscovered a set of gigantic Megalodon vertebrae in Denmark, shedding new light on the prehistoric shark's biology and lifestyle. The discovery confirms the maximum vertebral diameter of 23 cm reported in literature and represents the largest fish vertebrae ever recorded.
Researchers found insect-made holes in bone remains revealing that titanosaurus carcasses were exposed for extended periods, unlike previously thought. This discovery improves understanding of palaeoecosystems and fossilization processes at the Lo Hueco site.
A team of researchers extracted and analyzed protein fragments from fossil teeth of Homo naledi, finding zero male markers. This discovery suggests a sex-bias in mortuary practice among non-human species, unlike observed in contemporary human cultures.
A recent study analyzing Late Cretaceous fossils found diverse fruit and seed morphologies in flowering plants, challenging the traditional timeline for their reproductive evolution. The discovery expands our understanding of forest ecology and plant-animal interactions during angiosperm evolutionary history.
A new study reveals that species with larger brains produce fewer but larger offspring, leading to the evolution of larger eggs. The research analyzed data from mammals, birds, and reptiles, suggesting that brain evolution drove changes in reproduction across dinosaurs and birds.
New research reveals that pterosaurs likely had more diverse wing shapes than previously thought, contrary to current reconstructions. The study analyzed nine popular pterosaurs, including the Pteranodon and Quetzalcoatlus, using a method called theoretical morphospace to create a map of all possible wing forms.
A 113-million-year-old pterosaur fossil has been found with exceptionally well-preserved chemical traces hinting at its diet. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the preservation process of fossils, challenging long-held ideas about how ancient organisms were preserved.
Researchers discover fossilized baby early tetrapods, which skipped the tadpole metamorphosis previously thought. This finding upends scientists' understanding of how animals conquered the land, suggesting that early tetrapods were more like fish and birds than modern amphibians.
A new fossil study suggests early tetrapods did not exhibit gradual metamorphosis with aquatic larval stages. Instead, growth from hatchling to adult proceeded through a direct development model, where acceleration of limb development was crucial for completing the transition to land.
Researchers found that asexual reproduction slowed the pace of evolution due to limited competition between groups. However, as life spread to shallower waters, stress and increased competition led to the development of sexual reproduction, accelerating evolutionary diversification.