Articles tagged with Triassic Period
Scientists discovered that oxygen levels in shallow oceans declined about 8 million years before the end-Triassic mass extinction, stressing marine ecosystems. The research provides a rough guide for the future as our oceans undergo acidification and deoxygenation.
A newly discovered carnivorous lizard, Tainrakuasuchus bellator, lived 240 million years ago and resembled a dinosaur due to its armour-plated body. The species was among the top predators of its time in Brazil during the Triassic Period.
A Smithsonian-led team has discovered North America's oldest known pterosaur, dating back to the late Triassic period around 209 million years ago. The fossilized jawbone of the new species was found alongside hundreds of other fossils, including a turtle with spike-like armor and an ancient frog relative.
Researchers discovered that tropical riparian ecosystems recovered rapidly within two million years of the end-Permian mass extinction, indicating a faster-than-thought adaptation. This finding contradicts previous theories on ecosystem recovery and suggests that life on land may have been more resilient than previously believed.
A new species of small, ancient crocodile-like reptile, Parvosuchus aurelioi, has been discovered in Brazil. The specimen, dating back to approximately 237 million years ago, features a complete skull and partially preserved limbs.
Paleontologists have unearthed what may be the largest known marine reptile, a gigantic ichthyosaur measuring over 25 meters long. The fossilized remains of its second jawbone were found on a beach in Somerset, UK, and have been identified as belonging to a new species.
A newly described species of ichthyosaur, named Ichthyotitan severnensis, is believed to be the largest known marine reptile, with estimates suggesting it could have reached up to 82 feet in length. The discovery was made from fossilized jawbone fragments found in Somerset, UK.
Scientists have discovered a new species of aetosaur, a heavily armored cousin of modern crocodiles, with an intact armor suit. The suit, called a carapace, is about 70% complete and has unique features that distinguish it from other aetosaurs.
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.
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 discovered that true crabs have left the marine environment up to 17 times over the past 100 million years, with most species able to survive in semi-terrestrial habitats. The study's findings provide insights into convergent evolution and the adaptation of crabs to life on land.
A team of researchers studied ancient rhynchosaurs and found that their diet led to weakened teeth, making it difficult for them to obtain enough nutrition. As they aged, their growth slowed down, and new teeth were added at the back of their jaw, eventually leading to starvation and death.
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.
Scientists discovered that the first complex, multicellular life forms on Earth were wiped out 550 million years ago due to oxygen loss in the oceans. The researchers used nearly every known Ediacaran animal's environment and habits to disprove previous explanations for their disappearance.
Researchers at Göttingen University have found fluorescent color patterns in fossils from the Triassic period, making them the oldest of their kind. The study reveals a surprising variety of stripes, zigzags, and flame patterns, similar to those of modern seashells.
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.
Harvard researchers found that rapid evolution of reptiles began much earlier than previously thought, connected to increasing temperatures. The study used a dataset of over 1,000 fossil specimens and analyzed their adaptation to climatic shifts.
A new study suggests that dinosaurs were well adapted to cold temperatures and survived a mass extinction event caused by massive volcanic eruptions. The research found evidence of dinosaur footprints and pebbles in lake sediments at high latitudes, indicating that they thrived in conditions where other reptiles died.
After the Permian mass extinction, life on land and in oceans experienced a 'Triassic revolution' with rapid adaptation and evolution of animals. Animals grew back faster and smarter, with predators becoming meaner and prey adapting new survival strategies.
A new study in Frontiers in Earth Science questions the link between climate change and ecosystem diversity during the origin of dinosaurs in Argentina. The researchers found that variations in species abundance cannot be explained by climatic changes, instead attributing it to preservation and sampling biases.
Fossil finds from the High Alps reveal giant ichthyosaurs that lived around 205 million years ago, measuring up to 20 meters in length. The discovery sheds new light on these prehistoric creatures and their paleobiological implications.
A massive volcanic eruption at the end of the Triassic period caused a global cooling effect, leading to the mass extinction. The event paved the way for the rise of dinosaurs as their natural predators went extinct.
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.
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.
Researchers shed light on the evolution of mammalian tusks by tracing them back to ancient mammal relatives called dicynodonts. Dicynodonts had protruding tusks in their upper jaws, but they were not always true tusks – instead, some had enamel-coated teeth that did not fit the definition.
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...
Researchers discover lagerpetids, small wingless reptiles, as the closest relatives of pterosaurs, filling a 200-year-old gap in their evolution. The study reveals similarities between lagerpetid brains and sensory systems and those of pterosaurs.
Ancient rauisuchian fossils found in southern Africa reveal that these croc-like predators fed on vegetarian dinosaurs during the Triassic period. The discovery sheds light on how these carnivores thrived in a region close to the Antarctic Circle, challenging previous assumptions about their physiology.
A newly described species of extinct reptile from the Triassic period in Texas had a strikingly dome-shaped head, similar to that of dinosaurs. The study found internal partitions or zones in the skull, which were similar to those of pachycephalosaur dinosaurs.
A 247 million-year-old fossil from China has been reclassified as an archosaur, revealing that the bird and crocodile family trees split earlier than previously thought. The discovery provides new evidence for the evolution of archosaurs and sheds light on the origins of these dominant land vertebrates.