extinct

A recent finding at a beach in southern Spain suggests that the region may have been a nursery for an extinct species of elephant thousands of years ago. Fossilised footprints of ancient straight-tusked elephants have been found in the coastal site of Huelva, a region that the scientists call the Matalascanas Trampled Surface. Footprints and trackways have been attributed to the newborns, calves, and juveniles of the straight-tusked elephant species. Previous studies suggest that the tracks were laid down about 1,06,000…

Artistic reconstruction of the yunnanozoan from the Cambrian Chengjiang biota shows basket-like pharyngeal skeletons. Credit: Dinghua YangResearch reveals yunnanozoans as the oldest known stem vertebrates.New findings answer questions in the fossil record.The puzzling gap in the fossil record that would explain the evolution of invertebrates to vertebrates has long perplexed scientists. Vertebrates share unique features, such as a backbone and a skull, and include fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and humans.…

Research group stands by Quercus tardifolia.Photo: U.S Botanic GardenStanding at 30 feet tall, with a trunk scarred by fire and a severe fungal infection, is the Chisos Mountains oak, or Quercus tardifolia, a species thought to be extinct. The tree is likely one fire or drought away from death. Researchersare now keen to protect this lonely survivor.The oak tree, presumed extinct by 2011, was found within Big Bend National Park, an 880,000-acre park in Texas. A team of researchers from more than 10 groups, led by the…

Hopefully, the lone Quercus tardifolia will be nursed back to health and well cared for like Angel Oak, pictured here.One Quercus tardifolia found clinging to life in Big Bend National Park.Botanical researchers have discovered an oak tree once thought to be extinct, and now in immediate need of conservation within Big Bend National Park in Texas. The discovery was made by scientists representing a coalition of more than 10 institutions.Scientists headed by The Morton Arboretum and United States Botanic Garden (USBG) were…

Up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) in length and with a fierce, aggressive attitude, two new species of giant dwarf crocodile that have just been identified by scientists are not ones you would have wanted to encounter during the Early and Middle Miocene.  These beasts would have roamed parts of Africa between 15 and 18 million years ago. It looks as though they then abruptly disappeared from the scene – a sudden exit that may have been the result of swift environmental changes.The two new species have been named Kinyang…

A comprehensive family tree for primates has been created that covers more than 900 species.Fossil-based compilation reveals new information on the evolution and spread of primates.The largest and most comprehensive family tree of the order primates, including both living and extinct species, has been assembled by researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Leeds.Covering more than 900 species—about half living and half extinct—the new tree can help scientists understand the history of monkeys, apes,…

University of Michigan paleontologist Daniel Fisher with a mounted skeleton of the Buesching mastodon, based on casts of individual bones produced in fiberglass, on public display at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History in Ann Arbor. Credit: Eric Bronson, Michigan PhotographyMastodons are relatives of elephants belonging to the genus Mammut that inhabited North and Central America before they went extinct about 10,000 to 11,000 years ago. Typical adults stood between 8 and 10 feet (2.5-3 m) tall at the…

A presumed-extinct giant tortoise of the Galápagos Islands was found alive in 2019, and a new DNA study confirms the female tortoise is the same species as an animal collected over a century ago. “Fernanda,” as she’s called, is the only living Fernandina Island tortoise (Chelonoidis phantastica) known and just the second member of the species ever recorded.The Galápagos Archipelago—the cradle and testing ground for Darwin’s theory of natural selection—is bedazzled with giant tortoises, some of which have gone extinct…

Hasbro has announced the results of a recent vote to bring back a classic Monopoly token. The toy company recently gave fans the chance to vote for which retired Monopoly token to bring back for the 2023 edition of the board game. Fans who visited the Monopoly website were able to vote to bring back the Wheelbarrow, Iron, Horse and Rider, Thimble, Boot or Money Bag. The result wasn't close.Receiving 30% of the public vote, the Thimble will make its return to the next edition of Monopoly launching in spring, 2023.Fans were…