Fossils

By James Ashworth, Natural History Museum February 26, 2024Tridentinosaurus antiquus was discovered in the Italian Alps in 1931 and was thought to be an important specimen for understanding early reptile evolution — but has now been found to be, in part a forgery. Its body outline, appearing dark against the surrounding rock, was initially interpreted as preserved soft tissues but is now known to be paint. Credit: Dr. Valentina RossiRecent research has shown that the Tridentinosaurus antiquus fossil, once thought to…

A groundbreaking study has identified common feather characteristics among flying birds, revealing that all possess 9 to 11 primary feathers, a trait that provides insights into the evolution of flight from dinosaur ancestors. By combining analysis of museum specimens and fossil data, researchers suggest that flight evolved only once among dinosaurs, highlighting the significance of feathers and flight in the evolutionary success of these species. Above is a fossil showing the wing and feathers of the prehistoric bird…

Sanfordiacaulis model with simplified branching structure for easier visualization. Note that humans are provided for scale but did not exist concurrently with the tree. Credit: Tim StonesiferIn the fossil record, it’s common to find trees preserved merely as trunks, lacking any foliage that reveals their canopy structure or overall shape. However, a recent study published in the journal Current Biology, presents an extraordinary discovery of fossilized trees from New Brunswick, Canada, showcasing an unexpected and…

A new study of the extinct fossil ape Lufengpithecus from China offers groundbreaking insights into human bipedalism’s evolutionary origins. By analyzing the semicircular canals of the inner ear, researchers from the IVPP, YICRA, and NYU found evidence of locomotor patterns ancestral to bipedalism. The study highlights the significant role of environmental changes in the evolution of ape and human locomotion, contributing to our understanding of how human bipedalism evolved from a diverse ancestral locomotor repertoire.…

The discovery of a new fossil shark species, Palaeohypotodus bizzocoi, in Alabama, marks a significant contribution to paleontology, providing insights into marine life recovery post-dinosaur extinction and enhancing understanding of Alabama’s rich fossil fish diversity. Palaeohypotodus bizzocoi teeth. Credit: Ebersole et al.Following the extinction of the dinosaurs, this shark emerged as one of the top predators of the ocean.A team of scientists recently announced the discovery of a new fossil shark species from Alabama,…

An artist’s impression of a group of G. blacki within a forest in southern China. Credit: Garcia/Joannes-Boyau (Southern Cross University)In the karst landscapes of southern China, giant apes, known as Gigantopithecus blacki, once traversed the terrain. These massive creatures, standing three meters tall and weighing about 250 kilograms, are considered distant relatives of humans. Although they vanished before humans settled in the area, the reasons for their extinction remain largely a mystery. The only evidence of their…

Tridentinosaurus antiquus was discovered in the Italian Alps in 1931 and was thought to be an important specimen for understanding early reptile evolution – but has now been found to be, in part a forgery. Its body outline, appearing dark against the surrounding rock, was initially interpreted as preserved soft tissues but is now known to be paint. Credit: Dr. Valentina RossiPaleontological analysis shows renowned fossil thought to show soft tissue preservation is in fact just paint.A 280-million-year-old fossil that has…

A famous fossil unearthed almost 100 years ago has turned out to be a fake. The fossil forgery is one of astronomical disappointment. Discovered in the Italian Alps in 1931, the fossil was believed to show the full body outline of Tridentinosaurus antiquus, a fossil that has baffled scientists for almost a century.The fossil has long been held up as a vital stepping stone in understanding the evolution of early reptiles. It has been celebrated in multiple articles and books but never studied in full detail.…

Recent research on the fossil ape Lufengpithecus’s inner ear structures offers new clues to the evolutionary steps towards human bipedalism, revealing the significant roles of the inner ear and climate change in this evolutionary journey. Reconstruction of the locomotor behavior and paleoenvironment of Lufengpithecus. Credit: Illustration by Xiaocong Guo; image courtesy of Xijun Ni, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of SciencesThe inner ear of a fossilized ape, dating back 6…

Digital reconstructions of endocasts of a woodpecker, Melanerpes aurifrons (top), and a troodontid dinosaur, Zanabazar junior (bottom). The blue area is the cerebellum. Credit: Amy BalanoffEvolutionary biologists at Johns Hopkins Medicine report they have combined PET scans of modern pigeons along with studies of dinosaur fossils to help answer an enduring question in biology: How did the brains of birds evolve to enable them to fly?The answer, they say, appears to be an adaptive increase in the size of the cerebellum in…