Paleontology

Researchers have discovered a new species of marine lizard, Khinjaria acuta, from the late Cretaceous period, showcasing the diversity of marine ecosystems before the dinosaur extinction. This species, part of the mosasaur family, highlights a time when the oceans teemed with a variety of giant predators, unlike today’s ecosystems dominated by a few apex predators. Credit: Andrey AtuchinSixty-six million years ago, the oceans were full of large apex predators, unlike now.Paleontologists have discovered a strange new…

Minqaria bata was around the size of a pony (3-4 meters long) and closely resembles the European species of duckbill dinosaur. Credit: Raul MartinFossils of pony-sized duckbill dinosaurs from Morocco have been discovered by an international team of scientists. Their analysis reveals a surprising connection between the dinosaurs of Europe and Africa.How did duckbill dinosaurs, a group that evolved in North America, end up in Morocco? At the end of the Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago, high sea levels and the breakup…

An artist’s interpretation of the newly identified aetosaur Garzapelta mueller. Credit: Márcio L. CastroResearchers identified a new aetosaur species, Garzapelta muelleri, offering insights into the Triassic era’s armored creatures and the challenges of deciphering their evolutionary history.Dinosaurs get all the glory. But aetosaurs, a heavily armored cousin of modern crocodiles, ruled the world before dinosaurs did. These tanks of the Triassic came in a variety of shapes and sizes before going extinct around 200 million…

In the figure can be seen the possible paleogeographic locations of the terranes in the Tibetan Plateau and environs. Ind=India; Au=Australia; Ant=Antarctic; Kal=Kalahari; SF=San Francisco; Con=Congo; Lau=Laurentia; Rio=Rio de la Plata; Amz=Amazonia; Bal=Baltica; W.Af=West Africa; Sib=Siberia; ANS=Arabian-Nubian Shield; SC=South China; AFB=Albany-Fraser orogen; EGB=Eastern Ghats orogen; KB-IB=Kibaran and Irumide orogens; G=Greenville orogen. Credit:…

The discovery of the world’s oldest fossilized forest in South West England, dating back 390 million years, provides crucial insights into the early forms of tree life and their impact on Earth’s landscapes during the Devonian Period. This groundbreaking research emphasizes the significant role of early trees in stabilizing environments and shaping the evolution of river systems. A forest of Calamophyton trees. Credit: Peter Giesen/Chris BerryThe oldest fossilized forest ever discovered on Earth, dating back 390 million…

Artistic reconstruction of a late Triassic undersea scene before (left) and after (right) a climate change-related extinction event. Credit: Maija KaralaA recent study has leveraged the fossil record to gain insights into the characteristics that render animals more susceptible to extinction due to climate change. This research aims to pinpoint the species currently most endangered by anthropogenic climate change. The findings have recently been published in the journal Science.Past climate change (often caused by natural…

Dimetrodon, an early predatory synapsid from the early Permian (~298-272 Million years ago). (Display at the Royal Tyrell Museum, Canada). Credit: Suresh A. Singh.Researchers from the University of Bristol and the Open University propose that the evolutionary success of the earliest large land predators was fueled by their need to improve as killers.The forerunners of mammals ruled the Earth for about 60 million years, long before the origin of the first dinosaurs. They diversified as the top predators on land between 315…

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…

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.…