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Paleontology & Fossils news
Fossil discovery sheds light on the early evolution of animal nervous systems
An international team of scientists has uncovered a fascinating piece of the evolutionary puzzle: how the ventral nerve cord, a key component of the central nervous system, evolved in ecdysozoan animals, a group that includes ...
Evolution
4 hours ago
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New research refutes notion that prehistoric kangaroos ran out of food due to specialized diets
Prehistoric kangaroos in southern Australia had a more general diet than previously assumed, giving rise to new ideas about their survival and resilience to climate change, and the final extinction of the megafauna, a new ...
Ecology
Jan 9, 2025
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How ancient flying reptiles ruled the skies: Study uncovers pterosaur tail structures that enhanced flight capabilities
Scientists have long puzzled over how pterosaurs became the first vertebrates to master flight. Some pterosaur species, such as the Quetzalcoatlus were the largest known animals to ever take to the skies, with wingspans of ...
Evolution
Jan 9, 2025
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Fossil killifish: New findings reveal unforeseen diversity
Killifish, or egg-laying toothcarps, are known for their ecological adaptability and species diversity. Two families of killifish exist in Europe today: the highly species-rich Aphaniidae and the relatively species-poor Valenciidae, ...
Evolution
Jan 9, 2025
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The extreme teeth of saber-toothed predators were 'optimal' for biting into prey, study reveals
Saber-toothed predators—best known from the infamous Smilodon—evolved multiple times across different mammal groups. A study titled "Functional optimality underpins the repeated evolution of the extreme 'saber-tooth' ...
Evolution
Jan 9, 2025
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Scorching climate drove lampreys apart during Cretaceous period, DNA and fossil record reveal
A new study finds that one of the hottest periods in Earth's history may have driven lampreys apart—genetically speaking. The work could have implications for how aquatic species respond to our current changing climate. ...
Evolution
Jan 8, 2025
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Herbivore or carnivore? A new toolbox for the study of extinct reptiles
Evolution has resulted in the development of both herbivores and carnivores—but how? What type of food did extinct vertebrates eat? And how can we gain insight into the diets of these creatures? In living animals, we can ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 8, 2025
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Discovery of 'Punk' and 'Emo' fossils challenges our understanding of ancient mollusks
Researchers have unearthed two fossils, named Punk and Emo, revealing that ancient mollusks were more complex and adaptable than previously known.
Evolution
Jan 8, 2025
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Dinosaurs may have roamed the northern hemisphere millions of years earlier than previously thought
How and when did dinosaurs first emerge and spread across the planet more than 200 million years ago? That question has for decades been a source of debate among paleontologists faced with fragmented fossil records.
Paleontology & Fossils
Jan 8, 2025
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Fossil study reveals oldest-known evolutionary 'arms race'
A study led by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History presents the oldest known example in the fossil record of an evolutionary arms race. These 517-million-year-old predator-prey interactions occurred in the ...
Evolution
Jan 3, 2025
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Discovery of rare new fossil sheds light on New Zealand's extinct dolphin-like reptiles
Ichthyosaurs were reptiles that swam in the seas during the time of the dinosaurs. They evolved separately around 250 million years ago, possibly from a crocodile-like ancestor, to resemble fish and modern dolphins.
Paleontology & Fossils
Jan 2, 2025
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Major new footprint discoveries on Britain's 'dinosaur highway'
In a stunning find, researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham have uncovered a huge expanse of quarry floor filled with hundreds of different dinosaur footprints, creating multiple enormous trackways.
Paleontology & Fossils
Jan 2, 2025
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New dinosaur, Archaeocursor asiaticus, hints at early Gondwana to Laurasia migration
A newly identified dinosaur from southwestern China is revealing what appears to be the earliest-diverging ornithischian dinosaur in Asia. A multi-institution investigation in China has introduced the world to Archaeocursor ...
New study reconstructs the skull of ancient Cretan hippo
A study by researchers Nikolaos Gerakakis and Prof. Dimitrios Makris has successfully reconstructed the skull of an extinct dwarf hippopotamus that once roamed the island of Crete, using innovative 3D digital imaging techniques.
Fossil treasure chest: How to preserve the geoheritage of South Africa's Cape coast
I am standing on a dune looking out to sea. It's 2024, but I'm thinking about a very different time. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, this 350 km stretch of southern African coast looked very different. It was home to ...
Paleontology & Fossils
Dec 26, 2024
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Rare fossil embryos show early Ecdysozoa development in Cambrian era
An international research team has made a notable discovery of fossil embryos belonging to Ecdysozoa, a diverse group of animals including roundworms, velvet worms, insects, and crabs. These fossils, dated to approximately ...
Evolution
Dec 24, 2024
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Extremely rare baby mammoth found in Siberia
Russian scientists on Monday showed off the remarkably well preserved remains of a baby mammoth found in the permafrost-covered region of Yakutia.
Paleontology & Fossils
Dec 23, 2024
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Ferns' ancient resilience aids modern ecosystem recovery after disasters
Scientists have suggested an updated framework for the role of ferns in environmental recovery from disaster. Instead of competing with other organisms, ferns may act as facilitators that ease the way for other plants and ...
Ecology
Dec 20, 2024
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Simulations of hominin Lucy help show how long distance running evolved in modern humans
A team of natural scientists, musculoskeletal specialists, and evolutionary biologists affiliated with several institutions in the U.K., working with a colleague from the Netherlands, has found via simulations, that the famous ...
Giant sloths and mastodons lived with humans for millennia in the Americas, new discoveries suggest
Sloths weren't always slow-moving, furry tree-dwellers. Their prehistoric ancestors were huge—up to 4 tons (3.6 metric tons)—and when startled, they brandished immense claws.
Paleontology & Fossils
Dec 20, 2024
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More news
New York man finds mastodon jaw while gardening in his backyard
World's oldest mammalian ancestor discovered in Mallorca
Mysterious plant fossil belongs to a family that no longer exists
What bone scans reveal about a tiny crocodilian from the Jurassic era
Thylacoleo the fossil lion makes a roaring comeback
New species of ancient fish may be smallest known vertebrate fossil in Queensland's history
Triassic reptile with unusual jaws named as a new species
Tyrannosaur teeth discovered in Bexhill-on-Sea with help of retired quarryman
Rare whitefly fossils found in New Zealand shed light on ancient forest life
Other news
Plant hormones that help roots reach deeper water provide potential strategy for drought-resistant crops
Woodrats use 'quantity over quality' as a detox plan, study finds
Study reveals secrets behind cordierite's anomalous thermal expansion
Hydrogen peroxide and the mystery of fruit ripening: 'Signal messengers' in plants
Shallow waters and fast currents boost elkhorn coral restoration
Fishy fossil find points to possible polar bear ancestry for Scottish bears
Peru scientists unveil crocodile fossil up to 12 million years old
Gene discovery reveals unique sex determination in killifish
Ocean temperatures hit record highs in 2024, study finds
