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The Oldest Mammal Yet Discovered
Fossils of a small animal that roamed what is now southern Brazil have turned out to be more than we thought. Brasilodon quadrangularis is an extinct species known to science and dated to 225 million years ago, but until recently it was thought to have been a small reptile. The oldest mammal was considered to be the 205 million-year-old Morganucodon. But a new study has determined that B. quadrangularis was actually a mammal, making it the oldest mammal species we know of. How does one recognize a mammal fossil without soft tissue, like mammary glands? By the teeth. Reptiles lose teeth and grow replacement teeth throughout their lives, while mammals have two sets, the milk teeth and the permanent adult teeth. B. quadrangularis, a shrew-like creature about eight inches long, has the skull features that signal two sets of teeth over its lifetime. We don't know whether B. quadrangularis is an ancestor of any of today's mammals, but its age is only five million years newer than the earliest dinosaurs we've found. Its existence shows us that mammals and dinosaurs co-existed for many millions of years. Read more about this discovery at CNN. -via reddit(Image credit: 2022 Anatomical Society/Wiley) #fossil #mammal #paleontology
World's Oldest Belly Button Discovered
A fossil found in China is in such good shape that scientists identified its belly button. The fossil belongs to a Psittacosaurus, a bipedal dinosaur that lived between 100 and 120 million years ago! Now wait, you may think, don't belly buttons belong to placental mammals? Yes, but they also happen in egg-laying species. The embryos of birds and retiles have a cord attached to the yolk sack within the egg, which can leave a scar. Most modern egg-laying animals lose the scar soon after hatching. However a few species, such as alligators, keep their "umbilical scar" throughout their lives. The Psittacosaurus fossil was unearthed in 2002. A new laser imaging technique called Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence (LSF) was used to map the fine details of its skin, and revealed the umbilical scar. It also revealed scales, wrinkles, and skin patterns. With this technology, we can see dinosaurs as they existed in life. This is the oldest example of a belly button in a non-avian dinosaur more than 66 million years old. Read more about this research at Smithsonian.(Image credit: Jagged Fang Designs) #bellybutton #navel #dinosaur #umbilicalscar #paleontology
Diegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae: The Oldest Sabertoothed Predator is 42-Million-Years-Old
This is a fossil jaw bone ofDiegoaelurus vanvalkenburghae, a newly discovered, earliest-known sabertooth species. This sabertooth lived approximately 42 million years ago in ancient San Diego, a warm environment covered in lush forests.
Ocucaje Predator: Ancient "Monster" Whale was a Sea Serpent-Like Mammal
The Ocucaje Desert in Peru was once a shallow sea home to primitive sea mammals. Which is why the discovery of a deadly marine mammal skull there makes sense. The relic belonged to a basilosaurus, which roughly translated to “king lizard”.It was uncovered in 2021 roughly 350 kilometers (215 miles) south of Lima. Excavators were impressed by how well preserved the specimen had been.The ocean giant has been nicknamed the “Ocucaje Predator,” a suitably fearsome name for a 17-meter (55-foot) long hunter with gigantic jaws. These teeth led paleontologists to place basilosaurus at the top of the food chain, making it more than qualified to take down fish, sharks, and other archaic whales.The 36-million-year-old basilosaurus leaves behind a complete skull, representing an exciting opportunity for scientists to learn more about these prehistoric predators.The specimen is now on display at the Museum of Natural History in Lima.Image: Andrew Janson#basilosaurus #paleontology #Ocucaje #skull #fossil #OcucajePredator
Syllipsimopodi bideni: 10-Armed 325-Million-Year-Old Vampire Squid Fossil Named after President Joe Biden
Thevampyroteuthis infernalis.Some 325-238 million years ago, a strange torpedo-shaped cephalopod with ten arms, suckers, and a stiff internal shell that supported its body, roamed the deep waters. Scientists believe that the characteristics present in this cephalopod suggest that this creature is related to the only surviving species of the vampire squid, Vampyroteuthis infernalis (which means "vampire squid from hell"), a squid that lives on the oxygen-deprived and pitch-black region of the ocean deep. Both the modern-day vampire squid and this cephalopod belong to the group called vampyropods, although the latter was more closely related to the modern octopus.The fossil of this unusual creature lay unnoticed for over three decades in the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada since its arrival at the place. It was only recently that it caught the attention of two American paleontologists, who named it Syllipsimopodi bideni (after Joe Biden, to honor the man's commitment to science).(Image Credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)/ Wikimedia Commons)#Fossils #Paleontology #VampireSquid #JoeBiden
Scientists Proposed to Split Tyrannosaurus rex into Three Distinct Species
Because of the variations on thighbones and teeth among T. rex fossils, a group of three researchers proposed to split the tyrannosaurus genus into three species. Alongside the lone T. rex (which means "tyrant lizard king"), the two new species proposed are T. imperator ("tyrant lizard emperor) and T. regina ("tyrant lizard queen"). Gregory Paul, the lead author of the study, knew that his conclusions were controversial, and he was right.Other paleontologists disagreed with Paul's conclusions, with one stating that the variations that the study found were "very minor" and do not indicate "meaningful biological separation." Another paleontologist argued that the variations in the thighbones and teeth are not enough; differences should be present in most (if not all) of the body parts — especially in the head.(Image Credit: REUTERS/ Philippe Wojazer)#Paleontology #Dinosaurs #Trex #Timperator #Tregina
Move over T-Rex! Guemesia ochoai is a Newly Discovered Dinosaur with Even Tinier Arms
The T-rex is known as one of the most ferocious predators to walk our planet. But the T-rex is not only known for that; it is also known for its unusually tiny arms. However, T-rex arms are not the shortest. A new dinosaur species was recently discovered in Argentina. This dinosaur had even tinier arms than T-rex! This dinosaur, Guemesia ochoai, was an abelisaurid species from a group of carnivores said to have roamed in Africa, South America, and India. Also similar to the T-rex was this dinosaur's ferocity; it may be armless, but it is in no way harmless. Despite their smaller stature, the abelisaurs can take down bigger titanosaurs.These dinosaurs might be a pain in the butt to wrestle with, but if there's a type of wrestling where they cannot participate, it's arm wrestling.(Image Credit: Fred Wierum/ Wikimedia Commons)#Paleontology #Dinosaurs #Trex #TinyArms
110-Million-Year-Old Lizard Preserved in Amber
Most creatures that we find trapped in amber are insects. Rarely do we encounter fossilized remains of vertebrates. Scientists were very fortunate to discover the well-preserved remains of this extinct lizard (classified into a new species: Retinosaurus hkamentiensis). The lizard was so well-preserved that scientists were able to examine its skeleton and its external appearance! Even the double eyelids of its left eye remained. Because of the excellent preservation of the lizard in the amber, scientists were able to create a lifelike rendering of the creature.Upon closer inspection, scientists have found the Retinosaurus to resemble a skink that echoes some features of xantusiids (also called "night lizards") in North America. It might mean that it is a proto-xantusiid.(Images: Joseph Bevitt/Edward Stanley/Andrej Čerňanský et al via Syfy)#Paleontology #Lizard #Retinosaurus #Amber
Liquid Blood Found in the Heart of a Prehistoric 42,000-Year-Old Foal Mummy Preserved in Siberian Permafrost
This is the oldest blood in the world, ever!A prehistoric foal mummy was discovered in Siberia. The animal, estimated to be around 42,000 years old, had beautifully preserved internal organs and liquid blood thanks to its favorable burial conditions and the Siberian permafrost. According to Semyon Grigoryev, head of the Mammoth Museum in Yakutsk, the liquid blood was extracted from the animal’s heart vessels. The foal’s excellent condition makes it the best-preserved Ice Age animal ever found in the world.Scientists are now looking forward to cloning the animal to revive its species, the Lenskaya breed, which went extinct a long time ago. “Hopefully, the world will soon meet the clone of the ancient foal who lived 42,000 years ago.” Mickhil Yakovlev, editor of the North-Eastern Federal University’s media said to the press. Image credit: North-Eastern Federal University#paleontology #Lenskaya #foal #mummy #permafrost #siberia #cloning #animals
Parrosaurus Missouriensis, a New Genus of Dinosaur, Discovered in Missouri
Scientists have recently discovered in Missouri the bones of a dinosaur, and the paleontology community is very excited. The dinosaur is estimated to be 25 to 30 feet long. The remains are special, as these belong to a new genus and species of duckbilled dinosaurs called Parrosaurus missouriensis. Pete Makovicky, a professor in earth and environmental sciences at the University of Minnesota, describes the Missouri site as one of the most unique.The site's location is currently kept secret. The information would only be disclosed once the place is secured.Learn more about this discovery over at FOX 2.(Image Credit: FOX 2)#Dinosaurs #Fossils #Paleontology
Fossil of 244-Million-Year-Old Bony Fish Discovered in China is the Oldest Ever Found
Fossils of the Peltoperleidus fish were discovered recently in Luoping, eastern Yunnan, China. These fossils were dated to be over 244 million years, making them the oldest fossils of the fish to be discovered, compared to the previous fossils found, which are only 242 million years old.It is worth noting that these fossils were discovered in China, as paleontologists thought that the species only existed in Europe.Unlike earlier fish, the Peltoperleidus has highly flexible dorsal and anal fins, which allowed it to be more agile in the water, making it a formidable predator in the Middle Triassic epoch.Learn more about the Peltoperleidus fish over at Daily Mail.(Images: Peer J via Daily Mail)#Prehistory #Fossil #Paleontology #TriassicPeriod
100-Million-Year-Old Tiny Cretapsara Athanata Crab Trapped in Amber is the Oldest Aquatic Animal Preserved in Amber
Fossils trapped in amber give us a great glimpse of what life was like in the ancient past. Most of the time, what scientists find in the amber are insects. But sometimes, to their surprise, they see aquatic organisms trapped in the fossilized tree resin. Recently, scientists have revealed that they have found the first dinosaur-era crab. Even better, it's fully preserved in amber!The crab in question, Cretapsara athanata, is said to be the oldest modern-looking crab, and they estimate its age to be about 100 million years old. Javier Luque, the lead author of the research, described the crab as "very special in many ways." Despite being modern-looking compared to the other crabs from its era, the mid-Cretaceous amber in which it is preserved is proof that this crustacean belonged to the same time.The question, however, is how did this aquatic animal become trapped in tree amber?More about this over at Harvard University.(All Images: Xing, L. et al., Longyin Amber Museum via Science Advances)#Paleontology #Amber #Fossil
Frozen 28,000-Year-Old Cave Lion Cub in the Permafrost of the Siberian Arctic was So Well Preserved that it Looked like it was Sleeping
Mammoth tusk hunters digging in the permafrost of the Siberian Arctic made an astonishing discovery of two frozen cave lion cubs from the Ice Age. One was so well preserved that it looked like it was simply sleeping.
Discovered Fossil was 'Closest Thing We Have to a Real Life Dragon'
Australia is known for the scariest animals on earth, and apparently that was true in prehistoric times as well. A newly-discovered fossil in western Queensland comes from a pterosaur with a wingspan that could have been as wide as seven meters (23 feet) and a snout full of terrifying teeth. Scientists have dubbed the species Thapunngaka shawi. [Tim] Richard led the research team analysing a fossil of the creature's jaw which was discovered in western Queensland, the northeastern Australian state, and published the research in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.He said: "It's the closest thing we have to a real life dragon. It was essentially just a skull with a long neck, bolted on a pair of long wings. This thing would have been quite savage.Advertisement"It would have cast a great shadow over some quivering little dinosaur that wouldn't have heard it until it was too late," he added.Read more about the discovery at Sky News or see the original research paper. (Image credit: Tim Richard)#fossil #pterosaur #dragon #paleontology #Australia
Newly Identified Beetle Species That Lived 49 Million Years Ago is Named After Sir David Attenborough
A newly identified prehistoric beetle which lived 49 million years ago was just named after naturalist Sir David Attenborough.The frog-legged beetle was identified by Frank Krell of Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Francesco Vitali of the Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History. The fossil of the insect was found in the Green River Formation in Colorado.The beetle's beautiful pattern on its wing casings caught Krell's attention and inspired its name,Pulchritudo attenboroughi or Attenborough's Beauty. "This is one of the most magnificent beetle fossils ever found," Krell said in a statement. "The patterning is preserved in unsurpassed clarity and contrast, making this one of the best-preserved beetle fossils. It is most definitely deserving of its name.#beetle #fossil #paleontology #SirDavidAttenborough
New "Very Small and Cute" Beetle Species Found in Fossilized Dinosaur Dung
Biologist Martin Qvanström of Uppsala University in Sweden and his colleagues were studying 230-million-year-old coprolites or fossilized droppings when they discovered something unusual: a large number of beetle fragments preserved in the dung.The researches named the newly discovered beetle species Triamyxa coprolithica. Qvanström surmised that it was probably semiaquatic with a convex body shape, saying "Boat shaped almost. Very small and cute."From New Scientist:“To get fossilised remains of this quality, researchers have relied in the past on finding them in amber (fossilised tree resin),” says Jesus Lozano-Fernandez at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona, Spain. “The novelty here is the possibility of looking at what is inside of the opaque fossilised poo.”The earliest amber deposits formed about 140 million years ago early in the Cretaceous period, meaning we can’t rely on amber to learn about beetle evolution before that.These coprolites allow us to learn about this and ecological relationships in an earlier period called the Triassic.The droppings containing T. coprolithica probably came from Silesaurus opolensis, a reptilian dinosaur relative which ate these beetles in large numbers.#fossil #beetle #coprolite #dinosaur #paleontology #insect
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