Tag Archives: adaptations

Triassic-Era Crocodile Relatives: New Evidence of Bipedal Walking Adaptations

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Recently excavated fossils from the Shinle Formation in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA, have unveiled a fascinating creature: Sonserascus cedrus, a member of the Shubosaurus lineage that roamed the Earth approximately 215 million years ago during the Triassic period. It is believed that this dinosaur began its life walking on four legs before transitioning to a bipedal posture as it matured.

Reconstruction of Sonserascus cedrus 215 million years ago, showcasing the environment of what is now Petrified Forest National Park. Image credit: Gabriel Uguet.

Sonserascus cedrus is part of the Shubosauridae family, a unique group of pseudoarchosaurs known for their body shape resembling that of ornithomimid theropod dinosaurs.

This dinosaur stood approximately 63.5 centimeters (25 inches) tall, featuring a toothless beak, large eye sockets, and hollow bones.

University of Washington researcher Elliott Armor-Smith stated, “Although Sonserascus cedrus shares characteristics with ornithomimid dinosaurs, these features seem to have evolved independently due to similar ecological roles in a shared environment of crocodilian and avian archosaurs.”

Armor-Smith added, “Bipedalism, toothless beaks, hollow bones, and large orbits are typically associated with ornithomimid theropod dinosaurs, but Sonserascus cedrus demonstrates that these traits can also evolve within crocodiloforms.”

More than 950 fossil specimens representing at least 36 individuals of Sonserascus cedrus have been discovered.

“By examining the limb proportions of various specimens, we propose that their bipedal posture may arise from distinct growth patterns,” Armor-Smith noted.

“We believe as Sonserascus cedrus aged, its forelimbs and hindlimbs maintained proportionality, with hindlimbs ultimately becoming longer and more robust,” he continued.

“Essentially, these creatures likely started life as quadrupeds, transitioning to bipedalism as they matured, which is quite intriguing.”

The name Sonserascus cedrus reflects its connection to cedar trees, evergreen conifers that thrived in Late Triassic forests.

“Since initiating fieldwork at Petrified Forest in 2014, we have collected over 3,000 fossils from the area, including those of Sonserascus cedrus,” stated Professor Christian Sydow from the University of Washington. “These bones are remarkably well-preserved, showing no signs of decay.”

“In addition to Sonserascus cedrus, we have also uncovered fossils of fish, amphibians, dinosaurs, and other reptiles within the bone beds.”

For further details on this remarkable discovery, refer to the research paper published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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Elliott Armor Smith and Christian A. Sydow. 2026. Osteology and relationships of a new Shubosaurid (Pseudoschia, Poposaurinae) excavated from the upper Triassic Chinle Formation of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology published online March 8, 2026. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2025.2604859

Source: www.sci.news

Insightful Discoveries: New Fossils Shed Light on Plesiosaurus Diversity and Local Adaptations

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German paleontologists have unearthed a very well-preserved skeleton of the early Jornaian plesiosauloid species Plesioptery Wildi.

MH 7 Skeleton Plesioptery Wildi Abdominal view. Image credit: Marx et al. , doi: 10.7717/peerj.18960.

From a global perspective, the early Jurassic was characterized by the steady division of the Supercontinent Pangaea and associated climate change that produced alternating greenhouses and ice house conditions.

These paleoenvironmental changes coincided with radiation in various reptile groups. Plesiosauria.

The early Jurassic fossil records of the Plesiosaurus are particularly diverse, with members of Plesiosauroidea, Pliosauridae and Rhomaleosauridae being represented by numerous species in Europe, particularly in Germany and the UK.

3 m long skeleton Plesioptery Wildi It provides new clues about the evolution and geographical distribution of early Jurassic Precio Sources.

Fossils that were 180 million years ago posidonienschiefer layer Near Holtzmadden in southern Germany.

The specimen, called MH 7, is one of the most complete and distinct plesioaurus skeletons found in the region.

“Unlike the fishy scallions and marine crocodile parents who dominate the fossil record of this formation, Pleciosaurus is relatively rare,” said Miguel Marx, a paleontologist at Lund University and his colleagues.

“Therefore, new discoveries offer rare glimpses into the biodiversity of these long-necked marine reptiles.”

“MH 7 represents someone who refines this type of known trait and refines its validity as a clear taxa.”

Phylogenetic analysis shows that Plesioptery Wildi It is a close-related early potential plesiosaualoid Franconiasaurus Brevispinus.

“This finding suggests a progressive evolutionary transition to more derived cryptocrizids in the late Jurassic period,” the paleontologist said.

“It supports the idea that Prisiosaurus species may have been regionally different in the Epicontoninent Seas of early Jurassic Europe, reinforcing the pattern of paleobiogeographic segregation.”

“The Holtzmadden specimen gives us an unprecedented view Plesioptery Wildi At a more mature stage of development, we can refine our understanding of this species and its place in the evolution of plesiosaurus,” said Dr. Marx.

“It also suggests that different plesiosaurus communities may have evolved in different regions of the European sea during the early Jurassic region.”

“Our research reinforces the Pleciosoaurus already evolves specialized adaptations and distinct regional lineages much faster than we believed,” added Dr. Sven Sachs, a researcher at the Naturkunde Museum Bielefeld.

“This has important implications for understanding how marine reptiles responded to changes in the Jurassic ocean environment.”

study Published in the journal Peerj.

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M. Marx et al. 2025. New specimen of Plesioptery Wildi We reveal the diversification and possible uniqueness of Cryptocrizia precursors in the early European Jurassic Plecioaurauro assembly. Peerj 13:E18960; doi:10.7717/peerj.18960

Source: www.sci.news

Fallout’s success shows that video game adaptations have become mainstream on TV.

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IIn its initial days after release, Fallout, the Prime Video series based on the popular post-apocalyptic video game franchise, quickly became a global sensation. Topping the UK charts and ranking as one of the top three most-watched titles on Prime, it garnered widespread acclaim. This success led to Amazon announcing the renewal of the show for a second season within just one week of its global release across 240 countries and territories.

Amazon stated, “The expectations were high among fans of this iconic video game, and we are pleased to have exceeded them so far, attracting millions of new followers to the series.”

The triumph of Fallout, set two centuries after a nuclear catastrophe and featuring Ella Purnell, Kyle MacLachlan, and Aaron Moten, signifies the rise of video game adaptations into mainstream entertainment. Recent successes like HBO’s The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed $1.36 billion, highlight the increasing prominence of game-inspired content.

Rhys Elliott, a games industry analyst, compared game adaptations to superhero films, noting a shift towards gaming IP in Hollywood. The positive response to titles like Fallout and The Last of Us suggests a growing acceptance of gaming narratives in mainstream media.

Upcoming projects such as a Minecraft movie and a The Legend of Zelda adaptation by Margot Robbie reflect the industry’s evolving interest in gaming IP. The success of recent adaptations has debunked the myth of a curse surrounding game-to-film transitions, attributing it to faithful storytelling and star-studded productions.

Jonathan Nolan’s involvement in Fallout, driven by his passion for the game, underscores a new era where filmmakers appreciate the essence of gaming narratives. This collaboration between game developers and seasoned filmmakers has redefined the landscape of video game adaptations.

The shift towards gaming IP signifies a significant change in the industry’s approach to adapting video games. As Hollywood embraces this newfound gold rush, film studios are learning to leverage the global appeal of game franchises for successful adaptations.

Despite past misfires, recent successes have instilled confidence in the potential of video game adaptations. With a focus on engaging a broad audience and respecting the source material, these projects are redefining the narrative surrounding game-to-film transitions.

Source: www.theguardian.com