The Ancient “Dance Floor” Unveils Dinosaur Courtship Behaviors

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Approximately 100 million years ago, dinosaurs might have congregated to engage in a mating dance in a tidal area near Denver, Colorado. Recent research published in Cretaceous Research indicates that numerous intriguing scrape marks found in the stones of Colorado’s renowned dinosaur ridges are identified as Leks, potentially the largest known dinosaur mating display sites.

“Leks, or ‘Keeping Arena,’ refers to a location where numerous individuals come together to showcase courtship behaviors to attract mates,” stated Dr. Caldwell Bunting, the lead author of the study, in a conversation with BBC Science Focus.

Many contemporary birds, including knots and feathers—descendants of dinosaurs—exhibit similar behaviors, noted Bunting.

The hypothesis that dinosaurs engaged in such rituals was initially suggested by paleontologist Dr. Martin Lockley, who had observed comparable marks in the vicinity. This new study significantly strengthens that hypothesis, uncovering over 30 different scrape marks across various sediment layers.

These scratches found on Colorado’s dinosaur ridges may have been created during mating displays akin to those of modern birds. – Getty

The marks can be classified into two types: broad, shallow bowl-like impressions and narrow scrapes. It appears many were produced during movements involving rotation and kicking actions by both feet.

Drone imagery from the 2019 US Geological Survey and subsequent follow-up surveys enabled the team to map the site accurately, as access to the area was strictly controlled.

“This was a remarkable discovery,” remarked Bunting, who collaborated with Lockley until his passing in 2023.

“Our excitement was palpable. Upon reviewing the drone footage, we immediately spotted scuffs covering the entire screen. It truly felt like a ‘Eureka!’ moment for me.”

While the exact species responsible for these markings remains uncertain, Bunting speculates that based on nearby fossil footprints, Acrocanthosaurus—a predator similar to T. Rex—and ostrich-like ornithomimids could be possible contenders.

Bunting argues that it’s improbable T. Rex would engage in similar courtship behaviors, as such rituals necessitate complex social dynamics likely associated with group herding and movement.

Bunting aims to revisit other possible LEK sites in western Colorado to reassess initial interpretations of the scuff marks found there.

If verified, these marks could provide significant insights into the reproductive behaviors of dinosaurs, revealing not only their mating practices but also their competition for partners.

Read more:

About our experts

Dr. Caldwell Bunting is an alumnus of Old Dominion University. His research has appeared in journals such as Sedimentary Geology and Cretaceous Research.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Dog-Sized Neon Cyan Dinosaur Unearthed in Colorado

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Exciting discovery of a new genus and species of neornithischian dinosaur named Enigmacursor Mollyborthwickae. This dinosaur is recognized from its three-dimensionally preserved postcranial skeleton unearthed in the Morrison Formation in Colorado, USA.

Life reconstruction of Enigmacursor Mollyborthwickae. Image credit: Bob Nichols.

Enigmacursor Mollyborthwickae inhabited our planet during the late Jurassic period, approximately 150-145 million years ago.

This dinosaur was a bipedal herbivore standing about 0.5 m (1.6 feet) tall and measuring over 1 m (3.3 feet) in length.

It would have navigated the floodplains of the western United States alongside giants like diplodocus and Stegosaurus.

“There are indications that these dinosaurs are not fully mature. The upper vertebrae (neuronal arch) are formed separately and fused at the lower section, suggesting incomplete fusion,” noted Paul Barrett, a paleontologist at the Museum of Natural History in London, alongside Susannah Maidment.

The partial but well-preserved skeletons, along with several associated teeth, were excavated in 2021 and 2022 from a commercial quarry in Moffat County, Colorado, within the Morrison Formation.

Initially, this specimen was classified as Nanosaurus, a lesser-known herbivorous dinosaur first named in the 1870s.

However, upon thorough examination, paleontologists determined that the original Nanosaurus specimen was too poorly preserved to serve as a reliable reference for identification.

As a result, they set aside the name until higher quality fossils of Nanosaurus could ensure taxonomic stability.

The differences between the original and newly found specimens confirmed the classification as a new genus and species.

“The discovery of Enigmacursor Mollyborthwickae enhances our understanding of the diversity of ornithischian dinosaurs from the Morrison Formation and provides new insights into their anatomy,” researchers explained.

“Moreover, it highlights a previously unrecognized diversity among the small Morrisonian dinosaurs, suggesting they represent a more diverse component of these late Jurassic ecosystems than previously acknowledged.”

A paper detailing Enigmacursor Mollyborthwickae was published this week in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

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Susanna CR Maid & Paul M. Barrett. 2025. Enigmacursor Mollyborthwickae, a neornithischian dinosaur from the Jurassic Morrison Formation in the western United States. R. Soc. Open Sci. 12(6): 242195; doi: 10.1098/rsos.242195

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Discovered Herbivorous Dinosaur Species from the Jurassic Period Unearthed in China

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A newly identified genus and species of the Eusauropod dinosaur has been discovered from a fossilized partial skeleton, which includes almost complete skulls, located in Ganshu province, China.

Skull of niedu in side view. Image credits: Li et al., doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03210-5.

The newly recognized dinosaur species existed during the mid-Jurassic period, roughly 165 million years ago.

Named niedu, it is an early representative of the long-necked, exclusively herbivorous dinosaurs known as Eusauropoda.

“Sauropod dinosaurs, which are massive herbivores from the early Jurassic to the late Cretaceous period, have been found across all continents,” stated Dr. Ning Li, a researcher at a Chinese university of Earth Sciences.

“Due to global warming events occurring during the Late Jurassic, Eusauropod has become the sole surviving sauropod lineage.”

“In the middle and late Jurassic, non-neosauropods thrived, including taxa like Schnosaurus, Omeisaurus, and core forms of Mamenchisaurus.

Fossils of niedu were gathered from the base of the Xinhe Formation near Jinchan city in Gansu province, northwestern China.

The specimen comprises five cervical vertebrae and nearly complete mandibles, alongside 29 distinct caudal vertebrae.

The skull of niedu measures approximately 31 cm in length and 12.5 cm in height.

A sauropod dinosaur being chased by two carnivorous dinosaurs. Image credit: Lida Xing.

“Finding a well-preserved skull is uncommon in non-neosauropod eusauropods due to their fragility,” the paleontologist noted.

“The skull of niedu is exceptionally well maintained and nearly complete.”

“However, the left side of the skull shows deformation due to internal compression.”

“Most cranial sutures are clearly visible on niedu,” they added.

According to the researchers, niedu marks the earliest sauropod discovered in Gansu province.

“niedu is significant,” they concluded.

“We also present more information that enhances our understanding of sauropod evolutionary history in northwestern China.”

The paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports on May 23rd.

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N. Li et al. 2025. A new Eusauropod (dinosaurs, sauropods) from the central Jurassic in China. Sci Rep 15, 17936; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-03210-5

Source: www.sci.news

Paleontologists Create a Digital Reconstruction of a 120-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Trackway

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The extensive dinosaur trackways offer crucial insights into the behaviors of their creators, yet researchers frequently encounter logistical hurdles in documentation and analysis. In a recent study, paleontologists from the University of Queensland and the University of Earth Sciences in China tackled these issues by employing digital methods to reexamine China’s 70-meter long dinosaur trackway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx6_zrqfkzg

The 120-million-year-old trackway examined by the team is situated southwest of Hanukushi village in Sichuan Province, China.

Affectionately referred to as the “Siphenwo” or “Stone Phoenix Nest”, the trackway holds significant cultural importance. It was once believed by locals to have been created by the mythical Phoenix, as described in poetry from the late Qing Dynasty (1840-1911 CE).

This trackway, which represents the longest theropod trackway in East Asia, consists of 81 consecutive footprints, stretching over approximately 70 meters.

“The dinosaur’s movements were reconstructed in stages, revealing its walking patterns, pace changes, and responses to the environment,” stated Anthony Romilio, a paleontologist at the University of Queensland.

“The sequence of 80 consecutive footprints extends over 70 meters in Sichuan, China, capturing a fleeting moment in stone.”

“Through digital animation, we can observe these moments as they unfold, offering unparalleled insights into animal behavior and biomechanics.”

Reconstructing the life of a dinosaur based on Yutyrannus, scaled against a 175 cm human model. Image credit: Anthony Romilio & Lida Xing, doi: 10.3390/geosciences15050165.

Using measurements from the trackway, Dr. Romilio and colleague Dr. Lida Singh determined that the dinosaur was bipedal, standing approximately 1.13 meters tall at the waist and weighing up to 292 kg.

“The footprint indicates that the dinosaur moved at a steady 5.3 km/h, similar to a brisk human walk, occasionally accelerating to a light trot before resuming its normal pace,” Dr. Romilio explained.

“This was not merely a dinosaur meandering aimlessly; it was moving in a largely linear fashion with clear intent.”

The team concluded that the dinosaur’s size closely resembles that of the feathered dinosaur Yutyrannus, which lived in northeastern China during the early Cretaceous period.

“Trackways can reveal behavioral details and narratives that fossilized bones alone cannot,” remarked Dr. Romilio.

“However, the study of such extensive tracks has historically been challenging due to the complexities of on-site measurements.”

“Our entirely digital approach enables us to capture, interpret, and archive all measurements and calculations from fossil track sites on computers, providing insight into the dynamic lives of these ancient beings.”

The team’s findings will be published in the journal Earth Science.

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Anthony Romilio & Lida Xing. 2025. Digital analysis of the “Phoenix Trackway” at a Chinese Cretaceous dinosaur track site. Earth Science 15(5):165; doi:10.3390/geosciences15050165

Source: www.sci.news

Paleontologists Unveil a Newly Discovered Species of Loveddonton Dinosaur

Posted on May 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The species has been named obelignathus septimanicus. This new addition lived in the European archipelago around 72 million years ago during the Cretaceous period and is classified within the Ornitopod dinosaur family of Iguanodon Island, specifically in the Rabdodidae family.

Reconstructing obelignathus septimanicus in its Late Cretaceous environment, as depicted in the “Grès à Reptiles” layer, with a Dromaeosaurus in the background. Image credit: Edyta Felcyn-Kowalska.

The Rhabdodontids were medium-sized dinosaurs, potentially bipedal herbivores measuring between 2 and 6 meters (6.6 to 20 feet).

These dinosaurs exhibited stocky builds, characterized by thick limbs, short bodies, long tails, and relatively large triangular skulls.

They thrived in the late Cretaceous European archipelago, a vast collection of small islands located in shallow tropical waters.

This family currently comprises fewer than 10 species, distributed across southern France, northern Spain, eastern Austria, western Hungary, and western Romania.

“Rhabdodontids are typically recognized as endemic groups of leaf-eating dinosaurs from the late Cretaceous European archipelago,” stated Ukaszepians and Dr. Daniel Magia from the Institute of Paleontology at the Polish Academy of Sciences.

“At present, eight to nine different species have been identified based on specimens unearthed from eastern Austria, southern France, western Hungary, western Romania, and northern Spain.”

“However, our understanding of the diversity within Rhabdodontidae and their evolutionary relationships remains incomplete.”

Fossils of obelignathus septimanicus were discovered, with a notable tooth located in the Gresèrepilles layer in southern France.

This specimen has been associated with a previously identified species, “Rhabdodon septimanicus”.

“Rhabdodon septimanicus is recognized as a basal species from the lower part of the Maastrichtian in southern France during the Campanian period,” remarked the paleontologist.

“It was classified based on particularly robust dental remains, which have drawn varying taxonomic interpretations.”

“Our analyses, which include multivariate and phylogenetic evaluations, indicate that this species represents a distinct morphological anomaly among European Rhabdodontomorphs, justifying its categorization into a new genus, obelignathus.”

“While further extensive research, especially in-depth osteological studies, is essential to clarify the taxonomic significance of specific European Rhabdomorphs, our findings suggest that several co-existing sympatric species, particularly in southern France and possibly Romania, display greater diversity than is currently acknowledged,” he added.

The team’s research paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports this week.

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Czepiński & D. Madzia. 2025. A study of the diversity and disparity of Rhabdodontid ornithopods from Late Cretaceous European archipelagos. Sci Rep 15, 15209; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-98083-z

Source: www.sci.news

A Small Herbivorous Dinosaur Unearthed in Scotland

Posted on April 29, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Lead by a team of paleontologists from the National Museum of Scotland, this specimen is recognized as the first and most complete dinosaur skeleton discovered in Scotland to date.

The artist’s impression of Ornishkia’s dinosaurs. Image credit: Peter Trusler.

The newly identified specimen originates from the mid-Jurassic period, approximately 166 million years ago.

“Dinosaurs from the Triassic and Early Jurassic were typically small, bipedal, and carnivorous or omnivorous. However, by the late Jurassic, a remarkable diversification occurred, leading to the emergence of some of the largest terrestrial vertebrates to ever walk the Earth,” stated Dr. Elsa Pansilolli, a paleontologist and her colleagues at the National Museum of Scotland.

“This significant diversification in dinosaur species appears to have primarily occurred during the mid-Jurassic period, positioning these dinosaurs as key elements for understanding the drivers behind this rapid evolution.”

“Unfortunately, central Jurassic dinosaur fossils are exceedingly rare and underrepresented globally,” they added.

“Consequently, the early evolutionary history and major diversification of many dinosaur groups remain largely unknown.”

“Thus, new dinosaur findings from the central Jurassic are critical for unwinding the development of ecosystems dominated by dinosaurs.”

A 166 million-year-old skeleton of Ornithikian dinosaurs from the Kilmalag Formation on the Isle of Skye. Image credit: Pansilolli et al., doi: 10.1017/s1755691024000148.

Partial dinosaur skeletons were initially discovered in 1973, but the collection was only completed in 2018.

“The specimen comprises numerous bones and fragments that seem to originate from a single bedding plane within an area measuring approximately 60 cm x 40 cm,” remarked the paleontologist.

The skeleton was uncovered in the Kilmalag Formation, located north of the village of Ergol on the Isle of Skye.

This representation includes Scotland’s most comprehensive fossils, with its initial discovery preceding the earliest reported dinosaur fossils from Skye.

“The central Jurassic in Scotland is becoming more representative of fossil finds from the Kilmalag Formation, increasing its global significance in understanding this period of tetrapod evolution,” the researchers indicated.

“Despite being fragmented, it remains the most intact dinosaur specimen known from Scotland, including partial ilium, nerve arches, rib parts, and other key elements.”

The dinosaurs from the Middle Jurassic are likely Ornithischian Dinosaurs, known as Ornithopoda.

“If the specimen is confirmed to represent Ornithischian, as suggested by the partial iliac bone and histological sections, it signifies a geologically recent event in Scotland, originating from the Kilmalag Formation,” the scientist noted.

The team’s study has been published in the journal Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

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Elsa Panchiroli et al. The first and most complete dinosaur skeleton from the central Jurassic region of Scotland. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Published online on March 6, 2025. doi:10.1017/s1755691024000148

Source: www.sci.news

Review of Spooky Country Dinosaur Mansion 3: A Reality-Bending and Daftly Fun Game

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

this haunted house has become a ripe place to set up a strange video game. The layers of Lorelei and The Laser Eyes, Blue Prince, Botany Manor, and Fear of Fear come to mind. A mansion as a place of danger, supernatural danger, unreliable architecture – certainly perfect for an unsettling experience. Or even a stupid experience in an uneasy environment.

Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 has a lot to offer with its title. The first presents it as a conceptual dinosaur hunting adventure in a creepy house run by an ominous old mogul, and quickly reveals to players that they know it’s a video game. So it’s up to us to patch it as we go, broken video games, and to do so.

Players will explore the mansion through text and puzzle vignettes, pushing the limits of all scenarios in the hopes of finding bugs and glitches. This is a big concept, but the game seems interested in conveying the idea rather than showing us what we see or show them in the play itself.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/69Gn_8tCrMs?wmode=opaque&feature=oembed" title="Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 – LAUNCH TRAILER" height="480" width="854" allowfullscreen="

Run by a confused hero, our Butch combat system is a clever little match 3 game. Sometimes it’s a dinosaur with a gun. Sometimes it is a tripwire, sometimes it is a legion of clones – sometimes a clone of his own. Sometimes it talks about vegetables. Sometimes a wig dinosaur. Stupidity is one note, quickly flattened and stored only by the pleasant nature of the puzzle.

Still, to have an effective game of three matches, or frankly, to use Candy Crush, you need to use high-contrast colors to prioritize players. When I played it, it was really hard to distinguish between symbols and otherwise a pleasant flow was interrupted. This visual problem is not limited to puzzles. The entire color palette in this game is muddy. It doesn’t commit Gothicly or bring about total confusion.

The same problem applies to the text. The game is text-based, but the dialogue and descriptive text are just as muddy as the visuals. The jokes work, but they aim to be destructive and shocking (dinosaur romance is a repetitive gag). However, games are about gameplay and game development. This means that much of the explanation is expressed in technical terms. File and version history discussion goes beyond baseball’s internals. So, if you’re a gamer seasoned enough to speed up metalologic, certainly you don’t need to issue an affidavit. Certainly we were all laughing at the dinosaur romance five years ago. The writing is very close to great things. I had to be sharper.

Text-based gameplay 3 of a spooky country dinosaur mansion. Photo: Strange scaffolding

The art style is rough, but not in a way to evoke a deliberate aesthetic. Depending on the text, reality can be said when you complain in a bent way. There is a moment when we disappear into the void and leave the world. Once you get into the internet, you’ll even have some climactic moments. Still, the visuals are punchy. These strange appearances can be triggered by drawings and do not require flashy graphics. Although we recognize that the illustration style is intentional, the game would have been better served in art style, a little more playful or even intentional. Two moments made me laugh when the visual style actually moved into the meta and showed us some of what the game was saying to us.

I wanted to love this game. It’s ridiculous on paper. The odd scaffolding, the developer, is known for being odd – click-holding, in particular, is ominous and experimental, and truly asks what the game is in its execution (there are a lot of clicks and are being watched in the action of clicks). Spooky country dinosaur mansion 3 is certainly creepy and set in a mansion, with dinosaurs and truly satisfying puzzles. Also, there are some great ideas and not one that failed the experiment. It doesn’t bend reality as it hopes, but if it looks high and players can manage places where aesthetics are scarce, they’ll have a great time. They may meet a lovely blonde dinosaur that they can bring home with them.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Newly discovered sauropod dinosaur species found in Argentina

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The new genus and species of the Levubatisaurus sauropod dinosaur are explained from fossils discovered in the paleontological region of Neuken, Argentina.

Reconstructing the life of Cienciargentina Sanchezi. Image credit: Connor Ashbridge / CC by 4.0.

The newly discovered dinosaurs roamed the globe during the late Cretaceous period, about 94 million years ago.

It has been named Cienciargentina Sanchezithe species is the earliest member of the Diplodocoid Dinosaur family. Rebbachisauridae It has been known up to this point.

Rebbachisaurids diversified primarily into the supercontinent Gondwana during the early and late Cretaceous periods.

These dinosaurs are known for fragmented fossil ruins from South America, Africa, North America, Europe and possibly Central Asia.

They are distinguished from other sauropods by their distinctive teeth. Some species had similar species to the hadrosaurus and Serratopsian dinosaur species.

“The first South American Rebbachisaurid Sauropods were recognized based on materials from the vicinity of the Candeleros and Huincul Formations of Vira El Chocon (Neuken, Argentina)”

“The material of Rebbachisaurid from the Huincul layer, along with the material of the Bajovaler layer, is particularly relevant as it has probably been completely extincted.”

Fossilized Materials Cienciargentina Sanchezi Found around Villa El Chocon Huincul Layer.

“This new species will be added to the list of Levubacisauld sauropods documented in the Huncuru Formation (Upper Cenomanian Turonian), which is considered to be the world’s latest diplodocoid,” the paleontologist said.

“In fact, since the Tronian, the sauropod community has been made up of only macronalians, mostly giants.”

“In Patagonia, the hypothetical fauna rotation that occurred in the middle of the Cretaceous period, involving not only white pods but other groups of dinosaurs, is likely observed anywhere else in South America.”

a paper Describing Discovery was published in the journal this month Cretaceous Research.

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Maria Edith Simon and Leonardo Salgado. New Rebbachisaurid (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the huincule formation (Upper Cenomanian Turonian) of Villa El Chocon (Nuken, Argentina). Cretaceous ResearchPublisherd Online April 9, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106137

Source: www.sci.news

Newly discovered fossils of the iguanodon dinosaur found in Portugal

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Portuguese paleontologists have discovered several specimens of the large Ankiroprolexian Iguanodon (late Jurassic epoch) that lived 150 million years ago.

A massive reconstruction of the Iguanodon dinosaur of Ankiropolo Lexia interacting with a late Jurassic boy in the late European period. Image credit: Vitor Carvalho.

New dinosaur fossils have been found in various regions of the Lusitania Basin in western Portugal.

One of the specimens labeled shn.jjs.015 is Ankiroporo Lexia, a mysterious group of herbivores Iguanodontian dinosaur. It lived from the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous period in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

“That was a surprise,” said Dr. Filippo Maria Rotetri, a Geobiotech paleontologist, at the University of Nova de Lisboa and the Museum’s Da Rourinha.

“We believed that the diversity of this dinosaur group was already well documented in the late Jurassic of Portugal, but this discovery shows that there is still much to learn and that exciting discoveries could continue to emerge in the near future.”

“Unfortunately, due to the limited amount of recovered materials, it is not yet possible to assign a formal scientific name to this species.”

“It was heavyweight,” added Dissancia, professor Fernando Escaso, a paleontologist at Exaicon University.

“When we estimated its size and weight, we found that this new dinosaur is much bulkier than other Iguanodon species. Draconyx or eousdryosaurus, it is likely that they share ecosystems.”

Paleontologists also excavated a series of small, isolated bones in the same Lucitane basin.

These fossils may represent the same species of Ankiroprolexia Iguanodon dinosaur, just like shn.jjs.015.

“The explanation of shn.jjs.015 adds new members of Ankiroporolexia to the inadequately known Jurassic Iguanodonn fauna of Iberian land, and at least at the bottom of the Titonian (149-143 million years ago), three medium-sized European countries (143 million years ago), from Europe, three medium-sized ankiropound Europe. The researchers said.

Furthermore, it supports the interpretation of Iguanodon diversification early discovered by Europe in the late Jurassic, and demonstrates the fundamental role of Iberian land in achieving a better understanding of biogeographic patterns. ”

Survey results It will be displayed in Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

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Filippo Maria Rotatori et al. 2025. Evidence of a large Ankiropolar Lexian dinosaur (Ornithischia: Iguanodontia) in the Upper Jurassic of Portugal. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 23(1): 2470789; doi: 10.1080/14772019.2025.2470789

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers unearth massive dinosaur tracks dating back 167 million years on the Isle of Skye

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have discovered 131 large theropods and sauropods in the formations of the central Jurassic Kirmalag at Prince Charles’s point, located on the northwest coast of the Troternas Peninsula in Sky.

A 167 million-year-old dinosaur trackway located at Prince Charles’s point on the Isle of Skye. Image credit: Blakesley et al. , doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319862.

The rocks of Isle of Skye are rich in dinosaur footprints, providing insight into the distribution and behavior of dinosaurs at critical times of evolution.

The newly discovered footprint was left in the wavy sands of an ancient subtropical lagoon dating back to the mid-Jurassic period about 167 million years ago.

The footprint is 25-60 cm long and comes in two types. This is a round “Tyre-Size” track, made by three untidy trucks left by Bipedal: a carnivorous theropod, a tetrapod, and a long-necked sauropod.

Based on comparisons with previous fossil discoveries, the most likely truck maker is Megalosaurus Similar to early branching members of the Neosauropod group CethiosaurusBoth are known from British skeletal ruins.

According to paleontologists, many of these footprints occur together in successive steps.

The longest of these trackways is over 12m, among the longest known examples from the Isle of Skye.

The spacing and orientation of these trackways represent slow walking without consistent orientation or interaction with each other, and what is probably left by the dinosaurs is casually crushed at slightly different times.

The site at Prince Charles’s point supports previous evidence that the Jurassic Sauropod frequently visited Scottish lagoons.

However, this site contains a higher percentage of theropod tracks than similar locales, perhaps indicating differences in the environment between these ancient lagoons.

The site also does not have footprints from other dinosaurs such as Stegosaurus and Ornithopods, but it remains unclear whether these animals really do not exist in this environment or simply did not leave a mark on this site.

“Prince Charles’s footprint at points provides fascinating insight into the behavior and environmental distribution of meat-eating theropods and plant-eating long-necked sauropods during key periods of evolution.”

“In Sky, these dinosaurs obviously preferred shallow, submerged lagoon environments to muddy air exposed.”

“Interestingly, this site also has historical significance as a location for Skye, where Prince Bonnie landed and hidden while flying through Scotland following the Battle of Culloden.”

Discoveries are reported in a paper Published online in the journal PLOS 1.

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T. Blakely et al. 2025. A new central Jurassic Lagoon margin assembly of theropod and sauropod dinosaur trajectories from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. PLOS 1 20(4): E0319862; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319862

Source: www.sci.news

The dinosaur with two fingers used its massive claws to devour leaves

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Illustration of Duonychus Tsogtbaatari, a Cretaceous theropod dinosaur

Masato Hatri

A new species of dinosaur found on the Mongolian building site has the largest fully preserved claws ever discovered. The bipedal herbivores only had two fingers in each hand, so they may have been used to grab a branch and pull it towards their mouth.

The 90 million-year-old fossil containing parts of the pelvis, arms and hands, and parts of numerous vertebrae was discovered in 2012 near Kambogd in the Gobi Desert, but is now properly studied and given a scientific name. Duonychus tsogtbaatari. The genus name means “two claws” and the species name honors Mongolian paleontologists Kishigjav tsogtbaatar.

Duonychus It's a small relative of Tericinosaurusthe features of the movie Jurassic World Dominion. Yoshitug Kobayashi In Hokkaido, Japan, his colleague estimates that the dinosaurs were about 3 meters long and weighed about 270 kilograms.

“Discovery Duonychus tsogtbaatari It's a big deal because it's the first known tericinosaurus with only two fingers,” says Kobayashi.

Overall, five groups of theropods have evolved to have only two fingers. Tyrannosaurus.

DuonychusThe nails are nearly 30 centimeters. Unusually, the nail sheath is made of keratin, the same material as the nail – is preserved.

“Keratin usually doesn't become fossilized. It fades long before bones do it,” says Kobayashi. “Most of the time, when we find dinosaur claws, we just look at the nucleus of the bone. But in life, the actual claws are covered in thick keratin sheaths, which are longer and curved.”

Team Members Darla Zelenitsky At the University of Calgary, Canada, finding a two-fingered Tericinosaurus was very surprising.

Duonychus Tsogtbaatari nails

Kobayashi et al.

“This is the largest 3D dinosaur claw that is completely preserved. “This claw is not preserved as the outline of the rock surrounding the bone. This is quite typical for fossils where the true claw is preserved. This claw is actually three-dimensional and forms a sheath around the underlying phalanx, similar to what is found on dog and cat's paws.”

Researchers believe that the nails are adaptations for grabbing and pulling down vegetation. Less fingers can make each one stronger, more flexible, narrower, and more controlled grips possible, Kobayashi says.

“The curved claws and extreme flexion suggest that they can be more easily connected to leaf branches and clusters,” he says. “Three fingers may have just got in the way, but two provided a more accurate and efficient grasp.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Three newly discovered dinosaur footprints in Australia dating back 200 million years

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have studied and described three surfaces, including previously unknown dinosaur tracks, from an area near Biloella in Queensland, Australia.

Surface containing dinosaur tracks from the sandstone Duncreek mine area in the Kalido Basin, Queensland, Australia. Image credits: Romilio et al. , doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2472153.

University of Queensland researcher Dr. Anthony Romilio and his colleagues discovered footprints of early Jurassic dinosaurs preserved in three separate rocks in the Kalido Basin.

“One of the surfaces contains a single track, the other has a single trackway consisting of two tracks, and the third has a large concentration of 66 footprints,” they said.

“This is the highest concentration known from the area, with a density of 71 tracks per metre.²and only to specimens of the same age from the Carnarvon Valley, the second highest in Australia. ”

Each footprint has three toes, indicating that it belongs to the dinosaur Ichnospecy anomoepus scambus.

“The Ichnospecies, also discovered at the early Jurassic track sites in Carnarvon Valley and Mount Morgan, shows the prevalence of Ornishikian dinosaurs throughout the region,” the researchers said.

Small filled circular traces, possibly invertebrate burrows Scoritusthe surface is rich and, if correct, indicates that the tracks were formed under sub-light blue to medium energy conditions.

ICHNOSPECIES' Ornithischian Track Maker anomoepus scambus. Image credit: University of Queensland.

“The footprint comes from 47 individual dinosaurs that have passed through patches of wet white clay, and they probably walked or crossed the waterways,” Dr. Romilio said.

“These dinosaurs were small, with legs ranging from 15-50 cm long, and when they left these marks they were moving below 6 km/h.”

“Evidence from skeletal fossils abroad says that dinosaurs with legs like these were herbivores that had long legs, thick bodies, short arms and small heads with beaks.”

Scientists say the newly discovered footprint is about 200 million years old (early Jurassic epoch).

“These footprints provide valuable insight into the abundance and behavior of dinosaurs in an age where body fossils are not present in Australia,” they said.

Their paper It was published in the journal on March 10th, 2025 Historical Biology.

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Anthony Romillio et al. Dinosaur footprints from sandstones in the Lower Jurassic (Hetangian-Cinemurian), the Kalido Basin, Queensland, Australia. Historical BiologyPublished online on March 10th, 2025. doi:10.1080/08912963.2025.2472153

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers uncover a previously unknown species of Sauropodmorph dinosaur

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

meet xingxiulong yueorum A new species of early extermination Zauropodmorph dinosaurs that lived in present-day China during the early Jurassic period.

Fossilized skeleton of xingxiulong yueorum. Image credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences.

xingxiulong yueorum It belongs to Masopoda A large group of Sauropodomorph dinosaurs described in 2007.

The new species is merely the second member of the previous monopolar genus. xingxiulong.

“xingxiulong yueorum It is distinguished from xingxiulong chengi By owning a pendant-shaped fourth trochanter with a distal end, an Astragalus with a rear almost straight dorsal margin, and a Pedalgiet V with two factors” Paleonanthropology and Chinese Academy of Sciences University, and colleagues.

Partial postcranial skeletal structure of xingxiulong yueorum It was discovered in 2015 near the city of Lufen in Yunnan Province, China.

The specimen is Lufeng Layer.

“The Rufen Formation is one of the most important sedimentary units for understanding the evolution of early Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs,” the paleontologist said.

xingxiulong yueorum Estimated to reach lengths of 8-10 m (26-33 feet) – twice the size xingxiulong chengi.

“Both of both species xingxiulong There are usually four sacral vertebrae associated with delayed sauropods and sauropods, suggesting a complex early evolution of sauropods,” the researchers said.

According to the team, the discovery xingxiulong yueorum Adds diversity of Sauropodomorph dinosaurs from the Lufeng Formation.

“This finding contributes to an understanding of the complex patterns that characterize the early evolution of Asian sauropods,” the authors concluded.

Their paper It was published in the journal on February 3, 2025 Historical Biology.

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Xiang-Yuan Chen et al. New species of xingxiulong (Dinosaur, Sauropodmorpha) from the lower Rufen Formation in the Jurassic region of Yunnan Province, China. Historical BiologyPublished online on February 3, 2025. doi:10.1080/08912963.2025.2458130

Source: www.sci.news

Dinosaur fossils claimed by ducks found in China

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have discovered a fragmentary skeleton of a new Lamboosaurin hadrosaurus dinosaur in the Daranshan Formation in the Cretaceous period of southern China.

Skeletal material present in Lambeosaurin specimens from the Upper Darranshan Formation of Cretaceous period in southern China. Image credit: Wang et al. , doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2454652.

The fragmentary skeleton of a single hadrosaurus individual is Daranshan Formation Near Zhaoqing city in Guangdong Province, China.

The specimen is between 70-67 million years old (Maastrichtian Age), and includes vertebrae, humerus, ilium, femur and tibia.

“The specimens were collected from the Sanshui Basin in the northwest of the Pearl River Delta in southern China, the inland basin closest to the South China Sea, a land source in South China,” colleagues.

“A large area of the Upper Cretaceous layer, divided into two large deposition zones, occurs within it.”

“Stratigraphy is well understood, but few vertebrate fossils were found except for the aforementioned Tyrannosauld teeth at the Typingansite.”

“The new Lamboosaurin was found in the red gravel of the second member of the Daranshan Formation.”

Individuals were members of the tribe Lambeo Sauriniotherwise it is not often expressed in the Chinese fossil record.

“The Hadrosaurudoa fossil record occurs throughout the lower and upper Cretaceous layers of the world,” the paleontologist said.

“Hadrosauroids consist of a graded basal member and a derived Hadrosauridae, the latter consisting of the Lamboosaurus River and Hadrosaurinae or Saurolophinae.”

“The most distinctive character that unites the Lambeosaurin hadrosaurin-like group is the hollow skull, formed by the pair's anterior exosarobes and noses, which may have functioned in acoustic and/or visual signaling.”

“The fossil record of Lambo Osaurinae ranges from the Santonian to the Maastrichtian.”

“To date, four species have been discovered in China. Charonosaurus jiayinensis, Jaxartosaurus sp. , Tsintaosaurus Spinorhinusand Sahaliyania Elunchunorum. ”

Researchers say the new specimen is the first known Lamboosaurin in southern China.

“It represents the first hadrosaurus from the Sanshui Basin and the first Lamboosaurin from southern China,” they said.

“This specimen suggests the possibility of future fossil discoveries in Cretaceous sediments of the Sanshui Basin, indicating that the area was once home to typical late Cretaceous Cretaceous dinosaur animals. It's there.”

Team's paper Published in the journal Historical Biology.

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Donghao Wang et al. 2025. The first occurrence of the ducked dinosaur tribe Lambosaurini (Hadrosauridae: Lambosaurinae) in southern China. Historical BiologyPublished online on January 25th, 2025. doi:10.1080/08912963.2025.2454652

Source: www.sci.news

Long-Held Ostrich-Like Dinosaur Unearthed in Mexico

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The fossilized archaeological site discovered in Mexico’s core wilderness in 2014 has identified the strange new genus and species of the Ornithomimid dinosaur.

Reconstruction of life Mexidracon Longimanus. Image credit: ddinodan / cc by 4.0.

The newly identified dinosaur species walked around the earth about 73 million years ago in the late Cretaceous era.

It was named Mexidracon Longimanus. The length of this ancient creature was about 3 m (10 feet).

It belongs to Ornithomimidae, a dinosaur family that evolved a beak without teeth, is omnivorous or herbivorous, and likely resembled a superficial ostrich.

“Ornithomimosaurs have a large orbit, long neck, non-radical manus, long rostral bones with a slender, long, and distally delicate skull of the beast legs resembling a dinosaur,” said Benemerita Escuela Normal Deco Aria and her colleagues in the United States, Mexico, and Spain.

“The size of the body ranges from small forms (exceeding 12 kg) like Nqwebasaurus Thwazi and Blue Weather from early Cretaceous in Africa and Asia to large Asian species in the late Cretaceous like Deinocheirus Mirificus (6 tons).

“Ornithomimosaurs are known from the Caucasian strata in Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa.”

The fossil of Mexidracon Longimanus was discovered in 2014 in the Cerro del Pueblo Formation in Mexico.

“The Cerro del Pueblo layer of Core Wayla represents one of the richest layers, including Mexican dinosaurs,” said researchers.

“Similar to other Cretaceous sites in North America and Asia, Ornithomimosaurs are very common in the Cerro del Pueblo layer.

“However, most of these specimens are very fragmentary, and even relatively complete specimens remain officially unexplained.”

“Mexidracon Longimanus represents the first officially described ornithomimid dinosaur species from the Cerro del Pueblo layer.”

Its most prominent autoapomorphy is the extreme elongation of its manual phalanges, forming the palm of its hand.

“The discovery of Mexidracon Longimanus suggests a wide body size diversity and geographical distribution of ornithomimosaurs among the Campanians in southern Laramidia.

“The record of ornithomimosaurs in the Cerro del Pueblo layer is another example of the coexistence of ornithomimids and Deinocheirids, reaching a wide body size diversity in this ‘ostrich’ dinosaur clay.”

The discovery of Mexidracon Longimanus will be reported in a paper released in the journal “Cretaceous Research” this week.

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Claudiainéssserrano-Breweryas et al. Mexico, Core Wayla Campanians (Upper Cretaceous). A new long ornithomimid dinosaur from the Cerro del Pueblo layer. Cretaceous Research was released online on January 28, 2025. Doi: 10.1016/J.CRETRES.2025.106087

Source: www.sci.news

Non-biologist uncovers evidence of a massive Hadrosaurus dinosaur in the Gobi Desert

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Anti-Japanese and Mongolian paleontologists have found the footprints of Hadrosaurus dinosaur fossils eating large plants from the Cretaceous.

A huge Hadrosaurus dinosaur footprint in the Gobi Western Desert in Mongolia. Image credit: Okayama Science University.

The newly discovered Hadrosaurus footprint dates back about 70 million years ago (Cretaceous).

One of them is about 92 cm in diameter (3 feet), one of the largest Hadrosaurus footprints found so far.

“It is thought that the biggest footprint belongs to the giant SaurolovsIt is estimated that the overall length of the whole body exceeds 15 m (50 feet), and evenly Tyrannosaurus and Turbo saurus Team leader of size Shinobu IshigakiOkayama Science University Dinosaur Museum Research Bureau, and his colleagues stated in a statement.

Saurolovs Is a large Hadrosaurus dinosaur known by the Canadian horseshoe canyon and the Mongolian Nemegut layer.

According to an old-fashioned scholar, it is one of the few dinosaur genus from multiple continents.

“Our discovery suggests that one of the largest bipedal behaviors known so far lived in Mongolia, and also enhances hope for the discovery of large-scale skeletal archeological sites. They say. “

In addition, researchers have found a 24 m (79-foot) trackway composed of about 85 cm (2.8 feet) fossils (2.8 feet).

“From June 1 to 15, 2024, we conducted a follow-up survey in the Nishi Gobi Desert,” he said.

“As a result, we discovered a new trackway, including three footprints of the largest Hadrosaurus discovered so far and 13 fossiled footprint sequences.”

“The identification of 14 trackways, including those found before 2018, enables analysis of posture, walking style, speed, and group movements. This is an unpredictable details.”

“So far, the largest known Hadrosaurus skeleton belongs. Shunton SaurusThey were found in Shandong Province, China. “

“However, the latest discovery in Mongolia suggests the possibility of clarifying large-scale skeletal archeological sites in this area.”

“Our next goal is to clarify a large full skeleton. Saurolovs I will be in charge of these footprints, “said Dr. Ishikawa.

Source: www.sci.news

The Sahara Desert and Amazon Rainforest may have been the first habitats for dinosaur evolution

Posted on January 23, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

If dinosaurs really did appear near the equator, life would have been particularly hot and dry.

Mark Whitton/Natural History Museum Trustees

Dinosaurs may have first evolved near the equator, rather than far south in the Southern Hemisphere as previously thought. Modeling studies suggest they originated in areas covering what is now the Amazon rainforest, the Congo Basin, and the Sahara Desert.

“Given the gaps in the fossil record and the evolutionary tree of dinosaurs, it is very likely that this is the central point of dinosaur origin,” he says. Joel Heath At University College London.

Dinosaurs evolved during the Triassic period, which lasted from 252 million to 201 million years ago, but there is “considerable” uncertainty about when and where they evolved, Heath said. The oldest known fossils of these animals are about 230 million years old, but there are enough features to suggest that dinosaurs have already been around for millions of years. “There must have been a lot going on in terms of dinosaur evolution, but we don't have the fossils,” he says.

At this time, the Earth looked very different. All the continents were combined into a single supercontinent called Pangea, shaped like a C with its center straddling the equator. South America and Africa were located in this southern hemisphere part and were fitted together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The earliest known dinosaurs lived in the southern parts of these two continents, in present-day Argentina and Zimbabwe, where dinosaurs were thought to have originated.

To learn more, Heath and his colleagues built a computer model that works backwards in time from the oldest known dinosaurs to the group's origins. They considered uncertainties such as gaps in the fossil record, possible geographic barriers, and ongoing questions about how the earliest dinosaurs were related to each other to create dozens of versions. has been created.

Most of these simulations concluded that dinosaurs first appeared near the equator, with only a few supporting a southern origin.

Paleontologists have tended to believe that dinosaurs couldn't have originated near the equator, Heath said. One reason for this is that no early dinosaur fossils have been found in the area. Moreover, it was a difficult place to live. “It was very, very dry and very hot,” he says. “It is believed that dinosaurs could not have survived in such conditions.”

However, most models do not. “This suggests something that we didn't really think was possible until now,” Heath says.

In fact, there may be a more prosaic explanation for the lack of early dinosaur fossils found near the equator. Paleontologists tend to conduct excavations in North America, Europe, and more recently China. “There are many areas of the planet that are completely ignored,” says Heath. He added that geologists have not found many rocks of suitable age in the area associated with the findings that can be excavated. “It may not be exposed in a way that we can easily investigate.”

But evidence supporting Heath's idea has recently come to light. On January 8th, researchers david loveless At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, oldest known dinosaur Originally from northern Pangea. They discovered what they call a species new to science. Avaitum Banduiche, sauropodomorphs related to long-necked dinosaurs such as diplodocus That evolved later. The research team discovered the 230-million-year-old rock in Wyoming's Popo Aggie Formation.

If dinosaurs were already present north and south of Pangea that long ago, there's no way the middle of the equator would be closed off to them, Heath said. “They must have been crossing the area.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Paleontologist Identifies New Species of Predatory Dinosaur

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have described a new genus and species of carcharodontosaurian theropod dinosaur based on descriptions of now-destroyed specimens from Egypt’s Bahariya Formation.

rebuilding the life of Tameriraptor Markography. Image credit: Joschua Knüppe.

The newly identified dinosaur lived in what is now Africa during the Cretaceous period about 95 million years ago.

dubbing Tameriraptor Markographyan ancient species, is a member of a group of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs. Carcharodontosauridae.

The fossilized remains of this dinosaur were discovered in 1914 about 2 km (1.2 miles) from Ein Gedid, at the western foot of Gebel Hara in the Bahariya Formation.

This fossil was first described as a carcharodontosaur species by German paleontologist Ernst Stromer von Reichenbach in 1931. Carcharodontosaurus sahalix.

“In 1931, Stromer described the first partial skeleton of a carcharodontosaur from the Cretaceous period of North Africa,” said first author Dr. Maximilian Kellermann and Ludwig Maximilian of the Bavarian State Institute of Paleontology and Geology. said a university colleague.

“The specimens were excavated from the Bahariya Formation, a locality in the northern Bahariya Oasis of Egypt, and include skull fragments (maxilla, nasal bone, part of the brain shell), vertebrae, part of the pubic bone and ischium, femur, and fibula. It consisted of

“Recognizing the common features of the related teeth, Stromer referred to the specimen as: Dryptosaurus sahalixproposed a new genus name, but carcharodontosaurusfor this kind of case. ”

According to the authors, the original specimen was destroyed during World War II.

The only extant data consist of Stromer's description and depiction of the specimen and an endocast of the brain box, currently stored in Berlin.

“What we saw in the historic footage surprised all of us,” Dr. Kellerman said.

“The Egyptian dinosaur fossils depicted there are very different from more recent dinosaur fossils.” carcharodontosaurus Found in Morocco. ”

“Thus, Stromer's original classification was inaccurate. We have now identified and named a completely different and previously unknown species of predatory dinosaur. Tameriraptor Markography”

Tameriraptor Markography It was approximately 10 meters (33 feet) long and had symmetrical teeth and a prominent nasal horn.

“We found that this dinosaur was closely related to the carcharodontosaurs of North Africa and South America, and to the metricanthosaurids, a group of predatory dinosaurs in Asia,” said the study's senior author. said one Dr. Oliver Rauchat.

“The dinosaur fauna of North Africa was probably much more diverse than we previously thought.”

“This study shows that there is value for paleontologists to dig not only in the ground but also in old archives.”

“However, a more comprehensive assessment of the Cretaceous predatory dinosaur fauna of Bahariya Oasis will require the recovery of more fossils from the site.”

of the team work Published in a magazine PLoS ONE.

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M. Kellerman others. 2025. Reassessment of its implications for the phylogeny of Bahariya Formation carcharodontosaurids (dinosaurs: theropods) and allosaurids. PLoS ONE 20 (1): e0311096;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311096

Source: www.sci.news

New discovery of fossils reveals a revamped dinosaur evolutionary history

Posted on January 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

American paleontologists have discovered the fossilized remains of a new species of sauropod dinosaur that lived in the northern hemisphere (Laurasian supercontinent) during the Carnian period of the late Triassic period, about 230 million years ago.

reconstruction of Avaitum banduichethe world's oldest known low-latitude dinosaur species. Image credit: Gabriel Uguet.

Until now, it was thought that dinosaurs originated deep in the high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere (Gondwana supercontinent).

The dinosaur fauna of Gondwana and the earliest dinosaur occurrences in the Northern Hemisphere (Laurasian supercontinent) were separated by 6 to 10 million years.

However, the newly described Laurasia species lived at the same time as the oldest known southern dinosaurs.

named Avaitum banduicheThis sauropod is the oldest known Laurasian dinosaur.

“Avaitum banduiche Dr. Dave Loveless of the University of Wisconsin Museum of Geology and his colleagues found that “Dinosaurs lived in Laurasia during or shortly after a period of huge climate change known as the Carnian Plug, which previously led to the diversification of dinosaur species. “It was involved in the early stages of.” .

“The climate at the time was much wetter than before, turning vast, hot desert regions into more hospitable habitats for early dinosaurs.”

Avaitum banduiche It was about 1 meter (3 feet) long from head to tail.

“Avaitum banduiche “It's basically the size of a chicken, but it has a very long tail,” Dr. Lovelace said.

“We think of dinosaurs as giant behemoths, but they didn't start out that way.”

fossil remains are Avaitum banduiche It was discovered in 2013 at Garrett's Surprise (named after Garrett Johnson, the undergraduate field assistant who discovered the locality), a small outcrop of the Popo Aggie Formation in Wyoming.

“These fossils reveal the world's oldest equatorial dinosaur, which is also the oldest North American dinosaur,” Dr. Loveless said.

At the same Garrett's Surprise site, paleontologists also discovered fossilized bones of dinosaur-like creatures called silesaurids.

“The presence of early low-latitude sauropods from the Northern Hemisphere, along with silesaurids, 230 million years ago casts doubt on the hypothesis that the dispersal of dinosaurs from high-latitude Gondwana was delayed.” the researchers said.

“These data fill a critical gap in the early record of the evolution of sauropod dinosaurs and demonstrate a wide geographic distribution from mid-to-late Carnian times.”

their result will appear in Zoological journal of the Linnean Society.

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David M. Lovelace others. 2025. Rethinking the origins of dinosaurs: The oldest known equatorial dinosaur population (Mid-Late Carnian Popo Aggie FM, Wyoming, USA). Zoological journal of the Linnean Society 203 (1): zlae153;doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae153

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Dinosaur Highway Footprints Uncovered in the UK, Dating Back 166 Million Years

Posted on January 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Workers excavating clay at a limestone quarry in southern England stumbled upon a unique bump, leading to the discovery of a “dinosaur highway” and approximately 200 tracks dating back 166 million years, as revealed by researchers on Thursday.

Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Birmingham unveiled this groundbreaking find after a team of over 100 individuals excavated the Dewars Farm quarry in Oxfordshire in June. This discovery is said to revolutionize previous paleontological research in the area and provide deeper insights into the Middle Jurassic era.

Kirsty Edgar, a professor of micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham, expressed, “These footprints offer a unique glimpse into the lives of dinosaurs, providing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical habitats they inhabited.”

Among the series of tracks forming the “dinosaur highway,” four tracks trace the path of sauropods, giant, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs that reached lengths of nearly 60 feet. The fifth set belonged to Megalosaurus, a fierce 30-foot-long predator with distinctive three-clawed markings, which was the first dinosaur to be scientifically named over two centuries ago.

Workers survey five vast tracks that formed part of the “Dinosaur Highway.”
University of Birmingham (via AP)

Crossing sections where the tracks intersect raised queries about potential encounters between carnivores and herbivores.

Emma Nichols, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, acknowledged, “Scientists have long studied megalosaurs, but this discovery evidences the existence of further insights into these creatures that are yet to be uncovered.”

Nearly three decades ago, 40 pairs of footprints discovered in a local limestone quarry were deemed among the most significant dinosaur footprints globally. However, as the region is now largely inaccessible, evidence is limited due to the absence of digital cameras and drones during that period.

During the recent excavation, the team captured over 20,000 digital images and utilized a drone to create 3D models of the prints. This extensive documentation could prove valuable for future studies, revealing aspects like the size of the dinosaurs, their gait, and speed.

Duncan Murdoch, a geoscientist at the Oxford Museum, noted, “The preservation of these tracks is so detailed that the deformation of the mud by the dinosaurs’ feet can be observed. Together with other fossils present, such as burrows, shells, and plants, these tracks can reconstruct the muddy lagoon environments the dinosaurs traversed.”

These findings will be showcased in a new exhibit at the museum and will be featured on the BBC’s Digging for Britain next week.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

New sauropod dinosaur species uncovered by paleontologists in China

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

newly discovered dinosaur species, Richeron WangiIt is central to the transition from early sauropods to sauropods. paper Published in a magazine Peer J.

Photograph of the skull (A) and interpretive line drawing (B) Richeron Wangi In right side view. Image credit: Wei Gao.

Richeron Wangi They roamed the Laurasian supercontinent during the early Jurassic period, about 193 million years ago.

This new species was a non-sauropod dinosaur in the clade. Masopoda.

“Non-sauropod sauropods were the dominant sauropods from the Norian period (227 to 208 million years ago) to the end of the Early Jurassic period (175 million years ago). “They were the main group of herbivores until they were replaced,” Dr. Qian said. Nan Zhang is a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology and the Nanjing Institute of Science. Department of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues.

“Since Thecodontosaurus Since it was first established, more than 40 valid nonsauropod sauropods have been reported worldwide. ”

“Most of these genera were identified from Gondwana and recovered primarily from South America and southern Africa.”

“The Early Jurassic was a critical period for tracing the early radiation and diversification of sauropod dinosaurs,” the researchers added.

“Nearly all of the non-sauropods currently recovered in China have been reported from Yunnan Province, and the Early Jurassic Lufeng Formation is the most fossil-rich Mesozoic unit in the province.”

“Despite the well-preserved and abundant nature of these Lufeng materials, comparative studies and cladistic analyzes have underestimated the number of rare skulls in particular.”

Richeron WangiA partial skeleton of was recovered from the middle-upper part of the Shawan Formation of the Lufeng Formation near Jiutou Village, Yunnan Province, China.

The specimen includes a skull and mandible, as well as a nine-articulated cervical vertebrae.

“This new species differs from other terrestrial species in both cranial and cervical features,” the paleontologists said.

“It has some automorphisms of the nasal process, maxillary neurovascular foramen, and cervical neurovertebral column.”

The research team's phylogenetic analysis revealed the following: Richeron Wangi It is a sister species of Yunnanosaurus.

“Richeron Wangi “It has the largest skull among the abundant sauropod members of the Lufeng Formation,” the researchers said.

“Therefore, a reconsideration of phylogenetic analyzes using individual specimens of ascertainable ontogenetic stages as operational taxonomic units is undertaken to obtain generally better resolution.”

“Our study provides new insights to previous authors who addressed the anatomy of Lufeng species and represents a first step toward a reassessment of this famous dinosaur fauna.”

“Furthermore, Gondwanan early sauropod paleontological diversity appears to have decreased slightly across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary.”

“We therefore hypothesize that a non-sauropod genus of sauropods survived and rapidly radiated from Laurasia, particularly China.”

“Furthermore, the reconstruction of the ancestral region of Lufeng sauropods is temporally ambiguous.”

“However, the consequences of multiple rounds of dispersal and exchange may explain the continued diversification advantage of non-sauropods in the Lufeng Formation.”

“The limited paleobiogeographic information available from Richeron Wangi “This provides evidence that at least sauropods, or an early sauropod lineage closely related to sauropods, were present in southwestern China during the Early Jurassic.”

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Q. Chan others. 2024. The largest sauropod skull excavated from the Lufeng Formation of the Lower Jurassic period in China. Peer J 12: e18629;doi: 10.7717/peerj.18629

Source: www.sci.news

Rare Jurassic dinosaur discovered in Colorado

Posted on December 28, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists from Western University of Health Sciences, Brigham Young University, Arizona Museum of Natural History, and Auburn University reported on the new specimen. haplocanthosaurus Based on bones excavated from the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry near Delta, Colorado, USA.

Artist's impression Haplocanthosaurus delphis. Image credit: Michael BH / CC BY-SA 3.0.

haplocanthosaurus is a small genus of middle sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period, 155 to 152 million years ago.

Currently, only members of this genus are known. Haplocanthosaurus delphis and Haplocanthosaurus Priscus.

“haplocanthosaurus is a mysterious sauropod excavated from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of the western United States,” said a paleontologist at Western Health University. Matthew Wedel And my colleagues.

“haplocanthosaurus Far fewer individuals (approximately 11 specimens) are known compared to many of the famous Morrison Formation sauropods, such as Apatosaurus, diplodocusand camarasaurusall of which are known from some of over 100 individuals. ”

“Furthermore, important parts of the skeleton, such as the skull, forelimbs, and manus and pes, have not been recovered or described to date.”

“As a genus, haplocanthosaurus “It occurs in many positions on the phylogeny,” they added.

“Studies have found it just outside of basal diplodocoids, basal megafauna, or possibly neosauropods, indicating a precarious position in the sauropod phylogeny.”

“However, most recent studies have converged towards recovery. haplocanthosaurus as a basal diplodocoid. ”

Block of the three anterior dorsal vertebrae haplocanthosaurus Stored in articulations. Scale bar – 10 cm. Image credit: Boisvert others., doi: 10.1002/ar.25520.

new specimen of haplocanthosaurus It was discovered at the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry near Delta, Colorado.

It consists of three anterior dorsal vertebrae, four separate posterior dorsal vertebrae, and the right tibia.

“The new individual is haplocanthosaurus “Identified based on the presence of dorsally angled transverse processes, high neural arch crus, and wide distal tibia,” the researchers said.

geologically youngest haplocanthosaurus Specimens from the Colorado Plateau.

“This individual extends the range of this genus into the true Brushy Basin member of the Morrison Formation,” the authors said.

their paper Published in anatomical record.

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Colin Boisvert others. 2024. New specimen description haplocanthosaurus From Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry. anatomical records 307 (12): 3782-3800;doi: 10.1002/ar.25520

Source: www.sci.news

China unveils new herbivorous dinosaur species

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

dubbing asian archaeologistA team of Chinese paleontologists say the newly discovered species is the earliest ornithischian dinosaur ever discovered in Asia.

asian archaeologist. Image credit: Yao others., doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111641.

asian archaeologist It lived in what is now southwest China during the early Jurassic period, about 193 million years ago.

This dinosaur was about 1 meter (3.3 ft) long and belonged to a group of plant-eating dinosaurs called. ornithischian.

“Ornithischians, a prominent clade of dinosaurs, diversified into various forms such as ancleosaurs, stegosaurs, hadrosaurs, ceratopsians, and pachycephalosaurs throughout the Mesozoic era,” said Yunnan University paleontologist. Shi Yao et al. said.

“Like other non-avian dinosaurs, they were threatened with extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period, but their early evolutionary history remains debated.”

“During the Early Jurassic, ornithischian fossils were abundant and diverse on the Gondwana supercontinent.”

“In contrast, the Laurasian ornithischian fossil record from this period is less diverse and consists primarily of armored dinosaurs.”

Almost complete left femur asian archaeologist It was discovered in the Shujing Formation, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north of Chongqing Central Park in Yubei District, Chongqing City, southwest China.

According to the research team, the new species shows compatibility with Gondwanan species. Eoccursor Parbus.

This discovery indicates that there was an early dispersal event of ornithischian dinosaurs from Gondwana to Laurasia, including East Asia, in the Early Jurassic period, independent of, and perhaps more than, the dispersal of armored dinosaurs. It seems that it is also early.

“The new phylogenetic topology proposed in the study suggests a more independent dispersal of ornithischian dinosaurs into East Asia during the Early Jurassic,” the researchers said.

“The close relationship between asian archaeologist and Eoccursor ParbusDespite their remote habitats, this suggests that they probably originated from Gondwana, then migrated north to Laurasia, and finally to East Asia during the Pliensbach period. . ”

“This timing could occur before the arrival of armored dinosaurs in the region.”

“Furthermore, this new topology hypothesizes the existence of a previously unrecognized cosmopolitan clade of early ornithischian dinosaurs, phylogenetically located between Heterodontosauridae and Thyleophora.”

“Nevertheless, due to its fragmentary nature, asian archaeologist Support for the holotype, this clade, remains tentative, awaiting further fossil discoveries. ”

of the team paper Published in this month's magazine iscience.

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X Yao others. New evidence of the oldest ornithischian dinosaur discovered in Asia. isciencepublished online on December 19, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111641

Source: www.sci.news

Unlocking the Mystery of Dinosaur Dominance: Fossilized Poop Holds Clues

Posted on November 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

We now know that dinosaurs were large reptiles that ruled the Earth, but scientists have always been curious about why it took them 30 million years to reach their peak. New research on fossilized poop and vomit may have found the answer – food.

According to the study, carnivorous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus may owe their massive size to their plant-eating ancestors. If these herbivores hadn’t consumed so many plants, researchers suggest that dinosaurs might not have evolved into the colossal creatures we know today.

The fossilized poop and vomit, dated back to about 230 to 200 million years ago, provide insights into the ancient food web. By studying over 500 fossils, scientists identified various prey items from beetles to bones, shedding light on the evolving food chains during the Triassic period.

By combining this information with climate data and other fossils, researchers gained valuable knowledge about the prehistoric environment and the species that coexisted with dinosaurs on Earth.

“Sometimes seemingly ordinary fossils hold extraordinary information that is invaluable,” said study co-author Dr. Martin Kvarnström from Uppsala University in Sweden, as reported by BBC Science Focus.

Co-author Dr. Grzegorz Niedzwicki added, “Understanding the dietary habits of early dinosaurs can offer insights into their success as a group and the importance of predator-prey relationships in shaping Earth’s evolutionary history.”

The study, featured in Nature magazine, analyzed digestive samples from south-central Poland, providing clues about the Late Triassic period and the changes in vegetation during that time.

By employing advanced scanning techniques, researchers were able to visualize intricate details of the fossils, unveiling significant discoveries about the size and distribution of vertebrate populations before the dominance of dinosaurs.

Scientists scanned more than 500 fossils for the study. – Illustration: Qvarnström et al., Nature, 2024

This research model opens up opportunities to explore ancient species in different regions worldwide, emphasizing the importance of analyzing fossilized remains beyond just skeletal findings.

“We aim to highlight the significance of saprolites in reconstructing ancient ecosystems, moving beyond their conventional perception as mere curiosities,” noted Kvarnström.

“While everyone focuses on fossilized skeletons, it is the organic remains that provide crucial insights into the ancient ecological dynamics,” added Niedzwicki.

About our experts:

Dr. Martin Kvarnström, a researcher at Uppsala University, specializes in using fossils to study reptilian diets, particularly dinosaurs.

Dr. Grzegorz Niedzwicki, also a researcher at Uppsala University, focuses on the early evolution of dinosaurs and quadrupeds.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Could fossilized excrement unlock the secrets of dinosaur dominance on Earth?

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

We now know that dinosaurs were giant reptiles that dominated the Earth, but scientists have long wondered why it took them 30 million years to reach their peak. New research on their fossilized poop and vomit may have found the answer suggests that there was food in their waste.

Carnivorous dinosaurs like tyrannosaurus may have their herbivore ancestors to thank for their enormous size. The researchers propose that if these plant-eating animals hadn’t ingested so many plants, dinosaurs might not have evolved into the giant creatures we know today.

The fossilized poop and vomit, known as bromalite or copralite, dates back to around 230 to 200 million years ago, a time long before the reign of the tyrannosaurus and the Chicxulub asteroid impact that led to the extinction of dinosaurs.

Scientists reconstructed a “food web” from the undigested meals of early dinosaurs, revealing the intricate relationships between different species during the Triassic period. By scanning over 500 fossils, they found evidence of various organisms, including beetles, bones, and partially digested fish.

Combining this information with climate data and other fossils provided insights into the diverse flora and fauna coexisting with dinosaurs on Earth.

“Sometimes seemingly ordinary fossils contain remarkable information that cannot be found anywhere else,” said Dr. Martin Kvarnström, a study co-author from Uppsala University in Sweden, as reported by BBC Science Focus.

Dr. Grzegorz Niedzwicki, another co-author from Uppsala University, added, “Understanding the diet of early dinosaurs may help us grasp why this group thrived. The evolution of life on Earth hinges on predator-prey dynamics and feeding habits.”

A study published in Nature analyzed digestive samples from south-central Poland during the Late Triassic period when the region was part of the Pangea supercontinent.

According to experts, increased volcanic activity and humidity favored the growth of moisture-loving plants during this time, potentially influencing the evolution of dinosaurs.

The study utilized advanced scanning techniques to reveal detailed information from the fossils, highlighting changes in vertebrate populations leading up to the dominance of dinosaurs.

The researchers aim to apply this model to study ancient species in other regions and emphasize the importance of fossilized waste in reconstructing ancient food webs.

“Everyone is focused on finding fossilized skeletons, but it’s the waste that offers valuable insights into events from millions of years ago,” remarked Niedzwicki.

About our experts:

Dr. Martin Kvarnström is a researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden, focusing on using fossils to understand reptile diets, including dinosaurs.

Dr. Grzegorz Niedzwicki, also from Uppsala University, specializes in the early evolution of dinosaurs and other quadrupeds.

Read more

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New Species of Ankylosaurid Dinosaur Discovered by Paleontologists

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new genus and species of Ankylosaurus has been identified from an articulated partial skeleton discovered in southern China in 1986.

artistic reconstruction Huaxiazhou Longshouwen. Image credit: Ye Jianhao.

The newly discovered species was an early member of a family called armored dinosaurs. ankylosauridae.

dubbing Huaxiazhou Longshouwen the ancient animal was about 6 meters (20 feet) long.

In a paper, paleontologist Ziheng Zhu of Yunnan University and colleagues write, “Sclerosaurs were quadrupedal, herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by sagittal osteodermal rows on the dorsolateral surface of their bodies and heavily armored skulls. It is a diverse clade of

“Ankylosaurs lived from the Middle Jurassic to the end of the Late Cretaceous.”

“As a subgroup of the scleractylids, scleractyl dinosaurs are currently found only in Asia and North America. In Asia, they were primarily found in Mongolia and northern China.”

fossilized remains of an adult Huaxiazhou Longshouwen It was discovered in a mineral deposit in 1986. Karabe formation In Longxi Village, Jiangxi Province, southern China.

“This deposit is a series of Late Cretaceous strata, represented by an extensive series of red mudstones, sandstones, and conglomerates,” the researchers wrote.

“This series of strata is locally classified as the Karabe Formation, which belongs to the Katsurabo Formation Group.''

“We got some pieces of dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs.”

This specimen dates from the Late Cretaceous Period, 84 to 72 million years ago.

It was excavated by paleontologists from the Guangchang County Museum and consists of a partial articulated skeleton without a skull and mandible.

“Huaxiazhou Longshouwen “This is the second ankylosaurid species discovered in China's Jiangxi province,” the scientists wrote in their paper.

“According to phylogenetic analysis, Huaxiazhou Longshouwen is a basal member of the ankylosaurid family. ”

“Next discovery Huaxiazhou Longshouwen It adds diversity to the Late Cretaceous of China and helps elucidate the evolution of ankylosaurid dinosaurs in East Asia. ”

of paper Published in this month's magazine historical biology.

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Zhu Zihyung others. A new species of ankylosaurid dinosaur discovered from the late Cretaceous period in Jiangxi Province, southern China. historical biologypublished online on November 8, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2417208

Source: www.sci.news

New Insights into the Evolution of Flight from Microraptor Dinosaur Footprints

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The trajectories of theropod dinosaurs could be used as indirect evidence of pre-avian aerial behavior, according to a new study.

The animals in charge are Dromaeosauriformipes larus Trucks are thought to be small microraptid dinosaurs related to the ancestors of birds. Image credit: Julius Csotonyi.

In the study, University of Maryland paleontologist Thomas Holtz Jr. and his colleagues examined two-toed footprints made by fast-moving, small, bird-like microraptid dinosaurs.

with scientific name Dromaeosauriformipes larus these footprints are almost 100 million years old (Cretaceous period) and were discovered preserved in rock slabs in Korea.

“This guy is lanky. He's one of the smallest dinosaurs we have fossils of,” Holtz said.

“These footprints were a puzzle because they were so small and so far apart.”

Paleontologists believe that the producers Dromaeosauriformipes larus It's not just about running on land.

The animal gained lift by flapping its winged arms, allowing it to move faster than relying solely on leg strength.

This form of exercise, known as flap running, falls somewhere between running and flying.

This generates enough aerodynamics to lift the animal off the ground in one go, allowing it to run up a tree, for example, but stops short of flying at full power.

Microraptors are cousins, but Velociraptor And it is unknown whether it is a modern bird Dromaeosauriformipes larus You will be able to fly for longer periods of time.

Trajectory of a Microraptorian theropod excavated from the Jinju Formation in Korea. Image credit: Dececchi others., doi: 10.1073/pnas.2413810121.

“We can overcome the debate over whether pre-avian dinosaurs used arms for locomotion before flight evolved and provide missing details such as which species had these abilities, when they developed them, and to what extent. We can now begin to find out,” he said. Michael Pittman is a paleontologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

“Our findings show that Dromaeosauriformipes larus “It would have needed to run at about 10.5 meters per second (23.5 miles per hour) to make the track using just the power of its hind legs,” said paleontologist Dr. Alex DeCecchi of Dakota State University.

“The relative speed of our footprints is faster than that of modern running animals such as ostriches and cheetahs.”

“This is also unlikely, so we think the dinosaur could have used the aerodynamics created by flapping its feathered arms to lengthen its stride, creating a slower trajectory.”

“The footprints also suggest that the raptor was in the midst of taking off or landing,” Holtz said.

“It's like a plane descending, bouncing a little bit on the runway, and then slowing down.”

“Microraptors, capable of powered flight, were less sophisticated than modern birds in terms of flight equipment. They would have been relatively clumsy.”

of result Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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T. Alexander Dececchi others. 2024. Theropod trajectories as indirect evidence of pre-avian aerial behavior. PNAS 121 (44): e2413810121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2413810121

Source: www.sci.news

Confirmation of a new plant-eating dinosaur species in Argentina

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have identified a species of medium-sized iguanodont ornithopod dinosaur from two specimens found in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina.

Reconstruction of the life of early rhabdodontomorph dinosaurs Iani Smitty. Image credit: Jorge Gonzalez.

Emilia Saura Alessandri They lived in what is now Patagonia during the Valanginian period of the Early Cretaceous period, about 138 million years ago.

“Knowing early Cretaceous dinosaurs is crucial for gaining insight into the evolution of the clade characteristic of younger Cretaceous fauna,” said lead author Dr. Rodolfo Coria, Argentina, Canada , said a European colleague.

“Dinosaur diversity around the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary represents a unique chapter characterized by the establishment of several major lineages.”

“However, knowledge of the diversity of dinosaurs during the Early Cretaceous period is poor, especially in South America.”

Emilia Saura Alessandri belongs to rhabdodontomorphaa group of early Iguanodon dinosaurs within the clade ornithopoda.

This dinosaur group consists of small to large plant-eating animals that live in Europe and Gondwana.

“Emilia Saura Alessandri “This is the first South American record of the family Rhabdodontomorphinae, and is currently the oldest and more primitive member of this clade,” the paleontologists said.

“This new species formed part of a diverse Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) dinosaur assemblage that also included diplodocids, sauropods of the dicraeosauridae, and theropods of the carcharodontosauridae.”

Emilia Saura Alessandri It is represented by two fossil specimens collected from different locations and stratigraphic levels. Murichinko formation.

“The holotype specimen includes the coracoid, proximal scapula, humerus, and complete right hindlimb, whereas the paratype specimen preserves vertebral elements, haemarchus, incomplete pelvis, and nearly complete hindlimb. “, the researchers said.

“The new species has an anteroposteriorly elongated ilium with an S-shaped dorsal margin and a broad short shelf, a femoral shaft with a proximally located broad fourth trochanter, and a short, stout diaphysis similar to that of the new species. It has a second toe with a blunt claw phalanx.” tonic ataxia ornithopod”

of findings Published in this week's magazine Cretaceous research.

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RA Korea others. The first Valanginian (Early Cretaceous) ornithopods (order Dinosauria, order Ornithischian) from Patagonia. Cretaceous researchpublished online October 16, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.106027

Source: www.sci.news

A newly discovered dinosaur relative found in Brazil

Posted on October 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New genus and species of Silesauridae named Gondwanax paracensis It was identified from fossilized remains found in southern Brazil.

Gondwanax paracensis. Image credit: Rodrigo Temp Müller, doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2024.09.007.

Silesauridae An extinct group of Triassic reptiles related to dinosaurs.

These creatures had fairly long necks and legs and probably had a quadrupedal habit.

Most commonly, they are a group of non-dinosaur dinosaurs and are considered to be the sister group of dinosaurs.

Early silesaurids were carnivorous, and later species occupied a variety of ecological niches, with specialized herbivorous adaptations.

“Most authors agree that silesaurids are a sister group to dinosaurs, forming the clade silesauridae.” Dr. Rodrigo Temp Mullera paleontologist at the Federal University of Santa Maria.

“On the other hand, some authors suggest that silesaurids form a clade within ornithischians, nesting as a sister group to typical ornithischians.”

“A more recent hypothesis is that members of the Silesauridae were recovered as ornithischians in a paraphyletic sequence leading to typical ornithischians.”

“Irrespective of their phylogenetic status, sirsaurids inhabited Triassic landscapes for more than 30 million years,” the researchers added.

“Therefore, to investigate the succession of Triassic faunas, it is important to understand their anatomy, biology, and evolution.”

“There are several aspects of sirosaurid anatomy that are unclear or poorly studied.”

“Part of this problem is a result of the lack of more complete fossils, which are usually limited to hindlimb elements.”

The newly discovered species of Cirsaurid lived in what is now Brazil during the middle to upper Triassic period, about 237 million years ago.

named Gondwanax paracensisit represents one of the oldest dinosaurs of South America and one of the oldest silesaurids in the world.

Animal skeletons were recovered from the ruins. santa maria formation Located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

“Gondwanax paracensis “It is the oldest silesaurid with three sacral vertebrae, a feature commonly observed in more derived forms,” the paleontologist said.

“Furthermore, unlike other Triassic panbirds, this new species has an early fourth trochanter of the femur.”

“This unique combination of features indicates a high diversity of locomotor strategies in early panbirds.”

“Also, what co-occurs is Gondwanax paracensis and Gamatavus antiquus These animals, located in the same aggregation zone, represent the earliest evidence of South American silesaurid sibling. ”

“Indeed, the unique combination of sacral and hindlimb characteristics suggests different behaviors for these species, which may lead to niche differentiation within the same ecosystem.”

of study Published in the Journal on September 30, 2024 Gondwana research.

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Rodrigo Temp Muller. A new silesaurid found in South America's oldest dinomorph habitat provides insight into the early evolution of avian archosaurs. Gondwana researchpublished online on September 30, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2024.09.007

Source: www.sci.news

Footprints of a polar dinosaur discovered in Australia dating back 120 million years

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The newly discovered theropod and ornithopod dinosaur footprints date back to the Early Cretaceous period, more than 120 million years ago, when Australia was still connected to Antarctica.

Melissa Lawley and Anthony Martin examine dinosaur footprints. Image by Ruth Showalter.

Dinosaur footprints from the Early Cretaceous period have been discovered in the Wonthaggi Formation south of Melbourne, Australia.

These include 18 footprints of medium to large theropods (0.8-1.9 metres waist height) and four footprints of small ornithopod dinosaurs (40-48 centimetres waist height).

“These numerous footprints provide the best evidence yet that polar environments once supported large carnivores,” said Professor Anthony Martin of Emory University.

“Large theropods probably fed on prey such as smaller dinosaurs, fish and turtles.”

“The hip height of this theropod would have been roughly the same as the height of a tall modern human.”

“Rocky coastal strata in Victoria, Australia, mark the spot where the ancient supercontinent Gondwana began to break up about 100 million years ago, separating Australia from Antarctica.”

“The polar environment at that time was a rift valley with a network of rivers running through it.”

“Although the average annual temperature during the Cretaceous period was higher than today, ecosystems experienced freezing temperatures and months of darkness during polar winters.”

“The Wonthaggi Formation has produced one of the best assemblages of polar dinosaur fossils in the Southern Hemisphere, but most of these fossils are small fragments of bone and teeth.”

“These pieces may have been carried to the buried site by heavy spring rains.”

“However, the discovery of so many theropod footprints confirms that a wide variety of dinosaurs did in fact live and walk on the surface where the bones were found.”

“Dinosaur footprints are actually more common here than we previously thought.”

Theropod footprints in the Wonthaggi Formation range in length from 18 to 47 cm (7 to 18.5 in).

They have relatively thin toes and sharp claw tips.

Ornithopod tracks vary in size from 10 to 18 cm (4 to 7 in).

The range of footprint sizes suggests that they may represent a mixture of juvenile and adult ornithopods and theropods.

“This suggests that these dinosaurs may have been nesting and raising their young in polar environments,” Prof Martin said.

This discovery paper of Archealinga, Australian Journal of Palaeontology.

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Anthony J. Martin othersPolar dinosaur footprints from the Wonthaggi Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Victoria, Australia, and their palaeontological significance. Archealinga, Australian Journal of PalaeontologyPublished online September 8, 2024; doi: 10.1080/03115518.2024.2392498

Source: www.sci.news

Mexico reveals newly discovered duck-billed dinosaur

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Palaeontologists from the University of Bath and elsewhere have described a new genus and species of kritosaurine hadrosaur dinosaur from a partial skull discovered in the Late Cretaceous Cerro del Pueblo Formation.

Reconstructing your life Coahuilasaurus lipani. Image credit: C. Diaz Frias.

The newly described species is Coahuilasaurus lipani. It has an estimated overall length of 8 metres (26.2 ft).

It dates back about 72.5 million years ago, towards the end of the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period.

Coahuilasaurus lipani belongs to Kritosaurs, a unique family of duck-billed dinosaurs (Hadrosauridae), Kritosaurus navajovius and their relatives.

“Kritosaurus is one of the most diverse lineages of North American hadrosaurs, represented by numerous species that lived during the Late Cretaceous of the Western Interior,” they said. Dr Nicholas Longrich Researchers from the University of Bath and their colleagues.

“The striking changes in jaw morphology suggest different ecological niches and dietary specialization.”

“The diversity of cranial vault morphology among kritosaurs suggests that sexual selection may have driven the evolution of kritosaurs, similar to the crested lambeosaurs and ceratopsids.”

“Although klitosaurins’ bone protuberances are not very sophisticated, klitosaurins may have had sophisticated soft-tissue structures.”

“The function of the Kritosaurus crest is unclear,” the paleontologist said.

“Because it is conspicuous, it probably functioned as a display. In modern birds, skull ornaments are sometimes used in intraspecific combat, for example in hornbills, and the relatively robust crest feathers may have served a similar function.”

“As in lambeosaurids, the elaborate nasal cavity may have also been involved in vocalization.”

Part of a skull Coahuilasaurus lipani comes from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation in Coahuila, Mexico.

“The Cerro del Pueblo Formation harbors a diverse assemblage of dinosaurs, including theropods and ornithischians,” the researchers said.

“Theropods include tyrannosaurs and deinocheirs. Paraxenisaurus normalensis, Ornithomimidae, Caenagnatidae, Dromaeosauridae, and Troodontidae.”

“The ornithischian family includes ankylosaurs, ceratopsids, thescelosaurs, and hadrosaurs.”

According to the team’s analysis, Coahuilasaurus lipani is distinct from the kritosaurs found further north on Laramidia.

It may be related to the kritosaurid hadrosaurids, Gryposaurus monumentensis. This suggests that it is part of a distinct southern kritosaur lineage.

“With specimens from the Naashoibito Formation of the Kirtland Formation in New Mexico, Coahuilasaurus lipani ,”This study shows that kritosaurs survived in the south of Laramidia after local extinction in the north, a pattern also seen in parasaurolophus and lambeosaurines,” the scientists said.

“The southern fauna not only has different species but also different patterns of diversity change compared to the northern Laramidia fauna.”

“Differences in species composition and community structure in different regions of Laramidia mean that further studies on dinosaurs from Mexico and the southwestern United States are needed to understand the evolution of dinosaur diversity in western North America.”

“Southern dinosaur faunas may have been characterized by higher origination rates and lower extinction rates than northern faunas.”

of study Published in the journal on September 1, 2024 Diversity.

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Nicholas R. Longrich others2024. Coahuilasaurus lipania new species of kritosaurine hadrosaurid from the Upper Campanian Cerro del Pueblo Formation, northern Mexico. Diversity 16 (9): 531; doi: 10.3390/d16090531

Source: www.sci.news

Research uncovers evidence of active volcanoes on the moon during the dinosaur era

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New research suggests that volcanoes on the Moon were active during the time of the dinosaurs on Earth, but much more recently than previously believed.

Three small glass beads gathered from the lunar surface by a Chinese probe in 2020 indicate volcanic activity on the Moon 120 million years ago, according to the study. The findings were published Thursday in the journal Science.

Initial analysis of samples collected by the Chang’e-5 lunar mission suggested that volcanic activity ceased approximately 2 billion years ago, updating an earlier evaluation that the Moon had been devoid of active volcanoes for about 4 billion years.

Researchers examined around 3,000 lunar glass beads that may have been produced by volcanic eruptions or meteorite impacts, identifying three of them as of volcanic origin based on their texture and chemical makeup.

The research team expressed being “surprised and excited” by their “unexpected” discoveries.

The presence of relatively recent lunar volcanism “implies that a small celestial body like the Moon may have retained enough internal heat to support activity until very late,” co-authors Professor Li Qili and Associate Professor He Yuyang from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, shared in an email.

However, it remains “unclear” why the Moon has remained volcanically active for such a long period, as per the study.

Planetary volcanologist Qian Yuqi from the University of Hong Kong commented that identifying such a young volcano has “major” implications for the Moon’s development.

“Where did they originate from?” Qian, who was not part of the research, inquired in an email. “This could lead to future missions to search for them.”

The Chang’e-5 lunar mission marked the first return of lunar samples since the U.S. Apollo program in the 1970s and the Soviet Union’s Luna 24 mission. In June, China achieved a historic feat by retrieving rocks from the far side of the Moon through its Chang’e-6 mission.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

New discovery of a ceratopsian dinosaur species

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have announced the discovery of fossilized bones of a new species of early-branching ceratopsian dinosaur in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

Reconstructing your life Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai Image courtesy of Tanaka Kanon.

The newly discovered dinosaur lived on Earth during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous period, between 113 million and 100 million years ago.

dubbing Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai,animal Measured It is about 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) long and weighs about 10 kilograms.

“This new dinosaur has unique characteristics that make it different from any other dinosaur known to date. CeratopsiansPaleontologist, Hyogo University Tomonori Tanaka and colleagues said In a statement.

“Ceratopsians are a group of herbivorous dinosaurs known for having large horns and frills on their heads, most famously Triceratops.”

“Being a primitive ceratopsian, it lacked the large horns and frills seen in later species. Triceratops.”

Bone fragments Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai They were discovered in the Daisen Shita Formation in southwestern Japan by amateur geologist Adachi Kiyoshi.

“The fossil contains 17 bones, most of which belong to the same individual,” the researchers said.

“Examination of a thin section of the tibia revealed that this was likely a juvenile individual rather than a fully mature one.”

According to the research team's analysis, this new species Aquilops americanusone of the oldest neoceratopsian dinosaurs discovered in North America, followed by its sister species. Auroraceratops rugosus From China.

“Sasayama Magnomus Saegusai “This fossil is closely related to proto-North American ceratopsians and suggests that native Asian ceratopsians may have migrated to North America during the mid-Cretaceous, approximately 110 million years ago,” the authors say.

“At this time, eastern Eurasia and North America were connected by the Bering land bridge, allowing animals to move between the two.”

“Furthermore, extreme global warming has led to the creation of vast forests in the Arctic.”

“The convergence of these two events likely facilitated the spread of ceratopsians from Asia into North America.”

Discovery Sasayamagnome teeth, paper Published in this week's journal Paleontological Papers.

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Tomonori Tanaka others2024. A new species of neoceratopsian (Ornithischia, Ceratopsia) from the Lower Cretaceous Oyamashita Formation (Albian) of southwestern Japan. Paleontological Papers 10(5):e1587;doi:10.1002/spp2.1587

Source: www.sci.news

A newly discovered herbivorous dinosaur species

Posted on September 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new genus and species of non-hadrosaur hadrosauroid dinosaur, Chienjiangsaurus chanshengi was identified from a specimen discovered in southwestern China in 2022.

Chienjiangsaurus chanshengi Image credit: Hai Xing/Sci.News.

Chienjiangsaurus chanshengi lived in China during the Late Cretaceous period, about 70 million years ago.

The 8-metre (26-foot) long herbivore Hadrosauroidea is a superfamily of ornithischian dinosaurs that includes the so-called duck-billed dinosaurs and their relatives.

“Hadrosauroids are a diverse and highly specialized clade of ornithischian dinosaurs whose fossils have been found in Early to Late Cretaceous deposits in Asia, Europe, America, Africa and Antarctica,” said paleontologist Dr. Hai Xin from the National Museum of Natural History of China, the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, and his colleagues.

“Phylogenically, it is defined as the most inclusive taxon, Parasaurolophus but, Iguanodon It is noted for its duck-billed snout and complex skull dentition.”

“Since the early 20th century, hadrosauroids have been considered an important component of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the entire Cretaceous.”

“The fossil record of this group contains a large amount of loose elements, dozens of heavily articulated skeletons, egg and fetal material, and bone bed assemblages that produce soft-tissue impressions and footprints.”

“Within the hadrosauroidea, non-hadrosaur species form a paraphyletic group that reveals a transitional morphology from early-diverging iguanodonts to hadrosaurids.”

“Most non-hadrosaur hadrosaurids are found in Cretaceous Asia, especially in northern and central China, and in the Early Cretaceous Exhibits, Xu Wulong and Probactrosaurus and the Late Cretaceous Tanius, Gilmoreosaurus and Zhang Henglong has been recovered.”

“However, comparable material from the Cretaceous of southwestern China is extremely scarce and fragmentary.”

Incomplete, partially articulated skeleton Chienjiangsaurus chanshengi Collected in 2022 Positive Yang Layer Chongqing, southwest China.

“Chienjiangsaurus chanshengi is the second officially named hadrosauroid dinosaur discovered in South China. Nanningosaurus dassiensis” the paleontologist said.

This specimen represents a transitional morphology between hadrosauroid and non-hadrosauroid dinosaurs and enhances our understanding of the diversity and evolution of non-hadrosauroid dinosaurs.

“The age distribution of eight hadrosaurids is Chienjiangsaurus chanshengi. Phylogenetically, it corresponds to the apex of the Zhengyang Formation during the Santonian to early Maastrichtian period. Chienjiangsaurus chanshengi “Fossils found are probably limited to the late Late Cretaceous,” the authors say.

“Hierarchical clustering of 12 hadrosauroid dinosaur assemblages from Late Cretaceous deposits in Asia revealed strong correlations between the Zhongyang Formation and the Djadokhta and Barungoyot Formations in Mongolia, supporting contemporaneous exchange of dinosaur faunas across East Asia.”

Team paper Published in the journal on August 27, 2024 Cretaceous Research.

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Huy Dai others A new late-divergent non-hadrosaur hadrosauroid species (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from southwestern China: supports Late Cretaceous dinosaur fauna exchange across East Asia. Cretaceous Research Published online August 27, 2024; doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105995

Source: www.sci.news

France uncovers new species of abelisaurid dinosaur

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have added a new species to Europe's Cretaceous dinosaur fauna, discovered in Normandy, France.

Abelisaurid teeth are associated with the holotype specimen. Caletodraco CottardiImages/Photos Courtesy of Buffetaut others., doi: 10.3390/fossils2030009.

Caletodraco Cottardi It lived in what is now France during the Cenomanian period of the Early Cretaceous period, about 100 million years ago.

The ancient species Fuuriusauriais a derived subgroup of abelisaurid dinosaurs (medium-to-large bipedal predators that dominated the Late Cretaceous carnivore fauna of the ancient southern supercontinent Gondwana) previously known only from South America.

“My family Abelisauridae Built in 1985, the museum features Abelisaurus komafuensis“It was a large carnivorous dinosaur that lived in the Campanian formation of Patagonia,” said Dr Eric Baffeteau from PSL Research University and his colleagues.

“It has since become clear that Abelisauridae actually constitute a major lineage of neoceratopsid theropods, and played an important role in the Cretaceous continental ecosystems of South America, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Madagascar.”

“The Abelisauridae are mainly distributed in Gondwana, but in 1988 abelisaurids were reported from the Late Cretaceous of southern France, and are now known from Cretaceous localities in several European countries, including France, Spain, Hungary and the Netherlands.”

Two blocks containing fossilized bones and teeth Caletodraco Cottardi The fossils were excavated by paleontologist Nicolas Cotard at the foot of the sea cliffs of Saint-Jouin-Bruneval, on the coast of the Caux department in the Seine-Maritime department in Normandy, northwest France.

“The glauconitic chalk layers of the Pays de Caux are marine deposits, as suggested in this case by the presence of a shark's tooth in the matrix close to one of the bones of the anterior block,” the paleontologists said.

“The nearest land mass where the dinosaur described below could have lived must have been the Armorica Massif, about 100 km to the southwest.”

“The dinosaur specimens must have somehow been transported to the ocean, possibly by a river, and then drifted quite a long distance before sinking to the ocean floor.”

“Dinosaur fossils are fairly common in marine deposits, but this appears to be the first record from the Late Cretaceous of the Pays de Caux. The only relatively common vertebrate fossils in the region are fish teeth.”

Presence of the furiosaur Abelisaurus Caletodraco Cottardi This dinosaur, discovered in the Cenomanian of Normandy, suggests that the history of abelisaurids in Europe may have been more complex than previously thought.

“discovery Caletodraco Cottardi “This study shows that dinosaur fossils, although extremely rare, are present in the chalk layers of the Anglo-Paris Basin and that a careful search for vertebrate fossils in these marine layers may yield surprising and important results,” the researchers said.

“This new species has led to a re-evaluation of the European abelisaurid fossil record and shows that, contrary to what was previously assumed, majungasaurus was not the only abelisaurid subspecies present in that geographic region. Caletodraco Cottardi It clearly belongs to the Furileusauridae, a highly derived clade of the Abelisauridae.”

“Caletodraco Cottardi It is one of the oldest known furyleusaurids and its discovery in Europe leads us to reconsider the biogeographic history of this theropod group, previously known from South America.”

a paper The findings were published in an online journal. Fossil Research.

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Eric Buffett others2024. Caletodraco Cottardi: A new abelisaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Cenomanian Chalk of Normandy (northwestern France). Phos. Stud 2 (3): 177-195; doi: 10.3390/fossils2030009

Source: www.sci.news

Matching dinosaur footprints found in Africa and South America by paleontologists

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A team of paleontologists led by Southern Methodist University has discovered more than 260 dinosaur footprints from the Early Cretaceous period in Brazil and Cameroon, marking a place where land dinosaurs were last able to travel freely between South America and Africa millions of years before the two regions split apart.

Theropod dinosaur footprints discovered in the Souza Basin in northeastern Brazil. Image credit: Ismar de Souza Carvalho/SMU.

Africa and South America began to separate about 140 million years ago, causing fissures in the Earth's crust called rifts to form along pre-existing weaknesses.

As the crustal plates beneath South America and Africa moved apart, magma from the Earth's mantle rose to the surface, forming new oceanic crust as the continents moved away from each other.

And eventually the South Atlantic Ocean filled the gap between these two continents.

Evidence of some of these major events was evident between the two sites, where paleontologists from Southern Methodist University discovered footprints of three-toed theropod, sauropod and ornithischian dinosaurs dating back 120 million years. Louis Jacobs and his colleagues.

“We determined that, in terms of age, the prints are similar,” Dr Jacobs said.

“From a geological and plate tectonic point of view, they are similar. In terms of shape, they are almost identical.”

Theropod dinosaur footprints discovered in the Kum Basin in northern Cameroon. Image by Ismar de Souza Carvalho/SMU.

The researchers found the footprints in the Borborema region of northeastern Brazil and the Kum Basin in northern Cameroon, more than 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) apart.

“Dinosaurs left their mark on a single supercontinent called Gondwana, which separated from Pangaea 120 million years ago,” Dr Jacobs said.

“One of the newest and narrowest geological connections between Africa and South America was an elbow in northeastern Brazil that borders the present-day coast of Cameroon along the Gulf of Guinea.”

“Because the two continents were contiguous along that narrow stretch, animals on either side of the connection could potentially migrate across it.”

“Before the continental connection between Africa and South America was severed, rivers flowed and lakes formed in their drainage basins,” he said.

“The plants provided food for herbivores, supporting the food chain. Muddy deposits left in rivers and lakes contain dinosaur footprints, including those of carnivores, providing evidence that these river valleys may have provided special migration routes for life to cross the continents 120 million years ago.”

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This article is based on a press release provided by Southern Methodist University.

Source: www.sci.news

A new carnivorous dinosaur species discovered in Kyrgyzstan

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New genus and species of large theropod dinosaur named Alpkaraqsh Kyrgyzics. It was discovered in the Middle Jurassic Barabansai Formation in the northern Fergana Basin of Kyrgyzstan.

Reconstructing your life Alpkaraqsh Kyrgyzics.Image credit: Joschua Knüppe.

Alpkaraqsh Kyrgyzics roamed the Earth during the Callovian Period of the Jurassic Period, between 165 and 161 million years ago.

This ancient predator was 7 to 8 metres (23 to 26 feet) long and had highly prominent “eyebrows” on a part of the skull behind the eye sockets, called the postorbital bone, which indicates the presence of horns in this area.

Alpkaraqsh Kyrgyzics belongs to Metriacanthosauridae, a group of medium- to large-sized allosauroid theropod dinosaurs characterized by high, arched skulls, elongated, dish-like neural spines, and slender hind limbs.

“Theropod dinosaurs are well-known predators, similar to modern birds,” said Professor Oliver Rauhut from the SNSB – Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geology and his colleagues.

“A wide variety of theropods are known from the Mesozoic Era, the age of dinosaurs.”

“Just as lions today live mainly in Africa and tigers only in Asia, for example, Allosaurus was widespread throughout North America and southwestern Europe during the Jurassic, but a similarly sized Allosaurus lived in China.”

However, the region between Central Europe and East Asia was previously unknown, and no large carnivorous dinosaurs from the Jurassic period were previously known to have been found in this vast area.”

Two specimens of Alpkaraqsh Kyrgyzics were recovered from the top Barabansai Formation in Kyrgyzstan, Jalal-Abad, near the city of Tashkumil.

“While the type specimen represents a subadult individual, the smaller specimen is a juvenile, indicating that it probably lived in groups,” the paleontologists said.

Alpkaraqsh Kyrgyzics is the first diagnosable theropod species from the Jurassic of Central Asia in western China.

We suggest that metriocanthosaurid dinosaurs originated in Southeast Asia during the Late Early or Early Middle Jurassic and rapidly became the dominant group of apex theropod predators in many ecosystems on the continent during the Jurassic.

Alpkaraqsh Kyrgyzics “The discovery of a metriacanthosaurid dinosaur fossil isn’t necessarily a surprise, but it fills a major gap in our knowledge of Jurassic theropods,” Prof Rauhut said.

“This discovery provides important new insights into the evolution and biogeography of these animals.

This discovery paper issued this month in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

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Oliver W. M. Rauhut others A new theropod dinosaur from the Callovian-Balabansai Formation of Kyrgyzstan. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 201(4):zlae090;doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae090

Source: www.sci.news

Study finds that Chicxulub asteroid, which caused dinosaur extinction, originated from beyond Jupiter.

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The asteroid, called the Chicxulub impactor, was a carbonaceous asteroid that formed outside the orbit of Jupiter. New Paper Published in the journal Science.

Ankylosaurus magniventrisA Tyrannosaurus, a type of large armored dinosaur, witnessed the impact of an asteroid that fell on the Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years ago. Image by Fabio Manucci.

About 66 million years ago, a 10-kilometer-wide asteroid struck Earth near what is now a small town called Chicxulub in Mexico.

This impact released incredible amounts of climate-changing gases into the atmosphere, setting off a chain of events that led to the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs and 75% of life on Earth.

Evidence includes the presence of high concentrations of platinum group elements (PGE) in the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary layer, including iridium, ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, platinum, and palladium, which are rare on Earth but common in meteorites.

These elevated PGE levels have been found worldwide, suggesting that the impact spread debris around the world.

Some have proposed large-scale volcanism in the Deccan Traps igneous province of India as an alternative source of PGEs, but the specific PGE ratios at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary are more consistent with an asteroid impact than volcanism.

However, little is known about the nature of the Chicxulub impactor, including its composition and extraterrestrial origin.

To answer these questions, Dr Mario Fischer-Gödde from the University of Cologne and his colleagues measured ruthenium isotopes in samples taken from three sites at the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary.

For comparison, the team also analysed samples from five other impacts that occurred between 36 million and 470 million years ago, an ancient impact spherule from 3.5 to 3.2 billion years ago, and two carbonaceous meteorites.

The researchers found that the ruthenium isotope signature of samples taken from the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary was uniform and matched very closely to that of carbonaceous chondrites rather than those from Earth or other types of meteorites, suggesting that the Chicxulub impactor likely came from a carbonaceous-type asteroid that formed in the outer solar system.

The other five impact structures have isotopic signatures more consistent with silicic asteroids that formed closer to the Sun.

The ancient spherulitic samples are consistent with a carbonaceous asteroid impact during the final stages of Earth's accretion.

“The composition of this asteroid is consistent with that of carbonaceous asteroids that formed outside Jupiter's orbit during the formation of the solar system,” Dr Fischer-Gödde said.

“Asteroid impacts like Chicxulub turn out to be very rare and unique events in geological time,” said Professor Carsten Müncher from the University of Cologne.

“The fate of the dinosaurs and many other species was sealed by this object that came from the outer solar system.”

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Mario Fischer-Gedde others2024. Ruthenium isotopes indicate that the Chicxulub impactor was a carbonaceous asteroid. Science 385 (6710): 752-756; doi: 10.1126/science.adk4868

Source: www.sci.news

Study suggests a remarkably faraway asteroid could have been responsible for dinosaur extinction

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Research has shown that the asteroid responsible for the mass extinction that annihilated the dinosaurs 66 million years ago originated from a distant region in the solar system, unlike most asteroids that have collided with Earth.

According to European and American researchers, the dinosaur-killing asteroid formed in a cold area outside Jupiter’s orbit and contained high levels of water and carbon. Survey results The study detailing these findings was published in the journal Science on Thursday.

In their analysis of objects that have struck Earth in the last 500 million years, the researchers noted that only asteroids rich in water have caused mass extinctions like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. Co-author François Tissot, a professor at the California Institute of Technology, explained that asteroids originating closer to the sun were significantly drier.

Tissot further stated, “All other impacts that occurred were from objects closer to the sun and just happened to hit that specific spot, so the asteroid responsible for the dinosaur extinction is truly unique in both its characteristics and origin.”

This catastrophic asteroid created the Chicxulub crater in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. While direct samples of the asteroid itself were unattainable due to its fragmentation, researchers were able to analyze particles that were dispersed upon impact and settled in Earth’s strata.

The researchers specifically examined ruthenium, a rare element on Earth that can be linked back to the asteroid.

The study confirmed earlier conclusions that classified the asteroid as a carbonaceous, or C-type, asteroid, though some theories proposed it could have been a comet that caused the dinosaur extinction.

Tissot explained, “Comets originate from great distances from the sun and are primarily composed of ice and dust. While the ruthenium levels of a comet have not been measured, based on research indicating other elements, it seems highly improbable that the extinction-causing object was a comet.”

According to Tissot, this study represents progress in understanding the evolution of Earth.

“By delving into Earth’s history, we now have a comprehensive look at its evolution,” he remarked. “This allows us to pose new questions about our planet.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Study suggests Chicxulub asteroid that caused dinosaur extinction originated beyond Jupiter

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski