A recent research study by palaeontologists at University College London reveals that the long-necked giant hatchlings of the past frequently became prey to various carnivores, including the iconic tyrannosaurus rex.
A reconstruction of the Late Jurassic ecosystem at the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry, approximately 150 million years ago in Colorado, USA. Image credit: Sergey Krasovskiy / Pedro Salas.
“Adult sauropods, such as diplodocus and Brachiosaurus, were larger than modern blue whales,” Dr. Cassius Morrison from University College London explains.
“The ground trembled when they moved. Yet, their eggs were merely a foot in diameter, taking years for the hatchlings to mature.”
“Given their immense size, it was challenging for adult sauropods to tend to their eggs without causing damage, suggesting that, like today’s baby turtles, young sauropods did not receive parental care.”
In this groundbreaking study, Dr. Morrison and his team examined fossils from the Morrison Formation dating back 150 million years and developed a detailed map of the ecosystem’s food web.
The fossils were sourced from a single site, the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry, renowned for its rich assortment of dinosaur remains over a span of up to 10,000 years, including at least six sauropod species: diplodocus, Brachiosaurus, and Apatosaurus.
To analyze the dietary habits of these prehistoric creatures, paleontologists utilized various data, including dinosaur size, tooth wear, isotopic composition of remains, and, in some cases, fossilized stomach contents revealing their last meals.
With advanced software typically used in modern-day ecosystems, they visualized the intricate food web, mapping the interconnected relationships between dinosaurs, other fauna, and flora with unprecedented detail.
The findings underscored the significant ecological roles sauropods played, highlighting their closer associations with plants and animals compared to other major herbivorous dinosaur groups, such as the ornithischians (like the armored stegosaurus), which presented more formidable predation risks.
“Sauropods had a transformative influence on their ecosystems,” noted Dr. Morrison.
“This research provides a quantifiable measure of their ecological impact.”
“By reconstructing the food web, we can more effectively compare dinosaur ecosystems across different geological periods.”
Scientists suggest that the eventual decline of sauropods, which acted as readily available prey, may have influenced evolutionary adaptations in predators like tyrannosaurus rex, such as increased bite force, size, and enhanced vision. Moreover, larger and more dangerous creatures like triceratops evolved, possessing formidable defenses with their three large horns.
During the late Jurassic period, apex predators like Allosaurus or torvosaurus might have had easier access to food compared to their contemporaries like tyrannosaurus rex, according to Dr. William Hart, a paleontologist at Hofstra University.
“Fossils of Allosaurus display severe scars from encounters, including those inflicted by the spiky tail of a stegosaurus. Some injuries healed, while others did not,” he elaborates.
“However, an injured Allosaurus may have been able to survive due to the abundance of vulnerable young sauropods as easy prey.”
Cassius Morrison et al. 2026. “Size is No Accident Here”: A Novel Food Web Analysis of the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry and Ecological Implications for Sauropod Fauna of the Morrison Formation. Bulletin of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
University of Maryland paleontologist Thomas R. Holtz Jr. has explored how dinosaurs adapted to their ancient environments and the differences between those worlds and our own for decades. His recent research suggests that crucial factors may have been overlooked in comparing ancient dinosaurs with modern mammals.
Some sauropod dinosaurs, Alamosaurus sanjuanensis, formed herds divided by age. Image credit: DiBgd.
“Many people view dinosaurs as the Mesozoic equivalent of mammals since both groups were the dominant land animals of their respective eras,” says Holtz.
“However, a crucial difference relates to their reproductive and child-rearing strategies, which scientists haven’t fully considered when comparing these worlds.”
“The methods by which animals raise their young significantly influence their ecosystems. Understanding these differences can help scientists reevaluate ecological diversity,” he explains.
“Young mammals often receive extensive care from their mothers until they are nearly fully grown.”
“In essence, mammal offspring fulfill similar ecological roles as their parents; they consume similar food and interact within the same environment because adults handle most of the responsibilities.”
“You could say mammals have ‘helicopter’ parents—particularly helicopter mothers,” he continues.
“For example, mother tigers continue to hunt for cubs that are nearly their size.”
“Even young elephants, among the largest animals in the Serengeti at birth, rely on their mothers for years.”
“Humans exhibit similar behavior, caring for our children until they reach adulthood.”
“Conversely, dinosaurs exhibited different parenting behaviors. They offered some parental care, but their young were relatively independent.”
“After a short period, from a few months to a year, young dinosaurs left their parents to roam independently, often cautious of one another.”
Dr. Holtz notes that adult crocodiles, closely related to dinosaurs, demonstrate a similar trend.
Crocodiles guard their nests and protect their young for a limited duration; however, within a few months, the young disperse and lead independent lives, taking years to reach adulthood.
“Dinosaurs could be likened to ‘latchkey kids,'” Holtz states.
“Fossil evidence shows that juvenile skeletons were often found together, with no adults nearby.”
“These juveniles congregated in groups of similar ages, learning to feed themselves and fend for their safety.”
This parenting style suited the fact that dinosaurs laid eggs and produced relatively large chicks at once.
By producing multiple offspring at a time and reproducing more frequently than mammals, dinosaurs increased the chances of their lineage’s survival without significant resource investment.
“The key takeaway is that this early separation between parents and offspring, alongside size differences, likely had significant ecological implications,” Holtz noted.
“The dietary needs of dinosaurs shifted as they matured, as did their vulnerabilities to predators and their mobility.”
“Even though adult and juvenile dinosaurs belong to the same biological species, they occupy distinctly different ecological niches.”
“Therefore, they can be regarded as different ‘functional species.’
For instance, a juvenile Brachiosaurus, comparable in size to a sheep, couldn’t access food 10 meters above ground like its adult counterparts.
Juveniles faced different predators, feeding in different locations and avoiding fully grown adults.
As young Brachiosaurus grow from dog-sized to horse-sized to giraffe-sized, their ecological roles evolve significantly.
“This understanding has transformed how scientists perceive ecological diversity,” Holtz emphasized.
Typically, scientists argue that modern mammals inhabit more diverse ecosystems because of the coexistence of varied species.
However, if young dinosaurs are counted as separate functional species and their numbers recalculated, the total functional species in dinosaur fossil assemblages likely exceeds that of mammalian fossil assemblages.
How did ancient ecosystems accommodate all these functional roles? Dr. Holtz proposes two potential explanations.
First, the Mesozoic era featured unique environmental conditions, such as warmer temperatures and elevated carbon dioxide levels.
These factors likely enhanced plant productivity, generating more food energy to sustain larger populations.
Secondly, dinosaurs may have had lower metabolic rates than similarly sized mammals, demanding less food for survival.
“Our world might actually be less productive in terms of plant resources than the age of dinosaurs,” claims Holtz.
“A more robust food chain could support greater functional diversity.”
“If dinosaurs’ physiological demands were lower, their ecosystems might have accommodated far more functional species than found in mammalian systems.”
Dr. Holtz emphasizes that his theory doesn’t necessarily imply that dinosaur ecosystems were vastly more diverse than those of mammals, but rather that diversity may have existed in forms that have yet to be identified by scientists.
He intends to further explore similar patterns within the context of dinosaur functional diversity across different life stages to gain deeper insights into their world and its evolution into our contemporary ecosystem.
“We shouldn’t merely consider dinosaurs as scaled and feathered versions of mammals,” Holtz concludes.
“They are remarkable creatures in their own right, and the full scope of their existence is still being uncovered.”
This research will be detailed in Holtz’s paper, set to appear in the Italian Journal of Geosciences.
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Thomas R. Holtz Jr. et al. 2026. Raising Babies: A Preliminary Investigation into Ontogenetic Niche Partitioning in Dinosaurs and Long-term Maternal Care in Mammals within Their Ecosystems. Italian Journal of Geosciences 145; doi: 10.3301/IJG.2026.09
Illustration of a sauropod depicting skin pigment structure as observed under an electron microscope (inset)
Tess Gallagher
Microscopic features discovered in the fossilized skin of sauropods indicate that these colossal dinosaurs might have exhibited colors as vibrant as certain modern birds.
Tess Gallagher, a professor at the University of Bristol in the UK, analyzed sauropod skin fossils estimated to be around 145 million years old, retrieved from the Mother’s Day Quarry in Montana during 2019 and 2022.
While the exact species of the fossil remains uncertain, it is presumed to possibly belong to diplodocus.
The researchers used a scalpel to extract small fragments from the fossil’s four scales, which they investigated with a scanning electron microscope, enabling them to observe cellular details.
Gallagher explained that the skin had been preserved in three dimensions, rather than as mere impressions. Additionally, it exhibited signs of various melanosomes, cellular structures that store melanin, responsible for pigmentation in skin, hair, eyes, and feathers.
“We anticipated finding only minimal melanin traces,” she remarks. “What we uncovered is evidence suggesting sauropods harbored diverse melanosome shapes, which ultimately implies a broad spectrum of color possibilities.”
Every specimen examined by the research team contained melanosomes, primarily in two configurations: rectangular and disc-shaped. Nevertheless, the precise coloration of these sauropods’ skin remains unconfirmed; the structural variety merely indicates potential for numerous shades.
“A diplodocus would have possessed a highly textured exterior showcasing latent color patterns and a wide range of hues,” declared Gallagher.
According to Gallagher, the closest analogy for a disc-shaped structure is the platelet melanosome found in the feathers of contemporary birds. These findings suggest that diplodocus melanosomes might have facilitated the development of various colors. “These creatures could have boasted more striking color patterns, as opposed to the drab gray commonly attributed to ancient fossils.”
Mike Benton, another researcher from the University of Bristol not involved in the study, noted that the shape of the described structures and their preservation suggest they are likely melanosomes.
The researchers are “understandably cautious in their conclusions, but this could represent the first documented instance of colored melanosomes in a sauropod dinosaur,” he remarked.
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The most renowned mass extinction in Earth’s history occurred approximately 66 million years ago. A swift decline in environmental conditions resulted in the extinction of around 75% of species, including the most famous non-avian dinosaurs, and the eventual restoration of terrestrial ecosystems. The ongoing debate focuses on whether dinosaurs vanished abruptly while they were still diverse and thriving or whether they experienced a prolonged decline by the end of the Cretaceous.
Flynn and colleagues analyzed Alamosaurus fossils found in northwestern New Mexico, revealing that these dinosaurs, while very different, are contemporaneous with those discovered further north in Wyoming and Montana. Image credit: Natalia Jagielska.
The geological formations of northwestern New Mexico hold a concealed chapter of Earth’s history.
Paleontologist Daniel Peppe from Baylor University and his team have uncovered indications of a flourishing dinosaur ecosystem in the Kirtland Formation’s Naashoibito Formation just prior to the asteroid impact.
Utilizing high-precision dating methods, they established that the fossils in these formations range from 66.4 to 66 million years old.
“The Naashoibito dinosaur coexisted with the renowned Hell Creek species of Montana and the Dakotas,” Dr. Peppe remarked.
“They were not in decline; rather, they constituted a vibrant, diverse community.”
The discoveries in New Mexico challenge previous assumptions.
Instead of being uniform and weakened, dinosaur communities across North America were unique and thriving in their respective regions.
Through ecological and biogeographic analysis, the researchers determined that dinosaurs in western North America thrived in distinct biozones shaped by regional temperature variations, rather than geographical barriers like mountains or rivers.
“Our recent study indicates that dinosaurs were not on the brink of mass extinction,” stated Andrew Flynn, a researcher at New Mexico State University.
“They were thriving, but the asteroid impact ultimately led to their demise.”
“This contradicts the long-established notion that a gradual decline in dinosaur diversity precipitated mass extinction, making them more susceptible to extinction.”
“The asteroid impact briefly terminated the age of dinosaurs, but the ecosystem they left laid the groundwork for what followed.”
“Within 300,000 years post-extinction, mammals began to diversify rapidly, branching into new diets, body sizes, and ecological roles.”
“The same temperature-driven patterns that influenced dinosaur communities carried into the Paleocene, illustrating how climate influenced the rebirth of life following catastrophic events.”
“The surviving mammals continued to exhibit distinct northern and southern biological regions.”
“Mammals from the north and south are markedly different from each other, diverging from other mass extinctions, which tend to appear more uniform.”
In one of the regular segments of John Mulaney’s Netflix show, every week features live interactions with the comedian and his guests as they take calls on the week’s theme. This time, the topic is dinosaurs, and one caller—a surprisingly enthusiastic young boy and noted paleontologist—introduces himself as Chuck, among others. He discusses his book, Dinosaur erotica. “I think that’s my most recognized and award-winning book,” he elaborates. “It was nominated for the Hugo Prize.”
Actor Ayo Edebiri, one of Mulaney’s guests, inquires whether he won. “I didn’t win, but I went on to write a book called Pound after my Hugo Prize loss.”
Edebiri and fellow guest Conan O’Brien react with a mix of delight and confusion, but the call wraps up before Mulaney can delve into the comedic possibilities of their discussion.
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Mulaney’s fans, often a quirky and socially active group, rushed to the comments, expressing that he missed a golden opportunity. The eccentricity isn’t just a relic of the internet’s past; it’s exemplified by the Elite class figure, Chuck Tingle. He initially went viral thanks to his uniquely self-published erotica, complete with endearingly bizarre Photoshop covers and titles that seem as if they were slapped together by an alluring Velociraptor. Tingle’s work even earned a Hugo Award nomination from the far-right Cultural War fringes.
If these titles sound outrageous, take a trip through your favorite ebook store to remind yourself that romance and erotica can be surprisingly utilitarian in their own right.
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To date, Tingle has released “Tingle’s Gone Legate,” novellas, and three mainstream horror novels throughout the years.
He has also begun appearing in person at fan events and conventions. Similar to the enigmatic author Elena Ferrante, whose audience largely enjoys indie horror video games, Tingle maintains his anonymity. However, unlike Ferrante, he flamboyantly showcases himself with a pink pillowcase and a bag over his head, obscuring his features while exuberantly declaring his mantra, “love is real.” Sporting a colorful ensemble of a big blazer, sequined shorts, band tees, and sometimes light-up sneakers, he energetically dashes through theaters and bookstores.
Online, Tingle engages with his audience and celebrates his work with an innocent earnestness, using a unique mix of whimsical language that falls between highbrow and fandom lingo. He refers to readers, fans, and curious onlookers as “Bakaroo.” Life experiences, stories, beliefs, and careers are his “trot.” Tingle notes that his Orbit Bakarus never truly die but are merely visiting and riding a “lonely train” of existence. He expresses thoughts on the “existential dread of choking” and the notion that love is real—whether in eroticism or existentialism, his stories affirm this principle.
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Tingle has openly discussed his sexuality and sexual experiences in relation to neurodivergence. His storytelling often reflects his experiences being queer, depicting characters who navigate the challenges of revealing their true selves to family and friends in small-town America. His recent horror novels are set in a shared universe, intertwining narratives like Camp Damascus and Bury Your Gays, exploring themes of capitalism, chaos, and radical acceptance as monstrous forces. He emphasizes that authenticity in love and experience is paramount.
This approach is unabashedly direct. To borrow a line from The Great Garth Marengi, I know of writers who employ subtext—yet they all seem rather unwell.
The physical mask Tingle described serves to allow his true self to shine through, as it means less effort concealing his autism. He has maintained a colorful career persona, hinting at the possibility of a performance artist or character he has created since he was young. Rumors abound that he is, in fact, a well-known sturdy actor (and one of the most likable Hollywood Chrises) named Chris Pine.
However, most ardent Bakarus recognize that Chuck leads his own trot.
Artistic representation of the pachycephalosaur Zavacephale rinpoche
Masaya Hattori
A dinosaur with a dome-shaped head, discovered in Mongolia, boasted a mouth full of formidable teeth and an unusually large eye socket on its skull.
The newly identified species, named Zavacephale rinpoche, roamed the Earth during the early Cretaceous period about 108 million years ago. It belongs to a group known as the Pachycephalosaurs. These dinosaurs were characterized by their dome-like skulls, which may have served defensive purposes or been used for social and mating displays.
Paleontologists exploring the Gobi Desert of Mongolia report having uncovered a fossilized skull protruding from the rocks, likening it to a “cabochon gem.” Lindsey Zanno from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences stated, “This is how we came up with the species name Rinpoche, which translates to ‘precious things’ in Tibetan.”
Z. rinpoche represents the most complete specimen of its kind discovered to date, being about 15 million years younger than other known Pachycephalosaur species. It includes nearly the entire skull and limb bones, significant portions of the vertebrae, and pelvic bones. Additionally, the team was able to recover hand bones and gastroliths, which were likely used to grind food.
The dome of the fossil shows distinct dimples, possibly indicating other unidentified features of the head.
“The skull of Pachycephalosaurs is quite striking,” says Zanno. “They not only feature domes, but also bone spikes and nodes surrounding their skulls for aesthetic purposes. These embellishments served as sort of decorative accessories for the dome.”
Skull of Zavacephale rinpoche
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
To ascertain the age at which the dinosaur perished, researchers examined thin slices of the bones from its lower limbs. They classified it as a “teenager,” measuring approximately one meter in length and weighing just under six kilograms. It remains uncertain how large it might have become as an adult, though other members of its group reached lengths exceeding four meters and weights around 400 kilograms.
“The preserved tissues show two growth rings, suggesting that it was actively growing at the time of its death,” noted Zanno. “The spinal bones exhibit no signs of wear, indicating room for further growth.”
CT scans of the skull dome revealed it was fully developed, emphasizing its significance at a younger age.
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Recent studies indicate that dinosaurs acted as ecosystem engineers, fostering habitat openness during the late Cretaceous period. Their extinction around 66 million years ago likely triggered a significant reorganization of ecosystem structures, profoundly affecting rivers. The emergence of dense forests helped stabilize sediments and created a wide, meandering river surrounding the water.
Dinosaurs functioned as ecosystem engineers, regulating forest growth. Their abrupt extinction resulted in extensive ecological shifts, as illustrated in these artistic renderings. Image credit: Julius Csotonyi.
“When considering how life and the environment evolve over time, it’s typically viewed as climate-driven, causing specific effects on living beings. Alternatively, geographic shifts, like rising mountains, also have a notable impact,” explained Luke Weaver, a paleontologist at the University of Michigan.
“It’s uncommon for life to play a crucial role in altering climate and landscape; the influence isn’t solely one-directional.”
The extinction of dinosaurs followed the impact of a massive asteroid on the Yucatan Peninsula approximately 66 million years ago.
Researchers investigating asteroid evidence discovered that the geological layer above the fallout fragments differed significantly from the underlying rock.
Dr. Weaver and his team began examining this abrupt geological transformation within the Williston Basin, which encompasses the Bighorn Basin across eastern Montana, western North Dakota, and northern Wyoming.
“During my review of previous research, I focused on the Fort Union Formation,” Dr. Weaver mentioned.
“This formation, laid down post-dinosaur extinction, appears to consist of layered rocks in various hues.
“Initially thought to be pond sediments resulting from sea level rise, these formations presented an intriguing contrast to the layer beneath, characterized by poorly developed soils that recall features found along flood plains.”
Researchers then hypothesized a link between these geological alterations and the mass extinction event of dinosaurs, commonly referred to as the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.
They further explored the environments represented by the diverse rock formations.
“Our findings indicated that the striped layers were not sediment from ponds,” Dr. Weaver stated.
“Instead, these are point bar deposits, or sediments from the inner curves of large river meanders.”
“Rather than reflecting a tranquil setting, what we uncovered was a highly dynamic environment within those meandering flows.”
Substantial river sediments are framed by layers primarily comprising lignite, a low-grade coal formed from organic material.
Researchers suggested these formed due to less frequent river activity, attributable to the stabilizing effects of dense forests.
“By stabilizing rivers, these forests curtailed the supply of clay, silt, and sand deep into the floodplain, resulting in an accumulation of mainly organic debris,” Dr. Weaver explained.
What evidence will ascertain whether changes occurred right after the mass extinction?
Fine layers rich in iridium are typically found only from cosmic events.
However, the asteroid impact introduced a mix of elements that settled in thin layers across the globe.
This iridium-rich sediment layer, which defines the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, contains about three orders of magnitude more iridium than standard sediments and is recognized as an iridium anomaly.
The researchers subsequently focused on areas of the Bighorn Basin where the boundary was absent.
By analyzing geological shifts between the dinosaur-rich layers and those containing early mammals, they sampled narrow bands of red clay about 1 cm wide.
“These iridium anomalies were perfectly situated at the interface between the two differing geological layers,” Dr. Weaver noted.
“This discovery led us to believe that this phenomenon wasn’t isolated to the Williston Basin; it likely applies across many regions in western North America.”
However, questions linger regarding the reasons for the substantial geological transformations observed before and after the dinosaurs’ extinction.
Later, the team came upon discussions regarding how modern animals, such as elephants, impact their ecosystems.
“This was the moment of clarity that connected all the dots,” Dr. Weaver remarked.
“Dinosaurs were enormous; they must have substantially influenced the vegetation.”
Paleontologists have posited that dinosaurs played a crucial role in facilitating forest growth, trapping sediments, and shaping river structures.
“For me, the most thrilling aspect of our research is the evidence that dinosaurs may have directly influenced their ecosystems,” said Dr. Courtney Splain, a researcher at the University of Florida.
“Notably, the impacts of their extinction may be observed not merely through the disappearance of fossils in the geological record, but also through evident changes in the sediment itself.”
Survey results were published this week in the journal Communication Earth and the Environment.
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ln weaver et al. 2025. Dinosaur extinction can explain the change in continental facies at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. Commune Earth Environment 6, 712; doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02673-8
Reconstructing the life of Spicomellus Afer – Fossils of ankylosaurus discovered in Morocco
Matthew Dempsey
The dinosaur fossils unearthed in Morocco may represent some of the most bizarre and intricately armored vertebrates to have roamed the Earth.
The initial discover of Spicomellus Afer in Morocco was reported in 2021. This suggests that it comprises only rib bone fragments, adorned with fused spikes, from a group of dinosaurs categorized as Ankylosaurs. These herbivorous dinosaurs with stout bodies are known for their protective plates and spiked coverings.
In October 2022, farmers in the Badlands of the Middle Atlas Mountains began to uncover a much more complete Spicomellus skeleton. This fossil has been dated back to approximately 165 million years ago during the Jurassic period, suggesting that the creature may have reached lengths of about 4 meters and weighed as much as 2 tons.
Like modern crocodiles, armored dinosaurs such as Stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs possessed osteoderms—bony plates embedded within their skin. However, in the case of Spicomellus, its fossil reveals two distinct types of bone structures: the bony skin and spikes are fused together.
“This is unprecedented among armored dinosaurs, and indeed among any species with bony skin, making it totally astonishing,” remarked Susanna Maidment, a member of the team analyzing these fossils at the Natural History Museum in London.
Overall, the Spicomellus specimen boasts numerous armored spikes that cover nearly its entire body. Spikes attached to the neck region can measure around 1 meter in length. Additionally, fused vertebrae in the tail suggest it could serve as a potent weapon.
The creature’s peculiar attributes led Maidment to conclude that extreme descriptors were warranted in their explanations. “In scientific literature, phrases like ‘crazy’ are not acceptable. I opted for more elaborate language,” she noted. “One of my colleagues suggested that referring to its anomaly as ‘baroque’ could also be fitting for our research.”
This extreme form of armor would likely hinder the species’ movement through various environments, leading it to inhabit areas dense with vegetation, according to Maidment. “It would have been quite cumbersome,” she added.
Given the complexity of its armor, researchers speculate it served purposes beyond mere defense, potentially playing a role in mate attraction. “Elements that seem entirely extraordinary in the fossil record are often connected to reproduction, and I believe this complex armor was likely some form of display,” she concluded.
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A new genus and species of sailed Iguanodontian dinosaurs has been discovered from a partial skeleton unearthed in the Wessex Formation on the Isle of Wight, England.
Restoration of Istiorachis macarthurae. Image credit: James Brown.
Named Istiorachis macarthurae, this new dinosaur species thrived in what is now England during the early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 million years ago.
These ancient creatures were part of a large, widely distributed group of herbivorous dinosaurs known as iguanodontians.
“Iguanodontia represented a highly successful clade of Ornithischian dinosaurs,” said Jeremy Lockwood, a paleontologist from the University of Portsmouth and the Museum of Natural History in London.
“By the end of the Cretaceous, they dominated the dinosaur fauna of Laurasia, alongside the hadrosaurid family, including Edmontosaurus legatus and Parasaurolophus walkeri.”
“While diversity among iguanodonts was low during the late Jurassic, it surged in the early Cretaceous.”
The most notable characteristic of Istiorachis macarthurae is a series of elongated spines along its back and tail, which formed a large sail-like structure.
“Evolution often favors the extravagant over the practical,” Lockwood commented.
“The precise function of such structures has been debated for years; however, while they may serve purposes from heat regulation to fat storage, visual signaling—perhaps for sexual display—seems the most plausible explanation in this context.”
“In modern reptiles, such sail structures are often more pronounced in males, indicating that these traits may have evolved to attract mates or intimidate rivals.”
“We hypothesize that Istiorachis macarthurae may have done something similar.”
Paleontologists closely examined the fossilized bones to determine the purpose of the sails.
By creating a comprehensive database of similar dinosaur backbones through direct observations, photographs, scientific illustrations, and reconstructions, they were able to investigate the evolutionary history of the back structure in this new Iguanodontian family tree.
This helped identify broader trends in the evolution of these sails.
“These methods allow us not only to explain the fossil evidence but also to test hypotheses about their function,” Lockwood noted.
“We demonstrated that Istiorachis macarthurae‘s spines were not only taller but also more exaggerated compared to typical Iguanodon features, making it an ideal candidate for traits arising through sexual selection.”
Istiorachis macarthurae illustrates a broader evolutionary pattern.
Research indicates that the lengthening of neural spines in the Iguanodon lineage began in the late Jurassic period, becoming more common in the early Cretaceous.
However, true hyperelongation, which surpasses four times the height of the spine body, remains rare.
Similar displays can be observed in present-day reptiles, such as various lizard species, where elaborate crests and sails often communicate health and strength to potential mates.
“Istiorachis macarthurae is a prime example,” Lockwood said.
The findings were published in the journal Paleontology Papers this week.
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Jeremy A. F. Lockwood et al. 2025. The origin of neural spine elongation in Iguanodontian dinosaurs and the osteology of the new sail-backed dinosaur (Dinosaur, Ornithischia) from the Cretaceous Wealden group in England. Paleontology Papers 11(4): E70034; doi: 10.1002/spp2.70034
Paleontologists have discovered a new species of Dromaeosaurus dinosaur from a nearly complete and unique skeleton found in Mongolia during the 2000s.
Reconstruction of Sri Lapax. Image credit: Connor Ashbridge / CC by 4.0.
This newly recognized dinosaur lived during the Campanian stage of the Cretaceous period, approximately 75 million years ago.
Based on various derived traits of the skull, vertebrae, and overall skeletal structure, this species can be classified within a group of bird-like theropods known as Dromaeosauridae.
It has been named Sri Lapax, marking it as the second species in this genus, following Sri Devi, which was identified in 2021.
“Dromaeosauridae represents a clade of small to medium-sized theropod dinosaurs that have been found in various Cretaceous deposits across North America, Asia, Europe, South America, and extending as far as Antarctica and Madagascar.”
“Remnants of feather-like structures, true pennaceous feathers, and gastrointestinal remains can be observed in well-preserved Dromaeosaurus specimens from the Lower Cretaceous period, such as Daurong Wanggi, Sinornithosaurus millenii, and Micro Raptor Zhaoianus.”
“Together with Troodontids, Dromaeosaurids are generally acknowledged as the closest modern relatives of birds.”
The nearly complete skeleton of Sri Lapax was discovered in the Djadochta Formation in Mongolia.
“This Dromaeosaurus specimen was illegally collected prior to 2010 and subsequently passed through private collections in Japan and the UK before being obtained by a French company,” noted paleontologist Eldonia.
“The precise location of the discovery remains unknown.”
“We plan to propose a tentative origin for it in the Mongolian Ukhaa Tolgod region based on documentation relating to the specimen.”
Holotype of Sri Lapax prior to preparations at the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences in Belgium in 2010. The arrows denote single femurs reconstructed using parts from both original femurs (which were separated during preparation). Image credit: Moutrille et al., doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148.
Sri Lapax exhibits a unique combination of vertebral and pelvic characteristics along with notably robust hands.
“One of the most distinctive features of Sri Lapax,” the researcher remarked.
“When adjusted for equal length, the phalangeal elements of the Pollex are about 150% more robust laterally compared to homologous elements in other Djadokhtan Dromaeosaurids, and these hands are stockier than those found in other known Dromaeosaurids.”
“We propose that frequent interactions with the Serratopsians, along with aggressive behaviors from those species, may have driven the development of more robust forelimbs and stockier hands in several Djadokhtan velociraptorines.”
“Assuming that Sri Lapax shared predatory habits with its close relative Velociraptor mongoliensis, the more robust construction of its hands suggests an adaptation for hunting larger and sturdier prey compared to typical Velociraptor diets.”
A study detailing this discovery was published online in the journal Historical Biology on July 13, 2025.
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Léa Moutrille et al. New bird-like dinosaurs from the Mongolian Upper Cretaceous period indicate niche diversification among belosirapthrins with particularly robust hands. Historical Biology published online on July 13th, 2025. doi:10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148
It’s not that the enormous, carnivorous dinosaurs weren’t the terrifying, bone-crushing predators we envision.
A new study published in the journal Current Biology reveals that a variety of bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Spinosaurus, and Allosaurus, have evolved to possess the necessary skull strength for powerful bites.
Utilizing 3D scanning and computer modeling, the researchers examined the skull biomechanics of 18 species of theropods.
The findings indicated that while T. Rex and other giants had skulls designed to deliver immense bite forces capable of breaking bones, they actually possessed relatively weak jaws and employed diverse hunting strategies.
“The skull of a T. Rex was specifically optimized for high bite force, which led to significant skull stress,” stated the lead author, Dr. Andrew Lowe from the University of Bristol, UK. “In contrast, stress patterns in other giants like Giganotosaurus suggested they had relatively mild bites. This implies a variety of evolutionary pathways for these carnivorous giants.”
Giganotosaurus is larger than T. rex, reaching 13m (43 feet) long and weighing almost 14 tons – Credit: Getty
Instead of adhering to a singular evolutionary path to apex status, large carnivorous dinosaurs evolved various skull shapes and feeding strategies. Some, like T. Rex, would bite down akin to a crocodile, while others, such as Allosaurus and Spinosaurus, employed thrashing or ripping techniques reminiscent of modern Komodo dragons and big cats.
“The Tyrannosaurus took a different approach,” remarked Steve Brusatte, a professor and paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh who was not part of the study, as reported by BBC Science Focus. “They developed immense bite strength, allowing them to crush the bones of their prey. This created a perilous lifestyle, subjecting the skull’s bones and muscles to significant stress.”
The results also challenge the belief that larger dinosaurs necessarily had stronger bites. Some smaller species may actually exert more stress on their skulls due to increased muscle mass, indicating that size alone isn’t the key factor in bite power.
The variability in bite strength and skull architecture hints at a more specialized ecological landscape in dinosaur ecosystems, offering multiple strategies for dominance in the prehistoric food chain.
“There wasn’t a singular ‘best’ skull design for being a predatory giant. Various designs proved effective,” noted Lowe. “This biomechanical diversity implies that dinosaur ecosystems supported a more extensive range of giant carnivorous ecological niches than we typically consider, with less competition and greater specialization.”
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About our experts
Steve Brusatte is a professor and paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh, and author of the book Mammal Ascending and Governing (20 pounds, Picador), focusing on 325 million years of mammalian evolution and fossils.
wudingloong wui existed around 200 million years ago in Yunnan Province, China, during the early Jurassic Epoch.
Reconstructed skeletons and representative bones of wudingloong wui. Individual scale bars – 5 cm. Reconstructed skeleton scale bar – 50 cm. Image credit: Wang et al., doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-12185-2.
wudingloong wui was a medium-sized member of the non-Sauropodang group, part of the Sauropodomorpha, a highly successful dinosaur clade found nearly worldwide, from Antarctica to Greenland.
“The Chinese non-Sauropodian sauropods are primarily known from the Rufen and the adjacent Lower Jurassic Rufen Formation in Yunnan Province, including species like Lufengosaurus, Yunnanosaurus, Jing Shanosaurus, xingxiulong, and Yizhousaurus,” said Jamin Wang, a paleontologist at the Chinese Geological Museum and a collaborator.
“The discovery of Qianlong from the Jurassic Jillusin Formation in the neighboring Gituhou province is a recent finding that expands our understanding of non-Sauropodian Sauropodomorphs in China.”
“The discovery of wudingloong wui provides additional evidence that the Sauropodomorph community in southwestern China is the most taxonomically diverse and morphologically varied in the world, featuring a range of species from early Massospondylidae to non-Sauropod forms.”
Fossilized remains of wudingloong wui were collected from the Yubacun Layer in Wande Town, Yunnan Province, China.
“The specimen includes a partial skeleton comprising the skull, lower jaw, atlas, axis, and the third cervical vertebra.”
“Fully developed skull elements and closed central nerve sutures suggest that the specimen is likely a mature individual.”
wudingloong wui is the earliest and statistically oldest Sauropodomorph dinosaur discovered in East Asia.
“The new species fits within the Sauropodomorph classification, predating Massospondylidae and Sauropodiformes, thus contributing valuable information to the Sauropodomorph community in southwestern China,” the researchers stated.
“Thus, the Sauropodomorph community in early Jurassic southwestern China is possibly characterized by four distinct associations comprising four relatively small species, including the medium-sized Massospondylid Lufengosaurus, early Zauropod horns, and assemblages resembling late Triassic to early Jurassic medium-sized sauropods, presumably quadrupedal Massopodans, akin to those found in the Elliott Formation of South Africa and the Zauropodmorph group in Zimbabwe.”
“Close phylogenetic ties between wudingloong and Plateosauravus from the Elliott Formation in late Triassic South Africa, as well as Ruehleia from late Triassic Germany, indicate that the early dispersal of Sauropodomorphs in East Asia occurred at least during the Late Triassic Rhaetian (206-201 million years ago) or around the Triassic-Jurassic boundary (201 million years ago).”
“To substantiate this hypothesis, further samples and additional analyses are required.”
“Nonetheless, the discovery of wudingloong raises questions regarding the distribution of non-Sauropodian sauropods in East Asia and its correlation with Triassic-Jurassic extinction events.”
The team’s paper is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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YM. King et al. 2025. The new early Jurassic dinosaurs represent the earliest and oldest Sauropodmorph in East Asia. Sci Rep 15, 26749; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-12185-2
Artwork depicting a group of Serratopsians with an Ankylosaurus moving along an ancient riverbed, observed by two tyrannosaurs
Julius Csotonyi
Have you ever considered a scenario where a group of plant-eating dinosaurs banded together, similar to certain modern-day animals? A 76 million-year-old set of tracks discovered in Canada could be the earliest indication of such behavior, although conclusions are far from definitive.
Last year, Brian Pickles and his team from the University of Reading in the UK uncovered parallel tracks in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, created by at least five individual creatures.
“The tracks are in close proximity and evenly spaced,” comments Pickles. “This indicates they were likely moving in unison.”
Initially, researchers believed all the tracks belonged to the well-known Ceratopsians, particularly the Triceratops. While they haven’t pinpointed the specific Ceratopsid that created the tracks, fossil evidence suggests that Styracosaurus albertensis was present in the area at that time.
“During our excavation, we noted that one set of tracks was distinct from the others,” Pickles remarks. “While it shares a similar size, it features three toes. The only large dinosaur known to have made such a footprint in the park during that era was the Ankylosaurus, a heavily armored species with a club-like tail.”
He explains that since the tracks were presumably made near a river, the Ankylosaurus might have walked among the Serratopsians simply because they were all heading to the river to drink simultaneously. However, it’s also plausible that different herbivorous dinosaur species grouped together over time for protection. Notably, two predatory Tyrannosaurus tracks were found in proximity.
“In contemporary African ecosystems, it’s common for giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests to form mixed groups, which have varying abilities to detect predators,” Pickles adds.
Nevertheless, this remains inconclusive for multi-species flocks among dinosaurs, as only one Ankylosaurus footprint has been identified thus far.
Technician inspecting tracks at Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada
Dr. Brian Pickles, University of Reading
“I was struck by the notion that tracks from two distinct large herbivorous dinosaurs could be found so closely situated, all oriented in the same direction,” states Anthony Martin from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
“While it’s possible that the Serratopsians and Ankylosaurus could have occupied the area at different times, the proximity and alignment of their footprints provides a compelling argument that they influenced one another,” he elaborates.
Conversely, Anthony Romilio from the University of Queensland in Australia expresses skepticism about the presence of tracks from two separate species. “The proposed tracks of Serratopsia and Ankylosaurus exhibit surprising similarities,” he states.
In fact, noting that only the width of the track and the rear footprints were discovered, Romilio proposes that they may have been made by duck-billed dinosaurs. “In my view, these footprints are more likely attributable to a large-bodied hadrosaur,” he asserts.
“This doesn’t negate the possibility of mixed-species groups among dinosaurs. Various bird and mammal species are known to form such groups,” Romilio states. “It’s entirely reasonable to think that some dinosaurs may have done the same.”
However, Pickles refutes Romilio’s claim regarding the tracks. “These are definitely not hadrosaur tracks,” he states.
New species of Velociraptor – Similar to the dinosaurs found in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, they boasted large claws and sturdy hands, enabling them to conquer larger prey.
The species is named Sri Lapax, inspired by the “intense characteristics we observe in our own hands,” explained Andrea Cow, a paleontologist from Italy.
Sri Lapax stretches approximately 2 meters in length and originates from the Judokta Formation, an expansive landscape of sand dunes and intermittent lakes dating back 75 million years.
Excavated in 2010, this fossil was illicitly transported into private collections in Japan and the UK before being returned to Mongolia. A collaborative study by CAU and colleagues uncovered bones that had been buried within rock layers, revealing remarkably preserved hands.
“The structure of the hand is notably robust, with particularly long and narrow claws,” remarked Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig from North Carolina State University. “This adaptation may have facilitated grasping and subduing relatively large prey.”
The primary claw measures 79.5 mm, nearly double the length of the corresponding claw in its closest relative, Velociraptor mongoliensis.
“When compared to Velociraptor – which is approximately the same size – the hands are 150% more robust, and the claws are elongated,” noted Cau. “[It] appears to have been adapted to pursue prey that was more formidable than what its relatives typically targeted.”
Strong nails of Sri Lapax
Royal Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels
Despite the loss of the skull and some vertebrae prior to the repatriation, CAU and colleagues managed to reconstruct the missing parts digitally, utilizing CT scans of the fossils conducted in 2016. The findings suggest that the skull is likely short and robust, indicating a stronger bite compared to many of its contemporaries.
James Napoli from Stony Brook University in New York noted the significance of recovering the missing skull and vertebrae. “The skull is particularly crucial for understanding this animal’s lifestyle and its evolutionary significance among theropod dinosaurs,” he stated.
Paleontologists have announced the discovery of what they believe to be a new species of early-running Neonysikhia dinosaurs, part of the Jurassic Yangliao Biota in northern China.
Skeleton of Plasaurustinron shown in side view. Image credit: Hailong Zhang.
Named Plasaurustinron, this newly identified dinosaur species lived in what is now China approximately 160 million years ago during the Jurassic period.
The ancient reptiles are part of what is known as the Yanliao Biota, a Jurassic ecosystem that included dinosaurs, mammals, amphibians, insects, lizards, and numerous plants.
“The Yanliao Biota is one of China’s most significant Mesozoic Lagerstättes, comprising fossil communities from the Jiulongshan and Tiaojishan formations, dating from 168 to 157 million years ago,” according to researchers from the China Academy of Sciences and Yunnan University.
“Overall, between 54 and 58 vertebrate species have been reported from the Yanliao Biota, which includes nine non-avian dinosaurs.”
“The Yanliao Biota preserves a large array of vertebrate material from various species, offering valuable insights into major paleontological milestones, such as the emergence of birds and the early evolution of mammals.”
“However, all non-avian dinosaurs found within the Yanliao Biota are small ceratopsians, while Ornithischia is represented by merely one species likely from the Jehol Biota.”
“This contrasts sharply with other contemporary Chinese terrestrial faunas, like the Shishugou and Shaximiao Faunas, where body sizes and taxonomic compositions are far more diverse.”
Plasaurustinron belongs to the group known as Neornithischia (New Ornithischians), a category of dinosaurs within the order Ornithischia.
First identified in 1985, Neornithischians are characterized by a thick layer of asymmetric enamel on the inner surfaces of their lower teeth.
“Neornithischia is a significant group of dinosaurs with early origins traceable to the central Jurassic region and possibly represented by several early extinction species such as Sanxiasaurus, Agirisaurus, and Hexine Rusaurus found in China,” said the paleontologist.
“Besides China, Neornithischian fossils have been reported from Jurassic regions in Eastern Europe, Scotland, and other geological periods and countries.”
“Neornithischia experienced rapid diversification into numerous species during the Cretaceous period.”
Well-preserved specimens of Plasaurustinron were discovered in the Tiaojishan formation in the Hebei Province of China.
“The fossil comprises nearly complete skeletons encased in slabs of brownish-red sandstone,” the researchers noted.
“The specimen retains most of its skull and complete post-cranial skeleton.”
According to scientists, Plasaurustinron was a small neornithischian dinosaur.
“The specimen’s total length is approximately 72.2 cm (measured from the rostral end of the skull to the caudal end of the last preserved vertebra), whereas the skull measures around 8 cm,” they mentioned.
The identification of this new species enhances our understanding of the biodiversity of the Yangliao Biota and the evolutionary relationships of early-running neornithischians.
“Phylogenetic analyses position Plasaurustinron at the base of Neornithischia, in proximity to Agirisaurus, the earliest neornithischian known,” the authors explained.
“This new species marks the first Neonysichian found within the Yangliao ecosystem and will help bridge the temporal and geographical gaps in the distribution of Neornithischia in China.”
“Additionally, the preserved remains of Plasaurustinron represent the second documented occurrence of ossified laryngeal structures among non-avian dinosaurs.”
“The laryngeal structures observed in Plasaurustinron suggest the presence of ossified laryngeal devices across other dinosaur species.”
In a manner resembling the arc shape found in modern birds, Plasaurustinron may have possessed bird-like vocalizations.
The discovery of Plasaurustinron is detailed in a paper published in the journal PeerJ.
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Y. Yang et al. 2025. A new neornithischian dinosaur from the Jurassic Tiaojishan formation in northern China. PeerJ 13:E19664; doi:10.7717/peerj.19664
Recently discovered fossil specimens of the Monsters include new genera and species, Borguamondor, found in southern Utah’s magnificent Kaiparowitz Formation at Escalante National Monument. These specimens highlight the remarkable diversity of these large lizards during the late North American period.
Reconstruction of Borguamondor‘s life. Image credit: Cullen Townsend.
Borguamondor existed in North America during the Cretaceous Campania period, approximately 72 million years ago.
These ancient reptiles represent a portion of the evolution of large-bodied lizards known as the Monsters. One of the most notable examples is the Gira monster, which still inhabits deserts where new species have been rediscovered.
“According to Monster Aurus Hank Wooley, a paleontologist at the Dinosaur Institute:
“They have a lineage spanning about 100 million years, but their fossil records remain largely incomplete. Discoveries like Borguamondor are significant in understanding these remarkable lizards, which would have appeared monstrous to us.”
“With an estimated length of about 1 m (3 feet), depending on the size of the tail and body, it may have been even larger.”
“In comparison to modern lizards, it was a large creature, akin to a monitor lizard inhabiting the savanna.
Related skeletal remains of Borguamondor, including skulls, vertebrae, girdles, limbs, and osteoderm fragments, were discovered starting in 2005 at the Kaiparowits Formation in Utah.
“Dr. Randy Ilmith, a paleontologist at the University of Utah, commented on Borguamondor:
Other fossils retrieved by the team include heavily armored skull bones, suggesting that ancient, seasonally tropical forests in southern Utah were home to at least three distinct types of large predatory lizards.
“Despite their size, the skeletal remains of these lizards are incredibly rare; most fossil records are based on isolated bones and teeth,” noted Dr. Joe Celtic, a paleontologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Colorado State University.
“The exceptional fossil record of large lizards from the Grand Stair Escalante National Monument may indicate that they were a typical part of the dinosaur-dominated ecosystem in North America, playing a vital role as small predators hunting for eggs and smaller animals in Lalamidia forests.”
“The identification of this new species within the Monsters category suggests the potential for undiscovered large lizards from the late Cretaceous period,” the researchers remarked.
“Moreover, this discovery underscores that there remains untapped diversity yet to be uncovered both in the field and within paleontological collections.”
“The closest known relatives of Borguamondor are found across the planet in the Asian Gobi Desert.”
“It has been widely recognized that these creatures traversed the former Cretaceous continents, which were once interconnected. The discovery of Borguamondor suggests that smaller animals also migrated, indicating a broader biogeographical pattern among terrestrial vertebrates during this era.”
Survey results will be published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
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C. Henrik Woolley et al. 2025. New specimens of Monstaurus from the Kaiparowitz Formation in Utah reveal the unexpected diversity of ancient large lizards in late North America. R. Soc. Open SCI 12(6): 250435; doi: 10.1098/rsos.250435
A team of paleontologists from the University of Zurich has identified chronic instances of osteomyelitis (bone tissue infection) in Plateosaurus trossingensis, one of the well-known dinosaurs from the late Triassic period in Europe.
Diagram of Plateosaurus trossingensis skeletons featured in the Theoprati exhibition at the Museum of Natural History, University of Zurich. Image credits: Dupuy et al., doi: 10.1186/s13358-025-00368-3.
Plateosaurus trossingensis inhabited Europe around 220 million years ago during the late Triassic epoch.
These ancient creatures were approximately 8 m (26 feet) long and primarily walked on their hind legs.
In a recent study, paleontologist Jordan Bestwick and colleagues analyzed the skeleton of Plateosaurus trossingensis from the Klettgau Layer in Switzerland.
They discovered significant osteomyelitis in the dinosaur’s upper arm and right shoulder.
“Osteomyelitis affects various living animals, including humans, birds, and reptiles,” noted Dr. Bestwick.
“The condition has been documented in several dinosaur groups, including sauropods, leading us to assess and compare numerous specimens, including Plateosaurus.
“The impacted bones in the shoulders and upper arms displayed notably rough internal and external textures, altered shapes, and even fusion, which are broad indicators of osteomyelitis.”
Researchers find their discoveries particularly intriguing since this case represents the oldest recorded instance of osteomyelitis in dinosaurs, dating back to about 220 million years ago, and the extent of the infection was unusually large.
“Earlier studies highlighted localized infections, such as in toe bones or adjacent vertebrae,” Dr. Bestwick explained.
“It’s exceptionally rare to observe infections in a shoulder and the entirety of an upper arm.”
“While the initial cause of the infection remains unknown, it likely plagued the animal for a prolonged period, potentially rendering its right arm nonfunctional.”
These findings are detailed in a paper published in the Swiss Journal of Palaeontology.
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sfj dupuis et al. 2025. Osteology and histology of a Plateosaurus trossingensis (Dinosaur: Sauropodomorpha) from the Upper Triassic in Switzerland with advanced chronic pathology. Swiss J Palaeontol 144, 27; doi:10.1186/s13358-025-00368-3
Diamantinasaurus Mathilde, which existed approximately 94 million years ago during the mid-Cretaceous period, primarily consumed conifers, ferns, flowering plants, and utilized intestinal microorganisms for digestion almost entirely. You can learn more about it at the Winton Formation in Queensland, Australia.
Artist’s impression of Diamantinasaurus Mathilde (Judy). Image credit: Travis Tischler.
Understanding dinosaur diets is essential for grasping their paleontology and their roles in Mesozoic ecosystems.
Nevertheless, while many non-avian dinosaurs are interpreted as herbivores based on their anatomy, only a few fossils provide tangible evidence in the form of coprolites (fossilized intestinal contents).
Out of the thousands of herbivorous non-avian dinosaur specimens identified globally, only three have shown likely or atypical gut contents, all of which belong to armored theropod dinosaurs preserved in marine layers.
Other herbivorous non-avian dinosaur specimens with fossilized gut contents include hadrosaurid ornithopods found in river environments.
Thus, the intestinal contents of sauropod dinosaurs—arguably the most ecologically significant large terrestrial herbivores during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods—remain largely unexplored due to their immense size.
“Since the 19th century, paleontologists have universally classified sauropods as herbivores,” stated Dr. Stephen Polopat, deputy director of the Western Australian Centre for Organic and Isotope Geochemistry at Curtin University.
“However, the specific plants they consumed and the heights from which they fed remained largely unknown until now.”
Dr. Polopat and his team examined the fossilized intestines of a specimen of Diamantinasaurus Mathilde informally referred to as Judy.
This fossil was discovered at a site near Winton and excavated in 2017 by museum staff and citizen scientists at the Australian Dinosaurs’ Museum of Natural History.
Among Judy’s stomach contents, paleontologists identified pinus and bracts from tall coniferous trees, as well as leaves and fruits originating from small seeds and flowering plants.
Diamantinasaurus Mathilde skeleton with intestinal contents. Image credits: Polopat et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.053.
“The findings indicated that sauropods consumed a variety of plants from different levels above the ground, contributing to their long-term survival and adaptability,” Dr. Polopat remarked.
“The stomach contents we analyzed belonged to a 12-meter-long sub-adult sauropod.”
“Our research shows that several types of sub-adult sauropods could feed at varying heights and adapt to diverse climatic, environmental, and vegetation changes during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.”
“We also verified that sauropods exhibited bulk-feeding, similar to methods utilized by herbivorous reptiles and birds today.”
“This implies they did not chew their food but swallowed it whole, allowing their digestive systems to process it completely.”
“Any meal would have lingered in their gastrointestinal tracts for as long as two weeks before being excreted.”
“Finally, the ability to observe sauropod stomach contents for the first time corroborated prior hypotheses regarding their dietary behavior.”
“Sauropods were remarkable creatures that roamed the planet for over 130 million years. Understanding their dietary patterns is crucial for comprehending their impact on the Earth’s ecosystem, particularly concerning plants and other herbivorous species.”
“Further research is necessary, and ideally, we aim to discover additional sauropod fossils containing stomach contents to ascertain whether their feeding habits evolved as they matured, especially regarding their consumption of growing plants.”
Professor Kliti Grice, founder of Curtin University’s Western Australian Centre for Organic and Isotope Geochemistry, expressed:
“Utilizing advanced organic geochemical methods, we confirmed the existence of both angiosperms and growth structures within the diet of this sauropod.”
The team’s research paper is published in the journal Current Biology.
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Stephen F. Polopat et al. 2025. The contents of the fossilized intestine reveal the feeding habits of sauropod dinosaurs. Current Biology 35 (11): 2597-2613; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.053
Artistic depiction of Diamantinasaurus matildae, a 94 million-year-old sauropod dinosaur
Travis Tischler
The study of fossilized intestinal contents belonging to sauropod dinosaurs marks the first significant finding that confirms the largest terrestrial animals were high-fiber herbivores with minimal chewing behavior.
The specimen, known as Judy of the Diamantinasaurus matildae, was discovered in May 2017 in Winton, Queensland, Australia.
Shortly after Judy’s death around 94 to 100 million years ago, scavengers disturbed her remains; however, most of her body remained intact, including a calcified patch of skin. Notably, her preserved intestinal contents revealed a diverse range of plant matter.
Previously, paleontologists inferred the vegetarian diet of sauropods mainly from their skull and jaw structures, but lacked direct evidence regarding their dietary habits.
“It’s impressive to see Judy, as she may not conform to the typical characteristics we expect of other sauropods,” stated Stephen Polopat, part of the excavation and analysis team from Curtin University in Perth, Australia.
Measuring approximately 11 meters long with a 4-meter neck and a 3.3-meter tail, Judy was likely still a juvenile when she died. Her skin and intestinal samples will be displayed at the Australian-era Dinosaur Museum in Winton starting June 9.
“This gives us a clearer understanding of Judy’s overall size and form, aspects that previous Australian sauropod fossils have not illustrated,” he pointed out.
Polopat noted that her belly was “full” of plant material, emphasizing that it appeared the plants were simply ingested without much processing. “It’s not a matter of bloating in the mouth; it’s a case of cut and swallow.”
He suggested that the substantial plant matter present in Judy’s digestive tract likely facilitated the release of significant methane by the massive creature.
“Uncovering tangible evidence of extinct species like giant dinosaurs is always thrilling,” remarked John Long, who was not affiliated with the study, from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. “If all we had was a panda bear skull, we might assume their diet is similar to other bears’ — not solely bamboo.”
“Speculation has been common regarding these titanic beings’ plant-based diets. Now we know they consumed a variety of vegetation from various levels, including both ground and tree branches,” Long concluded.
Paleontologists have uncovered evidence of previously unrecognized soft tissue structures in the cheek areas of various dinosaur species. This discovery deepens our understanding of dinosaur anatomy and underscores the limitations of current methods for reconstructing anatomical features that are not well preserved.
Soft tissue visualization of Edmontosaurus created through photography, 3D modeling, digital painting, and histology of bones in the Alberta Dinosaur Park, Canada. Image credit: Henry Sharp.
“Such examples of soft anatomy in dinosaurs are rare due to the degradation of muscles and tissue over time,” remarked Henry Sharp, a paleontologist from the University of Alberta.
“While bones can be excavated and assembled into semi-complete skeletons, for a long time, there was no effective way to discern the muscles and tissues present in dinosaurs.”
“In the 1990s, existing systematic brackets utilized the closest living relatives of dinosaurs—alligators and birds—to gain insight into their ’tissues and muscles.’
“However, this approach has its shortcomings: the muscles reconstructed in dinosaurs are those found in alligators and birds.”
“What if dinosaurs possessed their own unique muscles that aren’t present in their modern relatives, or if birds have lost or adapted their original musculature?”
“While examining a skull of Edmontosaurus, affectionately named Gary, I noticed a distinctive flange structure atop the bone near its prominent cheek.”
“As I delved deeper, I struggled to find answers.”
“There were large, corrugated sections of the skull. In a mammalian skull, I would interpret that as cheek muscle attachment. Yet, reptiles are not supposed to exhibit such muscle structures.”
“This sparked intrigue. What if this finding contradicted existing models of dinosaur musculature?”
To gain a clearer understanding of this aspect of dinosaur anatomy, Sharp and his colleagues from the University of Alberta, the University of Toronto, the Royal Museum of Ontario, and the University of New England began investigating similar regions in the skulls of other dinosaur species, uncovering evidence of analogous structures.
“The findings were consistently located in the same area. This strongly suggests that it represents a muscle or ligament,” Sharp explained.
To validate their hypothesis regarding this bone area being a site for some type of soft tissue structure, researchers meticulously cut thin sections of dinosaur bone.
“Soft tissues, such as muscles and ligaments, are anchored to the bone via collagen fibers,” Sharp stated.
“These fibers help secure the muscle or ligament, preventing detachment and potential injury to the animal.”
Once the soft tissue deteriorates, what remains are the collagen fibers, which can be examined through thin slices of bone under polarized light.
“It appears as if someone has fractured a bone at the surface and then scraped it with an X-acto knife,” Sharp noted.
The researchers employed a technique called sleepy to analyze various angles of the zygomatic and mandibular bone slices, enabling them to investigate the 3D orientation of the collagen fibers.
“These collagen fibers don’t insert haphazardly; they align with the angles where muscles attach,” Sharp added.
In all examined dinosaur species, collagen fibers manifested connections between the cheek and lower jaw, reinforcing the idea that the soft tissue structure resembles cheek muscles and ligaments.
Variation in the size and attachment angles across different dinosaur species suggests that this newly identified soft tissue played specialized roles, such as stabilizing the jaw and influencing feeding behavior.
“While we don’t fully understand its precise functions, it is evident that these soft tissues significantly impacted how these dinosaurs chewed.”
“This discovery underscores the importance of comparing dinosaur fossils with those of modern relatives for a more nuanced and accurate comprehension of extinct anatomy.”
“Dinosaurs exhibit considerable diversity, yet we often overlook significant aspects by attempting to interpret the past solely through the lens of contemporary conditions.”
Henry S. Sharp et al. Skull morphology and histology reveal previously unexpected cheek soft tissue structures in dinosaurs. Journal of Anatomy, published on March 21, 2025. doi:10.1111/joa.14242
This article is a rendition of a press release provided by the University of Alberta.
A research team from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdela University, the University of Birmingham, and the Museum of Natural History in London has identified a new specimen as the oldest known Serapodan Ornithischian dinosaur.
Proximal femurs of the Serapodan dinosaur from the Elmers III Formation in the Central Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Image credit: Maid et al., doi: 10.1098/rsos.241624.
“Serapod has received significant attention lately,” said Dr. Susanna Maid, a paleontologist at the Museum of Natural History, University of Birmingham.
The early Serapodan, a key player in the Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystem, was bipedal and featured hadrosaur-like skeletal structures. In contrast, late Cretaceous forms, including hadrosaurs and ceratopsids, evolved more specialized adaptations.
“Serapodans can be divided into two major clades: Ornithopoda, which encompasses non-hadrosaur Iguanodons and duck-billed Hadrosaurs, and Margin Osephalia, which includes horned and dome-headed species like Pachycephalosaurs.”
“While Serapodans are well-documented from the Cretaceous, their presence in the Jurassic is less established,” the researchers noted.
“Various Jurassic tracksites indicate that sizable ornithopods (likely related to Iguanodon) had emerged by this time, yet body fossils remain scarce.”
“There’s a pressing need for additional specimens from historically underrepresented regions to help clarify the early evolution of Serapodans and resolve ongoing phylogenetic discrepancies.”
A new specimen, representing part of a left femur, was collected from the Elmers III Formation in Boulafa, near Bruman in Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains in 2020.
These fossils date to the Basonian stage (Central Jurassic), approximately 165 to 160 million years ago.
The diverse green and red mudstones of this formation have yielded significant fossils, including Africa’s oldest known antirosaurus, Spicomellus afer, and one of the oldest Stegosaurus species, Adratiklit boulahfa.
The newly identified specimen is now recognized as the oldest Serapodan, adding valuable data to our understanding of Central Jurassic taxa.
“Despite its fragmentary nature, the specimen exhibits key features, including a distinct neck of the femoral head and a noticeable relationship between the head and the greater trochanter.”
“Further exploration and sampling of Elmers III Formation in Morocco are crucial for deepening our understanding of Oritesian dinosaur evolution during the Central Jurassic.”
The research team’s study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science on March 12, 2025.
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Susanna Maid et al. 2025. The world’s oldest Serapodan Ornithischian dinosaur from the Jurassic of central Morocco. R. Soc. Open Sci 12(3): 241624; doi: 10.1098/rsos.241624
It will be assigned to a new ICHNOSPECIES Ruopodasaurus clava the footprints of these dinosaurs found in northeastern British Columbia and northwest Alberta confirm the presence of antirosaurus antirosaurus during the Middle North American period.
Cast specimen of Ruopodasaurus clava From the Murray River, British Columbia, Canada. Image credits: Arbor et al. , doi: 10.1080/02724634.2025.2451319.
“There are two major groups in Ankylosaurus,” says Dr. Victoria Arbor, an evolutionary biologist and vertebrate paleontologist at the Royal BC Museum and the University of Victoria.
“The Nodosaurid Ankylosaurs have a flexible tail and four toes, while the Ankylosaurs have a tail club like the Sledgehammer, with only three legs.”
“Unlike the well-known Ichnospecies of the Ankylosaurus. Tetrapodosaurus borealis These new tracks found in North America with four toes – Name Ruopodasaurus clava – There are only three, so anywhere in the world makes the first known example of antirosaurus footprints.”
“Ruopodasaurus clava means “falling lizards with clubs/maces,” referring to both the mountainous areas where these tracks were discovered and the distinctive tail clubs of these dinosaurs.
They don’t know exactly what the dinosaurs made, but Ruopodasaurus clava Although it looks like a footprint, paleontologists know it was about 5-6m long, thorny, armored, and had a stiff or full tail club.
“Ankylosaurus is my favorite group of dinosaurs, so it’s really exciting for me to be able to identify new examples of these dinosaurs in British Columbia,” Dr. Arbor said.
Newly discovered Ruopodasaurus clava The footprint dates back to the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 100 million to 94 million years ago.
No bones of Ankilosauride were found in North America about 100-84 million years ago, leading to speculation that antirosauride disappeared from North America at this time.
These footprints show that during this gap in the skeletal fossil record, tailed ankylosauruses were alive and well in North America.
This finding also shows that two major ankylosaurus of Nodosaurus – Nodosaurus and Ankylosaurus groups coexist in the same region during this time, including this new three indirect species.
“We’ve seen a lot of experience in the world,” said Dr. Charles Helm, scientific advisor at the Tumbler Ridge Museum.
“It’s really exciting to know that through this research there are two types of Ankylosaurus that call this area home. Ruopodasaurus clava It has been identified only in this region of Canada.”
“The study also highlights how important the Peace Region in northeastern British Columbia is to understand the evolution of dinosaurs in North America.
“This discovery gives us a new part of the puzzle about ancient creatures that once roamed Canadian stuff.”
Findings are reported in a paper in Journal of VertebratePaleontology.
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Victoria M. Arbor et al. Ichnotaxon, a new tyrophoran from British Columbia, Canada, confirms the existence of antirosaurus dinosaurs in the central Cretaceous period of North America. Journal of VertebratePaleontologyPublished online on April 14th, 2025. doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2451319
Chinese paleontologists have excavated relatively complete skulls and vertebrae that belonged to the previously unknown Metriacansosaurus theropod dinosaurs from the mid-Jurassic period.
skull of Yuanmouraptor jinshajiangensis. Image credit: Zou et al. , doi: 10.7717/peerj. 19218.
Yuanmouraptor jinshajiangensis roamed our planet about 170 million years ago (Central Jurassic).
This dinosaur was a medium-sized member Metriaacansosauridaceaeclade, a carnivorous dinosaur who lived in the masses of the ancient continent between the mid-Jurassic and mid-Cretaceous periods.
“The Metriacansosaurid family is a family of carnivorous dinosaurs and represents the basal branch clades within allosauroidosis,” says Dr. Yi Zou, a paleontologist at the Academy of Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Spine and Paleontology at the Academy of Sciences.
“Some studies argue that Metricanthosaurus has a closer relationship with Carcharodontosaurus, making the Metricanthosaurus a more derived group of allosauroidosis.”
“Regardless of where the Metricantosauraceae are within the Allosaurian family, members of this clade came from the late period, mainly from the central Jurassic region of western China, such as Sichuan, Chili peppers, Xinjiang and Yunnan.”
“Apart from species found in China, the Noashihara of Metriantosauld was reported during the late Jurassic in England, the late Jurassic in Kyrgyzstan, the late Jurassic in Thailand and the late Cretaceous period.”
“Recently, scientists have reported the possible distribution of this clade in the Tibetan Plateau.”
Fossilized ruins Yuanmouraptor jinshajiangensis were collected from the Zhanghe Formation in Yunnan Province, China.
“The specimen contains a relatively complete skull and the first 11 vertebrae, including 10 cervical vertebrae and the front dorsal vertebrae,” the researchers said.
“The preserved skull is measured at an anterior and posterior length of 53.9 cm, and the skull reconstruction is 60.1 cm in anterior and posterior length.”
Team phylogenetic analysis shows that the new species is located at the basal branching location within the Metriancanthaurid family.
“Yuanmouraptor jinshajiangensis Presents the most complete skull of the basal branch Tetanuran It has been reported in central China and provides valuable anatomical information on the unusual combination of skull and cervical spine paintings and cinnapomorphy in the Metriacansosauridae,” the scientist said.
“In addition, our phylogenetic analysis restored the phylogenetic position of the Piatonitzxauridae as a sister group of Avezapoda, not within megalosauroidosis.”
“In place of the monophyletic carnosauria (megalosauroidic acid + allosauroidosis), the phylogenetic analysis recovers three major branches within the tesarium in favor of the monophyletic avetheropoda (allosauroidea + coelurosauria).”
“The lack of consensus on the phylogenetic relationships of basal branch adiabatic over the past decades, as well as many relatively fragmentary materials within tetanus, more accurate character coding, and new discoveries of early members of this clade are necessary to unravel the interactions between the basal members of future groups.”
Discovery of Yuanmouraptor jinshajiangensis was reported in a paper Published online in the journal Peerj.
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Y. Zou et al. 2025. A new Metriantosauld wild-wrench dinosaur from the central Jurassic region of Yunnan Province, China. Peerj 13:E19218; doi:10.7717/peerj.19218
A team of paleontologists from Lake Forest College, Stellenbosch University, University of Minnesota, and North Carolina State University described a new population of fossil eggshells, members of the formation of cedar mountains, a well-known unit among scientists studying early lobular epochs.
A 100 million-year-old dinosaur eggshell fragment from a Mussantit member of Cedar Mountain Formation. Image credit: Lake Forest College.
The first fossil eggshells from Mussantit members of Cedar Mountain Formation were described over 50 years ago.
Since then, in half a century, the diversity of fossil eggshells in this rock unit has been limited to only one egg type.
However, Dr. Josh Hedge and his colleagues at Lake Forest College revealed another story.
“We found new dinosaur egg types here and here, which we didn’t see before,” Dr. Hedge said.
“When previous research explained one type, we found five types of eggshells in this area.”
“Three eggshell fragments belonging to the feathered bipedal dinosaur, two types of dinosaurs with dinosaurs with ornitopod ducks, and a truly funky discovery: some crocodile eggshells.”
These new discoveries challenge the traditional view of one of the different types of dinosaurs that live in ecosystems.
“You can see patterns of coexisting dinosaurs,” Dr. Hedge said.
“Just as multiple big cat-loving animals coexist in Africa’s savanna, we can see the co-occurrence of similar types of dinosaurs in one geographical area.”
Researchers hope to uncover information that will lead to a better understanding of ecosystems 100 million years ago.
They are currently researching ways to better understand these oviraptorosaur eggs.
“We found so many eggshells, so we hope that we can distinguish between individuals who share a single nest, not just the species, for example, because we have sample sizes large enough to interpret them at a higher resolution,” Dr. Hedge said.
Team’s paper Published online in the journal PLOS 1.
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J. Hedge et al. 2025. Diversity of fossil eggshells from Mussentuchit members of Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah. PLOS 1 20(2): E0314689; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314689
A new species of dinosaurs has been uncovered in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. Known as Duonychus tsogtbaatari, this dinosaur possessed two feet long claw fingers on each hand, belonging to the Teresino Sauria.
Referred to as Duonychus, which is the Greek term for two claws, this dinosaur stood approximately 10 feet tall, weighed around 570 pounds, and was part of the Therizinosaurs group. It displayed a unique set of characteristics, including feathers.
These dinosaurs existed in Asia and North America during the Cretaceous period, spanning from 145 to 66 million years ago.
Despite having only two claws, researchers described Duonychus in a study published in the JournalIscience as an “effective climber” capable of reaching branches or vegetation masses up to five inches in diameter.
A claw belonging to Duonychus Tsogtbaatari, excavated in Mongolia.Kobayashi et al. / Science via Reuters
NBC News reached out to the research team for additional comments.
The fossil specimen was unearthed in 2012 by scientists at the Institute of Paleontology at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, dating back 90 million years and showcasing exceptional diversity.
Although the fossil was a partial skeleton missing the skull and legs, the hands were remarkably well-preserved. The Duonychus individuals were not fully grown, and their claws measured approximately 1 foot in length.
Therodinosaurus belonged to a group of herbivorous dinosaurs such as tyrannosaurus and spinosaurus, but mainly consumed leaves from large shrubs and trees.
The discovery of Duonychus and its two claws was described as remarkable by Michael Benton, a vertebrate paleontology professor at the University of Bristol, UK, who was not involved in the study.
Initially, dinosaurs possessed five fingers like humans, eventually losing two over time, leading to the majority having three fingers, Benton explained in an email to NBC News on Wednesday.
Benton highlighted that the number of digits did not impact their capabilities, mentioning that the third finger was shorter in length, potentially serving a specific purpose.
He emphasized the vast diversity and varied shapes and functions of dinosaurs, stating that they are incredibly diverse.
According to the study, the fossil records of Terazinosauria are particularly abundant in Cretaceous sediments in East Asia, particularly in Mongolia and China.
New genus and species of Titanosaurus have been identified from fossilized sites found in the Hayeg Basin, Transylvania, western Romania.
The artist's impression of the lithotrothian dinosaur herd (right). Image credit: Abelov/CC by 3.0.
The newly identified species was alive Haeg IslandA large subtropical land located in the Thetis Sea about 70 million years ago (Cretaceous).
dubbing uriash kadicithe animals belong to Lithostrotiaa group of titanosaurus dinosaurs containing many armored species.
“The sauropod dinosaurs on Titanosaurus include the largest animal walking on land, with a huge species of over 60 tons,” says Paleoliths at the Museum of Fool Naturkunde, a Livenitz Installation Fool Evolution. said Dr. Veronica Dees Diaz, a scholar. colleague.
“By the late Cretaceous, Titanosaurus had achieved almost global distribution.
“Despite the rich and global fossil record, the evolutionary relationships of Titanosaurus are less known, limiting our understanding with this diverse megaharbibaud (the only group of sauropods is , the only group to survive the latest Cretaceous period).
“European giants in particular have been largely ignored in phylogenetic analysis,” they said.
“This neglect comes mainly from the historical advantages of the Gondwana species and the rarity and imperfection of Laurasian artefacts, particularly from Europe.”
“However, this began to change with the combination of reassessment of existing species and specimens and the discovery of new sites with distinct partial skeletons.”
“As a result, the fossil records of the most recent Cretaceous European sauropods are increasingly important for biogeographical scenarios, and rich evolutionary history is increasingly recognized for increasing incorporation into phylogenetic analysis. It is beginning to make clear.
Holotype of uriash kadici It was discovered in the formation of density in the Hayeg Basin, Romania.
Dinosaurs are estimated to weigh between 5 to 8 tons and their body length is close to 12 m.
“uriash kadici It is the largest titanosaurus species known from the Ha eg basin, exceeding the maximum reached by most other late Cretaceous European Titanosaurus. Abitosaurus (Estimated at 14 tons and 17.5 m long)”, the paleontologist said.
The existence of large giants such as ” uriash kadici It is worth noting and requires explanation as it appears to contradict, or at least weaken, the supposed behavior of “island domination” over these faunas. ”
uriash kadici It coexists with three other Titanosaurus species. Majarosaurus Dax, PaluditiTan nalatzensis and Petrustitan Hungarian.
The diversity was probably even higher, as evidenced by the substantial amounts of fossils involved.
“Our phylogenetic analysis shows that these Transylvanian titanosaurus exhibit particularly close relationships with Gondwana species. Majarosaurus Retrieved as a member or relative of the Saltasauria family. Palditian Affinity with lognkosauria and the Spanish Titanosaurus that were almost the same era Lohuecotitan; Petrustitan It is most closely related to early branched eutitanosaurian species in South America. and Uriash We share a unique feature with Gondwanan Titanosaurs,” they said.
“These analyses also reinforce the paleobiogeographic hypothesis that the latest Cretaceous European giants were members of the Gondwana lineage that invaded the old regions during the ages of Valemia and Albia.”
“Since the first discovery, Majarosaurus Dax The island's dwarfs have been identified as star sauropods, proposed as explanations for the small size of this species and other dinosaurs on Hayeg Island. ”
“on the other hand Palditian and Petrustitan It is also a small body sauropod. Uriash It is several orders of magnitude heavier and represents one of the largest Titanosaurus species found in the Late Cretaceous period of Europe. ”
“We have shown that the existence of this body size disparity is ecologically excluded from body size reduction due to competition with small-body titanosaurus, or as evidence that some lineages and small We interpret it as evidence that it occurred early in stratigraphically among the giants of the body. Hayeg Island has descendants of existing dwarf ancestors.”
“In contrast to some previous studies, signs of titanosaurus leaving the body size, including swapping the War star species for larger-sized species during the top Cretaceous period of the Transylvanian region. I can't see it.”
Discovery of uriash kadici Reported in a paper It was released this month Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
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Veronica Dies Dias et al. 2025. The Romanian sauropod dinosaur revision reveals high titanosaurus diversity and body size disparities on Hayeg Island of Titanosaurus, affecting the biogeography of Titanosaurus. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 23(1): 2441516; doi: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2441516
Dinosaurs dominated the athletics ecosystem of middle-aged middle for about 160 million years, but their biological geographical origin is still well understood. The oldest clear dinosaur fossils appeared in southern South America and Africa, 230 million years ago, and most authors propose that the southern western Gondwana is likely to be the center of its origin. However, the high diversity of these early groups suggests the history of older evolution. A new study led by University College London shows that dinosaurs, and perhaps the closer species of the main dragon as a wider group of lords, may have spread radially in the low latitude area of Gondwana. I am.
Nyasaasaurus It may be the most known dinosaur, or it may be a close-related species of early dinosaurs. Image Credit: Mark Witton / London Natural History Museum Management Committee.
“The oldest, the oldest dinosaur fossils are about 230 million years ago and have been excavated in the south of Brazil, Argentina, and Zimbabwe,” said Dr. Universi College London. Student Joel Heath and his colleagues.
“However, the difference between these fossils suggests that dinosaurs had already evolved for a while, indicating that their origin was millions ago.”
The authors have discovered that the earliest dinosaurs appeared in hot equatorial areas of the Gondwana Super continent (currently Amazon, Congo Basin, and the Sahara Desert).
“Dinosaurs have been well studied, but I'm not sure where they came from. The fossil records have a big gap and cannot be received at face value,” said Heath.
“Our modeling suggests that the oldest dinosaurs may have originated on the low-latitude of Gondwana in the western part.”
“This is a hot and dry environment that has been considered so far, and is composed in areas like deserts and savannas.”
“So far, no dinosaur fossils have been found in Africa and South America, which once formed this area of Gondwana.”
“However, this is due to the difficulty of access and the lack of research efforts in these fields relatively due to the lack of research efforts, and that researchers have not yet met the right rock. There is a possibility.
In this study, we used dinosaurs and their nearly related reptiles, evolved systematics, and geography at the time.
It was not an area where fossils were not present, but by treating the area on the earth where fossils were not found as missing information, the gap of fossil records was supplemented.
Initially, the number of early dinosaurs was much larger than reptile relatives. These contained crocodile, fake nests, and the ancestors of wing dragons.
In contrast, the earliest dinosaurs were much smaller than their descendants, as large as chickens and dogs than humans. Diprodox。
They walked on two legs (it was a bipedal), and most of them were miscellaneous animals.
210 million years ago, the eruption of volcanoes caused dinosaurs to be dominant after many of the reptiles, the relatives of dinosaurs, were extinct.
The new modeling result shows dinosaurs and other reptiles originated in low-latit Gondwana, later spread radially outside, and later in the southern part of Gondwana and later in Europe, Asia, and North America. It suggested that it could have spread to.
The background of this origin comes from the fact that the oldest dinosaurs were found in the southern part of the Gondwana continent and the intermediate point between the place where many fossils of the nearby species were found in the northern Lolacia. 。
Because it is uncertain about how the oldest dinosaurs are related to each other and how they were related to the closest species, researchers are models based on the three proposed evolutionary trees. Was executed.
They discovered the strongest background on dinosaur’s low-latit Gondovana, which was traditionally considered to be a dinosaur, but not a dinosaur itself, as the ancestor of the Title Dinosaur.
One of the three major dinosaur groups, including tsutos and later herbivorous animals Stegosaurus and TriceratopsStrangely, it does not exist in the early fossil record of the dinosaur era.
If the Sillesaurus is the ancestor of the tillage, this will help you fill this gap in the evolution genealogy.
“Our research has suggested that the early dinosaurs may have adapted well in hot and dry environments,” said Philip Manion, a professor of University College London.
“Of the three major dinosaur groups, one group is dragonodes, which includes the following: Bronto Saurus and DiprodoxIt seemed to maintain the low latitudes of the earth and prefer a warm climate. “
“The other two groups, beast legs and birds have developed the ability to generate their own body temperature in the Jurassic Million years later, and can prosper even in cold areas, including extreme areas. There is evidence to show.
Joel A. Heath Other。 Considering the unevenness of the sampling, it suggests that the dinosaur origin has a low ancient latitude. Current biologyReleased online on January 23, 2025. Doi: 10.1016/J.Cub.2024.12.053
Paleontologists discovered hundreds of different dinosaur footprints, including one left by a ferocious 9-meter (29.5-foot) predator megalosaurus Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England, by a herbivorous dinosaur up to twice its size.
Footprints of carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs at Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England. Image credit: University of Birmingham.
Professor Kirsty Edgar from the University of Birmingham said: “These footprints provide a special window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions and the tropical environments they lived in. ” he said.
Professor Edgar and colleagues have unearthed five vast dinosaur footprints dating back to the mid-Jurassic period, some 166 million years ago.
The longest continuous track was over 150 m (492 ft) long.
Four of the orbits were created by giant, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs called sauropods. cetiosaurusa cousin of the famous brassica, which can grow up to 18 meters (59 ft) in length. diplodocus.
The fifth orbit was created by a carnivorous theropod dinosaur megalosaurusit was characterized by large three-toed feet with claws.
Parts of the site show intersecting carnivore and herbivore tracks, raising questions about whether and how the two were interacting.
“Scientists know about it and have studied it. megalosaurus Dr Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist at Oxford University’s Natural History Museum, said: “They lived longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, but recent discoveries show that new evidence of these animals still exists and discoveries It proves that we are waiting for the future.”
Paleontologists worked together to discover around 200 footprints and used aerial drone photography to build a detailed 3D model of the site.
Professor Richard Butler, from the University of Birmingham, said: “There is much more we can learn from this site. It is an important part of our global heritage.”
“Our 3D model will allow researchers to continue their studies and make this fascinating part of our past accessible for generations to come.”
During the excavation, researchers took more than 20,000 images of the footprints.
These provide a wealth of material for further research and education, providing valuable information about how these dinosaurs walked, their speed, size, whether they interacted, and how they interacted. May provide insight.
Dr Duncan Murdoch, a researcher at Oxford University’s Natural History Museum, said: “The preservation is very detailed and you can see how the mud deformed as the dinosaur’s feet moved in and out.”
“Together with other fossils such as burrows, shells and plants, they can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment that the dinosaurs walked through.”
During the era of dinosaurs, which occurred 246 million to 66 million years ago, none of the species existing today were present. However, there are several groups of species currently inhabiting the earth whose lineage can be traced back to ancient ancestors with striking similarities.
These creatures, known as “living fossils,” seem to have remained almost unchanged over time. Nevertheless, it doesn’t imply that there have been no changes at all. Their DNA is distinct and has undergone numerous refinements throughout the process of evolution.
These living fossils provide a glimpse into life millions of years ago. They also demonstrate the resilience of certain groups to catastrophic prehistoric events that led to the extinction of others, such as the dinosaurs.
1. Crocodile
Extinct crocodiles, like their descendants, hung out by the water, waiting for prey. – Photo credit: JA Chirinos/Science Photo Library
Presently, there are over 20 species of crocodiles, including true crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials. These extant crocodiles share a common ancestor that coexisted with dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 million years ago (Mya).
This common ancestor bore a strong resemblance to today’s crocodiles, spending the majority of its time near water, basking in the sun, and hunting prey. Despite nearly 80 million years passing, modern crocodiles differ significantly from their ancient ancestors that first appeared around 235 million years ago in the late Triassic period.
Some extinct crocodile relatives, like Ritargosuchus, had a slim and agile build, hunting prey on land similar to wolves, while others, like the massive Sarcosuchus, reached lengths of up to 12 meters (about 40 feet) and preyed on animals by the riverbanks.
The diversity among early crocodile ancestors has led some scientists to argue against labeling them as “living fossils.” Although resembling prehistoric creatures, today’s crocodiles have evolved substantially from their ancestors and are likely to continue diversifying in response to climate change.
2. Horseshoe crab
Horseshoe crabs are found on the eastern coasts of the United States and Mexico, as well as the Pacific and Indian Ocean coasts of Asia – Photo credit: Getty Images
Despite its crab-like name, the horseshoe crab is more closely related to spiders, ticks, and scorpions than to crabs. Its ancestors emerged during the Late Ordovician Period around 445 million years ago, while the modern group, Limuridae, appeared approximately 250 million years ago during the Early Triassic Period.
For the majority of the last 250 million years, horseshoe crabs have remained largely unchanged, displaying minimal anatomical alterations. A comparison between fossilized and living specimens would lead one to believe they are the same creature.
Their lifestyle has also endured; just like their ancestors, modern horseshoe crabs feed on small insects and mollusks at the murky bottom of the ocean.
These creatures have survived multiple mass extinctions, including the cataclysmic event caused by an asteroid that resulted in the extinction of dinosaurs. Their ability to endure extreme conditions, such as low oxygen levels, is believed to contribute to their resilience against extinction.
3. Wasp
A female wasp lays eggs on a tree using her abdominal ovipositor – Photo credit: A TINAUT/USDA/APHIS/PPQ/ITP/WSDA
Measuring at 1 cm (0.3 inches) in length, this small hornet is the sole surviving member of the Waspidae family, which boasted nearly 50 species around 165 million years ago during the mid-Jurassic period.
The modern-day wasp, Syntesis libocedrii, is native to the mountains of central California (USA) and British Columbia (Canada), whereas its ancestors resided across Eurasia. At that time, the Eurasian continent was closely connected to North America through a series of islands.
Wasps are known to lay eggs in freshly burned cedar wood. Upon hatching, the larvae emerge cylindrically, burrowing into the forest to feed and grow. They spend up to three years in this larval stage before maturing into adults. Their lifecycle is intricately tied to wildfires and can contribute to significant economic damage to cedar wood stocks.
4. Tuatara
Tuatara eat insects, earthworms, and spiders, but also seabird eggs and chicks – Photo credit: Alamy Stock Photo
As the diversity of dinosaurs flourished around 200 million years ago during the Early Jurassic Period, another group of scaly, lizard-like creatures began thriving. This group, the Sphenodontidae family, was once very diverse but is now represented by the single species, Sphenodon punctatus or tuatara.
Although tuataras bear resemblance to skinks with scaly skin, splayed limbs, and clawed digits, they do not share a direct relationship. Instead, they share a common ancestor that lived around 250 million years ago, shortly after the Great Extinction event.
Presently, tuataras inhabit several small uninhabited islands surrounding New Zealand’s North Island, coexisting with burrowing seabirds and utilizing their burrows for shelter.
The guano produced by these seabirds supports vast populations of centipedes, crickets, and snails, forming an essential ecosystem on these islands.
5. Platypus
The adaptations that help platypuses swim, although somewhat awkward on land, allow them to retract the webs on their feet to expose their claws, making them good at digging – Photo by Doug Gimesy/naturepl.com
Charles Darwin coined the term “living fossil” when discussing the semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal, the platypus, in his renowned book “On the Origin of Species.”
Unlike other mammals, platypuses lay eggs and possess a duck-like beak, along with venomous spines on the hind legs of males. They use their beaks filled with electroreceptors to navigate their habitat and hunt for prey.
Adult platypuses lack teeth, while babies are born with tiny teeth that are later absorbed into their beaks. These vestigial teeth have helped researchers trace the evolutionary lineage of platypuses.
Alongside their closest living relative, the echidna, platypuses represent the last survivors of monotremes, a group of early mammals that diverged from marsupials and placentals during the Middle Jurassic Period around 170 million years ago.
6. Lungfish
Lungfish’s ability to breathe air allows them to survive when seasonal droughts affect the freshwater environments they live in. – Photo credit: Naturepl.com
Slender and reminiscent of insects, lungfish belong to an ancient group that emerged over 410 million years ago during the early Devonian period. This era marked the rise of ray-finned and lobe-finned fish, to which lungfish belong.
Similar to other lobe-finned fish, lungfish have limb-like fins and lungs enabling them to breathe air, aiding in their survival during drought periods.
While lungfish have changed little over hundreds of millions of years, they are anything but “primitive.” Their lungs are intricate structures optimized for gas exchange, with most modern lungfish possessing two lungs, with the exception of the Australian lungfish having one.
Currently, six lungfish species exist, distributed across Africa, South America, and Australia, preferring freshwater habitats unlike their ancestors. During the Devonian period, lungfish thrived worldwide and coexisted with tetrapods, the ancestors of modern amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
7. Horsetail
Horsetail can grow up to 30-60 cm (11-23 inches) in height and is a food source for invertebrates and mammals, including humans – Photo credit: Colin Varndell / Naturepl.com
Horsetail, an ancient plant resembling bamboo with tall hollow stems and horizontal bands, emerged around 185 million years ago, preceding the rise of flowering plants by 55 million years.
During the early Jurassic period, horsetails formed the undergrowth of dense forests, providing shelter and sustenance to various dinosaur species. Their hardy nature allows them to thrive globally, even being considered invasive in many regions including the UK.
coelacanth
The coelacanth was thought to be extinct until it was captured in 1938. – Photo credit: Laurent Ballesta/Andromede Oceanologie
The coelacanth, a prehistoric fish once believed to be extinct alongside dinosaurs 66 million years ago, was rediscovered in 1938 off the coast of South Africa.
Presently, only two coelacanth species are known, showcasing significant diversity during their prime that has led to the development of over 100 fossil species from the Early Devonian period to date.
The coelacanth’s evolutionary zenith occurred during the Mesozoic Era, between 252 million and 66 million years ago, where it exhibited a wide range of adaptations. These elusive fish reside in the deep waters of the western Indian Ocean, surfacing only at night to hunt small fish.
The coelacanth’s survival through multiple mass extinctions, including the asteroid event that wiped out dinosaurs, speaks to its remarkable resilience and adaptation to the deep-sea environment.
These living fossils have withstood catastrophic events and continue to thrive in their unique habitats, offering invaluable insights into the evolutionary history of Earth’s diverse ecosystems.
Several groups of carnivorous dinosaurs – Tyrannosaurus, Spinosaurus, and their members Velociraptor The family crept into the Bexhill-on-Sea region of present-day East Sussex, England, about 135 million years ago (early Cretaceous period), according to new research.
Early Cretaceous floodplain in southeastern England, 135 million years ago. A spinosaur (center) takes over the carcass of an ornithopod, tormenting smaller tyrannosaurs (left) and dromaeosaurs (bottom right). Image credit: Anthony Hutchings.
Dr Chris Barker, a palaeontologist at the University of Southampton, said: “Carnivorous dinosaurs are rare in the Cretaceous deposits of southern England.”
“Normally it is the Isle of Wight dinosaurs that attract our attention. Little is known about the older Cretaceous specimens recovered from mainland sites.”
In this study, Barker and his colleagues examined assemblages of theropod teeth taken from animals. Wadhurst Clay Formationmainly collected from the Ashdown Brickworks area near Bexhill, East Sussex.
Theropod teeth are complex and vary in size, shape, and serrated edge anatomy.
The authors used several techniques to analyze the fossils, including phylogenetic methods, discriminant methods, and machine learning methods.
“Dinosaur teeth are durable fossils and are typically preserved more frequently than bones, so they are often important when you want to rebuild ecosystem diversity,” Dr. Barker said. .
“There are rigorous methods that help identify teeth with high accuracy.”
“Our findings suggest the presence of spinosaurs, medium-sized tyrannosaurs, and small dromaeosaurs. Velociraptor-There are some theropods in these deposits. ”
A theropod tooth excavated from the Wadhurst Clay Formation. Scale bar – 10 mm. Image credit: Barker others., doi: 10.1002/spp2.1604.
The discovery of Tyrannosaurus is particularly noteworthy. This is because this group has not been previously identified in sediments of this age and region.
These tyrannosaurs would have been about one-third the size of their more famous cousins. tyrannosaurus rexand likely hunted small dinosaurs and other reptiles in floodplain habitats.
“Assigning isolated teeth to a group of theropods can be difficult, especially since many traits evolve independently between different lineages,” says Dr. Lucy Handford. Student at York University.
“Therefore, we employed a variety of methods to refine our findings, leading to a more reliable classification.”
“It is very likely that further discoveries will be made by re-evaluating the theropod teeth elsewhere in the museum.”
Dr Darren Naish, a palaeontologist at the University of Southampton, said: 'Southern England has an extremely good record of Cretaceous dinosaurs, and the various sedimentary layers here are among the world's best in terms of geological age and the fossil content they contain. It's also unique.”
“These East Sussex dinosaurs are older, more mysterious, and less well known than the better-known Cretaceous deposits of the Isle of Wight.”
“We've been hoping to find out for decades which groups of theropods lived here, so the new study's conclusions are really interesting.”
of findings appear in the diary paleontology papers.
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Chris T. Barker others. 2024. Theropod dinosaur diversity of Lower Wealden, England: analysis of the tooth-based fauna of the Wadhurst Clay Formation (Lower Cretaceous: Valanginian) through phylogenetic, discriminant, and machine learning methods. paleontology papers 10 (6): e1604;doi: 10.1002/spp2.1604
Swedish and Polish paleontologists are using hundreds of fossilized fecal and vomit samples from the Polish Basin in central Europe to reconstruct the rise of dinosaurs to play a dominant role in Earth’s ancient ecosystems. I investigated.
Bone-crushing archosaur fecal fossil smoke, smoke In the background is reconstruction. Image credit: Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki.
The fossil record shows that dinosaurs evolved during the mid-Triassic period (247 to 237 million years ago).
However, the dominance of dinosaurs in terrestrial ecosystems was not seen until the early Jurassic period, about 30 million years later.
Although many non-dinosaur tetrapods (four-limbed vertebrates) were expelled during this period, questions remain as to why dinosaurs came to dominate the ecosystem.
“The real detective work is piecing together ‘who ate who’ in the past,” said Martin Kvarnström, a paleontologist at Uppsala University.
“Being able to examine what animals ate and how they interacted with their environment helps us understand what enabled dinosaurs to be so successful.”
Dr. Kvarnström and his colleagues reconstructed the food web using more than 500 fossilized remains of digestive material (such as feces and vomit), known as bromalite, collected from the Polish Basin, which spans the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic period. We investigated this transition by constructing a.
“The research material was collected over a period of 25 years,” said Dr. Grzegorz Niedrzywicki, a paleontologist at Uppsala University and the Polish Geological Institute.
“It took years to piece everything together and paint a coherent picture.”
“Our study is innovative because we chose to understand the ecology of early dinosaurs based on their dietary preferences.”
“There were a lot of surprising discoveries along the way.”
Analysis of these remains (including 3D imaging of internal structures to reveal undigested food content) is compared to the existing fossil record, along with climate and botanical data, to determine the size and presence of vertebrates during this period. We estimated the change in quantity.
These data indicate that non-dinosaur tetrapods replaced omnivorous ancestors of early dinosaurs that evolved into the first carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs towards the end of the Triassic.
Researchers now believe that environmental changes associated with increased volcanic activity may have led to a greater variety of plant prey, which in turn led to the emergence of larger and more diverse herbivore species. Suggests.
This led to the evolution of even larger carnivorous dinosaurs by the beginning of the Jurassic period, completing the transition to dinosaur dominance within the ecosystem.
This analysis sheds light on the emergence of dinosaur dominance within the Polish Basin ecosystem.
“Our findings support the idea that stochastic processes and competitive advantage enabled dinosaurs’ great evolutionary success,” the authors said.
“Dinosaurs gradually achieved supremacy over 30 million years of evolution.”
“The processes illustrated by the Polish data may explain global patterns and shed new light on the emergence of environmentally dominated dinosaur dominance and gigantism that persisted until the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.” We suggest that there is a
M. Kvarnström others. Digestive content and food webs record the advent of dinosaur supremacy. naturepublished online on November 27, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08265-4
A plant-eating sauropod dinosaur that evolved in a humid environment during the early Jurassic period.
Marcin Ambrozik
The contents of feces and vomit from 200 million years ago are helping to show how dinosaurs conquered the world at the beginning of the Jurassic period.
Whole insects embedded in various shapes and sizes of well-preserved plants, bones, fish parts, and even ancient animal feces show that dinosaurs varied in comparison to other groups of animals. This suggests that dinosaurs were able to survive in the ecosystem thanks to their wide-ranging diet. This led to their further growth and eventually led to the establishment of a “land dynasty.” Martin Kvarnström At Uppsala University, Sweden.
Fossil evidence shows that the first dinosaurs had prominent hip joints that placed their legs underneath their bodies like mammals, rather than sprawling sideways like lizards. More than 230 million years ago During the Triassic. For tens of millions of years, these early dinosaurs blended into a landscape filled with many other types of reptiles. But by about 200 million years ago, dinosaurs had essentially taken over the Earth, around the time most other reptiles disappeared during the end-Triassic extinction.
What led to this dominance remains somewhat of a mystery. Kvarnström and his colleagues suspected that important clues might be hidden in the bromalites (fossilized feces and vomit) of dinosaurs and other animals. So they Polish Geological Institute collected by a prior research group from eight locations in Poland between 1996 and 2017.
The research team estimated the age of each bromalite based on the layer of sediment in which it was found, and determined its size, which ranges from a few millimeters to a “fairly large fecal mass,” and the animals that may have produced it. A suitable shape was used. The researchers then 3D scanned the fossil to examine its contents. “We noticed that it was clogged with food debris,” Kvarnström says.
Coprolites, or fossilized feces, of herbivorous dinosaurs containing plant remains
Grzegorz Niedzwicki
Combining the known fossil record and past climate information, researchers determined that the emergence of dinosaurs occurred in several different stages. First, the omnivorous ancestors of early dinosaurs began to outnumber non-dinosaurs. They then evolved into the first carnivorous and plant-eating dinosaurs.
At that point, increased volcanic eruptions and movement of tectonic plates caused flooding and waterway development. The resulting humidity and related changes in climate likely led to a wider range of plants and the evolution of larger and more diverse herbivorous dinosaurs. On the other hand, animals other than dinosaurs (such as dicynodonts, which eat plants weighing up to 1 ton) Lisowisia, Their feces contained mainly coniferous debris and they were less able to adapt to changes in vegetation.
As herbivorous dinosaurs grew larger, so did their predators. By the beginning of the Jurassic period, about 30 million years after the first dinosaurs appeared, the transition to a dinosaur-dominated world was complete, Kvarnström says.
“This study shows how climate primarily affected dominant plants, which created opportunities for new herbivores at certain points in time,” he says. michael benton from the University of Bristol, UK, was not involved in the study.
Although it's difficult to be sure that the researchers matched the scat to the right animal, the discovery nonetheless suggests that the dinosaur species had already expanded significantly in South America before major climate change. This confirms earlier research, he says. “But it took the end-Triassic mass extinction for the final stage of the takeover to begin.”
for emma dunn The study, conducted at Germany's Friedrich-Alexander University, helps answer long-standing questions about the emergence of dinosaurs. “It's not every day that a fossil poop is published in such an influential journal,” said Dunn, who was not involved in the study. “This is obviously interesting, but it's also very useful for understanding prehistoric environments. So if you think of the evolution of early dinosaurs like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces missing, there are new It’s just a lot of pieces thrown in.”
Deep beneath the snow-covered slopes lie prehistoric wonders waiting to be discovered. Recently, hikers in the Italian Alps stumbled upon an ancient ecosystem that predates even the dinosaurs, thanks to melting snow.
The groundbreaking discovery was announced on Wednesday, revealing well-preserved reptile and amphibian footprints dating back 280 million years to the Permian period, according to scientists.
Cristiano Dal Sasso, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum of Milan, described the impressive footprints left by animals at that time, with some measuring 2 to 3 inches long. These fascinating finds are now on display at the museum.
The fossil was unearthed in the mountains of Lombardy, Italy, where the melting snow and ice exposed these ancient treasures due to the ongoing climate crisis.
Researchers move rocks containing fossil footprints in the Italian Alps. Elio della Ferrera / Milan Museum of Natural History
In the summer of 2023, Claudia Steffensen stumbled upon one of these fossils while hiking in the Valtellina Orobie mountains. This discovery led to a series of investigations by experts like Orsonio Ronchi and Lorenzo Marchetti, unraveling the mysteries of this ancient ecosystem.
Researchers were amazed by the abundance and preservation of the fossils, which provide valuable insights into the Permian period just before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
Computer-generated images show what prehistoric reptiles looked like. Fabio Manucci / Milan Natural History Museum
The rapidly changing climate has played a significant role in revealing these fossils, as rising temperatures have caused snow and ice to melt, exposing the long-hidden remains.
As more footprints and fossils emerge from the mountains in the coming years, researchers warn that studying the past can shed light on the environmental challenges we face today. It serves as a stark reminder of the impact our actions can have on the world.
Dinosaurs ruled the earth for around 180 million years. But fossils that are at least 65 million years old are incredibly hard to decipher, so we know very little about what these iconic prehistoric creatures lived. Finding out more has long seemed impossible, but not anymore.
Over the past few decades, new techniques and new specimens have provided previously unimaginable insights into the behavior and ecology of dinosaurs. Combined with insights from modern animals, this has finally enabled paleontologists to understand dinosaur biology, from parental care, migration, and hunting styles to communication, sociality, and combat.
David Horne is one of the researchers trying to find out more about life during the time of the dinosaurs: the paleontologist at Queen Mary, University of London, is soon to publish a book about his latest findings. Revealing dinosaur behavior: What they did and how we know. New Scientist From mobile herbivores and semi-aquatic predators to why ostriches are problematic for understanding which dinosaurs doted on their young, here’s some of what’s been discovered so far.
Collin Barrass: Some of the biggest dinosaurs were Diplodocus or BrachiosaurusFor example, dinosaurs were not at all similar to living animals, so how do we figure out how they behaved?
David Horne: One of the most important things we can do as paleontologists is to better utilize our knowledge of the biology and behavior of modern animals. Mouth shapes are a good example. People with small mouths usually target nutritious food, such as shoots and leaves, one by one. If…
About 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period, a 10 km-wide asteroid struck Earth near what is now the town of Chicxulub in Mexico. The impact wiped out about 75% of Earth's animal and plant species, including groups such as non-avian dinosaurs and ammonites. A new study identifies key changes in bird genomes caused by the end-Cretaceous mass extinction that ultimately contributed to the remarkable diversity of modern birds.
This painting depicts an asteroid impact in the shallow tropical ocean of the sulfur-rich Yucatan Peninsula in what is now southeastern Mexico. The impact of this massive asteroid, which occurred about 65 million years ago, is believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs and many other species on Earth. The painting shows a Pterodactylus, a flying reptile with a wingspan of up to 50 feet, gliding above low tropical clouds. Image by Donald E. Davis/NASA.
“By studying the DNA of modern birds, we can detect patterns in gene sequences that changed shortly after one of the most significant events in Earth's history,” said Dr Jake Barb, from the University of Michigan.
“The signatures of these events appear to be imprinted in the genomes of survivors in ways that are detectable tens of millions of years later.”
An organism's genome is made up of four nucleotide molecules designated by the letters A, T, G, and C. The order of these nucleotides in the genome defines the blueprint of life.
The DNA code can evolve in ways that change the overall composition of DNA nucleotides across the genome.
These changes in composition are important in determining what genetic variations are possible and contribute to an organism's evolutionary potential, or ability to evolve.
Dr. Belf and his colleagues found that the mass extinction caused a change in nucleotide composition.
The researchers also found that these changes appear to be related to the birds' development as young birds, their adult size, and their metabolism.
For example, in the approximately 3 to 5 million years following the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period, surviving bird lineages tended to decrease in body size.
The development of hatchlings has also changed, with more species becoming 'altricial'.
“This means that when they hatch they are still in a fetal state and need to be fed by their parents, and it may take several weeks for them to fledge,” Dr Barb said.
“Birds that are ready to fend for themselves immediately after hatching, like chickens and turkeys, are called 'precocious.'”
“We found that adult body size and pre-hatching developmental patterns are two important traits of bird biology that we can link to the genetic changes we are detecting.”
“One of the most important challenges in evolutionary biology and ornithology is unraveling the relationships between the major bird groups. The structure of the extant bird phylogenetic tree is difficult to determine.”
Over the past 15 years, researchers have been trying to solve this problem by applying increasingly large genomic datasets.
So far, they have used genomic data to study the evolution of bird genomes using statistical models based on strong assumptions.
These traditional models allow researchers to reconstruct the history of genetic change, but they typically assume that the makeup of DNA, i.e. the proportions of A, T, G and C nucleotides, remains constant throughout evolutionary history.
The study authors developed software tools to more closely track DNA composition over time and across different branches of the tree of life.
This tool allowed us to relax the assumption that DNA's composition is constant.
“This allows us to vary our models of DNA evolution across the evolutionary tree and identify places where there may have been changes in DNA makeup,” said Professor Steven Smith, from the University of Michigan.
“In this new study, these changes were clustered within about five million years of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction,” Dr Belff added.
This approach also allowed the team to estimate which bird traits are most closely associated with changes in DNA composition.
“This is an important type of genetic change that we think is associated with mass extinctions,” Dr Barb said.
“To our knowledge, changes in DNA composition have never before been so clearly linked to the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.”
“We know that mass extinctions can have dramatic effects on biodiversity, ecosystems and the forms of life,” said Professor Daniel Field, from the University of Cambridge.
“Our study highlights that these extinction events can have even larger effects on organismal biology by altering key aspects of genome evolution.”
“This study improves our understanding of the dramatic biological impact of mass extinction events and highlights that the mass extinction that wiped out the giant dinosaurs was one of the most biologically consequential events in the entire history of the Earth.”
By relaxing typical assumptions used in evolutionary biology, the researchers are developing more nuanced insights into the sequence of events in birds' early history.
“We haven't typically thought of changes in DNA configurations and models across the tree of life as changes that indicate something interesting happened at a particular time and place,” Prof Smith said.
“This study shows that we've probably missed something.”
of study Published in the journal Scientific advances.
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Jacob S. Belf others2024. Genomic and life-history evolution link bird diversification and the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Scientific advances 10(31); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp0114
This article is a version of a press release provided by the University of Michigan.
Despite their intimidating appearance, dinosaurs were not slow, lumbering creatures as previously thought. As our knowledge of these prehistoric creatures grows, our early assumptions are being proven wrong. Here are seven significant ways our understanding of dinosaurs has evolved:
1. Tyrannosaurus Rex
In 1902, paleontologist Barnum Brown discovered a massive pile of bones in Hell Creek, Montana. These bones belonged to a towering, bipedal creature with a fierce, predatory look – the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Over the years, numerous T. rex skeletons have been unearthed, revealing it as one of the largest and most powerful carnivorous animals to have lived. Recent discoveries, such as the presence of feathers, suggest T. rex was more complex than originally thought.
Cast of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton on display in the main gallery of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in Oxford, UK – Image credit: Alamy
2. Iguanodon
In 1822, Gideon Mantell presented a fossil discovered in Sussex, England, to the Royal Society. Initially mistaken for belonging to a giant fish or rhinoceros, the tooth actually belonged to a dinosaur, later named Iguanodon. Subsequent findings have revealed Iguanodon as a giant, ground-dwelling dinosaur with spikes on its hands for defense.
3. Dryptosaurus
Discovered in New Jersey in 1866, Dryptosaurus was one of the first well-preserved carnivorous dinosaur skeletons found in North America. Originally named “Laelaps,” it was later corrected to Dryptosaurus. The predator’s agility and speed challenged old perceptions of dinosaurs as slow-moving creatures.
Dryptosaurus as imagined in 1869 – Image courtesy of Alamy
4. Elasmosaurus
When Elasmosaurus was discovered, its long, snake-like neck puzzled scientists. Initially mistaken for a sea snake-turtle hybrid, it was later identified as a plesiosaur with an unusually long neck, setting it apart from other marine reptiles of its time.
Early studies of Elasmosaurus fossils led some to imagine it was a giant sea snake-turtle hybrid – Image credit: Alamy
5. Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus, known for its distinctive plates, initially puzzled paleontologists due to its unique features. Misinterpreted as an aquatic creature with shell-like plates, subsequent discoveries revealed its upright plates and raised questions about their purpose – whether for display or thermoregulation.
Previous depictions of Stegosaurus were unclear on the plate – Image credit: Alamy
6. Ichthyosaur
Mary Anning’s discoveries in England led to the naming of the Ichthyosaur, an extinct aquatic reptile with flippered limbs and a streamlined body. Initially mistaken for a fish or crocodile, the Ichthyosaur was later recognized as an ancient marine reptile.
Painting “Duria Antiquior” by Henri de la Beche – Image courtesy of Alamy
7. Pterosaur
Pterosaurs, flying reptiles with winged fingers, were initially misunderstood as sea creatures or mammals. Georges Cuvier’s recognition of their wing-supporting fingers led to the understanding of these creatures as early fliers, distinct from dinosaurs but closely related to them.
Early visualizations of pterosaurs made them look almost rodent-like – Image credit: Alamy
Dinosaurs were once thought to be big and fearsome creatures, but our understanding of them has changed over time. As we learn more about them, we realize how incorrect our early assumptions were.
Here are seven significant ways our understanding of dinosaurs has evolved…
1. Tyrannosaurus Rex
In 1902, paleontologist Barnum Brown discovered a massive pile of bones in Hell Creek, Montana. These bones belonged to a muscular animal that walked on its hind legs and stood several meters tall. Its skull and jaws portrayed a formidable predator.
The discovery was exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History in 1905, astounding the audience. This monster was called Tyrannosaurus Rex, known as one of the largest and most powerful carnivorous animals to have ever lived on Earth.
Further studies have revealed that T. rex had a large brain, keen senses, and likely had some feathers on its body.
Cast of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton on display in the main gallery of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in Oxford, UK – Image credit: Alamy
Read more:
2. Iguanodon
In 1822, Gideon Mantell presented fossilized teeth found in Sussex to the Royal Society. These teeth were later recognized as belonging to a dinosaur called Iguanodon. This dinosaur roamed the earth with its spiked hands for self-defense.
Read more:
3. Dryptosaurus
Dryptosaurus as imagined in 1869 – Image courtesy of Alamy
Discovered in the late 1800s in New Jersey, Dryptosaurus was the first well-preserved carnivorous dinosaur skeleton known in North America. It was originally named “Laelaps” but later renamed Dryptosaurus, showcasing its speed, ferocity, and tenacity.
Read more:
4. Elasmosaurus
Early studies of Elasmosaurus fossils led some to imagine it was a giant sea snake-turtle hybrid – Image credit: Alamy
Elasmosaurus, named in the 1860s, had the longest neck of any animal that ever lived. Its skeleton baffled paleontologists for years until a more complete understanding was reached.
5. Stegosaurus
When Stegosaurus bones were first found in the 1870s, they were thought to belong to a strange aquatic creature due to the large vertical plates on its back. Later discoveries revealed a different picture, with some suggesting the plates were for display or thermoregulation.
Previous depictions of Stegosaurus were unclear on the plate – Image credit: Alamy
6. Ichthyosaur
Mary Anning’s discovery of Ichthyosaur fossils in 1811 led to the recognition of these creatures as extinct aquatic reptiles. This marked an important milestone in paleontological understanding.
Painting “Duria Antiquior” by Henri de la Beche – Image courtesy of Alamy
7. Pterosaur
In 1784, the first Pterosaur fossil was discovered, leading to the recognition of these creatures as flying reptiles. They were not dinosaurs but were closely related and the first bony animals to evolve powered flight.
Early visualizations of pterosaurs made them look almost rodent-like – Image credit: Alamy
Large theropods were as intelligent as reptiles, but not as smart as apes, according to a new study led by paleontologists at the University of Bristol.
tyrannosaurus rex Holotype specimen at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, USA. Image credit: Scott Robert Anselmo / CC BY-SA 3.0.
in study Vanderbilt University paleontologist Suzana Herculano-Hausel announced last year that dinosaurs tyrannosaurus It had a huge number of neurons and was much more intelligent than expected.
She argued that these high numbers of neurons could directly inform intelligence, metabolism, and life history. tyrannosaurus In some habits they were more like monkeys.
Theropod dinosaurs of North America from the Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurus “It is an apex predator, one of the largest, heaviest, and most powerful (in terms of bite force) terrestrial carnivores ever known,” said Dr. Heidi George from the University of Bristol.
“Recently, Dr. Herculano Hausel proposed that we should add primate-level intelligence to great apes. tyrannosaurusAlready an impressive predation history, based on high estimates of the number of neurons in the forebrain. ”
“This conclusion arose from the paradigm that neurological variables inferred from endocasts can be used to infer metabolic parameters, behavior, and lifespan of fossil species.”
In the new study, Dr. George and his co-authors took a closer look at the techniques used to predict both brain size and number of neurons in dinosaur brains.
They found that previous assumptions about the size of dinosaur brains and the number of neurons they contained were unreliable.
This new study follows decades of analysis in which paleontologists and biologists studied the size and anatomy of dinosaur brains and used these data to infer behavior and lifestyle.
Information about dinosaur brains comes not only from the shape of the brain cavity itself, but also from its mineral fillings, called endocasts.
The authors found that their brain size, particularly the size of the forebrain, was overestimated, and thus the number of neurons was also overestimated.
Furthermore, we show that estimates of neuron number are not a reliable guide to intelligence.
“To reliably reconstruct the biology of a long-extinct species, researchers need to examine multiple lines of evidence, including skeletal anatomy, bone histology, the behavior of living relatives, and trace fossils.” the researchers said.
“To determine the intelligence of dinosaurs and other extinct animals, it's best to use a wealth of evidence, from gross anatomy to fossilized footprints, rather than relying solely on estimates of neuron counts,” Dr. Heidi said. added.
“We argue that it is not a good idea to predict the intelligence of extinct species when only the number of neurons reconstructed from endocasts is sufficient,” said Dr. Kai Kasper, a paleontologist at Heinrich Heine University. Ta.
“Neuron number is not a good predictor of cognitive ability, and using neuron number to predict intelligence in long-extinct species can lead to very misleading interpretations,” Mikel Crusafont Catalan Paleontologist said Dr. Ornella Bertrand, a paleontologist at the Institute.
“The possibility is that tyrannosaurus The possibility that they were as intelligent as baboons is both fascinating and frightening, and has the potential to transform the way we view our past,” said Dr Darren Naish, a palaeontologist at the University of Southampton. .
“But our study shows how all the data we have contradicts this idea. They were more like smart giant crocodiles, which was just as fascinating. ”
Kai R. Kasper other.How clever! tyrannosaurus• Examine claims about the extraordinary cognitive abilities of dinosaurs and the application of neuron number estimation in paleontological research. anatomical records, published online on April 26, 2024. doi: 10.1002/ar.25459
Dinosaurs, in the form of birds, continue to exist today. However, traditional dinosaurs like tyrannosaurus, triceratops, and stegosaurus, are unlikely to evolve again if the climate and temperatures return to Cretaceous conditions.
While pondering this idea is entertaining, it is impossible to accurately predict future evolutionary developments. Evolution is largely influenced by chance and natural selection, which occurs in response to immediate needs rather than long-term planning.
The late paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould once contemplated rewinding the tape of life to a past era and playing it again. He theorized that each replay would result in a different world, shaped by random quirks and unpredictable paths.
One thing that becomes clear with fossil record analysis is that once a species goes extinct, it is gone forever. Trilobites, for example, have not reappeared despite similarities in today’s climate to theirs in the past.
Evolution through convergence is a powerful force, leading different species to develop similar traits when faced with similar environmental challenges. Therefore, if Earth were to undergo a Cretaceous-like climate shift, it is possible that new large reptiles may evolve, but not necessarily tyrannosaurus and triceratops.
In response to a reader’s question about the possibility of dinosaurs evolving again under different Earth conditions, this article explores the unpredictable nature of evolution and the potential for new species to emerge under changing circumstances.
If you have any questions, please contact us at: questions@sciencefocus.com or reach out on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
Explore more fascinating science topics on our website and stay curious!
A new genus and species of ankylosaurid dinosaur have been identified from two specimens discovered in southeastern China.
type specimen of Datai Inliangis Rebuilt on site. The head, neck, and thorax of the specimen were discovered and extracted from a single block. Image credit: Xing other., doi: 10.18435/vamp29396.
named Datai Inliangisthe newly discovered dinosaur species roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous period, about 96 million to 90 million years ago.
ancient beast was a member strongosaursa group of club-tailed armored dinosaurs that reached a peak of diversity in the latest Cretaceous period.
“Ankylosaurids are iconic armored dinosaurs that characterized the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Asia and Laramidia (western North America) during the Late Cretaceous period,” said a paleontologist from the China University of Geosciences. Rida Singh And my colleagues.
“The earliest members of this clade are known from the Early Late Cretaceous of Asia, but there is little consensus on how they relate to anatomically derived and chronologically younger forms. are not obtained.”
“In southeastern China, Cretaceous red sand beds extend into a basin from Zhejiang to Guangdong.”
“However, horizons corresponding to the early Late Cretaceous remain poorly sampled.”
Two well-preserved immature skeletons Datai Inliangis It was collected from the Zhoutian Formation in southeastern China.
The specimens were found combined, with one head placed on top of the other, representing slightly different stages of the ontogeny of the skeleton.
“This is the first definitive vertebrate skeleton, let alone an armored dinosaur skeleton, excavated from the Ganzhou Formation,” the paleontologists said.
According to the authors: Datai Inliangis It is characterized by having two cheekbones/square zygomatic angle.
“The primary horn develops in the posteroventral horn of the skull and projects posterolaterally,” the researchers explained.
“There is a small attached horn just in front of this that hides the jaw joint when viewed from the side.”
“Morphologically, it is intermediate to older Asian ankylosaurids (e.g. crichton pelta and Giyumperta) and derived post-Cenomanian ankylosaurines (e.g. pinacosaurus),” they added.
“Phylogenetic analyzes broadly support this assessment.”
“The new species will either be placed in the Asian ankylosaurine subfamily, which is close to the lineage of the derived taxon, or it will form a sister lineage.” pinacosaurus”
“Based on these insights, Datai This genus represents an important addition to the Early Late Cretaceous vertebrate fauna of southeastern China and highlights the region's future potential for a better understanding of the origins and early evolution of ankylosaurids. ”
of discovery is reported in Vertebrate anatomy, morphology, and paleontology.
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L. Shin other. 2024. A new armored dinosaur with double cheek horns that lived in the early Late Cretaceous of southeastern China. Vertebrate anatomy, morphology, and paleontology 11; doi: 10.18435/vamp29396
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