Tag Archives: fossil

New bovid fossil found by paleontologists at Cradle of Humankind site

Posted on by
Reply

chrome dry A Pliocene-Pleistocene ruin in South Africa, the cradle of humanity. It has produced a diverse and rich animal community as well as important human specimens, including: Paranthropus robustus and early homo. Paleontologists have unearthed bovid fossils from 2.9 to 1.8 million years old at Kromdraai, revealing the existence of an unknown species that once roamed this ancient grassland with our ancestors.

Hanon other. It vividly depicts a landscape dominated by vast grasslands and suggests the complex interactions of life that flourished in this region during the Pliocene and Pleistocene periods. Image credit: Wits University.

Dr Raphael Hannon, a researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, said: “When we think of paleontology, images of dinosaurs often come to mind, but the study of modern animals such as the bovidae is also important.''

“Bovids are diverse and successful in Africa, providing insight into both ancient and modern ecosystems.”

“Their evolutionary history is intertwined with ours. They have been an important part of landscapes and human societies since the Miocene epoch, about 23 million years ago.”

Bovidae is a member of the family Bovidaemodern water buffalo, antelope, and gazelle.

Their diversity and abundance at the Kromdraai site provides a glimpse into the diet and behavior of both large carnivores and our ancient relatives.

As prey, these animals shaped the predation patterns of the region's megafauna and, in turn, influenced the survival strategies of hominids. Paranthropus robustus and early homo seed.

Discovery of extinct species such as gazelles Gazella giant gazella and the existence of an as-yet-unnamed buffalo closely related to it Sincerus acoelotus It represents a grassland-dominated environment.

This finding is supported by comparisons with other Plio-Pleistocene sites across South Africa, suggesting that different hominid species are associated with different habitats.

meanwhile Australopithecus Early on, it seemed to prefer forests and closed, moist environments. homo The species is found in areas adapted to open, dry conditions.

Diverse bovids related to paranthropusHowever, it has been suggested that these hominids have a wide range of environmental adaptability.

“One of the biggest challenges was the small buffalo skull (Sinceras sp.),” Dr. Hannon said.

“The skull was discovered as dozens of small broken bone fragments, but we spent many hours and were able to put most of the pieces back together, allowing us to determine what animal it belonged to. I did it.”

“Even after reinstalling all the parts, it was very fragile and difficult to manipulate and locate.”

“The fossil record of African buffalo is poor, especially in South Africa, so finding relevant information to help identify the skull was difficult.”

The significance of these discoveries extends beyond the mere identification of ancient animals.

The bovid community of Kromdraai is a mix of older Pliocene and younger Pleistocene taxa, providing a window into the changing landscape of ancient Africa.

These changes recorded in bovid bones and teeth reflect the dynamic nature of Earth's ecosystems and the adaptability of life in the face of changing climate and habitat.

Furthermore, studies of these fossils provide a chronological marker for this site, with biochronology showing that Kromdraai Unit P accumulated between 2.9 and 1.8 million years ago.

This range is critical to understanding the timeline of human evolution in this region and provides potential insights into the emergence of humans. Paranthropus robustus and other important species of southern Africa.

“The Kromdraai ruins continue to be evidence of the richness of our Earth's past, inviting scientists and enthusiasts alike to ponder the complex relationship between Earth's history and our origins. “We invite you,” the authors said.

Regarding this research, paper in diary Quaternary Science Review.

_____

Raphael Hannon other. 2024. New fossil bovidae (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) discovered from Cromdraai Unit P, South Africa and their implications for biochronology and human paleoecology. Quaternary Science Review 331: 108621; doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108621

Source: www.sci.news

The mystery of Cretaceous shark hunting techniques revealed through detailed fossil analysis

Posted on by
Reply

Petitcodus shark fossil discovered in Mexico

Roman Vullo

A fossil shark that thrived during the Cretaceous period has been found and has shed light on how sharks hunted and their place on the evolutionary tree.

Fossil shark teeth Ptychodus have been in museums for over 200 years. While some members of this group grew to be enormous, the anatomy of others was largely unknown.

This lack of information left researchers uncertain about the shark’s overall appearance and feeding habits, but the wide, flat teeth suggest it was capable of eating hard-shelled prey.

Recently, Professor Roman Vullo at the University of Rennes in France discovered six well-preserved full-body fossils of Ptychodus in Mexico, placing the shark in the order Lamniformes alongside modern shark species like great whites and basking sharks.

What makes this discovery interesting is that while modern white sharks are known for hunting in open waters, Ptychodus were fast swimmers and voracious eaters in the open ocean, preying on armored pelagic fish like large ammonites and sea turtles.

Despite the small size of the studied specimens, estimated to be less than 3 meters long, researchers believe some members of the genus reached lengths of about 9.7 meters – twice the size of a great white shark. Females tended to be larger, measuring between 4.6 and 4.9 meters in length.

During the Cretaceous period, Ptychodus sharks played a significant role in the marine food chain. They likely competed with large marine reptiles with crushing dentition, which may have led to their extinction before the end-Cretaceous extinction event.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

The discovery of three new fossil kangaroo species in Australia and New Guinea

Posted on by
Reply

Three new species belong to the extinct genus Kangaroo Protemnodon was a common member of Cenozoic communities in Australia and New Guinea until extinction in the late Pleistocene.

Artist's impressions of newly described fossil species Protemnodon Viator and their relatives protemnodon anak, compared in scale with modern red kangaroos and eastern gray kangaroos. Image credit: T. Klarenbeek, Flinders University.

Protemnodon Kangaroos lived in Australia and New Guinea from about 5 million to 40,000 years ago.

The first species is Protemnodon Described in 1874 by British paleontologist Owen, he followed the common approach of the time, focusing primarily on fossilized teeth. He observed slight differences in teeth between specimens and described the teeth of six species. Protemnodon.

Protemnodon They looked similar to giant kangaroos, but were generally stockier and more muscular.

Some species weighed around 50 kg, while others were much larger than modern kangaroos.

However, one new species was named as part of the research – Protemnodon Viator – was much larger and weighed up to 170 kg. This is about twice the size of the largest male red kangaroo.

Protemnodon Viator They were well adapted to the arid habitats of central Australia and lived in areas similar to today's red kangaroos.

This species was a kangaroo with long limbs and could jump fairly quickly and efficiently.

The remaining two new species are Protemnodon Mamukura and Protemnodon dorsonae.

“Previously, some or all Protemnodon Dr Isaac Kerr, a paleontologist at Flinders University, says:

“However, our research suggests that this is true for only three or four species of animals. ProtemnodonIt could have animated things like quokkas and potoroos. Sometimes it would jump on four legs, sometimes on two legs. ”

“The newly described Protemnodon Mamukura Probably one of these. A large but thick-boned and strong kangaroo, it probably moved quite slowly and inefficiently. Perhaps it only rarely jumped when it was startled. ”

“The best fossils of this type come from Green Waterhole Cave in south-eastern South Australia, on the land of the Boadick people.”

“It is unusual for a single genus of kangaroos to live in such diverse environments. Protemnodon They are now known to inhabit a wide range of habitats, from the arid regions of central Australia to the rain-rich, forested mountains of Tasmania and New Guinea. ”

Protemnodon dorsonae Compared to the other two species, there are fewer known fossils and more mysteries. It was probably a medium speed hopper, something like a swamp wallaby.

“By about 40,000 years ago, all Protemnodon “It is now extinct in mainland Australia, but may survive for a little longer in New Guinea and Tasmania,” the authors said.

“This extinction occurred despite differences in size, adaptation, habitat, and geographic range.”

“For reasons that are not yet clear, the same thing did not occur in many similar relatives, such as wallaroos and giant kangaroos.” I might be able to answer that.”

“It's great that we now have some clarity on the identity of the animal species.” Protemnodon' said Professor Gavin Prideaux from Flinders University.

“Fossils of this genus are widespread and regularly discovered, but in many cases there is no way to be sure which species you are looking at.”

“This study may help researchers approach their studies with more confidence.” Protemnodon”

This finding is reported in the following article: paper Published in today's magazine Megataxa.

_____

Isaac AR Carr other. 2024. Systematics and paleontology of the late Cenozoic genus Kangaroo Protemnodon (Marsupialia, Megapoda). Megataxa 11(1); doi: 10.11646/megataxa.11.1.1

Source: www.sci.news

Arkansas Unearths Fossil of Devonian Era Shark

Posted on by
Reply

A team of paleontologists from California State Polytechnic University and others has described a new genus and species of shark-like fish from the Fayetteville Shale in late Mississippi, Arkansas.

Reconstruction by artist Cosmoserax meringii. Image credit: American Museum of Natural History.

The newly described species lived in the Devonian seas, about 326 million years ago.

named Cosmoserax meringii This is one of many well-preserved shark fossils discovered from oil-producing seas. fayetteville shale formation Stretching from southeastern Oklahoma to northwestern Arkansas, it has been studied for many years for its well-preserved invertebrate and plant fossils.

“These creatures are part of an ecosystem that recovered after the mass extinction of fish communities at the end of the Devonian period, so they're part of the cartilaginous fish family, which includes all sorts of strange anatomy not seen in modern sharks. We're at a point where the morphological diversity of the species is astonishing,” said Dr. Alison Bronson, a researcher at California State Polytechnic Institute.

fossil of Cosmoserax meringii It was collected by Professors Royal and Gene Mapes of Ohio University in the 1970s.

Dr. Bronson and his colleagues performed a CT scan of the specimen and digitally reconstructed it.

They spent months studying to describe its anatomy, which includes dozens of tiny pieces of cartilage.

Once the reconstruction is complete, they Cosmoserax meringii In the early cartilaginous fish tree of life.

Cosmoserax meringii It was photographed in the 1970s and positioned so that the throat, jaw, and underside of the pectoral fins are visible. Image credit: Royal Mapes.

The authors found that this new species plays an important role in understanding the evolution of a mysterious group called green sea turtles. Shinmori form.

“This group has been alternately associated with sharks and mousefish, and different researchers have reached different conclusions,” they said.

“Cosmoserax meringii Most have shark-like features, but with long pieces of cartilage forming gill operculae, which are only seen today in ratfish.”

of study It was published in the magazine geodiversity.

_____

AW Bronson other. 2024. A new gilllike simoliform chondrich from the Late Mississippian Fayetteville Shale (Arkansas, USA). geodiversity 46 (4): 101-117; doi: 10.5252/geodiversitas2024v46a4

Source: www.sci.news

Fossil of giant freshwater turtle discovered in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil

Posted on by
Reply

Pertocephalus maturin Its shell length probably reaches about 1.8 meters (5.9 ft), making it one of the largest freshwater turtles ever discovered. The discovery marks the latest known occurrence of giant freshwater turtles and suggests coexistence with early humans in the Amazon.

rebuilding the life of Pertocephalus maturin. Image credit: Júlia d’Oliveira.

The newly discovered turtle species lived in what is now Brazil during the late Pleistocene, between 40,000 and 9,000 years ago.

named Pertocephalus maturinthe ancient animal may have reached a carapace length of about 1.8 meters.

Dr. Gabriel Ferreira, a paleontologist at the Senckenberg Center, said: “Freshwater turtles, in contrast to their terrestrial and marine relatives, rarely have such gigantic morphologies and are the only known species to date. “This is very surprising since the youngest giant fossils come from Miocene deposits.” Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment at the University of Tübingen.

“The carapace is up to 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) long; Asian narrow soft-shelled turtle (chitra chitra) The length is approximately 1.1 m (3.6 ft). South American river turtle (Podocnemis Expansa) They are some of the largest freshwater turtles alive today. ”

“In the past, only a few freshwater turtles with carapace lengths exceeding 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) were known,” he added.

“Such megafauna are most recently known, mainly from the Miocene period, about 23 million to 5 million years ago.”

huge partial lower jaw Pertocephalus maturin It comes from the Rio Madeira layer.

This specimen was collected by gold miners at a site known as the Taclas Quarry in Porto Velho in the Brazilian Amazon.

Morphological and phylogenetic analyzes of this fossil revealed close kinship with modern Amazonian species and suggested an omnivorous diet.

“Pertocephalus maturin “This is the youngest known giant freshwater turtle and suggests coexistence between this ancient species and early human residents of the Amazon region,” the paleontologists said.

“People settled in the Amazon region about 12,600 years ago. We also know that large turtles have been a food source for humans since the Paleolithic period.”

“Freshwater turtles are much more difficult to catch because of their agility, but we wonder if early humans also ate them.” Pertocephalus maturin It is not yet clear whether they fell victim to human expansion along with South American megafauna. ”

“Here we need further data from late Pleistocene and early Holocene deposits in the Amazon basin,” Dr. Ferreira said.

discovery of Pertocephalus maturin is reported in paper in a diary biology letters.

_____

GS Ferreira other. 2024.Latest freshwater giants: new Peltocephalus (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) A late Pleistocene turtle of the Brazilian Amazon. Biol.Let 20(3):20240010; doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0010

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Found Fossil Remains in France Offer Valuable Information on Ordovician Polar Ecosystems

Posted on by
Reply

in new paper in diary natural ecology and evolution, paleontologists described the diversity of the Cabrières biota, a new Early Ordovician site in the Montagne Noire in southern France. During the Early Ordovician, this region was an open marine environment located in the southern hemisphere at high polar latitudes, on the margin of the Gondwana supercontinent.

Artistic reconstruction of Cabrière Biota: in the foreground, Unpix (trilobites) and various ostracods including brachiopods and cryoliths (bottom left corner). Behind the trilobites are lobopods, chelicerates, cnidarians (blue), sponges (green), thin branched algae (red and green), hemichordates (purple), and some soft bodies. There are animals. Bivalve arthropods live in the water column along with graptolites. Image credit: Christian McCall, Prehistorya Art.

“Early Paleozoic sites with preserved soft tissues provide a wealth of information about the evolution of past life and improve our understanding of earlier ecosystems, but they are unevenly distributed in time and space. ,” said paleontologist Farid Saleh of the University of Lausanne and his colleagues.

“About 100 soft-tissue preserved assemblages have been recorded from the Cambrian, while about 30 are known from the Ordovician, and only a few have been discovered in early Ordovician rocks. .”

“The distribution of early Paleozoic remains is also paleogeographically biased, as approximately 97% of the biota discovered represents tropical and temperate ecosystems within 65 degrees north and south of the paleoequator.”

“This pattern is especially true for the Ordovician, where very few sites are known to have polar environments.”

“Among the most famous Ordovician sites, Sumchere in South Africa, Big Hill in the United States, and Winneshiek exhibit tropical ecosystems.”

“Given the rarity of Ordovician sites and their lopsided paleogeographical distribution, discovering new biota with preserved soft tissues across the aforementioned paleogeographic zones and environments will deepen our understanding of this period and This is crucial for gaining better insight into the factors driving increases in animal diversity on Earth. ”

Biomineralized species of the Cabriere biota: (a) Trilobites of the genus Unpix(b) gastropods with tubular structures, probably conuraids Sphenothalas(c) biomineralized canine cnidarians; (d) Arthrobrachiopod attached to a spongiosa, probably of the leptomid family. (e) Assemblage formed by an articulated brachiopod (center), a flattened carapace of a probably bivalve arthropod (left and right of center), and the skull of a calimenin trilobite (left). (f) Possibly visceral cyst. Scale bars – (a) and (e) 4 mm, (b) and (d) 1 cm, (c) 5 mm, (f) 2 mm.Image credit: Saleh other., doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02331-w.

In a new paper, paleontologists describe a group of 470-million-year-old (early Ordovician) fossils, named Cabrière Biota, discovered in southern France's Montagne Noire.

The fossil site was discovered by two French amateurs, Eric Montseret and Sylvie Montseret Goujon.

Saleh and his co-authors examined about 400 extremely well-preserved soft tissue fossils taken from the site.

Fossils typically exhibit shades of brown, red, or orange and are embedded within a siliciclastic matrix of mudstone and siltstone, and their colors range from blue to green to yellow.

The Cabriere biota is characterized by a prevalence of sponges and branched algae, which constitute 26% of all identified fossils.

Also included are molluscs (14%), trilobites (12%), brachiopods (9%), cystoliths (7%), and cnidarians (6%).

An interesting feature of this biota is its rarity, with echinoderms being represented by only three specimens.

The Cabrières biota also exhibits the shells of various bivalve arthropods, which constitute 16% of the fossils identified.

Some wormlike organisms are also present in the biota (approximately 1% of identified fossils).

“The Cabrière biota was once located in close proximity to Antarctica and reveals the composition of the southernmost Ordovician ecosystem,” Dr Saleh said.

“The high biodiversity of this site suggests that the area served as a refuge for species fleeing the high temperatures that were prevalent further north at the time.”

“During this period of global warming, animals were certainly living in high-latitude refuges, escaping the extreme temperatures at the equator.”

Dr Jonathan Antcliffe, a paleontologist at the University of Lausanne, said: “The distant past gives us a glimpse of the near future that could happen to us.''

_____

F. Saleh other. Cabrières Biota (France) provides insight into Ordovician polar ecosystems. Nat Ecole Evol, published online on February 9, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02331-w

Source: www.sci.news

New species of pterosaur identified by Skye fossil discovery

Posted on by
Reply

A new genus and species of pterosaur has been identified from fossils found at the site. Kilmalag Formation Originally from the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Reconstructed by artists Theoptera evansae. Image credit: Mark Witton / Natural History Museum, London.

Professor Paul Barrett of London's Natural History Museum and colleagues said: “The oldest known pterosaur fossils date from the late Triassic period, but the group persisted until extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.''

“Pterosaurs are known on every continent and experienced two major peaks in species richness during the Early-Middle Cretaceous and the Late Cretaceous.”

“However, that distribution is highly influenced by the 'Lagerstetten effect' and other forms of sampling bias.”

“Most of our knowledge about the evolutionary history of pterosaurs is based on material from a small number of archaeological sites with limited spatiotemporal extent.”

The newly discovered species lived in what is now Scotland between 168 and 166 million years ago (during the mid-Jurassic period).

named Theoptera evansaeIt was the first pterosaur named in Scotland and the most complete pterosaur discovered in Britain since its discovery by Mary Anning. Dimorphodon Macronix Early 1800s.

The remains of this flying reptile consist of a three-dimensionally preserved partial skeleton, including the shoulders, wings, legs, and part of the spine.

Many of the bones remain fully embedded in the rock and can only be studied using CT scans.

Theoptera evansae, almost as found (top) and with CT reconstruction using the elements (bottom). Image credit: Martin-Silverstone other.

“Theoptera evansae is part of the pterosaur clade Dalwinoptera'' said the paleontologists.

“The discovery shows that this clade is much more diverse than previously thought and persisted for more than 25 million years, from the Late Late Jurassic to the Late Jurassic.”

The discovery also shows that all of the major Jurassic pterosaurs evolved earlier than previously thought, well before the end of the Early Jurassic.

“Theoptera evansae “This helps narrow down the timing of some key events in the evolution of flying reptiles,” said Professor Barrett.

“Most of its relatives are from China, so its appearance in Britain during the mid-Jurassic period was a complete surprise.”

“This shows that the advanced group of flying reptiles to which it belongs appeared earlier than we thought and quickly acquired a near-global distribution.”

“During that period, Theoptera evansae This period is one of the most important in the evolution of pterosaurs, and it is also the period with the lowest number of specimens, demonstrating its importance,” said Dr Liz Martin-Silverstone, a palaeontologist at the University of Bristol. said.

“We found more bones embedded in the rock, some of which were essential to identifying the type of pterosaur.” Theoptera evansae This was an even better discovery than originally thought. ”

“This brings us one step closer to understanding when and where more advanced pterosaurs evolved.”

of the team paper will be published in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

_____

elizabeth martin silverstone other. 2024. A new pterosaur and the diversification of early flying reptiles from the Middle Jurassic of Skye, Scotland. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontologyin press.

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of new Tyrannosaurus species through early fossil findings

Posted on by
Reply

Artist's impression of Tyrannosaurus macraensis, a relative of Tyrannosaurus rex

sergei krasinski

A portion of a dinosaur skull discovered 40 years ago has been identified as a new species of dinosaur. tyrannosaurusand is probably the closest relative tyrannosaurus rex. The study adds a new twist to the long-standing debate about how many different tyrannosaurus species there were, and could help shed light on how the iconic predator evolved.

tyrannosaurus They first appeared in North America about 68 million years ago, 2 million years before the mass extinction event that wiped out most dinosaurs. Paleontologists are puzzled about the origins of this carnivore. Some suggest that it is an ancestor of tyrannosaurus Some people walked across land bridges from prehistoric Asia, while others traced their origins to southern North America.

Anthony Fiorillo Researchers from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science reviewed fossils in the museum's collection that were discovered in a rock formation known as the McRae Formation in western New Mexico.

Skulls were originally classified as: tyrannosaurus, Fiorillo and his colleagues noticed differences in the bones.They proposed that this specimen represented an older species, which they named Tyrannosaurus macraiensis in reference to the rock in which it was found.

They estimated that the dinosaur was about 12 meters long, comparable in size to an aosaurus. Tyrannosaurus, However, it lived about 4 million years ago.

difference between tyrannosaurus and T. macraensis It would have been relatively subtle.on the other hand tyrannosaurus He had a prominent ridge on his eyebrow, and a bone-crushingly wide jaw with the same ridge. T. macraensis The body is less developed and the skull is thinner, Fiorillo said.

Jawbone identified as new species of Tyrannosaurus

nick longrich

Other recent studies have proposed that several species exist. tyrannosaurus And the so-called tyrannosaurus Fossils need to be reallocated. However, such proposals are controversial and are mostly rejected by dinosaur paleontologists. The new study is likely to spark further debate about that number. tyrannosaurus The species was found in North America.

“I hesitate to consider Tyrannosaurus macraiensis as different from tyrannosaurus rex” Jared Voris at the University of Calgary, Canada. He points out that many of the anatomical features that make the new species unique are also present in the specimen. tyrannosaurus.

Regardless of species assignment, the existence of such large tyrannosaurs millions of years ago is tyrannosaurus This suggests that southwestern North America was an important center of dinosaur evolution. “The age range of the proposed specimen is unique and requires further study,” Voris said. That's because it could outline a clearer picture of dinosaur evolution during the last few million years of the Cretaceous.

The New Mexico tyrannosaurus was discovered in the same rock as a giant horned dinosaur, an anthropomorphic duck-billed dinosaur, and a long-necked herbivore up to 30 meters long. Fiorillo and his colleagues tyrannosaurus It may have evolved to its gigantic size to prey on these large herbivores, and later spread north as the last “tyrant lizard” to stalk the planet.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Skin Fossil from 300-Million-Year-Old Reptile is the Oldest Known

Posted on by
Reply

Captorhinus aguti, an ancient reptile that may be the source of the oldest skin fossils

michael debraga

The collection of fossilized skin fragments is the oldest ever discovered. This 300 million-year-old fossil belongs to a crocodile-like reptile and could help us understand how skin evolved.

After an animal dies, the skin decomposes quickly, so fossilization is rare. But this early Paleozoic reptile eventually ended up in a suitable place to preserve its skin. It was buried in oily clay deposits in an ancient limestone cave in what is now Oklahoma. There was little oxygen in the cave sediments, which slowed the decomposition process long enough for the tissue to fossilize, trapping the mummified skin mold.

The discovery was a surprise to researchers who had been examining the tiny black fossil fragments using microscopic 3D scans. “They were so small and skinny that we had to be very gentle with them,” he says. tea maho At the University of Toronto, Canada. Their scans revealed a pebble-like scale texture similar to crocodile skin, especially the flatter, smaller scales on the crocodile's flanks.

Researchers concluded that the skin belonged to a Paleozoic reptile, but it is unclear which species. Based on nearby fossils, they suspect the skin belongs to an extinct lizard-like species. Captorinus aguti. It's not clear how the reptile reached its final resting place. Perhaps it fell into the cave from a vertical shaft or was swept into the cave by a heavy rainstorm.

The fossilized skin fragments are about 21 million years older than any previously discovered, showing how and when vertebrates developed skin after they transitioned from living in the sea to living on land. It reveals new clues about how it evolved. “This is a unique opportunity to examine the first chapter in the evolution of higher vertebrates,” he says. ethan mooney at the University of Toronto. Skin helped aquatic animals make the leap to life on land by providing a watertight barrier between sensitive organs and the outside world.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient sponge fossil unearthed in Ireland by paleontologists dating back 315 million years

Posted on by
Reply

Remarkable new species over 50 cm (20 inches) tall Chiatophicus varori is the largest known member of its genus theatophicus and one of the largest sponges in the order mesh.

Chiatophicus varori. Image credit: Botting other., doi: 10.1016/j.geobios.2023.07.004.

“theatophicus “This is one of the most widely distributed Ordovician and Silurian sponge genera, recorded throughout the Iapetus region and tentatively in Bohemia,” said lead authors Ballen and Moher. said Dr Eamon Doyle, geologist at the Cliffs UNESCO Global Geopark, and colleagues. .

“This genus was widely distributed in offshore marine environments from the Middle Ordovician to the Middle Devonian, but has not previously been recorded in rocks from that period.”

named Chiatophicus varorithe newly identified species lived during the Carboniferous period, about 315 million years ago.

When alive, the vase-shaped sponge had a circular opening at the top surrounded by a ring of eyelash-like structures.

Probably similar to modern times Venus flower basket spongefound in the Pacific Ocean and often featured in deep-sea wildlife documentaries.

“This is a very large example of a type of fossil sponge that was previously only known from much older rocks elsewhere in the world,” Dr Doyle said.

“This is the first record of a sponge fossil of this type found in Ireland and its excellent state of preservation is extremely rare.”

specimen of Chiatophicus varori collected from Kilkee Cyclosem, Central Clare Group, Namuria, County Clare,Ireland.

“Sponges originally consisted of a rectangular network of tiny needles made of silica, held together by a thin organic membrane,” Dr Doyle said.

“Normally they fall apart quickly after death, and often only scattered remains of the needles are preserved as fossils, so we were delighted to find these nearly intact specimens. .”

“This wonderfully preserved fossil dates back to a time when the Atlantic Ocean had not yet begun to form, and the area now known as County Clare was part of an early ocean located near the equator.”

“Discoveries like this help raise awareness of the amazing geological heritage we have here on our doorstep in County Clare, and inspire a new generation of palaeontologists – geologists who specialize in the study of fossils. will help encourage people to visit and learn more about the unique geology of Ireland's west coast. ”

“We were surprised by the size and well-preserved condition of this fossil. This was completely unexpected,” said lead author Dr. Joseph Botting, a researcher at Amgefa Shimul Museum in Wales and the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology. said.

“This discovery provides important insight into the evolution of sponges and how some species are able to survive in niche environments where most other species cannot live. It is unusual for a specimen to be found.”

“This is a fantastic discovery and a reminder that new and interesting fossils are still being discovered that help us understand the story of life on Earth,” said the co-authors, from the Amgefa Cymru Museum in Wales. said Dr. Lucy Muir, a researcher at . .

team's paper Published in Journal October 2023 issue geobios.

_____

Joseph P. Botting other. 2023. A late surviving extra-large reticulated sponge from the Carboniferous of Ireland. geobios 80: 1-13; doi: 10.1016/j.geobios.2023.07.004

Source: www.sci.news

Controversy Surrounds Identification of Tiny Tyrannosaur Fossil as Potentially Another Species

Posted on by
Reply

Illustration of Nanotyrannus fighting a young Tyrannosaurus Rex

raul martin

tyrannosaurus rex After all, it may not have been the only large carnivore that ruled North America during the Late Cretaceous. Reinterpretation of some fossils of small dinosaurs sometimes classified as young dinosaurs tyrannosaurus This adds weight to the controversial idea that it is a separate small species called . Nanotyrannus lansensislived with the dinosaur king.

“This is the most famous fossil animal in the world,” he says Nicholas Longrich At the University of Bath, UK. “A lot of people are watching. And we can't agree.”

This debate has divided paleontologists for decades. A paper from the 1960s revealed that a skull excavated 20 years earlier in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana was tyrannosaurus that died before reaching full maturity. However, in the 1980s, others argued that the differences between the skull and known skulls were: tyrannosaurus The specimen showed that this fossil was actually an adult of another species, and they named it Nanotyrannus lansensis.

Recent studies based on additional fossils dispute this, arguing that the differences between miniature and full-sized fossils are: tyrannosaurus The fossils were not of different species, but of different times. This discussion has implications for understanding the ecology and diversity of dinosaurs in the period just before their extinction.

Now, with Longrich Evan Saitta Researchers at the University of Chicago have compiled six pieces of evidence that support identifying the smaller fossils as: Nanotyrannus. This includes cataloging more than 150 individual features that differ between the fossil in question and the known fossils. tyrannosaurus Fossils include things like a narrower snout and smoother teeth. They argue that all this cannot change between boys and adults. tyrannosaurus.

The researchers also analyzed the patterns of bone growth rings, which form when bones stop growing each year. As the animal grows slower, the distance between the growth rings decreases. Researchers say they found these rings to be tightened, suggesting that the smaller fossils represent young adults. Nanotyrannus Rather than a boy tyrannosaurus They rate these adults Nanotyrannus Their weight would be between 1,000 kg and 2,000 kg, equivalent to a quarter of an adult. tyrannosaurus 8000 kg. “No matter how you graph the data, you can’t turn it into an animal. tyrannosaurus” Longrich says.

The latest evidence is a fossilized frontal bone (located between the eye and skull) that Longrich unearthed from the archives of the University of California Museum of Paleontology, which researchers interpret as a juvenile fossil. tyrannosaurus Because it is definitely different from the hypothesis, Nanotyrannus fossil. “It's an animal smaller than a human.” Nanotyrannus But it is tyrannosaurus Morphology,” Longrich says.

Some outside researchers say they remain unsure that the tiny fossil is actually a separate species. “No problem Nanotyrannus If science proves it, it’s real.” holly woodward At Oklahoma State University written Juvenile species were identified in a tree ring survey conducted in 2020. tyrannosaurus explanation. “We’re not convinced that their interpretation is any more accurate than ours,” she said, adding that the fully grown animal specimens were “unusual.” Nanotyrannus It will be necessary to resolve different interpretations.

thomas carr A professor at Carthage College in Wisconsin has long argued that the fossil is a juvenile. tyrannosaurus, adding that the front bone found at Berkeley was too incomplete to sway him. “I don’t take this seriously at all,” he says.

scott parsons Professors at the College of Charleston in South Carolina are more welcoming of what he says is a new perspective on a long-stalled rift among paleontologists. “This new paper doesn’t settle this debate, but I’m optimistic that it will be a game-changer,” he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

New Fossil Discovery Shows Baleen Whales Adapted to Large Bodies in Cold Southern Waters for the First Time

Posted on by
Reply

Baleen whales (mysterious animals) are the largest animals on Earth. How they achieved such enormous sizes is still debated, and research to date has focused primarily on when they grew, rather than where they grew. was. Paleontologists now report on the remains of a toothless baleen whale (chaeomysticete) from South Australia. At an estimated length of 9 meters, it is the largest baleen whale from the early Miocene. Analysis of body size over time shows that ancient baleen whales in the Southern Hemisphere were larger than those in the Northern Hemisphere.

Mysterious gigantism from the early Miocene. Image credit: Ruairidh Duncan

It was previously thought that the onset of the Ice Age in the Northern Hemisphere about 3 million years ago triggered the evolution of truly gigantic baleen whales.

The new study, led by Dr James Rule of Monash University and the Natural History Museum in London, reveals that this evolutionary size jump did, in fact, occur as early as 20 million years ago, and in the exact opposite direction in the southern hemisphere. I made it.

The major discovery came from a study of 16- to 21-million-year-old fossils held in Museum Victoria’s collection.

This specimen, the anterior end of the lower jaw of a large edentulous baleen whale, was discovered in 1921 on a cliff face on the banks of the Murray River in South Australia, but was largely unrecognized in collections.

In their study, Dr. Ruhl and colleagues explain how whales evolved to be larger in the southern hemisphere rather than the northern hemisphere, and that whales have been larger in the southern hemisphere throughout their evolutionary history (about 20 million to 30 million years). It was shown that

The discovery highlights the vital importance of the Australian and wider Southern Hemisphere fossil record in putting together a global picture of whale evolution.

The Murray River whale fossil confounds that theory, although previous leading theories were based primarily on fossils found in the northern hemisphere.

“The Southern Hemisphere, and Australia in particular, has always been overlooked as a frontier for fossil whale discovery,” says Dr Eric Fitzgerald, a palaeontologist at Museums Victoria Research Institute.

“Like the Murray River whale, the fossil whale discoveries in the south have shaken up whale evolution, giving us a more accurate, truly global picture of what was happening in the oceans in ancient times. .”

Researchers have discovered that the tip of a baleen whale’s jaw can expand depending on its body size.

They estimated the baleen whale to be about 9 meters long.

“The largest whales alive today, such as the blue whale, reach the length of a basketball court,” Dr. Ruhl said.

“About 19 million years ago, Murray River whales were nine meters long, already a third of this length. So baleen whales were well on their way to becoming ocean giants.”

of result will appear in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

_____

James P. Rule other. 2023. A huge baleen whale emerges from its cold cradle in the south. Procedure R. Soc. B 290 (2013): 20232177; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2177

Source: www.sci.news

Behavior and evolution illuminated by 312-million-year-old fossil

Posted on by
Reply

Department of Biological and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University
December 15, 2023

Scientists at Harvard University’s Department of Biological and Evolutionary Biology have made an incredible discovery in the 312-million-year-old fossil of an insect. This discovery has pushed back the presumed origins of leaf mining behavior by 70 million years and provided new insights into the evolution of early insects. Their study shows that this behavior is linked to the evolution of early insects. The study was published on October 5, 2023, in New Phytologist.

The delicacy of prehistoric insects’ soft bodies makes them difficult to preserve as fossils. Due to this fragility, the bodies of these insects are often fragmented or incomplete, making scientific study difficult. As a result, paleontologists often rely on trace fossils to learn about these ancient insects, but they are almost exclusively found as traces of fossil plants. According to Dr. Richard J. Knecht, a candidate in the Department of Biological and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, the excellent preservation of fossil plants provides valuable insights into insect evolution and behavior.

In their study, researchers discovered endoparasitic trace fossils from the leaves of 312-million-year-old Carboniferous seed ferns. These trace fossils show the earliest signs of internal feeding within leaves, known as leaf mining. This discovery pushes the age of leaf mining behavior about 70 million years earlier than once believed.

The study also sheds light on the process and importance of internal nutrition in early insects. Feeding on plants internally is common in holometamorphic insects such as Lepidoptera (moths), Coleoptera (beetles), Diptera (flies), and Hymenoptera (wasps and sawflies), as the larvae make holes in the leaves and feed on the internal tissue, leaving a distinct trail. This behavior, identified in the Rhode Island Formation of the Carboniferous Period, shows how the exceptional preservation of this site allows for valuable insights into the behavior of ancient insects.

The study, led by Knecht and his team, highlights the significance of this discovery in furthering our understanding of early insect evolution and behavior and provides new insights into the origins of leaf mining by linking it to the evolution of early insects.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Rage and frustration sparked by COP28 draft excluding fossil fuel phase-out

Posted on by
Reply

DUBAI, UAE – A draft COP28 climate change agreement that does not include a phase-out of fossil fuels has drawn widespread criticism from key stakeholders, highlighting deep-seated rifts on the final day of the international summit. There is.

The document, released by the United Arab Emirates, which hosts the climate summit, emphasized the need to reduce emissions but did not call for a complete phase-out of fossil fuels. Scientists believe that fossil fuels the single biggest factor Contributing to potentially life-threatening climate change.

Representatives from the United States, the European Union and countries vulnerable to climate change, including many in Africa and the Pacific Islands, have issued dire warnings about the draft agreement, putting it at odds with many oil-producing countries.

Wopke Hoekstra, the EU’s chief negotiator for COP28, told reporters that the draft was “clearly inadequate and inadequate to address the issues we need to address here.”

“It’s not because we want it, it’s not because the minister or I want it, it’s not because the Europeans want it,” Hoekstra said. “Because scientists clearly understand what is needed, and at the top of that list is the phasing out of fossil fuels. [correlation] Between doing so and ensuring we have the planet, we rescue people from danger. ”

Wopke Hoekstra, EU Commissioner for Climate Change.
Peter DeJong/Associated Press

US climate change envoy John Kerry expressed similar concerns, saying: Significant reductions are expected over the next 10 years. ”

“This is a war for survival,” he added.

The combustion of coal, oil, and gas accounts for more than three-quarters of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is why so many people asked for the results of COP28 to show that “We are truly at the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era.”

However, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber said: faced a backlash last week He insisted there was “no science” behind calls to phase out fossil fuels and that such a move would not enable sustainable development “unless we want the world to go back into caves”. .

In response to the subsequent outcry, Jaber, who is also the chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), said his team “very much believes in and respects science.”

A COP28 spokesperson told CNBC at the time that Al-Jaber was “steadfast” in saying that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius requires action across many regions and sectors.

“We consider that there are elements in this document that are completely unacceptable,” Spain’s Minister of Environmental Transition, Teresa Rivera, told reporters after Monday’s publication of the draft, adding: “We believe there are elements in this document that are completely unacceptable.” How can we move forward in this important decade in the energy sector? ”

“I think it’s good to be clear about what we really want to create in this COP that the world needs, and whether we want this COP to create what it’s supposed to be: a turning point in the fight against climate change. ” she said. Added.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Annalena Verbock said the text was misleading. “In this critical decade, there is a complete lack of need to urgently replace and reduce fossil fuels in the power sector. The language on coal is inconsistent with EU energy policy, and the construction of new coal-fired power plants is completely absent. “is tolerated,” she said.

“Above all, the context around fossil fuels is misleading the world. This suggests that fossils may continue to play a significant role in our future. and send a misleading signal to the market.”

The draft document outlines several options for countries to reduce emissions, including “to achieve net zero by, or before, 2050. It includes “reducing both the consumption and production of fossil fuels in a fair, orderly and equitable manner.”

COP28 President Jaber said on Monday that the nearly 200 countries taking part in the talks “still have a lot of work to do”.

“Progress is needed on many areas, including the language on fossil fuels,” he said, calling for “more flexibility” from stakeholders.

The UAE is a member of the powerful oil producing group OPEC and is among the top 10 oil producing countries in the world.


Natasha Tulak, CNBC

Natasha Tulak is a correspondent for CNBC.

Sam Meredith, CNBCcontributed.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Changing Debate on Fossil Fuels at COP28: Even if the Climate Summit Fails

Posted on by
Reply

Climate change protester Risipriya Kangujam takes the stage during the COP28 debate on December 11th

Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via Getty Image

The COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has gone into extra time, with a real possibility that negotiations will fail given how far countries are separated on the future of oil, gas, and coal. It has become a target. But whatever the outcome, this summit changed the way the world talks about fossil fuels and climate change.

“The calculations are being made for fossil fuels,” he says. David Waskow at the World Resources Institute, an environmental nonprofit organization. “This has put the issue front and center and changed the conversation around it, and I hope that will continue to be the case.”

At the summit, and in the months leading up to it, many countries and many civil society organizations lobbied for strong language on phasing out fossil fuels in any deal reached in Dubai. The phasing out of fossil fuels received unexpected attention near the end of last year’s COP27 summit in Egypt, but the role of fossil fuels in driving climate change as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions has never been more important. There has never been a COP with such continuous focus.

“Even a year ago, the historic debate on phasing out fossil fuels currently taking place at COP28 was completely unthinkable,” he says. Jonas Kuehl At the International Institute for Sustainable Development, Canada. “The joint efforts of nearly 130 countries and civil society forced them into a process that has been fruitless for many years.”

The draft core agreement, published on December 11, drew heavy criticism from a number of countries and organizations yesterday for not mentioning the phasing out of fossil fuels. However, the draft does mention the need to reduce the production and use of fossil fuels and makes two other references to these fuels. This alone represents a significant change from past summits, which referred to emissions but not major sources.

“This is the first COP to actually include the word fossil fuels in a draft decision,” he said. Mohamed Addo At Powershift Africa, a Kenyan energy think tank. “This is the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era.”

Summit participants are fundamentally divided on what should be included in the agreement. High-income Western countries, as well as small island states and some low-income countries such as Colombia and Kenya, are demanding stronger language on ending the use of fossil fuels to be part of the agreement. We are united. But countries that rely on oil and gas revenues, and those that consider fossil fuel development essential to future development, oppose disqualifying language.

“The United States, Canada, and Australia are all fossil fuel producers, but they are all perfectly aligned with European countries,” he says. Andrew Deutz At the Nature Conservancy. “This puts even more pressure on fossil fuel producing countries.”

Countries that oppose language phasing do so for a variety of reasons. For example, the Group of African States, while not totally opposed to such an agreement, recognizes that any agreement would have different responsibilities and timelines for phase-out, and that it is important for countries to implement energy transitions. It claims to provide support to do so.

“Asking Africa to phase out fossil fuels is like asking Africa to stop breathing without life support,” Nigeria’s Environment Minister Isiak Kunle Salako said at a press conference at the summit on December 12. African ministers also emphasized the need for further support. This is to adapt to the climate change that is already occurring.

Nigeria is part of a group of oil-exporting countries called OPEC, and its members, especially Saudi Arabia, have been the strongest opponents of the phase-out. But the overwhelming focus on fossil fuels means it may not matter in the long run.

“I think because of the pressure from oil and gas interests, if we don’t agree to phase out fossil fuels here, it’s likely to be a pyrrhic victory for them,” he said. bill hare At the think tank Climate Analytics. “They would have kept it going, but they wouldn’t have stopped it.”

A complete failure at COP28 could help build momentum towards an unjust end to the fossil fuel era, Hare says. “Next year we’ll probably see more countries wanting to phase out fossil fuels, more countries thinking about it more and putting more pressure on oil and gas producers.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com