Tag Archives: marine

Ancient Long-Necked Marine Reptiles Discovered in China

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The remarkably long neck of Lijangosaurus johnschengensis. The research team, led by paleontologists from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, identified 42 cervical vertebrae at the site.

Reconstruction of nososaurs from approximately 240 million years ago showcases previously hidden diversity in southwestern China: Lijangosaurus johnschengensis (center), Nososaurus janjuanensis (top left), Nososaurus luopingensis (top right), Brevicaudosaurus janshanensis (bottom left), and Lariosaurus hongoensis (bottom right). Image credit: Kelai Li.

Lijangosaurus johnschengensis thrived in the mid-Triassic oceans between 247 and 241 million years ago.

The following ancient creatures belong to the Notosaurus clade of marine sauropterygian reptiles.

Nososaurs could reach lengths of up to 7 meters (23 feet) and swam using four paddle-like limbs.

They possessed flat skulls with a network of slender conical teeth specialized for catching fish and squid.

“Sauropterygia emerged as a dominant marine reptile clade in the Early to Middle Triassic, maintaining its significance for approximately 180 million years within the Mesozoic marine ecosystem,” stated lead author Dr. Xiang Qinghua and colleagues.

“Early diverging sauropterygians include placodonts, pachysaurids, nososaurs, and early pistosaurs.”

“The iconic group known as plesiosaurs represents a clade that diverged later from pistosaurs within the suborder Pterosauria.”

“Nososauridae represents the systematic paleontological equivalent of nososaurids and encompasses more than just nososaurids (nososaurus and lariosaurus) as well as other nososaur species.”

“Although numerous species have been described, nososaurs show low diversity at the genus level and in anatomical morphology relative to other sauropterygian subgroups.”

“Typically, nososaurs are larger than pachypleurosaurs but smaller than pistosaurs, including plesiosaurs.”

The skull of Lijangosaurus johnschengensis was small, while its body extended over 2.5 meters (8 feet) in length.

It evolved an extraordinarily long neck with 42 cervical vertebrae, twice the number seen in most sauropterygians of its time.

“Plesiosaurs are generally recognized for their surprisingly long necks,” noted the paleontologists.

“Despite some late-diverging plesiosaur species exhibiting short necks, early plesiosaurs and their Triassic ancestors, early pistosaurs, featured impressively elongated necks with more than 30 cervical vertebrae, indicating a conformational lineage between early pistosaurs and plesiosaurs.”

“In line with this traditional understanding, we consider only necks with more than 30 cervical vertebrae as long or elongated necks in our research.”

“This distinctive feature of plesiosaurs is unmatched among secondary marine quadrupeds; in contrast, other leading marine animals like ichthyosaurs, thalatoids, mosasaurs, and cetaceans typically possess shorter necks and exhibit more fish-like traits.”

The fossilized skeleton of Lijangosaurus johnschengensis was unearthed in a previously unidentified Early Middle Triassic zone of the Beiya Formation in Yunnan Province, China, near the eastern Tibetan Plateau and northern Myanmar.

“This location differs from previously documented fossil-rich regions in southwestern China along the Yunnan-Guizhou border,” the researchers remarked.

Lijangosaurus johnschengensis marks the earliest known instance of a sauropterygian reptile with an exceptionally long neck featuring 42 cervical vertebrae.

“Our findings demonstrate that extreme cervical elongation, defined as possessing more than 30 cervical vertebrae, emerged in sauropterygians prior to the arrival of plesiosaurs and their pterosaur ancestors,” the scientists concluded.

“Moreover, Lijangosaurus johnschengensis shows a unique type of accessory facet joint differing from other reptiles, which is believed to reduce body undulation.”

“This discovery enhances our understanding of the variety of accessory facet joints in reptiles and underscores the high degree of spinal flexibility during the early evolution of sauropterygians.”

The team’s paper is published in the journal Communications Biology.

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W. Wang et al. 2025. The oldest long-necked sauropterygians, Lijangosaurus johnschengensis: Plasticity of vertebral evolution in sauropterygian marine reptiles. Communications Biology August 1551. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08911-1

Source: www.sci.news

Paleontologists Reveal Multiple Instances of Marine Fish Migrating to Freshwater

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The fish supergroup earball, recognized for its superior hearing abilities, includes two-thirds of freshwater fish species. They were previously believed to have originated in freshwater prior to the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea. This suggests an almost 80 million-year span from their inception to the earliest known fossils. However, the discovery of Acronichthys MacCognoi—a newly identified freshwater ear fish species from the late Cretaceous period—challenges this assumption.

Reconstruction of the Weberian apparatus in Acronichthys MacCognoi. The central golden bone arises from the rib bones (indicated in grey) that connect the fish’s air bladder (left) to the inner ear (right). Image credit: University of California, Berkeley Ken Chronicle.

Underwater ears require a distinct anatomy compared to those that sense airborne sounds.

Many terrestrial vertebrates have evolved eardrum-like structures that vibrate in response to sound waves.

These eardrums amplify sounds, moving bone arrays, similar to the malleus, incus, and stapes found in human middle ears, which then stimulate the fluid-filled inner ear.

In contrast, sound waves travel through fish, which have a density similar to that of the surrounding water.

Consequently, fish have developed an air-filled bladder that vibrates in response to sound passing through it.

These vibrations are then transferred to the fish’s inner ear in a basic manner in most saltwater species.

However, specialized fish have developed bony structures known as “bones” between the air bladder and inner ear (a system called Weberian apparatus), enhancing the amplification and range of frequencies detectable by their ears. For instance, zebrafish can detect frequencies of up to 15,000 Hz, nearing the human limit of 20,000 Hz.

The reason for these fish’s need to hear high frequencies remains unclear, though it may relate to their existence in varied and complex environments, from swift currents to still lakes.

“reason Acronichthys Maccagnoi Professor Neil Banerjee, a researcher at Western University, noted:

“This represents the oldest known North American member of the group and offers invaluable data for documenting the origins and early evolution of numerous freshwater fish species existing today.”

Acronichthys Maccagnoi thrived in the late Cretaceous period roughly 67 million years ago.

The authors utilized microCT scans of 4 cm long fossils to investigate their Weber structure.

They also studied the genomes and morphology of contemporary fish to refine the evolutionary lineage of freshwater species and simulate frequency responses of the middle ear structures of fossil fish.

Their model indicates that even 67 million years ago, Otophysan fish may have possessed hearing sensitivity on par with today’s zebrafish.

“We were uncertain if this constituted a fully functional Weberian device, but the simulation proved effective,” stated Dr. Juan Liu, a paleontologist at the University of California, Berkeley.

“The Weberian apparatus suggests it’s less sensitive than that of zebrafish.”

“However, the peak sensitivity frequency is not as low as that of zebrafish (500-1,000 Hz). This is not an insignificant finding, and it’s conceivable that this ancient Otophysan fish achieved a higher hearing frequency.”

This discovery indicates that at least two transitions from marine to freshwater species occurred during the evolution of otolaryngology.

Researchers estimate the divergence times for ear plants migrating from ocean to freshwater habitats occurred around 154 million years ago (late Jurassic period), following the fragmentation of Pangaea around 200 million years ago.

“Dinosaurs are fascinating, attracting significant attention, which means we know a lot about them. However, there’s still much to uncover regarding the diversity of prehistoric freshwater fish.”

“Many keys to understanding the origins of the groups that currently dominate rivers and lakes worldwide can be found in Canadian fossil sites.”

A paper detailing these findings was published in the journal Science on October 2nd.

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Juan Liu et al. 2025. Marine origin and freshwater radiation of ENT. Science 390 (6768): 65-69; doi: 10.1126/science.adr4494

Source: www.sci.news

Planetary Scientists Challenge Marine Origin of Organic Molecules in Enceladus’ Plumes

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The magnetosphere of Saturn is filled with trapped plasma and energy-charged particles that consistently bombard the surface of Enceladus. This plasma mainly consists of charged particles, including water group ions created from high-energy electrons interacting with materials from the plumes. Instruments on NASA’s Cassini spacecraft reveal that on Saturn’s inner icy moons, such as Mimas and Tethys, cold plasma irradiation results in darker reflection spectra and produces blue-tinted features on their surfaces. In contrast, the consequences of plasma bombardment on Enceladus remain largely unexplored and challenging to assess.

Saturn’s Moon Enceladus and Plume. Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI/Kevin M. Gill.

“The discovery of complex organic molecules in Enceladus’s environment is crucial for evaluating lunar habitability, indicating that radiation-driven chemistry on the surface and within plumes can yield these molecules.”

The Enceladus plume was first identified in 2005 by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.

These plumes emerge from a long fracture known as the “Tiger Stripes” located in Enceladus’s Antarctic region.

Originating from a subsurface ocean, the water’s energy to create plumes and heat the ocean arises from gravitational tidal forces exerted by the massive Saturn, which deforms Enceladus’s interior.

Cassini flew through the plume, “sampling” the molecules present, which were found to be rich in salts and a variety of organic compounds.

These findings have captivated astrobiologists since organic compounds found dissolved in underground oceans could lead to prebiotic molecules, the building blocks of life.

However, new insights suggest that radiation from Saturn’s powerful magnetosphere could also contribute to the formation of these organic compounds on Enceladus’s icy surface, prompting questions about their astrobiological significance.

In their research, Dr. Richards and colleagues replicated the ice composition on the surface and along the striped walls of Enceladus’s tiger.

This ice comprises water, carbon dioxide, methane, and ammonia, which were cooled to -200 degrees Celsius.

The researchers then bombarded the ice with ions to mimic the radiation environment surrounding Enceladus.

The interaction of ions with ice components generated various molecular species, including carbon monoxide, cyanate, and ammonium.

It also produced precursor molecules for amino acids, which could support metabolic reactions, aid in cell repair, and facilitate the formation of proteins that transport nutrients in living organisms.

Some of these compounds have been previously identified on Enceladus’s surface, while others were detected in feathers.

“Molecules deemed prebiotic do not necessarily originate from subterranean oceans but can instead form in situ via radiation exposure,” noted Dr. Richards.

“This does not dismiss the potential for the Enceladus seas to be habitable, but it emphasizes the need for caution when interpreting the plume’s composition.”

“Distinguishing between ocean-derived organic matter and molecules formed through radiation interactions with the surface and tiger stripes is extremely complex.”

“Additional data from future missions will be essential, including proposals for the Enceladus mission currently under review as part of the ESA’s Navigation 2050 recommendations for the science program.”

The team’s survey results were announced earlier this month during the EPSC-DPS2025 Joint Meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

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Grace Richards et al. 2025. Water group ion irradiation studies of Enceladus surface analogues. EPSC Abstract 18:EPSC-DPS2025-264; doi:10.5194/epsc-dps2025-264

Source: www.sci.news

Mid-Debonian Ocean Oxygenation Enables Deeper Habitat Expansion for Marine Life

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Approximately 390 million years ago during the Devonian period, marine life began to explore previously unoccupied depths. A recent study, conducted by researchers from Duke University, Washington University, NASA’s Virtual Planetary Research Institute, and Caltech, reveals that this underwater migration was spurred by a lasting increase in deep-sea oxygen levels, linked to the ground diffusion of woody plants. This rise in oxygen coincided with a time of notable diversification among jawed fish.

Artistic rendering of Brindabellaspis stensioi (foreground) alongside various other Devonian fossil fish. The white shark and human divers in the upper right corner symbolize modern jaw vertebrates. Image credits: Hongyu Yang/Qiuyang Zheng.

“While oxygen is recognized as essential for animal evolution, establishing its role in trends of animal diversification can be challenging,” remarks Dr. Michael Kipp, a researcher at Duke University.

“This study strongly supports the idea that oxygen has influenced the timing of early animal evolution, particularly concerning the emergence of jawed vertebrates in deep-sea environments.”

For years, scientists believed that deep-sea oxygenation was a singular event that occurred at the onset of the Paleozoic era, around 540 million years ago.

However, recent findings suggest that oxygenation takes place in stages, first making coastal regions more hospitable for respiratory organisms, followed by deeper waters.

Dr. Kipp and his team investigated the timing of these stages by examining sedimentary rocks formed beneath deep seawater.

They focused on selenium within the rocks, an element utilized to ascertain whether oxygen levels were high enough to support life in the ancient ocean.

In marine settings, selenium exists in various forms known as isotopes, which differ based on weight.

At oxygen levels conducive to animal life, the ratio of heavy to light selenium isotopes shows significant variation.

Conversely, at oxygen levels too low for most animals, the ratios remain relatively stable.

By analyzing selenium isotope ratios in marine sediments, researchers can deduce whether oxygen levels were adequate to sustain aquatic life.

The team collected 97 rock samples from around the globe, dating from 252 to 541 million years ago.

These samples were sourced from locations across five continents that were once situated along continental shelves millions of years ago, where the continental edge meets a steep drop-off underwater.

After processing the rocks through grinding, melting, and purifying selenium, the team examined the selenium isotope ratios in each sample.

Their findings reveal that two significant oxygenation events took place in deeper waters of the outer continental shelf, starting during the Mid Devonian, around 540 million years ago, and again between 393 and 382 million years ago during the Paleozoic’s Cambrian period.

For extended periods, oxygen levels plummeted, making survival challenging for most marine life.

“Our selenium data indicates that the second oxygenation event was permanent,” stated Kunmanee ‘Mac’ Bubphamanee, PhD candidate at the University of Washington.

“This event initiated in the mid-Devonian period and has persisted in our younger rock samples.”

This oxygenation event coincided with significant changes in ocean evolution and ecosystems, often referred to as the Paleozoic marine revolution.

Fossil evidence indicates that oxygen became a stable presence in deeper waters, allowing jawed fish known as Gnathostomes to invade and diversify in these environments.

These organisms grew larger, likely due to the supportive oxygen levels facilitating their growth.

The Devonian oxygenation event also correlated with the proliferation of woody plants.

“Our hypothesis posits that the increase in woody plants released more oxygen into the atmosphere, thereby elevating oxygen levels in deeper marine environments,” Dr. Kipp stated.

The cause behind the initial temporary oxygenation event during the Cambrian period remains more obscure.

“What is evident is that the subsequent drop in oxygen post-initial event constrained the spread and diversification of marine animals into deeper continental shelf environments,” Dr. Kipp explained.

“Today, marine oxygen levels are balanced with those in the atmosphere.”

“However, in specific zones, marine oxygen can plummet to undetectable levels.”

“Some of these areas arise from natural phenomena.”

“Still, they are frequently exacerbated by nutrient runoff from fertilizers, industrial activities that degrade plankton, and subsequent oxygen depletion as it decomposes.”

“This research clearly outlines the relationship between oxygen and marine life.”

“It’s a balance established around 400 million years ago, and it would be regrettable to disrupt it in the years to come.”

This study is set to be published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Kunmanee Bubphamanee et al. 2025. Marine oxygenation in Mid Devonian allowed the expansion of animals into deeper water habitats. PNAS 122 (35): E2501342122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2501342122

Source: www.sci.news

An Enchanting Artistic Representation of Marine Life Through the Ages

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Strawberry squid, color lithograph

Smithsonian Library, Washington, DC

The world’s oceans, covering one-tenth of Earth’s surface, are the cradle of life, showcasing an astonishing variety of creatures with diverse shapes, colors, and evolutionary traits.

‘Pilchard (Argentina Carolina)’, hand-colored engraving from Mark Catesby

National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, Maryland

Marine biologist Helen Scale’s latest book, Ocean Art: From the Coast to the Deep, takes readers through 140 stunning photographs and illustrations of underwater vistas and their diverse inhabitants.

Yashima Gakutei, three crabs on the edge of the water

The Met Museum

The realm of art mirrors the diversity of marine life, and Scale expertly intertwines insights about artists with the wonders of oceanic life, blending marine biology with art history.

Cyphonophore (Forscaliatrod), illustration

Library, Woods Hole, MA

“It’s captivating to view the ocean through the perspectives of artists and craftsmen,” Scale noted. “They brilliantly convey the essence of life beneath the surface.”

Mycenaean stirrup vessel featuring an octopus, circa 1200 to 1100 BC

The Met Museum

Throughout history, culture has shown a deep fascination with marine life. The featured artworks include a lithograph of the Strawberry squid (Histioteuthis heteroopsis) from 1851, Catesby’s hand-colored sculpture of the Pilchard (Argentine Carolina) from 1743, a 1830 woodblock print from Japan showing crabs, an 1888 illustration of a siphonophore (Forskalia tholoides), and a Mycenaean jar illustrating an octopus from around 1200 to 1100 BC. Additional ceramic artifacts include lobster-shaped containers from Peru and crabs depicted in Nazca ceramic bowls from the 2nd to 4th centuries.

L: (Peru) “Lobster-shaped Stirrup Vessel”, R: Crab Ceramic Bowl

Left; Walters Art Museum. Right; The Met Museum

Ocean Art is scheduled for release in the UK on August 1st and in the US on September 26th.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Cretaceous Marine Deposits Reveal Evidence of a Massive Ancient Tsunami

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Significant amber deposits found in northern Japan may have been propelled from the forest into the sea by tsunamis occurring between 116 million and 114 million years ago during the early Cretaceous period. This is according to a recent study conducted by geological surveys at Japan and Chuo University.

Amber deposits from Sichuan Quarry in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Image credit: Kubota et al. , doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-96498-2.

Identifying traces of ancient tsunamis can be challenging, as the powerful waves tend to reshape coastlines. The sediment left behind often resembles deposits created by other high-energy events, like storms.

Nevertheless, amber, which originates on land and is then transported to the sea, acts as a historical record of tsunami occurrences, illuminating the physical processes influencing sediment movement during these events.

“A tsunami is a destructive ocean wave primarily caused by significant changes in submarine or coastal crust, as well as impacts from asteroids,” explains Dr. Aya Kubota, a researcher at geological surveys at Japan and Chuo University.

“They have been extensively studied during the Holocene (the last 11,700 years) due to their relevance in disaster prevention.”

“Aside from asteroid sediments, accurately identifying ancient tsunamis before major vegetation growth is extremely difficult for two key reasons.”

“First, coastal tsunami deposits are easily eroded in their dynamic environments. Second, well-defined criteria for identifying tsunami deposits have not been established, as they can be difficult to differentiate from other high-energy coastal events, such as cyclones.”

In their research, Dr. Kubota and colleagues examined amber-rich silica deposits from the Shiko River Quarry in northern Hokkaido, which formed during the early Cretaceous period around 115 million years ago.

Using fluorescence imaging, the authors discovered that the amber samples exhibited clear deformation in what is known as the flame structure. This occurs when the amber is still pliable at the time of deposition, allowing it to change shape before solidifying.

This suggests that a substantial quantity of amber was swiftly transported from land into the open ocean due to the backwash from one or more tsunamis, experiencing minimal exposure to air.

The amber then settled at the seabed, becoming covered with a layer of silt, which helped to preserve it.

“Other terrestrial sediments carried into open water could be instrumental in studying significant ancient catastrophic events, such as tsunamis,” the researchers concluded.

Their study was published in the journal Scientific Reports on May 15th.

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A. Kubota et al. 2025. Amber, a deep-sea sediment from the Cretaceous period, reveals a massive tsunami. Sci Rep 15, 14298; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-96498-2

Source: www.sci.news

Identification of a newly discovered species of long-necked marine reptiles from the Triassic era in China.

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Paleontologists have identified a new genus and species of small dinophalosaurid archosauromorph from a fossilized skeleton found in China’s Yunnan province.

Holotype of Austronaga Minuta Most of the caudal vertebrae, which were found in looping in Yunnan Province, China, were found, and preserved in the skull, anterior cervical spine, and blocks. Image credit: Wang et al. , doi: 10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.231013.

Austronaga Minuta lived in the Thetis Sea during the Middle Triassic period around 244 million years ago.

This new species is an Archosauromorph, a member of a group that contains all forms more closely related to it (such as Crocodilians and dinosaurs, etc.) than Lepidosaurs.

Ancient reptiles are sister species Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, another amazing marine reptile from the Triassic period in central China.

“The Medium Triassic in southern China has produced a prominent marine vertebrate assembly that dramatically alters the understanding of the Tethys Sea and its coastline biota,” says Vertebrate paleontology and paleontology. A colleague and colleague at the institute said. National Geopark.

“The Triassic non-quadrilateral alxaulmorph group holds an important position in these findings.”

“They were traditionally called prototrosauria or prototrosaurs, but are now considered paraphrasing groups.”

“One species belonging to this group of reptiles, Dinocephalosaurus orientalis one of the most interesting reptiles discovered in recent years from the Triassic period in southern China,” they added.

“Its very elongated neck reminds me of a similar condition as seen in the ausauromorph, another aquatic creature. Tanistrophius. ”

“Both species have more than twice the necks as the trunk.”

“Yunnan’s new non-crocodile Archosauromorph shares many features Dinocephalosaurus And along with the latter, it can be distinguished from other long-necked Archosauromorphs. ”

“However, this new species also exhibits many different anatomical features. Dinocephalosaurus therefore, new genus and species have been proposed. ”

A small but mature skeletal specimen of Austronaga Minuta was recovered from the Guanling Formation in Waina village in Yunnan Province, southwestern China.

“The specimen is very compacted, but contains almost completely completely complete, with the anterior part of the skull joint with the skull, and most of the caudal tail of about 60.” The paleontologist said.

Their phylogenetic analysis shows that Austronaga Minuta With Dinocephalosaurus and Pektden It forms a clade representing the Dinocephalosauridae of the Archosauromorph family.

New marine reptiles probably had an aquatic or semi-aquatic lifestyle.

“The dentition Austronaga It's less specialized than that Tanistrophius and Dinocephalosaurus yet they have enlarged teeth like these species. This corresponds to the food possibilities of small aquatic animals, such as fish and cephalopods,” the researchers said.

“Other potential indicators for aquatic movement are Austronaga. ”

“The elaborate structure of the caudal neural spines and chevrons is only observed in Austronaga and Dinocephalosaurus Among these non-crocopodan alxaulmorphs. ”

“These structures of the tail are not essential for aquatic propulsion, taking into account the absence of other aquatic reptiles and even some aquatic lines.”

“Nevertheless, similar morphology converges in many aquatic reptiles: caudal neural spines like plates have been developed in basal fishy disease. Sclerocormus and Chaohusaurus. ”

“The T-shaped chevron is found in the mysterious Zauroptari horn Atopodentatus and with primitive placedonts Paraplacodos and Placodus. ”

“Therefore, we consider the morphology of the caudal vertebrae. Austronaga Suitable for aquatic or at least semi-aquatic animals. ”

Findings are reported in a paper In the journal Palasiatica spine.

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W. Wang et al. 2024. A small dinophalosaurid archosauromorph from the Triassic period in central Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Palasiatica spine 62(1):13-32; doi:10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.231013

Source: www.sci.news

Increasing marine heat sources indicate acceleration of climate change.

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The high seawater temperature that contributed to the weather of California’s storm in late 2023

Kevin Carter/Getty Image

Researchers say the rapid increase in marine temperature up to the level of the record breaking in 2023 and 2024 is a sign that the pace of climate change has accelerated.

The world marine temperature reached a record high for 450 days in 2023 and early 2024. The Ehninho’s weather pattern, which appears in the Pacific Ocean, can explain some of the extra heat, but about 44 % of the recorded warmth is decreasing to the world. According to the sea, which absorbs heat from the sun, the acceleration speed Christmer chat At a British lady university.

Merchants and his colleagues have analyzed marine warming over the past 40 years using satellite data, concluding that the speed of warming has been more than four times since 1985.

The team says that this rapid acceleration depends on the rapid change of the EEI of the earth’s energy. This is the scale of how much heat is trapped in the atmosphere. The EEI has doubled since 2010, and the sea has absorbed much more heat than before.

“The sea generally sets a pace of global warming,” says a merchant. “Therefore, as an extension, global warming is accelerating as a whole, including land.” Merchants are “I personally convinced that accelerating climate change is a major factor in recent marine temperature increase. I say. “

Based on their analysis, merchants and his team predict that marine warming will continue to increase rapidly in the next few decades. “If the tendency of the EEI is out of the future, a large amount of global warming can be expected in the next 20 years, as in the past 40 years.

The climate model hopes that the speed of climate change will accelerate, but the analysis of the merchant suggests that the trend of the real world is in line with the most pessimistic model forecast. “The fact that this data -driven analysis is placed in a high -end high -end that the model predicted is a problem that needs to be viewed,” he says.

However, early data suggests that EEI decreased in 2024 after a recorded spike in 2023. Some researchers argue that this data may not accelerate in the worst scenario.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Newly discovered marine reptile species from the Triassic period.

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Paleontologists have described a new species of pachypleurosaur that lived during the mid-Triassic period in southwestern China.

holotype of Dianmeisaurus mutaensis From the Guanling Formation, China: (A) Skeleton seen from the back. (B) Equivalent to (A). Scale bar – 1 cm. Image credit: Hu others., doi: 10.1186/s13358-023-00292-4.

Dianmeisaurus mutaensis They lived in what is now China during the Anisian period of the mid-Triassic period, about 245 million years ago.

What is an ancient species? Pachyprourosaurus a group of primitive sauropterygian reptiles of the Triassic period.

These animals resembled aquatic lizards and had small heads, long necks, paddle-like limbs, and long, deep tails.

“Sauropterygia was the most flourishing clade of Mesozoic marine reptiles in terms of species diversity, with the iconic plesiosaurs of the Jurassic and Cretaceous, and the stem-group placodonts and eophytes of the Triassic. sauropterygia,” said Dr. Jun Liu and colleagues at the institute. Hefei University of Technology.

“Eosauropteri were traditionally divided into three groups: pachyprourosaurids, nososaurids, and pistosaurids.”

“In this traditional view, the monophyletic Pachypleurosauria is thought to constitute a sister group to the clade Eusauropterygia, which consists of Nososaurinae and Pistosaurinae.”

complete and articulated skeleton of an immature animal Dianmeisaurus mutaensis It was discovered in an abandoned quarry about 1 km northwest of Muta Village, Luxi County, Yunnan Province, China.

The skeleton was divided into two parts during collection and prepared using pneumatic tools and needles in the paleontology laboratory.

“The skeleton is embedded in dark gray micritic limestone and consists of one segment and its counterpart,” the paleontologists said.

“The specimen is well preserved and has a total length of 99.2 mm (4 inches).”

“Adjacent to the specimen are scattered limb and rib bones from other individuals, but the limited information available makes further identification difficult.”

Artist's impression of Pachypleurosaurus Umengosaurus. Image credit: Nobu Tamura / CC BY-SA 4.0.

The research team's analysis identified this new species as a sister group. Dianmeisaurus gracilis a small pachypleurosaur from the Luoping biota of the Middle Triassic.

“Dianmeisaurus mutaensis Displays several eutoroid features, including a postfrontal region that extends posteriorly to the middle of the parietal table and is excluded from the upper temporal fenestra, a stout last dorsal rib that is shorter than the first sacral rib, and two sacral vertebrae. “There is,” the researchers said.

“Additionally, a new data matrix has been compiled to reassess the interrelationships of neosauropterygians.”

“Phylogenetic analysis indicates monophyletic collapse of Eusauropterygia,” they added.

“Pistosaurinae, Magiasinosaurus and Hanosaurus These constitute a continuous sister group to the monophyletic clade that includes Pachyprosaurinae and Nososaurinae.”

“Furthermore, the monophyly of Pachyprourosauria is supported by six synapomorphies.”

“Our phylogenetic results provide further evidence for the East Tethys origin of pachypleurosaurs,” the researchers said.

“However, to test the biogeographical hypothesis, we need early Anisian pachypleurosaurs from the eastern region of Tethys.”

of findings Published in Swiss Journal of Paleontology.

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YW Hu others. 2024. A new species of Pachypleurosaurid (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) that lived in the Middle Triassic of southwestern China and its phylogenetic and biogeographical significance. Switzerland J Palaeontre 143, 1; doi: 10.1186/s13358-023-00292-4

Source: www.sci.news

Marine scientists uncover unique new deep-sea skater species

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Marine biologists identify new species of skate Leucolaja It lurks in the deep waters of the southwestern Indian Ocean.

brown long nose skates (Leucolaya longirostris), holotype of an adult male viewed from the dorsal side. Scale bar – 5 cm. Image credit: Weigman others., doi: 10.3390/biology13060405.

members of the genus Leucolaja A small to medium sized skate, usually with a short, obtuse snout.

To date, 14 valid species of this genus have been identified, primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, but also in the Indian Ocean.

“The 14 species currently described are Leucolaja It reaches a maximum size of 30-120 cm and is found in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. ” Dr Simon Weigman by the Leibniz Institute for Biodiversity Change Analysis and colleagues.

“Of these 12 species, Leucolaja Compagnoi and Leucolaja wallasei They also live outside the Atlantic Ocean, in continental waters in the southwestern Indian Ocean. ”

The newly discovered Leucolaja This species is the fourth known species of this genus from the western Indian Ocean.

named Leucolaya longirostris (common name is Brown Longnose Skate), apparently endemic to the Madagascar Ridge in Walters Shoals.

“In the 1970s and 1980s, researchers working on the Madagascar Ridge, a raised area of ​​the ocean floor in the southwestern Indian Ocean, collected a total of eight rare skate specimens at depths of 750 to 1,050 meters.” biologists said.

“Despite the long snout, this specimen could definitely be assigned to the genus. Leucolaja This is due to the typical characteristics of claspers. ”

“It can be easily distinguished from all 14 congeners by its long, sharply pointed snout,” the researchers said.

“Furthermore, it appears to occur only on the Madagascar Ridge, away from the known distribution areas of all congeners, and its clasper morphology exhibits several unique aspects.”

brown long nose skates (Leucolaya longirostris), holotype of an adult male viewed from the ventral side. Scale bar – 5 cm. Image credit: Weigman others., doi: 10.3390/biology13060405.

Leucolaya longirostris These are medium-sized skates with a total length of 71.1 cm or more.

Males mature at about 60 cm. The largest known female is 70cm long. The smallest known specimen is a young female with a total length of 27.6 cm.

recognition of Leucolaya longirostris Provide new insights into morphological variation within the genus Leucolaja “This constitutes a very unusual and noteworthy addition to this genus Sketchi,” the researchers said.

“Nevertheless, the very limited distribution of this new species raises concerns about its ability to sustain fisheries, and it may be susceptible to capture in longline fisheries, particularly deep-sea trawl fisheries.”

“Although little information is available about fisheries operating in the region of the Madagascar Ridge, this deep-sea skate tolerates intensive fishing pressure, potentially due to its slow-life history characteristics and low productivity. You may not be able to.”

“Walter's Shoal has had good catches in the past and this pressure may return in the future,” they added.

“As a fishery targeting orange roughy (Hoplostessus atlanticus) and Kinmedai (Belix Decactylus) have typically used mesophoric trawls on the ocean floor, but new species may have benthic refugia. ”

“However, further research is needed to investigate its distribution, life history, population size and trends, and threats.”

“This is essential to improving data collection and research and making more effective conservation and management policy decisions.”

a paper Report findings published in journals biology.

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Simon Weigman others. 2024. Description of a noteworthy new type of skate shoe Leucolaja Malm of the southwestern Indian Ocean, 1877 (Radidae, Radidae): Introducing 3D modeling as an innovative tool for visualization of clasper characters. biology 13 (6): 405;doi: 10.3390/Biology 13060405

Source: www.sci.news

Research: Collaboration between oceans and continents led to Mesozoic marine extinctions

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in paper Published in the journal Nature ChemistryScientists have proposed a new explanation for a series of severe environmental crises known as marine anoxia, which occurred between 185 and 85 million years ago (during the Mesozoic era) when the amount of dissolved oxygen in the oceans became extremely low.

Oceanic anoxia was a geologically abrupt phase of extreme oxygen depletion in the oceans that disrupted marine ecosystems and led to evolutionary shifts. These events, which usually lasted about 1.5 million years, occurred frequently during the Mesozoic Era, between about 183 and 85 million years ago. One hypothesis suggests that anoxia resulted from increased chemical weathering of the Earth's surface on a greenhouse world with high volcanic carbon emissions. Gernon othersA combination of plate reconstructions, tectonic geochemical analyses and global biogeochemical modelling tested this hypothesis. Image courtesy of the University of Southampton.

“Ocean anoxia is like hitting the reset button on the Earth's ecosystems,” said Prof Tom Gernon, from the University of Southampton.

“The challenge was to understand what geological forces pushed the button.”

The researchers investigated the influence of plate tectonic forces on ocean chemistry during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, collectively known as the Mesozoic Era.

“This period in Earth's history is also known as the Age of the Dinosaurs and is well exposed along the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast on the south coast of England, Whitby in Yorkshire and Eastbourne in East Sussex,” Prof Gernon said.

Scientists have combined statistical analysis and advanced computer modelling to investigate how the ocean's chemical cycle may have responded to the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, the giant landmass once home to dinosaurs.

“During the Mesozoic Era, the continents broke apart and intense volcanic activity occurred around the world,” Prof Gernon said.

“As the plates shifted and new ocean floor was formed, phosphorus, a nutrient essential to life, was released in large quantities into the ocean from weathered volcanic rocks.”

“Importantly, we found evidence of multiple instances of chemical weathering on both the ocean floor and the continents, alternating between destroying the oceans — like a geological tag team.”

The authors find that the timing of these weathering waves coincides with most of the marine anoxic events in the rock record.

They argue that phosphorus that entered the ocean through weathering acted as a natural fertilizer, promoting the growth of marine life.

However, this fertilization phenomenon came at a great cost to marine ecosystems.

“Increased biological activity caused huge amounts of organic matter to sink to the seafloor, consuming huge amounts of oxygen,” said Prof Benjamin Mills, from the University of Leeds.

“This process ultimately left large swaths of the ocean anoxic, or 'dead zones' where oxygen was depleted and most marine life died.”

“The anoxic conditions typically lasted for one to two million years and had profound effects on marine ecosystems, the effects of which are still felt today.”

“The organic-rich rocks that accumulated during these events are the source of the world's largest commercial oil and gas reserves to date.”

The findings explain the causes of extreme biological chaos during the Mesozoic Era and highlight the devastating effects of nutrient overload on marine environments today.

“Studying geological events provides valuable insights that help us understand how Earth will respond to future climatic and environmental stresses,” Professor Gernon said.

Overall, the results reveal stronger-than-expected connections between Earth's solid interior and its surface environment and biosphere, especially during periods of tectonic and climatic upheaval.

“It is remarkable how a series of events occurring inside the Earth can have such profound, often devastating, effects on the surface,” Prof Gernon said.

“Continental breakup could have profound effects on evolutionary processes.”

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TM Gernon othersSolid Earth forcing of Mesozoic oceanic anoxia. National GeographyPublished online August 29, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01496-0

This article has been adapted from an original release from the University of Southampton.

Source: www.sci.news

Two antibiotics found in Arctic marine bacteria by scientists

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A research team from Finland and Norway has identified two candidate anti-toxic compounds against enteric pathogens. E. coli Marine actinomycete strains from the bacterial metabolite (EPEC) infection Cochlea and Rhodococcus From the Arctic Ocean.

Strain T091-5 of this genus RhodococcusImages/Photos Courtesy of: Pylkkö others., doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1432475.

“We show that advanced screening assays can identify anti-toxic and antibacterial metabolites from actinomycete extracts,” says Professor Paivi Tamela from the University of Helsinki.

“We discovered compounds in the Arctic actinomycete that inhibit virulence without affecting EPEC growth, as well as compounds that inhibit growth.”

Professor Tamera and his colleagues have developed a series of new methods that allow them to simultaneously test the antitoxic and antibacterial effects of hundreds of unknown compounds.

They targeted a strain of EPEC that causes severe, sometimes fatal, diarrhea in children under the age of 5, especially in developing countries. EPEC attaches to cells in the human intestine and causes disease.

Once EPEC attaches to these cells, it injects so-called “virulence factors” into the host cell that hijack its molecular machinery and ultimately kills the cell.

The compounds tested were extracted from four species of actinomycetes isolated from invertebrates collected in the Arctic waters off the coast of Svalbard during an expedition by a Norwegian research vessel. Cronprince Haakon August 2020.

These bacteria were cultured, the cells were extracted, and their contents were separated into fractions.

Each fraction was then tested in vitro against EPEC attached to cultured colon cancer cells.

The researchers discovered two previously unknown compounds with strong anti-toxic or anti-bacterial activity: one from an unknown strain of the genus (called T091-5); Rhodococcusand another strain from an unknown strain of this genus (T160-2). Cochlea.

These compounds exhibited two complementary biological activities.

First, it inhibits the formation of the so-called “actin pedestal” by EPEC bacteria, a key step in the attachment of this pathogen to the host intestinal wall.

The second is to block EPEC binding to so-called Tir receptors on the surface of host cells, a necessary step to rewire intracellular processes and cause disease.

Unlike compounds in T160-2, compounds in T091-5 did not slow the growth of EPEC bacteria.

This means that T091-5 is the most promising of the two strains, as EPEC is unlikely to eventually develop resistance to its antivirulence effects.

Using advanced analytical techniques, the authors determined that the active compounds in T091-5 were likely phospholipids, a type of fatty phosphorus-containing molecule that plays an important role in cellular metabolism.

“The next steps are to optimise the culture conditions for compound production and to isolate sufficient quantities of each compound to elucidate their structures and further explore their respective biological activities,” Prof Tamera said.

of Survey results Published in today's journal The cutting edge of microbiology.

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Tuomas Pirko others2024. Bioprospecting EPEC virulence inhibitors from metabolites of an Arctic marine actinomycete. Front. Microbiol 15;doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1432475

Source: www.sci.news

New Fish Species Found in Mauritanian Waters by Marine Biologists

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A new species of three-bearded rockfish has been described from a specimen taken from a depth of 595 metres in the Tanoudre Valley, off the coast of Mauritania.

Guidelopsarus mauritanicus Hiding under a branching whitish bryozoan Serena reference. Lucida Image courtesy of Tomas Lundelf, University of Gothenburg.

order Cod These include some of the most important species for commercial fisheries today.

There are also small species in this genus, such as the Three-bearded Bulbul. Guide Lopezal Although it has little commercial value, its range is surprisingly wide.

“More than a quarter of all commercially caught marine fish in the world belong to the cod family. Cod family” These include fish species such as Atlantic cod, Alaskan pollock and haddock, which are particularly economically important,” said Dr. Alexander Norn, researcher at Senckenberg am Meer and the University of Bremen.

“However, the Gadidae family also includes much smaller, little known and less studied fish families, such as the Sardinae (Guidelopsalidae), of little commercial value but astonishingly wide in scope.”

The newly described species lives in deep-sea coral reefs off the coast of Mauritania.

“This is the site of the world's largest deep-sea coral reef system, the Mauritanian Wall. The reef stretches for at least 580 kilometres and is 80-100 metres high,” the biologists said.

Scientific Name Guidelopsarus mauritanicus The new species is just 7.3 centimetres long.

this is, Guide Lopezal The species was collected from Tasmania, the most remote geographic location of the samples the team studied.

“Guidelopsarus mauritanicus “It can be distinguished from other fish of the same species based on a combination of different characteristics, including large eyes, a head that takes up a quarter of its body length, long, slender pelvic fins and pink body colour,” Dr Norn said.

“Genetic analysis confirmed that this is a previously undescribed species.”

“Guidelopsarus mauritanicus They were caught with the help of grubs, along with a variety of live deep-sea animals, including framework-forming stony corals and other corals. Desmophyllum pertussum or red deep sea gorgonian Swiftia PhaetonIt also contains colonies of large sponges, bryozoans, starfish, annelids, decapod crustaceans, snails and bivalve mollusks.”

“Also, in the video footage, Guidelopsarus mauritanicus They live exclusively in deep sea coral ecosystems. One of the specimens we saw had whitish spots on its skin. This was the only fish we could see hiding under a branching, whitish bryozoan. Serena reference. Lucida.”

a paper The article describing this discovery Journal of Fish Biology.

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Alexander H. Norn others. Guidelopsarus mauritanicus (Gadiformes, Gaidropsaridae) A new species of three-baleen redfish from a deep-sea coral ecosystem. The biogeographical distribution of the genus is genetically verified, and notes on its ecology and behavior are provided. Journal of Fish Biology Published online August 16, 2024; doi: 10.1111/jfb.15859

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Marine Crocodile Species Unearthed in Germany

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Paleontologists have described a new genus and species of metriorhynchid crocodyloform from the Stadthagen Formation in northwestern Germany.

Artist image Enarioetes schroederi. Image credit: Joschua Knüppe.

The newly discovered crocodyloforme lived in shallow seas off Germany during the Early Cretaceous period, between 140 and 132 million years ago.

dubbing Enarioetes schroederi Ancient reptiles belonged to the family Metriorhynchidae.

“Metriorhynchid fishes had smooth skin without scales, fins and a tail,” explained Dr Sven Sachs from the Natural Sciences Museum in Bielefeld and his colleagues.

“They Feeding Metriorhynchid reptiles fed on a variety of prey, including fast-moving animals such as squid and fish, although some metriorhynchid species have large serrated teeth, suggesting that they may have eaten other marine reptiles.”

“The Jurassic period is the best known, and fossils become rarer as we move into the Cretaceous period.”

Perfectly preserved skull Enarioetes schroederi. It was discovered over 100 years ago in a quarry in Sachsenhagen near Hanover by the German architect D. Hapke.

This specimen is the best-preserved metriorhynchid crocodyloform known from the Cretaceous.

“This specimen is remarkable as it is one of the very few metriorhynchids known to have a three-dimensionally preserved skull,” Dr Sacks said.

“This allowed us to perform CT scans of the specimens, which allowed us to learn a lot about the internal structure of these marine crocodiles.”

“The incredible state of preservation has even allowed us to reconstruct the animal’s internal cavity and inner ear.”

Enarioetes schroederi gives paleontologists new insight into how metriorhynchidae evolved during the Cretaceous period.

“During the Jurassic period, metriorhynchids evolved a body plan that was radically different to other crocodiles, with fins, tails, loss of bony armour and smooth skin without scales,” said Dr Mark Young, a palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh.

“These changes were increasingly adapted to a marine life.”

“Enarioetes schroederi This trend continues into the Cretaceous. Enarioetes schroederi It has larger eyes than other metriorhynchids (which are already large by crocodile standards) and its bony inner ear is more compact than other metriorhynchids. Enarioetes schroederi I probably could have swum faster.”

Discovery Enarioetes schroederi has been reported paper of Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

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Sven Sachs others 2024. A new genus of metriorhynchid crocodile from the Lower Cretaceous of Germany. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 22 (1): 2359946; doi: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2359946

Source: www.sci.news

Dressing up as a coral raises awareness of marine pollution

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Cosplay Corallation

Getting someone, anyone, to notice what they've discovered is a problem for almost every scientist (and also a problem for almost anyone who discovers almost anything).

Mark Patterson and his colleagues at Northeastern University in Massachusetts tried a theatrical approach to raising awareness about marine microplastics. They found success by cosplaying at San Diego Comic-Con (“Mindful Engagement”). Patterson dressed up as a giant coral and wielded a sword-like “microplastic harvesting device,” while another member of the team dressed up as Amphitrite, the Greek sea goddess, “with bracelets and hair made from plastic debris.”

“The novelty of our costumes and accessories, not a traditional collection of cosplay characters, proved to be an appealing way to engage convention-goers,” they say. “Participants ranged from 1-9 people at a time, and engagements lasted from 1-8 minutes.”

Reader's Latest Issue: Journal of Marine Education If you're sufficiently inspired by these inspiring photos of the adventure, read up on microplastics.

what's on your mind?

The feedback makes people who think professionally about thinking wonder if anyone really thinks that the thinker knows much about thinking.

Thinkers who think about thinking go by many names, including cognitive scientists, brain scientists, neuroscientists, neuroeconomists, philosophers, neurophilosophers, psychologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, therapists, neurotherapists, theologians, neurotheologists, and historians of ideas.

Never mind that they don't always praise each other, but call each other by various names.

Experts are debating consciousness: in the past five years alone, nearly 2,000 academic papers have been published exploring the question, “What is consciousness?”

And they ruminate about rumination. For example, Christopher Martin Kowalski, Donald Saklowski, and Julie Aitken-Sharmer of the University of Western Ontario in Canada wrote in May:What are you ruminating about? Development and validation of a content-dependent measure of rumination.“These three people who ruminate say they believe that existing measures of rumination assess ruminative thinking, regardless of the content of the rumination.”

What is the content of these ruminators' own ruminations? They give us glimpses of it in some of their other papers.

Shermer said in 2023:A desire for loud cars with modified mufflers is predicted by being male and by higher scores on psychopathy and sadism.” “.

Kowalski and Saklofske:Fanatical misdeeds” “.

Saklofske also stated in print:Measuring Gerotphobia, Gerotophilia, and Catagelasticism” “.

Perhaps you, too, will turn to the dictionary and ponder over gelotophobia, gelotophilia, and katagelasticism.

Explosive Insights

Questions arising from underground explosions, buried embalmed bodies, toxic groundwater (Feedback, July 20) and more continue to provoke people’s thinking.

William Drennan, a law professor at Southern Illinois University, takes a pessimistic view of embalming practices. writing Dickinson Law Review “Attempts to make coffins airtight and waterproof have led to a phenomenon known as 'Exploding Coffin Syndrome.' Essentially, attempts to make coffins airtight and waterproof lead to the disturbing conclusion that as the body decays, heat, gases and liquids build up inside the coffin, eventually causing an explosion.”

Apart from the intrinsic value of tradition, “there seems to be no benefit to embalming it after it has been made public,” Drennan said.

Recognizing the intrinsic value of knowledge, Guo Wei and his colleagues at the People's Liberation Army Military University of Technology The results of their extensive investigation were published in the magazine Underground Space. On “Theory and Testing of Underground Explosions”.

They conducted “numerous field tests and numerical simulations” [that] It is being implemented both domestically and internationally.”

While not specifically mentioning exploded, buried, and embalmed bodies, the team warns: “Calculating the parameters of the ground shock caused by an underground explosion is a complex energy-coupling problem.”

Telling all

There are two additions to the collection from Feedback titled “The Title Tells You Everything You Need to Know.”

“Man pricks finger and smells foul for five years” Enlightened the reader Lancet In 1996,Dizziness in discus throwers is related to motion sickness caused during spinning“Notify subscribers Journal of Otolaryngology the year of 2000.

If you've come across a similarly offensive, rancid, or blindingly obvious example, please send it (along with citation details) to Telltale titles, c/o Feedback.

Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.

Do you have a story for feedback?

You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week's and past Feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Marine scientists confirm that killer whales only take one breath during a dive

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To collect information on the animals’ behaviors, Professor Andrew Treitz and his team at the University of British Columbia utilized drone footage and biological data from tags attached to 11 northern and southern resident killer whales in Queen Charlotte Sound, Queen Charlotte Strait, Johnston Strait, and Strait of Juan de Fuca along the British Columbia coast.

Still image from UAV drone video showing data logger placement and breathing. Image credit: McRae et al., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302758.

“Orcas are like sprinters; they lack the endurance for deep and prolonged dives like blue or humpback whales,” Professor Treitz noted.

Research revealed that killer whales predominantly spend their time off the coast of British Columbia, engaging in shallow dives lasting less than a minute.

An adult male recorded the longest dive time of 8.5 minutes.

By determining that the whales took only one breath during the dive, researchers could calculate their oxygen consumption rates per minute for adults and juveniles.

This information contributes to estimating the energy expenditure of killer whales and their daily fish consumption needs.

University of British Columbia student Tess McRae stated, “This will aid in understanding if killer whales, especially the endangered southern population, are obtaining sufficient food. It’s a critical aspect.”

The orcas in the study took 1.2 to 1.3 breaths per minute at rest, increasing to 1.5 to 1.8 breaths per minute while moving or hunting.

For comparison, humans typically take around 15 breaths per minute at rest and 40 to 60 breaths per minute during physical activity.

“It’s akin to holding your breath, rushing to the grocery store, shopping, and returning before being able to breathe again,” explained Dr. Beth Volpoff, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of British Columbia.

Published findings in the online journal PLoS ONE.

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TM McRae et al. 2024. Killer whale breathing rate. PLoS ONE 19 (5): e0302758; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302758

Source: www.sci.news

Gigantic ancient ichthyosaur discovered on UK coast may be the biggest marine reptile in history

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Illustration of a carcass of Ichthyotitan severnensis washed up on the beach

Sergey Krasovsky

The fossilized remains of an ancient 200 million-year-old ichthyosaur unearthed on the coast of southwest England may be some of the largest marine reptiles ever discovered.

In 2020, amateur fossil hunters stumbled upon a huge chunk of bone at Blue Anchor Beach in Somerset. Upon further inspection, dean lomax He and his colleagues at the University of Manchester in England quickly realized that it was a fragment of the jawbone of a giant ichthyosaur, a type of reptile that roamed the oceans between 250 million and 90 million years ago. Noticed.

Subsequent excavations on the beach uncovered 11 more fragments, and the team was able to partially piece together the bone at the back of the jaw, called the mandible.

This latest discovery is A 2018 report describing a similar ichthyosaur jawbone Found on another Somerset beach. At the time, the research team did not have enough evidence to identify the species.

“It was clear that this was another giant jawbone,” Lomax said. “So I was very, very excited.”

After comparing the partial exohorn bone with the complete exoskeleton of other ichthyosaurs, the researchers estimated that the entire bone was at least 2 meters long, meaning the animal was about 20 to 25 meters long.

“We're working on something really huge,” Lomax says. “It would definitely be the largest officially described marine reptile.”

The properties of the exoceratops, which match those reported in 2018, mean both fossils must belong to previously undescribed ichthyosaur species, Lomax said.named by the team Ichthyotitan severnensismeaning giant fish lizard of the River Severn.

The site is about 202 million years old, just before the great global extinction event that wiped out many species, including many giant ichthyosaurs.

“They are quite literally the last giants,” Lomax says. “No ichthyosaur will ever come close to this size again.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Could the massive fish lizard be the largest marine reptile ever found, surpassing the megalodon in size?

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Forget about megalodons being scary, there’s a new prehistoric creature in town with jaws that may rival Meg’s in power, making it the largest marine reptile ever identified on Earth.

The giant jawbone of this beast measures over 2 meters (6.6 feet), allowing for a bite force strong enough to crush bones. In comparison, the jawbone of a megalodon, which was about the same size, measured only 0.5 meters (1.6 feet).

Experts believe that this massive new ichthyosaur species was a staggering 25 meters (82 feet) long, similar in size to a modern blue whale. (Megalodon was about 15-20 meters, or 65 feet in length).

The fossilized remains of this creature were found on the Somerset coast.

The research team named this new species Ichthyotitan severnensis, meaning “Giant Fish Lizard of the Severn.” These bones date back to around 202 million years ago, towards the end of the Triassic period, just before the dinosaur extinction event.

The first jawbone of this mysterious species was discovered in 2016, with this recent find confirming its existence.

Dr. Dean Lomax, a paleontologist at the University of Manchester, expressed excitement about the discovery, hoping that more complete specimens may be found in the future.

Lomax and his team compared the two jawbones and found shared unique features, indicating they were from the same geological period.

Ruby Reynolds, an 11-year-old girl, discovered a new salangular on the beach in 2020, leading to further discoveries by her and her team, including the final piece of the jawbone in 2022.

Now 15, Ruby Reynolds has contributed to naming the new species and is already a published scientist, listed as a contributor to research in the journal PLoS ONE.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Marine reserves do not aid in the recovery of fish populations

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Grunts and gray grunts in Holchan Marine Reserve off the coast of Belize

Pete Oxford/ILCP

Fish populations in Caribbean marine reserves have not recovered, according to a 12-year study. Researchers say poor enforcement of marine protection regulations, coastal development and rising water temperatures are likely to blame.

Stretching for more than 1,000 kilometers along the Caribbean coasts of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, the Mesoamerican Reef is home to a wide range of wildlife, including more than 500 species of fish and 65 species of coral.

Over the past few decades, governments in these countries have created many marine protected areas (MPAs) with the aim of protecting the precious biodiversity of coral reefs and restoring fish populations that have declined due to overfishing. I did. These areas may prohibit fishing during certain times of the year, prohibit certain types of fishing gear, and restrict other activities such as tourism and mining.

To evaluate the effectiveness of these MPAs, stephen canty Researchers from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland analyzed changes in fish biomass in 111 protected lands and 28 non-protected lands from 2006 to 2018. The data was collected during a survey by a scuba diver as part of the investigation. Initiatives for healthy coral reefs.

The researchers found that adult fish biomass increased in only 11 of the marine protected areas during the study period, indicating an increase in adult fish populations. Meanwhile, adult fish populations declined in 28 of the reserves and remained unchanged in the remaining locations. Less protected sites did see declines, but the declines were often smaller than the most protected sites.

The study found that 11 areas where fish populations have recovered have well-enforced MPA regulations and less fluctuation in sea surface temperatures. Sites with poor recovery showed opposite trends, including poor implementation of conservation measures, increased human activity in coastal areas, and increased temperature anomalies.

“Enforcement plays a huge role in whether some of these areas are successful or not,” Canty says. He suggests that local residents, who make a living from adult fish, should be given a greater role in managing MPAs. It's also important to ensure MPAs are located in areas that are better protected from climate change and easier to manage, he says.

“There's still a lot we don't know about marine protected areas,” team members say Justin Nowakowski, also located at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. “Therefore, it is important to be able to look to the past to optimize how he positions and manages his MPAs in the future.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Discovery of ancient marine tapeworm preserved in 99-million-year-old amber

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Paleontologists from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and others have discovered a partial fossil of an ancient tapeworm preserved in Kachin amber from Myanmar from the mid-Cretaceous period.

A 99-million-year-old amber fragment containing a tapeworm fossil (long tentacles) and other inclusions: (AB) Overall view of the amber fragment. (C) Trichophytes of Gleichenidae. (D) Scale insect larva. (E) Sand grains. Scale bar – 2 mm inches (A, B), 0.1 mm inches (CE).Image credit: Luo other., doi:10.1130/G52071.1.

Parasites, especially parasitoids, are ubiquitous in extant ecosystems but poorly preserved in the geological record.

One such group is Sestoda (tapeworms), a special group of internal parasites flatworm.

These organisms have complex life cycles with at least two hosts and infect all major vertebrate groups.

However, due to its soft tissue and hidden habitat, the fossil record is very sparse, with the only widely accepted example of a pre-Quaternary period being a shark egg found in a Permian coprolite. be.

The lack of body fossils greatly hinders our understanding of early evolution.

Dr. Bo Wang, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: “The fossil record of tapeworms is extremely poor due to its soft tissue and endoparasite habitat, which is a major hindrance in understanding its early evolution. ''. Science.

The new fossil exhibits unique external (armature pattern) and internal (partially invaginated tentacles and rootless hooks) features that are most consistent with extant tentacles. Trypanolhynch tapeworm Parasitic substances of marine life elasmobranch (mainly sharks and rays).

“This discovery is the most convincing platyzoan fossil ever discovered,” said Dr. Cihang Luo. candidate at Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“Our study provides an exceptional example of a marine endoparasite trapped in amber and also sheds new light on amber taphonomy.”

“Specifically, we showed that amber can preserve the internal structure of helminths.”

“Using high-resolution micro-CT, we discovered that inside the modern fossil, a folded vertical structure extending spirally around the longitudinal axis extends to the very front. It matches the tentacle you entered.”

“On the other hand, rootless hooks are the same as trypanorhynch hooks.”

“Previous studies have shown that internal structures can be preserved intact, similar to modern forms, but all such studies have focused on arthropods.”

A hypothetical ecological recreation of the Trypanorhynch tapeworm fossil. Image credit: Dinghua Yang / Luo other., doi:10.1130/G52071.1.

“Our results show that amber can preserve the internal structure of helminths such as tapeworms over geological time scales,” Dr. Wang said.

“In addition to remarkable examples of marine endoparasites trapped in amber, several Gleichenia trichomes and scale insect larvae were also preserved in the same amber specimen along with partial insect remains. I did.”

“This clearly indicates that it was in a terrestrial or terrestrial environment at the time it was trapped in the resin.”

“Additionally, many sand grains are evenly distributed throughout the amber, suggesting that the fossil was buried in a sandy environment.”

“Furthermore, evidence so far indicates that Kachin amber was deposited in a near-shore environment.”

“One possible scenario for the tapeworm being deposited in the amber is that its elasmobranch host became stranded by tides or storms.”

“In such a scenario, the host would have been bitten by a high level of terrestrial predator or scavenger.”

“When the host was consumed by a predator, the tentacles were pulled apart, detached from the intestine, and attached to nearby resin.”

“Our study further supports the hypothesis that Kachin amber was probably deposited in a paleoenvironment in the Pala region, and also highlights the importance of amber studies in paleoparasitology.”

team's paper It was published in the magazine geology.

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Jikyoura other. Exceptional preservation of marine tapeworm tentacles preserved in Cretaceous amber. geology, published online March 22, 2024. doi: 10.1130/G52071.1

Source: www.sci.news

Newly discovered deep-sea worm amazes marine biologists

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Marine biologists at the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Ensenada Higher Education and Research Center have described a rare new species of deep-sea insect with gills discovered in a methane well off San Diego’s Pacific coast. Named pectine rice triclotti, the new species has an elongated body flanked by rows of feathery, gill-tipped appendages called lateral legs.

pectine rice triclotti, a living male specimen. Image credit: Ekin Tilic.

pectine rice triclotti belong to Nereididae, a segmented, mostly marine family of insects with over 700 recognized species.

Commonly known as lugworms, these organisms are generally found in coastal areas and are usually limited to shallow marine habitats, but can also be found in brackish waters, freshwater bodies, and even moist terrestrial environments.

However, around 10% of the total diversity of lugworms is known to inhabit deep-sea environments.

These nematodes have a long body with rows of bristly parapods on the sides and a set of scissor-like jaws for feeding.

Many lugworm species undergo two distinct life stages: atokes and epitokes.

Pectine rice triclotti was first discovered during a dive in 2009 at a depth of approximately 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) using the submersible Alvin.

“We observed two lugworms swimming close to each other, about the length of a submarine, near the ocean floor,” said Bruce Stricklot, a researcher at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Several specimens of pectine rice triclotti were collected and analyzed for anatomical features and DNA to determine their evolutionary relationships within the Nereididae family.

According to Dr. Greg Rouse, a marine biologist at the University of California, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Pectine rice triclotti has unique characteristics compared to other lugworms.

Pectine rice triclotti, while possessing menacing-looking jaws, has unknown feeding habits, with the possibility of feeding on bacteria and other large food particles similar to other insects.

The body color of pectine rice triclotti in its natural habitat is likely rosy due to the darkness at 1,000 meters below the surface.

Further research is needed to explore the reproductive mechanisms and feeding behavior of this newly discovered deep-sea species.

The finding is detailed in the article: paper published in the online journal PLoS ONE.

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TF Villalobos Guerrero et al. 2024. A remarkable new species of deep-sea Nereidae (Annelidae: Nereidiidae) with gills. PLoS ONE 19(3): e0297961; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297961

Source: www.sci.news

Stunning marine life captured in underwater photography contest

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Gannet diving

Kat Chou/UPY 2024

Snow-white northern booby (Moras Bassanus) In this action-packed photo, a man dives for food in the icy waters off the coast of Scotland's Shetland Islands. The seabird is about the same size as an albatross, with a wingspan of up to 180 centimeters. They also have strong neck muscles and nostrils on the inside of their beaks that can close to prevent water from entering, making them uniquely adapted to high-speed diving.

This shot was one of the most spectacular in the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition, which celebrates the wonders of the marine world.here are some new scientistThese are carefully selected works from among the many entries.

Virgo Shipwreck near Recife, Brazil

Fabi Fregonesi/UPY 2024

In this photo by Fabiana Fregonesi, a school of fish swarms around a shipwreck, forming a shape that momentarily resembles a boat's sail. The ship, called Virgo, was intentionally sunk in 2017 to serve as a diving site near Recife, Brazil.

“At that moment, I knew the ship was ready to set sail and the journey into an unknown adventure began,” Fregonesi said in a statement.

gray whale eyes

Rafael Fernandez Caballero/UPY 2024

Eye of Eastern Gray Whale (Eschrichius Robtus) penetrates this mysterious shot taken from just above the surface of a saltwater lagoon in western Mexico. These marine giants are friendly creatures and often approach boats to show curiosity. Whales undertake the longest annual migration of any mammal, from their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic south along the west coast of North America to the warm lagoons of Baja California, Mexico.

Octopus ringed with pyrosomes

Dennis Corpus/UPY 2024

In contrast to the giant gray whales, this 10 centimeter wide creature was captured up close in the deep waters off the coast of the Philippines. The circular object in the image is a pyrosome. This is a colonial animal called a zooid, which is made up of hundreds or thousands of tiny individuals. Encased in a strange pyrosome, a tiny octopus peeks out.

diving cormorant

John Anderson/UPY 2024

This ravenous cormorant mistakes photographer John Anderson's camera for a fish and heads straight for it. This stunning image was taken on a bright summer afternoon in a kelp forest at a dive site in Monterey, California. Many cormorant species rely on these special marine ecosystems to survive. However, local kelp forests have declined by 80% over the past decade.

www.newscientist.com

The Potential of Marine Fungi: Harnessing Water Mushrooms to Combat Antibiotic Resistance and Pollution

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Microscopic marine fungi are abundant, with approximately 2000 species discovered to date.

Dayarathne MC et al. (2020)

Take a walk along the coast almost anywhere in the world and you'll see colorful patches of life growing on rocks, seawalls, and driftwood. These are lichens, a mutualistic partnership between fungi and algae. In the UK, this may include brightly colored orange marine lichens and yellowish coastal sunburst lichens, as well as many other Drabber species.

Lichens are typically thought of as terrestrial organisms, and in fact, the majority grow inland on rocks, tree trunks, leaves, and soil. However, coastal organisms are not creatures that accidentally washed ashore from land; they are marine-adapted species found only on or in close proximity to shores. Until recently, they were considered to be outliers in the almost entirely terrestrial fungal kingdom. No more. “Fungi are present in every marine ecosystem we observe,” says Michael Cunliffe of the University of Plymouth in the UK.

Research on marine fungi is currently rapidly increasing, but their exact role and importance in marine ecosystems remains a mystery. Nevertheless, there are high hopes that it could save us from the two great scourges of the 21st century: antibiotic resistance and plastic pollution.

What are marine fungi?

The existence of marine fungi has been known for many years. The earliest descriptions were published in his mid-19th century to his early 20th century, but these were largely ignored by mainstream mycologists. Most of the species discovered are found on the roots of seaweed that live near the coast.

Source: www.newscientist.com