Tag Archives: predatory

Paleontologist Identifies New Species of Predatory Dinosaur

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

of the team work Published in a magazine PLoS ONE.

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

Source: www.sci.news

Fossilized tracks of predatory and plant-eating dinosaurs found in the UK dating back to 166 million years ago

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Paleontologists discovered hundreds of different dinosaur footprints, including one left by a ferocious 9-meter (29.5-foot) predator megalosaurus Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England, by a herbivorous dinosaur up to twice its size.

Footprints of carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs at Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England. Image credit: University of Birmingham.

Professor Kirsty Edgar from the University of Birmingham said: “These footprints provide a special window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions and the tropical environments they lived in. ” he said.

Professor Edgar and colleagues have unearthed five vast dinosaur footprints dating back to the mid-Jurassic period, some 166 million years ago.

The longest continuous track was over 150 m (492 ft) long.

Four of the orbits were created by giant, long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs called sauropods. cetiosaurusa cousin of the famous brassica, which can grow up to 18 meters (59 ft) in length. diplodocus.

The fifth orbit was created by a carnivorous theropod dinosaur megalosaurusit was characterized by large three-toed feet with claws.

Parts of the site show intersecting carnivore and herbivore tracks, raising questions about whether and how the two were interacting.

“Scientists know about it and have studied it. megalosaurus Dr Emma Nicholls, a vertebrate paleontologist at Oxford University’s Natural History Museum, said: “They lived longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, but recent discoveries show that new evidence of these animals still exists and discoveries It proves that we are waiting for the future.”

Paleontologists worked together to discover around 200 footprints and used aerial drone photography to build a detailed 3D model of the site.

Professor Richard Butler, from the University of Birmingham, said: “There is much more we can learn from this site. It is an important part of our global heritage.”

“Our 3D model will allow researchers to continue their studies and make this fascinating part of our past accessible for generations to come.”

During the excavation, researchers took more than 20,000 images of the footprints.

These provide a wealth of material for further research and education, providing valuable information about how these dinosaurs walked, their speed, size, whether they interacted, and how they interacted. May provide insight.

Dr Duncan Murdoch, a researcher at Oxford University’s Natural History Museum, said: “The preservation is very detailed and you can see how the mud deformed as the dinosaur’s feet moved in and out.”

“Together with other fossils such as burrows, shells and plants, they can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment that the dinosaurs walked through.”

Source: www.sci.news

Newly found predatory crustacean within the depths of the Atacama Trench

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of atacama trench It stretches along the eastern South Pacific, dropping to depths of more than 8,000 meters off the coast of northern Chile.

dursibela kamanchakaholotype female. Image credit: Weston others., doi: 10.1080/14772000.2024.2416430.

The deepest 45% of the ocean (6,000-11,000 m), the Hadar Zone, contains high levels of undiscovered biodiversity.

Most geological formations are characterized by grooves formed in subduction zones between tectonic plates, which are formed by a series of unique external and internal factors.

The Atacama Trench, or Peru-Chile Trench, is one of the most geographically isolated landforms, located beneath eutrophic surface waters and characterized by high sediment loads.

This trench is known to host highly distinctive faunal assemblages driven by a combination of these isolating factors.

“The deep sea is a vast trove of new species for science, and each discovery deepens our ecological understanding of these remote ecosystems,” said researcher Johanna Weston of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and colleagues.

“One such island-like ecosystem is the Atacama Trench, where unique endemic communities exist at hadal depths (more than 6,000 meters).”

“Unlike other Hadal subduction ditch communities, it is a predatory (non-predatory) amphipod It has not been documented or collected from the Atacama Trench. ”

The newly discovered species dursibela kamanchakathe first large active predatory amphipod discovered at these extreme depths.

This crustacean, about 4 cm long, uses specialized raptor appendages to capture and prey on small amphipods in food-limited areas of the Atacama Trench.

“Most interestingly, the DNA and morphological data indicate that this species is also a new genus, highlighting the Atacama Trench as a unique hotspot,” Dr. Weston said. .

The discovery was made during the 2023 Integrated Deep Ocean Observing System (IDOOS) expedition. R/V Abate Molina.

4 dursibela kamanchaka Individuals were collected using a lander at a depth of 7,902 m. Landers are untethered platforms used to shuttle scientific equipment, such as baited traps, to the ocean floor and back.

“The collaborative and integrative approach of this research is confirmed.” dursibela kamanchaka This is a new species discovered and highlights the ongoing discovery of biodiversity in the Atacama Trench,” said Dr. Carolina González, a researcher at the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía.

“This discovery highlights the importance of continued deep-sea exploration, especially in the Chilean forecourt.”

“We expect more discoveries as we continue to study the Atacama Trench.”

This finding is reported in the following article: paper in a diary Systematics and biodiversity.

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Joanna New Jersey Weston others. 2024. A new large predator (family Lycoptidae, Eucilidae) hiding in the depths of the Atacama Trench. Systematics and biodiversity 22 (1): 2416430;doi: 10.1080/14772000.2024.2416430

Source: www.sci.news

New research indicates that caterpillars are able to detect predatory wasps through the emission of static electricity.

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Predatory wasps are electrically charged and emit electric fields, and their larvae respond to these fields with defensive behaviour, according to a new study from the University of Bristol.

Sam J. England and Daniel Robert discovered that some terrestrial animals can sense the electric fields emitted by electrostatically charged predators and use this sensation to mount defensive actions. These photos show the four animal species examined in the study: (A) A Cinnabarga larva (Tilia jacobae) Taking a defensive posture. (B) The larva of a rare transpiration moth (Terrorcrus Rekens) in a defensive coiled position. (C) The larva of the European peacock butterfly (Aglais), (D) a predatory common hornet in the middle of a defensive maneuver (HornetImage credit: Sam J. England & Daniel Robert, doi: 10.1073/pnas.2322674121.

“Many animals naturally build up static electricity on their bodies as they move around in their environment, and we knew that static electricity can push or pull on other charged objects,” said researcher Sam England, from the University of Bristol.

“In particular, we knew that insect hairs can be moved by electric fields emitted by electrostatically charged objects, in the same way that an electrically charged balloon can move hair on the head.”

“This got us thinking: What if prey animals like caterpillars could detect predators by sensing the electric fields emitted by the predators?”

“Could the static electricity of a predator like a wasp be enough to alert the caterpillar to the approach of the wasp, by pushing and pulling on the caterpillar's sensory hairs?”

Dr England and his colleague, Professor Daniel Robert, from the University of Bristol, measured how much static electricity the wasps and caterpillars had picked up by passing them through a static sensor.

The researchers then fed these charge values ​​into a computational model to mathematically predict how strong the electric field would be as the wasp approached the larvae on the plant.

When the caterpillars reacted defensively to these conditions, they were able to determine whether it was sensory hairs that were detecting the electricity by using a laser to detect tiny vibrations and measuring how much the hairs moved in response to electric fields of different frequencies.

The results are concerning because they show that the caterpillars are also sensitive to the frequencies of electric fields emitted by power lines and other electronic devices.

This means that humans may be filling the environment with electrical “noise” that interferes with animals' ability to detect predators.

Dr England continued: “We now feel it is extremely urgent to assess whether introducing a new type of sensory pollution – electrical noise – is interfering with the ability of caterpillars, and other animals, to detect predators.”

Almost all terrestrial animals seem to accumulate static electricity, so this static sense may be widespread, and the discovery that static electricity plays a role in these ecological interactions would open up an entirely new dimension to our understanding of how animals sense each other, and more generally, how and why animals evolve in certain ways.

“Our study suggests that terrestrial animals may be able to use static electricity as a predator-detection cue,” Dr England said.

“This is likely an ability that is particularly widespread in insects and small animals such as spiders and scorpions.”

“This study provides the first example of an animal detecting predators by sensing static electricity emitted by the predator.”

“This reveals a new dimension of predator-prey interactions on land, but also suggests a previously unnoticed way in which we may be negatively impacting wildlife by introducing sources of electrosensory pollution.”

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

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Sam J. England & Daniel Robert. 2024. Prey can detect predators via airborne electroreception. PNAS 121(23):e2322674121; doi:10.1073/pnas.2322674121

Source: www.sci.news

Eliminating Predatory Starfish to Safeguard Great Barrier Reef Coral

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A diver injects vinegar into crown-of-thorns starfish as part of a culling program.

CSIRO

A culling program has successfully protected key areas of the Great Barrier Reef from voracious coral-eating starfish. Scientists who analyzed the results say efforts need to be scaled up to further protect coral reefs.

Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) are persistent predators of almost all types of coral within Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Each starfish reaches a diameter of 1 meter and eats 10 square meters of coral reef each year.

Starfish live on coral reefs, and it is believed that increased nutrient input into reef waters due to agriculture and other human factors is increasing their numbers and exacerbating coral destruction. Between 1985 and 2012, they accounted for 40 percent of coral losses in the region.

When starfish erupted across the reef from 2012 to 2022, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority conducted a massive culling program. A team of divers injects the starfish with a single shot of vinegar or cow bile, which kills the starfish and prevents it from releasing its larvae.

Roger Beeden The Park Service and colleagues found that in areas where timely removals were carried out, outbreaks were limited and coral cover recovered and increased by up to 44%. Where no culling occurred, coral losses were severe. The study also confirmed that by preventing outbreaks on strategically important coral reefs, the larvae do not spread to other reefs on ocean currents, reducing further outbreaks.

To date, the program has focused on 500 of the marine park’s 3,000 reefs scattered throughout the park, which have significant value to the tourism industry or are home to starfish. were chosen because they are known to be important for the spread of

“The results we found in this study are the result of using integrated pest management. [the starfish] Just like managing plague locusts and other pest species, it needs to be done at the right time and on the right reef,” says Beeden.

But researchers recommend expanding the program from the current fleet of five to seven ships to 10 to 15 ships. “At any given time, about a third to a half of his 500 cases are involved in the current outbreak,” Beeden said.

Terry Hughes Researchers at James Cook University in Townsville do not agree that culling programs are worthwhile. “It is becoming increasingly clear that attempts to protect Great Barrier Reef corals by culling crown-of-thorns starfish on a few reefs are just a drop in the ocean,” he says.

Mr Hughes said geographical differences in starfish numbers and coral abundance – which the study attributed to levels of culling in different parts of the Great Barrier Reef – could be explained by which areas had suffered from recent cyclones and coral mass destruction. Events they say could be explained by who is most affected by large-scale bleaching. Professor Beeden acknowledges that it is difficult to separate these factors from the effects of selection, but he says: “Our results are strengthened and are not confounded by the fact that the increase in coral cover in the Townsville region was achieved despite two large-scale bleaching events in 2020 and 2022. do not have” “

Instead, Hughes says the priority should be to tackle global warming, which is accelerating the frequency and intensity of coral bleaching. “Each time there is a bleaching event, the Australian government announces additional funding to eliminate starfish from some coral reefs, shifting the focus away from addressing the causes of these outbreaks and reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Remarkable Decline of Predatory Birds in Africa Puts them at Risk of Extinction

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Bateleur decreased by 87% in 3 generations

Andre Botha

Dozens of African raptor species are in sharp decline, and many are now considered at risk of extinction, according to an analysis of data from across Africa.

Populations of nearly all 42 species studied have declined due to the spread of agriculture, pesticide use, poisoning by poachers, and infrastructure such as power lines that are deadly to the birds.

These include the secretary bird (sagittarius the serpent), decreased by 85 percent over three generations. Marshall Eagles (Polemaetus bellicosus), reduced by 90% on the same basis.Teratopius Exaudatus), decreased by 87 percent.

Secretary birds decline by 85% in 3 generations

Darcy Ogada

A study has found that some birds that were previously thought not to be in danger of extinction are now on the verge of extinction. For example, the African goshawk (Aquila Spirogaster) is now listed as 'least concern' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is estimated to have declined by 91 percent.

Some have called for the list of such species to be moved higher in the conservation rankings to reflect this change. “We definitely expect this paper to put pressure on the rest of the papers to pull it up.” [of the surveyed species now facing threats]sooner or later,” say the study authors. Darcy Ogada from the Peregrine Fund, a US-based organization.

Data was collected from more than 53,000 sightings of 42 species on approximately 100,000 kilometers of surveyed roads in Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Cameroon, Botswana and Kenya between 1969 and 2020.

Additional data came from the latest South African Bird Atlas project, a citizen science-led survey.

The researchers found that population declines for 42 species were more than twice as severe in unprotected areas than in protected areas, and that well-managed national parks and reserves have long-term implications for bird species. shown to be important to aid survival.

Further research is needed to understand the fate of these birds. “There is an urgent need to increase research that estimates raptor population trends based on loss of habitat for endangered species, such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands, or modeling loss and mismanagement of protected areas.” Mr. Ogata says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Meta threatened to delete sensitive data if underage users claim to have been exposed to predatory individuals, according to Attorney General.

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New court filings say Meta has stolen sensitive data from test accounts mentioned in a New Mexico bombshell lawsuit that alleges underage Facebook and Instagram users are exposed to child predators. “He threatened to delete it,” he said.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a Monday filing that Meta had “deactivated” several test accounts used by law enforcement to investigate the popular app.

According to the filing, Torrez will restrain Meta from deleting “any information related to the accounts referenced in the complaint or any information related to any account on which Meta has taken action based on the information in the complaint.” They are seeking a court order.

“The state filed this motion seeking an order requiring Meta to comply with its data retention obligations under New Mexico law,” the filing states.

The attorneys also cited New Mexico court precedent against destroying relevant evidence.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said Meta had “deactivated” several test accounts used by law enforcement to investigate Instagram and Facebook. AP

Amazing lawsuit filed last weekAccording to , the test accounts used AI-generated photos that allegedly depicted children under the age of 14, and contained adult-oriented sexual content and content, including “genital photos and videos” and six offers. He said he was bombarded with unpleasant messages from alleged child predators. Pay to appear in porn videos.

Meta subsequently disabled these accounts. This allegedly hindered the ongoing investigation by denying authorities access to critical information “including the usernames of accounts with which investigators interacted, as well as search history and other information about those accounts.” That’s what it means.

It is unclear whether Meta has shut down the Facebook and Instagram accounts of the alleged child offenders.

Meta has been accused by the New Mexico AG’s office of failing to protect underage users. AFP (via Getty Images)

“Of course, we store data in accordance with our legal obligations,” a Meta spokesperson said.

Torres’ office did not comment on Monday’s filing.

In New Mexico, a test account called “Issa Bee” claiming to be a 13-year-old girl living in Albuquerque had more than 6,700 followers on Facebook, most of whom were “males between the ages of 18 and 40.” ” he claimed. -age.

The account has received several disturbing sexual offers, including one from an adult user who allegedly “openly promised $5,000 a week to be his ‘sugar baby’.” was.

According to the state, Meta notified the company on December 7, the day after the lawsuit was filed, that it would disable the test account.

The social media giant said: “Even though the account in question had been operating for several months without any action by Meta, and law enforcement had previously reported unlawful and unlawful content to Meta through reporting channels. Despite this, the company took this action, the filing states.

When the investigator tried to log in, he received a message warning that his account had been “deactivated.”

The message states that you have 30 days to request a review before your account is “permanently disabled.”

State attorneys contacted them the same day and asked for confirmation that Meta would “preserve all data” associated with the account, according to the filing.

Meta’s lawyers reportedly responded that the company “takes reasonable steps to identify the accounts referred to in the complaint and preserve relevant data and information regarding those accounts once identified.”

The state said Meta did not respond to requests for details about what data from accounts it deemed “relevant” and what data it would not keep.

“Given Meta’s refusal to preserve ‘all data’ related to the accounts mentioned in the complaint, a court order is required to preserve this important evidence for trial.” is stated in the submitted documents.

In October, a group of 33 state agencies sued Meta for targeting young users. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been named as a defendant in a New Mexico lawsuit.

State officials allege that Mr. Zuckerberg’s product design decisions played a key role in putting underage users at risk.

Meta has not yet responded specifically to the lawsuit’s allegations.

“We use advanced technology, employ child safety experts, report content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and communicate information and tools with other companies and law enforcement agencies, including state attorneys general. to help root out looters,” Mehta said. Statement to the Wall Street Journal after the lawsuit was filed.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been named as a defendant in a New Mexico lawsuit. AP

The New Mexico lawsuit is separate from a larger lawsuit filed by 33 state attorneys general in October.

The states allege that Meta intentionally made the app addictive to trap young users and collected personal data from underage users in violation of federal law.

Mr Mehta has denied any wrongdoing.

Source: nypost.com