New Species of Herrerasaurus Discovered in India

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A newly discovered species fills the temporal gap between South American Herrerasaurus dinosaurs and their younger relatives in North America.

Reconstructing the life of Maleriraptor Kuttyi with the Unayasaurid Sauropodomorph Jaklapallisaurus asymmetric, both from the Norian Upper Maleri Formation in southern central India. Image credit: Márcio L. Castro.

Maleriraptor Kuttyi existed in present-day India during the Norian period of the Triassic, approximately 220 million years ago.

These ancient reptiles are part of the Herrerasauria, a small to medium-sized group of carnivorous animals that appeared in the fossil record around 228 million years ago and went extinct by the end of the Triassic period.

“Herrerasaurus is a representative of the earliest radiation of predatory dinosaurs,” stated Dr. Martin Ezcala, a paleontologist from the University of Birmingham and the Concejo Nacional de Investigative Sciences, alongside his museum colleagues.

“Previously, their records were predominantly limited to four nominal species found in the Norian Formation in the central area of Karnia in northwestern Argentina and the lower section of the Candelaria sequence in southern Brazil (dated 233-229 million years ago).”

“These species are bipedal, with a total length ranging from 1.2 to 6 m (3.9 to 19.7 feet).”

In particular, Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis stands out as the most abundant dinosaur in the lower third of the stratigraphic sequence of the Ischigualasto Formation within the region.

“The possibility of Herrerasaurus existing outside South America was first suggested in the mid-1990s with the discovery of Chindesaurus bryansmalli, from the Norian levels of the mid-upper Sinru formation in North America.”

Fossil materials of Maleriraptor Kuttyi were collected over 40 years ago from the Upper Maleri Formation in the Pramhitagodabari Valley, located about 1 km south of Anamam village in southern India.

“The Upper Maleri Formation where Maleriraptor Kuttyi was found is particularly significant in illuminating the early evolution of dinosaurs, as it retains a collection of dinosaurs that are slightly younger than the earliest radiation in Karnia,” remarked the paleontologist.

According to the research team, Maleriraptor Kuttyi provides the first evidence that Herrerasaurus also survived in Gondwana, related to the turnover of tetrapods in the early Norian period (227-220 million years ago), coinciding with the global extinction of a group of herbivorous alxaurmorph reptiles known as Linchaurus.

“The discovery of Maleriraptor Kuttyi indicates that Herrerasaurus persisted at least during the early Norians after the extinction event that wiped out Rinchaurus.”

“The presence of Herrerasaurus in the early Norians of India might be climatically influenced, as it suggests that India experienced different average annual temperatures and precipitation compared to North America’s Norian regions.”

“A more comparable paleoclimate between India and Southern North America might explain the presence of fauna components that are uncommon or absent in southern South America, such as phytosaurs, Herrerasaurus, Protopycnosaurus, and Marellisaurus alocotosaurus.”

“The deposition of the Upper Maleri Formation occurred shortly after the extinction event affecting Linchaurus, which is well-documented in the lower Maleri Formation.”

“The faunistic similarity between the Upper Maleri Formation and the upper section of the Brazilian Santa Maria Supersequence suggests they share a similar age, dating back to approximately 225 million years, which includes the presence of Unayasaurids.”

Thus, Maleriraptor Kuttyi helps bridge the early Norian gaps in the Herrerasaurus record.

The team’s paper has been published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

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Martín D. Ezcurra et al. 2025. A new Herrerasaurus dinosaur from the Upper Triassic Upper Marelli Formation in southern India. R. Soc. Open SCI 12(5): 250081; doi: 10.1098/rsos.250081

Source: www.sci.news

Paleontologists Discover First Fossils of Extant Tropical Tree Species

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Fossils of the giant rainforest tree Dryobalanops rappa have been found in Brunei (officially known as Brunei Darussalam), an island nation in Borneo. This discovery marks the first fossil evidence of a living, endangered tropical tree species, opening up new avenues for fossil research and underscoring the importance of Southeast Asian heritage and its preservation.

Leaf architecture from living (C, D, FH) compared to fossils (A, B, E) of Dryobalanops. Image credit: Wang et al, doi: 10.1002/ajb2.70036.

Locally referred to as Kapur Paya, Dryobalanops rappa is a tall tree species that exists today but is threatened with extinction in Borneo’s carbon-rich peatlands, including Brunei.

Fossil leaves estimated to be 2 million years old were uncovered in Kampong Rugh within the Chuton district of Brunei.

“This discovery provides a unique glimpse into the ancient history of Asian tropical wet forests,” noted researchers from Pennsylvania.

“We now have fossil evidence that this remarkable tree species has been integral to Borneo’s forests for millions of years, emphasizing its ecological significance and the urgency to protect its remaining habitats.”

According to Professor Peter Wilf of Pennsylvania, “Fossil records of wet tropical forests in Asia have been surprisingly limited compared to those in the Amazon and Africa.”

Paleontologists identified these fossils by examining the microscopic features of the preserved leaf cuticles, down to the cellular level of Dryobalanops rappa.

“Our findings underscore that these forests are not only thriving with biodiversity today but are also home to iconic tree species that have existed for millions of years,” Wang stated.

“Conservation efforts should not only focus on current species but also aim to preserve the ecological legacy that has endured over millennia.”

“The dominant tree family in Asian rainforests, the bi-pterocarps, plays a crucial role in carbon storage and biodiversity,” the researchers highlighted.

“However, these trees face increasing threats from deforestation and habitat loss.”

“By unveiling the deep historical roots of these trees, this discovery offers a fresh perspective on conservation strategies,” Wang added.

“These findings add a new dimension to conservation, as we strive to protect not only modern species but also ancient survivors that are pivotal to our ecosystem,” Wang concluded.

“This historical context makes both the endangered tree species and their habitats even more critical for conservation efforts.”

“Our research demonstrates how fossil evidence can inform conservation strategies for endangered species and ecosystems, grounded in their historical importance,” Professor Wilf remarked.

“Understanding the history of tropical forests is vital for conservation, especially as numerous key species face rapid decline.” Professor Wilf emphasized.

“Our discovery lays an essential historical foundation for the conservation of keystone trees in tropical Asia, particularly the rapidly diminishing bi-ptery species.”

Details of these findings are documented in a paper published in the American Journal of Botany.

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Teng-Xiang Wang et al. Fossils of the endemic giant dual-pterocarp species open a historic portal into Borneo’s disappearing rainforest. American Journal of Botany, published online on May 8, 2025. doi:10.1002/ajb2.70036

Source: www.sci.news

CICADA: A Newly Discovered Fossil Song Species from Germany

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Cicadidae family is among the most diverse insect families today. However, the fossil record of Cicadidae is notably sparse compared to the number of extant species. The recently discovered species, Eoplatypleura Messelensis, is not only one of the earliest Cicadidae fossils found on the Eurasian continent, but it also represents the oldest record of the subfamily CICADINAE globally.

Reconstruction of Eoplatypleura Messelensis. Image credit: Dinghua Yang.

Eoplatypleura Messelensis thrived in Europe approximately 47 million years ago during the Eocene period.

“The Cicada family is one of the most diverse groups of insects today,” states Dr. Sonja Wedmann, a paleontologist at the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt/Main.

“Despite this, the fossil record is quite limited compared to the many modern species.”

“The Platypleurini group within this family is particularly noteworthy, containing numerous species with wide distributions and unique traits.”

“For the first time, we have described a fossil from this Cicada group.”

Two fossil specimens of Eoplatypleura Messelensis were found at Messelpit, an open-cast oil shale mine located 10 km northeast of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany.

“The new Messel fossil showcases a compact head with a subtle composite eye and a broad forewing featuring a distinctly curved tip,” notes Dr. Hui Jang, a paleontologist at the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut and a doctoral researcher at the University of Maine and Nanjing University.

“The fossils are female, but their classification implies that males in this group may produce loud mating calls.”

Eoplatypleura Messelensis, an adult female. Image credit: Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt/Main.

These ancient insects measure 2.65 cm in body length and have a wingspan of 6.82 cm, notable for their expansive, intricately patterned wings.

“These patterns resemble those of contemporary Cicada species in the Platypleurini group, which inhabit wooded and scrub areas,” explains Dr. Jang.

“Considering the subtropical vegetation of the Messel region approximately 47 million years ago, these color patterns may have served important ecological functions, such as camouflage.”

Eoplatypleura Messelensis is one of the oldest known representatives of today’s true cicadas in Eurasia and signifies the earliest records of the subfamily Cicadinae worldwide,” Dr. Wedmann remarks.

“This is also the Cicada that has been first described from the Messel Pit.”

“This discovery not only enhances our understanding of the fauna at Messelpit but also fills a crucial gap in the history of Eocene cicadas.”

“In the future, Eoplatypleura Messelensis may serve as a reference point for significant time series in genetic research regarding the evolutionary history of these insects, providing new insights into the origins and dispersal of Platypleurini.”

The team’s paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports on April 29, 2025.

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H. Jiang et al. 2025. Sound from the Eocene: The first singing Cicada from Messelpit, Germany. Sci Rep 15, 12826; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-94099-7

Source: www.sci.news

No “Undo” Button for Extinct Species

Posted on May 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Elimination presents a distinctly modern fantasy. It’s a captivating notion that, with merely a pipette or a computer, we can reverse the damage that continues to afflict the natural world. The first creature featured by Colossal is a forlorn wolf, an entity primarily born from imagination, fitting seamlessly into the realm of fantasy. Colossal’s advisory team included notable figures like George R.R. Martin, author of “Game of Thrones,” along with the HBO series adaptation, with promotional images depicting these creatures perched on the show’s Iron Throne. Many observers were taken aback upon learning that these forlorn wolves once roamed the earth as real animals, rather than being products of advanced genetic engineering.

For over 200,000 years, these forlorn wolves thrived across America, carving out a rich ecological niche; their remains have been found from Alaska to Peru. Over 4,000 wolves have been excavated from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles alone. They were among the large mammal hunters who roamed America before humans arrived and are believed to have significantly impacted the continent’s ecology. Eventually, they vanished along with their prey, becoming early victims of the ongoing crisis of human-induced extinction.

Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi were edited and cultivated into embryos, originating from grey wolf cells implanted in the uterus of a surrogate dog. This genetic modification involved 20 alterations across 14 genes (a minor segment of the 19,000 genes that constitute the Grey Wolf genome), guided by a comparison between the Grey Wolf genome and DNA extracted from ancient tooth and bone fragments. While grey wolves and forlorn wolves share superficial skeletal similarities, scientists have determined that they are fundamentally distinct, with their evolutionary paths diverging millions of years ago. Beth Shapiro, the company’s chief science officer, argues that subscribing to the “concept of morphological species” suffices to categorize them as forlorn wolves if defined by appearance. “The notion of species is merely a human classification system,” she stated to New Scientist.

Many individuals voiced their disagreement. Referring to a puppy as a forlorn wolf is akin to suggesting that by donning a hat, a short Frenchman could resurrect Napoleon. Experts in canids from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which monitors biodiversity and maintains a list of endangered species, responded to Colossal’s announcement with their own statement, asserting that “the three animals created by Colossal are not forlorn wolves.” They noted that there’s no real way to ascertain if these wolves accurately represent animals that have been absent for 12,000 years. Furthermore, reducing them to mere physicality overlooks the ecology, behavior, and culture of the original forlorn wolves.

Even if Colossal could replicate the Kree-Wolf genome, it would vastly differ from reinstating a world where such an extraordinary creature could thrive. It also fails to encompass the various ways these beings once influenced their environment. Shapiro refers to Colossal’s research as “functional detension,” a term borrowed from the rewilding movement. This ties into the ecological concept of “functional extinction.” These animals technically exist but, with their drastically reduced numbers, they can no longer play a role in eating, pollinating, or impacting their ecosystems meaningfully. This term has gained urgency in light of the 73% decline in global wildlife populations from 1970 to 2020.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Paleontologists Unveil a Newly Discovered Species of Loveddonton Dinosaur

Posted on May 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Discovered Species of Electrically Conductive Bacteria

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Electrically conductive cable bacteria are a group of multicellular prokaryotes enabling electron transfer across centimeter-scale distances in both marine and freshwater sediments. Biologists have successfully isolated and characterized new species of cable bacteria from the Mudflat at the intertidal estuary mouth in Yaquina Bay, Oregon, USA.

Microscopic investigation of cable bacteria Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis, yb6 strain. Image credit: Hiral et al., doi: 10.1128/aem.02502-24.

“Cable bacteria are filamentous prokaryotes that engage in electrosulfide oxidation in the upper layers of aquatic sediments,” states Dr. Chen Lee, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University, along with her team.

“Their electrogenetic metabolism features a unique division among cells in multicellular filaments, facilitating the migration of electrons from deeper sediment layers to the surface, where sulfide oxidation occurs.

“This long-range electron transport is enabled by a specialized network of conductive fibers, which run in parallel ridges from one end of the filament to the other.”

“These fibers connect through conductive contoured structures at the cell interfaces, ensuring redundancy within the electrical network.”

The new species is referred to as Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis, isolated from the mudflat of Yaquina Bay, Oregon.

“This new species represents a bridge and appears to be an early branch of the Ca. Electrothrix clades, suggesting it offers new insights into the evolution and functionality of these bacteria across various environments,” remarks Dr. Li.

“It differentiates itself from other known cable bacterial species through its significant metabolic potential and distinctive structural traits, including surface ridges that are three times more pronounced than those in other species.

“These bacteria have the capacity to transport electrons for environmental cleanup, potentially aiding in the removal of harmful substances from sediments.”

“Moreover, the highly conductive nickel proteins they produce can lead to advancements in bioelectronics.”

Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis derives its name from the Jacona people, whose ancestral lands span the Bay of Yaquina.

“Following the tribe’s recognition of its historical connection to the land, it has honored these ecologically significant bacteria and acknowledged their ongoing contributions to sustainability and ecological wisdom,” said Dr. Li.

The team’s study was published this week in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

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Anwar Hyalal et al. A new cable bacterial species with distinct morphology and genomic potential. Appl Environ Microbiol Published online on April 22, 2025. doi:10.1128/aem.02502-24

Source: www.sci.news

Two New Species of Neotropical Crocodile Discovered

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Neotropical crocodiles inhabit a broad geographical area, with populations found in coastal, inland, and island settings. Recent research has uncovered significant genetic diversity within this group and identified two new island species: one residing on Cozumel Island and the other on the Bancochinchoro atoll off the Yucatan Peninsula.

Adult American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico. Image credit: Tomás Castelazo.

Crocodiles made their way from Africa to the neotropics approximately 5 million years ago, evolving into four recognized living species today.

American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) thrives in various environments, including brackish and freshwater areas on mainlands, islands, and coral and diatomaceous atolls along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of the neotropics, coexisting with three other species.

Meanwhile, Morelet’s Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) is classified as a species of least concern, while American crocodiles are listed as vulnerable, along with the other two species, which are considered critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

“Biodiversity is vanishing more quickly than we can comprehend what we are losing,” stated Professor Hans Larson, a researcher at McGill University.

“Many crocodile species are already endangered, and rapid coastal development poses a threat to nearly all populations.”

“Our research seeks to uncover the true diversity of alligators on these remote islands.”

Professor Larson and his team conducted a genetic analysis of the crocodile populations on Cozumel and Banco Chinchoro.

By comparing these genetic sequences to those from crocodiles in the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico, they uncovered significant genetic differentiation, concluding that these populations are not simply variations of the American crocodile.

“These findings were entirely surprising,” remarked Dr. José Avila-Cervantes of McGill University.

“We believed Crocodylus acutus was a single species extending from Baja California to Venezuela and the Caribbean.”

“Our study is the first to thoroughly investigate the genome and anatomical differences of these animals.”

The two newly identified species are found in small, isolated populations, each consisting of fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals.

Both populations seem stable, yet are at risk due to their small numbers and habitat limitations.

“The rapid decline in biodiversity can only be mitigated if we identify which species are most at risk,” Professor Larson noted.

“Recognizing these crocodiles as separate species emphasizes the need to safeguard their habitats.”

“Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation measures in Cozumel and Banco Chinchoro will be crucial for their survival.”

The team’s paper was published in the journal Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution.

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Jose Avila Acervantes et al. 2025. New island species elucidate neotropical crocodile species complexes. Molecular phylogeny and evolution 207:108341; doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108341

Source: www.sci.news

Newly-discovered dirt species found preserved in Dominican amber

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Stained Ant (genus) Basiceros) Although widely distributed, they rarely encounter members of neotropical ecosystems. Their rarity is attributed to their cryptic lifestyle habits. These ants are common names because they have special hairs that help to adhere soil and garbage particles to their skin. Paleontologists have just discovered the first fossils of this genus group, Basiceros enanain Miocene Dominican Amber.

Illustration of the volume rendering and measurement process taken using volume rendering Basiceros enana. Image credit: Fiorentino et al. , doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2171.

Measurement of 5.13 mm length, Basiceros enana Caribbean species are the smallest in the entire lineage, as they are considerably smaller than modern relatives, which can reach approximately 9 mm in length.

“The fossil adult worker ants provide direct evidence that the sacred ant group of ants once lived on Caribbean islands. They then result in local extinction during the Miocene era (230,550,000 years ago)” Candidate New Jersey Institute of Technology.

“Dirty is a rare find in the wild. Finding something today is exciting considering how hidden they are, but being caught in amber and it’s like finding a diamond.”

“This fossil is different from all its modern relatives and changes the evolutionary history of Basiceros. ”

Until now, Basiceros The ants were only known in the neo-rainforest, which stretched from Costa Rica to southern Brazil.

The genus contains a total of nine living species today, but the unexpected fossil discovery raises new questions about how the ANT group reached its current habitat.

“In many cases, lineages seem like a rather simple biogeographic history. If you find a group of animals that lived in South America until today’s Costa Rica, there’s no reason to expect their early relatives to live in the Caribbean.”

“Such fossils highlight how the distribution of living species can believe in the complex evolutionary history of life on our planet.”

Using advanced imaging and 3D reconstruction techniques, researchers studied Basiceros enana detail.

They compared the physical properties of the specimen with the physical properties of all known modern stain ant species and conducted molecular dating analyses to track their evolutionary lineage.

“The use of Micro-CT scans allowed us to actually amplify this study and capture features that we could virtually not see what we didn’t,” Fiorentino says.

“Amber stores the entire organism in three dimensions, allowing you to extract a large amount of data even from small ants,” added Dr. Baden.

“Our results show that the embodied these ants was relatively rapid,” Fiorentino said.

“They have almost doubled over the course of 20 million years.”

“As previous hypotheses suggested that these ants were large and shrinking over time to their ancestors, this really shows how important fossils are to understand the evolution of the lineage.”

but, Basiceros enana It also suggests some of the same adaptations that were already introduced at least 16 million years ago for environmental predators and prey (a ability known as Crypsis).

These characteristics include two layers of special hair (or bristles) that allow the body to attach soil and leaf waste particles. Longer upright brush bristles and shorter, shorter, pressed retaining hairs that trap particles in the deformation or cuticle.

“What this shows is that being dead and hiding is rewarded,” Fiorentino said.

“The discovery of such unique fossils does not guarantee that the presence of these properties will necessarily act this way, but discovering such unique fossils helps us understand how long we have been using this strategy.”

Fossil ants also have other distinctive morphological properties like today’s dirt, including predatory features such as the elevated Perodal spine, trapezoidal-like head structure, and the mandible with 12 triangular teeth.

Despite these specialized adaptations, ancient Caribbean stains eventually disappeared from the region amid major Miocene ecological changes.

“The existence of Basiceros In Amber, Dominican, ancient land bridges suggest that these ants may have provided a route to travel from the mainland into the Caribbean,” Dr. Baden said.

“This fossil is part of a big puzzle that will help us understand why some groups of living things are extinct and others stick out for millions of years.”

“Their extinction could be accompanied by the loss of available niches and interspecies competition,” Fioretino said.

“These ants are predators, and the overall trend seen from the Caribbean is the loss of predator ants’ diversity.”

“More than a third of the Ants have been extinct on modern Dominican Republic Island since the formation of Dominican amber.”

“Understanding what has driven this pattern of local extinction is important to mitigate modern human-driven extinctions and protect biodiversity.”

Team’s paper It was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society b.

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Gianpiero Fiorentino et al. 2025. Increased fossil-based patterns of body size and local extinction Basiceros Stain ants (membrane: gumicidae). Proc. R. Soc. b 292 (2045): 20242171; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2171

Source: www.sci.news

Newly discovered sauropod dinosaur species found in Argentina

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: www.sci.news

Tools used by multiple species of wasps

Posted on April 12, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Although diverse animal sequences have evolved the ability to use tools (primates, parrots, octopus, crabs, hornets, etc.), the factors leading to evolutionary use that lead to tools are less understood. Fish can provide insight into these factors by comparing differences between tool-used and non-used species. The use of anvils is an example of the use of tools by fish. The fish holds the densely packed prey in its mouth, attacking it on an anvil to open it. Through the community science programmes we call Using fish toolsMarine biologists have collected 16 new observations of five anvil use in a group of WRASSES (colorful coral reef fish) called the New World Harikoeles. These new observations provide the first evidence of the use of ANVIL Halichoeres brasiliensis, Halichoeres poeyi and Halicoeres radiatusand first video evidence of anvil use Halichoeres Garnotti and Halichoeres bivittatus.

Tool-used genus within the family Labridae. Image credit: Taliel Adam et al. , doi: 10.1007/s00338-025-02633-w.

The use of tools was once considered human characteristics and a fundamental role in human evolution.

Evidence suggests that the use of tools is widespread among animals.

Animals use tools when using external objects to accomplish a particular task.

The tool allows animals to accomplish tasks and do them easier. The use of tools appears to be extremely beneficial for animals, and raises the question of why all animals do not use the tools.

Previous research into the evolution of tool use has been limited by morphology and ecology, which contrasts with the difficulty of finding closely related populations or species of varying degrees of use of tools.

Although it has not been well studied, the use of tools in fish may be an exception. Fish are the most distinctive vertebrate groups with high ecological and morphological diversity, even among closely related species.

The use of anvils is an example of tool use in fish. With anvil, the fish (i) grabs hard shell prey, such as sea urchins and bivalves, in their mouths, (ii) swims on hard surfaces such as rocks and coral heads, and (iii) opens the fierce surface quickly and repeatedly.

The use of anvils is described in 26 fish species, and all WRASSEs belonging to the family Labridae.

“The use of tools is usually related to humans, but this behavior proves that fish are far more clever than trust,” says Dr. Juliet Taliel Adam, a researcher at Macquarie University.

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

Through the use of fish tools in the Citizen Science Initiative, Dr. Taliel Adam and her colleagues gathered 16 new observations in five species. Harikoeles WRASSES.

The findings present the first evidence of three anvil use and two other two video evidence, extending the known anvil use range into the Western Atlantic.

“With these newly discovered tool-used species, it becomes clear that many species of Huaras use tools they didn’t know before,” Dr. Taliel Adam said.

“This study adds to the study of fish intelligence,” added Callum Brown, a senior author at Macquarie University.

“They demonstrate the use of flexible and dexterous tools and are expanding their understanding of the evolution of tool use in the animal kingdom.”

Team’s result It will be displayed in the journal Coral reef.

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J. Taliel Adam et al. Using tools by the New World Harikoeles WRASSES. Coral reefPublished online on March 26th, 2025. doi:10.1007/s00338-025-02633-w

Source: www.sci.news

Tericinosaurus, a peculiar new species, is known to have only two fingers

Posted on April 12, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists excavated the fossilized remains of a new and rare Terazinosaurus dinosaur with atypical hands in Mongolia.

Reconstructing the life of Duonychus tsogtbaatari. Image credit: Masato Hattori.

Duonychus tsogtbaatari He lived in what is now Mongolia during the late Cretaceous period, between 1995 and 90 million years ago.

The new species belongs to Teresino Sauriaa group of herbivorous or omnivorous theropod dinosaurs that lived in Asia and North America during the Cretaceous period.

“Therizinosauria is a clade of a rare herbivorous or omnivorous theropod dinosaur known from Cretaceous sediments in Asia and North America,” wrote paleontologist Yoshitsugu Kobayashi Yosh and his colleagues at the Hokkaido University Spine Museum on paper.

“This clade is most recognizable in the triductyl (three fingers) hand with three large clawless non-guals, as illustrated by its large body. Tericinosaurus From the latest Cretaceous period in Mongolia. ”

“Like a more primitive member of the clade Falkarius, Beipiaosaurusand JianChangosaurus There were relatively small Unguals compared to the more derived forms Ellianaurus, Nothronychusand in particular Tericinosaurus. ”

“As herbivorous or omnivorous theropods with long necks and small leaf-shaped teeth, their unusual evolution of hands may have played an important role in the feeding ecology of this clade.”

According to paleontologists, Duonychus tsogtbaatari is a medium sized terazinosaurus and estimates weight is about 260 kg.

This dinosaur fossil is Bien Series Formation Gobi Desert, Ömnögovi Province in southeastern Mongolia.

“The specimen was a six posterior joint vertebrae, six distinct sacral vertebrae with sacrum ribs, frontline coccyx, several dorsal ribs, partial left shoulder blade and coracoid, coracoid, umeri, ulnae, radi, rightan, right, right, pubest, right, right, right, right, right, right, right, right, right, the proximal end of left ischemia,” the researchers wrote.

Reconstructed skeletons and selected elements Duonychus tsogtbaatari. Image credits: Kobayashi et al. , doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112141.

Duonychus tsogtbaatari Unlike other Tericinosaurus in that their hands only have two fingers, rather than three fingers.

“As for other Therizinosaurus, this new species is unique in having a definitive didigital hand,” the scientist wrote.

“The specimen also preserves the complete three-dimensional sheath, representing the keratinous claws, among non-Pallavian theropods.”

Well-preserved specimens Duonychus tsogtbaatari It provides insight into the functional aspects of that kind.

“Saved keratin nails based on abdominal curvature and nail attack angle Duonychus tsogtbaatari “The author writes, reveals features within the scope of scansorial (climbing), tenasorial (grappling).”

“Of these functions, herbivorous or omnivorous diet and body size Duonychus tsogtbaatariLike other terazinosaurus, it suggests the use of amps that helps grasp branches, such as chameleons and some mammals (e.g., Southern Tamandua, Alitant), or to grip, raise, or manipulate bait (e.g., bird birds).

“Even though there are only two functional numbers, Duonychus tsogtbaatari Given the extreme flexion at Ungual joints and the strong curvature of the keratin nails, it may have been an effective Glasper, a feature unknown in other terazinosaurus. ”

“Based on the shape and dimensions of the keratin nail dimensions, Duonychus tsogtbaatari They could have grabbed branches or herds of vegetation up to about 10 cm in diameter. TericinosaurusI’ll suggest that Duonychus tsogtbaatari Foraging behaviors may have been more selective. ”

“Manus Duonychus tsogtbaatariits powerful flexion and claw curvature further supports that the derived Therizinosaurus manus is likely to be provided in a rake or hook-and-pull function to bring vegetation into the mouth during feeding, as previously suggested. ”

“The claws usually have a dominant function for hook-and-pull foraging in the most derived Theresinosaurus, but these structures may also be used for other purposes such as territory, defense, courtship, and play.”

“In addition to the unexpected morphological diversity of the Manus of Telesinosaurus (i.e., director), Duonychus tsogtbaatari It reveals greater species richness of Tericinosaurus in the ecosystem of the Baiancily Formation than previously recognized,” they concluded.

Team’s paper It was published in the journal on March 25th Iscience.

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Yoshitug Kobayashi et al. Didictilteresinosaurus with keratinous nails preserved since the late Cretaceous period in the late Mongolia. IsciencePublished online on March 25th, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.112141

Source: www.sci.news

Fossils of Pleistocene-age Denisova Homo Species Discovered in Taiwan

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

According to an analysis of ancient proteins, the 190,000-10,000 fossil mandibles found in the Taiwanese Pengu Channel in the 2000s belonged to male Denisovan. The findings provide direct evidence that Denisovan occupied a diverse climate, from the cold Siberian mountains to the warm, humid subtropical latitudes of Taiwan.

The concept of artist Peng Denisovan walking under the bright sun during the Pleistocene of Taiwan. Image credit: Cheng-Han Sun.

“Recent discoveries and reanalysis of fossil specimens, along with the application of molecular technology and new dating methods, revealed unexpected diversity among the archaic Hymonin of mid- to late Pleistocene East Asia before the arrival of modern humans.”

“Identifying Denisovan is an important example of such advances.”

“Denisovan was recognized as a group of humankinds that differ from Neanderthals and modern humans by analyzing fragmentary bone and teeth DNA excavated from Denisova Caves in the Altai Mountains of Siberia.”

“Their nuclear genome shows that Denisovan formed its own clade as a sister group of Neanderthals, forming a calculated genome difference between the two clades that occurred more than 400,000 years ago.”

“Genetic evidence also shows the flow of genes between Denisovans, modern people, and Neanderthals.”

“Studies of incorporated denisova DNA in modern human populations suggest the existence of multiple genomically distinct denisova populations, once distributed across Asia in the eastern part of the continent and perhaps part of the islands Southeast Asia.”

“However, outside the Denisova caves, direct molecular evidence of Denisovan has been found only from a single site on the Tibetan Plateau.”

“In Baishiya Karst Cave in Xiahe, the mandible and rib bone are identified as denisovan based on protein sequence.”

With label Penguo 1New Denisovan fossils were collected in the 2000s through drage activities related to commercial fishing from the seabed (60-120 m) about 25 km from Taiwan’s west coast.

The area is located 4,000 km southeast of Denisova’s Caves and 2,000 km southeast of Baishayakarst Caves.

It was part of the Asian mainland during the low sea level episodes of Pleistocene.

“Penghu 1 is under 450,000 years old, with the most likely age range from 10,000 to 70,000 or 130,000 to 190,000 years old, depending on the content of trace elements, biostratigraphic evidence, and past changes in sea level,” the researchers said.

“Direct uranium dating of Penghu 1 failed due to the effects of uranium from seawater.”

Using ancient proteomic analysis, Dr. Tsutaya and his colleagues extracted proteins from bone and dental enamel from the fossils, recovering 4,241 amino acid residues.

These variants are rare in modern human populations, but are more common in areas associated with the genetic temptation of Denisovan.

Furthermore, morphological analysis of Penghu 1 reveals a robust jaw structure with large molars and distinctive root structures. This is a feature consistent with the properties found in Tibetan Denisovan specimens, suggesting that these properties are lineage and possibly gender characteristics.

“It is clear that two contrasting groups of Hymonin – the small-tooth Neanderthal with tall but flexible mandibles and the low but robust mandible (as a population or as a male character) coexist during the late mid- and early Pleistocene Eurasia,” the scientists said.

“The latter form is rare or absent in neonatal fossils from Africa and Eurasia, and is therefore not a primitive retention that is likely developed or enhanced, as it was probably developed or enhanced in Deniso Banklade, after genetic separation from Neanderthals more than 400,000 years ago.”

“Recent discoveries of the island from Southeast Asia (Homo Flores Ensis and Homo Lusonensis) and South AfricaHomona Lady) highlights the diverse evolution of the genus Homoin contrast to the strain Homo sapiens. ”

“The Dentgrat morphology of Dennisovan can be interpreted as another such distinct evolution that took place in our genus.”

result It was published in the journal today Science.

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Takumi Tsutaya et al. 2025. Mandible Denisovan from Pleistocene Taiwan. Science 388 (6743): 176-180; doi: 10.1126/science.ads3888

Source: www.sci.news

In Kachin amber, we discovered preserved odd parasitic wasp species

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

in paper Published in the journal BMC Biologypaleontologists described an extinct species of the parasite hornet, found in the cretbone system in the Kachin region of Myanmar. It has been named Sirenobethylus charybdisthis species may have used abdomen like Venus’ flight laps to capture and immobilize prey.

Sirenobethylus charybdis. Scale bar – 0.5 mm in (a), 0.3 mm in (b), 0.2 mm in (c). Image credits: Woo et al. , doi: 10.1186/s12915-025-02190-2.

“Insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet, with more than a million described species, and perhaps fewer than several times listed,” said Taipingao, a paleontologist at a regular university in the capital.

“Recent estimates suggest a total of about 5.5 million species.”

“Their highly adaptable exoskeletons have enabled them to radiate and colonize a wide range of habitats and develop highly efficient and innovative solutions to the various challenges posed by their surroundings.”

“Among other mechanisms, carnivorous insects have evolved a variety of prey capture mechanisms.”

“However, insect predation strategies in the fossil record are still poorly understood.”

In the new study, the author examined 16 adult women Sirenobethylus charybdis Found on Kachin Amber.

The new species lived in the mid-Cretaceous period, about 99 million years ago.

Form of Sirenobethylus charybdis It indicates that the insects were parasites – insects that cause larvae to live as parasites and ultimately kill their hosts.

“Modern parasitic wasps from Superfamily Chrysidoidea include cuckoo and vetirido hornets,” the researchers said.

“but, Sirenobethylus charybdis The specimen has a unique venous pattern in the hind wing suggesting that the species belongs within its own family, Sirenovetiridae. ”

Scientists also discovered that this species is likely to be Koinobion. This is a parasitic wasp that allows the host to continue to grow during the host’s diet.

“A hornet specimen has an abdominal device made up of three flaps, and its decay forms a paddle-shaped structure with dozens of hair-like hairs that are visually reminiscent of the Venus flight lap plant,” they explained.

“Abdominal device Sirenobethylus charybdis Unlike that of known insects, it may have served as a mechanism to temporarily suppress the host during egg sales. ”

“The wasps were unable to pursue their prey over long distances, so potential hosts would have opened their devices and waited to activate the capture response.”

“Easy grasping devices are permitted Sirenobethylus charybdis Target highly mobile prey such as small, winged or jumping insects. ”

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Q. Woo et al. 2025. Cretaceous flight lap? Remarkable abdominal modifications in fossil hornets. BMC Biol 23, 81; doi:10.1186/s12915-025-02190-2

Source: www.sci.news

New Miyashita species found in Thailand by Paleontologists

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Amazing new genera and species of Gnathosaurine Pterosaur Garudapterus buffetauti It has been identified from the upper jaw of fossils found in eastern Thailand.

Garudapterus buffetauti. Image credits: Dinothaithai / Manitkoon et al. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106135.

“Pterosaulia is the order of extinct flying reptiles that once lived among dinosaurs during the Mesozoic era, with fossil records from the late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period.”

“Traditionally, Pterosaurs had two major groups.”

“The first branches generally have a long tail and a long fifth toe (traditionally known as the vacuum subsystem Rhamphorhynchoidea, now abolished).”

“The second one is Pterodactyloidea a large group with a high tail shrinking, relatively long metacarpal, short or non-existent fifth toe. ”

Garudapterus buffetauti It belongs to Gnathosaurinae a subfamily of pterodas within the Pterodactyloidea group.

The new species lived in what is now Thailand 130 million years ago, 130 million years ago, during the early Cretaceous period.

Fossilized sites of flying reptiles were found in the Pra Prong area in the southern region of the Phanom Dong Lac Mountains in Sa Keo province, Thailand.

Holotype of Garudapterus buffetauti – The first pterocortic skull material in Thailand – consists of a partial stud and five incomplete teeth from one individual.

“The anterior of the platoon is flattened dorsoventral and laterally expanded (spoon-shaped) shows an affinity for Gunasosaurnae,” the paleontologist said.

“The alveolar boundaries are severely scalloped and are like a collar, and the surface of the palate shows a pair of sine wave grooves.”

“These features have strong similarities to Gunasosaurin from the late Jurassic period. Gnathosaurus suburatus, Tacuadactylus luciae and Lucegnatos Almadrava. ”

Team phylogenetic analysis shows this Garudapterus buffetauti It is closely related to these Gnathosaurines.

“Even so, Thai gunasosaurin is unique and recognized as a new species for displaying the kite-shaped podium expansion,” the researchers said.

“This new specimen provides important information about Pterosaurs, including updated data to help us better understand diversity and distribution across Southeast Asia.”

Team’s paper It was published in the journal this month Cretaceous Research.

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Shitamanitokoon et al. The first ganaurin (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) in the early Cretaceous period in eastern Thailand. Cretaceous Research Published online on March 28th, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106135

Source: www.sci.news

New Species of Ordovician Arthropods Discovered by Paleontologists

Posted on March 29, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists at the University of Leicester use fossilized specimens discovered in South Africa 20 years ago to describe new genus and mysterious multi-class arthropod species.

keurbos susanae. Image credit: Saragabot/University of Leicester.

It was named scientifically keurbos susanae And after the discoverer’s mother, the ancient arthropods lived during the Ordovician about 444 million years ago.

“Su is a flipped, legsless, headless wonder,” said Professor Sarah Gabott, a research author at the University of Leicester.

“Amazingly, her inner side is a mineralized time capsule. Muscles, muscles, tendons, and even courage are all preserved in unimaginable details.”

“Even so, her durable shell, legs and head are missing. She’s lost to collapse over 440 million years ago.”

“We are now convinced that she is a primitive marine arthropod, but her exact evolutionary relationship remains frustrating and elusive.”

“Today, about 85% of the animals on Earth are arthropods, including shrimp, lobsters, spiders, mites, mites, worms and centipedes.”

“They have excellent fossil records dating back to half a billion years, but while fossil remains are usually external features, “Su” is totally against it, as it is her inside, which is fossilized. ”

Fossil specimen of keurbos susanae Found in SOOM shale in South Africa.

“These layers lay on the seabed more than 440 million years ago when catastrophic glaciers wiped out about 85% of Earth’s species.

“The ocean basin, where ‘Su’ swimming was somehow protected from the worst frozen state and attractive animal communities, including ‘Su’, appears to have been evacuated there. ”

“The conditions of the sediment that “Su” came to rest were extremely toxic. ”

“There was no oxygen, but worse hydrogen sulfide was dissolved in the water.”

Researchers suspect that strange chemical alchemy was working to create fossils and their unusual inner preservation.

“However, the unique preservation of ‘Su’ makes it difficult to compare her to other fossils of the era, and how she fits into the evolutionary tree of life remains a mystery,” Professor Gabott pointed out.

“The small roadside quarry where I found fossils 25 years ago at the start of my academic career, almost disappeared, so it’s unlikely that we’ll find any other specimens.”

“The fossils are very difficult to interpret and they wanted to find another specimen with their heads and feet intact.”

study It will be published in the journal Paleontology.

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Sarah Gabott. 2025. A new euarthropope from Soom Shale (Ordovician) Konservat-Lagerstätte in South Africa. Paleontologyin printing; doi: 10.1002/spp2.70004

Source: www.sci.news

New species of Miyashita found in China: Darwinopterus camposi

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A new species of the turmeric gopterid pterosaur Darwinopterus It is identified from the almost complete skeleton found in West Riaon, China.

Impressions of the artist Darwinopterus camposi. Image credits: Maurilio Oliveira / Institute of Vertebrate Apleontology and Apeoanthrogology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The newly discovered species lived in what is now China in the mid-Jurassic period, about 160 million years ago.

This flying reptile is a member of the genus Darwinopterus internal Turmericthe important Pterosaur group of Yanliao Biota.

It has been named Darwinopterus camposithe species estimated wingspan was 75 cm (30 inches).

“China has been a hot spot for Pterosaur’s research for quite some time, presenting new discoveries that have encouraged the study of these extinct flight reptiles,” said Dr. Xin Cheng, a paleontologist at Jilling University and Dr. Xin Cheng, a paleontologist at the Nanjing Institute at Geology and Palaeontology.

“New areas have been reported, and many species have been discovered in the West over the past decade, some showing close connections with faunas from other continents.”

“One of the most interesting findings is a specimen called the Biota of Yangliao. Although it was distributed in about the same region as Jehoru’s biota, it is considered to be the middle to late Jurassic of age.”

“Perhaps the most prominent pterosaur in Yangliao’s biota is the Turmeric Gopteridae, which shows a combination of features of non-ocular oxygen and ocular pterosaurs.”

“So far, three genera and five species have been listed. wukongopterus lii, Darwinopterus modularis, Darwinopterus linglongtaensis, Darwinopterus robustodensand Kunpengopterus sinensisan unknown turmeric gopteride specimen. ”

“All these specimens were collected from the center of the Jurassic Tierjisian Formation in Lingonta, Zianchang Province, from the top to the top.”

“Potential members of this clade have been discovered in Europe, except for materials from China.”

Holotype of Darwinopterus camposi. Image credits: Chen et al. , doi: 10.1590/0001-3765202520240707.

Holotype specimen of Darwinopterus camposi It was found in a grey grey shale slab from the same tierage.

“The specimen consists of almost complete skeletons with a skull and mandible, including several displaced cervical vertebrae, posterior vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, anterior tail, anterior caudal, partial thoracic girdle and all the forelimbs from both sides, paleontologists said.

According to the author, Darwinopterus camposi Provides new information about the Wukongopteridae group.

” Among the main features that differ from other turmeric gopterides are the summit of the mushisari, which exhibits a completely distinct straight dorsal edge and a smooth outer surface, teeth counts, and short fourth wing phalanx compared to the first,” they said.

“Holotype skull Darwinopterus camposi Some cranial elements show that they are fused only at very late stages during ontogeny. ”

“To better understand the ontogeny of the species that make up this interesting pterosaur clade, we need to take a closer look at the fusion of more specimens and bones.”

a paper About discoveries of Darwinopterus camposi Published in the journal Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências.

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X.Chen et al. 2025. New species of Darwinopterus (Wukongopteridae, Pterosauria) New information from the West from the West provides some new information regarding the ontogeny of this clade. Acad Bras Cienc 97:e20240707; doi:10.1590/0001-3765202520240707

Source: www.sci.news

New Shark Species from the Carboniferous Identified by Paleontologists

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have identified a new genus and species of obruchevodid petalodont (petal teeth) sharks from multiple teeth excavated in Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, USA.

Provisional reconstruction of Clavusodens McGinnisi (Modified later) netsepoye) Farming leaf-like crustaceans on the seabed of a crinoid forest from a Joppa member of STE. Genevieve layer with ctenacanth Glikmanius Careforum Overhead swimming. Image credit: Benji Paysnoe/NPS illustration.

The newly identified shark species is believed to have swum in the Carboniferous oceans 340 million years ago.

It belongs to the family obruchevodidae, in the order of extinct cartilage fish called petalodontiformes.

Scientifically named Clavusodens McGinnisi, the shark measured only 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) in length.

“Clavusodens McGinnisi,” said Dr. John Paul Hodnett and his fellow Ph.D., “was named the ‘chipmunk shark’ due to its small size and flea-like front teeth, with crushing teeth on its back. Members of the Obruchevodidae were 8-10 cm long.”

“Their small size allowed them to avoid larger predators as they foraged crustaceans, insects, and small brachiopods found along the seabed.”

Small teeth of Clavusodens McGinnisi were found throughout the STE. Genevieve Formation Rock Formation in Mammoth Cave National Park.

The rocks are made up of limestone and shale, forming at the bottom of a warm sea reef.

The majority of fossilized sharks can be found in rock formations made from invertebrate hash beds, skeletal blasts, corals, gastropods, and brachiopod shells.

No shark fossils were known from STE prior to discoveries made in the Mammoth Cave over the past few years.

To date, more than 70 species of sharks and other fish have been identified from this geological formation, including four new species.

“The discovery of the Mammoth Caves continues to reveal a wealth of new information about ancient shark species,” added Principal Berkle Limble, Mammoth Caves National Park.

“Researchers and volunteers have collected samples from major mammoth cave systems and small isolated caves throughout the park, providing new data on previously known ancient sharks, revealing some species that are perfect for science.”

Discovery of Clavusodens McGinnisi was reported in a paper in Journal of Paleontology.

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John Paul M. Hodnett et al. Petalodons (Condrissy, Petalodontifolioum, obruchevodidae) from Joppa members in central Mississippi (Vissian). Genevieve Formation in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA Journal of PaleontologyPublished online on February 24th, 2025. doi: 10.1017/jpa.2024.40

Source: www.sci.news

Montana excavation reveals new species of Azdaltid Miyashita

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

New genus and species of azhdarchid pterosaur named Infernodrakon Hastacollis It was discovered by a team of paleontologists from Idaho State University, Queen Mary University in London and the University of Wisconsin.

Speculative repair of Infernodrakon Hastacollis. Image credit: Jun-Hyeok Jang/CC By-SA 4.0.

The newly described palace now resided in North America during the late Cretaceous Epoch period, about 67 million years ago.

It has been named Infernodrakon Hastacollisspecies had wingspans of 3-4 m (10-13 feet).

It was a species of Azdaltid, a pterosaur family known primarily from the late Cretaceous period.

Azhdarchids is one of the most successful pterosaur groups and contains several species with wing bones between 9-12 m (29.5-39.4 feet).

Their huge size was guided as to whether they were not flying, but a species called the Azdaltid species Quetzalcoatlus Northropi It is often considered one of the biggest flying animals in history.

“A significant number of Azhdarchid Pterosaurus fossils have been recovered from the Maastrichtian sediments in North America,” says Idaho State University paleontologist. Henry Thomas And his colleagues wrote in their papers.

“Historically, most of these specimens have been mentioned. Quetzalcoatlus Based on a preliminary understanding of the genus. ”

“More research Quetzalcoatlus Other azdaltides also increase understanding of clade anatomy and diversity, and ensure a reevaluation of specimens that previously mentioned this genus. ”

Single neck vertebrae Infernodrakon Hastacollis It was discovered in 2002 Hell Creek Formation In Montana, USA.

The specimen was originally assigned Quetzalcoatlus Genus.

Using laser scanning techniques, Thomas and his co-authors reconstructed the specimen morphology, revealing both unique and unique character combinations.

“We therefore assign this specimen to a new genus and species of medium-sized azdaltide. Infernodrakon HastacollisThey said.

“The phylogenetic analysis will be restored Infernodrakon Hastacollis It's more closely related Aramburg guinea twist Quetzalcoatlus. ”

Team's paper It was published in Journal of VertebratePaleontology.

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Henry N. Thomas et al. Infernodrakon Hastacollis Gen. et sp. November, a new Azdaltid pterosaur from the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, and plant diversity in the Mastrichtian in North America. Journal of VertebratePaleontologyreleased online on February 28th. 2025; doi:10.1080/02724634.2024.2442476

Source: www.sci.news

A new species of bird discovered in Indonesia

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A mysterious new species of Honey Eater myzomela It is explained by an international team of ornithologists from Malaysia, India, the UK and the US.

Babar Mizomera (Myzomela babarensis). Image credit: James A. Eaton.

myzomela It is the largest and most geographically extensive genus of the Honey Eater family. Merifagidae.

It currently contains more than 40 scientifically recognized species, first described in 1827 by naturalists Nicholas Vigers and Thomas Horsefield.

myzomela From Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands, from Micronesia and Samoa.

The genus is a colorful, nectar-eating bird. They are important elements of the island’s ecosystem and often constitute some of the most abundant canopy birds in eastern Indonesia.

In the new study, Birdlife international ornithologist Alex Berryman and colleagues made a taxonomic revision of three populations called The Species. Banda Mizomera (Myzomela boiei)).

“We investigated the taxonomy Myzomela boiei“A colorful, sexually dimorphic honey eater distributed in two subspecies in three island groups in the Banda Sea in southern Marc,” the researchers explained.

“Myzomela Boiei Boiei Occurs in the Banda Islands Myzomela boiei Annabella occurs in Babar (and possibly its satellites) and in Taninbaru Islands (at least Yamdena and Serral, and perhaps the whole). ”

“With the addition of Damard, Leti Islands, Kisar and other small islands, these islands form the “Banda Sea Island,” a region with relatively low bird diversity but high endemic as expected. ”

The author examined 28 museum specimens and 21 sound recordings Myzomela boieiand 152 regeneration experiments were also performed.

The specimens were provided by the New York State Museum of Natural History and the Natural History Museum of Tring.

Sound recordings have been verified xeno-canto.org and Macaulay Libraryand by contacting sound recorders who visited the relevant island.

“compared to Myzomela Boiei Annabellae, Myzomela Boiei Boiei C. There are 10% longer wings, bills and Tulsas, a wider black chest band, lower duskier rear, and a very diverse song. In the regeneration experiment, Myzomela Boiei Boiei It has been proven to not respond to recordings of Myzomela Boiei AnnabellaeThe scientist said.

“But the song Myzomela boiei The Annabella of Taninbar and Babar are also very diverse, with the population of both islands not responding to songs from other islands. ”

“Babar birds are also slightly larger Myzomela Boiei Annabellae With Taninbar (has a 10% longer tail), there may be more scar colour on the back. ”

It has been named Myzomela babarensis (The generic name is Babar Mizomera), the newly described species is probably endemic to Babar, which contains five small satellites on the island.

“Myzomela boiei Currently listed as At least concern On the IUCN Red List,” the researcher said.

“Proposed department Myzomela boiei It may be superficially suggest that each of the three range-limited species may increase the risk of extinction. All populations are highly adaptable to habitat degradation and are common within their respective ranges. ”

“Myzomela babarensis As it occurs in all types of wooded habitats, including “degraded farmland,” its population is likely to be little affected by the ongoing forest degradation of Babar. ”

“We propose that Myzomela boiei, Myzomela annabellae and Myzomela babarensis It's best to consider At least concern. ”

Team's paper It was published in Brief news from the British Ornithologists' Club.

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Alex J. Berryman et al. 2025. Taxonomic revision of Banda Mizomera Myzomela boiei (S. Muller 1843) includes an explanation of a new species of Babar Island, Indonesia. Brief news from the British Ornithologists' Club 145(1):35-48; doi:10.25226/bboc.v145i1.2025.a4

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of a New Titanosaurus Species in Argentina

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists working in northern Patagonia, Argentina, have excavated fossils of a small Rinconsaurus titanosaurus, a previously unknown species.

Chadititan Kalboy. Image credit: Gabriel Rio.

The newly discovered dinosaurs roamed the globe during the late Cretaceous period, about 78 million years ago.

It has been named Chadititan Kalboythe ancient species belong to the Argentine Titanosaurus group Rinconsora.

“Rinconsen Auria was first established in 2007 with the aim of incorporating the genus. Rinconsaurus and Muirensaur“The “Bernardino Rivadavia” of Argentino de Ciencias Natures and the “Felix de Azara” of Fandacion de Historia Natural, said Dr. Federico Agnolin, a fellow paleontologist.

“This clade contains a tiny Titanosaurus, elongated, lightly constructed – less than 11 m in length.

According to researchers, Chadititan Kalboy It was a very small, Rinconsaurus Titanosaurus constructed of gracyl.

“Compared to the length of the femur Bonatitanestimated body length Chadititan It could be estimated to be about 7 m in length,” they said.

“The new Titanosaurus shows that the Rinconsau factions are characterized by a different physique than other Titanosaurus.

Fossilized bones from several individuals Chadititan Kalboy Fossils found in new areas of Analecto Layer Near General Roca City in the Rio Negro province of Argentina.

“The new area is located within Marine Family Farm, close to the Pasocordoba area, 10km southwest of the city of Loca,” the scientist said.

“The area consists of scattered bad lands and low hills separating the eastern edge of the lowlands of “Salinity Moreno.” ”

“They produced numerous fossil specimens despite their relatively small outcrop size.”

“It's worth mentioning that there is no single osteoderm from Chadititan Kalboy It was discovered in this area,” they added.

“We can assume that these Titanosaurs are absent because no osteoderms were found in connection with other Rinconsenserurs.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mwmz78wy08

In addition to Chadititan Kalboythe authors unearthed new assemblages of invertebrates and vertebrate fossils.

The collection includes gulfish, lungfish, turtles, crocodile parents, dinosaurs, snails and beetles deposited in small ponds surrounded by dunes and palm trees.

The team revealed the first fossil record of Neocyclotidae (a family of tropical land snails) and the first incontroversial record of Sabrinid genus Reptinariaa kind of small tropical air-breathing land snail.

“In addition to ” Chadititan KalboyFossils identifying mollusks, fish and turtles enrich our understanding of this ancient ecosystem and expand our knowledge of life in Patagonia near the end of the dinosaur era.”

“Just looking at the presence or absence of species in the area can suggest what makes the environment unique.”

“In this case, the rarity of turtle-rich turtles and crocodiles compared to regions in Europe and North America during this period further emphasizes how Patagonia's ecosystems differ when the continent drifted during the Cretaceous period.”

“One of the most prominent aspects of the discovered fauna is its overwhelming freshwater turtle abundance, accounting for more than 90% of the recovered fossils.”

“This high proportion is very rare. Turtles rarely make up more than 50% of fauna, like in joint locales in North America and Europe,” added Dr. Agnolin.

Team's paper Published in the journal Revista Del Museo Argentino Ciencias Naturales.

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Federico L. Agnoline et al. 2024. A description of a new fossil region from the Anagre Formation (Late Cretaceous, Campanian) from northern Patagonia, a new Titanosaurus. Pastor Argentina cienc. nut 26(2): 217-259; doi: 10.22179/revmacn.26.885

Source: www.sci.news

New research uncovers Asian Hornets preying on nearly 1,500 invertebrate species

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Biologist of University of Exeter We conducted the first large-scale study on Asian Hornet diets (Vespa Velutina), exploiting deep sequences to characterize the intestinal content of larvae in Jersey, France, Spain and the UK. European honeybees were the most common species found in the Hornets, but their diet is much broader. The analysis detected 1,449 invertebrate species, increasing the prey abundance of samples from south latitude.

Asian Hornet (Vespa Velutina). Image credit: Gilles San Martin/CC BY-SA 2.0.

The invasive species of Asian hornets are now found in much of Western Europe.

The nests are destroyed every year in mainland Britain as authorities try to lock out the seeds.

“The University of Exeter has been working hard to understand,” said Dr. Sifreya Pedersen, a researcher at the University of Exeter.

“Diets vary strongly across seasons and regions, indicating that they are highly flexible predators.”

“Most insect populations are reduced due to factors such as habitat destruction and chemical contamination.”

“The expanded areas where the Hornets live in Asia pose an extra threat.”

In this study, Dr. Pedersen and colleagues used a method called deep sequencing to identify the visceral prey species of over 1,500 Asian hornet larvae eating foods offered by adult hornets.

Of the top 50 invertebrate prey species identified, 43 are known to visit flowers. Among these were pollinators of three major European crops.

“Insects play an important role in enabling ecosystems to function, including pollination, decomposition and pest control,” Dr. Pedersen said.

“Our research provides important additional evidence of the threat posed as the Asian Hornets spread across Europe,” said Dr. Peter Kennedy of the University of Exeter.

The researchers identified 1,449 operational taxonomic units in the internal organs of hornet larvae.

More than half could be identified as a specific species, but the rest could not. Therefore, the exact number of species contained in the sample is not certain.

“We have provided the most comprehensive view of the European Asian Hornet diet to date, highlighting the highly broad and flexible potential prey,” the scientist said.

“The dietary composition shows that it differs across geographical regions and throughout the Hornets' active season, indicating high adaptability to new ecosystems. It drives both the invasive success of Asian hornets and the risks they pose to a wide range of native invertebrate fauna.”

“The growing prevalence of dietary bees in Europe has agreed to previous research and reports from beekeepers, supporting concerns about the risks of aquaculture.”

“Our results found that Asian hornets exhibit high predation frequencies on wild pollinators and recyclers, revealing further potential ecosystem-level pressures, implying a threat to the diversity of pollinators and recyclers and the resulting ecosystem services.”

study Published in the journal The science of the total environment.

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Siffreya Pedersen et al. The broad ecological threat of invasive hornets has been revealed through a deep sequencing approach. The science of the total environmentPublished online on March 4th, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178978

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists discover a mysterious new butterfly species in North America

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Entomologists describe a new species of the Tiger swallow (genus genus) Papirio) From eastern North America.

Papilio Sorstian: (a) male, holotype and (b) female, arotype. Scale bar – 10 mm. Image credit: Derotler et al. , doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1228.142202.

Papirio It is a large genus of swallowtail butterflies within the family Papillonidae.

The only representative of the Papillionini family, the genus contains about 200 scientifically recognized species.

Newly identified members of the genus Papilio Sorstianbelongs to North America Papilio Glaucus Species group.

” Papilio Glaucus The group is a model research system for insect evolutionary biology. ” Dr. B. Christian Schmidt Arknides, nematodes and colleagues wrote on paper from the Canadian National Insect Collection.

“Recognition and boundaries” Papilio Glaucus and Papilio canadensis Three decades of study in speciation, host plant adaptation, hybridization, and molecular evolution have been conducted as a pair of classical sibling species. ”

“Recently, we have discovered a third species. Papilio appalachiansisprovided unprecedented insights into speciation by hybridization. ”

” Papilio Glaucus The group is primarily part of the clades of the subgenos of the New World clades on a large scale Pterourussometimes recognized as a distinct genus,” they added.

“The various within the group demonstrate adaptation to a variety of thermal niches that are warmly characterized (Papilio Glaucus), intermediate (Papilio appalachiansis), and cool (Papilio canadensis) Climate region; all have a wide larval host plant diet and are not limited by its distribution. ”

Papilio Sorstian It is closely related to these three species, but unlike all of the series of characters.

“The most important differences are evident in developmental biology and biology,” the researchers wrote.

“Papilio Sorstian Compared to May for all other species, it is unique during long delays in appearance after adult escape, starting from late June to early July to late June to early July. ”

Papilio Sorstian'The geographical range is Papilio Glaucus The southern end of Papilio canadensis.

“Core Range Papilio Sorstian It includes eastern and south-central Ontario, northern and central New York, and adjacent Vermont, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.²The scientist wrote in his paper.

“In New York Papilio Sorstian He lives in most of the states except the Southeast and New York City metropolitan areas. ”

“In Canada, Papilio Sorstian It extends westward from Montreal, Quebec, to the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario and south to the Niagara region. ”

“The western limits seem to be on the east coast of Lake Huron. We haven’t seen any verifiable specimens of the west there.”

“Current evidence is consistent with the possibility Papilio Sorstian There is a recombinant evolutionary origin of Papilio appalachiansisThey added.

“However, the evolutionary origin of this kind, Papilio Glaucus-complex, I still can’t answer. ”

“Recognizing and defining the taxonomic identity of this unique evolutionary lineage is our hope to provide a staging point on the fertile grounds for future research.”

paper Published in the journal Zookeys.

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CJ Derotler et al. 2025. A mysterious new species of the tiger swallow (Capidae, Papillonidae) in eastern North America. Zookeys 1228:69-97; doi:10.3897/zookeys.1228.142202

Source: www.sci.news

A newly discovered frog species found in Australia

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Biologists discovered a new species of the tree frog genus and redescribed another Litrea Living on the Australian continent.

Swirling wooden frog (Litrea Reverata). Image credit: Stephen Mahony.

Litrea The large genus of tree frogs native to Australia, including the Bismarck Islands, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, the Lesser Sunda Islands and the Moluccan Islands.

This genus contains approximately 100 species and belongs to the monomorphic subfamily liriinae within the family Perodridae family.

A newly discovered species named Eungella Whirring Frog (Litoria eungellensis) and lives only 20km² The cool Montertaine temperature forests in Queensland's Enguera Mountains are above 900 m above sea level.

This frog is separated by several hundred km from its nearest relative.Litrea Kolbeni).

These two species survive only in isolated, cool, humid, high altitude environments, with few opportunities to shift their habitat as temperatures rise.

“The 'adapt or corruption' mantra does not apply equally to a species,” said Professor Michael Mahony of Newcastle University.

“The frogs are literally running out of space. They are nowhere to be left because the climate model is isolated on the summit to predict warm, dry conditions.”

Dr. Luke Price, a researcher at the Museum of South Australia, said:

“Wet tree frogs only occur in wet forest habitats, and therefore occupy the wet forest habitats interconnected along a large divisional range from northeastern New South Wales to Tablelands in Atherton. I'm sure he was. Current experience.”

“We're not talking about climate warming related to human influences or greenhouse effects, we're talking about much older changes related to continental movements and global meteorological distribution.”

Researchers have also revealed this Litoria eungellensis and Litrea KolbeniDespite its similar appearance, the bright mustard yellowish body with red spots hidden behind the legs – has evolved separately for at least 1.5 million years.

The subtle differences in mating calls and genetic analysis confirmed their distinct evolutionary pathways.

“Litoria eungellensis Currently, it holds the enviable title of one of Australia's top 10 frogs.

“Species that are limited to such small areas face immeasurable risks, from wildfires to pollution events. One catastrophic event has managed to wipe them out completely.”

“The observation that species are confined to isolated patches of high-altitude cool rainforest habitat suggests that they are already living at biological limits, and due to climate warming, species are in the form of a sinus. There's no place to enlarge or move around.”

“A similar situation occurs Litrea Kolbenibut it is slightly larger. ”

Both species meet the United Nations for conservation standards for listed as Critical at riskmainly due to their limited distribution and the increased threat of climate change.

“These frogs already live at biological limits,” Professor Mahoney said.

“Their survival depends on active conservation efforts, as there is no place to move.”

On the other hand, it's more broad Litrea Reverata It appears to be less threatened when seen in New South Wales and southeast Queensland.

But the obvious stability of Litrea Reverata His assessment of no formal surveillance of this kind and not threatened may be more so because it is based solely on observations from interested biologists and community scientists,” said Dr. Price. I did.

The findings highlight the urgent need to understand and mitigate the impact of climate change on vulnerable species.

“We need to realize that not all species can adapt quickly enough,” Professor Mahoney said.

“Target conservation and habitat protection are essential to prevent these unique frogs from disappearing forever.”

Survey results It will be displayed in the journal Zootaxa.

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Luke C. Price et al. 2025. Systematic evaluation of molecular genetic, morphological and acoustic variation reveals three species Litrea Reverata Complexes (Anal: Perodridae). Zootaxa 5584(3):301-338; doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5584.3.1

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers uncover a previously unknown species of Sauropodmorph dinosaur

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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

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

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

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

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

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

The specimen is Lufeng Layer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: www.sci.news

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

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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

Discovery of new bird fossils from China sheds light on early evolution of avian species

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have excavated fossilized remains of two Jurassic bird species in the area of Zenge County, Fujian Province, southeastern China. These 149 million-year-old fossils exhibit early appearances of highly derived bird characteristics, and together with fossils of another bird from the same region, they have the early origins of the birds and the early Jurassic. It suggests bird radiation.

Baminornis Zhenghensis. Image credit: Chuang Zhao.

“Birds are the most diverse group of terrestrial vertebrates,” says Professor Min Wang. Paleontology and Paleontology of Vertebrates The Chinese Academy of Sciences and colleagues said in a statement.

“Specific macroevolutionary studies suggest that their early diversification dates back to the Jurassic period.”

“However, the earliest evolutionary history of birds has long been obscure by highly fragmented fossil records. Archeopteryx Being the only widely accepted Jurassic bird. ”

“nevertheless Archeopteryx It was closely similar, especially due to its distinctive long reptile tail, as it had feathered wings. This is in stark contrast to the short-tailed morphology of modern and Cretaceous birds. ”

“Recent research questions about Aviaran's status. Archeopteryx classifies it as a deinonychosaurian dinosaur, a sister group of birds. ”

“This raises the question of whether there is a clear record of Jurassic birds.”

In their new study, Professor Wang and co-authors discovered and investigated two early bird fossils that were part of the so-called Zhenghe Biota.

One of these birds named Baminornis Zhenghensis the earliest known short-tailed bird.

“Baminornis Zhenghensis The end of the short tail in a complex bone called Pygostyle is a characteristic that can also be observed in living birds,” the paleontologist said.

“Previously, the oldest record of short-tailed birds was from the early Cretaceous period.”

“Baminornis Zhenghensis It is the only Jurassic and the oldest short-tailed bird ever discovered, pushing back the appearance of this derivative bird's distinctive features for nearly 20 million years. ”

According to the team, Baminornis Zhenghensis It also represents one of the oldest known birds.

“A step back and reconsidering the uncertainty of the phylogenetics Archeopteryx we don’t doubt it Baminornis Zhenghensis said Dr. Zhonghe Zhou of the Institute for Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleontology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The second unnamed bird is represented by a single fossilized fullcula (wishbone).

“Our results support this introduction to Furcula ornithuromorpha a diverse group of Cretaceous birds,” the researchers said.

Team's work It was published in the journal today Nature.

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R. Chen et al. 2025. The first short-tailed bird from the late late Jurassic period in China. Nature 638, 441-448; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08410-z

Source: www.sci.news

New Research Reveals 82% of Paradise Bird Species are Biofluorescent

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paradise birds are families of small to medium-sized forest birds found in the New Guinea region. With its elaborate and colorful feathers, these birds are one of the most beautiful creatures on the planet. A new study found that ornithologists at the American Museum of Natural History and ornithologists at the University of Nebraska Lincoln University were biological fluorescents out of 45 currently recognized paradise. They suggest that this special “brightness” is important among male birds due to hierarchy and mating displays.

The bigger bird bird (Paradisaea apoda). Image credit: Andrea Lawardi.

With colorful feathers and intricate courtship displays, the paradise bird has a special place in natural history.

They serve as examples of school books for sexual choice. This is the result of the selection of male female peers with attractive features.

The results show unparalleled radiation of species in which men exhibit extreme morphological features and behaviors, and behaviours that have no evolutionary meaning other than attracting women due to coalescence.

“The unique mating rituals and exhibitions of paradise birds fascinated scientists and promoted countless research focusing on the evolution of traits and sexual choice,” said Rene Martin, PhD, University of Nebraska, Dr. Lincoln. The doctor said.

“It seems appropriate that these flashy birds are likely signaling each other in an additional flashy way.”

Biofluorescence is a phenomenon that occurs when an organism absorbs light, converts it, and releases it as a different color.

“More than 10,000 people recorded birds and despite numerous studies that included bright feathers, elaborate mating displays and excellent vision, we surprisingly investigated the presence of biological fluorescence. There are very few people.”

“Bowerbirds and Fairy Wrens were unable to shine, but bright green yellow fluorescent light was found among the bird birds.”

Biological fluorescence is found in Emperor's birds (Paradisaea guilielmi). Image credit: Rene Martin.

Researchers discovered that when exposed to not only bird light, but also purple light, the birds also fluorescently, and that the birds emitted fluorescence.

This phenomenon is particularly prominent in men, focusing on the bright feathers and skin of the area highlighted during the exhibition: the mouth and bills of the head, neck, and belly.

In women, biological fluorescence is usually restricted to feathers in the chest and belly.

“These birds live near the equator, where bright sunlight is abundant all year round, and in forests where light complexity is heavily affected by different canopy differences, enhancing bioflaorent signals. It could be,” Emily said. Kerr, PhD student at the American Museum of Natural History.

“Studies based on closely related species found that bird eye pigments align with fluorescent peaks measured by researchers.”

“Based on this, we speculate that avian paradises can see these biological fluorescent patterns, which enhance the contrast with dark feathers and possibly play an important role in courtship and hierarchy. there is.”

study It will be published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

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Rene Martin et al. Royal Society Open Sciencein press; doi: 10.1098/rsos.241905

Source: www.sci.news

Gibellula Attenboloughii: The Fungi Species That Turns Cave Spiders Into Zombies

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Metanae woven spiders of infected sub-family living in a cave Gibellula AttenBoroughii It shows a change in behavior similar to what was reported about zombie ants.

Gibellula AttenBoroughii Habitat and paratype, on Metamenardi。 0.5 mm for scale bar- (c), 0.25 mm for (d). Image credit: Evans et al。 , Doi: 10.3114/fuse.2025.15.07.

Giberla It is a specific and pathogenic fungus on spiders containing more than 30 recognized species.

Most of these species have tropical distribution from subtropical.

There are few records of the genus of the British Islands. Gibellla Alanearam。

For BBC Winter Watch In the 2021 television series, a spid of fungi -infected was discovered on the ceiling of the abandoned gunpowder, taken at the Northern Ireland location, and was provisionally identified. Gibellula pulchra。

Image sent from BBC It suggests that HARRY EVANS is a new species to Cab International Researcher. Giberla Aus.

“Based on both morphological and molecular evidence, fungi was confirmed as a new species, and was named after a natural historian David Attenbow IR. BBC “Natural History Program,” said Dr. Evans, co -author of this research.

“Later, the spider host was identified as an orb -weaving cave spider. Metellina MerianaeAnd -with the help of a local ischemicist -further new species, Gibellula AttenBoroughiiIt was discovered in both Northern Ireland and the Ireland Republic of Cave systems and related spiders. MetamenardiOccupies in various ecological niches in the cave. “

Originally, like a type of specimen located on the ceiling of the gunpowder, all infected spiders were located on the roof or wall of the cave.

These normal CL proud spiders have moved out of the hierarchy and net and died in the exposed situation. In essence, it reflects the behavior of ants infected with the genus bacteria. OphioCordyCeps Previously, it was reported from the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil.

Such operations of the host to support the dispersion of the fungal spores have created an explanation of “zombieant bacteria”.

In their research, Dr. Evans and his colleagues used historical records and literature search to clarify hidden diversity in the subordinates. Giberla In the British Islands, there is evidence of a widespread illness of the Norfols and Wales spiders.

“Their roles in the dynamics of the spider group will guarantee further research as well as metabolites they produce, so that they can use such a very specific ecological niche,” he said. Ta.

The discovery is reported in A paper Journal Economics and evolution of fungi。

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HC Evans et al。 Bacterial attributes Giberla (Cordycipitaceae: Failure) In the British Islands, it includes a new zombie species of Orb -weaving cave spiders (Metanae). Economics and evolution of fungiReleased online on January 24, 2025. Doi: 10.3114/fuse.2025.15.07

Source: www.sci.news

Early Chinese Humans Coexisted with Small Cat Species

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

I was named PRIONAILURUS KURTENIThe new cat’s species are the smallest known fossil members of the Wissil family.

PRIONAILURUS KURTENI It was as small as a cat with rusty spots (PRIONAILURUS RUBIGINOSUS) Image credit: David V. Raju / CC by-Sa 4.0.

PRIONAILURUS KURTENI About 300,000 years ago, I currently lived in southern China in the middle of the world.

“The southern eastern Asia and southern China are outstanding as the diversity of Lexae, which has four types of leopard cats, especially Ferini’s hot pot. PRIONAILURUS2 kinds of golden cats KatopmaOne kind of marble cat PardofelisAnd one kind of wild cat, Ferris ChaussDr. Jiangzuo of the Chinese Academy and his colleagues vertebrates of vertebrates and the Anti -Anthropology Institute.

“Most ferrini species share the characteristics of similar teeth, but shows the difference between the body size and ecological niche, which is an example of mammals in forest areas, which is a diversification/radiation example.”

“However, the history of the evolution of Ferrini in southern Asia and southern China is hardly known for the relatively rare fossil area of the forest area. Records, some are isolated teeth that have not been diagnosed in Ferini. Separately.

The newly identified cat species belongs to PRIONAILURUSA natural genus of a wild cat with small spots native to Asia.

“The genus PRIONAILURUS Four (or five) are the most diverse grids in the south and southeast forests of Asia, and four (or five) have known species.

“The molecular dating system supports the renewal radiation of the genus late world.”

“However, the fossil species of the genus are not known (all are known are existing or SP. SP. It is often the genus. Ferris), And the fossils of the genus are very rare. “

“I explain this fact. The first is a rare fossil cats in southern China, mainly represented by cave sediments, and small bones are often rare. The second is careful. It is a historic assignment of all small cats to Ferris without revising these materials.

Small lower jaw fragments PRIONAILURUS KURTENI Discovered in Hualongdong Cave I, a fossil Homo A region at the southernmost tip of Anfiy, China.

“The dating of the uranium series gives the range of 275, 00 to 331 and 00 years of fossils. Homo Researchers say that the layer goes from stage 9E to 8c of the ocean isotopes. “

“The fossil cats explained in this study were also obtained from this layer.”

PRIONAILURUS KURTENI It represents known fossil members so far.

Ancient species are comparable to two minimum modern cats. Cat with rusty spots (PRIONAILURUS RUBIGINOSUS) and Black foot cat (Ferris Niglipes)。

“Identification of PRIONAILURUS KURTENI Potentially suggests high diversity PRIONAILURUS In the past, we emphasize the importance of reconsidering small cat department classification methods to better understand the evolution and diversification of this family. “

Their paper Published in the journal Annales Zoologici Fennici。

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Mt. et al。 2024. PRIONAILURUS KURTENI (Carnivora, Carnivora), HUALONGDONG’s update of HUALONGDONG in the southern China is a small new species of a small native fossil area Hominin area. Annales Zoologici Fennici 61 (1): 335-342; DOI: 10.5735/086.061.0120

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of Two New Edible Truffle Species in Eastern North America

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Two new species of this genus tuber It was discovered with the help of trained truffle hunting dogs.

tuber cumberlandens. Image credit: Saw others., doi: 10.1080/00275514.2024.2407755.

“tuber “It is a genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi that produces paragenic fruiting bodies known as truffles,” said lead author Dr. Gregory Bonito of Michigan State University and colleagues.

“Many tuber The seeds are well known for their unique aroma and wide range of culinary uses. ”

“Like many other truffle-forming fungi, tuber The species lost the ability to forcefully release spores into the air and instead relied primarily on fungivores to ingest and distribute the spores. ”

“Mycivores such as porcupines, squirrels, pigs, and humans… tuber Sensitive to volatile compounds produced by truffles. ”

One of two new species, Tuber crable veratumis named after the truffle dog and Monza, the dog who discovered it with trainer Lois Martin.

The other is tuber cumberlandensis named after the Cumberland Plateau where it was discovered by Margaret Townsend and her truffle dog, Luca.

Tuber crable veratum. Image credit: Saw others., doi: 10.1080/00275514.2024.2407755.

“There is a long history of using specially trained dogs, and less frequently pigs, to track the scent of truffles. tuber “In the wild,” the researchers said.

“Truffle hunting dogs are also regularly used for commercial truffle harvesting, as they can find consistently mature truffles faster than other methods such as raking.”

“Raking the soil to find and harvest truffles can have a devastating effect on both the roots and ascus of the plant host.”

“It could also lead to the harvesting of immature truffles.”

“However, a well-trained truffle hunting dog will always find mature truffles, reducing harvest effort and maximizing harvest quality.”

“As such, the use of truffle dogs to harvest commercial truffles has become the standard method used by truffle growers around the world.”

meanwhile Tuber crable veratum It is only known in eastern Tennessee, USA. tuber cumberlandens It has been opportunistically harvested for commercial sale from orchards in eastern North America.

“Historically, attention has been focused on the cultivation and sale of European truffle species, but there is increasing interest in the cultivation, wild harvesting and sale of North American truffle species,” Dr. Bonito added. .

“More and more people are trying their hand at growing truffles, which means more truffle dogs are needed to sniff out these fungal fruits because they grow underground.”

“If you have $20,000 worth of truffles growing underground, you have to find them before they rot. That's why dogs are so important.”

This finding is reported in the following article: paper in diary mycosis.

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Arasan Sou others. 2024. tuber cumberlandens and T. cannileveratumtwo new edibles tuber A species of eastern North America discovered by truffle hunting dogs. mycosis 116 (6);doi: 10.1080/00275514.2024.2407755

Source: www.sci.news

Paleontologist Identifies New Species of Predatory Dinosaur

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

of the team work Published in a magazine PLoS ONE.

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

Source: www.sci.news

Newly discovered species of ankylosaurus verified in China

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A new genus and species of an ankylosaurid dinosaur has been discovered in China’s Kangdaliang Mountain (1,262 meters above sea level).

There are two Ankylosaurs. Image credit: Stuart Pond.

Tianzenosaurus Chengi roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous Period, between 84 and 72 million years ago.

This ancient species belonged to the ankylosaurus group of armored dinosaurs that inhabited the planet from the mid-Jurassic period to the late Cretaceous period.

These intriguing creatures were recognized for their robust armor made of bony plates known as osteoderms.

These plates covered their backs and sides, providing defense against predators.

One distinctive feature of many ankylosaurid species, including Tianzenosaurus Chengi, was a large bony club at the end of its tail, which could be used as a potent weapon against predators.

The fossilized remains of this new species were unearthed in the second layer of the Late Cretaceous Huiquanpu Formation in Shanxi Province, China.

“The skull of the new species is flat and low, adorned with irregular bony plates on the roof, a rounded occipital bone slightly surpassing the skull’s roof, and a short, small, and flat bony projection at the back. These skull features differentiate it from Tianchisaurus from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, during the Middle Jurassic period, Shamosaurus from Mongolia in the early Cretaceous period, Ankylosaurus from the Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous, and Euoplocephalus not only from North America but also from Pinacosaurus from the Late Cretaceous of China and Mongolia,” as stated by Dr. Qiqing Pang and colleagues from Hebei Geographical University.

Tianzenosaurus Chengi shares its discovery location with another known species of this genus, Tianzenosaurus Yongi.

“The identification of this new species not only offers rare ankylosaurian fossil findings from China but also provides valuable insights for the study of ankylosaurian taxonomy, migration, evolution, and the paleobiogeography of Cretaceous dinosaur fauna. This discovery holds significance,” remarked the paleontologists.

Their published paper can be found in the Hebei Geography University Journal.

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Pan Chi Ching et al. 2024. New species of an ankylosaurid dinosaur — Tianzenosaurus Chengi sp. nov., Late Cretaceous, Tianzhen County, Shanxi Province, China. Hebei Geography University Journal 6; doi: 10.13937/j.cnki.hbdzdxxb.2024.06.006

Source: www.sci.news

New discovery: Bioluminescent bacterial species Mycena crocata

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Misena Crocata is a long-known bacterial species that has been frequently reported from Europe and Japan, but until now it was thought that it did not emit light.

heintzelman others. report evidence of bioluminescence in Misena Crocata And we show that the genome of this species is fully populated with genes related to fungal bioluminescence. Image credit: Heintzelman others., doi: 10.47371/mycosci.2024.03.001.

Misena Crocata It is a species of fungus Misena It is known in Europe, North Africa, Asia, and North America.

It occurs primarily in fallen beech leaves and woody debris, but occasionally in other hardwoods such as oak, ash, alder, and birch.

Misena CrocataThe fruiting bodies of this plant appear from summer to autumn, so they can be easily identified.

It reaches a height of 5-15 cm, has a narrow stalk and exhibits a characteristic color gradation from bright orange at the base to red and pale yellow or cream at the top.

In addition, yellow-red or orange-red stains may be present on the whitish gills.

But most impressively, Misena Crocata When cut, it oozes a distinctive saffron red sap. This is reflected in the common name Saffron Drop Bonnet Mushroom and the Latin epithet of the species. Kurokata It means saffron color.

evidence of bioluminescence Misena Crocata It was discovered by Zurich-based artists Heidi Bagenstos and Andreas Rudolph.

“We wanted to show that bioluminescent mushrooms exist in Swiss forests and that you don't have to travel far to find them,” Bagenstos said.

“One evening, as I was walking through the Albisrieden forest near Zurich, I saw a green light shining through my camera.”

“The bioluminescence of fungi can be so weak that it cannot be seen with the naked eye.”

Bagenstos, Rudolf and Dr. Renate Heintzelmann from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forestry, Snow and Landscape Research further investigated the large collection. Misena Crocata.

They investigated the bioluminescent properties of its fruiting bodies and mycelium using digital imaging and photomultiplier tubes.

Furthermore, they captured the bioluminescence spectrum emitted by the species and confirmed the presence of bioluminescence-related genes in its genome.

“Light measurements show that the fruiting bodies Misena CrocataThe mycelium showed the most bioluminescence, except for the base of the stalk, which was non-luminescent,” the researchers explained.

“As a result, the rotten trees Misena Crocata The mature wood also emits a green glow when split, which lasts up to 4 hours before the wood dries. ”

“When we grew pure mycelial cultures under optimal conditions, they remained bioluminescent for up to 164 days.”

According to the authors, the ecological role of bioluminescence in fungi remains a mystery.

“For some fungal species with intensely luminescent fruiting bodies, bioluminescence may attract arthropods at night, which may facilitate spore dispersal,” the researchers said.

“The spores of Misena Seeds are usually dispersed by wind and in species that do not have luminescent fruiting bodies. Misena CrocataBioluminescence probably plays another, but as yet unknown, role. ”

“As a result of our research, we conclude that it is very likely that there are others that may be more familiar. Misena It is a species whose bioluminescent properties are yet to be discovered,” they added.

“As a result, existing studies of fungal bioluminescence may underestimate the frequency of bioluminescence in mysenoid lineages.”

“In the absence of clear evidence for the absence of bioluminescence, further studies on the evolution of luminescence within the mysenoid lineage are recommended to validate the luminescent properties of putative non-luminescent species.”

a paper The survey results were published in a magazine mycoscience.

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Renate Heintzelman others. 2024. Many bioluminescent Misena An overlooked species? – Case study from M. crocata In Switzerland. mycoscience 65 (4): 173-179;doi: 10.47371/mycosci.2024.03.001

Source: www.sci.news

New sauropod dinosaur species uncovered by paleontologists in China

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: www.sci.news

Peru’s new ‘blobhead’ catfish species found

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In 2022, biologists will conservation international A study revealed that a treasure trove of biodiversity lies in the heart of the Alto Mayo landscape, which spans approximately 780,700 hectares (1.9 million acres) in the upper Mayo River basin in Peru's San Martín, Moyobamba and Rioja states. . . investigation revealed At least 27 new species – including 'blobhead' fish species of the bristlemouth catfish genus Ketostoma — and 49 species at risk of extinction according to the IUCN Red List.

“Blobhead” Bristlemouth Armored Catfish (Ketostoma special). Image credit: Conservation International / Robinson Olivera.

The Alto Mayo landscape, which stretches from the Andes to the Amazon and includes the Alto Mayo Reserve Forest, is a complex mosaic of ecosystems and communities that includes indigenous territories, towns, and cities.

During a 38-day expedition, Conservation International researchers recorded 2,046 species, highlighting the importance of conservation in this area.

At least 34 species, including the Andean saddleback tamarin, appear to occur exclusively in the Alto Mayo landscape.

To document so many species, scientists complemented traditional survey methods with techniques such as camera traps, bioacoustic sensors, and environmental DNA (eDNA) collected from the water.

“It's amazing to discover four new mammal species on any expedition, especially in a heavily populated area,” said Dr. Tron Larsen, director of Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program at the Moore Science Center. It's unusual to find these mammals.”

“This is a vibrant, dynamic mosaic of ecosystems, both natural and human-made, that we need to maintain and restore if we want to protect the species found there.”

During the expedition, biologists identified 68 species of fish across approximately 30 study areas.

Eighteen species were recorded for the first time in the Alto Mayo Basin, and eight others were new to science, including undescribed species of the Chaliformes group and catfishes.

Among the shocking new fish discoveries was a “blobhead'' fish from this genus. Ketostoma.

The species has an enlarged, blocky head, a feature the team's fish scientists had never seen before. The function of this unusual structure remains a mystery.

More than 200 species of butterflies were identified during the survey, 10 of which are new to science, 24 are potential firsts to science (pending further research), and 14 were recorded for the first time in Alto Mayo It was done.

Researchers have recorded more than 70 species of scarab beetles across Alto Mayo's diverse ecosystem. skibaro canton It includes 45 species that are new to science or previously undocumented in the region.

They recorded an astonishing 536 species of birds at different altitudes and across a variety of ecosystems, including cloud forests, lowland forests, palm swamps, and coffee plantations.

They also recorded 27 species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles. This was higher than expected given prior monitoring in the area and the proximity of many of the study areas to human settlements.

They discovered three species of amphibians new to science – the climbing salamander (Bolitoglossa sp.) and two frogs (Chiasmocrais sp. and Pretty Mantis sp.) — as well as seven more species that are likely new but require further investigation.

Two species of snakes that may be new to science have been discovered – attractus sp. and subterranean blind snakes of this genus Epicia.

The research team recorded 50 species of medium- and large-sized mammals (greater than 1 kg) across a variety of elevations and ecosystem types using a combination of methods, including camera traps.

Excluding bats, researchers identified 35 species of small flightless mammals (small rodents and marsupials, weighing less than 1 kg), 12 of which were recorded for the first time in the Alto Mayo landscape.

In addition to those, another 45 species of bats were recorded during the study. Caloria Genus — Short-tailed flying fox.

The expedition also recorded more than 950 species of vascular plants in central Alto Mayo. These included 5 species endemic to the San Martín region and 10 species listed as threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List.

Among the discoveries were three potentially new species to science. Styrodine special, Ilex tree sp. and Schefflera sp. —further research is underway.

“We found that areas close to cities and towns still maintain incredibly high biodiversity, including species that are found nowhere else,” Dr Larsen said.

“These findings highlight that biodiversity can be maintained, even in areas highly influenced by humans, only if ecosystems are managed sustainably.”

“A more comprehensive understanding of where species live will help us identify areas with the greatest potential for biodiversity conservation and restoration, as well as sustainable practices such as ecotourism, logging, agriculture, and resource extraction. It will help identify the best areas,” he added.

Source: www.sci.news

China unveils new herbivorous dinosaur species

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: www.sci.news

Argentina is home to the oldest newly discovered species of pterosaur

Posted on December 21, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A new genus and species of Monophenestratan pterosaur has been identified from partial and postcranial fossils discovered in the Chubut province of Patagonia, Argentina. named Mercamtel Pateco an ancient flying reptile that predates the currently oldest members of the Monophenestrata clade by at least 8 million and perhaps 10 million years.

rebuilding the life of Mercamtel Pateco. Image credit: Pedro Andrade.

Mercamtel Pateco They lived in what is now Argentina during the most recent Early Jurassic period, 184 to 174 million years ago.

The ancient species is a member of Monophenestrata a large clade of pterosaurs consisting of Darwinoptera, Anurognatidae, and Pterodactylidae.

“Pterosaurs were the first clade of actively flying tetrapods that achieved great success during the Mesozoic Era, achieving a worldwide distribution from the Triassic to the Cretaceous.” Dr. Alexandra Fernandes researchers from the Bavarian National Institute of Paleontology and Geology and colleagues in Germany and Argentina.

“Meanwhile, the pterosaur Bauplan transitioned from the basal non-monophenestratan ‘non-pterodactyloid’ body shape to a more derived pterodactyloid body shape. ”

“This evolutionary event has become better understood in recent years with the recognition of the Darwinoptera clade. Darwinoptera primarily exhibit a variety of morphological attributes during this transition and are considered to be “non-pterodactyl”. It has been considered to be an “intermediate” monofenid, combining the plesiomorphic features of “.” It has wing-like characteristics. ”

“Records of Mesozoic pterosaurs are abundant in the Northern Hemisphere, but records from the Southern Hemisphere are relatively sparse.”

“Although it is possible that Argentinians may be excluded, all carpNon-pterodactyl monophenestratan pterosaurs have so far been found only in the Northern Hemisphere, namely Britain, Germany, and China, and first appeared during the Batonian period (168 to 165 million years ago). ). ”

“The apparent success of these monofenid forms and their pterodactyl descendants replaced the Rhamphorhynchus body form (which disappeared in the early Cretaceous) and survived until extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.”

“However, there is still a lack of knowledge about monofenestral stratus in nonpterodonts, especially in terrestrial depositional environments.”

discovered by paleontologists Mercamtel PatecoThe fossilized remains of – a portion of the skull, two associated teeth, and some postcranial elements – are located at the Queso Lajad site in the Canadon Asphalt Formation.

They also found an isolated tooth of a ctenochasmatid pterosaur pterosaur at the same location.

“The Canadon Asphalt Formation is widespread in the north-central Chubut province of Argentina,” they said.

“This is part of the deposits of the Canadon Asphalt Basin, a large half-graben structure in central Patagonia that opened with the onset of the South Atlantic during the Early Jurassic.”

“The production area of Queso Laryado is located approximately 5.5 km northwest of the village of Cerro Condor in the middle reaches of the Rio Chubut River.''

“The Fossil Formation is a 0.8 meter thick carbonate, partially silicified mudstone underlying the Canadon Asphalt Formation.”

According to the researchers, Mercamtel Pateco This marks the world's earliest appearance of a monophenestratan pterosaur, predating the current oldest member of this clade by at least 8 million and perhaps 10 million years.

This species is also the first and only non-pterodactyl monophenestratan to inhabit the supercontinent of Gondwana.

“Mercamtel Pateco “This is the most conclusive evidence to date for the existence of Monophenestrata in the Late Late Jurassic, and the novel traits expressed in this new species also contribute to morphological diversity.” The scientists concluded.

“Furthermore, if confirmed by future discoveries, the possible existence of Ctenochasmatidae, currently indicated by a single tooth, would not only place the origin of pterodactyls in the Early Jurassic, but also their early diversification. It may even indicate that it already happened in that era.”

“While our understanding of long-term pterosaur diversity and dispersal has traditionally been dominated by Northern Hemisphere Lagerstätten, high phylogenetic diversity of Early Jurassic pterosaurs also existed in Gondwana. It is now clear that the Canadon Asphalt Formation is the only one that now shows evidence for at least three different species. ”

“This further highlights that we still lack knowledge about the Jurassic pterosaur fauna of Gondwana, and while we await further field sampling and recovery of pterosaur fossils, the southern hemisphere probably someday It is clear that there is an inherent potential to match the abundance of the hemisphere. “

discovery of Mercamtel Pateco is reported in paper in a diary Royal Society Open Science.

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Alexandra E. Fernandez others. 2024. The oldest monophenestratan pterosaur from the Queso Rayado region (Toarcian, Canadon Asphalt Formation), Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina. R. Soc. Open Science 11(12):241238;doi: 10.1098/rsos.241238

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Discovered ‘Vampire’ Hedgehog Found Among 234 New Species in Asia

Posted on December 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Vampire-like Hedgehog Hylomys Macaron

Alexei V. Abramov

In 2023, scientists in Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong River region described an astonishing 234 new species. The discovery was announced in 2023. Report from the nature conservation organization WWF173 species of plants, 26 species of reptiles, 17 species of amphibians, 15 species of fish, and 3 species of mammals.

Since 1997, more than 3,500 new plant and vertebrate species have been identified in the region covered by this report, which includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, with an average of 130 new species per year. I’m going up.

Here, we introduce six new species, including a hairy hedgehog named after a vampire, an almost invisible dragon lizard, and an endangered leafless orchid.

Hiromiz macaron

The furry hedgehog family pictured above is endemic to Vietnam. Hiromiz macaron It may seem innocuous, but its name is Macaron Means vampire in Vietnamese. It gets its name thanks to its long, pointed fangs, which remain hidden in this photo.

Hyposideros Kingston

This small leaf-nosed bat lives from Thailand to Borneo. confirmed by DNA analysis Hyposideros Kingston It was born as a new species in 2023.

It’s not known where these tiny bats, which weigh just 4.9 to 7 grams, roost. It has been seen near large limestone caves, suggesting that it may be hiding there, but it is also possible that it lives far from known caves, hiding in the hollows of trees. It is also possible that they are building a roost.

Laodracon calusticola

You need keen eyesight to spot this small lizard (Laodracon calusticola), which lives high on the tops of rugged karsts in Laos, which may explain why this species has been ignored by scientists until now. One of the earliest known sightings of this lizard was by a zipline tour guide.

Zhangixalus melanoleucus

This lime green tree frog (Zhangixalus melanoleucus) was discovered at an altitude of 2000 meters in the evergreen forest of Mount Phu Samsoon in northern Laos. Although the region is home to many other endemic species, it is one of the least studied regions in Asia.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Newly discovered species of ancient hominid: Homo juruensis

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Homo juruensis Emerging human species, including the mysterious Denisovans and several hominid fossils from Tibet, Taiwan and Laos, lived in East Asia from about 300,000 to 50,000 years ago.

Portrait of a young Denisovan woman based on a skeletal profile reconstructed from ancient DNA methylation maps. Image credit: Maayan Harel.

“Our research uncovered a hominin fossil record that tended to include things that were not easily attributable. homo erectus, homo neanderthalensis or homo sapiens'' said the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Professor Christopher Bay and Dr. Wu Xiujie from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“We started this project several years ago, but we never expected that we would be able to propose a new hominin species, and even classify Asian hominid fossils into different groups. In general, this should be useful for scientific communication.”

“This research is important because it will help scientists better understand the complex story of human evolution in Asia and fill gaps in our understanding of our ancient relatives.”

reconstruction of homo floresiensis. Image credit: Elizabeth Danes.

The authors suggest that there are at least four human species. homo floresiensis, Homo luzonensis, Homolonghiand the newly established Homo juruensis — Existed in East Asia during the late Quaternary period.

Homo juruensis They lived in East Asia about 300,000 years ago, hunted wild horses in small groups, made stone tools and probably processed animal skins to survive, and disappeared about 50,000 years ago. Ta.

“The field of late Quaternary East Asian paleoanthropology is in the midst of significant and important changes, largely due to the growth of the hominin fossil record, as we look to change these evolutionary models. “This is a major contribution to how we understand and refine this approach,” the researchers said.

“This field in particular was shocked 20 years ago with the publication of this little book. homo floresiensis Fossils discovered on Flores Island, Indonesia in 2004. ”

“Just recently, another small species… Homo luzonensisAn individual living on the island of Luzon in the Philippines has been added as a new hominin. ”

“In China, Homo longhi It was published after the analysis of Harbin fossils. ”

“Fossils like Dali and Jinyushan may be tentatively included.” Homolonghi Similarly, we await further comparative analysis. ”

“More recently, after detailed studies of the Xujiayao and Xuchang fossils, we have added: Homo juruensis to these discussions. ”

Reconstruction of Homolonghi In his habitat. Image credit: Chuang Zhao.

Importantly, along with the Xiahe people, scientists have also assigned the mysterious Denisovans. Penghu CountyTam Ngu Hao 2 fossil, Homo juruensis.

Although further research is clearly needed to verify this relationship, it is primarily based on similarities between jaw and tooth fossils from these different locations.

“The East Asian hominin fossil record is a good example of how unilinear evolutionary models, such as traditional multiregionalism, cannot adequately account for the complexity of the paleoanthropological record, especially in the late Quaternary.” the authors concluded.

“Rather, the East Asian record prompts us to recognize how complex human evolution is more generally, and to revise the interpretations of various evolutionary models to better match the growing fossil record.” , it’s really forcing us to reconsider.”

Their paper Published in a magazine nature communications.

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CJ Bae & X. Wu. 2024. Understanding late Quaternary hominin diversity in East Asia. Nat Commune 15, 9479;doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53918-7

Source: www.sci.news

First-ever European sighting of the infamous ‘murder hornet’ alien species

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

The southern giant hornet, also known as the “murder hornet”, has been discovered for the first time in Europe.
A study last month confirmed that two pairs of hornets have been found in northern Spain since 2022.
Scientists are looking for wasp nests.

Researchers in Spain are busy discovering the first southern giant hornet nest ever discovered in Europe.

Also known as the “murder hornet” because it is known to kill beehives, this insect grows to an average length of 2 inches. They are native to parts of Asia. India, China, Thailand, Vietnam.

in research published last month Five Spanish scientists described two separate sightings in the journal Ecology and Evolution. The scientific name of the southern giant hornet is Vespa soror. Both were in Cielo, a city in northern Asturias. A pair was discovered in March 2022, and another two in October 2023.

Researchers believe the hornet's nest dates back at least a year.

Asian giant hornet — A closely related species that originates from other parts of Asia, it was first discovered in the US state of Washington in late 2019. The northern hornet and the southern hornet have similar behavior and appearance, but the former Shi Change the nesting period They then build small colonies or nests.

The first northern giant hornet nest discovered in the United States was promptly destroyed in October 2020, but live hornets were discovered in Washington the following year.

Southern giant hornets are known to send out scout teams to find colonies of prey, and the scouts rub their bodies against the hive or nearby plants to signal other hornets to join them. According to Research published in 2021 . It then enters the “slaughter stage” where the entire hive can be destroyed within a few hours.

Asian giant hornets have not been found in Europe, neither in the north nor in the south. That's more than the four recorded in Spain. Scientists behind the recent study believe the hornets likely first arrived on a cargo ship.

Omar Sánchez, lead author of the study and zoologist A professor at the University of Oviedo in Spain said he expected the hornets to affect the balance of local ecosystems, as they actively prey on native hornets, bees, butterflies, moths and flies. A long-term decline in bee populations could impact honey availability and disrupt the pollination process that many plants and crops depend on.

“Here in northern Spain, we have another type of Asian hornet called Vespa verntina, which is causing serious damage to the beekeeping industry, so the presence of another hornet could potentially amplify the negative impact. Yes,” he said.

Sánchez added that the researchers: They are trying to find the nest in order to destroy it.

“This species nests more than 30 meters underground, so it's not easy to find, so you have to be a little bit careful,” he says. “We are trying.”

Sánchez said researchers are looking for more hornet sightings.

Sanchez and his study co-authors discovered and captured four of the hornets after hearing from beekeepers in the area that they had seen the unusual-looking hornets. After capturing the wasps, scientists extracted DNA samples and conducted genetic testing and analysis to confirm the species.

Molly Keck, an entomologist at Texas A&M University, said the genetic research that identified this species will “help educate the public and beekeepers and educate local governments so that management planning, education, mapping and distribution can be done.” “This is the first step towards mitigation efforts such as issuing warnings.” . ”

“Most of these invasive species will come in through some port city, so no matter what quarantine or checking measures are in place, there's always a way to find them.” she added.

Keck said countries may need to tighten such processes around the world as a precaution if they want to ensure their cargo is bug-free.

Sanchez said the detection of the southern giant hornet in Spain shows that more hornets are likely to emerge.

“Perhaps in the near future this species will be detected again in other parts of Spain, and perhaps also in Europe,” he says.

Source: www.nbcnews.com