Ichthyotitan severnensis It lived in the Triassic seas around 202 million years ago and may have grown over 25 meters (82 feet) long.
Ichthyotitan severnensis. Image credit: Gabriel Uguet.
Ichthyosaurs are dolphin-like marine reptiles known from hundreds of fossils from the time of the dinosaurs.
These creatures ranged in size from less than a meter to over 20 meters (65 feet) in length.
All animals gave birth to live young in the sea, and some had giant eyes and so-called warm-blooded physiology, and some were fast swimmers and deep divers.
“Ichthyosaurs first evolved during the early Triassic period, about 250 million years ago,” said Dr Dean Lomax and colleagues from the Universities of Bristol and Manchester.
“Within a few million years, some ichthyosaurs evolved to reach lengths of 15 meters or more, and by the late Triassic period (about 200 million years ago), the largest fish, including the newly described ichthyosaurs. The dragon has evolved. Ichthyotitan severnensis“
“But this reign didn’t necessarily last long. Some species of ichthyosaurs continued to roam the oceans for millions of years, but these ‘giant ichthyosaurs’ It is thought to have become extinct during the Tatami-Jurassic extinction event. And this unique group of marine reptiles never reached such a world again. Huge size.”
two fragmentary jaw bones Ichthyotitan severnensis Collected from the uppermost layer of the Triassic period Westbury Mudstone Formation Located in Somerset, England.
Based on the length of the fossil, the new species could have been a whopping 25 meters long, or twice as long as a city bus.
“In 2018, my team studied and described a giant jawbone, and we were hopeful that one day another jawbone would be revealed,” Dr. Lomax said.
“The new specimen is more complete and better preserved, showing that there are two large bones (called quadrilateral bones) with unique shapes and structures.”
“It’s quite amazing to think that gigantic ichthyosaurs, the size of blue whales, were swimming in the seas around Britain during the Triassic period.”
“These jaw bones provide intriguing evidence that perhaps someday the complete skull or skeleton of these giants may be discovered. You never know.”
discovery of Ichthyotitan severnensis is explained in paper in diary PLoS ONE.
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DR Lomax other. 2024. The last giant: new evidence of a giant Late Triassic (Rhaetian) ichthyosaur from Britain. PLoS ONE 19 (4): e0300289; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300289
With more than 5,500 exoplanets detected, the search for life is entering a new era. Astrobiologists from Cornell University and the University of Minnesota have used life on Earth as a guide to look beyond the lush landscape and expand our ability to detect signs of surface life on other worlds. A new study characterizes the reflectance spectra of purple sulfur and non-sulfur bacteria from different environments.
Coelho to extend the baseline for finding life in the universe other. They measured the reflectance of purple bacteria growing in different anoxic and aerobic environments. Image credit: Sci.News.
From houseplants and gardens to fields and forests, green is the color most associated with life on Earth’s surface. On Earth, conditions were favorable for the evolution of organisms that carried out photosynthesis, using the green pigment chlorophyll a to produce oxygen.
But an Earth-like planet orbiting another star could look completely different, receiving little or no visible light or oxygen and instead relying on photosynthesis, like some environments on Earth. may be covered in bacteria that use invisible infrared light to promote
Many such bacteria on Earth contain purple pigments instead of green, and in a world where they are predominantly purple, they could produce unique “light fingerprints” that can be detected by next generation ground and space telescopes. will be generated.
Ligia Fonseca Coelho, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University’s Carl Sagan Institute, said, “Purple bacteria are able to thrive under a wide range of conditions, making them one of the leading candidates for life that has the potential to dominate many different worlds.” “We have become one,” he said.
“We are building a database of signs of life so that telescopes can detect life even if they don’t look exactly like what we encounter around us every day,” said Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger, director of the Carl Sagan Institute. We need to make sure we don’t miss out,” he added. at Cornell University.
For this study, the authors collected samples of more than 20 types of purple sulfur and non-sulfur bacteria that can be found in a variety of environments, from shallow waters, beaches, and wetlands to deep-sea hydrothermal vents. collected and grown.
Bacteria, collectively known as purple bacteria, actually have a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, brown, and red, due to pigments related to the pigments that make tomatoes red and carrots orange.
They use a simpler photosynthetic system that utilizes a form of chlorophyll that absorbs infrared light and produces no oxygen, and they thrive in low-energy red or infrared light.
They were likely widespread on early Earth before the advent of plant-type photosynthesis, and may be particularly suited to planets orbiting cool red dwarfs, the most common type in the galaxy. there is.
“They are already thriving in certain areas here,” Dr. Coelho said.
“Imagine if they weren’t competing with green plants, algae, and bacteria. The red sun might give them the most favorable conditions for photosynthesis.”
After measuring the purple bacteria’s biological pigments and optical fingerprints, the researchers created a model of an Earth-like planet with varying conditions and cloud cover.
“In a variety of simulated environments, both wet and dry purple bacteria produced a dark-colored biosignature,” Dr. Coelho said.
“If purple bacteria thrive on the surface of frozen Earth, ocean worlds, snowball Earths, or modern Earth orbiting cooler stars, we have the tools to search for them. can do.”
team’s work will appear in Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices.
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Ligia Fonseca Coelho other. 2024. Purple is the new green. Spectrum of biological pigments and a purple world similar to the Earth. MNRAS 530 (2): 1363-1368; doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae601
Three new species belong to the extinct genus Kangaroo Protemnodon was a common member of Cenozoic communities in Australia and New Guinea until extinction in the late Pleistocene.
Artist's impressions of newly described fossil species Protemnodon Viator and their relatives protemnodon anak, compared in scale with modern red kangaroos and eastern gray kangaroos. Image credit: T. Klarenbeek, Flinders University.
Protemnodon Kangaroos lived in Australia and New Guinea from about 5 million to 40,000 years ago.
The first species is Protemnodon Described in 1874 by British paleontologist Owen, he followed the common approach of the time, focusing primarily on fossilized teeth. He observed slight differences in teeth between specimens and described the teeth of six species. Protemnodon.
Protemnodon They looked similar to giant kangaroos, but were generally stockier and more muscular.
Some species weighed around 50 kg, while others were much larger than modern kangaroos.
However, one new species was named as part of the research – Protemnodon Viator – was much larger and weighed up to 170 kg. This is about twice the size of the largest male red kangaroo.
Protemnodon Viator They were well adapted to the arid habitats of central Australia and lived in areas similar to today's red kangaroos.
This species was a kangaroo with long limbs and could jump fairly quickly and efficiently.
The remaining two new species are Protemnodon Mamukura and Protemnodon dorsonae.
“Previously, some or all Protemnodon Dr Isaac Kerr, a paleontologist at Flinders University, says:
“However, our research suggests that this is true for only three or four species of animals. ProtemnodonIt could have animated things like quokkas and potoroos. Sometimes it would jump on four legs, sometimes on two legs. ”
“The newly described Protemnodon Mamukura Probably one of these. A large but thick-boned and strong kangaroo, it probably moved quite slowly and inefficiently. Perhaps it only rarely jumped when it was startled. ”
“The best fossils of this type come from Green Waterhole Cave in south-eastern South Australia, on the land of the Boadick people.”
“It is unusual for a single genus of kangaroos to live in such diverse environments. Protemnodon They are now known to inhabit a wide range of habitats, from the arid regions of central Australia to the rain-rich, forested mountains of Tasmania and New Guinea. ”
Protemnodon dorsonae Compared to the other two species, there are fewer known fossils and more mysteries. It was probably a medium speed hopper, something like a swamp wallaby.
“By about 40,000 years ago, all Protemnodon “It is now extinct in mainland Australia, but may survive for a little longer in New Guinea and Tasmania,” the authors said.
“This extinction occurred despite differences in size, adaptation, habitat, and geographic range.”
“For reasons that are not yet clear, the same thing did not occur in many similar relatives, such as wallaroos and giant kangaroos.” I might be able to answer that.”
“It's great that we now have some clarity on the identity of the animal species.” Protemnodon' said Professor Gavin Prideaux from Flinders University.
“Fossils of this genus are widespread and regularly discovered, but in many cases there is no way to be sure which species you are looking at.”
“This study may help researchers approach their studies with more confidence.” Protemnodon”
This finding is reported in the following article: paper Published in today's magazine Megataxa.
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Isaac AR Carr other. 2024. Systematics and paleontology of the late Cenozoic genus Kangaroo Protemnodon (Marsupialia, Megapoda). Megataxa 11(1); doi: 10.11646/megataxa.11.1.1
A new genus and species of elasmosaurid, a type of plesiosaur with a very long and slender neck, has been identified from fossilized remains found near the site. marambio basea permanent year-round Argentine Antarctic base on Marambio Island.
rebuilding the life of Marambionectes molinai. Image credit: O'Gorman other., doi: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2312302.
Elasmosaurs are members of Elasmosauridaea family of plesiosaurs that flourished during the Cretaceous period, approximately 145 million to 66 million years ago.
These creatures were perfectly adapted to aquatic life and had a unique body shape consisting of a streamlined body, paddle-like limbs, and an extremely long neck with up to 75 vertebrae.
The new species is Marambionectes molinai lived in the Cretaceous seas about 67 million years ago.
The fossil was recovered from the upper layer. López de Bertodano's formation February 2018, James Ross Islands, Antarctic Peninsula.
“The collected remains were Marambionectes molinai This includes parts of the torso and tail, limbs, neck and skull, as well as gastroliths called gastroliths, which were probably used for the mechanical digestion of food,'' CONICET paleontologists said. said. Jose O'Gorman and his colleagues.
“They were rescued in the first operation, but it was an intense and tiring experience punctuated by several days of snowstorms. The research team was isolated in a shelter, waiting for better weather to complete the work. Ta.”
material of Marambionectes molinai. Image credit: O'Gorman other., doi: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2312302.
Phylogenetic analysis is restored Marambionectes molinai within a clade Weddelonexia As a sister group of sub-families Arisnectinae.
In this sense, the authors suggest that some of the skeletal features of Alysnectinians may have been acquired through a process that began in the non-Alysnectinian elasmosaurids, prior to the emergence of this clade. are doing.
“Although not perfect, the overall state of preservation of the specimen is exceptional, even for skull material,” the paleontologists said.
“We confirm that it is not only a new species, but also has special characteristics that allow us to identify it as a form of transition between two groups that lived in the southern hemisphere. It has shed light on the evolutionary processes and relationships between the genera and other genera found in Chile, New Zealand, and West Antarctica. ”
discovery of Marambionectes molinai is reported in paper inside Journal of Systematic Paleontology.
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Jose P. O'Gorman other. 2024. New elasmosaurids (plesiosaurs: Sauropterygia) from the López de Bertodano Formation: new data on the evolution of alisnectin morphology. Journal of Systematic Paleontology 22(1); doi: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2312302
In a new study, a team of paleontologists examined the structure of teeth. Feredkodon Chowi aims to better understand the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary paths of a new species of Xuozalaid mammal that lived in what is now China during the Jurassic period.
rebuilding the life of Feredkodon Chowi (right) and Dianoconodon Yonggi (left). Image credit: Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich, a researcher at Monash University and Museums Victoria, said: “Our study challenges current theory and provides a new perspective on the evolutionary history of mammals.”
“By describing the complex tooth shapes and occlusal patterns, we provide important insights into the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary trajectory of the family Xenodiaceae, which was largely unknown until its recent discovery in China. ”
Shoeteraid a mammal-like animal from the Jurassic period, has baffled scientists because of its unique dental features.
These creatures have so-called pseudoclaws (basin-like structures) located in front of the triangular teeth of the mandibular molars, and the claws seen in modern therian mammals are similar to the triangular teeth of the lower molars. It is different from the claw-like pattern located at the back.
“This unique tooth pattern hinders our understanding of schootelid relationships and the first steps in the evolution of mammalian species,” Professor Vickersrich said.
Professor Vickers Rich and her colleagues examined the pseudotribosphene tooth of a new Jurassic schiotelid. Feredkodon Chowi represented by two skeletal specimens.
They were able to more completely dissect the tooth structure using a variety of analyses, and the results suggested that the tooth structure of schootherids is very similar to that of docodontans. Ta.
This study suggests that there are no true trigonids present in the basal teeth of Xuozalidae, indicating that they are more closely related to Docodontans than previously thought.
This reassessment of tooth structure not only resolves outstanding interpretations but also triggers a reconsideration of evolutionary connections within mammals.
“In 1982, a single small Jurassic mandible with four teeth was placed at a single point in the mammal family tree,” said Dr Thomas Rich, also from Monash University and Museums Victoria.
“We now have two virtually complete specimens analyzed in different ways, all of which place them in very different positions on the mammal family tree.”
“Additional specimens and different methods suggest different interpretations. Science often works like this.”
Based on new data, the Xuozidae appears to belong to a separate clade, the Docodontiformes, separate from the Auscutolibospheniformes, and are therefore grouped as follows: docodontance.
This finding highlights the importance of pseudotribosphenic characters in elucidating the initial diversification of mammals.
“This study highlights the presence of a huge variety of tooth morphologies in early mammals, demonstrating unique ecomorphological adaptations throughout the evolutionary development of mammals,” Professor Vickersrich said. Ta.
F. Mao other. The Jurassic family Xenotheliidae represents the earliest dental diversification of mammals. Nature, published online on April 3, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07258-7
Myrmarachne colombiana This is the first species of ant-mimicking spider discovered in Colombian copal.
Myrmarachne colombiana. Image credit: George Poinar Jr. / Oregon State University.
“Ants are particularly well-suited for spiders to pretend to be ants,” said George Poyner Jr., a professor at Oregon State University. “Many animals find them unpalatable or dangerous to eat.” said.
“Ants are aggressive to protect themselves. They have strong bites and stinging venom, and can call on dozens of nestmates as allies.”
“Spiders, on the other hand, have no chemical defenses and are solitary, making them vulnerable to predators that want to avoid them, such as larger spiders, bees, and birds. So if spiders could become like ants, There is a high possibility that it will not be used.”
Myrmarachne colombiana It was discovered in a type of fossilized resin known as copal.
“Copal is a less mature form of fossilized resin than amber, which is typically more than 25 million years old. Still, copal can be up to 3 million years old.” Professor Poyner said.
“However, we were unable to determine the age of the resin in this case.”
“The resin blocks I was working with came from Medellin, Colombia, and were too small to perform aging tests without risking harming the spiders inside.”
According to the study, there are currently no records of living ant-mimicking spiders living in Colombia.
“For spiders, this magical transformation into ants is difficult to achieve. Ants have six legs and two long antennae, whereas spiders have eight legs, but only one antennae. “No,” Professor Poyner said.
“To get around these anatomical differences, spiders typically arrange their two front legs in a way that approximates the appearance of antennae.”
“But the number of legs and the presence or absence of antennae are not the only features that distinguish ants from spiders.”
“In spiders, the abdomen and cephalothorax are closely attached, whereas in ants these body parts are separated by narrow areas called petioles.”
“And there are many other small-scale structures that need to be modified to bring spiders closer to ants.” We say it starts with mutation, adaptation, and natural selection.”
“But I think spider reasoning and intelligence are also involved, because spiders often model the subsequent body changes of certain ants in the same environment.”
“In the early days, it was said that all insect behavior was the result of instinct, but this is no longer the case.”
“Some spider groups have developed the ability to look and behave like different types of ants, he added. Spiders that try to blend in with other insects, such as flies, beetles and wasps. There are some too.”
“Most of the mimic spiders belong to the few families that hunt, such as Jumping spiders and Jumping spiders. The Colombian copal specimen looks like a jumping spider.”
“Mimetic spiders also belong to the families Coringidae (Arachnidae), Tomisidae (Flower spiders), and Zodariidae (Arachidae or Arachnidae).”
of study It was published in the magazine historical biology.
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George Poyner. Myrmarachne colombiana sp. n. (Araneidae: Salticidae), a new species of ant-like spider that lives on copal from Colombia, South America. historical biology, published online March 7, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2320190
Paleontologists have announced the discovery of a new genus and species of titanosaur dinosaur, based on fossilized remains discovered in Uruguay’s Paysandu department.
The newly described dinosaur species roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous Period, more than 85 million years ago.
Named Uderartitan Celeste, the body length of the ancient giant was 15 to 16 meters (49 to 52 feet).
This species belongs to a superfamily of dinosaurs called titanosaurs. Saltasaurinae.
“Titanosaurs represent the most successful and diverse group of sauropods, with more than 80 species described since the beginning of this century.” Dr. Matias Soto from the Uruguay Institute of Geosciences and its colleagues.
“They were the most abundant large herbivores of the Gondwana supercontinent during the Late Cretaceous, in sharp contrast to the ornithischian-dominated contemporaneous fauna of Laurasia.”
“This clade appears to have originated in South America, where it shows its greatest diversity, with records ranging from Belian-Varangian to Maastrichtian (145 million years ago to 72 million years ago). Masu.”
Fossilized materials of Uderartitan Celeste (60 vertebrae, bone fragments, and associated eggshells) were discovered within the deposit in 2006. Layers of Guichon near Quebracho, Paysandu Department, Uruguay.
“Titanosaur fossils have been known in Uruguay since the early 20th century, when four species were identified based on fragmentary fossils,” the paleontologists said.
“Such references are questionable, but given the strong central protrusion of the tail, there is no doubt that they were titanosaurs.”
“These discoveries were relevant because they allowed us to confirm the presence of Upper Cretaceous rocks in Uruguay, but given recent discoveries in South America, for example, Ninja Titan Zapatai, Tapuasaurus macedoi. Without additional data, older epochs within the Cretaceous cannot be excluded.”
According to the team: Uderartitan Celeste shows unique combinations and possibilities of character autotapomorphy.
This discovery indicates that at least two titanosaur lineages existed in Uruguay during the Late Cretaceous. Saltasauidea and Saltasauidea. Aerosaurini.
“Uderartitan Celeste represents the second sauropod taxon recognized in Uruguay, after the recently reported one. Aeolosaurus vertebrae from Asensio’s formation” said the researchers.
“Phylogenetic relationships between saltasaurids saltasaurids or non-saltasaurids saltasauridae prove the presence of saltasauroids in the Guichon Formation.”
This finding is reported in the following article: paper in diary Cretaceous research.
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Matias Soto other. Phylogenetic relationships of new species of titanosaurs (order Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Uruguay. Cretaceous research, published online March 26, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105894
Artistic restoration of Pebanista Yacuruna in the murky waters of the Peruvian Amazon
Jaime Blanc
The Amazon basin was once home to freshwater dolphins that grew up to 3.5 meters long, making them the largest river dolphin known to science.
Researchers say they made this surprising discovery during a 2018 expedition to Peru Aldo Benitez Palomino at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. When the research team saw the animal's fossilized skull sticking out of the river bank, they immediately knew it was a dolphin. Closer analysis confirms that this giant skull is unlike anything previously discovered.
Researchers named this new species Pebanista Yacluna. The name pays homage to the mythical aquatic people, Yacuruna, who are believed to live in underwater cities in the Amazon basin.
The 16 million-year-old fossils were unearthed in an area that was once covered by a “very large lake, almost like a small ocean in the middle of a jungle,” Benitez Palomino said. He says, based on the small eye sockets and large teeth of ancient dolphins. P. Yacluna It was probably a predator with poor eyesight. They relied heavily on echolocation to find fish. “We realized that it was really living in muddy water because its eyes started to get smaller,” Benitez-Palomino said.
Because the fossil was found in the Amazon basin, researchers expected the fossil's closest living relative to be the modern Amazon river dolphin.Instead, they found P. Yacluna It was more closely related to the river dolphin of South Asia. Like them, this ancient species also has a raised crest on its skull that enhances its echolocation abilities.
P. Yacluna Benitez-Palomino said it may have been driven to extinction amid broader ecological changes. “About 11 to 12 million years ago, this huge wetland system began to drain, making way for what is now the Amazon. At that moment, many species became extinct, which is why this giant dolphin Maybe it was fate.”
Paleontologists have described a bizarre new species of mosasaurid, based on a skull and parts collected from a phosphate mine southeast of Casablanca, Morocco.
Kinjaria Akta. Image credit: Andrei Atutin.
Kinjaria Akta It was part of a highly diverse predatory fauna that lived in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco 66 million years ago, just before the dinosaurs went extinct.
The ancient beast was about 7-8 meters (23-26 feet) long and had powerful jaws and long dagger-like teeth.
belongs to Mosasauridaea family of giant marine lizards with specialized flipper-like limbs and tails.
Dr Nick Longrich, a palaeontologist at the University of Bath, said: 'Some mosasaurs had teeth for piercing their prey, while others had teeth for cutting, tearing or crushing their prey. There were,” he said.
“Now we Kinjaria AktaIt has huge dagger-like teeth on its short face. ”
“This is one of the most diverse marine animals seen at any time in history, and it existed just before marine reptiles and dinosaurs went extinct.”
The only known specimen is Kinjaria Akta was recovered from Sidi Shenan Phosphatein the Ourad Abdoun Basin, Kouriga Department, Morocco.
“Morocco's phosphates are deposited in shallow, warm continental oceans in upwelling systems,” said Professor Nathalie Bardet, a paleontologist at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.
“These zones are caused by deep, cool, nutrient-rich water flows rising toward the surface, providing food for large numbers of marine life and, in turn, many predators. Masu.”
“This is probably one explanation for this extraordinary paleobiodiversity observed in Morocco at the end of the Cretaceous.”
“Morocco's phosphates immerse us in the Upper Cretaceous ocean, in the latest geological period of the age of dinosaurs,” says Professor Nour Eddin Jalil, also from the National Museum of Natural History. .
“No other deposit from this period has yielded so many fossils and species.”
“After “Sea Giant,'' Thalassotitan“sawtooth” mosasaurus Xenoden“Startooth” Mosasaurus, Stelladen and many other things now Kinjaria Akta, a new mosasaur with dagger-like teeth. ”
“The elongation of the posterior part of the skull, which houses the jaw musculature, suggests formidable biting forces.”
discovery of Kinjaria Akta is explained in paper in a diary Cretaceous research.
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Nicholas R. Longrich other. A strange new species of Plioplatecarpine mosasaurid from the Maastrichtian region of Morocco. Cretaceous research, published online March 1, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105870
New genus and species of spinosaurid dinosaur named Riojavenatrix lacustris It was discovered by paleontologist Eric Isasmendi of the University of the Basque Country.
Artist's reconstruction of spinosaurids Baryonyx. Image credit: Andrey Atubin / CC BY 4.0 Certificate.
Spinosauridae (Spinosauridae) is a family of large theropod dinosaurs known from the mid-Cretaceous period.
These dinosaurs were characterized by long skulls with crocodile teeth and converging conical teeth, and sturdy limbs with huge thumb claws.
They grow to huge sizes and at least one species is Spinosaurus aegyptiushas grown as much or larger than tyrannosaurus rex.
In many species of spinosaurids, the spinal neural spines were significantly elongated, forming a sail on the dinosaur's back.
Spinosaurs are thought to be piscivorous (fish eaters) based on their sharp teeth and skull and jaw features.
Their fossils have been recovered all over the world, including Africa, Europe, South America, and Asia.
The newly identified spinosauridae lived in what is now Spain during the Early Cretaceous period, about 120 million years ago.
with scientific name Riojavenatrix lacustristhis species reached 7–8 meters (23–26 ft) in length and weighed 1.5 tons.
“Riojavenatrix lacustris is one of the newest species of Iberian and European spinosaurids,” Isasmendi and co-authors said.
“It holds a triangular pubic boot. Megalosauridae, and the medial condyle of the femur, marking a transitional stage between the anteroposteriorly directed long axis of non-spinosaurian theropods and the posteromedially directed long axis of spinosaurids. ”
Skeletal reconstruction Riojavenatrix lacustris. Image credit: Scott Hartman.
Fossilized bones are Riojavenatrix lacustris Collected from the Enciso Group, Cameros Basin, La Rioja, Spain.
“with” Riojavenatrix lacustris“Currently, five spinosaurids have been described from the Early Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula,” the paleontologists said.
“Other Iberian spinosaurs are camarillasaurus From Aragon, Valibona Benatrix and prearthritis from Valencia, and iberospinasse It's from Portugal. ”
“Fossil remains prove that large and diverse populations of these carnivorous dinosaurs lived on the Iberian Peninsula.”
“The numerous discoveries within this iconic group raise several new questions about the ecology of these animals,” said Dr. Elena Cuesta, a paleontologist at the Egidio Ferrio Museum of Paleontology and Ludwig Maximilian University. Stated.
“How did these species coexist with each other?”
“These questions prompt us to revisit future, more detailed studies of spinosaurids, which are sure to yield important results.”
of findings It was published in the magazine Zoological journal of the Linnean Society.
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Eric Isasmendi other. Increasing record of European theropods: new basal spinosaurs from the Enciso Group of the Cameros Basin (La Rioja, Spain). Evolutionary implications and paleontological diversity. Zoological journal of the Linnean Society, published online on February 19, 2024. doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad193
A new genus and species of plesiosaur that lived near the beginning of the Epoch Epoch. Early to mid-Jurassic sales It was identified from two elaborate three-dimensionally preserved skeletons discovered in Bavaria, Germany.
rebuilding the life of Franconiasaurus brevispinus. Image credit: Joschua Knüppe.
Franconiasaurus brevispinus It lived in the early Jurassic seas about 175 million years ago.
The ancient reptile was a member of plesiosaurinaea group of plesiosaurs known from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
“Plesiosaurs are Mesozoic reptiles perfectly adapted to aquatic life.” sven sachs From the Bielefeld Nature Museum and colleagues.
“Throughout an evolutionary history of more than 140 million years, plesiosaurs have dispersed throughout the world, acquired substantial diversity, occupied a variety of ecological niches, and experienced multiple faunal shifts. did.”
“Of these, the Early/Middle Jurassic transition event (175 to 171 million years ago) has received increased interest recently, as it apparently had a profound impact on all three major lineages of plesiosaurs. I am. Romareosauridae, Pliosauridae and plesiosaurinae. ”
“This event clearly had a significant impact on several clades of marine tetrapods, including the 'fish-like' ichthyosaurs, which are relatives of marine crocodiles.Taratoskian), as well as all three major lineages of plesiosaurs. ”
“The predatory plesiosaur clade Romareosauridae, which was dominant in the Early Jurassic seas, began to disappear and reached its final demise around 161.5 million years ago (late Middle Jurassic), while the pliosaurids and chief… The dragon family has become more diverse.”
“Pliosaurs established a successful clade of large predators that controlled the upper layers of marine ecosystems from 171 million years ago to 90 million years ago, making them one of the largest aquatic predators to ever live. It consisted of a predatory quadrupedal animal that was over 10 meters long.
“Plesiosaurs were then derived from the rich assemblages of microclades common in the European euoceanic waters of Toarchia to the cryptocliids, which represented the globally dominant plesiosaur component of the Middle and Late Jurassic. Switched to fauna. Leptocraidian and elasmosaurids Close to the transition period from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous. ”
Diagnostic skeletal elements of type specimens Franconiasaurus brevispinus.Image credit: Sax other., doi: 10.3389/feart.2024.1341470.
two fossilized skeletons Franconiasaurus brevispinus It was discovered in a now abandoned clay pit in a part of the eurensis melgel layerlocated in Mistelgau, Bavaria, Germany.
“Franconiasaurus brevispinus has been established on the basis of two exquisite three-dimensionally preserved specimens,” said the paleontologist.
“The holotype contains a nearly complete skeleton, but a large portion of the skull is missing.”
“The specimen mentioned represents a larger individual and consists of vertebrae, ribs, and some girdle and limb elements.”
Franconiasaurus brevispinus shows a mixture of characters that combines features that are almost uniformly distributed in early plesiosaurs with features that are typically observed in later members of the clade.
“Through systematic analysis, we can reliably Franconiasaurus brevispinus as a sister taxon of Cryptocridiabridging the evolutionary gap between early plesiosaurs such as plesiosaurus“They are representative forms of later-divergent clades such as cryptocliids, leptochleidians, elasmosaurids, and microclades,” the researchers concluded.
their paper Published in an online journal Frontiers of Earth Science.
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sven sachs other. 2024. Elaborate skeleton of new transitional plesiosaur fills a gap in plesiosaur evolutionary history. front.earth science 12; doi: 10.3389/feart.2024.1341470
Pudera Carlae is the first deer species to be discovered in the 21st century and the first from the New World in over 60 years. Learn more about it here.
Pudera Carlae. Image credit: Sernanp.
The newly described deer species, Pudera Carlae, belongs to the Neotropical deer family, Odokoileini.
“Some questions regarding the phylogeny and taxonomy of Odocoileini, a group of 18 recognized extant species currently assigned to seven genera, remain unclear,” said Dr. Guillermo Delaire of the University of South Australia and his colleague.
“The few available phylogenetic analyzes indicate that some genera are not monophyletic and that species richness within groups is underestimated.”
“One genus that has both problems is the stocky, short-legged dwarf deer, Pudu”
In a new study, the authors found that the Pudu Mephisto File species are actually two different species.
“One is distributed north of the Huancabamba depression from the northernmost part of Peru to the north (Ecuador and Colombia), while the other is endemic in Peru south of the Huancabamba depression and does not have a name yet, so we propose naming it Pudera Carlae”
“This is the first extant deer species described in the 21st century and the first discovered in the New World in over 60 years.”
The researchers also found that the Pudupuda type species of Pudu are not related to the two northern Pudu species.
“We revalidate the genus Pudera and assign the latter two species to it.”
The team’s paper was published in the mammal journal this month.
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Javier Barrio et al. Extant deer species first described in the 21st century and their reexamination Pudera (Artiodactyla). mammal journal, published online March 1, 2024. Doi: 10.1093/jmammal/gyae012
genus mouse pseudosyndrome It is one of the few terrestrial placental mammals to have established itself in Australia without human intervention.
The delicate rat of the Pilbara (Pseudomys pyruvalensis). Image credit: Ian Boole.
of Native little mouse (Pseudomys delicaturus)The mouse, also known as the delicate mouse, was previously thought to be a single species that spread across a vast country, from the Pilbara in Western Australia, across parts of the Northern Territory, through Queensland to the New South Wales border. It was getting worse.
“Thanks to new genetic technology, we now identify not one but three species of these delicate mice.”
“Identifying undescribed species and giving them official names will go a long way in ensuring they are properly managed.”
“Although it may be difficult for amateurs to tell the species apart, this discovery is important for the future of this small mouse.”
“The two new species did not receive conservation or research attention because we did not know they were there.”
“For example, we don't know whether population declines were not detected as a result of all three species being assessed as a single unit.”
“This delicate rat was not a priority for conservation, but that's because the distribution of the rat was thought to be three times larger than it actually is. That would allow for a reassessment.”
“Sensitive mice differ from the mice you encounter in your home or backyard in several important ways.”
“Mus musculus, black rats and brown rats are non-native species that have been introduced to Australia since European colonization.”
“Evolutionarily and ecologically, they are very different from native rodents. They compete with our native species for resources.”
“Delicate mice are part of a group of native rodents that have evolved in Australia over the past five million years. They are an important part of Australia's natural environment and ecosystem.”
“The delicate mouse is Australia's smallest rodent. Weighing only 6 grams, it's really small.”
Researchers also discovered that the delicate mice were able to adapt well to their environment, whether it was an arid desert or a forest.
“These three species will now be referred to by common names that reflect their habitat: Western or Pilbara delicate mouse, Eastern delicate mouse and Northern delicate mouse,” they said. Stated.
An international team of herpetologists led by scientists from the University of New Mexico Highlands and the University of Queensland has described a mysterious new species of anaconda living deep in the Amazon.
anaconda (genus Eunectes) is a group of aquatic snakes endemic to the east of the Andes Mountains of South America.
These large-bodied snakes live in lowland rivers and wetlands. They have typical adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle, such as their nostrils and eyes located on the dorsal side of their heads, and exhibiting dorsal coloration and markings that blend well with aquatic plants.
Prior to this study, four species were recognized in this genus. Eunectes murinus represents the sister lineage of a group consisting of Eunectes veniensis, Eunectes deschaouenseiand Eunectes Noteus.
The largest of these species is Eunectes murinusor the blue anaconda, lives in most tropical regions of the continent, including the Amazon, Essequibo, and Orinoco river basins and several smaller watersheds.
The other three species are smaller Eunectes murinus distributed within or adjacent to the distribution of Eunectes murinus.
recently described species Eunectes veniensisor venian anaconda, is restricted to the Beni region of Bolivia.
Eunectes deschaouensei, or black-spotted anaconda, is distributed in the northeastern part of the continent. They range from the Amazon River Delta in Brazil to French Guiana and possibly Suriname.
Eunectes Noteusor yellow anaconda, is distributed in the south. Eunectes murinus Includes the Pantanal, Chaco, and other highly seasonal regions of tropical and subtropical South America, including Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay.
“Our team received an unusual invitation from the Huaorani people to explore the area and collect samples from an anaconda population, rumored to be the largest extant species,” the University of Queensland said. Professor Brian Fryco-lead author of the study.
“Indigenous hunters took us on a 10-day expedition into the jungle to search for snakes they consider sacred.”
“As we paddled our canoes down the river system, we were lucky enough to spot a few anacondas lurking in the shallows, waiting for prey.”
“The size of these magnificent creatures was incredible. The female anaconda we encountered was a whopping 6.3 meters (20.7 feet) long.”
“The Huaorani have reported other anacondas in the region measuring over 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) and weighing about 500 kilograms.”
named Eunectes Acaimaor northern green anaconda, a new species occurs in the Orinoco Basin.
“Eunectes Acaima branched from Eunectes murinus They are almost 10 million years old and genetically 5.5% different,” Professor Fry said.
“This is very important. To put it into perspective, there is only about a 2% difference between humans and chimpanzees. This discovery is the highlight of my career.”
“The Amazon continues to face alarming ecological threats,” he added.
“Deforestation in the Amazon basin due to agricultural expansion has resulted in an estimated loss of 20-31% of habitat and could affect up to 40% of the forest by 2050.”
“Another growing problem is habitat degradation due to land fragmentation caused by heavy metal pollution associated with runoff from industrialized agriculture and oil extraction activities.”
“Forest fires, drought and climate change are also notable threats.”
“These rare anacondas and the other species that share this remote ecosystem face significant challenges.”
“Our next research project will focus on heavy metal pollution in the Amazon,” Professor Fry said.
“It's not just these giant snakes that are facing environmental threats, but almost every creature in this region.”
“While the discovery of a new species of anaconda is exciting, it is important to emphasize the urgent need to further study these endangered species and ecosystems.”
“Particularly urgent is investigating how petrochemicals from oil spills are affecting the fertility and reproductive biology of rare snakes and other keystone species in the Amazon.”
discovery of Eunectes Acaima is explained in paper in diary Diversity.
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Jesus A. Rivas other. 2024. Untangling the anaconda: Unraveling a new species of green and rethinking yellow. Diversity 16(2):127; doi: 10.3390/d16020127
in new paper Published in the magazine on January 31, 2024 historical biologypaleontologists announced the discovery of a previously undocumented species of dinosaur related to the famous dinosaur. stegosaurus.
Hypothetical reconstruction of Enbokuryu Artimus. Image credit: Ddinodan / Sci.News.
stegosaurus A group of armored, plant-eating dinosaurs that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
These dinosaurs were four-legged and reached a maximum length of about 9 meters (30 feet).
They had small heads, stake-like teeth, vertical bony plates and spines on their backs and tails, and hoof-like toes on all four limbs.
Dr. Lei Jia of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues said, “Stegosaurs are a minor but iconic group of ornithischian dinosaurs.''
“They range from the Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, but are rare and poorly represented in the Cretaceous.”
“Until our study began, there were only four valid taxa from the Cretaceous. Palantdon, Verhosaurus homheni,Verhosaurus ordoseensis and Mongolostegus exspectabilis”
A new species from the Cretaceous period, Enbokuryu Artimuslived in what is now China from 113 million years ago to 100 million years ago.
The fossilized remains of this sword dragon were collected from the Zuoyun Formation in Zuoyun County, Shanxi Province, China.
“Enbokuryu Artimus “This is one of the most recent records of a stegosaur taxon in the world,” the paleontologists said.
“Compared to other sword dragons, Enbokuryu Artimus The dorsal vertebrae and iliosacral block have several unique features. ”
“The dorsal vertebrae have higher neural arches, smaller neural canals, and fewer fused vertebrae/sacral and fenestra/sacral ribs in the iliosacral block.”
“As a result of phylogenetic analysis, Enbokuryu Artimus It is recovered as a sister taxon of the clade containing. Stegosaurus Stenops and Vuelhosaurus homheni” they added.
“However, it differs from these two taxa in several anatomical features, including the dorsal sacral ribs, sacral ribs, caudal vertebrae, and ilium.”
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Ray Jia other. A new species of sword dragon from the Late Early Cretaceous period of Zuoyun City, Shanxi Province, China. historical biology, published online on January 31, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2308214
Chinese paleontologists have discovered fossil fragments of a new genus and species of titanosaurus, a sauropod dinosaur that walked the Earth during the Cretaceous period.
rebuilding the life of Jancitan ganjouensis. Image credit: UnexpectedDinoLesson / Sci.News.
Muttjac titanum ganjoensis They lived in what is now China from 72 million years ago to 66 million years ago (late Cretaceous period).
The partial skeleton of this dinosaur was discovered in the Nanxiong Formation near Tankou Town, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China.
The specimen consists of seven cervical and anterior dorsal vertebrae, and several cervical and dorsal ribs.
Muttjac titanum ganjoensis belongs to the sauropod dinosaur group titanosauridae.
“Muttjac titanum ganjoensis It is unique among Asian titanosaurids in that it has a deeply bifurcated dorsal neck and anterodorsal neural spines, and a dorsoventrally compressed dorsal neck and anterodorsal center. Lead author Jin Yu Mo of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Natural History Museum and colleagues state in the paper. .
Muttjac titanum ganjoensis represents the second sauropod species. Nanyu Formation.
“The Late Cretaceous Nanxiong Formation is represented by an extensive succession of red mudstones, sandstones, and conglomerates,” the paleontologists wrote.
“Recent years have produced a wide variety of vertebrates, including theropods, ornithopods, crocodiles, turtles, lizards, and mammals, as well as vast numbers of dinosaur eggs.”
“There is only one species of sauropod, Ganansaurus sinensisrecorded in this area.
Team analysis points Muttjac titanum ganjoensis Within a group of deeply nested titanosaurs Rogoncosauria.
“Muttjac titanum ganjoensis Display features that indicate branch locations later than Ganansaurus sinensismore specifically, Muttjac titanum ganjoensis It was recovered as Rogoncosaurus, but Ganansaurus sinensis as titanosaurs outside of a late-branching clade containing Diamantina Sauria and lithostorozia” the researchers wrote.
“As a result, Muttjac titanum ganjoensis There are no duplicate elements with Ganansaurus sinensiswe are confident. Muttjac titanum ganjoensis is a different species from Ganansaurus sinensis”
The discovery of Muttjac titanum ganjoensis “This indicates the presence of both early-divergent and late-divergent titanosauroid sauropods in the Late Cretaceous Ganzhou dinosaur fauna,” the researchers added.
“This discovery also increases the diversity of titanosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Asia.”
of the team paper It was published in the magazine historical biology.
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Mo Jin Yoo other. A new species of titanosaur sauropod excavated from the Late Cretaceous period in Jiangxi Province, southern China. historical biology, published online on September 23, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2259413
A new genus and species of dwarf lambeosaurid hadrosauridae have been discovered in Moroccan rocks dating back to the late Cretaceous period, approximately 68 million years ago.
Late Maastrichtian dinosaurs from Morocco's latest Cretaceous phosphates.Image credit: Longrich other., doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-53447-9.
“Dalatypus dinosaurs, or hadrosaurs, were highly successful herbivores that caused large-scale radioactivity in the Late Cretaceous,” said paleontologists from the University of Bath. Nicholas Longrich and his colleagues.
“Hadrosaurids evolved in North America during the Turonian period (94 to 90 million years ago) and then dispersed to Asia and Europe.”
“The presence of hadrosaurids in Africa is puzzling because Africa had been isolated from Laurasia by the deep ocean since the Middle Jurassic, whereas hadrosaurids evolved in the Late Cretaceous.”
“The solution to this contradiction seems to be that the platypus either swam to Africa or crossed there on a raft.”
The newly described hadrosaurid species lived in Africa during the late Maastrichtian period of the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 million years ago.
named Mincaria Batathis dinosaur was relatively small, measuring about 3.5 meters (11.5 ft) in length.
This species comes from the phosphate mines of Sidi Chennan, Morocco, the same locality where the hadrosaur family Lambeosaurus was produced. Ajnavia Odysseusand based on a partial skull.
belongs to Areni Saulinia clade of lambeosaurid hadrosaurids endemic to Europe and North Africa.
“Mincaria Bata is distinguished from Ajnavia Odysseus “This is due to the shape of the maxilla, which has a more ventrally located zygomatic surface, a curved external ridge, a more sinusoidal tooth row, and an array of neurovascular foramina,” the paleontologists said.
“But the new species is very similar. Ajnavia Odysseus Other arenisaurines also have their small size and many anatomical features. ”
skull elements Mincaria Bata. Scale bar – 5 cm.Image credit: Longrich other., doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-53447-9.
Researchers also unearthed the fossilized remains of two other hadrosaurids at the Sidi Daoui and Mura Larak sites.
“The humerus and femur belong to a larger hadrosaurid, measuring 6 meters (20 feet) long, suggesting that at least three species coexisted,” the researchers said.
Research team's analysis suggests a group of hadrosaurs lambeosauridae It first diversified in Asia and later dispersed to North America.
Dispersal from Asia to Europe was followed by dispersal to North Africa. Multiple dispersals from Europe to Africa appear to be more parsimonious than a single dispersal, but are not impossible, especially considering its unique morphology. Ajnavia Odysseus and Mincaria Bata.
“Hadrosaurid diversity in Europe and Africa suggests a dispersal radiation, with lambeosaurs taking advantage of low ornithischian diversity to diversify,” the scientists said. Stated.
“However, African lambeosaurs are smaller than their North American and Asian counterparts, probably due to competition with titanosaurs.”
“The lack of known hadrosaurids from eastern Africa suggests that Moroccan hadrosaurids are part of a distinct island fauna and may represent an island radiation.”
of findings appear in the diary scientific report.
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NR Long Rich other. 2024. A new small duck-billed dinosaur (hadrosauridae: Lambeosauridae) discovered from Morocco and the diversity of dinosaurs from the late Maastrichtian in North Africa. science officer 14, 3665; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-53447-9
Scientists have identified five mysterious species of the genus Viper Botrykiss They live in the jungles and cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador.
Botrykis Rahimi. Image credit: Lucas Bustamante.
The eyelash viper is distinguished by a unique feature: a set of huge spine-like scales above the eyes.
These eyelashes give the snake a frightening and ferocious appearance, but the true purpose of this feature is still unknown.
However, what is certain is that certain populations exhibit longer and more stylized eyelashes compared to others.
The changes in the condition of the eyelashes led researchers to hypothesize that an undiscovered species existed.
Eyelash vipers are also famous for another characteristic: they are multicolored. The same patch of rainforest may contain individuals of the turquoise morph, moss morph, or gold morph. They all belong to the same species, even though they have completely different attire.
Alejandro Arteaga, a researcher with the Carmai Foundation and Tropical Helping SA, said: “No two individuals have the same color, even if they belong to the same litter (giving birth to live offspring).”
“Some species have a ‘Christmas’ form, a ghost form, and even a purple form, and different varieties can coexist and even breed with each other.”
“The reasons behind these incredible color changes are still unclear, but it is likely that the pit vipers are able to occupy a wide range of ambush perches, from mossy branches to bright yellow heliconias. is.”
Distribution of palm beetles botry extract schlegeli Species complex including 5 new species.Image credit: Arteaga other., doi: 10.3897/evolsyst.8.114527.
The newly identified species of eyelash viper is Botry extract lasix morum, Botrychus crebai, botry extract kwargi, Botrykis Rahimiand botry extract fusaini.
The first three species are endemic to the eastern Columbia Mountains and live in cloud forests and coffee plantations.
Botrykis Rahimi It stands out because it occurs in the remote and pristine Chocó rainforest on the border of Colombia and Ecuador.
botry extract fusaini It lives in the forests of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru.
“The venom of some (perhaps all) of the new viper species is much less lethal and hemorrhagic than the venom of typical vipers. Central American eyelash viper (botry extract schlegeli)” said Tropical Helping SA and Savia Foundation researcher Lucas Bustamante, who was bitten on the finger. Botrykis Rahimi When the photo was taken during a research expedition in 2013.
“There was intermittent localized pain, dizziness and swelling, but after three doses of antivenom within two hours of the sting, it quickly resolved and no scarring remained.”
“One of the key conclusions of the study is that four species in the group face high risk of extinction,” the researchers said.
“Their geographic range is very limited, and 50% to 80% of their habitat has already been destroyed.”
“Therefore, rapid response measures are urgently needed to save remaining habitat.”
of study It was published in the magazine evolutionary systematics.
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A. Arteaga other. 2024. Systematic revision of Eyelash Palm-Pitviper botry extract schlegeli (Serpentes, Viperidae), 5 new species descriptions and 3 revalidations. evolutionary systematics 8 (1): 15-64; doi: 10.3897/evolsyst.8.114527
An intensive search for ancient marine vertebrates in Mammoth Cave National Park's paleontological resource inventory has yielded a wealth of new fossil data. To date, paleontologists have identified marine vertebrate fossils from four major formations within the park, two of which are the first of marine vertebrate fossils to occur in those formations. It's a record. The Mammoth Cave ruins have yielded more than 70 species of ancient fish, approximately 90% of which are cartilaginous fish (sharks and related species), including two new species: I am. Troglocladodus trimbley and Grikmanius Care Forum.
Reconstruction of a new Ctenacan shark discovered in Mammoth Cave National Park and northern Alabama: Grikmanius Care Forum Two people can be seen swimming in the foreground. Troglocladodus trimbley swimming above. Image credit: Benji Paynose.
Mammoth Cave National ParkLocated in central Kentucky, it is home to the longest cave system in the world.
To date, more than 685 km (426 miles) of corridors within 214 km have been mapped.2 It forms a park. In addition, within the boundaries of the park there are more than 500 small caves.
These cave passages date back 340 to 325 million years and were formed by dissolution by underground rivers, streams, and other drainage channels that cut through a series of limestones covered with durable sandstone. I did.
These passages opened up unique views of these limestones. Limestone is a time capsule containing a wealth of information about the ancient marine environment at the time of its deposition.
From these layers, invertebrate fossils such as horned corals, fan-like bryozoans, brachiopods, gastropods, shelled cephalopods, and a variety of echinoderms are found throughout the various strata that form the cave. It has been.
“Every new discovery at Mammoth Cave is made possible because of collaboration,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble.
“Our parks team is proud to collaborate and collaborate with the National Park Service Paleontology Program and now the University of Alabama Department of Geological Sciences to make this latest announcement possible.”
Restoration of the St. Louis Shallow Marine Environment and its Fauna Genevieve Formation, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. Image credit: Julius Csotony.
The two new species are stenacanto shark, Troglocladodus trimbley and Grikmanius Care Forumlikely hunting in an ancient coastal habitat that covered Kentucky and Alabama more than 325 million years ago.
This region was once an ancient sea route connecting what is now eastern North America, Europe, and North Africa, but it later disappeared with the formation of the supercontinent Pangea.
Troglocladodus trimbley It was identified from adult and juvenile teeth found in St. Louis and St. Louis. Genevieve Formation and Bangor Formation of Mammoth Cave.
The ancient shark is estimated to have reached about 3 to 3.7 meters (10 to 12 feet) in length, about the same size as the oceanic white shark.
Grikmanius Care Forum It was mainly identified from teeth in St. Louis, St. Louis.Genebabe and Haney Formations in Mammoth Cave, Hartselle and Bangor Formations in Alabama, but a partial set of jaws and gills from a young specimen Grikmanius Care Forum It was also discovered in Mammoth Cave.
The body length of this species was 3-3.7 meters. The shape of its jaws suggests that it had a short head with a powerful bite to hunt small sharks, bony fish, and right-cone-shaped creatures like squid.
“This discovery pushes the origin of the Ktenacanto shark back more than 50 million years earlier than expected,” the paleontologists said.
of study It was published in the magazine park management forum.
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JM Hodnet other. 2024. Sharks in the Dark: Paleontological inventory reveals multiple contiguous populations of Mississippian cartilaginous fishes (chondrichthyes) in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. park management forum 40(1); doi: 10.5070/P540162921
A genus and species of sauropod, a titanosaur mimicking rebachisaurid, measuring over 15 meters (50 feet) in length, has been unearthed in Patagonia, Argentina.
rebuilding the life of Inawentu Osratus. Image credit: Gabriel Rio.
The newly discovered dinosaur roamed the Earth during the late Cretaceous period, about 86 million years ago.
dubbing Inawentu Osratusthe animals were of the following types: titanosaurusa diverse group of long-necked sauropods that lived from the Late Jurassic period (163.5 million to 145 million years ago) to the end of the Cretaceous period (145 million to 66 million years ago).
They are known for their large body size, long necks, and wide stance, and include species ranging from the largest known land vertebrates to “dwarfs” as large as elephants. Some species had osteoderm (armor plate).
“During the late Mesozoic Era, sauropod dinosaurs constituted the main herbivores in all terrestrial ecosystems of polar Gondwana,” said paleontologist Leonardo Filippi of Argentina's Municipal Museum of Urquiza and his colleagues.
“Quadrupedal locomotion and a gravitational posture, a proportionately small cranio-body ratio, and a common bow plan consisting of a series of elongated necks and tails made sauropods capable of large size, locomotion, defense, physiology, and feeding. They have evolved a variety of notable adaptations related to food and behavior.”
“They represented, in terms of diversity and abundance, the major medium- to large-sized herbivore component of the fauna in most of these southern landmass.”
partially completed specimen Inawentu Osratus It was recovered from fluvial deposits at the La Invernada archaeological site, part of the Bajo de la Carpa Formation in the Neuquen Basin of Patagonia, Argentina.
“The recovered human bones were found interlocked within a horizon of massive reddish solidified mudstone covered by a thin layer of sand (30 cm thick) associated with flood deposits of the river bank. ' explained the researchers.
Inawentu Osratus It shows remarkable convergent properties of the skull anatomy. rebatisauridae sauropodaccording to the author.
“Inawentu Osratus “It belongs to the square-jawed titanosaur clade and was restricted to the final stages of the Late Cretaceous of South America,” the researchers said.
“The discovery of new materials and different datasets providing new morphological information allows us to provide better support in future phylogenies confirming the existence of this square-jawed titanosaur clade. Become.”
“Inawentu Osratus And perhaps other members of this clade have obvious nutritional adaptations seen in preceding rebatisaurid sauropods, such as broad snouts and relatively short necks. ”
“In this connection, a series of shortened cervix Inawentu Osratus This may be consistent with low browsing feed behavior. ”
“This could have paleoecological implications, such as a zoological alternation in the Gondwanan ecosystem since the Turonian period or a low-browsing diet in two distinct lineages of sauropod dinosaurs.”
team's findings It was published in the magazine Cretaceous research.
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Leonardo S. Filippi other. 2024. Rebachysaurid-mimic titanosaurs and evidence of faunal disturbance events in southwestern Gondwana during the Late Cretaceous. Cretaceous research 154: 105754; doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105754
Sanphodiacaulis densifolia is an extinct tree species that existed in what is now New Brunswick, Canada, between 359 and 347 million years ago (Carboniferous period). The structure consisted of an unbranched 16 cm diameter trunk and compound leaves arranged in a 13 cm spiral and compressed to a vertical trunk length of 14 cm. The compound leaves in the upper 0.75 m of the trunk were over 1.75 m long, with preserved alternating secondary collaterals starting 0.5 m from the trunk. In the lower region of the trunk there were only persistent leaf bases. Sanphodiacaulis densifolia shows that the early Carboniferous vegetation was more complex than expected, indicating that this was an experimental, perhaps transitional, period of diverse growth structures.
Sanphodiacaulis densifolia. Image credit: Tim Stonecipher.
Trees first appeared during the Middle Devonian period (393 to 383 million years ago), but modern woody plants did not appear until about 10 million years later.
Evidence for dendritic structures (tree-like structures) is primarily based on mud moldings, sand moldings, or calcified stumps, or extensive root structures in fossilized soils.
Under unique preservation conditions, these early trees fossilized with roots and crown structures attached to their trunks.
“The method is Sanphodiacaulis densifolia “It has very long leaves around its slender trunk, and it's amazing how many leaves there are on such a short trunk,” said Dr. Robert Gastaldo, a paleontologist at Colby College. he said.
“The morphology of these 350-million-year-old trees looks like ferns or palms, even though palms arose 300 million years ago.”
“However, the functional leaves of ferns and palm trees are clustered at the top and are relatively few in number.”
“in contrast, Sanphodiacaulis densifolia More than 250 leaves have been preserved around the trunk, with each partially preserved leaf extending 1.75 meters from the trunk. ”
“We estimate that each leaf grew at least another meter before it finished.”
“This means that ‘bottlebrush’ had a dense canopy of leaves that were not woody and spread for at least 5.5 meters around a trunk that was only 16 cm in diameter. Amazing to say the least. .”
Sanphodiacaulis densifolia It has compound leaves arranged in a spiral.Image credit: Gastaldo other., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.011.
Dr. Gastaldo and his colleagues examined five fossil specimens. Sanphodiacaulis densifolia.
The fossil was excavated from the Sanford Quarry, part of the Albert Formation in New Brunswick, Canada.
“These fossils were preserved when an earthquake destroyed trees and other vegetation along the edge of a rift lake,” Gastaldo said.
“The first fossil wood was unearthed from a quarry about seven years ago, but it contained only one partial sample.”
“It took several years to find four other specimens of the same plant in close spatial proximity.”
“One of the specimens reveals how the leaves separate from the top of the tree, which makes this tree quite unique.”
“This is one of the few preserved trunks with crown leaves still attached in a fossil record spanning more than 400 million years.”
Actual and reconstructed heights and biostratigraphic ranges of Pennsylvanian trees from the Middle Devonian. Image credit: Gastaldo et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.011.
Sanphodiacaulis densifolia It probably relied on its unusual growth form to maximize the amount of light it could capture and reduce competition with other plants above ground.
This discovery provides important insights into the evolution of plants and arboreal growth, that is, plants that grow to the height of a tree, or at least 4.5 m, at maturity.
They also remind us that throughout the history of life on Earth, there have been trees that look like nothing we've ever seen before.
“We all have a mental concept of what a tree looks like, depending on where we live on the planet, and we all have a vision of something familiar,” Dr. Gastaldo said. Ta.
“The fossils we report are unique and represent some of the strangest growth forms in the history of life.”
“This is an evolutionary experiment during a period of forest plant biodiversity, and it appears to be a short-lived form.”
“The history of life on land consists of plants and animals that are different from those that live today,” he added.
“The evolutionary mechanisms that operated in the distant past allowed organisms to survive for long periods of time, but their shape, morphology, growth structure, and life history followed different trajectories and strategies.”
“Rare and unusual fossils like the New Brunswick tree are just a few examples of failed experiments that have colonized our planet.”
a paper The survey results were published in a magazine current biology.
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Robert A. Gastaldo other. A mysterious fossil plant with a three-dimensional tree-like growth structure from the earliest Carboniferous period in New Brunswick, Canada. current biology, published online on February 2, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.011
A new genus and species of pterosaur has been identified from fossils found at the site. Kilmalag Formation Originally from the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
Reconstructed by artists Theoptera evansae. Image credit: Mark Witton / Natural History Museum, London.
Professor Paul Barrett of London's Natural History Museum and colleagues said: “The oldest known pterosaur fossils date from the late Triassic period, but the group persisted until extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.''
“Pterosaurs are known on every continent and experienced two major peaks in species richness during the Early-Middle Cretaceous and the Late Cretaceous.”
“However, that distribution is highly influenced by the 'Lagerstetten effect' and other forms of sampling bias.”
“Most of our knowledge about the evolutionary history of pterosaurs is based on material from a small number of archaeological sites with limited spatiotemporal extent.”
The newly discovered species lived in what is now Scotland between 168 and 166 million years ago (during the mid-Jurassic period).
named Theoptera evansaeIt was the first pterosaur named in Scotland and the most complete pterosaur discovered in Britain since its discovery by Mary Anning. Dimorphodon Macronix Early 1800s.
The remains of this flying reptile consist of a three-dimensionally preserved partial skeleton, including the shoulders, wings, legs, and part of the spine.
Many of the bones remain fully embedded in the rock and can only be studied using CT scans.
Theoptera evansae, almost as found (top) and with CT reconstruction using the elements (bottom). Image credit: Martin-Silverstone other.
“Theoptera evansae is part of the pterosaur clade Dalwinoptera'' said the paleontologists.
“The discovery shows that this clade is much more diverse than previously thought and persisted for more than 25 million years, from the Late Late Jurassic to the Late Jurassic.”
The discovery also shows that all of the major Jurassic pterosaurs evolved earlier than previously thought, well before the end of the Early Jurassic.
“Theoptera evansae “This helps narrow down the timing of some key events in the evolution of flying reptiles,” said Professor Barrett.
“Most of its relatives are from China, so its appearance in Britain during the mid-Jurassic period was a complete surprise.”
“This shows that the advanced group of flying reptiles to which it belongs appeared earlier than we thought and quickly acquired a near-global distribution.”
“During that period, Theoptera evansae This period is one of the most important in the evolution of pterosaurs, and it is also the period with the lowest number of specimens, demonstrating its importance,” said Dr Liz Martin-Silverstone, a palaeontologist at the University of Bristol. said.
“We found more bones embedded in the rock, some of which were essential to identifying the type of pterosaur.” Theoptera evansae This was an even better discovery than originally thought. ”
“This brings us one step closer to understanding when and where more advanced pterosaurs evolved.”
elizabeth martin silverstone other. 2024. A new pterosaur and the diversification of early flying reptiles from the Middle Jurassic of Skye, Scotland. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontologyin press.
A research team led by scientists from Calicut University has described a new species of agamid lizard discovered in the Indian state of Kerala.
Agastya Gama Edge, an uncollected female from the reference locality habitat of Kuramab, Idukki District, Kerala, India. Image credit: Sandeep Das.
The newly confirmed species belong to the following: Agastya Gama, a previously monotypic genus of diurnal, terrestrial, insectivorous lizards of the family Agamiidae.
“Terrestrial agamids, which inhabit the forests of southern India and Sri Lanka, are currently classified into two separate genera. Agastya Gama and Otocryptis It is based on genetic and morphological grounds,” said Calicut University researcher Sandeep Das and colleagues.
“Genus Otocryptis It originally included two species. Otocryptis Bed Dormitory From the southern Western Ghats of India, Otocryptis wigmannii It comes from the humid region of Sri Lanka. ”
“After a long gap, additional species Otocryptis nigristigma Illustrated from the dry forests of Sri Lanka. ”
“In 2018, scientists showed that the Sri Lankan kangaroo skink is paraphyletic with the Western Ghats kangaroo skink.”
“This prompted them to establish a monotypic genus.” Agastya Gama to accommodate Indians. Otocryptis Bed Dormitory however, no molecular data are available. Otocryptis nigristigma”
Agastya Gama Edge Lifetime: (A) An unrecovered adult male from Kuramab, Idukki District, Kerala, India. (B) Females not collected from the same locality. Image credit: Sandeep Das.
named Agastya Gama EdgeThe new species is a small agamid lizard with a body length of 3 to 4.3 centimeters.
“Agastya Gama Edge It is the second species of the genus Agastya Gama” said the researchers.
“On the surface, they are similar. Agastya Gama Bed Dormitory They vary in overall shape, size, and color, but can be distinguished by the combination of letters. ”
Agastya Gama Edge It is currently known only from evergreen forests in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. All records of this species are between 636 and 835 m above sea level.
“We encountered more individuals from March to May,” the scientists said.
“Disturbed habitats such as roadside vegetation and plantation areas had lower numbers compared to undisturbed vegetation types.”
“During the breeding season from March to May, males had creamy spots on their throats. Young individuals were observed in June and July.”
“Discovery of the second species Agastya Gama “The reptile diversity of the Western Ghats is increasing,” they added.
“Agastya Gama Bed Dormitory Its range is home to a variety of habitat types, including myristica wetlands, hilltop tropical evergreen forests in the south, tropical evergreen forests on the west coast, tropical semi-evergreen forests on the west coast, and secondary moist mixed deciduous forests in the south. I am. Agastya Gama Edge So far it has been recorded only from tropical semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. ”
“Our study shows that the two species are geographically separated by about 80 km in a straight line.”
discovery of Agastya Gama Edge is explained in paper It was published in the magazine vertebrate zoology.
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S. Das other. 2024. Discovery of a new species of kangaroo lizard (Squamatora: Agamiidae: Agastya Gama) from the southern Western Ghats of India. vertebrate zoology 74: 151-168; doi: 10.3897/vz.74.e113084
Marine biologist at Schmidt Ocean Institute R/V Falco Two expeditions in 2023 exploring seamounts off Costa Rica's Pacific coast discovered at least four new species of deep-sea octopus.
A newly hatched octopus swims away from its egg near a small rocky outcrop informally known as El Dorado Hill. Image credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute.
“The impact is that R/V Falco Research to understand Costa Rica's deep Pacific Ocean will continue into the future and hopefully generate awareness that will lead to policies that protect the country's deep sea,” said Dr. Jorge Cortés, a researcher at the University of Costa Rica.
“We hope this expedition will inspire new generations. Further international cooperation is needed to increase knowledge about our deep-sea heritage.”
During the first expedition in June 2023, Dr. Cortes and colleagues discovered two octopus farms associated with thermal springs.
Six months later, they returned to the nursery and confirmed that they appear to be active year-round.
They also observed several other new species of octopus away from the hot springs.
One of the new species belongs to the genus Octopus Muusocops The octopus is named after the small rocky outcrop, informally known as El Dorado Hills, where it was first discovered.
This is a different species, closely related to, but a different deep-sea octopus farm, found in California's Davidson Seamount in 2018.
Of the four new species in Costa Rica, only the dorado octopus was observed spawning in hot springs.
This discovery is Muusocops This genus evolved to raise its eggs in warm springs on the ocean floor.
“After hard work, our team has discovered a new hydrothermal spring off the coast of Costa Rica, which has become a nursery for deep-sea octopuses and a unique biodiversity site,” said Dr. Beth Orcutt, a researcher at the Bigelow Institute of Marine Science. We confirmed that this is the habitat.”
“It was less than 10 years ago that low-temperature hydrothermal eruptions were detected in ancient volcanoes located far from mid-ocean ridges.”
“These locations are very difficult to find because you can't detect any trace of it in the water column.”
Researchers also discovered a thriving deep-sea skating nursery on the top of another seamount in Costa Rican waters, which they named Skatepark.
They also discovered three hydrothermal springs within the region, located 10 to 30 nautical miles from each other.
These springs all differ from each other in the temperature and chemistry of their fluids, indicating that unique reaction processes drive their formation.
“The Schmidt Ocean Institute supports the global scientific community wherever it is located. Falcor ” said Dr. Jyothika Virmani, Executive Director. Schmidt Ocean Institute.
“Dr. Cortés and Dr. Orcutt have assembled a team that truly embodies international collaboration that empowers Costa Rica's domestic scientists and enriches local knowledge and understanding of the ocean.”
“We look forward to operating off the coasts of Peru and Chile in 2024 and welcoming scientists from South America.”
In 2013, Oncilla (Hyōmon)a species of small spotted cat native to the Americas; the northern tabby cat (Hyōmon) and southern tabby cat (Hyōmon). A new study led by the University of Maranhão has shown that Oncilla is actually three different species.
Cloudy tabby cat (leopardus pardinoides). Image credit: Johannes Pfleiderer.
The oncilla is a wild cat about the size of a domestic cat that lives in the mountains and rainforests of Costa Rica, Brazil, and Argentina.
These creatures, also known as tabby cats, Margaise (Hyōmon) and Ocelot (Hyōmon)but they are small, with slender builds and narrow muzzles.
They weigh only 1.5 kg, but usually do not exceed 3 kg, with males being slightly larger than females. The body length is 35-60cm and the height is about 25cm.
Oncilla has a yellowish-ochre background fur with a pattern of mainly open rosettes.
They eat small mammals, lizards, birds, eggs, invertebrates, and sometimes even tree frogs.
They typically live between 10 and 14 years in the wild, but have been known to live up to 23 years in captivity.
They are threatened by habitat loss from cattle ranching, agriculture, and the local pet trade.
Tadeu de Oliveira, a researcher at the University of Maranhão, and his colleagues say: “The tabby cat species group is the progenitor of an ancient classification system and one of the most intriguing, mysterious and fascinating groups of cats. “It is,” he said.
“Due to the limited knowledge available, the tabby cat has long been subject to several preconceptions regarding its range and associated habitats, both before and after species divergence. These include: and its presence in the Pantanal.”
“As it stands, the tabby cat species complex currently consists of two species. Hyōmon and Hyōmonthe former is further divided into three subspecies. Leopardus tigrinus oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus pardinoidesand leopardus tigrinus tigrinus” they added.
“Hyōmon and Hyōmon Both are currently defined as globally endangered species. ”
“They live in some of the most endangered ecoregions and biodiversity hotspots in the Americas, including the Cerrado, the tropical Andes, the Atlantic Forest, and the Talamanca Mountains.”
“As an exception, leopardus tigrinus tigrinus, there are no published conservation priority areas for entities within the complex. ”
“Given the endangered status of these species and the high rates of habitat loss within their respective ranges, it is unlikely that viable populations of these species will exist. It is essential to identify areas with high levels.”
Typical examples of tabby cat species complexes: (a) Savannah tabby cat (Hyōmon); (b) Cloudy tabby cat (leopardus pardinoides); (c) Atlantic Forest tabby cat (Hyōmon). Image credit: Ricardo Ribeiro / Johannes Pfleiderer / de Oliveira other., doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-52379-8.
In their study, the authors sought to determine the actual distribution range of tabby cat species and subspecies, compare their characteristics, and assess similarities and differences between them.
Ultimately, they aimed to characterize tabby cats and determine the actual number of the species.
“Our results revealed the existence of a cryptic species, the Claudi tabby cat (leopardus pardinoides), which includes both Leopardus tigrinus oncilla and Leopardus tigrinus pardinoides,” they said.
According to the team: leopardus pardinoides It is a long-tailed cat with short rounded ears and weighs 2.27 kg.
This new species has a strikingly margay-looking head with a rich reddish/oranged/gray-yellow background color and is adorned with irregularly shaped medium to large 'cloudy' rosettes. , with dense, soft fur, strongly marked and often coalesced.
The characteristic is LEopardus pardinoides There is only one pair of breasts/nipples.
This species is found in the extinct cloud forests of southern Central America and the Andes, usually above 1,500 meters above sea level, especially between 2,000 and 3,000 meters, in subtropical/temperate climates with mild temperatures and very abundant precipitation. You can see it. Usually located in areas where ocelot numbers are low or non-existent.
“leopardus pardinoides “Distributed along 11 mountain ecoregions,” the researchers said.
“In Central America, it is restricted to the Tilaran Mountains, Central Volcanic Mountains, and Talamanca Mountains (Talamancan Mountains Forest ecoregion) in Costa Rica and Panama and the eastern montane forests of Panama.”
“The lowland rainforests and wetlands of the Atrato River basin of the Choco Darien ecoregion are the main barrier between the populations of the brown tabby cat in eastern Panama and the Andes, while in the north the species is restricted to the Isthmian Atlantic rainforest. limited by.”
“In South America, its range extends from the Andean forests of Venezuela through the eastern, central, and western mountain ranges of Colombia to Ecuador, through Peru, Bolivia, and the Yungas Forest ecoregion of the southern Andes, and ends in northwestern Argentina.”
“The core area of its distribution is in Colombia, but it also extends to Ecuador.”
of the team result appear in the diary scientific report.
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TG de Oliveira other. 2024. Ecological modeling, biogeography and phenotypic analysis establish a transdimensional niche for the tabby cat, revealing a new species. science officer 14, 2395; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-52379-8
A new genus and species of a large wind dragon that lived about 218 million years ago has been described from a large portion of its carapace discovered in Texas, USA.
Aerosaurus life restoration chest typothorax. Image credit: Smokeybjb.
Aitosaurus is an extinct quadrupedal heavily armored reptile aetosaurs.
Their name means “eagle lizard” and comes from the fact that their skull resembles that of a bird.
These creatures could reach lengths of up to 6 m (20 ft) and were geographically widespread during the Late Triassic.
“Aetosaurs are a group of quadrupedal armored reptiles whose terrestrial ecology is inferred to include both herbivory and omnivory,” said a paleontologist at the University of Texas at Austin. William Reyes and his colleagues.
“They have achieved a nearly global geographic distribution, but are stratigraphically restricted to the Late Triassic.”
“Most species of wind dragons reach a total length of 2 to 6 meters (6.6 to 20 feet).”
dubbing Garsapelta Murerithe newly identified species grew up to 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) long.
This extinct animal lived in what is now the United States during the Middle Triassic period, about 218 million years ago.
Hypothetical reconstruction of Garsapelta Mureri: (a) Carapace seen from the back, and (bf) cross-sectional view of the carapace seen from the back. Cross-sectional views of (b) posterior neck and anterior trunk, (c) mid-trunk, (d) posterior trunk and sacrum, (e) anterior caudal region, and (f) mid-caudal region. Arrows indicate anatomical direction. A – Anterior, D – Dorsal, L – Lateral, M – Medial. Image credit: Jeffrey Martz / Reyes other., doi: 10.1002/ar.25379.
Its fossilized skeleton was discovered. Cooper canyon formation Located in Garza County, Texas.
It was recovered with an associated carapace containing elements of both the left and right sides of the body.
The discovery of Garsapelta Mureri “This provides new insights into interspecific variation in the carapace of etosaurs,” the paleontologists said.
“It is clear that the morphology of the lateral osteoderm determines the final topological position of the bone. Garsapelta Murerirecover it as a sister taxon of . Desmatostini”
“The similarities between the two are Garsapelta Mureri, Rioaribascus chamensisand the paratipothrasin The discoveries from Colorado's Eagle Basin indicate a biostratigraphic range that we believe is probably limited to Revuelto's putative holochronozone (215 to 207 million years ago), but It suggests that we are working on the emergence of a new group of wind dragons that may be just as old. The latest Adamanian. ”
William A. Reyes other. Garsapelta Mureri generation. Such. In November, a new species of wind dragon (archosaur: pseudosaur) was discovered in the middle Cooper Canyon Formation of the late Triassic (middle Norian) in the Dokum Group, Texas, USA, and the morphological characteristics of the wind dragon's carapace. its impact on our understanding of difference; anatomical records, published online on January 11, 2024. doi: 10.1002/ar.25379
Paleontologists from the CSIC National Museum of Natural History have identified a new genus and species of medium-sized cat from a partial jaw found in the urban area of Madrid, Spain.
Mandible, skull, masticatory muscles, and life-like reconstruction Mageliferis Pegnai. Image credit: Jesus Gamarra.
A new breed of cat, its name is Mageliferis Pegnai lived in what is now Spain about 15.5 million years ago (mid Miocene).
belonged to felineThey have a bony hyoid bone, which allows them to purr, but not to roar.
Fossilized remains are Mageliferis Pegnai They were discovered in 2007 at Principe Pio-2, a recently discovered fossil locality located in the urban limits of the city of Madrid, Spain.
The specimen is very well preserved, showing a complete hemimandible and all teeth except the incisors.
It is very complete and in very good preservation, providing very interesting information for making paleoecological inferences about this new feline.
“We recovered a nearly complete jaw with almost all teeth preserved in exceptional condition,” Dr. Siliceo said.
“What was most surprising was that underneath it was a small second molar, a tooth that does not exist in all modern and fossil cats. pro airlus”
“Compared to modern cats, the half-jaw of cats is Mageliferis Pegnai Principe's Pío-2 is felis sylvestrisindicates a similar size. caracal caracal, Reptile Lus Servaland Lynx'' said the paleontologists.
“Nevertheless, if we show the mandibles of these species with the same mandibular length for ease of comparison, the dentition of the new species is clearly smaller than that of the latter species, giving the specimen a more robust appearance; Has a relatively robust appearance; high mandibular body very similar to larger mandibular body Lynx”
According to the authors, Mageliferis Pegnai It is thought that they were able to generate a powerful bite force when hunting, which allowed them to kill relatively large prey.
“The Principe pio-2 feline may have preyed on relatively larger prey than other extant felines of similar size,” the researchers said.
their paper this month, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
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Manuel J. Salesa other. Unraveling the diversity of early cats: A new genus of cats (Carnivora, Felidae) from the mid-Miocene of Madrid (Spain). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, published online on January 9, 2024. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2023.2288924
Robot dodecahedron mounted on a submersible (circled area)
brennan phillips
The robotic dodecahedron can capture fragile deep-sea animals, collect tissue samples, and build three-dimensional scans of the creatures, potentially speeding up the cataloging of deep-sea life. Up to 66% of marine species are still unknown to science.
brennan phillips RAD2 Sampler and colleagues at the University of Rhode Island have developed the RAD2 Sampler, which is designed to be mounted on any submersible to collect fresh tissue samples in situ from living animals. They hope this will reveal more about the creature than existing techniques, which are typically exposed to stress when pulled up from the depths.
RAD2 is a dodecahedron with an internal volume large enough to hold a basketball. It can be folded and unfolded on command to temporarily capture organisms for detailed examination and take small tissue samples that are stored directly on board the submarine for later genetic analysis. It is designed to.
The ultimate goal is to take a small biopsy and release the animal relatively unscathed, but RAD2's current technique (called tissue cutting) is “a little more crude,” Phillips said.
RAD2 has already been tested on two expeditions, collecting up to 14 tissue samples a day at a depth of around 1200 meters. “We could get small pieces of tissue, and sometimes we could get whole animals,” he says. “It depended on how big it was. So I can't say we've been able to release the animal unharmed after that, but we're moving towards that.”
The robot sampler is also equipped with a 4K resolution video camera to capture high-quality footage of the animal in motion, and a virtual model of the animal is constructed by various 3D scanning devices. In the future, Phillips said, he might be able to put sensors on each of his 12 sides of the dodecahedron and take different measurements of living things at once.
Phillips called other sampling methods “outdated” and said they essentially require people to manually put things into jars for later analysis, or use submersibles to do the same thing. Masu.
Preservation at the point of collection using RAD2 improves the quality of tissue samples and also allows researchers to detect which genes are expressed, further informing animal behavior and physiology. Phillips said it could shed some light. “This is a luxury item,” he says. “This is the best you can get with this animal, better than anyone we’ve ever had.”
eva stewart Researchers at the University of Southampton in the UK say that while digital data on deep-sea life can be a useful tool for research, there is no substitute for capturing and preserving entire samples.
“There are thousands of type specimens here. [at the university]” says Stewart.Some of them were collected by Swedish scientists carl linnaeusShe died in 1778 and says: Once you have the specimen, you are done. Even as our science changes, we can keep coming back to it. ”
But Stewart said underwater scans are useful for gelatinous and other delicate animals that are difficult to collect intact, and for how the creatures behave in their natural environment, rather than after being hoisted onto the deck of a boat. I agree that it may be helpful to understand.
“We've been conducting research to examine gene expression in sea cucumbers because we want to understand how sea cucumbers behave when they're stressed or affected by things like climate change,” says Stewart. he says. “But when you collect them and bring them to the surface, it's stressful. So being able to harvest tissue from them in a more natural way means you know what their natural baseline is, so they can It means we may be able to see more clearly what happens when placed in different environments.”
A female octopus lays her eggs near a small rock outcrop, informally known as El Dorado Hill.
ROV Subastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
Four new species of deep-sea octopus have been discovered in an underwater mountain range about two miles downstream in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Costa Rica, according to the Schmidt Institute of Oceanography.
During expeditions in June and December 2023, researchers on the US nonprofit research vessel Falkor also used a remote-controlled vehicle to explore two low-temperature hydrothermal springs, two octopuses, and more. found a nursery, and one skate nursery. Subastian.
Previous research has found areas where octopuses live near low-temperature springs, but these environments have been difficult to find.
Typical 350°C hot hydrothermal vents are easy to spot thanks to smoke rising from the ocean floor. However, the cold spring's water temperature is only about 10 degrees Celsius higher than the average 2 degrees Celsius at the ocean floor, and is only visible through slight diffraction of light.
“It looks like it’s sparkling,” says expedition co-leader. Beth Orcutt at the Bigelow Marine Science Institute, another nonprofit in Maine.
Finding this subtle sign in the dark required multiple dives in different locations. “It's like walking through a forest you've never been in before with a flashlight looking for hot springs,” Orcutt said. “We were kind of making a bet.”
The four new species have not yet been officially described, but one has been named the dorado octopus, after the rock where it was discovered, known as El Dorado Hill.some kind of Muusocopsfemales gather to incubate eggs in warm water.
Orcutt said researchers believe the other species are new based on their appearance. They appear to be solitary, which is common among deep-sea octopuses. “They don't like having their neighbors close,” she says.
These insights into Costa Rica's unique biodiversity could inform regional conservation policy. “It is difficult [protect deep-sea wildlife] That’s when you don’t know it’s underground,” Orcutt says.
Undersea octopus farm
ROV Subastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute
These missions also help inspire and develop local scientific talent through training for early career researchers on how to lead deep-sea explorations, she says. The 310 specimens collected, which also include starfish, spider stars and sea cucumbers, will be kept at the Zoological Museum at the University of Costa Rica, rather than in the United States, where they are not easily accessible to local researchers.
More exploration is needed because the deep sea faces many threats, including mining, Orcutt said. “We're just scratching the surface.”
Artist's impression of Tyrannosaurus macraensis, a relative of Tyrannosaurus rex
sergei krasinski
A portion of a dinosaur skull discovered 40 years ago has been identified as a new species of dinosaur. tyrannosaurusand is probably the closest relative tyrannosaurus rex. The study adds a new twist to the long-standing debate about how many different tyrannosaurus species there were, and could help shed light on how the iconic predator evolved.
tyrannosaurus They first appeared in North America about 68 million years ago, 2 million years before the mass extinction event that wiped out most dinosaurs. Paleontologists are puzzled about the origins of this carnivore. Some suggest that it is an ancestor of tyrannosaurus Some people walked across land bridges from prehistoric Asia, while others traced their origins to southern North America.
Anthony Fiorillo Researchers from the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science reviewed fossils in the museum's collection that were discovered in a rock formation known as the McRae Formation in western New Mexico.
Skulls were originally classified as: tyrannosaurus, Fiorillo and his colleagues noticed differences in the bones.They proposed that this specimen represented an older species, which they named Tyrannosaurus macraiensis in reference to the rock in which it was found.
They estimated that the dinosaur was about 12 meters long, comparable in size to an aosaurus. Tyrannosaurus, However, it lived about 4 million years ago.
difference between tyrannosaurus and T. macraensis It would have been relatively subtle.on the other hand tyrannosaurus He had a prominent ridge on his eyebrow, and a bone-crushingly wide jaw with the same ridge. T. macraensis The body is less developed and the skull is thinner, Fiorillo said.
Jawbone identified as new species of Tyrannosaurus
nick longrich
Other recent studies have proposed that several species exist. tyrannosaurus And the so-called tyrannosaurus Fossils need to be reallocated. However, such proposals are controversial and are mostly rejected by dinosaur paleontologists. The new study is likely to spark further debate about that number. tyrannosaurus The species was found in North America.
“I hesitate to consider Tyrannosaurus macraiensis as different from tyrannosaurus rex” Jared Voris at the University of Calgary, Canada. He points out that many of the anatomical features that make the new species unique are also present in the specimen. tyrannosaurus.
Regardless of species assignment, the existence of such large tyrannosaurs millions of years ago is tyrannosaurus This suggests that southwestern North America was an important center of dinosaur evolution. “The age range of the proposed specimen is unique and requires further study,” Voris said. That's because it could outline a clearer picture of dinosaur evolution during the last few million years of the Cretaceous.
The New Mexico tyrannosaurus was discovered in the same rock as a giant horned dinosaur, an anthropomorphic duck-billed dinosaur, and a long-necked herbivore up to 30 meters long. Fiorillo and his colleagues tyrannosaurus It may have evolved to its gigantic size to prey on these large herbivores, and later spread north as the last “tyrant lizard” to stalk the planet.
Paleontologists in Argentina have discovered fossil fragments of a new genus and species of Lebatisaurus, a sauropod dinosaur that walked the earth more than 90 million years ago.
Artist's impression Sidersaura Marae. Image credit: Gabriel Díaz Yanten.
The newly discovered dinosaur lived in what is now Argentina during the Cenomanian period of the late Cretaceous period, 96 to 93 million years ago.
with scientific name Sidersaura Maraethe ancient beast had a body length of 20 meters, an estimated mass of 15 tons, and a very long tail.
The animal belongs to Rebatisauridaea large family of sauropod dinosaurs known from fragmentary fossil remains in South America, Africa, North America, Europe, and Asia.
These dinosaurs are distinguished from other sauropods by their unique teeth. Some species had tooth batteries similar to hadrosaurid and ceratopsian dinosaurs.
“Rebachisaurs were extremely important dinosaurs in the Cretaceous ecosystem, and disappeared due to an extinction event that occurred in the middle of this period. was held 90 million years ago.'' Dr. Lucas Nicolas Lersopaleontologists and colleagues from Azara Foundation Maimonides University and CONICET.
“Sidersaura Marae is one of the last rebatisaurids, but it also belongs to an evolutionary ancient lineage. ”
“This suggests that these were the largest of their group, given that some of the earliest rebachisaurs survived to the end of their lifespans, and can reach nearly 20 meters in length. It shows that.”
Fossilized bones are Sidersaura Marae It was discovered in the rocks of the Finkle Formation in the province of Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina.
“The remains found include a partially articulated tail with sacral vertebrae, hind leg bones, part of the skull, and a tail vertebrae,” Dr Lerzo said.
“Having several anatomically overlapping specimens allowed us to relate them and better understand the characteristics of this new sauropod dinosaur.”
According to the team, one of the distinguishing features is: Sidersaura Marae The difference from other dinosaurs is the star-shaped shape of the hemal arch (coccyx).
Additionally, its skull is sturdy, unlike other closely related species.
“Another feature of the cranium that distinguishes it from others Sidersaura Marae “What differentiates it from other rebatisaurids is the frontoparietal foramen, which is essentially a hole in the roof of the skull,” the paleontologists said.
“This characteristic brings us closer to the following state. dicraeosaursA family of sauropod dinosaurs known for having spines on their necks and backs. ”
“The presence of early species in the Cenomanian-Turonian period, very close to the group's extinction, suggests that the evolutionary history of rebbatisaurids was more complex than previously thought.” the researchers concluded.
their paper It was published in the magazine historical biology.
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Lucas Nicolas Lerso other. The last oldie: Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) early basal rebachisaurids (sauropods, Diplodocoidea) of Patagonia, Argentina. historical biology, published online on January 3, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2023.2297914
Tyrannosaurus is one of the most intensively studied and best known dinosaurs. Nevertheless, their relationship and system are highly controversial. The ongoing discussion is Nanotyrannus lansensisinterpreted as either a separate genus of small-bodied tyrannosaurs, or a juvenile tyrannosaurus. tyrannosaurus rex. In a new study, paleontologists from the University of Bath and the University of Chicago examined multiple lines of evidence that Nanotyrannus lansensis as a separate species.
Nanotyrannus attack a boy tyrannosaurus. Image credit: Raul Martin.
first skull Nanotyrannus It was discovered in Montana in 1942, but paleontologists have debated for decades whether it was a separate species or just a juvenile of a much larger species. tyrannosaurus.
In the new study, paleontologist Nick Longlich of the University of Bath and paleontologist Evan Saitta of the University of Chicago reanalyzed the fossil and looked at its growth rings and body structure. Nanotyrannusand hitherto unrecognized fossils of youth tyrannosaurus.
Measuring tree rings Nanotyrannus They found that the bone was more densely packed toward the outside, indicating that bone growth was slowing down. That suggests these animals were nearly life-sized. It is not a young body that grows quickly.
Fossil growth modeling shows that the animal could have weighed between 900 and 1,500 kg and reached a maximum length of 5 meters, about 15% of the size of a giant. . tyrannosaurus8,000 kg and grew to over 9 m.
“I was quite surprised when I saw these results. I didn't expect to see such conclusive results,” said Dr. Longlich.
“If they were young tyrannosaurus They're supposed to grow like crazy and gain hundreds of pounds a year, but we don't see it that way. ”
“We tried modeling the data in different ways, but still got low growth rates. This seems to put an end to the hypothesis that these animals are young.” tyrannosaurus”
Researchers found no fossil evidence that combined both traits to support the existence of different species Nanotyrannus and tyrannosaurus —If one turns into the other, it will exist.
Every fossil they examined could be confidently identified as one or the other species.
The growth patterns of other tyrannosaurs were also inconsistent with the hypothesis that these tyrannosaurs were young. tyrannosaurus.
“If you look at other juvenile tyrannosaurs, you'll see a lot of characteristics that are typical of adults. Very young. tarbosaurus — next of kin of tyrannosaurus — exhibiting unique characteristics of adults,” Dr. Longrich said.
“Just as kittens look like cats and puppies look like dogs, the various juvenile tyrannosaurs are also unique. And Nanotyrannus nothing similar tyrannosaurus”
“It may have grown in a completely different way than other tyrannosaurs or other dinosaurs, but it's more likely that it simply wasn't a dinosaur. tyrannosaurus”
But it poses a mystery. Nanotyrannus not a boy tyrannosaurusSo why didn't anyone find the young man? tyrannosaurus?
“That was always one of the big questions. Well, it turns out we actually found it,” Dr. Longrich said.
“However, this fossil was collected many years ago, put away in a box of unidentified bones in a museum drawer, and then forgotten.”
Nanotyrannus They were lighter in build and had longer limbs than their stouter relatives. It also had larger arms, unlike those known for their short arms. tyrannosaurus.
“Actually, my arms are longer than people's.” tyrannosaurus.Even the biggest one tyrannosaurushave shorter arms and smaller claws than these smaller animals. Nanotyrannus. This was an animal whose arms were actually pretty scary weapons. It's actually a completely different animal, smaller, faster and more agile,” Dr. Longrich said.
“tyrannosaurus While animals relied on size and strength, this animal relied on speed. ”
“The long arms and other features suggest it was only a distant relative.” tyrannosaurus — and may have been sitting outside the family TyrannosauridaeWhich tyrannosaurus Part of the predatory dinosaur family. ”
a paper The survey results were published in a magazine fossil research.
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Nicholas R. Longrich and Evan T. Saitta. 2024. Taxonomic status of Nanotyrannus lansensis (Dinosaur: Tyrannosauridae) – A different taxon of small tyrannosaurs. Phos.stud 2 (1): 1-65; doi: 10.3390/fossils2010001
Illustration of Nanotyrannus fighting a young Tyrannosaurus Rex
raul martin
tyrannosaurus rex After all, it may not have been the only large carnivore that ruled North America during the Late Cretaceous. Reinterpretation of some fossils of small dinosaurs sometimes classified as young dinosaurs tyrannosaurus This adds weight to the controversial idea that it is a separate small species called . Nanotyrannus lansensislived with the dinosaur king.
“This is the most famous fossil animal in the world,” he says Nicholas Longrich At the University of Bath, UK. “A lot of people are watching. And we can't agree.”
This debate has divided paleontologists for decades. A paper from the 1960s revealed that a skull excavated 20 years earlier in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana was tyrannosaurus that died before reaching full maturity. However, in the 1980s, others argued that the differences between the skull and known skulls were: tyrannosaurus The specimen showed that this fossil was actually an adult of another species, and they named it Nanotyrannus lansensis.
Recent studies based on additional fossils dispute this, arguing that the differences between miniature and full-sized fossils are: tyrannosaurus The fossils were not of different species, but of different times. This discussion has implications for understanding the ecology and diversity of dinosaurs in the period just before their extinction.
Now, with Longrich Evan Saitta Researchers at the University of Chicago have compiled six pieces of evidence that support identifying the smaller fossils as: Nanotyrannus. This includes cataloging more than 150 individual features that differ between the fossil in question and the known fossils. tyrannosaurus Fossils include things like a narrower snout and smoother teeth. They argue that all this cannot change between boys and adults. tyrannosaurus.
The researchers also analyzed the patterns of bone growth rings, which form when bones stop growing each year. As the animal grows slower, the distance between the growth rings decreases. Researchers say they found these rings to be tightened, suggesting that the smaller fossils represent young adults. Nanotyrannus Rather than a boy tyrannosaurus They rate these adults Nanotyrannus Their weight would be between 1,000 kg and 2,000 kg, equivalent to a quarter of an adult. tyrannosaurus 8000 kg. “No matter how you graph the data, you can’t turn it into an animal. tyrannosaurus” Longrich says.
The latest evidence is a fossilized frontal bone (located between the eye and skull) that Longrich unearthed from the archives of the University of California Museum of Paleontology, which researchers interpret as a juvenile fossil. tyrannosaurus Because it is definitely different from the hypothesis, Nanotyrannus fossil. “It's an animal smaller than a human.” Nanotyrannus But it is tyrannosaurus Morphology,” Longrich says.
Some outside researchers say they remain unsure that the tiny fossil is actually a separate species. “No problem Nanotyrannus If science proves it, it’s real.” holly woodward At Oklahoma State University written Juvenile species were identified in a tree ring survey conducted in 2020. tyrannosaurus explanation. “We’re not convinced that their interpretation is any more accurate than ours,” she said, adding that the fully grown animal specimens were “unusual.” Nanotyrannus It will be necessary to resolve different interpretations.
thomas carr A professor at Carthage College in Wisconsin has long argued that the fossil is a juvenile. tyrannosaurus, adding that the front bone found at Berkeley was too incomplete to sway him. “I don’t take this seriously at all,” he says.
scott parsons Professors at the College of Charleston in South Carolina are more welcoming of what he says is a new perspective on a long-stalled rift among paleontologists. “This new paper doesn’t settle this debate, but I’m optimistic that it will be a game-changer,” he says.
Paleontologists have described a new genus and species of small polycotyledonous plesiosaur from two specimens discovered in the US states of Wyoming and South Dakota.
rebuilding the life of Untahira Specta The proposed habitat is a sunlit body of water just below the earth's surface, and the eyes are covered by bulges above the orbits.Image credit: Clark other., doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105812.
Untahira Specta lived in the waters of Western Inland Sea Route Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80.5 million years ago.
This marine reptile is polycotyledonous plantsa family of plesiosaurs that evolved in the Early Cretaceous and radiated into multiple genera in the Late Cretaceous.
“Polycotyledons were a marine herpeta superfamily of the Cretaceous period. plesiosaurinae” said the lead author. Dr. Robert Clark and colleagues at Marshall University.
“The earliest polysperms are known from the Aptians of Australia, but they reached North America by the Albians and achieved an international distribution before dying out along with the rest of the polysperms. plesiosaur At the end of the Maastrichtian. ”
“Polysosaurs had short tails, limbs transformed into large paddles, and plesiosaur-like bowplans of broad, hydrodynamic bodies with extended pectoral and pelvic girdle, but short It also had a derivative condition: a large head with a neck and an elongated snout.”
“It has converged, but Pliosauridae In these traits, the small clefts and teeth of most polycots indicate that they occupied different ecological niches. ”
holotype of Untahira Specta.Image credit: Clark other., doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105812.
Two fossilized skulls (holotype and paratype) Untahira Specta Recovered from the Baculites obtusus zone of the Sharon Springs Formation in the United States.
“The holotype is a skull and mandible with an almost complete cervical, sacral, caudal series, partial dorsal series, ribs, part of the pelvic and pectoral girdle, both iliac bones, both anterior paddles, both It has a rear paddle,” the paleontologists said. Said.
“The paratype is a complete cranium, a three-part lower jaw, and five small, fragmentary, unidentified postcranial elements.”
Untahira Specta It was a small polycotyledonous plant, 2.3–2.6 m (7.5–8.5 ft) long, with a broad skull and distinctive paddle.
The large eyes had flat protuberances that probably blocked sunlight. It is possible that they were visually chasing prey just below the water surface.
“Comparisons with extant quadrupeds suggest several characteristics of quadrupeds. Untahira Specta “This may be an adaptation to predation by visual tracking in sunny environments, an interpretation with ecological implications for other aquatic reptiles,” the researchers said.
their findings It was published in the magazine Cretaceous research.
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Robert O. Clark other.Elucidation of a new genus of small polycotyledonous plesiosaurs that lived in the Upper Cretaceous of the Western Interior Seaway and its genus doricorinchops. Cretaceous research, published online on December 24, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105812
Scientists have identified a new genus and species of true toad from a single specimen found in a high-altitude forest. mount kenya, an extinct volcano in Kenya and the second highest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro. Contrary to the popular belief that most of Kenya’s amphibians arose after volcanic activity subsided millions of years ago, this new species is related to the Kenya volcanic toad (Kenya Phrynoides vulcanis) – Its origins may date back as far as 20 million years, making it considerably older than the volcanic formation of Mt Kenya itself.
artistic performance Kenya Phrynoides vulcanis (A), dorsal view of the left hand of the holotype (B), and photographs of the dorsal (C) and ventral (D) sides of the holotype before preservation. Image credit: Liedtke other., doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad160.
Dr Simon Loader, lead curator of vertebrates at the Natural History Museum, London, said: ‘Many of Kenya’s mountains are volcanic or geologically relatively new, so discovering ancient lineages that have lasted for millions of years is unlikely. It’s amazing.”
“It’s a real challenge to figure out how it got here.”
“We can’t say for sure, but it seems likely that they were once more widespread, and as the climate has changed over the past tens of millions of years, they have tracked their way through tropical forests, with their final destinations being the mountaintops. It was ‘Mt Kenya’. ”
The discovery of Kenya’s volcanic toads calls into question the concept of the Kenya interval, a term used to describe the striking contrast in amphibian diversity between Kenya and its neighboring countries.
Ethiopia and Tanzania have long been hotspots for amphibian biodiversity, but Kenya’s geological history and frequency of tectonic activity make it a difficult place for these organisms to thrive.
unique features Kenya Phrynoides vulcanis This suggests that the Kenyan Interval may not be as simple as previously believed.
When this toad was first discovered in Mount Kenya’s pit in 2015, it already seemed very different from the species normally seen in the area.
“We were really surprised to see this animal. It looked nothing like anything we had seen before, but it was similar to what we know and call the Tanzanian animal. Ta” Churamiti MaridadiIt is a forest tree toad that lives in the Ukaguru Mountains rainforest,” said National Museums of Kenya curators Dr Patrick Maronza and Dr Victor Wasonga.
Kenya Phrynoides vulcanisDistinctive features include its small size, more frog-like body, and distinctive green and brown markings.
Genetic and morphological differences from other known toad species have led to its recognition at the genus level.
Clues from physical features such as enlarged fingertips suggest it may be a climber.
Its thumb has a sharp tip known as a nuptial spine found in many male frogs and toads, which helps the male grasp the female and encourage reproduction.
“The forest toad found in the mountains of East Africa is unusual and does not resemble typical toads,” said Dr. Hendrik Müller, a researcher at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.
“More interestingly, some individuals are known to have an unusual reproductive strategy called ovoviviparity.”
“In ovoviviparity, the eggs hatch inside the female’s body. This means that the chicks are born from the mother as small toads, rather than as tadpoles.”
This finding is reported in the following article: paper inside Zoological journal of the Linnean Society.
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H. Christoph Liedtke other. A new species of toad discovered from Mount Kenya sheds light on the biogeography of East Africa’s mountains. Zoological journal of the Linnean Society, published online on November 7, 2023. doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad160
This scientific study used satellite transmitters, population counts, and DNA analysis of tissue samples to describe the special Kangi ringed seal in the Ilulissat Icefjord. Here, a satellite transmitter is attached to the seal’s back.Credit: Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Nature Research
Local hunters in the Icefjord near Ilulissat are familiar with a special type of ringed seal known as the Kangia seal. Kangia seals vary in size and appearance, being significantly larger than the common Arctic ringed seal, and with markedly different fur colors and patterns. Recent scientific research has revealed that this distinctive seal has been genetically separated from Arctic seals over a long period of over 100,000 years.
Exploring the natural wonders of the Arctic can be difficult. Extreme weather and vast distances often hinder researchers’ quest to uncover nature’s mysteries.
However, a research project led by Greenlandic and Danish researchers has succeeded in describing a new species of ringed seal that lives in an ice fjord near Ilulissat in West Greenland. A unique natural area on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The results were recently published in a prestigious scientific journal. molecular ecology.
Kangia ringed seals are larger than the typical Arctic ringed seal, and their fur is a different color and has more distinctive markings.Credit: Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Nature Research
small population
For years, researchers worked with local hunters to trap seals in nets and attach small satellite transmitters to their backs. As the seals flew, satellite transmitters sent messages about the seal’s location.
“We found that the Kangia seals mainly stayed within the ice fjords. We were able to count the seals from the plane, so we estimated that there was only about one seal. There are 3,000 special Kangi ringed seals,” said Akual Rosing Asvid, a senior researcher at the Greenland Institute for Nature Research Pingoltitalerifik and one of the researchers who supported the study. .
Color and pattern of the fur of the Kangia ringed seal (left) and a typical Arctic ringed seal (right).Credit: Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Nature Research
Their small population is very unusual compared to the typical Arctic ringed seal, which is huge and often travels thousands of kilometers around the North Pole in search of food.
isolated for thousands of years
The researchers also took small tissue samples from the captive seals. The samples were sent for genetic analysis to determine the seal’s identity. DNA The results revealed that Kangia ringed seals are genetically distinct from typical Arctic ringed seals.
Kangia ringed seals live in the Ilulissat Icefjord, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its spectacular and unique nature.Credit: Pinngortitaleriffik – Greenland Institute of Nature Research
However, where and how the Kangia ringed seal became isolated from other Arctic ringed seals and why it acquired new special biological characteristics remains a mystery.
Perhaps other arctic fjords also have special seals
The study highlights that there is still much we don’t know about the biodiversity of the Arctic and its potential to adapt to climate change and human activities.
“There are many other fjords in the Arctic that have not yet been studied in detail, and ringed seals may also carry new genetic mutations in these areas,” said Rune Dietz, professor at Aarhus University’s School of Ecological Sciences. Point out. he participated in the research.
Reference: “Evolutionarily distinct ringed seals of the Ilulissat Icefjord” Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Ari Löytynoja, Paolo Momigliano, Rikke Guldborg Hansen, Camilla Hjorth Scharff-Olsen, Mia Valtonen, Juhana Kammonen, Rune Dietz, Frank Farsø Rigét, Steve By H Ferguson, Christian Leidersen, Kit M. Kovacs, David M. Holland, Jukka Jarnvall, Petri Auvinen, Morten Tange Olsen, October 19, 2023. molecular ecology.
Chinese and Brazilian paleontologists identify new species of Chaoyangpteri pterosaurs from two specimens, one of which is the most complete and well-preserved Chaoyangpteri pterosaur ever recorded. It was announced that.
rebuilding the life of Meilifeilong Youhao. Image credit: Maurilio Oliveira.
This new species of pterosaur lived in what is now China during the Early Cretaceous period, between 125 and 113 million years ago.
Flying reptiles belong to Chamopteraa family of medium-sized and high-crowned pterosaurs known primarily from Asia.
dubbing Meilifeilong Youhaothis species was part of the Jehor biota, a terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem preserved within multilayered rock formations in northeastern China.
“Pterosaurs are an important and enigmatic group of flying reptiles of the Mesozoic Era that were among the first vertebrates to evolve active flight, and have filled every aerial environmental niche for almost 160 million years.” said Dr. Xiaolin Wang of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Academy of Sciences and its colleagues.
“Despite being a completely extinct group, they acquired a wide variety of morphologies during the period from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous.”
“Despite being found on every continent, China stands out by providing several new specimens that reveal not only different species, but also entire new clades, such as the azhdarchoid Chrysoptera.”
“This Cretaceous group of medium-sized and high-crowned pterosaurs is particularly well known from the Jehol biota. Chaoyangopterus zangi and Shenjoupterus chaoyangensis (At the time of description, the posterior region of the skull of Chaoyanptidae was the only one preserved, revealing that these toothless pterosaurs formed a new clade).
holotype of Meilifeilong Youhao; arrow indicates preserved soft tissue.Image credit: Wang other., doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-48076-7.
Two fossilized bodies Meilifeilong Youhao It was discovered in the Jiufutang Formation in Wuludao City, Liaoning Province, China.
“This holotype is particularly well preserved and represents an individual with a wingspan of up to approximately 2.16 meters (7.1 feet),” the paleontologists said.
“It consists of essentially all bones except for most of the tail, making it the most complete and well-preserved Chaoyanputid skeleton ever discovered.”
“The specimen mentioned consists only of the premaxilla and maxilla and anterior part of the palate and represents a smaller individual.”
size Meilifeilong Youhao basically the same as Meilifeiron Sanyainus (with a wingspan of 2.18 meters, or 7.2 feet), which, along with other characteristics, suggests that they represent different species of the same genus.
“This new species provides some new information about these rather enigmatic flying reptiles. palatal area” said the researchers.
“Additionally, it shows a stapes preserved in place, a rare phenomenon among pterosaurs.”
team’s paper Published in the Journal on December 21, 2023 scientific report.
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X-One other. 2023. A new toothless pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol biota. With comments on Chaoyoptera. science officer 13, 22642; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-48076-7
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a plan to shoot hundreds of thousands of barred owls in West Coast forests over the next 30 years, arguing that the survival of one owl species depends on the extinction of another. The spotted owl, not native to the area, is displacing its genetically related barred owl, the bureau said.
Unless action is taken against barred owls, the spotted owl could disappear from parts of Washington and Oregon within a few years and eventually become extinct, according to service biologists.
This proposal is the latest effort to save the spotted owl, whose decline became a rallying point for environmentalists against logging in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s. This plan raises questions about how far humans should go to save species and the cost of righting historic ecological wrongs, as the barred owls may have become established in the Pacific Northwest under human influence as European settlers spread westward.
The proposal calls for the “lethal removal” (killing with shotguns) of more than 470,000 barred owls in total and is open for public comment until January 16th. It may be difficult for the undiscerning eye to distinguish barred owls from spotted owls, as both have pale faces and mottled brown and white coats and belong to the same genus. However, barred owls are slightly larger, breed faster, are more aggressive, and are less discriminatory about where they live and what they eat.
The spotted owl population has declined by about 75 percent over the past 20 years, primarily due to barred owls, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The plan would eliminate the barred owls from 1-2% of its current range, and the removal of barred owls has been shown to stabilize the spotted owl population, although the impact has not been substantial.
Despite the dominance of barred owls, the population is likely to recover over time, and the cost of righting historic ecological wrongs is still uncertain. Wildlife biologists consulted with an ethicist about killing the animals, and while some animal rights groups disagree with the plan, a final proposal is expected to be released in the spring or summer after the public comment period on the USFWS proposal ends.
A new study reveals that a spatiotemporal substitution method used to predict species responses to climate change inaccurately predicts the effects of warming on ponderosa pines. This finding suggests that this method may be unreliable in predicting species’ future responses to changes in climate. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
A new study involving researchers at the University of Arizona suggests that changes are happening faster than trees can adapt. The discovery is a “warning to ecologists” studying climate change.
As the world warms and the climate changes, life will migrate, adapt, or become extinct. For decades, scientists have introduced certain methods to predict how things will happen. seed We will survive this era of great change. But new research suggests that method may be misleading or producing false results.
Flaws in prediction methods revealed
Researchers at the University of Arizona and team members from the U.S. Forest Service and Brown University found that this method (commonly referred to as spatiotemporal replacement) shows how a tree called the ponderosa pine, which is widespread in the western United States, grows. I discovered something that I couldn’t predict accurately. We have actually responded to global warming over the past few decades. This also means that other studies that rely on displacement in space and time may not accurately reflect how species will respond to climate change in coming decades.
The research team collected and measured growth rings of ponderosa pine trees from across the western United States, dating back to 1900, to determine how trees actually grow and how models predict how trees will respond to warming. We compared.
A view of ponderosa and Jeffrey pine forests from Verdi Mountain near Truckee, California.Credit: Daniel Perrette
“We found that substituting time for space produces incorrect predictions in terms of whether the response to warming will be positive or negative,” said study co-author Margaret Evans, an associate professor at the University of Arizona. ” he said. Tree ring laboratory. “With this method, ponderosa pines are supposed to benefit from warming, but they actually suffer from warming. This is dangerously misleading.”
Their research results were published on December 18th. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Daniel Perrette, a U.S. Forest Service ORISE fellow, is the lead author and received training in tree-ring analysis through the university’s summer field methods course at the University of Arizona Research Institute. The study was part of his doctoral dissertation at Brown University, and was conducted with Dov Sachs, professor of biogeography and biodiversity and co-author of the paper.
Inaccuracies in space and time substitutions
This is how space and time permutation works. All species occupy a range of favorable climatic conditions. Scientists believe that individuals growing at the hottest end of their range could serve as an example of what will happen to populations in cooler locations in a warmer future.
The research team found that ponderosa pine trees grow at a faster rate in warmer locations. Therefore, under the spatial and temporal displacement paradigm, this suggests that the situation should improve as the climate warms at the cold end of the distribution.
“But the tree-ring data doesn’t show that,” Evans said.
However, when the researchers used tree rings to assess how individual trees responded to changes in temperature, they found that ponderosa was consistently negatively affected by temperature fluctuations.
“If it’s a warmer-than-average year, they’re going to have smaller-than-average growth rings, so warming is actually bad for them, and that’s true everywhere,” she says.
The researchers believe this may be happening because trees are unable to adapt quickly enough to a rapidly changing climate.
An individual tree and all its growth rings are a record of that particular tree’s genetics exposed to different climatic conditions from one year to the next, Evans said. But how a species responds as a whole is the result of a slow pace of evolutionary adaptation to the average conditions in a particular location that are different from those elsewhere. Similar to evolution, the movement of trees that are better adapted to changing temperatures could save species, but climate change is happening too quickly, Evans said.
Rainfall effects and final thoughts
Beyond temperature, the researchers also looked at how trees responded to rainfall. They confirmed that, even across time and space, more water is better.
“These spatially-based predictions are really dangerous because spatial patterns reflect the end point after a long period in which species have had the opportunity to evolve, disperse, and ultimately sort themselves across the landscape. Because we do,” Evans said. “But that’s not how climate change works. Unfortunately, trees are in a situation where they are changing faster than they can adapt and are actually at risk of extinction. This is a warning to ecologists. .”
References: “Species responses to spatial climate change do not predict responses to climate change,” by Daniel L. Perrett, Margaret EK Evans, and Dov F. Sachs, December 18, 2023. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304404120
Funding: Brown University Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown Institute for the Environment and Society, American Philosophical Society Lewis and Clark Expeditionary and Field Research Fund, Department of Agriculture Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Department of Energy Oak Ridge Science Institute Education , NSF Macrosystems Biology
Myrrhatia arcuata, a newly discovered moth species in Europe reveals gaps in our knowledge about European Lepidoptera. Its unique characteristics and the mysteries surrounding its habitat and adaptations highlight the need for continued research in this field. Above is an adult male Myrrhatia arcuata. Credit: Hausmann et al.
The order Lepidoptera, which consists of butterflies and moths, is known to number approximately 11,000 individuals. seed and is considered well researched. However, the discovery of new genera and species in the Geometrid family suggests there is still much to learn. The results of this study were recently published in the journal Zookey. What is the name of the moth? Myrrhatia arcuata The discovery, by a team of researchers from Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom, is one of the most remarkable discoveries in Lepidoptera in recent decades.
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