Hummingbird-sized dinosaur skull preserved in 99-million-year-old amber

A tiny, 99-million-year-old skull found in a piece of Burmese amber in Myanmar may not only be the smallest known dinosaur of the Mesozoic era, but it could also provide new insights into the evolution of birds. Called Oculudentavis khaungraae, it was … Continue reading Hummingbird-sized dinosaur skull preserved in 99-million-year-old amber

Dinosaur DNA and proteins found in fossils, paleontologists claim

Palaeontologists have announced the discovery of organic material in 75-million year old dinosaur fossils. The team claims to have found evidence of cartilage cells, proteins, chromosomes and even DNA preserved inside the fossils, suggesting these can … Continue reading Dinosaur DNA and proteins found in fossils, paleontologists claim

Remains of extinct giant parrot found in New Zealand

While most parrots today are small enough to perch on your shoulder, you probably wouldn’t want to do that with a newly discovered ancient ancestor of the bird. Palaeontologists in New Zealand have now uncovered the remains of Heracles inexpe… Continue reading Remains of extinct giant parrot found in New Zealand

Newly-discovered prehistoric marine predator was a big deal in its time

Half a billion years ago, in the Cambrian Period, most animals were smaller than a person’s little finger. That makes the recent discovery of a marine predator from that time all the more exciting, as the sucker grew to up one foot (30 cm) lo… Continue reading Newly-discovered prehistoric marine predator was a big deal in its time

"New" duck-billed dinosaur is actually one of the oldest

Although they may not be as well-known as “exciting” dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus, the duck-billed hadrosaurs were the most common plant-eating dinosaurs at the end of the Mesozoic Era. Now, a newly-classified member of the group appea… Continue reading "New" duck-billed dinosaur is actually one of the oldest

Fossil skull found in Greek cave may be oldest human remains in Europe

Fossilized human skulls found in a cave in Greece may force a rewrite of the human migration timeline yet again. Archaeologists have dated one of the skulls to about 210,000 years old – roughly 150,000 years older than the previous record-hol… Continue reading Fossil skull found in Greek cave may be oldest human remains in Europe

Great white shark's teeth link it to a humble, flat-bodied ancestor

The teeth of the great white and other mackerel sharks are unique, in that they only ...

The now-extinct megalodon was the largest predatory shark to ever live, while the great white is currently the largest of the predatory sharks. It now turns out that both fish likely descended from a small, flat shark that skulked along the seabed.

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Continue reading Great white shark's teeth link it to a humble, flat-bodied ancestor

New carnivorous dinosaur brandished twice the toe claws of a velociraptor

As you probably remember from Jurassic Park, velociraptors (and similar dinosaurs) were known for the terrifying sickle-shaped claws on their toes. And that was just with one on each foot – a newly-discovered dinosaur from a related species w… Continue reading New carnivorous dinosaur brandished twice the toe claws of a velociraptor

Prehistoric bird standing 11.5 ft tall and weighing half a ton found in Crimean cave

Generally speaking, the animals alive today are mere shadows of their former selves – everything from worms to otters to penguins to sharks were bigger and meaner in the distant past. And birds were no exception, as newly-found fossils indica… Continue reading Prehistoric bird standing 11.5 ft tall and weighing half a ton found in Crimean cave

Dinosaur herd found fossilized in gemstones in Australia

Imprints of ancient bones or footprints are often found in rock, but that’s not the only way they form – in much rarer cases they can also be encased in opal. Now palaeontologists in Australia have uncovered the most complete “opalized” dinos… Continue reading Dinosaur herd found fossilized in gemstones in Australia