Paleontology

Paleontology

Octopus origins

After examining more than 90 new specimens of Nectocaris pteryx, paleontologists put it near the root of the cephalopod evolutionary tree.

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Earliest birds didn’t make a flap

The feathers of Archaeopteryx and Confuciusornis probably were not strong enough to support sustained flight.

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Archaeopteryx fossil seen in new light

X-ray technique reveals original tissue in the feathers of a primitive bird fossil.

Paleontology

Dinos molted for a new look

In one species, adolescents appear to have sprouted a new type of feathers as they matured.

Paleontology

Tyrannosaurs lived in the Southern Hemisphere, too

Australian fossils suggest the kin of T. rex dispersed globally 110 million years ago.

Paleontology

Fossilized poop bears tooth marks

Shark-bitten fecal matter probably came from an assault on an ancient croc.

Paleontology

Ancient DNA suggests polar bears evolved recently

A study of a rare Norwegian fossil narrows down when polar bears evolved and finds they are closely related to modern-day brown bears in Alaska.

Paleontology

Sail-backed dinos had semiaquatic lifestyle

Isotopic analyses of fossils suggest the carnivores had crocodile-like habits.

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Oldest feathered dino shows its colors

Analysis of a fossil suggests plumage first evolved for display, not flight.

Paleontology

Reverbs of bat echolocation studies

Ancient bat may well have used sound waves to sense the world, Sid Perkins reports in the latest Deleted Scenes blog.

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Dinosaurs, in living color

Researchers find microscopic structures in some fossils that may have held pigments.

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Footprints could push back tetrapod origins

Newly discovered trackways much older than previous evidence for sea-to-land transition.