Latest news with #CretaceousResearch
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Pterosaur Fossil Found in Japan Identified as New Species
Courtesy of Mifune Dinosaur Museum / Jiji Press A fossilized cervical vertebra of Nipponopterus mifunensis KUMAMOTO (Jiji Press) — A fossilized cervical vertebra discovered back in 1996 in southwestern Japan has been found to have been a new genus and species of pterosaur, a prehistoric flying reptile. A research team made up of members from Mifune Dinosaur Museum, which has the fossil on display, and others named the new species of the extinct flying vertebrates 'Nipponopterus mifunensis,' or 'Japan's wings from Mifune' in Latin. This is the first time that a pterosaur has been named based on a fossil found in Japan. The fossil was discovered from a geologic formation dating back 100.5 million to 66 million years during the Late Cretaceous period in the town of Mifune in Kumamoto Prefecture by the town's education board. Past research had confirmed that the fossil was of a specimen of the Azhdarchidae family, a group of long-necked pterosaurs. Due to the scarcity of available fossils that could be used as reference at the time, the exact genus and species were left unidentified. In the latest research, the team concluded that the fossil was of a new pterosaur genus and species due to several distinct features, through analysis of computed tomography scans and comparisons with about 200 species of pterosaurs. The team's finding was published in international journal Cretaceous Research in March this year. 'This is an important research result showing that pterosaurs were flying in the skies near Japan,' Naoki Ikegami, 57, a curator at the museum, said. 'The finding has opened the door to pterosaur research in Japan,' he added.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
94 million years old herbivore dinosaur fossil found in Argentina, tells about evolutionary secret links
Fossils are vital clues about the Earth's ancient past, they are a means of link in the form of preserved remains of organisms that lived millions of years ago. They help scientists understand how life evolved, how the living conditions changed over time. These fossils also give a timeline of Earth's geological and biological history, by giving a window into prehistoric life and environments. Recently, a newly discovered 94 million-year-old dinosaur fossil in Argentina is helping scientists put together the puzzle of how some of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth evolved. Found in the Neuquén Province, a region already famous for significant fossil finds, this newly named species, Cienciargentina sanchezi , gives new information about the early days of the rebbachisaurid family, a group of long-necked herbivores within the larger diplodocoid family. Where have these fossils been found? These fossils were found in the Huincul Formation and date back approximately 94 million years to the Late Cretaceous period . This makes Cienciargentina sanchezi the oldest known rebbachisaurid on record, according to a study recently published in Cretaceous Research. The discovery gives a key evolutionary link that helps explain how sauropods adapted to their environment, diversified, and survived through major environmental changes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Egypt: New Small Electric Car For Seniors. Prices Might Surprise You. Electric Cars | Search Ads Undo The bones are also important anatomical clues that tell how these creatures lived, moved, and even how they might have defended themselves. This fossil belongs to the family of long-necked dinosaurs The area where these fossil remains were found is sediment-rich, where several major dinosaur discoveries have been made over the years. Cienciargentina sanchezi has been one of the major discoveries due to its skeletal features, which clearly make it a primitive member of the rebbachisaurid group. These dinosaurs are a subset of diplodocoids, famous for their long necks, plant-based diet, and large size. 'This new species is added to the list of rebbachisaurid sauropods documented in the Huincul Formation,' paleontologist Leonardo Salgado said to Cretaceous Research. He and co-author Simón also noted that unique features in the vertebrae confirmed the dinosaur's place in the early stages of rebbachisaurid evolution. The fossils showed long, flexible necks and strong, weight-bearing limbs, classic traits of sauropods. The vertebrae in particular showed distinct shapes that set this dinosaur apart. Some were concave on both sides, while others were slightly concave at one end and convex at the other, which is a sign of transitional evolutionary form. A window into Sauropod evolution and ecology One of the most significant anatomical discoveries involved the cervical vertebrae, which lacked the epipophyses typically seen in other diplodocoids. The dorsal vertebrae also showed a mix of primitive and more advanced features, making them crucial for tracing the evolutionary path of these animals. 'The first South American rebbachisaurid sauropods were recognized upon the basis of materials from the surroundings of Villa El Chocón, from the Candeleros and Huincul Formations,' Salgado noted, putting this new discovery into broader scientific context. The environment where Cienciargentina sanchezi lived was a fertile floodplain during the Late Cretaceous, which was ideal for large herbivores. Paleontologists believe shifting vegetation, terrain, and climate may have lead to new evolutionary adaptations among sauropods. Photo Credits: Animals HQ
Japan Times
19-05-2025
- Science
- Japan Times
Pterosaur fossil found in Japan identified as new species
A fossilized cervical vertebra discovered back in 1996 in southwestern Japan was found to have been from a new genus and species of pterosaur, a prehistoric flying reptile. A research team made up of members from Mifune Dinosaur Museum, which has the fossil on display, and others named the new species of the extinct flying vertebrates "Nipponopterus mifunensis," or "Japan's wings from Mifune" in Latin. This is the first time that a pterosaur has been named based on a fossil found in Japan. The fossil was discovered from a geologic formation dating back 100.5 million to 66 million years during the Late Cretaceous period in the town of Mifune in Kumamoto Prefecture by the town's education board. Past research had confirmed that the fossil was of a specimen of the Azhdarchidae family, a group of long-necked pterosaurs. Due to the scarcity of available fossils that could be used as reference at the time, the exact genus and species were left unidentified. In the latest research, the team concluded that the fossil was of a new pterosaur genus and species due to several distinct features, through analysis of computed tomography scans and comparisons with about 200 species of pterosaurs. The team's finding was published in international journal Cretaceous Research in March this year. "This is an important research result showing that pterosaurs were flying in the skies near Japan," Naoki Ikegami, 57, a curator at the museum, said. "The finding has opened the door to pterosaur research in Japan," he added.
Asahi Shimbun
14-05-2025
- Science
- Asahi Shimbun
New genus, species named for pterosaur fossil in Kyushu
A team of researchers re-examining a fossil found about 30 years ago in Kumamoto Prefecture concluded it is a new genus and species of pterosaur, a prehistoric flying reptile. It is the first such naming of a fossil discovered in Japan, the researchers from the Mifune Dinosaur Museum, Kumamoto University and Hokkaido University announced on May 13. The new species, named Nipponopterus mifunensis, is on display at the museum. According to the announcement, the fossil dug up in 1996 in Mifune, Kumamoto Prefecture, came from a layer of the Late Cretaceous (100.5 million to 66 million years ago) in a riverbed upstream from a dam. The fossil was of the cervical vertebrae. But the lack of fossil information about pterosaurs at that time made it difficult to more clearly identify the fragment. The research team used a CT scan of the fossil and compared the data with those of other pterosaurs. That led to the conclusion the fossil was a new species of azhdarchid pterosaur, which had a long neck. The fossil was dated from about 90 million years ago and is from a close relative of Quetzalcoatlus, a large pterosaur that lived in North America in the latter half of the Late Cretaceous. The research team published its findings in the March issue of Cretaceous Research. Azhdarchids appeared in the Late Cretaceous in a wide area encompassing Asia, Africa and the Americas. But there are few fossils because the skeletons are so fragile. (This article was written by Eiji Zakoda and Ryo Sasaki.)
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Giant ‘sea monster' fossil unearthed in Mississippi mud
The remains of a giant 'sea monster' that once dominated the oceans was unearthed by geologists on a riverbank in the Mississippi River, scientists have said. Geologists discovered a fossilised single vertebra of the giant sea lizard known as a mosasaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period, approximately between 82 and 66 million years ago. "This is a true, true sea monster," geologist James Starnes, from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality's Office of Geology, told local newspaper Hattiesburg American. 'This is about as big as mosasaurs get." Mosasaurs were apex predators, and at their largest, they could weigh up to 20,000 pounds (9,000 kilograms) and reach lengths of up to 50 feet (15 metres). "I immediately knew what it was, but was completely awestruck by its size," Mr Starnes told Live Science. "The feeling you get when you find a fossil, even as a professional, never gets old. But when you find something you have never seen before, the elation can be overwhelming." The bone of the marine reptile, discovered on April 15, is potentially one of the largest found in the state. "This is a big animal,' Starnes said. 'The maximum (weight) is about 20,000 pounds that this animal could have gotten. This is bigger than most dinosaurs walking around on land." The bone was discovered in an area that was once completely submerged underwater. In 2022, another giant species of mosasaur, Thalassotitan atrox, was discovered in Morocco. The giant marine lizard, described in the journal Cretaceous Research, grew up to 9m (30 ft) in length and is a distant relative of modern iguanas and monitor lizards. While some mosasaurs evolved to eat small prey, such as fish and squid, and others crushed ammonites and clams, scientists, including those from the University of Bath in the UK, suggest that the newly discovered one evolved to prey on all other marine reptiles. Mosasaurs disappeared at the end of the Cretaceous period, approximately 66 million years ago, during the K-Pg event, when around 75 percent of all species on the planet became extinct. While the exact cause of their extinction is not fully understood, it is believed to be related to the aftermath of a massive asteroid impact in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. When top predators, such as the mosasaurs, disappeared, it opened the way for whales and seals to become dominant in the oceans, the researchers said, and fish like swordfish and tuna also appeared.
