Latest news with #MiddleJurassic
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Well-preserved dinosaur skull belongs to new sauropod species
Sauropods were some of the largest dinosaurs to ever stomp across the planet, and they did their stomping pretty much everywhere. But while paleontologists have discovered fossils from species like Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus on almost every present-day continent, those found in China have been largely relegated to the nation's southern and western regions. Well-preserved remains of non-neosauropod eusauropods are even more rare. These relatives existed through the Middle Jurassic approximately 174 to 161 million years ago. According to a recent study published in Scientific Reports, a team led by researchers at the China University of Geosciences has discovered a new sauropod species they call Jinchuanloong niedu. And their specimen's skull is one of the most well-preserved ever excavated. Almost all giant, long-necked dinosaurs beyond their earliest evolutionary forms belong to the eusauropod clade. They eventually became the only sauropod line to survive past the Early Jurassic's global mass extinction event, with many species evolving to make up the neosauropoda later clade includes Brachiosaurus and Apatosaurus. While these newer neosauropods were the majority, some non-neosauropod continued to exist through the Middle Jurassic. But of those, paleontologists have recovered very few with well-preserved skulls, leaving large gaps in the overall fossil record. Jinchuanloong niedu, however, is helping to fill in those missing pieces. The remains discovered at the Xinhe Formation located in northwestern China encompass five articulated cervical vertebrae, 29 articulated caudal vertebrae, along with a nearly complete skull that includes its mandible. The fossil trove's location in the sedimentary layers indicate the dinosaur lived sometime around the Middle Jurassic's late Bathonion period–roughly 165 to 186 million years ago. After comparing their specimen with other East Asian sauropods, the university's announcement noted a mix of 'primitive and derived features' that pointed to a unique, previously undiscovered its preservation, the first known Jinchuanloong niedu specimen doesn't appear to be an adult. Physiological features including unfused neural arches in the caudal vertebrae imply that the dinosaur was a juvenile or subadult when it died. But given that it was already nearly 100 feet long, it's a near-certainty that Jinchuanloong niedu still grew to colossal proportions.
The Star
28-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
Study says new Jurassic bird fossil is 'missing link'
BEIJING: A groundbreaking fossil discovery in Zhenghe county, Fujian province, has reshaped our understanding of avian origins. Scientists identified Baminornis zhenghensis, a 150-million-year-old bird species from the late Middle Jurassic, as the oldest unambiguous Jurassic bird fossil ever found. Published in Nature earlier this year, the study by a joint team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fujian Institute of Geological Survey reveals this species as a pivotal "missing link" in bird evolution. The fossil, unearthed in Zhenghe's swampy deposits in November 2023, showcases a pygostyle — a fused tailbone central to modern birds' flight mechanics. This feature shifts a bird's center of gravity, enabling precise aerial control. Previously, such advanced traits were believed to have emerged much later. Unlike Archaeopteryx, a feathered dinosaur with a reptilian tail, Baminornis bridges the anatomical gap between dinosaurs and true birds. The Zhenghe Fauna, a lush Jurassic wetland ecosystem teeming with diverse life, offers unprecedented insights into post-dinosaur evolution. "This discovery rewrites textbooks, showing birds' dinosaurian roots and their leap from land to sky," said CAS academician Xu Xing. Researchers continue exploring Zhenghe's fossil beds, hinting that even older avian ancestors may await discovery. As science peels back layers of time, one truth remains: evolution's story is ever-unfolding. - China Daily/ANN
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Extinct snakes and incredible facts about them
Image created via Canva AI Snakes have slithered through the planet's history for over 160 million years, but their beginnings are still full of question marks. Scientists agree they came from lizards, but which ones? And why ditch the legs? No one's quite sure. What we do know is that once snakes found their niche, they went wild—evolving into everything from burrowers with tiny limbs to monsters the size of buses. Some could crush prey with shocking force, others had traits that feel more sci-fi than fossil. Here's a look back at ten extinct snakes that prove nature has always had a flair for the dramatic. Eophis If snakes had a family photo album, Eophis would be page one. Discovered in a quarry near Oxford, this 167-million-year-old fossil is the oldest snake known to science. It lived in the Middle Jurassic, sharing its ecosystem with dinosaurs like Megalosaurus. But Eophis wasn't some towering predator—it was barely 25cm (about 10 inches) long, roughly the size of a pencil. Incredible Facts: – Eophis lived in swampy wetlands and likely hunted insects, tadpoles, and small fish. – It had recurved, hook-like teeth that faced backward, suggesting it was already developing a snake-like feeding method. – It possibly retained tiny hind limbs, linking it directly to its lizard ancestors. – Its fossil evidence has pushed back the timeline of snake evolution by over 60 million years. – Scientists consider it a transitional species that bridges the evolutionary gap between leggy lizards and modern snakes. Image created via Canva AI Titanoboa Forget anacondas. Titanoboa was the true heavyweight champ of the snake world, stretching up to 13 meters long—and some models even push it to 14.6! That's longer than a bus, and this thing was real. It ruled the Paleocene rainforests of what's now Colombia, a region that was hot, wet, and perfect for cold-blooded giants. Titanoboa likely ambushed prey in river systems, swallowing massive fish and even crocodiles. Incredible Facts: – Titanoboa had fishhook-shaped teeth that helped it anchor and subdue struggling prey. – It was likely capable of swallowing young turtles whole. – Its massive size is believed to be a result of extremely warm equatorial temperatures. – Female Titanoboas might have grown even larger than males, which is rare in modern reptiles. – Its extinction may have been due to cooling climates and the loss of its wetland habitat. Madtsoia Madtsoia wasn't the biggest, but it was one of the most resilient. This ancient snake lived through the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs. How? Simple: low-maintenance living. Being cold-blooded meant it didn't need much food, so it could outlast the post-asteroid famine while bigger, hungrier animals starved. Originally preying on small dinos, it later switched to mammals and birds. Image created via Canva AI Incredible Facts: – Madtsoia was part of the Madtsoiidae family, which included other giant prehistoric snakes like Gigantophis. – It may have killed its prey through constriction, although scientists still debate this. – Some evidence suggests it hunted crocodiles after the dinosaur extinction. – Its ability to survive with minimal food showcases how a 'lazy' metabolism can be a huge survival advantage. Sanajeh Sanajeh lived in what's now India about 70 million years ago, and it had a pretty shady side hustle: raiding dinosaur nests. Fossils found near sauropod eggs—and even a baby dinosaur—paint a clear picture. This 3.5-meter snake lurked near nesting grounds, picking off hatchlings before they got too big to handle. Unlike modern pythons, its jaws didn't open super wide, so newborns were just the right size. Incredible Facts: – Sanajeh targeted titanosaur hatchlings, making it a specialized predator of baby dinosaurs. – It may have also fed on small theropods and mammals when available. – It belonged to the same ancient snake family as Madtsoia and Wonambi, known as the madtsoiids. – Its behavior proves that some prehistoric snakes were not just ambush predators but opportunistic hunters as well. Image created via Canva AI Haasiophis Most snakes ditched their legs ages ago—but not Haasiophis. This ancient marine snake lived nearly 95 million years ago in warm, shallow seas and still rocked a pair of tiny but fully formed hind limbs. Hip, knee, ankle—it had the full setup, although it didn't walk with them. Instead, it swam like an eel, whipping its body side to side. Incredible Facts: – Haasiophis is one of the very few snake species known to possess actual limbs. – These limbs may have been evolutionary leftovers or a rare case of limb regrowth. – It was closely related to Pachyrhachis, another legged marine snake. – It lived in the warm, shallow seas of the ancient Middle East, showcasing how marine snakes once retained legs. Vasuki Discovered in 2024 and already making headlines, Vasuki might just challenge Titanoboa's throne. Found in India's Gujarat state, this prehistoric beast could've stretched up to 15 meters long—yes, longer than Titanoboa, depending on how you do the math. Named after the mythical Hindu serpent, Vasuki wasn't purely aquatic like its South American rival. It roamed swampy forests, hunting in and out of water. Image created via Canva AI Incredible Facts: – Vasuki may have grown up to 15 meters long, potentially making it the longest snake ever discovered. – It belonged to the Madtsoiidae family, placing it alongside prehistoric snakes like Madtsoia and Sanajeh. – Its diet could have included crocodilians, massive turtles, and even early whale species. – It lived around 47 million years ago in a wet, tropical environment that supported large cold-blooded predators. Pachyrhachis Think Haasiophis was weird for having legs? Meet Pachyrhachis, another ancient sea snake that didn't get the memo about evolving away from limbs. Discovered in Israel, this 95-million-year-old snake had small but clearly defined back legs, complete with hip, knee, and ankle joints—making it look like a snake still clinging to its lizard roots. Incredible Facts: – Like Haasiophis, Pachyrhachis swam with an undulating motion, similar to modern eels. – It lived in the same warm, shallow seas during the Late Cretaceous period. – Its name, which means 'thick spine,' refers to its unusually dense vertebrae, likely used to help it dive. – It remains one of the best fossil examples of the evolutionary shift from legged reptiles to fully limbless snakes.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Extraordinary discovery in Sardinia: dinosaur tracks found during filming of a documentary
The Italian island Sardinia is full of riches and breathtaking landscapes, but is also rich with history. A recent extraordinary scientific discovery is proof of this. During the filming of a documentary on the region's geomorphological landscape, scientists found important palaeontological evidence in the countryside around Baunei, in Ogliastra: fossil traces testifying to the presence of dinosaurs in Sardinia. The discovery was made by a scientific team composed of professors Antonio Assorgia, Sergio Ginesu and Stefania Sias, former lecturers at the Universities of Sassari and Cagliari. Preserved in rocks dating back to the Jurassic period, the footprints belong to a theropod dinosaur never previously reported in Sardinia. Thanks to the extraordinary discovery, it has been possible to reconstruct the animal's appearance and the environment in which it lived. The dinosaur was a biped from the Middle Jurassic period, around 165 million years ago, and lived along stretches of coastline with sandy and muddy sediments, typical of marshy and tidal areas. This was explained by experts at a press conference on Friday. The rocky surface where the dinosaur's footprints were found also provided evidence of the presence of other coeval species. This is therefore the first evidence of the presence of dinosaurs in the Mesozoic period in Sardinia. Stefania Salis, the first to notice those tracks, said the dinosaur discovered was named 'Bibi', and would be a female specimen, although we have to wait for scientific evidence to ascertain this. "The footprints speak to us and tell us how things were 165 million years ago, the one from Baunei was probably a herbivore, given the lack of claws, and was a biped about 120 160 centimetres long," said palaeontologist and lecturer at the University of Sassari, Marco Zedda, speaking at the conference and explaining how from just a footprint, one can reconstruct the animal that left it. According to Francesco Ginesu, Sole Director of the MGB company and responsible for the production of the documentary, this is an exceptional discovery, and emerged almost by chance. "As often happens in science, it has the power to radically change what we thought we knew," said Ginesu, adding that "those footprints, spotted while working on a popularised product, turned out to be a finding of enormous scientific value. It is not just one more piece of data: it is direct evidence of the presence of dinosaurs in an area that until now had not yielded such clear evidence."
Boston Globe
03-04-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
Footprints show carnivorous dinosaurs shared watering hole with prey
'It was kind of the service station for the Middle Jurassic,' said Blakesley. 'The dinosaurs would have come down from the surrounding land masses, drop down for a drink, move on. This was very much a transient spot.' Advertisement The footprints at Prince Charles's Point, on the island's northern peninsula, were first discovered in 2019 by a local couple who had observed some odd impressions while kayaking along the shoreline. Blakesley, who had just finished his freshman year at the time, inspected the area at the couple's behest and found a three-toed dinosaur footprint in the sandstone. 'It was slightly raised and looked weathered, but it was really crisp and sharp,' Blakesley said. 'You could see the toes, the claw marks.' In the years that followed, Blakesley and researchers with the University of Edinburgh uncovered dozens more footprints in the area -- he estimated between 150 and 200 -- and analyzed 131 for their study. They determined that some of the prints, such as the first three-toed one that Blakesley uncovered, were made by carnivore theropods, likely Megalosauruses, an ancestor of the formidable Tyrannosaurus rex. Other rounded prints were likely made by herbivore sauropods such as the Cetiosaurus, the precursor to the brontosaurus. Advertisement From the footprints, which ranged 9.8 to 23.6 inches in length, the researchers were able to estimate the dinosaurs' hip height and length of strides. The three-toed theropods were likely about the size of a jeep, Blakesley said, and moved at what humans would consider a jog, about 5 miles per hour. The large sauropods were likely the height of two to three elephants and moved at half the walking speed of a human, about 1.5 miles an hour. Both types of dinosaurs would have had to have enough weight to leave behind such footprints, sinking through the sand to the hardened mud below, and that could last until this day. Blakesley likened the analysis of the footprints to reading a page in a book. 'It tells us a great deal about the dinosaurs that live along the prehistoric lagoonal shoreline,' he said. It also requires a bit of imagination, he said. During the Middle Jurassic Period, the area would have had a warm, humid tropical climate, rather than the chilled wind and rain that define Scottish weather today. The picturesque, mountainous landscape of Skye would have been flatter and dotted with similar freshwater lagoons. The tracks found at Skye never head southeast, raising questions of what was there while the dinosaurs were alive. 'Every time I go down to these footprints, I like to put my hand in the sole of these footprints,' Blakesley said. 'You close your eyes and just feel the tide going out and the mountains rising and falling, the cacophony of a million birdsongs gone by and you're back in this wild, exotic time, surrounded by these beasts.' Advertisement Mike Benton, a professor of vertebrate paleontology at the University of Bristol, said in an email that these footprints provide important insight into life during the Middle Jurassic Period, 'a time when we don't know much about dinosaurs and other land animals anywhere in the world.' 'They are really important because they represent fossilized behavior,' said Benton, who was not involved in the study. 'In other words, each example shows us exactly what a dinosaur was doing so many million years ago.' Last summer, scientists unearthed some 200 dinosaur footprints in southern England that researchers dubbed the 'dinosaur highway.' The footprints were believed to have been left behind by at least five dinosaurs, four Cetiosauruses and one Megalasaurus also from the Middle Jurassic Period, and showed some of them moving north. The footprints discovered on Skye are in the coastal area made famous by Bonnie Prince Charlie, the grandson of King James VII of Scotland who led a failed rising against the British throne. Prince Charles's Point was where he hid in 1746 while on the run from British troops following his side's defeat at the Battle of Culloden. 'It's a very surreal story and to think that Bonnie Prince Charlie may have seen these footprints, he may have run across them and wondered what they were,' Blakesley said. 'The footprints and the Bonnie Prince Charlie story, together they enrich Skye's local heritage.'
