All articles tagged with #paleoenvironment
Fossilized caddisflies from the McGraths Flat site in New South Wales, dating back 11 to 16 million years, have remarkably well-preserved compound eyes with a corneal nanocoating that could inspire new products such as anti-reflective and hydrophobic coatings. The fossils also reveal insights into the ancient insects' soft tissue preservation and the unstable paleoenvironment at that time.
Scientists have discovered and documented the largest known single dinosaur track site in Alaska, located in Denali National Park and Preserve. Dubbed "The Coliseum," the site is the size of one-and-a-half football fields and contains layer upon layer of dinosaur tracks preserved in rock. The tracks provide insights into the diverse species of dinosaurs that thrived in Interior Alaska nearly 70 million years ago, including plant-eating duck-billed and horned dinosaurs, as well as carnivores like raptors and tyrannosaurs. The site also reveals evidence of fossilized plants, pollen grains, and freshwater shellfish, painting a picture of the ancient ecosystem. Preserving fossil sites like The Coliseum is crucial, and further exploration is expected to uncover more surprises.
Paleontologists have discovered two new species of saber-toothed cats that lived in South Africa over 5 million years ago. The fossils were found in Langebaanweg 'E' Quarry, a significant site for understanding the transition from wet forests to grasslands. The newly-discovered species, Lokotunjailurus chinsamyae and Dinofelis werdelini, along with two known species, Yoshi obscura and Adeilosmilus aff. kabir, provide insights into the diverse environments and adaptations during this period. The cats likely occupied different ecological niches, with some adapted to open grasslands and others to forested areas. The presence of herbivorous fossils suggests a Mediterranean climate. Saber-toothed cats, belonging to the subfamily Machairodontinae, first appeared 12 million years ago and coexisted with humans until their extinction less than 10,000 years ago.