All articles tagged with #triassic period
Researchers uncovered over fifty Triassic coelacanth fossils in UK museums, many misidentified for over 150 years, revealing a complex ancient ecosystem and expanding knowledge of this 'living fossil' from the time when the UK was a tropical sea archipelago.
Paleontologists from the University of Bristol used modern 3D digital scanning techniques to identify a new dinosaur species, Newtonsaurus cambrensis, from a fossil found in 1899 in South Wales. The discovery reveals it was a large, carnivorous theropod that lived during the Triassic period, highlighting the importance of historical specimens and advanced technology in paleontology.
Researchers have identified over 50 coelacanth fossils from the British Triassic period, dating back around 200 million years, revealing a complex community of these 'living fossil' fish that had been misidentified or overlooked in museum collections for over 150 years.
Scientists have discovered a new species of flying reptile, Eotephradactylus mcintireae, based on a jawbone found in Arizona, dating back over 200 million years. The fossil, preserved in volcanic ash, provides insights into the ecosystem of the Triassic period, revealing a diverse environment with extinct and modern animals coexisting, and suggests the pterosaur fed on armored fish.
A new study published in Nature suggests that fossilized dinosaur feces and vomit, known as bromalites, could provide insights into how dinosaurs evolved from minor species to dominant ones. Researchers, including Martin Qvarnström from Uppsala University, examined these trace fossils to test two hypotheses about dinosaur dominance: the 'competitive replacement' model, which attributes their success to superior adaptations, and the 'opportunistic replacement' model, which suggests adaptability to environmental changes. The study highlights the potential of coprolites to reveal details about ancient diets and ecological dynamics.
Researchers have conducted an extensive study of over 500 fossilized dinosaur droppings, revealing that dinosaurs' dietary flexibility allowed them to dominate the Earth during the Triassic period. The analysis showed that early dinosaurs were opportunistic eaters, consuming a variety of foods like insects, fish, and plants, which helped them adapt to the changing climate and ecosystems as Pangea broke apart. This adaptability gave them an edge over more specialized species, leading to their rise as the dominant terrestrial animals.
A 246 million-year-old nothosaur fossil discovered in New Zealand is the oldest marine reptile fossil found in the Southern Hemisphere. This finding, identified by Uppsala University’s Museum of Evolution, provides new insights into early sea reptiles' distribution and evolution following a mass extinction event. The fossil suggests that nothosaurs originated near the equator and spread rapidly, thriving in ancient polar regions due to extreme global warming.
Paleontologists have discovered a new species of ancient crocodile-like reptile, Parvosuchus aurelioi, in southern Brazil. Dating back 237 million years, this small predatory reptile provides insights into pre-dinosaur ecosystems. The fossils, including a complete skull and partial skeleton, reveal that Parvosuchus aurelioi was an agile hunter with blade-like teeth. This discovery adds to the rare group of gracilisuchids, previously known from only three other species worldwide.
Paleontologists have discovered a new species of ancient crocodile-like reptile, Parvosuchus aurelioi, in southern Brazil. Dating back 237 million years, this small predatory reptile provides insights into pre-dinosaur ecosystems. The fossils, including a complete skull, reveal that Parvosuchus aurelioi was an agile hunter with blade-like teeth. This discovery highlights the complexity of Triassic ecosystems and adds to the rare group of gracilisuchids, previously known from only three other species worldwide.
Scientists have discovered a 200-million-year-old dinosaur ecosystem at a fossil site in Lavernock, Wales, dating back to the Triassic period. The study, published in the Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, provides new insights into the local ecology of that era.
A major fossil discovery at Lavernock Point in Wales has revealed that early dinosaurs lived in a tropical lowland by the sea over 200 million years ago. The study, led by the University of Bristol, identified rare marine and terrestrial fossils, reconstructing a complex prehistoric ecosystem and providing new insights into dinosaur evolution. This discovery marks a significant advancement in understanding the paleontological history of the region.
An international team of scientists has discovered a new species of herbivorous dinosaur, Musankwa sanyatiensis, in Zimbabwe. Dating back to the late Triassic Period, this find underscores Africa's untapped paleontological potential and highlights the region's significance for future archaeological research.
A 210 million-year-old dinosaur leg belonging to the newly discovered species Musankwa sanyatiensis was found in Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba. This horse-sized dinosaur lived during the Late Triassic era when dinosaurs were becoming more diverse and starting to dominate ecosystems.
A new dinosaur species, Musankwa sanyatiensis, has been discovered on the shoreline of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe. This marks only the fourth dinosaur species named from Zimbabwe and the first from the Mid-Zambezi Basin in over 50 years. The fossils, dating back to the Late Triassic period, were found by an international team of scientists and are significant for understanding the region's prehistoric biodiversity.
A new study of dinosaur bone fossils from Argentina reveals that the earliest dinosaurs exhibited fast growth rates similar to modern mammals and birds. This rapid growth allowed them to escape the risks of being small and reproduce more successfully, contributing to their evolutionary success. The research also found fast growth rates in some non-dinosaur reptiles and other animals during the Triassic Period, following a mass extinction event. This study sheds light on the role of fast growth in the success of early dinosaurs and their competitors.