Paläontologie

A new study reveals that young sauropods, despite their parents' massive size, were vulnerable prey that sustained Late Jurassic predators. Researchers from UCL analyzed fossils from Colorado's Dry Mesa Quarry to reconstruct the era's food web. This abundance of easy meals may explain why predators like Allosaurus thrived without advanced hunting traits.

1. Februar 2026 Von KI berichtet

A new artificial intelligence application called DinoTracker can analyze photos of fossilized dinosaur tracks to identify the species that made them, matching expert accuracy in many cases. The tool has revealed potential bird-like footprints dating back over 200 million years, challenging ideas about avian evolution. It also provides fresh insights into mysterious tracks from Scotland's Isle of Skye.

A new study shows that the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction around 445 million years ago not only wiped out 85% of marine species but also paved the way for jawed vertebrates to thrive. Researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology analyzed fossil data to demonstrate how isolated refuges allowed these early fishes to diversify after the catastrophe. This event fundamentally reshaped Earth's ecosystems, influencing modern marine life.

7. Januar 2026 Von KI berichtet

Fossils unearthed in a cave near Casablanca, Morocco, dating back 773,000 years, could represent a close relative of the common ancestor shared by modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans. Discovered in the Grotte à Hominidés, these remains include jawbones and vertebrae that blend traits from older and newer hominin species. The findings help bridge a significant gap in the African fossil record from the early Pleistocene era.

A team of researchers has developed a technique to precisely date fossil sites by analyzing uranium and lead in dinosaur eggshells. This method provides accurate ages without relying on surrounding minerals, offering a breakthrough for paleontology. The approach was tested on samples from Utah and Mongolia, yielding results within five percent accuracy.

19. Dezember 2025 Von KI berichtet

Researchers at McGill University have reconstructed a 130-million-year-old marine ecosystem from Colombia, revealing predators that operated at a seventh trophic level, higher than any in modern oceans. This discovery highlights the intense complexity of ancient seas during the Cretaceous period. The findings underscore how competition drove the evolution of today's marine biodiversity.